Page 6 of Sin & Fall

Chloe

Idon’t realize I’ve fallen asleep until the car jerks to a stop.

Next to me, Zack rolls his neck, the tension audibly clicking out of it. His eyes are on me, and I get the feeling that they have been for a while. I shift awkwardly in my seat, and mentally check my body over. I’m stiff from sleeping at an awkward angle, but I don’t think he’s taken advantage and touched me. That’s a first.

Looking out the window, I see we’ve pulled up at a gas station. It doesn’t appear to be open.

How far did we travel?

I’ve never seen this place before. The few times I was lucky enough to be chosen for a group trip out of the convent it was only ever to the local town. Although I wasn’t allowed to make eye contact or talk to anyone, those days were so exciting. If one of the nicer chaperones were there, they’d take me and the other girls to a bookstore or a bakery. I got to eat the sweetest cakes without having to earn them. It truly was the best feeling, being away from itall. Away from the thick musty air, the damp stone walls, and the man who watched my every move.

“I think you’re going to have to find someplace else if you need to fill up,” I say, my voice raspy from sleep.

“Looks like it, doesn’t it.” Zack frowns. “How about I fill the tank while you go check if it’s closed or not. If there’s no one here, I’ll just leave some bills by the pump.”

I could do with stretching my legs, so I agree and head to the building. Cupping my hands to the window, I see a faint light flickering on in a back room where someone’s watching television.

“There’s someone in there, but I still don’t think they’re open,” I call back to Zack. When he doesn’t reply, I turn to see him staring at me, his hip resting against the side of the car as he pumps the gas in. I can’t tell what he’s thinking from his blank expression, but it makes me nervous the way he watches me. The intensity stirs up new sensations in me, ones that were never there under the others’ watchful eyes. This man…Zack…he’s scary in a much different way. I shouldn’t let my guard down.

“Try the door.”

Pushing against the glass door, it opens easily, the little bell ringing above it.

I hear someone muttering from the room ahead. Before I step inside, I look back at Zack. There’s a small smile teasing his lips now. He tips his chin up, motioning for me to venture further in.

A chill runs over my skin as I step inside. The door noisily swings shut behind me.

“Hello? Sorry to disturb you, we just need to pay for some gas.”

There’s more muttering, and I hear someone moving around. A tall slim man wearing a pair of faded blue jeans,and a dirty green flannel shirt staggers from the backroom. The closer he gets, the taller he becomes. His long, lanky hair casts an eerie shadow over his gaunt face.

From the drool crusted on his chin, it seems that I woke him up.

“Thought I locked that,” he mumbles, running a hand through his hair, his fingers catching on the tangled ends. “What do you want?”

“Gas. My um, friend, is outside, he just needs to pay for it.” When I look out the window the car is there, but Zack is gone.Where the hell did he go?

The stench of body odor and stale beer suddenly overwhelms me. I stumble back as the man gets close enough to tug on my habit.

“What is this? You’re far too young and pretty to be a nun. Suppose times have changed. If they all look like you, I’ll have to pay a visit to that convent down the road.”

“If you can just let us pay then we’ll be out of here.”

He glances out the window and sees that I’m alone. The way his eyes light up makes me want to vomit. I step away from him, and my back hits the closed door, the bell jingling above me.

“I don’t see any friend out there. I think you’re playing games with me, little girl,” he croons, reaching for me again. I try to open the door, but he’s too close. He slams his hand onto it next to my head, keeping it shut while he slides the deadbolt closed with the other, locking me in with him.

My heart lodges in my throat, shutting off my air supply.

Is this really what my world will be like? Being at the mercy of men for the rest of my life?

I want to believe that there are people out here I cantrust. That not everyone’s evil. My first taste of freedom isn’t living up to what I hoped it would be.

I turn my face away before his stale breath suffocates me.

“Tell you what. You don’t need to worry about paying for that gas if you come spend some time with me in the back. It’s nice and cozy. I’ll make sure you have a real good time.”

His words churn up a fire inside me. One that I kept dormant for far too long, and for the second time tonight I let it out.