Love at First Sight

Gathering her things, Penny glances at her victim. He'll never hurt anyone again. She smiles. Reaching the door, she looks back at her victim a final time. Thanks for all the info, pal. Willie sang like a canary to save his own miserable life. It turns out his initial wounds took him in the end. What goes around comes around, Penny thinks, stepping into the scorching afternoon sun.

The temperature has climbed to a soaring rate, and with the humidity spiraling just as fast, the day will become unbearable soon.

I should hunt at night. Penny thinks, wiping sweat from her brow. I'll do one more and then wait until it cools down. She pants. Penny hears a couple arguing in the alleyway as she continues across the lot.

"Leave me alone, Bobby," Jen yells, pulling her arm free from his grip.

"You're my wife, and you'll do what I say when I say. So get your ass to the house, now."

Glaring at the lean-to, she says, "No, Bobby, I won't. I refuse to go into that house ever again."

Through gritted teeth, he says, "I won't warn you again. So, either go or else."

Jen pulls away the second time. I'm not putting up with any more of your shit. And I refuse to raise my kid in that." She points to the rundown shack. "I'm surprised the city hasn't condemned it yet."

"We'll move."

Rolling her eyes, Jen says, "And you'll get a job, right?"

"I will."

She points to her tiny baby pooch. "This kid will probably have a job before you." She opens the car door. Bobby pushes her away. Stumbling a few steps back, she clenches her fits and says, "I'll call my cop friend if you don't let me go." She grabs her phone from her pocket. "I mean it, Bobby. Get out of my way, or I will make the call."

"You're not going anywhere." He gives her a shove. Jen falls to the ground.

Her face turns fire engine red as she says, " I'm calling the cops."

"Like hell you are." He smacks the phone out of her hand. It breaks into bits on a pile of rocks.

"My phone," Jen yells, scrambling for it.

"What's going on back here?" Penny asks.

Bobby turns toward the unfamiliar voice.

Seeing an opportunity to escape, Jen darts to the car."It's over, Bobby. Over." She yells. The tires kick up dirt as she speeds away.

"Get back here, you bitch."

Sticking her arm out the window, Jen flips him the bird.

"I'm going to kill you. Hear me. I'm going to kill you."

"Is that right? Penny asks.

He turns to find her standing behind him. He takes a step back.

"You shouldn't treat anyone that way, especially not your baby mama."

"Mind your own," Bobby says, stomping toward the house.

Penny darts in front of him and stops. "Oh, but this is my business. See, I'm a cop. Penny flashes her old badge. And I just witnessed two crimes, domestic assault and terroristic threats. So guess where you're going, mister?"

Bobby lets out a long, deep breath. "The slammer again?"

"Oh, no. I've got something better planned for you."

"Yeah, and what's that?"

"This." Grabbing the knife from her pocket, she stabs him in the gut.

Leaning over, Bobby grabs for his middle as he stumbles back. He glances down to find blood spewing from his wound. "What the hell?" Bobby asks, staggering further back. Losing his footing, he falls to the ground. He looks up with a, what the fuck expression on his face.

"Let me explain. See, I'm a different kind of cop, a vigilante. I bring people justice when the system fails. Which it often does." She takes a step.

Bobby scoots backward. I'm sorry. I won't hurt Jen or the baby ever again."

"Darn right, you won't." Penny raises her knife and says, "I'm going to make sure of that."

Bobby scoots further away. Seeing the maintenance hole behind him, Penny steps closer. Bobby moves back again and then realizes there's nothing underneath his backend. He tries to move.

Penny lifts her foot and shoves him to his death. "Rot in hell, you piece of shit," she says, putting her knife away.

Penny glances down the hole. "That was too easy." Laughing, she walks away.

***

Jackie is lying sideways in the seat. Blood continues to puddle all around her. The stench drifts through the humid air.

"I wish I would've found you sooner." Ben thinks, searching for his phone. Realizing he left it on the dash, he heads up the hill. Hearing a strange noise, Ben turns around and waits. He only hears small creatures chirping in the distance. "It must've been one of them." He starts to turn around when he hears the sound again. That wasn't a creature. Ben dashes down to the truck. He sees the woman trying to pull herself up in the seat. Yanking the driver's door open, he yells, "No, don't. You might injure yourself worse if you do."

Janet glances up to find a buff, sandy-blonde man staring at her. I must be dreaming, she thinks. Pain courses through her body, bringing her out of her semi-conscious state. Janet winces from the pain.

"Stay put until an ambulance gets here." Ben glances at his truck and then at her. "I have to go to the top of the hill to call for help. He points and then says, "But I'll be right back."

Terrified, Janet grabs his arm to stop him. "No, don't. They'll find me if you do."

"Who will find you, honey?"

Janet realizes what she just said. She glances at his sweet face again. She then recalls being lied to in the past. "I can't trust him with the truth. I just can't. "

"Who will find you, honey? Ben asks again.

"My ...my husband. He was trying to kill me, so I ran." Janet tries to sit up again. I've got to get out of here before he spots the truck." She swings her legs around.

"You shouldn't go anywhere until your checked out."

Frightened, she looks towards the highway. "I'd rather take my chances with my injuries than Bill."

Ben sees old bruises scattered across her frail body. A few were fresh, others weeks old. Now I understand. "Why don't you come back to my place? I can call my nurse friend to see if she can check you out."

Horrid experiences from the past couple of days suddenly come to mind.

Seeing the hesitation, Ben adds, "I won't hurt you, honey, I promise." He holds out his hand. "Would it make you feel better to know my nickname is Gentle Ben?"

"Gentle Ben?" Janet asks, surprised.

"It's a nickname my friends came up with because I'm always nursing strays back to health."

"Oh."

Please, let me help you. Please." He begs

Janet looks toward to road to find a stream of cars rushing by. Any place has to be safer than here.

Ben notices scars that run the length of her face, with several smaller ones beside it, as she climbs out of the truck. How could anyone do that to her? She deserves love and happiness, not that.

With some help, Janet makes it to the top of the hill. Ben opens the passenger door. She slides inside.

Ben notices her cowering in the corner, her eyes glued to the floorboard as tears stream down her pale face when he climbs in. I bet she doesn't realize how beautiful she is. "Things will get better, I promise."

Jackie slowly glances up. I don't see how they could. I'm flat broke with nowhere to go and no vehicle. I should go back and apologize, tell him I'll never again.

"You do, and next time he will beat you to death. There will be a next time. I promise you that."

"I don't know what else to do, Ben. I don't." she sobs.

"Let's get you checked out, and then we'll go from there."

Ben and Janet pull up to a small log cabin. His rustic home sits on 20 acres overlooking the Ozark Mountains. Ben fell in love when he saw it, claiming it was his dream come true.

Janet jumps sideways as she screams when Ben opens the passenger door. Ben shakes his head. That monster did a number on her, both mentally and physically. "Relax, honey. No one is going to hurt you here. He takes Jackie's cold, shaky hands in his. Ben gazes into her eyes and says, "You're a beautiful woman. Do you know that?"

"Thank you," she timidly replies, looking toward the floorboard.

He lifts her chin and then gazes into her sad brown eyes. Ben sees her pain, her agony hiding just below the surface. You poor, poor thing, forced to live a life of hell. I bet you've never known true happiness your entire life. "You are a beautiful woman. And any man should be proud to have you by his side."

She lowers her head again. "Thank you."

"Someday, you'll find someone who truly loves you. Somebody who will respect you, treat you right." Seeing the tears stream down her cheek. He carefully brushes them away. "Don't cry, honey. It'll be alright, I promise. Gently Ben will take care of you now. Placing his arm around her shoulder, he guides her toward his house.