Aug 3, 2020 18:05:55 GMT -5
 | anywhere feels like home |
Even though his hours had been cut, Charlie hadn’t lost his bus boy job. It was honestly what he’d been expecting, but the boss didn’t want to close down. So now Charlie was in the dish pit. Which meant, as he was leaving work - with half an hour before curfew and lights out - he was damp and smelled faintly of musty water. It wasn’t the nicest smile, but at least he was still getting paid.
Walking meant not having to pay for a vehicle - or insurance - and so Charlie chose to walk rather than invest in any kind of vehicle. He used to have a bike, but it got stolen the last time he took it to work. That was alright, because he got to cut through the park when he was walking and enjoy the scenery. It took him almost exactly half an hour to make it to and through the park, and his apartment was right on the other side. It worked out pretty well for him. Of course, he had to take a shower in the dark, and no electric meant no water heater, but that was also okay.
He was on his usual trek through the park, earbuds stuck firmly in his ears, music at a sensible volume but still loud enough to muffle outside sound. He might have never noticed it if not for a lull in his music’s beat. But he heard it - a cry. A yowl.
Pausing his music, Charlie felt his brows pull together in confusion as he glanced around. It was getting darker by the minute, and once curfew hit it would be night time. He didn’t have any spare time really. But just as he was turning to start walking again, he heard it - a yowl of a very distressed cat. Quickly followed by the hoarse laughter of at least two men. Frowning now, Charlie pulled the ear buds out of his ears and tucked his phone into his pocket. Moving towards the sounds, he found himself being led off the lit path running through the park. Partially hidden behind a cropping of trees, a group of men - five, in fact, and Charlie couldn’t really decide how old they were. A couple looked his age, but some hard hard lines on their faces that made him think they were older. In the center of their loose circle was a black cat, and the men were closing it in with some sort of mesh netting, shouting and laughing at the cat’s obvious distress. Charlie’s expression became pinched with confusion and disgust.
”Hey! Leave him alone!” He shouted, without really thinking about it. He was so surprised by himself that he froze when the men jerked in surprise and let their guards down enough to lose their chosen victim - the cat yowled angrily as it ricocheted off the legs of one of the men, darting off into the darkness of the park. Charlie watched the cat go, realization dawning on him as he turned his gaze back to the group of men, who were looking not so pleased with his presence.
’Get him!’ One of the men growled, and then suddenly they were all coming at him at a fast clip. Charlie felt his brows shoot up in shock, his entire body jerking away as he twisted, stumbling over his own feet and nearly hitting the ground. Scampering, Charlie caught traction and tore off, sprinting back towards the path. Already his heart was pounding in his ears, the shouts of the men growing louder. Charlie pushed his legs harder, running blindly down the path as he took glances over his shoulder to gauge how close the men were.Taking a sharp turn into the foliage on either side of the path, Charlie ducked into the woods, continuing to run but doing his best to avoid making too much noise. When he broke through the other side of the trees, he was right by the park bathrooms. Praying mentally, Charlie darted over to the men’s bathroom, which was locked. Feet scraping the ground as he scrambled over to the women’s bathroom, he let out a sigh of relief as the door pulled open. Darting inside, he pushed the slow-closing door with all his strength until it shut firmly, flipping the manual lock on the door. Pulling his phone out, he began fumbling with it, his hands shaking with the adrenaline. He was just pressing the nine when a loud bang sounded, the door shaking. Jumping back, his phone slipped from his hands and slapped the ground. Inhaling so violently he wheezed, Charlie dropped to his knees and grabbed the phone, flipping it over to confirm that the screen was shattered.
’I didn’t know we had a lady on our hands! Come on out, honey!’ The men on the other side of the door shouted mockingly, slamming their hands and bodies against the door. Groaning, Charlie drooped his chin to his chest, completely trapped with no way to call for help.
Walking meant not having to pay for a vehicle - or insurance - and so Charlie chose to walk rather than invest in any kind of vehicle. He used to have a bike, but it got stolen the last time he took it to work. That was alright, because he got to cut through the park when he was walking and enjoy the scenery. It took him almost exactly half an hour to make it to and through the park, and his apartment was right on the other side. It worked out pretty well for him. Of course, he had to take a shower in the dark, and no electric meant no water heater, but that was also okay.
He was on his usual trek through the park, earbuds stuck firmly in his ears, music at a sensible volume but still loud enough to muffle outside sound. He might have never noticed it if not for a lull in his music’s beat. But he heard it - a cry. A yowl.
Pausing his music, Charlie felt his brows pull together in confusion as he glanced around. It was getting darker by the minute, and once curfew hit it would be night time. He didn’t have any spare time really. But just as he was turning to start walking again, he heard it - a yowl of a very distressed cat. Quickly followed by the hoarse laughter of at least two men. Frowning now, Charlie pulled the ear buds out of his ears and tucked his phone into his pocket. Moving towards the sounds, he found himself being led off the lit path running through the park. Partially hidden behind a cropping of trees, a group of men - five, in fact, and Charlie couldn’t really decide how old they were. A couple looked his age, but some hard hard lines on their faces that made him think they were older. In the center of their loose circle was a black cat, and the men were closing it in with some sort of mesh netting, shouting and laughing at the cat’s obvious distress. Charlie’s expression became pinched with confusion and disgust.
”Hey! Leave him alone!” He shouted, without really thinking about it. He was so surprised by himself that he froze when the men jerked in surprise and let their guards down enough to lose their chosen victim - the cat yowled angrily as it ricocheted off the legs of one of the men, darting off into the darkness of the park. Charlie watched the cat go, realization dawning on him as he turned his gaze back to the group of men, who were looking not so pleased with his presence.
’Get him!’ One of the men growled, and then suddenly they were all coming at him at a fast clip. Charlie felt his brows shoot up in shock, his entire body jerking away as he twisted, stumbling over his own feet and nearly hitting the ground. Scampering, Charlie caught traction and tore off, sprinting back towards the path. Already his heart was pounding in his ears, the shouts of the men growing louder. Charlie pushed his legs harder, running blindly down the path as he took glances over his shoulder to gauge how close the men were.Taking a sharp turn into the foliage on either side of the path, Charlie ducked into the woods, continuing to run but doing his best to avoid making too much noise. When he broke through the other side of the trees, he was right by the park bathrooms. Praying mentally, Charlie darted over to the men’s bathroom, which was locked. Feet scraping the ground as he scrambled over to the women’s bathroom, he let out a sigh of relief as the door pulled open. Darting inside, he pushed the slow-closing door with all his strength until it shut firmly, flipping the manual lock on the door. Pulling his phone out, he began fumbling with it, his hands shaking with the adrenaline. He was just pressing the nine when a loud bang sounded, the door shaking. Jumping back, his phone slipped from his hands and slapped the ground. Inhaling so violently he wheezed, Charlie dropped to his knees and grabbed the phone, flipping it over to confirm that the screen was shattered.
’I didn’t know we had a lady on our hands! Come on out, honey!’ The men on the other side of the door shouted mockingly, slamming their hands and bodies against the door. Groaning, Charlie drooped his chin to his chest, completely trapped with no way to call for help.
844 words - open - HALP
(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE
