Soaked and Shaken
1071 Words
The last man went down with a splatter of mud, groaning as he tried to rise. I pressed myself tighter against him, soaked to the bone, muscles trembling, teeth chattering, barely able to breathe through the adrenaline still coursing in my veins. The rain pounded harder now, drumming against my dress and hair plastered to my face. My sandals squelched in the mud, but I stayed pressed behind him, trusting him to protect me.
He pivoted, narrowly dodging a sloppy swing from the remaining attacker, landing a solid blow to the man’s jaw. The man staggered backward, eyes wide, teeth gritted, before finally collapsing into the mud. My heart thudded violently in my chest as I realized how utterly helpless I had been.
I tried to do something useful, picking up a handful of stones. My grip was slippery, but I flung them at the attackers. One glanced off a shoulder, another struck an arm. He cursed under his breath but didn’t miss a beat, countering with precise, controlled strikes that sent both men sprawling. My stomach knotted as I realized I had done nothing but cling to him for safety.
Finally, the last one tried a desperate grab at me. The biker reacted instantly, twisting his body, deflecting the man, and shoving him backward. The man fell into a puddle, splashing water over both of us. I gasped, teeth chattering, hugging his back tighter. He spun to face me for a moment, rain streaking the visor of his helmet, eyes locked on mine. “Stay behind me,” he barked, breathless but firm.
I nodded, heart hammering, tears mingling with rain. I couldn’t believe I had survived this. My body trembled violently, exhausted and soaked, yet alive in a way I hadn’t felt in months.
He let out a long breath, standing upright, glancing around to ensure the danger had passed. “That’s it,” he muttered. “They’re done.”
I exhaled shakily, pressing myself closer. “I… I can’t believe you did that. You fought them all by yourself.”
He shrugged under the helmet. “Didn’t seem like I had a choice.”
I swallowed hard, looking down at my bruised hands, shaking from cold and fear. “I thought I was going to die,” I admitted softly.
“Not on my watch,” he replied simply.
I shivered violently, hugging myself as the storm pounded around us. Every muscle ached, my skin stung, and I felt utterly exhausted. Yet, the warmth of his presence—even through the soaked fabric of his jacket and helmet—made me feel safe, for the first time in hours.
He studied me, and then his voice cut through the rain, teasing. “Dumbest idea I’ve seen in a long time.”
I blinked, confused. “Excuse me?”
“A girl walking alone at this hour,” he said, rain streaking down his visor. “Especially in this weather.”
I opened my mouth to respond, teeth chattering violently, shivering. “Well, thank you for the advice, smart ass. I thought running around in the rain like a lunatic was a safe idea.”
He let out a low chuckle. “Glad you know you’re a lunatic. Otherwise, you’d be grateful I saved your ass.”
I huffed, brushing wet hair from my face, still shivering violently. “Oh, well, thank you for doing what any sane, normal human would do.” I tried to regain some dignity and began walking away, mud squelching under my sandals.
“You are unbelievable,” he muttered, then sprinted to catch up. He grasped my arm gently but firmly, stopping me. “Wait. Where are you going?”
“I… I don’t know,” I admitted, hugging the jacket close. “I just… I can’t stay here. I can’t think right now.”
He glanced down at me, realizing how cold I was. Without a word, he slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. The warmth hit me instantly, musky, woody, and enveloping, a shield against the storm. I pressed into it, shivering violently, letting the heat seep into my bones.
“Better?” he asked, voice softer now, cutting through the storm.
I could only nod, teeth chattering, hugging the jacket tighter. “Yes… thank you,” I whispered.
“Good. Stay like that for a minute,” he said, hands brushing my shoulders gently, steadying me. “You’ve been through a lot.”
I leaned into the warmth, feeling the soaked fabric cling to my bruised skin, and finally allowed my pulse to slow slightly. The storm still raged around us, but for a fleeting moment, it was like a barrier existed just for me—warmth, safety, and a strange, unspoken protection that made my heart ache.
“You really shouldn’t be out here alone,” he added, teasing lightly, concern underlying his words.
I scowled, frustration and lingering fear mixing together. “Do you think I wanted this? I didn’t plan to get chased by three drunk, scarred, tattooed maniacs in the rain. Thanks for the advice, Captain Obvious.”
He chuckled, low and deep. “I said you’re a lunatic. That’s not advice. That’s an observation.”
I muttered, voice stiff from shivering. “Because running around in a storm in soaked sandals and a torn dress is completely sane.”
“Glad you know it,” he said, arms steady around me, “otherwise you’d be thanking me for saving your ass.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “Well, thank you,” I said again, shivering violently, letting the warmth envelope me.
He studied me for a moment, rain streaking down his helmet. “We’ll get you somewhere dry,” he said finally, brushing wet strands of hair behind my ears. His hands lingered gently on my shoulders.
I looked up at him, catching a glimpse of his face through the visor, something unreadable there—a mix of calm, frustration, and… something else. I pressed closer to the jacket, letting the warmth seep into my bones. For the first time since being thrown out, soaked and terrified, I felt a fragile sense of safety.
The rain still poured, wind whipping around us, but for a moment, I let myself breathe, letting the shivering subside slightly, leaning into the musky, woody scent, the solid, unwavering presence that had saved me.
- Writer
