Defiance and Dignity

A Storm’s Coming

Sienna

It all started that rainy night. The bell rings and my eyes land on the man who had just entered. He was tall with light hair that fell so effortlessly above his hazel eyes. I noticed my sight trailing him, I shook my head and I avert my eyes as I sat behind the register.

I try to preoccupy myself with cleaning my work area, that surely should distract me from the most gorgeous man my eyes had ever seen in my life until now.

I couldn’t bring myself to even look him in the eyes as I rung up the umbrella he grabbed.

“Thank you, have a nice night.”

“Is it just you tonight?”

My eyes shot up at him.

Those words would’ve sounded odd, if not creepy had his tone not sounded distant, almost dismissive. As if he wouldn’t care if I actually responded or not. Perhaps he wasn’t used to making small talk.

“No. My manager is locking up soon.” I lied. She had an emergency so she had to leave early leaving me to close up by myself. Though he didn’t need to know that.

“I see.” Had he lingered a second longer I would’ve asked if there was something wrong but finally he took his leave.

“Drive safe.” He said as he walked out the door.

Was he a walking heater or did the air conditioning malfunction? The air felt warmer.

I had seen him only a few times in the store before. It’s hard not to notice him with a face like that, other customers would make that much obvious. He must work nearby.

When the time had come to close the shop I had realized I had forgotten my umbrella in the car. Luckily for me the rain had just stopped for a fraction of a second. I zipped my jacket and put my hood on as I walked to my car.

I had spoken too soon. My car had died on me, I groan as hit my forehead on the steering wheel in defeat. Who would I even call at this hour?

I get out of the car and open up the hood, I stare at it for a couple seconds waiting for a solution to pop up. It was hopeless. Would I have to take public transport?

My first mistake of the night was trusting a man who appeared to only want to help. He brought a battery to help jump start my car but the longer I was in this man’s presence the faster my heart beat.

“I think I’ll have to call a tow truck, thanks for the help anyways.” I try to end the conversation but he insisted he’d give me a ride home.

“It’s okay I already called a friend” I lied for the second time today.

“Sweetheart, there’s no need to be afraid. I’m only trying to help.”

“I appreciate the offer-“ But I was going to trust my gut.

“Don’t be so difficult. Just get in-“

His hand grabbed a hold of my arm and I yanked it away. He took a step closer, the good Samaritan act falling and being replaced with his true intentions. I took a step back, ready to bolt only for someone to intervene between us.

“You lay your filthy hands on her again and it’ll be the last time you have hands.” The stranger winced as he felt his hand being gripped by another.

Even though I could only see his back. I knew who it was. The handsome customer from earlier, his voice was cold and it held venom. It was a total contrast to his previous tone and It didn’t help soothe my flight or fight.

It was only when I took a couple steps back that I noticed two cars. One from the man who claimed to only help but I could tell now there was another man in there too.

The other car as I saw as I turned my head to the right, I assumed was the customers car. He too had another man in the drivers seat. The passengers door was left open, had he rushed over here?

Was this all an elaborate set up?

The worst of the worst came to mind and I could not trust anyone but myself.

“Sienna” His voice brought back my attention. I had taken several steps away from them.

My heart sank.

…Had I ever told him my name?

“Hey” His tone was eerily soft, and his demeanor was that of someone trying to calm a frightened deer. His hands were raised in surrender but he took a step forward.

Run.

My mind screamed at me and so I did. I had no idea what was going on but it didn’t feel right. I hadn’t known who any of them were and I wasn’t about to find out. I ran and hoped I wouldn’t slip from the wet ground.

The second mistake I made that night was heading towards a wooded area just as the rain started to pour again. My lungs were burning with the cold air but I couldn’t stop. The ground was muddy and I wondered when these woods would come to an end. It didn’t seem so dense during daytime. I couldn’t feel my phone in my pocket, had it fallen out?

I tripped and fell as I looked searched for it in my pockets. My breathing was heavy and my heart was pounding.

“Sienna! Im not going to hurt you” I heard his voice and I stumbled onto my feet.

“Leave me alone!” I shouted as I made my way through branches.

“I can’t-“ He was near enough that I could heard the hesitation in his voice.

“I’m not going to leave you here. It’s dangerous, you could get hurt-“

I didn’t get the chance to shout he was the danger before I lost my footing and crashed forwards, tumbling down a steep hill.

I yelped as pain shot through me before feeling myself starting to lose consciousness. I heard my name once more before I was met with even more darkness that night had to offer.