If there was a shade darker than the black of the night, that was what she would call it. The Earth around them was engulfed in it all, besides what was illuminated by Daniel's truck lights. Every leaf falling and critter around them seemed to make much more noise than it should.

Leah knew she probably looked paranoid every time she jumped over her shoulder or flinched at every sound. It seemed more than she was used to, at least more than she'd ever heard in the dark. She really wanted to not care what Daniel thought of her behavior, but when it came down to it he was the only one who noticed her car.

She gazed up from the trunk of her car where she had decided to seat herself after minutes of standing in boots with heels. Once she'd cleared it of shards and pebbles of glass, she had made herself comfortable for the wait. Occassionally her attentiom would glance behind her at the smashed end of the car, but to much dismay, no matter how many times she did it just wasn't getting fixed.

Daniel was at his truck searching for a first aid kit he seemed extremely determined to find after noticing a few cuts on her wrist. And regardless of Leah swearing it was fine, he remain searching until he had it.

From where she sat, she watched the top of his head move side to side in the very narrow back seat of his truck. Just like a puppet.

Daniel Moss, tall dark and scruffy; was an all purpose repairman living in Elk village cause of his beloved job. He liked to work hard and help others and believed it should be a sin to leave a woman stranded on the side of the road. For that she was grateful. Being left alone in a cold dark place after running from snakes and a stranger wasn't her idea of fun.

She should be home packing.

Sighing, her eyes zoned around still appalled at where she was. Nothing inside of her craved to be in Elk Village. It was a place she had swore she would never go back to, a place she didn't belong. Yet her mindless drive had brought her right back.

What was she thinking anyways? After leaving the park she should have went back home, especially with such motivation to be relocating. Not a single cell within should have taken that drive in such a messy pool of emotions. Now because if it, she was sitting on the trunk of her beaten up car waiting for a tow out of the place where dear old death lurked in the cracks of the Earth-- and her childhood home.

Leah shivered and gawked up to see Daniel proudly trotting back holding a red tin box in his hand. He set it on the trunk, cleared his throat, "I don't have any peroxide in here but I do have alcohol wipes."

She watched him juggle the box open and show off a very unorganized collection of medical supplies. "That's fine, thank you."

He smiled and handed her a few packaged wipes and bandages, "So what brought you out here?"

Leah tore open a wipe and began swabbing at her scratched wrist, "N-nothing. I was just driving to drive.  I didn't plan on coming out here."

"Bad day?"

She glanced at him as he leaned his back side of her tail light, "Why do you ask?"

"I drive when I've had a heck of a day. No target, just me and my truck."

"Well you are kind of right, Daniel.  It's been a very interesting day for me. I'll Be Glad when it's over." The burn of alcohol shortened her breath as the wipe went over a cut deeper than she thought it was. Green eyes watered from the sensation and she blew attempting to soothe it. The Air kissed her skin and it felt like heaven. For just a second, she felt relief.  It was as if she were just outside to watch the stars glowing in the night,  not because of an accident. But as her chest settled and she caught sight of her wrists, reality set in.

"Well it will be soon. Travis should be here any minute, then youll be on your way."

Leah straightened her face, setting the wipe on top of its package before undressing a bandage. Her fingers spread it down against her skin firmly, setting off just a drip of pain. It was nothing she hadn't felt before and couldn't compare to her ordeal. She Patted on it, "Thanks for coming to my rescue."

Daniel smirked, "Next time you hit a deer just give me a call."

"Hopefully there won't be a next time. I don't come out here-- ever."

"Why not?"

Her eyes beamed at him. The rays of light from his truck lit up every hair in his dark five o'clock shadow and turned his brown eyes orange. He watched her with anticipation. She knew the truth might turn his smirk into a straight face, and it might even send him back to his truck. "It's just not for me."

"Well, what's so special about Channing?"

For starters, nothing was ever special about her home town. It was just a place where trees grew and people lived. Nothing interesting ever happened and if they did it was all across the evening news. It was just her home sweet home. At least it used to be. Now it was just another city tainted in the ugliest shade of purple she'd ever seen.

"It's home," she said trying to convince him as well as herself.

"Yeah okay I get it." Daniel stood straight off the car and peeked down the road. "One man's home might be another mans..."

"Nightmare," Leah filled in the space promptly and scrunched her brows. She bit her lip and dropped her line of sight to her boots, clicking them on the bumper.

Her mind flashed an image, a foggy one at that. There was rain pouring on the greenest blades of grass as they stuck out of pools of mud. Each drop seemed to play a note in a tragic song. The sky was dark gray, cloudy and thunder roared in the background. Somewhere behind her the sound of a siren squealed. They were on their way...

Leah sat straight only to find him giving her a look that concerned her. Maybe she shouldn't have filled in the sentence. It wasn't school, it was a dark road. Her jaw quivered uncontrollably as the air began to grow frosty. Her voice cracked, "Sorry."

He shook his head, "Don't be. Hey do you want to wait in my truck? It's getting pretty cold out here."

Her back tensed. It was a nice gesture for him to offer, but the reality was that she didn't know him and wasn't sure if she should get in the truck with him. A cold gust blew by giving her chills. Her lips parted as her mind tried at a few choice words, "It's not that cold."

Guilt hit her square in the noggin again. She immediately wished she was more in the trusting mood and just agreed. Daniel rose a brow, "Alright I get it. " He stepped in front of her dangling feet, "At least let me get my jacket out the truck for you."

Not even a foot away, her nose picked up his body cologne and she couldn't help but curl at his offer. Nodding, her hormones jiggled, "Sure."

"Good, I'll be right back. And I'll give Travis another call." He bopped and began a long stepped walk to his truck. In seconds he was inside searching for what she hoped was a clean, non stinky coat.

She squeezed her arms across her chest and watched his silhouette in the windshield. From all the searching he had to do she guessed he didn't keep the interior as clean as the outside of the truck. Even in the dark she could see a natural shine to the red coat. Men and their vehicles.

The sound of a click and the instant decrease of light around her caused her eyes to widen. She dropped her jaw when she saw the headlights had been dimmed. Maybe it's to conserve the battery.

A crackle in the night came almost too soon after. Immediately her heart flung into a frenzy.  Leah looked around for any sound of a nocturnal critter. Her Eyes were still adjusting when another snap sounded,  followed by another. She slipped off the trunk and stared into the direction it had come from.

Bases of trees were all she saw at first against the background of the night. But As She pushed her eyes to stare more, a figure grew more distinct. It was dark and while it didn't quite resemble a person, it was large, opaque and quickly made her feel threatened. The Nerves in her stomach began to twitch. She watched without movement and her chest barely moved as she silently tried to convince herself to stay calm and not move.

Be still, she ordered to her shaking knees. They listened, but the figure did not. It darted from behind one tree to another, snapping fallen sticks beneath it. Her throat dried up. Before she could swallow it moved again.  This time it moved forward and that was when she broke the order to be still.

Without thinking, Leah was in a blitz to get to the big shiny truck. The soles of her boots smacked against the ground hard and by the time her hand yanked the handle, her legs felt wobbly. She climbed inside and locked the door like it was a known vehicle, somewhat afraid to peek out the window.

"Ah! What's wrong?" Daniel popped his upper body from behind her seat,  pulling a coat up with him.

Leah felt sick. She geared up some courage and finally gawked out the window with her heart beating against its cage. Her body shook and on top of the panic, the embarrassment nested in on her shoulders. Warmth bled out her eyes while an overwhelmed head squeezed. She looked over at him,  "I'm sorry." Her voice cracked and she turned away before a tear fell down her cheek. "I'm a mess, I can't even sit in the dark without..." Her voice trailed off and she hunched forwards. A silent sob racked her chest.

Madness. What she was experiencing had to be pure unfiltered madness.

Daniel lowered his voice, "You don't have to apologize to me. I'm a nobidy, who am I to judge?"

She wiped her eyes, "I feel like I'm going nuts. I just want to sleep until this is all over."

"You know, when I'm having a really bad day I like to sleep it off. So you aren't alone there."

"I'd have to sleep for days, or weeks."

"That sounds idealistic."

She turned and smirked with puffy eyes, grateful he'd even appeared. Daniel draped the coat over her shoulders, "You know, I could always take you home and give Travis the location. You look like you need a change of scenery. "

A lump in her throat was forced down as she swallowed. The image of her bed covered in pillows and blankets was so inviting.  It looked like comfort. She could see herself climbing under the blankets and feel the fluffy comforter. But the love and enjoyment was cut short. Suddenly all she could imagine were snakes everywhere. Goosebumps covered her skin and she shifted in her seat.

"Are you alright?"

She met his stare with desperate eyes, "I don't know. I just don't want to be here anymore. "

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A savior! I know this was a short chapter, but what did you think about it? ☆ it!