The vehicle skidded to a stop, leaving Naomi scrambling to rearrange herself. Her disheveled hair and mud-stained clothes added to the chaos, and she silently prayed she didn't emanate a disagreeable odor.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2kJEzrHA8
As the car's engine whispered to a halt, a door swung open, and Naomi's heart quickened at the sight of a figure stepping out. Hoping for a woman, she felt uncertain about interacting with another man after recent unsettling encounters.
A flashlight pierced the darkness, eliciting an annoyed squint from Naomi as she shielded her eyes. "Hello," the man in sweatpants called out. Clad in casual attire, he seemed an unlikely threat. The rain that drenched him didn't seem to bother him.
"Uhhm, are you okay?" he inquired, prompting Naomi's attempts to respond to resemble a fish out of water, the recent fright still evident in her voice.
Closing the distance, the man whispered, "Are you okay?"
With a weak nod she managed to utter, "I... I'm fine," her voice betraying a hint of strain.
"Really. Are you really okay?" he pressed, concern etching his brow.
"Mmm," she nodded softly.
"Do you want me to give you a ride?" he offered, his eyes scanning her face.
Caught in a dilemma, Naomi weighed the risks of entering a car with a stranger against the dangers lurking in the shadows.
"I know I'm a stranger, and your mommy probably taught you about stranger danger. But trust me, I'm not a big bad wolf. I won't blow your house down," he quipped, a genial smile softening his features. She remained silent, her eyes revealing a mix of wariness and contemplation.
Deciding she was fine, he nonchalantly shrugged, "Okay, I guess if you're fine. I should leave you alone," and turned to depart. Observing his retreating silhouette, Naomi felt a surge of readiness to confront whatever might transpire, even if it meant facing the menacing gang.
In the distance, a twig snapped, and she screamed, uncertainty casting a pall over reality. "Are you going to leave me here all on my own?" she implored after him.
He turned, sympathy giving way to amusement. "I was considering that."
"Y-you can't leave me here alone," she stammered, her gaze darting anxiously.
Tilting his head, he remarked, "So now you can talk." Understanding her shock, he reassured her, "It's okay, come on. Get in the car."
With a hesitant nod, she followed him, securing her seatbelt as they drove into the enveloping night.
**-***-****
Her hands remained restless in her lap as she fidgeted with them. As they drove she kept her attention on the window watching the unfamiliar houses and landmarks sweep by. She had no clue where she was or were she was going.
She could feel the burning stare of the stranger beside her burning through her skin and it added depth to her nerves.
She knew he was looking at her, assessing and scanning over every detail of her body and that made her uncomfortable. She fought the urge to tell him to keep his eyes to himself but he was her driver and she had to be nice.
If he kidnapped her and cut her to pieces before throwing into the sea noone would know what happened. So she simply had to be nice to end up alive.
She turned to look at him and he stared right back at her.
No shame at all.
Their eyes locked and she gulped
"Sir?" Naomi called
His eyes sparkled as he gazed at her staring into the depth of her soul "You don't have to call me sir it makes me feel old. My names Anthony " he held her gaze and slowly his eyes landed on her lips, lingering for a second or two.
She turned her head to the window looking out if it with a stoic expression "Are you a serial killer?" She asked him
The corners of his mouth rose as the words left her mouth, finally he brought his attention back on the road "No." He said simply. "I'm not a serial killer." He chuckled, shaking his head slightly "Why do you ask?"
She wet her lips "You're taking me to who knows where. And you're driving like a maniac."
He chuckled softly as he turned to glance at her "And that makes me a serial killer?"
She placed a strand of hair behind her ears, recoiling as her moist her drenched the tip of her fingers "You didn't even ask me where I was going. You're just...driving"
Another chuckle escaped him, he just couldn't hold it back "Number 1 I'm not driving like a maniac. I'm driving like a normal civilian it's the speed limit. And number 2 I was just about to ask you where you were going" Naomi suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.
Be nice, she reminded herself
"So where are you going miss..." He trailed off.
Getting the hint she looked at him finding his eyes already on her "My name is Naomi"
He nodded softly "Naomi? That's a beautiful name"
"Thank you"
"So where are you going? Naomi"
"Helslip"
His brows rose as he gawked at her "Helslip?!"
Slowly she turned to him, his behaviour confusing her "W-whats the matter"
His eyes roamed her face as his mouth hung open "Are you joking? Do you really live in Helslip?"
"Yes.I really do live in Helslip"
Anthony sighed as his palm wiped his forehead "Do you know where we are right now?" He asked as his gaze rested on the road
She shook her head "No"
"We're in Rockville"
"Rockyville?" Her brow rose an inch
"Rockville"
"I've never heard of it before." Her voice trailed off, she had never heard of any other place except for Helslip. It was her only haven. Born and raised "Is Helslip far from here?"
Anthony gazed at her with distant eyes, and as if just noticing his rude stare he cleared his throat turning away his gaze "It's a three days drive to Helslip"
Naomi's heart sank, any hope for reaching home crushed under a rock "So you won't be able to take me home" naomi said, she meant it as a question but it emerged as a statement. She turned to him " I don't want to disadvantage you, you've done more than enough for me. I really won't mind if you just drop me here"
They skidded to a stop as the robot turned red. His head snapped to her "What? No I won't drop you here. Why would I do such a thing?"
"Anthony it's ok. I'll do something I'll walk or I'll just hitchhike. Something. I don't know what but something. I don't want to burden you. You can just drop me here. Thank you" Naomi gave him a small smile, she sighed softly as she accepted her fate. Slowly she turned to unlock the door.
"Wait!" Anthony's panicked voice exclaimed as he leaned over her reaching for her hand. Taken aback, Naomi quickly let go of the door handle.
"What's the matter?" Naomi enquired. Eyes widened in shock as Anthony's face rested centimetres away from hers. His hand laid on her thigh.
Anthony scurried back, his face turning a shade of crimson, that ran from his neck up to his cheeks. "I don't know if I can let you go Naomi." He murmured under his breath. Naomi's brows furrowed as her eyes darted across his face
"I-I don't understand?"
At the witness of her confusion, he cleared his throat, as if embarrassed by his previous utterance. He ran his hands through his hair. "Naomi. What I mean is, it'll be unruly of me if I allow you walk alone in the night especially under this thunderstorm. My conscious won't allow me be if leave you to fend for yourself especially at this later hour."
Naomi gazed into his eyes, touched by his sincerity "Anthony. I don't want to be a burden on you, trust me I'll be ok. You've done more than enough for me already. I know it'll be impossible for you to be able to take me back to my home seeing that it's so late and you're probably exhausted from you days work."
"Yeah" Anthony nodded, rubbing his hands over his forehead. He laid his head on the car seat and turned to look at her "Taking you home wouldn't be an option" he sighed. Naomi watched as he closed his eyes, she blinked confused at his behaviour. Was he about to fall asleep?
She turned her head to look at the robots, gulping as the timer clicked 19. Her gaze returned to Anthony who's eyes remained shut. Her brows furrowed.
Was this normal?
"Anthony?" She called relief flooding her as his eyes fluttered opened.
"I think I know what we can do?" He said, excitement dropping from his tone
"W-whats that?"
Anthony sat up straight as his hands found the steering wheel. "I'll take you to my house"
Naomi's jaw dropped as her gaze darted across his face "You're joking"
Anthony smiled, a perfect row of teeth on display, she found herself captivated by his smile but removed those thoughts from her mind. "I'm not joking Naomi. That's the best options that we have here. Taking you a home right now will cost me alot. A three day trip is not a joking matter. As much as I would love to bring you back to the confines of your home, it won't be possible"
Naomi gulped as emotions flooded at the depth of her belly. She looked away from his captivating eyes, those eyes that screamed for her to succumb to his will, but she just couldn't "I hardly know you Anthony. I cant go to your home. My morals and ethics don't stand for it and who knows what can happen"
His brow furrowed. "Is this your way of saying that you don't trust me?"
"Anthony you're a stranger and I just met you" she reasoned
"Me saving your life isn't enough reason for you to trust me?" He inquired
Words failed her as he pierced into her soul, staring at her with a quiet intensity "Anthony. You- you know that's not what I meant. Trusts builds over time and we just met. I'm grateful that you helped me some moments ago but going to your house is just abnormal. We just met for crying out loud"
Anthony shook his head as he sighed, the robot turned green and his feet pressed onto the accelerator. An odd tension built up in the air as they drove. Naomi observed silently as Anthony parked at a corner. It was after he turned off the car lights that she realised how dark it really was. Everything was hidden behind the darkness, and she could hardly comprehend the figures that moved in the distance. An uncomfortable fear crawled up in her chest at what might be lurking beyond. She took a deep breath in trying to calm her racing heart.
"The only reason that I offered you a stay at my home is because I'm thinking of your safety. Rockville is a very dangerous place and a woman like you might end up in the hands of wrong people. Rockville is filled with gangsters, rapists and murderers and I don't want you to end up as a victim. The safest place you can be is in my home where I know that you'll be protected. But you've turned my help away and you obviously don't trust my intentions even though I've laid them bare before you. You can get down from the car now."
Naomi sat dumbfounded at the mention of how dangerous Rockville could be. Fear clawed at her chest as her gaze moved beyond the windshield, her gaze only being met with darkness. She should be grateful that he was allowing her freedom but at this point she wished she had taken up his offer. She gulped, her hands shaking in her laps, who knew what rested beyond the darkness.
She felt his hands on hers, they were warm and soft. His thumb running over her skin. Slowly she turned to look at him. "Aren't you going to go" he asked her, his eyes unwavering as he gazed at her.
She took in a deep breath, her eyes moving from the windshield and back to him. She looked down at their joined hands "I'm scared" she admitted in a breath.
He looked down at her, as a small smile touched his face. Slowly he raised his hand to lay it on her cheek, his thumb ran over her pale, smooth skin. "Let me take you to my home" Anthony whispered.
"O-ok" she muttered reluctantly. A grin erupted onto his face and as he reached for the steering wheel. She touched his arm and in shock he turned to her "But you need to promise me that you'll take me home"
He nodded "I promise."
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