Chapter 1-2
1183 Words
The acrid smell woke him. His eyes fluttered open and as he did so, sharp pain pierced his left side where he fell. He saw a hooded figure hunched over him. He batted away the hand that held something close to his face. A few candles illuminated the dark room, and as he moved, he realized he lay on a canvas, Army-type cot.
“Be still. You had a hard fall,” the male voice said. “I had to wake you with these salts so I could be sure I didn’t have to take you to the hospital.”
“Who are you?”
“My name’s Eli.” The man moved back, away from Joshua.
“Where am I? How did I get here? Where’s Sullivan?”
“You’re at my place. I took you here after you almost got killed.”
Joshua scoured the room. In the dim light, he saw a stack of books on a small table, close to the sink, microwave, and small stove. Dishes stacked next to the sink, while obscure tapestries covered the windows, blocking out light. Clothes hung from a rolling rack. One shirt stuck out: it looked like a security guard shirt with Eli’s name sewn in as the name badge.
“Well, thanks, but I need to be going.”
“I think you should rest the night here and maybe tomorrow, if you’re up to it, then of course—”
“No, really. I’m fine. I mean, I’ve got a splitting headache but I’m good.”
Joshua sat up and as he did so, the pain intensified. He put his hand to his head as the cot creaked from his shifting weight.
“Here. Let me get you something to drink and eat.” Eli stood and headed towards the sink.
Joshua swung his legs over the side of the cot and looked at his bare feet.
“Where are my shoes?”
“They’re over by the door. They were caked with mud so I didn’t want the dirt on the cot.” Eli approached Joshua. “Here’s water and plain crackers.”
Joshua looked at the Saltines that dotted the plate, then Eli who still had his face partially covered.
God, I’m hungry.
Eli moved closer, holding the food. Joshua took the plate. With his other hand, Eli took off the hood that framed his face, displaying blond hair, which stood from static, as Josh cradled the glass of water with both hands.
Joshua took a bite of one of the crackers while gazing at Eli. He couldn’t tell in the dim light what color Eli’s eyes were, but Eli’s oval face had a perfectly sculpted long nose, not too big or wide that tapered to full lips. Below Eli’s lips trailed a dimpled chin. He looked a few years older than Joshua but not by much.
Maybe twenty-two or twenty-three?
Joshua studied him for a moment. Light porcelain skin, no blemishes or freckles, no laugh lines or crowfeet around the eyes.
Okay, maybe twenty-four at the most.
Without realizing it, Joshua smiled and Eli did so in turn, handing him the water. “You need to drink too,” he said. The voice was warm, non-threatening.
Eli brought one of the candles on the table behind him closer, giving Joshua a better look at Eli’s face and the most mesmerizing smile that Joshua had ever seen. Eli’s dirty blond hair touched his collar.
He’s beautiful!
“I can make you a sandwich, but all I have is peanut butter and jelly.”
“I’m good.” Joshua gulped the rest of the crackers whole and guzzled the water. His heart beat faster. “Really, I should be going.”
Eli’s face scrunched. “Are you sure?” In two seconds, Eli barraged him with questions to test Joshua. “Who’s the president? What day is this? How old are you? What day of the week is it?”
Joshua’s answers came fast too. Once satisfied, Eli hunched back. “All right. I’ll bring your shoes to you.” Eli stood, walked over to the door, grabbing the Converse shoes Eli placed the shoes next to Joshua’s bare feet.
Joshua unlaced then slipped the shoes on quickly. After he did so, he closed his eyes and willed the throbbing headache away. After lacing back his shoes, he stood but he lost his balance for a second.
“Whoa. Take it easy. You’re probably a little dizzy.” Eli moved close, then grabbed Joshua’s elbow to steady him.
Joshua looked at Eli and thanked the dim light because his ears and cheeks felt hot. At this close range, he could smell Eli’s scent. He couldn’t tell what it was but it smelled manly yet citrusy sweet.
“Thanks, bro.”
Eli dropped his hand from Joshua’s elbow, as quickly as he put it there in the first place, then moved forward so Joshua could follow him out.
After Eli opened the door, Joshua stopped. Stairs faced him but traffic above buzzed by.
“Whoa!” Joshua looked up. Shocked. “You live in a basement in Florida? I thought no one could have one because of the water table.” As he reached the top of the stairs, Joshua scanned around, checked out the street signs. He noticed the tall buildings and realized where he was. He also noted that Eli stood more than five inches taller.
“The other side of this studio is a bar that’s been here for decades in one form or other. I’ve rented the back space here for a while.”
“Yeah? But where I was—”
“You were west of the city. I know. I had to bring you downtown.”
“Can you point me to the bus stop?”
“I could. Or if you want, my car’s around the corner and I could take you home.”
Joshua didn’t want to ride the bus: the trip could take two or three hours on public transit and with his throbbing head, he wanted to be somewhere else but here. But he also didn’t have money for the bus or anything.
“I can pay you back if you give me a ride.”
Eli’s eyebrows arched. “I doubt you can pay me back, considering what you guys were doing, but I’ll be happy to give you a ride.”
Joshua stared at the ground for a second, not sure why those words hurt him.
Shit! Like I care what this guy thinks of me.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know if you’re a cop or something but I—well—I’ve been living on the streets awhile.”
“Don’t worry. I get it. I’ve been there.”
Joshua gazed at Eli in the streetlight: he could tell Eli’s eyes weren’t brown.
“They’re blue by the way.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I have blue eyes just in case you can’t tell in this light. They’ve actually got some green in them so to be precise, well, it’s probably aquamarine.”
“Umm. Okay, I didn’t ask.”
“You didn’t have to. I knew what you were trying to do. You shouldn’t be so obvious.”
“Whatever, Eli. I think you’re presuming a little.”
Eli walked quickly to the side alley. “Maybe I am, maybe I am. Here’s my car.”
Joshua looked at the Honda Accord. It looked several years old, but clean.
“I hope you’re not looking at my rims. I plan to keep ‘em.”
Joshua felt the redness spread again to his ears, cheeks, and part of his neck.
He didn’t say anything as Eli walked over to the passenger side of the door, opened it for him. Without saying a word, Joshua took his seat, picking up a jacket that lay in the front.
He locked himself in with the seatbelt and moved to put the jacket in the back when he noticed several stains of blood on it. Joshua looked at Eli. “Last night, you know, when you found me,” Joshua stammered as he eyed the dark red spots. “Why were you in the neighborhood?” asked Joshua.
Eli shrugged against the bucket seat. “I could tell you but it’s a long story. And, don’t worry, that’s my blood. I got some on my jacket after I got shot by that man who chased you.”
- Writer
