Resting his head back Jesse squeezed his eyes closed. He couldn't believe it. A sixteen-hour shift, a crazed driver and now this. Without warning, the car door was ripped open and a hand reached in and grasped Jesse by the scruff of the neck.
"What the…?" Jesse found himself being dragged out of the car and slammed painfully against the hood.
"You scratched my car" The voice spat at him.
"What?" Jesse screwed up his eyes against the torrential rain and peered at the man in front of him. He was tall, thin. His face was twisted with rage and his grip around Jesse throat tightening.
"I…don't know what… you're talking….about" Jesse barely managed to utter the words because of the pressure on his throat and he clawed desperately at the iron grip of the fingers which dug painfully into his neck.
"You. Damaged. My. Car. Who the hell do you think you are!? Driving around in your sports car thinking you own the road?! Huh? Well I've had enough of it!"
Jesse couldn't breath. He felt his windpipe being crushed and found it hard to comprehend the man's nonsensical rambling. He lashed out, his hand striking the man across his face, his nails digging into the soft, wet flesh. The man jumped back, releasing his grip on Jesse as his hands flew to the gashes in his cheek. He stood still for a moment, gingerly fingering the fresh wounds. His eyes slowly focused on Jesse's face, a look of pure disbelief and hatred twisting his features into an ugly mask. The next movement was so sudden that Jesse had no opportunity to move. A fist collided with his jaw sending a shock wave of pain radiating through his head and his neck snapped backwards with the force. A second blow connected with his ribs and the air left his body. Again and again he was hit, and then it stopped. The man stepped backwards, panting for breath. He stood, observing Jesse, a look of apathy on his face before lunging forwards and hitting Jesse so violently in the stomach that he immediately felt his legs buckle beneath him and he fell to his hands. Jesse gasped, his mouth open wide, desperate for oxygen that his tensed lungs would not receive. Jesse felt his chest burning and a white heat blazing through his stomach. He choked and spat, his mouth full of blood. A swift kick to his gut knocked him onto his side and he lay motionless, paralysed with pain. Jesse felt his vision begin to cloud, and, hovering on the brink of unconsciousness, he peered up at the retreating form of his attacker before the pain overtook him, and he passed out.
The sky erupted in a burst of lightening as the man walked away from the motionless and bloodied figure which lay sprawled across the ground. The flash of light reflected on a silvery object which was clasped in the man's hand. It was a knife.
************************
Despite the anxiety which niggled in the back of his mind, Mark joined in the fun and laughter which flowed freely between his son and friend, and soon enough his worries were all but forgotten. Chuckling heartily at a rather rude anecdote told by Steve involving a burglar, a fire extinguisher and an unsuspecting colleague, Mark silently scolded himself for his unsubstantiated fears and reassured himself that his young friend would be there soon enough.
************************
Rain pounded down onto the still form which lay face down in the sodden grass. Jesse could feel the cold seeping into his flesh, but could not move. He needed to open his eyes. He needed to find help. If only he could move. His eyelids felt heavy, but slowly he fluttered them open. It was dark. The road lights cast shadows haphazardly in all directions, there shapes distorted with no comprehensible meaning. Jesse choked. His mouth was clogged with dirt and blood, but the action of coughing sent a shock of pain through his body. Emitting a muffled cry of agony Jesse pulled his legs in to form the foetal position to try and support his tortured stomach. His breath came in short, sharp gasps and his body trembled from a combination of shock and cold. I need help Jesse thought desperately. Please, someone help me.
Jesse turned his head to face the road, hoping against hope that a car would come past and see him. He lay on the saturated grass peering into the distance for the telltale sign of car headlights, but nothing came. He waited. Nothing. Even in his confused state this struck him as odd, but Jesse couldn't think as to why. After what seemed like an eternity Jesse realised that no cars were coming; there would be no help. Trying to support his stomach he gently rolled over onto his back. The pain that washed through his body caught his breath and he dared not move again for fear of passing out. Breathing awkwardly he turned his head to one side and screwed up his eyes, both to protect his face from the rain which was still pouring in torrents and to tense up against the shearing pain. After allowing the agony in his tormented body to ease slightly he braced himself again to turn onto his other side so he was now facing his motionless car. Pulling himself sideways Jesse felt a sudden tear rip through his body. His mouth open in a silent scream, and black spots began to dance in front of his eyes. As sheet lightening lit up the turbulent sky above him, Jesse's vision slowly began to darken, and as the intensity of the pain increased, he blacked out.