Chapter Two - Gods Of Fortune

I began to feel exhausted from running, and my legs began to ache more with every step. I looked around swiftly for a place to call home for the night. A burrow would be good, but there were none in sight. But across the bridge, in the distance, sat a large shop, the words 'Marietta Electronics'. A lamplight shined from the upper window, and smoke billowed from the chimney. I could hear music and laughter from outside. I thought it was too good to be true; they must be some gang or something, but I never ventured this far before. Clutching my rucksack, I attempted to get closer, hoping to see who was laughing.

Sure enough, several biker types were drinking, laughing and cuddling.

"I don't like the looks or sound of this." I told myself under my breath, changing direction back to the bridge. I never liked backtracking or leaving a trail behind myself, but for my safety, I felt that it was necessary this time. Just as I reached the stone wall that crossed over the water, I heard a faint scream, a girl for sure, echo from behind, followed by laughter. I told myself it must have been the bikers messing around and proceeded to make my way across. Then, another scream bellowed out, much louder and scared. Ignoring my better instincts, I ran as fast as my legs would carry me to the source.

The small shop had gotten closer, now more prominent than before, and I could make out a young girl with black hair and a leather jacket to match being tossed about between them forcefully. She couldn't have been much older than me, no more than 20. The girl went from one man to another, struggling with all of her might, but to no avail. I felt my heart sink into my chest at the sight and against my better judgement, a feeble attempt of help shot out my mouth.

"Leave her alone!" I stumbled to say—the words falling out of my mouth like bricks in water. The commotion halted for a moment, and all at once too, with the weight of their words hitting me like the strokes of golf.

"Bugger off Hero. You don't want to get involved with this, or it'll be you in this circle!" A skinny man retorted, continuing to push her around. I looked around the dusty floor for some weapon, finally deciding to wield an iron pipe that had been discarded most likely by one of them. I held it tight in my hand and told again, "Leave her alone." My words sounded more confident, at least enough for the group to send one of their men to 'deal with me.' He was a fair-sized man, and his grey hair slicked back with the grease from his sweaty forehead. Squaring up to me, I felt his disgusting breath brush against my face with every word he spoke - the stench of rot engulfing me until it was difficult to breathe.

"Walk away," he began, "before you end up dead." He extended a long wrinkly finger to a skip hidden away in the shadows of the shop home to a dozen flies. I could only assume the worst, my mind racing back and forth about how to deal with this situation.

'I couldn't just leave a girl in danger, could I?' I wondered, but when I thought about it, it was evident that this was a bad idea. I began to walk away, bowing my head in shame and carrying the pipe. I could feel the girl's eyes pierce me like a needle from behind and what she screamed at me confirmed it.

"What the fuck? You're just going to walk away?" She called. I stopped in my tracks and let the words bounce around.

"No one's going to save you, little lady!" Replied the same man who got in my face. I squeezed the pipe hard until my fingers turned white and turned around abruptly. Then, without thinking, I launched the pipe hard and fast, sending it torpedoing towards the back of his head, and he came crashing down to the ground. The others turned and stared, confused about what had happened, but this gave the girl enough time to escape and begin running towards me at impressive speed.

"Run, idiot!" She called, passing me by. As the wind brushed my face, I realised she was right. Turning back, the bikers had begun racing to their bikes, some already revving the engine playfully as if they were giving us a head start. I sprinted behind her, still exhausted from before and barely catching her up. I watched as she stood on the edge of the bridge wall, contemplating jumping, but thankfully that gave me enough time to catch up to her, and I stood by her, taking this random girl's hand in my own before leaping into the icy water below.

We were entirely submerged by the time we'd hit the water, and the shock seized my muscles so much that I felt like I was about to sink like a whale. I attempted to rise, but she held me down, clinging onto my leg and shaking her head slowly. I looked up and noticed the bikers peering, desperately looking for us. My eyes slowly closed as my legs scrambled to keep me afloat to no avail - her grip was too firm.

Then, her hands pulled off my leg, and her grip slackened, allowing me to kick back to the surface, taking a deep breath as I finally rose as she too did. I tried my best to swim to the bank, but with my frozen arms, it was a struggle. She noticed this, already sat on the shore waiting for me, and without thinking, dived back in and supported me, taking my arm around her back and swimming to the shore.

"Thank you - for saving back there. For a second, I thought you would leave me." She said, her face looked sad.

"In all honesty, I was. I've spent five years in this place, and the only person I need to look after is myself." I sighed heavily with thoughts of the horrible torture and pain I experienced here.

"Five years!" She began, "I've only been here one. Why are you here? What did you do?"

I didn't respond, hoping the silence would put her off, but instead, she nudged my arm, sending a slight tingling feeling up my body as it began to thaw.

"You could at least tell me your name? I want to thank the man who saved my life properly. Who knows what they were going to do to me!"

"My name is Tyler." I stuck my hand out for a handshake which she met gratefully. "What about you? What do I call you?"

"Are you implying that we will see each other again?" She mocked. "I mean, you might be right. Unfortunately, we live in a place where there is only the solace of being alone."