Thursday, July 5, 2012

Passengers: An RWN Original Story - The Lakeland Striker Pt. 2


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Tag#2

Brendan Sawyer: Loner, Perceptive, Light Sleeper
Prompt: Sunset
Word count: 763
Warnings: Slight language
**As part of a round robin collaboration found at: Rebel Writers Nirvana**



As the bus pulled into the stop, Brendan rushed from the doors as they pushed opened with a sad hiss. He hurried towards the pay phones and punched in the number to his apartment. “Come on Ary pick up!” he sighed and listened to the incessant ringing in his ear. “Come on, come on.” He found it ironic the news report about the girl found dead in her apartment just after she watched the program and cussed under his breath. He should have paid more attention to the story instead of turning it off and ignoring the image of the man police believed was committing these crimes.

Finally after what seemed like an hour the machine picked up and he yelled into the receiver for her to call him back within the next fifteen minutes to let him know she was ok. There wasn’t any way for him to get back to town unless he hitchhiked and there was no way for him to contact her unless they made another stop. “Ary it’s important PLEASE call me at (555) 762-4813 it’s urgent ok? The bus will only be here for another 10 minutes and I need to hear from you.”


He hung up and rested his back against the wall as he waited for the phone to ring. Tapping his foot impatiently he patted the pocket he usually carried his cigarettes in and cussed himself again. He hadn’t purchased another pack and he was currently out. A man breezed by him heading towards the concession stand and he took a glimpse at the remaining people milling about the stop stretching their legs. One girl in particular really stood out to him as she reminded him very much of his Aryana. Her beautiful blond locks were swept carelessly into a bun that hung aimlessly over her shoulder and even though she smiled slightly at the sight of the couple with the baby he noted the sadness in her eyes as well.


Brendan pulled up from the wall and hurried inside to grab some smokes. He was stressing too much to not have his trusty cancer sticks to calm his nerves. He stood in the line behind a mousy looking woman who continuously thumped the book clutched between her hands. When she finally completed her purchase he moved to the register and sighed dejectedly realizing this mart did not carry his particular brand of cigarettes. Instead he settled for a pack of Marlboros and an apple juice.


A loud argument emerged from the corner of the shop and drew his attention. Two men from the bus seemed to be getting in one another’s face about something. He couldn’t make out what was being said but he could determine that threats were being issued since the darker haired gentleman looked rather serious as he addressed the other. The phone rang outside and Brendan quickly dropped what he was doing and rushed out towards it. Getting caught at the door by an elderly woman he tried to sidestep her a few times only to end up exchanging dance steps. 


When finally he made it outside and towards the phone it had stopped. Brendan yelled his annoyance and reached into his pocket to grab another $.50 and hurriedly dialed the number to his apartment again. He didn’t know if the call was Aryana or not but he needed to see if she was around anyway; the worry was beginning to make him sick. He threaded his fingers in the cord of the phone as he waited for her to pick up.

The sunset slowly began dimming the light that engulfed the bus painting the ground in fresh orange and pink rays. He tapped his foot over the pavement and finally the sound he had been waiting on. Someone answered the phone; their breathing was heavy as though they’d rushed to the receiver to keep from missing his call yet they didn’t speak. 


“Hello?” Brendan asked waiting to hear her voice. “Babe I’m sorry if my earlier message scared you but I just had to hear your voice.” The breathing got deeper and Brendan chewed his bottom lip. Was she angry at him because of the way he left? Or was she bothered by the message on the machine? Either way the only sound he could get was of her breathing and it was beginning to annoy him. “Ary if you don’t want to talk then just hang up but at least let me know you’re alright.” More breathing was all he received before the line went dead on her end. “Ary? Ary? Aryana!?”


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