Lost Among the Enemy

Chapter One

Kim woke up in a new city, on a different street, and what seemed to be a dangerous neighborhood. She couldn't remember how she had gotten to this strange place. All Kim could recall was getting hit on the head and then everything went black. She knew that she had to move fast because whatever had shot holes in the windows of the houses, she didn't want putting holes in her too. Kim started walking down the street then burst into a run as her fear rose. After a few minutes she found herself at a crossroads and wasn't sure where to turn. When she was about to just wing it and go right, a jeep rode up and stopped beside her. "Do you need a ride missy?" said the man in the car. Kim gazed through the window and saw that the man was old and appeared to be a mechanic from the oil stains that where on his clothes and in his hair. She was so lost, tired, and scared that she said yes to the ride throwing caution to the wind. They said nothing as the minutes drew by and fine houses started to appear. "Where you from?" he asked," You don't seem like you from that place back there." The old man pointed backwards at the image of the buildings now shrinking into the distance. Kim thought and realized she didn't know. She decided to lie because at the moment she didn't know who to trust. "I'm from Beverly Hills," she answered. "No wonder your dressed so fancy," the man said and smiled. She didn't know what the man considered fancy. For all she wore was a now crumpled denim skirt, an old leather jacket, salmon pink top, and black flip flops. They stopped in front of a hotel and the man turned to her. "I have to let you off here," he said," I have to get back to my shop and I heard they have nice rooms here so I thinks its a good place for you to stay so you can get some rest, you look tired." Kim stepped out of the car slowly, closed the door behind her, and was beginning to walk up the steps to the hotel when she heard a voice. "In case you ever need help or another ride give me a call." Kim turned around realizing it was the old man. She walked back and grabbed the card the man held out the window. "Bye now," he said and drove off. The lobby was not that fancy a few armchairs , a couch, and a small coffee table. Kim searched her wallet finding just enough for one nights stay , but if there were any cards in the wallet they were gone now. She was exhausted enough not to even bother wondering as to what cards had been in the wallet. So, she booked herself a room and as soon as she went through the door she collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep. When she awoke the alarm clock beside the bed read seven a.m. She groaned and got off the bed, realizing that now was the time for a shower. She was covered in grime from head to toe. The hot shower relaxed her and she found that she could think clearly now that she wasn't tired or covered in dirt. Now she only had three problems. One she had no idea where she was and who had dumped her in this city. Two she hadn't eaten in what seemed like forever. The third was finding a place to sleep tonight. Kim was lucky when she got downstairs, the bellhop told her she had almost missed the continental breakfast. As she stuffed her face with all the hotel had to offer she wandered back to the problem about having no idea where she was and finding out who did this to her. Kim asked a waiter what city this was. The waiter told her she was in San Francisco and as he answered he looked at her with a confused look on his face. Well, at least she had part of the problem solved , at least she knew where she was. She decided to walk around the city for a little bit maybe she would remember something, anything that would get her back home wherever that was. The streets of San Francisco were crowded with people. Kim had walked everywhere and hadn't managed to remember anything. The only reason she knew her name was because it had been engraved on the outside of her wallet. Unfortunately, only her first name was engraved. Someone had gone as far as to rip the designer tag off so she couldn't even find out where the wallet was from. The day was already half over and she knew no more than she knew this morning. She saw a cafe across the street and decided to go in. At least in here she could sit and attempt to relax with all the chaos that was going on inside her head. The cafe smelled of espressos and freshly baked croissants. She found a booth at the back and sat down. A waitress approached her and with out thinking Kim ordered a large coffee. By the time she remembered she had no money the waitress was already gone. In what seemed like two seconds the waitress came back carrying a steaming cup of coffee. She set it down in-front of Kim, smiled, and walked away. As Kim leaned back in despair she heard the jingle from the bell on the door. She watched as a man came through. He was a young man perhaps in his early twenties, dark hair , dressed all in black, and with the darkest and most handsome blue eyes Kim had ever seen. She was so captured by his eyes that she had no idea he was looking at her too. He walked to where Kim was and sat across from her in the booth. "Hello", he said. "Hi", she replied nervously.

"My name is max," he said extending his hand to her.

"Kim," she replied taking his hand.

"I don't believe I've seen you around here before", he said, "Where you from?

"Beverly hills," said Kim even though she still had no idea if that was even close to true.

"I know this might seem a bit forward but would you mine joining me for dinner tonight?" he asked. Kim didn't know what to say she didn't even know this guy but, something about him made her feel safe and secure. Besides, one look at those beautiful eyes and the yes came out of her lips before she even knew what had happened. "Fantastic," he said. "Meet here tonight seven thirty? asked Max.

"Sure," she said. "Seven thirty great," she said and managed a quick smile. Max smiled and started to head for the door. When he stopped, turned around, put some money on the table, and told her it was on him. After Max left Kim felt nervous but, she supposed she could put her search for the truth on hold for one night. Perhaps, going out with Max might trigger a memory of any kind that would help her get out of her current predicament. She finished her coffee and left the cafe. She went to the end of the street where she knew she had seen a pawn shop. She entered the shop and went straight to the counter. "I would like to sell something," she said to the middle aged guy standing behind the counter.

"What do you have to sell,?" asked the man. Kim thought and realized she had only one thing.

"How much is this worth?" she asked taking off her leather jacket. The man took the jacket from her, looked at it for a second, and then came to a conclusion.

"Twenty bucks," he said. She knew that was the best price she was going to get with this guy she accepted. The man handed her a twenty and she left. Kim searched the streets for a thrift store and after two hours finally found one. She went straight to the clothes section and picked out the best looking dress she could find. It was a simple black number. The dress was only ten dollars so at least she would still have some money left. After she bought it she looked at the time on the clock hanging on the store's wall. It was 7:20. She immediately changed into her dress and exited the store. Kim was hurrying down the street back to the cafe when a guy bumped into her, and as she turned around something on the guy's jacket caught her eye. It appeared to be a letterman jacket with the symbol of a bulldog on the back. The guy didn't even turn around to say excuse me he just hurried past her. She ran to catch up with him and when she did she tapped him on the back. "Hi," said Kim, "I was wondering if you could tell me what that symbol on your jacket is for?"

"It's the Fresno State bulldogs," he said in a snooty way that told her she should have known that.

She turned around without even saying thanks to the guy when she felt him grab her arm. Kim turned back around to see what the guy wanted.

"Wait," he said, "Your kind of cute."

"Uh thanks," said Kim, "Now could you please let me go I have to get somewhere.

"Your not going anywhere," he said, "Except out with me."

"Thanks but no thanks, "Kim said and tried to wrench free of his iron grip.

"Hey," he said, " Nobody says no to Jack Tailer."

"Well I do, now let me go! "Kim commanded. Just as the guy was going to respond with another smart remark, Kim glanced to the side in time to see a man slam into Jack. Kim hit the ground hard when Jack's grip on her arm suddenly let go. Kim got up from the ground and looked around to see what had happened. Max was walking towards her and away from Jack who was out cold on the sidewalk. "Are you okay?" he asked as he knelt by her side.

"I think so," answered Kim. She checked herself over finding only a minor scrape on her shoulder. "Thanks," she said with a grateful smile.

"Anytime," Max said and smiled back. "What were you doing here I thought we were meeting at the cafe?" asked Kim.

"I was on my way there when I saw you being harassed by that jerk over there, "he said pointing back to Jack. As Kim straightened up she had a flashback that told her the importance of the symbol. She saw herself walking down what appeared to be a school hallway. She passed a trophy case that had a big banner hanging across it. The banner read "Fresno State Bulldogs. "Kim?" said Max bring her back to earth, "Are you okay?

"Yeah, sorry just got lost in my thoughts for a second,"she said.

"Happens to me all the time," he said. "Do you still feel like going to dinner?" Max asked.

"Yeah," she answered.

"Like italian?" he asked.

"Love it!" she exclaimed.

Kim knew that she should really be following her new lead. But, she thought what the hell. She would follow her new clue after this. Besides canceling on Max didn't feel like something she wanted to do. What Kim didn't know was what was waiting for her in Fresno, was something she wish she could have put off forever.