=prologue=
Lights fading in and out, Sonia can’t seem to regain consciousness.
She hears, vaguely some unfamiliar voices speaking in panic above her, some
hysterical crying. Bring lights flash above her. She tries to wake up but her efforts
are only answered by blackness which she is enveloped back into. She knew she
was going to die. She knew it since she hit the ground. She wanted to laugh,
giggle perhaps, but it wouldn’t come; only darkness, short bursts of light and
sound replied.
====
Souls.
Ammie,
from the east side of the state made her way down to the south cost; dropped off
by the midnight bus in an unfamiliar place. That was the point, somewhere no
one knew her. She was an odd puzzle. Somehow didn’t mix with the rest of the
jigsaw box. She didn’t fit. She was tired of the teasing, the taunting, the
coldness, the inability to be accepted, even from her family; especially, from
her family. Dark eyes, gun in her bag, she sees a convenience store nearby,
isolated with only a few cars parked outside. She gives a small sad smile.
Talya and Sam married young ran away from home in
young love. Thought they could make it without finishing college. It’s been 3
years since and now they’re desperate, almost homeless and penniless. Barely,
they survive on stolen money and bits of salvaged food from the bins. They now
sit crouched, cold, wet and
hungry next to a car looking for their next victim
of theft.
Sonia was a quiet fair girl. She never felt any more special
than last season’s outfits. But, if you asked anyone, her soul held the most
amount of love, care and kindness possible.
She sees the desperate couple on the ground as she was
leaving her part time job. Noticing the lady shivering, Sonia shrugs off her own
jacket, and passes it to her. Shock and embarrassment crosses the ladies pale
face.
Sonia merely smiles and says “Bless you”.
Leaving the thankful lady with
her husband, Sonia turns to go to her car. But abruptly, she stops and doubles back
realizing she has left her scarf.
Chimes on the door ring as she steps in
“Forgot my scarf” she laughs with the cashier as if it were
an inside joke.
She then sees the shaking girl trying desperately to find her
purse to pay for her packet of twinkies. Sonia fishes out her purse and puts a
ten on the counter. For the second time that night, a look of shock and
embarrassment is addressed toward her.
“Keep the change for yourself” Sonia said in with reply, with
a kind smile.
Grabbing the bag of twinkies and the change, the girl ran
out in confusion.
Sonia shrugs, hoping the girl
was blessed.
“Give us your money and possessions” came a shaky female voice.
Sam and Talya have found their victim. They watched her as
she slowly turned around.
Sam taking out his blunt penknife: "You heard her, hurry up.”
The girl turns around, fear flashes in her eyes upon seeing
the knife.
“That’s right, just give us your stuff and nobody will get
hurt” Talya says.
Suddenly, a gun appears in the scene, grasped in the hand of
their victim. Shakily, the girl points it toward them.
Out of the blue, a voice cries: “Stop! Don’t! What’s going on?”
Startled, Ammie accidentally pulls the trigger in the
direction of the female voice.
The lady falls to her knees clutching her stomach; blonde hair
covering her face.
“No. no no no no no no.” Ammie starts to cry.
“No! Please no!” she cries running towards the woman.
She had accidentally shot the one person who had shown her
kindness in her whole life.
She had accidentally shot Sonia.
“How could you?!” Talya screams. Recognizing the kind soul
who had spared her jacket.
“It- it was an accident.” Ammie said, shaking, tears pouring
down her face.
