EVERYTHING'S GOT A PRICE

They blared their music until the car was put in park and they all stepped out talking in a thick Russian voice that made Mandy cock a brow but stay silent.

She shot John a look and noticed that he was trying to pay absolutely no attention to their guests, acting like they didn't even exist. He looked up and made a gesture with his head saying, 'No'. She groaned and shrugged her shoulders, leaning against his car and casually petting Daisy who jumped into her arms while the window was opened.

There was only three of them by the looks of it. One spent the time pumping gas into their black car, another was heading into the station, and the other one looked to be a young man, maybe in his 20's. He had blonde hair pulled up in his hood and obviously was a chain smoker by the cigarette in his mouth. He looked like the kind of guy that was pampered by his parents from the moment he was born too.

This kid's gaze suddenly shifted to John's car and greed started to form in his eyes when he walked over to it.

Mandy dropped Daisy back in the car and shifted away from him and over to John.

"Nice ride." The kid said, pulling his cigarette back between his lips. "Boss 429. She a '70?"

John corrected him and started to wrap up his business here at the gas station. "'69."

The kid nodded his head. "Beautiful car."

"Thanks."

Mandy took a deep breath and nudged John in his side with her elbow. He looked up and saw her offer her hand out. His eyes fell and dread form in the pit of his stomach when Mandy made that signal. He wanted more time to talk to her and see where she's been all these years, but right now was the worse time, and Mandy seemed to have picked up on it.

They both needed to hurry up and leave. Fast.

He took her hand firmly and shook it, never breaking eye contact with her. Mandy brought her other hand up and gently patted John on the cheek, bidding him farewell with a sad smile.

They broke apart and Mandy began to head back to her bike, grabbing the helmet off the hood of his car. Before she could even start her bike up and split, the kid suddenly spoke.

"How much?"

"Excuse me?" John questioned him.

"How much for the car?" The kid gestured to John's car with an irritated voice.

"She's not for sale." He said and quickly got in.

The kid went around to the passenger's side of the car and leaned in, petting Daisy on her head. "Oh, I love dogs." He said and looked John right in his eyes, now speaking in Russian. "Everything's got a price, bitch."

John stared right back at him and spoke in a steely voice. "Not this bitch."

He saw the kids eyes go wide with fury and he opened his mouth to most likely curse him out maybe or worse when a bike helmet was suddenly thrown in the air, striking the kid in the side of the head and knocking him to the ground.

John looked up swiftly and saw Mandy sitting on her bike at the edge of the station, arm out in a motion that told him that she was the one who threw the helmet. Mandy clicked her tongue at John and made a gesturing move with her thump that told him to, 'Hurry the fuck up and leave'.

The guy from inside the station came out at just the right time when the kid began to curse Mandy out with every dirty name in his small grade Russian dictionary.

"That fucking bitch! Who the hell does she think she is?"

Mandy cracked a wicked smile and stuck her middle finger out at the gang members. Before they all could react properly though, she revved up her bike and burned the rubber off her tires peeling out of the station. Mandy disappeared down the highway, the last thing John saw was a middle finger for them, and a single wave for him.

A smile slipped to his lips and he dropped his head to hide his laughter. John wasted no time and pulled out of the station while they were occupied.

That small encounter with his old best friend made the day seem to drag out longer. His head overflowed with untold questions he never got the chance to ask Mandy.

How did you get away?

Why did you have to leave?

Are you sure you're alright?

What happened on that night 10 years ago?

Too many questions. Not enough time, and a reluctant departure. The day Mandy left, he swore he really was never going to see her again, but this way he met her...because of Daisy, seemed really strange to him. Whatever the reason, he was grateful to know that she was safe in the end.

Still, he wished he had more time with her.

Unlucky enough, the day had already ended and he pulled himself in bed, once again by himself.

John looked over at the blankets on the ground where Daisy was laid on. "All right, come on, then." He gave the orders and Daisy leaped into action, jumping on the bed and rubbing up to his face.

The night didn't last for long when John was woken up by Daisy barking and springing off the bed.

John sat up in bed and peered up at her. "You need to go?" He spoke in a rough voice that was deprived of sleep.

He pulled himself out of bed and wandered through his dark house and down the stairs. He followed the sound of Daisy's scampering and wining barks. She was whimpering now.

"Daisy?" He called out when everything suddenly became silent. He didn't hear her anymore.

John looked around his dark house but froze at the bottom of the steps when he saw two hooded figures standing in the middle of his living room. They said nothing and stood perfectly still.

CLONK

John felt his whole head began to rattle and shake when he was suddenly struck in the back of the head by what sounded like a baseball bat. His body withered in pain when it dropped to the ground like a bag of stones

They turned on the lights and began their assault on him, kicking him in the stomach with their thick boots, knocking his rips with the metal bat, and kicking him in the face until his nose and mouth began to bleed. They laughed and mocked him while John laid on the ground, writhing in throbbing pain that paralyzed him where he was.

"Where are those fucking car keys?"

"That fucking bitch ain't here either."

Russian. They were speaking in Russian. And there were three of them?

They began to take the bat to his house and shattered everything made of glass while Daisy cried under the furniture before she ran out.

"Shut that fucking dog up!"

John could do nothing with his brittle body and watched with his hazy eyes, the men holding Daisy down on the ground and taking a large object and...with one wack and a wimper...she went silent.

They kicked John onto his back while they searched through the house for his car keys.

"Find the keys?"

"Here. I found them." He heard the sound of jingling keys.

One of the masked men grabbed John by his hair and forced his gaze on him. He pulled off his mask and revealed himself...the kid from the gas station.

"Sleep tight, bitch."

They took the large round object up in the air and slammed it down, the world falling into black.

John woke up from his pain-induced sleep and felt cold yet comfortable hand gently glide across his face and shoulder, shaking him softly.

"John? Hey, wake up. John."

Of course, he recognized that voice and could never mistake it. Not once.

John cracked open his eyes and stared up at amber brown ones that glowed in the warm light. Brown hair fell into his face and tickled his skin.

"Mandy?" He spoke in throbbing pain, his body clenching up with every letter he said.

"Hey, John," Mandy said in a sad-ridden voice. She was kneeling down beside him and was checking if he had any broken bones.

John cracked his head to the side and saw something beside him, right up in his face. It was a blood-covered towel that looked to have something small under it. He reached over to pull on the towel when Mandy grabbed his hand and stopped him.

"Don't. It would be best if you don't look. I'll handle it." She spoke gently and pulled his hand back, feeling him grasp it tightly. "I'll bury her."

John said nothing more and pulled Mandy's hand to his face, covering his eyes.

She sighed deeply and looked to her side, where her bike helmet was laid. She picked it up and saw that one side was covered in blood. Her eyes fell upon the towel that was covered in blood too.

Mandy cringed.

STAB

Mandy stabbed the shovel into the fresh burial mound that was now covered back over with dirt. A small grave for a small dog.

She was just as silent as the morning where not even the birds dared to chirp. She glanced down at John who sat motionless in front of Daisy's grave.

"How did you find this place?" John asked in a monotone voice.

"My helmet...has a tracker in it." She bit down on her lips and leaned against the shovel. "I had a bad feeling about those guys, so that's why I..." Mandy stopped herself and took a breath. "The signal brought me here."

John was quiet before answering her. "Oh..."

Author's Note:

I was on a roll today and decided to post another chapter of this story. I really hope you're enjoying it so far, and don't worry, I will reveal what happened to Mandy on that night 10 years ago.

Let me tell you this. I was watching the scene while writing about Daisy's death and...I was so close to crying when they killed her. Man, that still gets to me.