People gawked at her disheveled appearance as they unknowingly strode under the sparkling blue lines. Her wild attire looked more appropriate for an Asian whorehouse than outside a judicial building. Her bandaged hands and bloody feet concerned Daniel, but he knew to approach with caution.
Stepping closer, he said, “Hey there. My name’s Daniel … Daniel Robertson. What’s yours?” His words sounded patronizing, as though he were attempting to calm a spooked horse. He winced as soon as they left his lips.
Madelin acknowledged the weathered gentleman with a wary eye. His accent was strange, even compared to those she had heard in the streets of this unfamiliar city. The words were slow but clear, like the woman’s voice in the car.
“Gloria,” she replied, unsure if she could trust this strange man. “Can I help you?”
“You look like you might be the one in need of some help, Gloria.” Daniel glanced at her wounds and pointed to her hands. “Did you run into a little trouble? Do you have a place to go and wash up?”
Reminded of her injuries, her hands began to throb. While fleeing she had set aside her discomfort, but now she grimaced. Struggling for a response, she replied, “No I don’t, but I … I … I’m sure I can find a place.”
“Well, my apartment is just a couple blocks away, or I could arrange for a trip to the hospital,” he offered.
The mention of a hospital prompted Madelin to panic. “No, no, that won’t be necessary,” she replied. “I’m sure I can make it till my friend joins me.”
“Well, why don’t you come with me to wash up and get out of the sun,” Daniel prompted, noticing the bright sunburn along her arms and face. “I’ll help you find your friend too,” he added, seeing her hesitate. “Please, you can trust me.”
Madelin could feel the sun sapping her energy and was reassured by the same words her mysterious friend had spoken the night before.
How long will it take him to find me? she wondered. What if he can’t? What if he gets caught up, or can’t get through to this place? The questions built up in her mind and she shook her head to rid herself of the pessimism. I can’t think that way. He said he’d find me. He did it before so he can do it again. Until then this man’s right, I need to find a place to hide. It’s what … what was his name? she wondered again. Well, it’s what he said to do, but can I trust this guy? He doesn’t look like an agent, but until today the only people I ever saw wore white lab coats.
Preferring the cautious path, she replied, “Thanks, but I’ll be okay.”
Madelin took a few steps across the rock strewn yard, ignoring the pain as porous objects dug into her feet. She circled him and stepped into the crowd to find a place to lay low. She attempted to turn into the oncoming traffic, but the flow of pedestrians forced her the other way. Giving in, she fell into step with the business men and women. Some of them glared, but the looks only lasted a second as they went about their business. She caught a glimpse of the scarred man in the open shirt before he disappeared into the crowded street behind her. As the courthouse fell from view, she watched to see if he was following but the crowded sidewalk made it impossible to tell.
The buildings in this world were different. While some resembled the tall sky-scrapers she had seen less than an hour before, most were brick like the courthouse. Then there were others covered in a tan coat of something seamless and coarse. A while later her limbs began to ache. The sidewalk was harder on her than the sand had been.
Seeing a cloth awning stretched over a brick store front, she sought refuge from the sun. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Fatigued, she slumped down to the cement and clutched her knees to her chest while waves of people continued to pass by. She reminded herself to keep her eyes open, in case the time came to run again. Frustrated, but not wishing to wind up back in the hospital, she opened her eyes to the world around her.
A few minutes passed before she saw a recent face staring from across the sidewalk. It vanished in the multitude of travelers, but reappeared the instant the flow broke. The muscular man from before stared down with pitying eyes. The wind blew open his shirt, revealing a sweat stained undershirt that might have once been white. Now it resembled his tan cargo pants in stiffness and color.
What does this guy want? It looks like he’s got enough to keep him busy. And he doesn’t look like the other suited people walking around. Matching his gaze, she considered her options.
Seeing that she was not about to run, Daniel brushed through the oncoming traffic and lowered himself next to her. “Do you mind if I join you then?”
Madelin considered the question. After glancing up both avenues, shook her head. He seated himself less than a foot away. Leaning back against the wall, he let out a strained sigh.
After a few minutes of silence, he stated matter-of-factly, “Don’t trust anyone?”
The observation startled Madelin and she sent him a sidelong glance. He did not mince words. She shook her head again. Daniel nodded, understanding the sentiment.
“I don’t blame you. I don’t either.” There was a pause before he continued, his eyes staring into the busy milieu of people. “Honestly, I don’t know why I offered, or even why I followed you here, but I can tell you need help. We all do at times. God knows there’ve been times when I could have used some. Maybe if I’d had some, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today.”
Madelin tried to block the older man out, but his words invaded her thoughts until they peaked her interest. Unable to help herself, she asked, “And what’s bothering you today?”
Daniel let out a chuckle. “… A lot … the same things that have been on my mind for years. We’ve all got a past, things we regret. I wish I could stop running from them but no matter what you do, your past always catches up. The question is, will you be ready when it does?”
Madelin thought about his assessment of life for a few minutes. Without much experience to draw on, she could not dispute the statement. “Why can’t you outrun it?”
“Well, you might be able to, but it’ll always be there … up here,” he said tapping his temple with a crooked finger. “You can’t outrun what you carry around with you.”
Madelin laughed. If only he had a PASTOR doc at his beck and call. They could take care of things. I can’t remember a thing before a few weeks ago.
Giving up, he interrupted her thoughts with a shrug, “Well, at least I tried. Hope you find your friend.”
Getting up, he stretched for a moment and gave her time to reconsider his offer. He took a step toward the crowded sidewalk, but stopped as a hand grasped the bottom of his shirt. Looking back at her shadowed form, her green eyes pleaded with him.
“Do you have a place I could hide?” she muttered.
He smiled, nodded, and handed her an open palm. “You can try, but you can’t run from the memories.”
Well you can’t run from what you don’t have, thought Madelin with a silent chuckle. She wished to be away from prying eyes and accepted his offer.
He carefully pulled her to her feet and motioned back the way they came. “This way.”
Daniel escorted Madelin along the right side of the walkway, away from the oncoming traffic. She watched the buildings come and go, astonished at the differences in the two cities. There were more people clumped together in the streets here, and trash had collected in the corners of the storefronts.
The grueling pace he set along the sidewalk pained her shredded feet but she pushed on. Daniel noticed with a glance that her suffering, while stifled, was leaving its mark on the sidewalk with each painful step.
“My God, woman!” he exclaimed, “at least let me carry you.”
“No thanks. It’s fine,” she replied through clenched teeth, thankful that he had stopped.
Daniel searched the street for the shoe store he saw earlier. He found it just three doors down. Slipping one arm under hers and the other around her waist, he said, “Sorry, but we just need to go up here.”
At first M
adelin tried to push him away, tensing as he lifted her, but his grip was like steel. It was something he had always prided himself on. Carrying her was no more difficult than hefting a bag of groceries and as his words sunk in, she began to relax in his arms. “Will you at least take a pair of shoes? There are still a couple blocks before we reach my apartment and I can’t watch you tear your feet apart.”
Before she could even consider the question, they reached the storefront of a small brick building and he lowered her to the ground. Assorted shoes were propped up in the window for sidewalk traffic to see.
“Do they give them to you?” she asked, looking up at Daniel with childish hope.
He peered down at Madelin, one eyebrow raised, before replying. “They’ll give them to you. Wait here.” Then he strode up the steps and into the small store.
Minutes later, he returned with a moist rag, socks, and a pair of white canvas shoes. Motioning for her to sit on the stair, he overturned one foot and washed the bloody bottom. With her foot cradled in his hand, the tenseness fled from his touch. Her calf relaxed as he massaged the dirt away from her swollen heel and a long cooling breath escaped her lips.
Daniel assessed the damage and frowned. Unable to do more, he slipped the ankle-high sock and shoe over her toes and tied it. Then, he set her foot down and did the same for her other. Flipping the towel over, he mopped around her bloody fingers and rewrapped her hands with strips from her kimono.
He hoped this would be enough for her to make it to his apartment, and wherever else she was headed. Standing up, she tested her new footwear. Although her feet were clean, he could see that the blistered remains of her feet ached with the pressure.
At least the shoes will shelter them from the heated pavement, he thought. It was the best he could do if she would not see a doctor.
As he stood up, Madelin looked into his towering eyes and muttered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied. “Do you think you can walk?”
“Sure,” she said. A large smile brightened her face. As they set out, he noticed her eyes searching the street like a feral cat. Seeing nothing, she stepped into the sunshine and matched Daniel’s steps.
She maintained her wary search as they walked. Her smile returned each time he looked at her, but was gone a moment later.
“Are you running from someone?” He knew the words were abrupt, but there was no easy way to broach the topic. If she was, he would do what he could to protect her. It was obvious that she had been through a lot. Who would attack such an innocent young woman, he questioned.
Madelin hesitated before mumbling an answer. “Yes, but I don’t know if they’ve found me. I don’t know what they’re really capable of.”
The answer was vague, but enough to satisfy Daniel’s curiosity, for the moment. “How long have you been here?”
“Not long. I just got to town. My friend is supposed to find me.”
“Where’d he tell you to meet him?” Daniel asked.
After a brief hesitation, she answered, “Well, he’ll find me. So, just in the city, somewhere...”
She knew this was vague, but did not know what else to tell him. This world was not as advanced as the one she came from. There were fewer billboards and none were digital. Everything she saw was archaic, although there was no denying that it was the same city. Even the buildings looked older.
How much would he believe, coming from this simpler place? she wondered.
Daniel looked at her in askance. “I don’t understand. How is it that he’ll find you … anywhere?”
After a few deep breaths and a prolonged silence, Madelin gave in. “My name’s actually Madelin. I didn’t know if I could trust you before, but I think I can now.”
She elaborated on the events of her story, laying them out as simply as she could. It was not too difficult, since she knew so little about the world she came from.
Daniel listened with a dedicated ear, but could not help the skepticism that crept into his thoughts. They walked past the various musical groups socializing on paint buckets and were approaching his block when her story wound to a close. The most unbelievable part came at the very end, when she described the dark, tainted rose budding out of the brick wall and her unrealistic escape.
He considered what she said in the lengthening silence that followed. So much of it seemed far-fetched, defying everything Daniel had come to know over the last forty-three years. However, her curious appearance told him there was much more to her story than one would think. He did not know if it was true but in the end time would tell. What plagued him was that something about her story seemed right. He weighed his options, but stopped when he looked back at her fragile body. It did not matter if he believed her. He was still going to help. Looking up, he noticed that they were standing across the street from his apartment, the same spot he had first seen the bobbing man.
Madeline peered at the building and asked, “Is that your place?”
“Yes,” he responded, “for now.”
She gave him a quizzical look before following him into the street. The blinking ghost of a man was threatening to disappear from the stop light overhead. They walked through the propped door and past the hotel attendant without a word. The man’s eyes flicked up before returning to the El Paso Times spread wide in front of him. Daniel proceeded up the stairs with a glance back to ensure she had kept up.
Madelin understood and followed with downcast eyes, counting the aged flowers embedded in the carpet. As they wound their way up the flight of steps, a slight breeze penetrated the building, drifting through the window at the end of the hallway.
Most of the lights were off, which left the building a degree cooler. Every little bit helps, thought Daniel as he tiptoed down the creaking hall. He reached apartment 309 a moment later and motioned for Madelin to step back and stay against the wall. He unlocked the door and opened it a crack to peer inside.
Madelin did as he asked, but questions were forming in her mind. Who is this man? What’s he running from? Whatever it is, he’d better explain himself, and soon, she concluded. What the hell have I gotten myself into now? The shadowed hallway hid her expression well.
Daniel stepped inside and after a brief survey of the room he opened the door for her. She refused to take her eyes from him as she glided past and into the stale room.
Grabbing a towel from the bedside table, he reached up and broke the hallway light bulb. He crushed it in the towel and scattered the remains in front of the door and along both sides of the wall. Then, he stepped back into the room, tossed the rag into the trash bin, and reached for the door. As soon as the door shut, Madelin began checking off the questions that popped into her mind.
“Now I’ve been completely honest with you, but you don’t seem to have done the same for me. Why are you prowling around your own home? Why the hell are you tossing glass in the hallway? And what do you mean this is your apartment, FOR NOW?”
Her tone was harsh and a hiss inflected the ends of some words, but at least she knew not to raise her voice and jeopardize either of them, he thought.
Daniel sat down in the faded corner chair and stared at the outraged woman, astonished at the venom this innocent flower could create. The willpower it must have taken to keep that emotion from spilling over was impressive. Daniel braced himself as the tongue lashing went on.
“In fact, who the hell are you really, Mr. Robertson?” she finished with a whispered shout.
Her blood was boiling. She reminded him of automatic artillery, still smoking and spinning after depleting its rounds of ammunition. Heat radiated from her like the agitated weapon, but he chalked it up to the sauna he lived in.
Giving her a moment to collect herself, Daniel watched her breathing slow and the fire in her green eyes dwindle to embers. Her tattered kimono fluttered around her as a small breeze drifted through the open window. The sunlight streaming in around her added a majestic flare in the dim apartment. The room was too small t
o hold the presence of such a woman.
After an agonizing minute, he whispered, “Dangerous people are after me, too. Do you think these scars are from cooking?” A hint of a smile lingered on his lips as he pointed at the healed slashes crisscrossing his lower cheek.
“No, but I…”
“Let me finish,” he interrupted. The embers within her eyes glowed with intensity. Her features seemed too fragile to contain such rage. But the fire within her incited thoughts of passion, especially when she was half his age, but he dismissed them for the very same reason. Her porcelain cheeks paled again as he continued. “I offered to help you and have done so with the best of intentions, but my reasons for doing it have been a bit selfish.”
Madelin slid into the wooden chair by the window, never taking her eyes off Daniel.
“I’ve done things in the past that I regret,” he continued, “and recently I’ve tried to make amends. Some people aren’t too happy about my recent decisions though, and they’ve placed eliminating me at the top of their ‘To Do List’ this year.”
He paused in thought, but Madelin knew better than to speak up. She wanted … no, needed to hear him out.
“Now, I don’t mind dying, that ain’t the case. God knows I pray for it, but I need to correct a few wrongs before I kick it. These people aren’t pushovers, and I’ve tried to stay out of their cross-hairs. I didn’t want to bring you into it, but I couldn’t leave you at the steps to that courthouse in the shape you were in. It wouldn’t have been right. I just hope I didn’t drag you into their sights, too.”
His eyes were downcast as his voice trailed off, but glanced up at her bloodstained hands and feet. Would they ever stop bleeding, he wondered? Could it be stigmata? His recent pursuit for salvation had brought him to consider religion as a solution, but blind faith was still a troubling obstacle. He let the thought die without a voice.
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