Scent of Darkness (Closed for BlueEyedLady and UC_Gav)

[BlueEyedLady]

Katrina sat up in her bed with a startled cry. Sweat beaded her whole body and her nightgown clung to her form outlining every curve and tensed muscle that it covered. Breathing hard she tried to rid herself of the nightmare. Flashes of the dream clung to her tightly. The cries and screams she had heard in her dreams rang in her ears still, the smell of fear and sweat and...blood...lots of blood could be tasted like a copper coil upon her tongue. She could see the blood, it was everywhere and she shuddered, huddled under the covers.

It took long moments before she could calm her breathing enough to stop her shaking body, the vision of her dreams fading a bit but still probing the back of her mind as if reminders of...something. She didn't know what it was but it seemed insistant, demanding, something that would not be ignored. She had been having these nightmares for some months now. They seemed to come around the same time every month and lasted for a few agonizing days before fading only to reappear the next month. And each month they became worse, more vivid and the feeling of urgency to leave her comfortable surroundings and go...somewhere...more insistant.

Blinking away the darkness in the room, she looked around, for a moment she did not know where she was and became frightened once again until her eyes settled on the blinking lights of the motel sign just outside the window. Of course, she was in some run down motel room in some backwater town on some road she could not even name. The feelings had finally become too much for her and she had woken one night, packing hurriedly, throwing things in her bags without even looking to see what the were, and thrown them into her small car taking off into the night to follow the, now overwhelming, pull she felt within her.

Knowing she would not be able to go back to sleep again, fearing the nightmares that awaited her, she threw the covers back and climbed out of bed, quickly packing her small bag and throwing it in her car. Stopping only to drop off the key, mummbling something about having to be on her way again to a sleepy and irritated clerk, she drove out of the parking lot and onto the road once again heading what she thought was west to whatever it was that called her in the middle of the night seemed to reside. As she drove, her mind flitted back to her life before the nightmares had begun.

Christianed Katrina Delorise, she had grown up in a loving, if overprotective family. Her mother and father had given her everything she wanted, everything she had desired. They both had raven hair and green eyes just as their daughter did and she had grown up happy in this loving circle not even questioning the fact that she seemed to be more sheltered than most children not allowed to play with other children and schooled at home by her mother. She had known that happiness, that is, until the age of ten when her parents had gone away leaving her with a woman she had always called Grandma though she knew there was no blood relationship there. Grandma had been the only other person that Katrina had known in her short life, the only one her parents seemed to trust with their beloved daughter when they were away which was more often than Katrina wished and made worse by the fact that no one would tell her where they were going or when they would return.

The last time they had left in this mysterious fashion would be the last time that Katrina would see them alive. The news of their deaths would come from Grandma who would walk into the room where young Katrina sat playing with her dolls and anounce, "They are dead. You will now have to bear your heritage on your own." No hugging, no words of comfort, simply the news of her parent's demise in a neutral, bussiness-like tone before adding that Katrina would now live with her (Grandma) and would be expected to attend school like other children her age and work towards a goal of getting out into the world on her own.

The days after that were a whirl of activities and change. The funeral was short and unimpressive with only herself and Grandma as viewers to watch the caskets lowered in the ground. After that it seemed that the old woman's sole goal in life was to introduce Katrina into the world of 'normalcy' and keep her so busy that she had no time to think of her parents or anything but the path that had been set out before her.

She had gone on to graduate from a public school and then secretary college, moved out of Grandma's house and gotten a job with a large firm where she quickly got lost in the number of employees that were employed there. She never fit in either in school or work, seeming to be different somehow from everyone around her, and her days consisted of going to work and then home, eating a small meal, sleeping and then starting the next day all over again. That is until she began having the nightmares which had led her here where she was now.

Her mind on other things but the road, she did not see the figure that seemed to step out in front of the car as it sped down the road. The man seemed to step out of nowhere from the side of the road. Stepping hard on the brake and trying to swerve, she caught a glimpse of a vehicle with the hood up further down the road seconds before she heard a sickening thump as the edge of her own hood caught the man and threw him sideways along the road. It was several yards later that she came to a screetching halt barely missing the railing, her knuckles white as they wrapped around the wheel before her.

Leaning her head on the wheel, she whispered,"Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God!" Over and over. She had hit someone, she had killed him. He was probably laying in a puddle of blood in the road, blood all over the place just like in her dreams.

Forcing herself to move, to let go of the wheel and open the car door, she stepped out and ran back up the road to the prone figure that was laying there. Reaching him she could not see any blood but it took a moment for her to tell if he was actually breathing or not. A feeling of relief flooded her when she realized that she could detect the rise and fall of his chest in the light of the full moon.

Kneeling down beside him, she tried to stay calm as she shook him. "Hello? Are you alright? Oh please be alright! Oh God, please be alright!" She could feel her body shaking again as it had in the motel room and she suddenly caught the slightest scent of blood in the air. He was bleeding but it didnt seem to be much from the scent of it. She didn't ask herself how she could judge, at that moment she didn't care. She only knew that she had hit a stranger on a dark road and he could be laying there dying because of her. Fear gripped her heart as she shook him again, repeating the pleading phrase for him to be alright.

 

[UC_Gav]

Gavin (Hope u dont mind me using the same name every time)
---------

I groaned as i drifted in and out of conciousness. My body felt wierd, half the time Numb he rest of the time i felt intense pain, especially in my left leg.

I heard a voice. it sounded panicked yet still soft and i tried to open my eyes to see who it was. The first thing i saw was a beautifull feminine face, framed with long dark hair. Then again everything looked dark at night time.
"Are you ok" she asked
I shook my head to clear it and tried to focus. I realised i had taken a heavy hit all over but it was my leg that felt the worst. I tried to move and she gasped.
"Are you ok" i asked her back "Not many people out here, i figure your the one that hit me for a homer" i said as i tried to move.

Realising i wasnt going to sit still she helped me sit up. I looked down and could see Dark patches staining my pants. "Its official, ill never be a dancer" i said trying to stop her worry.
Most people in this position would be yelling and shouting at her but i knew it was dark and i was walking down some unlit road in the middle of the night. It was as much my fault as her's, perhaps moreso.

She was still looking worried, then again who wouldnt be. It was a safe bet my leg was broken. Maybe not unfixable but for now i was changing my name to Hopalong. "If you wanted an introduction you couldve just asked" i joked. This time wincing at the pain.

"I dont want to impose anymore than i have but do you suppose i could bum a lift to the nearest hospital" this time she finally cracked a smile.
"Or at least as far as your goin....ill walk the rest of the way"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

OOC: Not at all. And I love the post, btw

IC: He was joking. Well, that was good wasn't it? It meant that he was conscious and his head was probably not injured. She smiled at his jokes but she was still worried.

"Oh," She exclaimed as he mentioned being driven to the hospital,"Oh, yes, of course...just...um, I guess I should go pull the car closer so you don't have to walk to it." At the look on his face she grimaced. "I promise...I won't hit you this time. I just...um..just go and...promise...no aiming for you.."

Hurrying to her car, she started it up, groaning as it refused to start the first time and then sighing in relief as it started to life on the second try. It wasn't a new model. She didn't have the money to spend on something fancy. And the rough treatment had probably been a bit more than the tempermental thing could take but it seemed alright now.

Pulling forward, she did a U Turn in the middle of the deserted road and inched carefully along until the passenger door was facing where he sat. She made sure that it never came to close to him. That was all she needed, to run over him again and...blood everywhere.... Shaking off the image that had come unbidden to her mind, she slid out of the car and walked around to the other side to help him into the passenger side, letting him lean heavily on her as he hobbled painfully to the open door.

Once he was seated as comfortably as possible, she got in the driver's side and began to go back the way she had come. As she traveled away from her self appointed destination, she could feel a deep disappointment and almost panic well up inside her and she had to swallow hard and grip the wheel tight to prevent herself from swinging the car around and heading back in that direction in spite of the fact that the nearest hospital would be in the town she had just left.

"I'm...Katrina...Kat...," She said to her passenger as she drove along trying to start a conversation to get her mind off of the urgency inside of her which seemed to be growing.

 

[UC_Gav]

Sorry i took so long...

Gavin
-------

"Gavin...Gav.." i said, mocking her panicked tone. "Ive told you, apart from my leg im fine...will you relax?"
She glanced a my leg and sighed.
"Im sorry by the way" i added as she resumed to concentrating on the dark road.
She looked at me confused "Sorry for what?"
"Well when you hit me you were going the other way, looks like im taking you out of your way going back to the other town"

"Dont be silly" she said quickly. "The town was only 10 miles back"
I winced as i felt another sharp pain.
"I know but you see its only a small town, maybe one doctor and theres no way he can deal with this" i said as i tore up my jacket. I tied one of the sleeves off around the top of my leg as a tournequet and used the rest to and towel up any dripping blood.
"If you turn around theres a bigger town about 40 miles down the road. And they have a hospital."
She looked at me, something in her eyes made me think she was desperate to take the offer but her concern was stopping her. "If you take me back to this little town ill be waiting even longer for the ambulance to come the 50 miles along this road, pick me up and go back 50 miles to get me to the hospital"

She slowed down without even asking 'if i was sure' and slowly turned the car around.
"Logical thinking" she said suddenly, her mood had lifted a little and she seemed relatively pleased. "At least we know your not in shock"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Katrina could feel a wave of relief flood over her as she turned the car around. What he said did make sense and she felt the call of whatever was down this part of the road ease a bit as she once again headed that way.

Driving down the dark and deserted road, they passed his car quickly. In fact they passed everything quickly as she found she had to ease her foot on the gas often, the urge to speed toward the call was so overwhelming.

She glanced over at the man in the passenger seat and gave him a timid smile. She hoped he was putting her speeding down to her urgency to get him to the hospital quickly. Looking down at his leg, she could smell the heady copper liquid that stained his pants and she had to quickly look away.

What was wrong with her? She couldn't answer the question. Only knew that she would not find the answer until she reached her final destination, whereever that may be.

Soon the lights of the city came into view and she looked around and found signs directing her to the nearest hospital. Pulling off the exit ramp she drove to where it indicated the emergency room was and stopped at the doors there.

Hurrying inside she told the attendant that she had a man with a badly bleeding and broken leg in her car and the staff jumped into action, wheeling a stretcher out to the car. She watched through the window as they lifted him up and on the stretcher. Well, he was at the hospital now and she could be on her way. Back to where she needed to go.

Heading out the door as Gav passed by, she was stopped by the emergency room security guard. He wanted to know what had happened and what relationship she was to him. Haltingly, she told him about the accident, not even bothering to make up a story, her mind was so distracted at wanting to be on the road again. It was not to be, it seemed. The moment they knew that she was the one that hit him, she was detained and questioned not only by security but by policemen as well.

It was a long time later that, to her growing irritation and frustration, she was told that she was not to go anywhere until the police could fully investigate the accident and decide if an arrest or citation were in order. Grinding her teeth she wanted to argue but knew she couldn't and so agreed to staying at a closeby motel until it could be settled. They would be keeping an eye on her, they warned, and if they had to they would impound her vehicle.

Sitting, exahusted in the emergency waiting room, she wondered what else could go wrong.

 

[UC_Gav]

Gavin
-------

After a couple of hours i was led out into the waiting room on crutches. Katrina was still there and she stood as i hobbled over.
"That was quicker than i expected" she said. She seemed worried but there was some annoyance in her voice. "Im surprised you waited" i smiled blankly, "But im glad you did"
"The Police want me to hang around while they clear up the details of the accident, how are you, what did they say?"

"I was lucky, looks like you only clipped me. Its Broken, but most of the damage was superficial, just a little ripped flesh and alot of blood" I smiled as she stared at my leg. "A few Stitches and a Plaster cast..." i tapped the cast under the replacement trousers the hospital had given me. "...and ill be fine. They did want me to stay in just in case but apparently theyre pretty full and im pretty much sorted now"

She seemed uninterested as i waffled on. "Im sorry, i didnt mean to keep talking, Ill go see the Police and get this sorted for you. I can see you'd rather be on your way right now"
"Its ok, im sorry if i seem impatient" She apologised and began to help me to the door. "Do you have somewhere to stay yet?" she asked me. "Not yet, ill find somewhere once this mess is straightened out"
"No its ok, we can wait till you get some rest, or at least a place to stay" It was a lie, i could tell she wanted to leave but it looked like that concern and responsibility had stepped in again.

"Ok then, if your sure" i said as we headed out the door. Her car was parked out front and i limped inside. "If you have a place to stay then i may as well stay at the same place, ill get a room there and we can sort things out in the morning"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Katrina chastized herself mentally. She should be more concerned with this man she had hit than an urge she did not understand. Still she could feel the irritation at not being able to leave and follow it and she had to fight hard to push it into the background.

Helping Gav into the car, she went to the driver's side and started the engine.

"Look," She said with a smile trying to make up for the impatience she had shown earlier,"Why don't we stop and get something to eat before we find the motel. I saw a diner on the way. It's been a long night and we both probably need to wind down. You can go to the police station later on this morning and settle things. I...I'll pay the hospital bill, of course. It was my fault after all."

Pulling out of the parking lot, she felt herself chaffe inside at the delays but she reminded herself that being a fugitive from the law was not going to help the situation. She would just sit tight and get this over with and be on her way.

They found the dinner rather easily and soon were seated in a booth with his injured leg up on a chair that had been provided by a sympathetic waitress.

Opening up a menu, Katrina found her mind wondering to other things besides eating and, when the waitress came along, she ordered coffee and toast. She didn't think that she could stomach anything heavier.

 

[UC_Gav]

Gavin
--------

Our food arrived and we sat quietly eating.
The doctors had told me to take it easy for a while since i was still a little delicate.
As i munched my way through my Bacon, sausage and eggs i smiled. "What do doctors know huh"
Katrina looked up at me with a puzzeled but more obviously impatient look on her face.
I sighed as she sipped her coffee.
"Whats wrong" i asked, theres something more than all this bothering you" She simply looked out the window.
"Are you being chased or something. Its obvious you dont want to be here and i guess thats my fault but id like to help get you back on track if i can"

She looked at me, her face had softened a little and seemed very sad. "I cant tell you, at least not explain it cos im not sure myself. All i know is i need to be somewhere"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Katrina sighed. She really couldn't explain it, not to herself and not to him. She wasn't sure she really wanted to know, something about what called her scared her.

"I just know I have to be somewhere, but i dont know where. Just a general direction." She said and then laughed lightly. "I'm not crazy, I assure you. At least I don't think I am. Sometimes I wonder myself."

"No, I'm not being chased but if I left I would be. I have to stay until all of this is cleared up. I'm sorry if I seem a little irritable." She looked out the window and almost dropped her cup as she seemed to see a large, dark shadow pass by the window. It was just a glance and it could have been her eyes playing tricks on her. She decided to ignore it and the hairs that seemed to rise on the back of her neck at that moment.

"So," She said trying to change the subject,"What about you? What were you doing on that lonely stretch of road, your car broken down? You are being delayed by this just as much if not more than me." She nodded at his leg."Won't be able to drive anywhere even with a car in working order for awhile."

 

[UC_Gav]

Gavin
-------

"Oh dont worry about me" i hated being the center of attention and especially didnt like talking about myself.
"I was just headed out to the coast. Making a clean break in life and i have buds out there that were gonna let me stay over"
"Just till i get on my feet huh" she said quickly with a grin. I tapped my leg and had to smile at the pun.

"Well tommorrow we'll get the bus out and go pick up your car ok?"
I shook my head with a mouthfull of bacon. "Nah dont worry about it" i mumbled as i swallowed. "It cost me 50 bucks, just a cheap wreck to get me where i needed to go and i dont have any bags with me either"

"You have no clothes or possesions either?"
I laughed at her suprised look. "Dont worry ill pay for my own room and meal i do have some money on me"
"I didnt mean it like that" she snapped. I hadnt meant to accuse her but i guess a joke doesnt translate well at this hour.
"I mean are they the only clothes you have?" I nodded, my mouth full once again. "Yeah, i had my bags stolen a yesterday when the car broke down. Some guy slowed down to pick me up, offered me a lift and as soon as i threw my bags in he took off. Then i try walking the road and 'bump into you'....mustve been my lucky day"
She laughed and looked down into her coffee "At least i keep my wallet in my pants, ill find a store tommorrow and pick up a few new things"

I finished my meal and reached for my wallet. Opening it i checked its contents, flicking through the numerous notes. Looking at it, it seemed like alot of money and infact it was, the problem was that it was every penny i had in the world.
Fishing around for a ten i payed the bill and limped for the door.
Katrina beat me there and opened the door for me.

"Why, Thankyou kindly" i said speaking in a mock feminine accent.
She giggled and i realised that was the first geuine time i had seen her displaying anything other than concern or agitation.

"Thats more like it" i said with a grin "A smile suits you better then a frown"
Her face changed again, slightly shocked even in the low light i could see her blush and i smiled as i hobbled toward the Car.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Walking back out to her car, Katrina almost immediately noticed something was wrong. There was a strange scent in the air. Sniffing the air, she asked,"Do you smell that?" Gav just looked at her with a puzzled expression and shook his head no.

It was frustrating, she could smell something that seemed familiar and yet, it seemed very strange. And there was a destinct smell of something behing the other smell that she couldn't place.

Shrugging, she continued walking slowly to her car with Gav beside her. When they reached the car she noticed something else very wrong. The front driver's side was riding low. Hurrying over, she bent down to look at where her tire was completly flat. Putting out a hand, she ran her fingers over the four slash marks, made side by side as if they had been made together, at the same time. She frowned and stood up.

"Wait here, I'll call a service station and have them come and change the tire. I dont have a spare."

Hurrying back into the diner to use the pay phone she wondered what had happened and why someone would do that. She didn't call the police, she didnt want to have to stay here any longer than she needed to.

Coming back outside after having made the call, she noticed the strange smell was gone. Twenty minutes later the tire was changed and they were on the road again. Spotting a motel, she pulled into the parking lot and went to help Gav out.

"We can stay here tonight and then go to the police in the morning and see if we cant straighten things out."