Fate
"Fuck my life" I mumbled as I tried to clean up the disaster that is my house. My energy draining with with each empty cup and dirty sock.
My name is Lyla and it has been six months since the accident that took my husband from me. Six months of trying to adjust to once again being alone. Devin had ben the bread winner and money is now scarce. I decided about two months ago that relocating from our beautiful Victorian home to a mediocre apartment would better my budget, and while its not a terrible place, it's definitively "the other side of the tracks". The old hard wood floors needed some work and no matter how hard I try I cant seem to cover up the forties floral wallpaper. I just keep telling myself "beggars can't be choosers" and boy was I begging.
The next morning I was greeted with the usual scene. Leanna making god knows what in the kitchen and Micah playing Halo on his Xbox 360.
"Good morning!" I muttered down the steps
"Good morning, Lyla" Leanna replied
"Oh my god, she is way to chipper in the morning." I think to myself
I can only hope a quick shower and a smoke will motivate me through the rest of my day, but I doubt it.
I stumble into the brightly lit bathroom and shield my eyes from the bright yellow paint job. Finally I turn on the water and adjust the temperature to my liking as I listen to the pipes bang and shake in the walls trying to force the water out of the shower head. I step in and cringe against the steaming hot water, just the way I like it. The sent of my citrus bodywash fills the air awakening my senses I finish up and step out onto the bath mat wringing out my long wavy hair that had been dyed so many times there was no trace of the natural brown left. What is left is jet black locks with streaks of crimson red and california blonde that hang well past the middle of my back. I quickly towel off and hurry to get dressed.
Today is garage day, one of four actually, then another four days at the local sports bar "Salem's" I pull on a worn pair of Levi's and throw a slightly torn Ozzfest t-shirt over my slender build . Finally I lace up my red chucks, grab a grey hoodie and pull my hair into a loose pony tail and head downstairs.
"Breakfast?" Leanna offers
"Naw, thanks though, I'm gonna be late opening as it is."
Leanna and Micah have lived with me for a while now. Micah is my brother, so to speak. He's actually my foster brother. We shared a foster family for about seven years till we aged out of the system. In that time he became as close to me as any brother could be. Leanna is his girlfriend. They felt it best that I have company after the accident and I didnt object.
"I just want you guys to know I really appreciate you being here and helping out as much as you do." a mantra I get scolded for every morning
"No need for thanks Lyla, you know we were happy to help." Leanna scolds
"Yeah if you really want to show appreciation you could buy me a shiny red..." I cut him of with pillow to the face
"Hey what happened to the appreciation?"
"Oh that, well I heard "buy me ...shiny red..." and I just went blank." I joked
Micah shoost me a smile and goes about his gaming. At last I make it out the door not knowing something was about to happen that would change my life forever.
Not far, set into the dense woods of western Pa a new path is being chosen for me and I will soon meet my dark saviors.
I showed up at the garage just in time to open the doors for business. I start the coffee and sit down to see what is on my agenda for today. As I sit sipping my coffee trifling through paperwork and while lighting up another cigarette, two guys enter the shop. From the office I can see that they both appear young in age , probably about my age, 25-26. The first man, I notice, has dark olive skin and shaggy black hair. The other is tall and lean and took a less humble approach to his appearance displaying tattoos and gauged piercings dressing in torn jeans and a rocker T finishing his look with a pair of Vans. This as opposed to the faded jeans, fitted black t-shirt and black Doc's the other wore quite well.
I watch them size up my modest business and once I get over the initial shock I finally ash my Newport and go out to greet them.
"Can I help you with something?" I ask trying to sound inviting but at the same time bold.
"Umm...we wanted to...," the metalhead fell over his words "...ummm..."
Scanning the shop the conservative one of the two spotted a sign offering free estimates and jumped in with the save.
"We need an estimate!" He stated
"Oh really, on what?" I asked taking notice that they had no vehical present
" Oh...ahh.. we have this car and ya see the breaks went out and ahh..." He continued with his sorry explanation and I soon get the feeling they are wasting my time and are becoming more irritating than intimidating.
"Look, I would need you to actually bring the car in. I can't tell you whats wrong, what it needs or a price without looking at it first."
"What kind of car did you say it was?" I now express obvious suspicion to their little story
"It's ah..."
"Forget it man!" The russet skinned one hissed
He pulls the rocker aside for a more private interlude that I can just barely over hear.
"She's fine, she'll be fine here for now as long as we watch out for her. We'll just have to keep an eye on her from a distance for a bit."
Confused and angry I try to look busy as I continue to eavesdrop
"And what if we lose her huh? what then? The Highest will have or heads!" The inked stranger argued in a loud and fearful tone
"Keep it down Elliot! She cant know why were here...not yet...you'll scare her off and then were all screwed!"
"Sorry Dom, your right we'll just..."
I have heard enough and I am pissed! I casually walk into the office and retrieve the hand gun my husband had left in the desk for emergencies. I stalk back out into the shop to see out my "potential clients". At least i have their first names should things get out of hand.
I raise the loaded gun to my dark haired guest and cock it to get their attention
"Oh shit..." Elliot chokes out
"Ok, I dont know why your here or what you want but forget about it! Get the fuck out of my shop or I swear i'll blow out your knees."" I've had a bad year full of bad luck and I would love nothing more than for you to stick around so I can finally shoot someone! I think it would be an excellent stress reliever dont you?" I ask Dom as I aim the gun at his accomplice
"Damn it! ok just calm down we're gonna go now ok, sorry we bothered you." Dom insists
"Apology not accepted asshole, now get out!" I order gesturing to the open garage doors with the gun
The two strangers cautiously make their way out the doors and around the corner.
I run to slam closed the heavy metal doors and lock them tight. I can still hear them as they make their way up the street.
"Now that went well."
"Well if you didnt talk so damn loud...!" Dom snaps
"Oh yeah because I'm the expert on these things right? I've done this so many times I know exactly how to go about it." Elliot loads back
"We'll just have to be more careful. We didn't expect her to be so strong willed, though we should have." states Dom
"We'll hang around and make sure she is safe and out of sight for a bit till we can ease back in and earn her trust. We are going to need her to trust us if we want to have any chance of survival."
Dom and Elliot disappear into the dark forest and I return the gun and lite up another menthol.
