"Jen, finish stacking and go to lunch."
Taking a breath, I pumped a fist up in acknowledgment. Half way through the shift and I am just done. Typical job in a warehouse, stacking sheets of cardboard by hand for hours is easy and boringly repetitive.
Hearing something crash and cursing in the background, I quickly finished up my task and moved to help. Just a giant stack of boxes tipping over. Ten minutes later, I got shooed off with a "go eat."
Snagging my bag from the fridge, I stepped out to the deck that is used more often during the day shift compared to the graveyard shift. No one else was out here.
No one, except for this tank of a person dressed in black holding a crowbar, who is running at me.
I have never been attacked before in my life. Any classes I took for fighting and self defense was years ago. However I do know a few important things to do.
Drop whatever I have in my hands, get a table between us and grab a chair. I didn't bother screaming, no one else was out here and the walls are too thick for those inside to hear anything. Don't bother being a hero, just make my way back inside and get help.
The game of cat and mouse, it's terrifying. I keep making my way to the door, only to be herded back. The crowbar made contact multiple times to my arms and torso and I managed to smack the assailant with the chair in turn. So far, I haven't been . . .
White blanked out my sight as my forehead erupted in pain. That hurt, so much. Metal meeting my left knee had me crumpling down. And all went black.
TT
Not really having a body right now, I've been floating in the dark void for who knows how long. There's no light to follow, no voices, no images. No idea on whether I'm dead or in a coma.
Coma.
Surprise jolted through my conscience. A bit of red came into view, with white flowing just above.
I am Darkrai. I choose you. Find me.
Sensation flooded back. Oh sweet nervous system, I will never take you for granted again. It is wet, and I am in pain. The spots where the crowbar made contact are throbbing.
Pushing myself up while maintaining weight onto my right leg, I took a quick stock on myself. Orange shirt, yellow safety vest, steel toed boots, blue jeans, cut resistant gloves, blue hard hat and earmuffs. Dark blonde hair poking out, glasses are on my face and surprisingly not broken. Hearing aids safely in my ears, protected by the muffs. Feeling my forehead, there's a nasty gash. Feels like blood is fully clotted up there, I can feel dried blood clinging to my face. But there is no blood freely flowing.
My lunch bag is by my feet, filled with a Gatorade and non-perishables as I don't like prepping meals. And my phone is in my pocket, and it has a very different casing. Black with a picture of Darkrai. Probably a reminder.
None of that is important. Not as important as the ship I see in the water, sailing away from my location. And there are heavy, dark clouds on the horizon, and with the way the wind is blowing, it's going to hit land relatively soon.
Cramming the muffs and books into my bag, I hobbled up the shore, "Shit shit shit. Please say there's even a shed."
Nothing.
I found a ship docking area, but no form of a building. More inland are trees, so close together, I can't see beyond the tree line. I did snag a sturdy looking stick, for my knee is killing me. And now, the clouds have overtaken the sky completely. Visibility is dropping fast.
All the spots where I was hit before decided to throb at the same time. Might as well take the chance to do a proper check on the rest of my body now before it gets too dark. Rolling my pants up, I was greeted with red, blue and purple. I can obviously still walk, so not broken. Pulling my shirt off, I have plenty of splotches decorating my skin.
Feeling a fat drop of water hit my nose, I pulled my shirt back on and tucked my hearing aids into my bag. Hopefully that will be enough to keep them dry.
I worked at an airport before for several years. And I've endured all types of weather. There was even a few weeks where it was nothing but snow and rain. That was a miserable time for everyone. Here, the temperature has to be in the 60s, and there is no snow. I can do this. Close to the docking area, there is a line of boulders. Keeping the stones between me and the water, I braced myself for a long night.
TT
Doesn't matter if the temps were in the 80s or 90s, the water is COLD! And the wind isn't helping. Most certainly doesn't help with the injuries.
Sputtering as another wave came over, I readjusted my glasses and looked up. Full moon peeking through the clouds dead center up. Perhaps around midnight. Six or seven more hours to go. Lovely.
Thoughts drifting to the dream I had earlier. It could just be playing pokemon games excessively. I mean, I can believe of being in a coma. But come on, being chosen? I'll take it seriously when I see a pokemon in the waking realm, not a dream.
Hours later, the rain finally let up as light started peeking over the horizon. I am never riding the weather out like that again. Sniffling, I pushed myself up and scanned the water. No ships in sight. Though there is debris floating just on the shoreline. You know, I can probably make myself a shelter now, just need to find a spot away from the shore. Let's set up a signal that someone is here first.
Said signal was a few branches tied into a simple cross and the safety vest added. Hardest part was making sure the cross would stay standing up for a prolong period of time.
After finding a semi-private to do private business, I took my boots off and rolled the pants up, and waded into the water.