The night the Rhymer went whack

6

It was the end of the driver’s shift and Straffe and the dead young lady were the only two left on his bus. He thought they were dead as he dragged them off and laid them on the side of the road. He then pulled into his terminal and hosed the bloody aisles and seats down, readying it for the next driver.

A blink. I’m alive, Straffe professed, not yet privy to the pain he was in. For just that fraction of a second, in the very moment, he was exalted that he still existed, so he savored the victory of not dying. Blinking, he regained his reality; it was cold and wet and he was outside along the side of a road that was dusty, industrial, quiet and remote. He quickly started coming to, and fearful of blacking out, paused before moving his limbs.

He felt pained from head to toe. A good sign he gathered, at least he could feel. He honed in on a street lamp until it came into focus before moving his head from side to side taking in the scenery he had sheltered from for so long. Post-dusk, he knew he had to work quickly so he gathered strength from the thought as to why he left home in the first place. He slowly bent his knees, so far so good, he assessed, before flexing and twirling his wrists. Good movement but extreme pain. He grimaced, bearing it.

He then tested his arms, a throbbing shoulder but it bent enough to have him lay sideways before ultimately rising to his hands and knees. Fearing lightheadedness, he paused slowly and lifted his head. He looked around and instead of standing, sat back on his haunches then took a long, much needed sigh. He glanced over at the young girl, her body bent as if boneless, yet her stillness was peaceful and Straffe wondered who was more lucky, she or him. He rubbed his face, wiped his brow, then finally stood before glancing down and noticing his scuffed shoes and ripped pants.

He patted his back pockets. His wallet was missing. He checked his wrist; gone were his watch, tie, glasses, sawed-off and forty five. Still glad to be alive, in pain but manageable, he gathered his bearings and limped toward the direction of Sharissa’s residence.