CHAPTER 3: Strange Encounters

Lammy was at her first job interview since she had gotten off her medication, then had a sleepover with Petunia and Giggles. Everyone was really excited for her. Giggles set her up at the Donut Shop. Flaky was just happy knowing her friend was happy...but deep inside she was afraid she'd be alone. Everyone has plans and careers and now she'd be sitting in an empty house by her lonesome. With the current nightmare, her regular fearful thoughts had tripled. She had to get out of the house. She had never walked to the store by herself before, nevertheless, considered it. Flaky is too afraid to get kidnapped or...worse. Tonight she just didn't want to be solitary, but she had no one to take her. Flaky weighed the two choice, staying home and risking it.

"Maybe If I run." She thought worriedly. "Well, it IS suppose to rain."

"If someone breaks in while I am alone..."

"No. I'll go. I have to run into someone. We need groceries anyway..."

"What if someone tazers me and drags me into their car?!"
"Stay out of the road, and if someone comes, walk to a random house and act like it's yours. If a car slows down, run into grassy areas."

She stood up quickly, courageous and bold. She pulled her sneakers on, rolled up her jeans into capris, and slung on a loose brown sweater over her raglan. Flaky pulled up her hair, trying to look less like prey, more like an average girl. She wore her hair up often though, the back was messy and wild, voluminous. Flaky felt comfortable that way, it was the way her mom had always done her hair when she was in competitive sports.

Now stomping off to the door. "I'm gonna do it."

Thrusting her hand forward. "I am gonna do it."

A foot away from the knob. " I AM GOING TO DO IT"

Her fingers reached the cold metal. Flashback of HIS yellow eye in the peephole peering in. Flaky recoiled.

"Nope." She started to take her sweater off and noticed the sun setting.

"Poop...alright." She closed her eyes and swung open the door. Shutting it softly behind her. She felt a surge of confidence.

"It's only ten minutes away. Seven if I go fast" Flaky nervously inched down the stairs looking down the street. She lifted her arms and began to fidget with her hair. Strand by strand she eased time away, twirling it between her fingers. A car would pass and she would head into the yard she was next to. Flaky's heart beating. The sun was going down and getting darker. The clouds were billowing above her. She was also afraid to be struck by lightning and the sound of thunder often startled her. Flaky started speed walking. Passing through the park. She heard soft mumbling from the slide. Terrified she briskly walked by, noticing a man. He didn't move towards her, nor talk directly to her. He looked as if he was sleeping and was simply just talking unconsciously. The man had a hat rested over his face, both arms comfortably placed behind his head. One of his legs were bent and the other hung off the slide. He seemed to be tall. She leaned in for a closer look. She scanned the man head to toe. Green locks peered from under the hat, he was wearing a black t-shirt with a couple of dog tags. As she went lower she noticed the camo pants and lace up boots. Flaky realized who it was.

"Get out of here." She thought. Flaky looked up at the darkening sky and felt a small drop of water. A pain began to eat at her, guilt. She couldn't leave him there in the rain, or at least without telling him.

"Just wake him up and run away." She lifted a fingered and cautiously moved toward the slide. The man's snores became more apparent, soft and childlike. Flaky looked down at his chest. Soft blissful breaths. Her stance lightened.

"Excuse me?" She said quietly, skin heating.

"Sir? Excuse me?" She said mousy. She was still a young naive girl, only seventeen and little experience in many things.

She tapped his leg. "Sir." She said louder. His foot twitched, pushing her back ready to run. She quickly noticed he was still asleep. Now more agitated she got in closer, hovering over him. Flaky lifted his hat up, "Excuse me?" The man's face swished around, his eyes tightened. Slightly squinting. He saw a dainty figure above him. He widely pried his eyes open.

"Ah!" He shouted in fright. Lifting his torso up he smashed his face on awning of the slide.

Flaky screamed in response. "I-I'm sorry!" Too afraid to move she closed her eyes and covered her face. He rubbed his head sorely. He slowly approached her. "D-don't come closer!"

"Oh...um...sorry." He backed up and sat lightly again on the slide. "Better?"

She dropped her arms gradually. "...Yeah.." She stared in puzzlement. He was just SITTING THERE. Making soft gestures and warm welcoming faces. His eyes were a deep olive green, glassy and honest. "You alright? I didn't mean to frighten you."

"I-it's okay...really. I j-just wanted to tell you it was going to rain. Y-you should probably head home."

He looked down unhappily. "You are looking at it." Flaky opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted. "Don't worry though, I was use to worse in the barracks. Trenches can be terribly uncomfortable...haha..ha" He laughed awkwardly trying not to pull her into his problems. Flaky looked at her pockets and reached in, she felt around for the money. She groaned noticing how late it had gotten and looked back at the man. "Flippy, right?" She said apprehensively.

"Yes, you?" He asked cheerfully.

"Flaky." An piercing silence rolled over their heads.

"If you'd like a place to stay til the storm passes, you can stay with me. We have a pullout couch. But, you'd have to walk with me to get groceries, I am afraid to walk by myself."

"It'd be my pleasure, Miss. Now?" He said jumping up abruptly frantically looking around in circles. "Ah!" he picked up a light camo jacket. He placed it over her shoulders. She slunk down thinking he was grabbing her to see his shadow move infront of her.

"If it's going to rain, I don't want you to get sick." Flaky tried to hide her smile, she knew deep inside he was still the treacherous man at the shop. He was still the looming nightmare that had plagued her thoughts. Yet, in the hush of the summer night, she felt comfort next to his side, but the pit in her stomach never subsided.