"I have tried simply to write the best I can. Sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can." -Ernest Hemingway

“The only living works are those which have drained much of the author's own life into them.” –Samuel Butler

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Running Out of Time (Part Two)


            Minutes ticked by while Carmen just sat contemplating what she should do. I can’t believe this whole thing is happening because of my thieving father! Can I never get out from under his shadow?  Now, he is putting innocent lives in danger if I don’t do the bidding of some psycho and he isn’t even alive anymore!
            Grumbling to herself, Carmen climbed to her feet to begin the task set before her. Looking around, she wondered how she would make it to the Wellington Estate from wherever she was now.
            Glancing at the count-down on her wrist, Carmen jolted, realizing she had already lost twenty minutes of her precious little time. She hurried out what she believed to be the door of the building, but she couldn’t be sure with the disrepair of the empty warehouse.
            As Carmen passed out of the building, her phone chirped to life. Reluctant to answer, she considered tossing it across the street and leaving it.  Knowing she had to answer, she took a deep soothing breath. “What do you want now?”
            “Oh, don’t sound so upset. I am giving you a little adventure. You should be excited.”
            “Being forced to do your bidding, whoever you are, is not exciting.” Carmen’s anger over the whole situation resurfaced. “What are you calling me for this time?  You want me to go get your coffee too?” Carmen spit out.
            “Oh, no, that won’t be necessary.  I am calling to tell you that I am generously providing you with a car and driver.”  The voice seemed pleased with his ‘generosity’ and continued, “Don’t try anything.  The driver is armed and if you disobey my instructions, he won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your pretty little head.”
            “Oh, why thank you,” Carmen’s frustrated sarcasm dripped from her words.
            “You’re welcome. Now get to it, you only have an hour and a half left.”
            Unable to restrain her temper, Carmen ended the call and threw her phone to the ground, smashing it to pieces. Breathing hard, she glanced around to find the car waiting for her. Spotting it, she took a deep breath to calm herself and made her way to the black Mercedes-Benz.
            Carmen slid into the leather upholstered seats of the car and curiously stared at her chauffeur.  Clothed in a black suit and hat, the driver wore a rigid expression and tossed something back to her while grumbling, “Don’t break this one.” Taking a closer inspection at the object, Carmen realized it was another cell phone.
            Moments later, the car lurched to life. Carmen gloomily peered out the window to the blurred landscape they were passing at an alarming speed.

To Be Continued…

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