I heard gunshots ringing out from the other side of town, I turned into an alleyway and leaned against a dumpster as I tried to catch my breath.

I had ran at least a mile away from what was going on and it was only just now did I stop muttering “he’s going to take me back.”

All I could think about now was whether or not Axel was even alive, I had no way to contact him and no way to know if he was ok. I was lost in this town completely alone, it was like I was back to square one all over again.

“Please be ok, please be ok” I muttered to myself as I anxiously twirled my hair in between my fingers. If they took Axel away from me I knew that would be my final straw, I wouldn’t be able to handle that loss.

Just then one of the doors in the alley opened and a large man with a beard stepped out.

I quickly backed up to the chain link fence in the alley, grabbing a beer bottle from off the ground and breaking it off against the wall, holding it in front of me in order to defend myself. I don’t know what came over me, but I felt ready to defend myself for any reason.

“Whoa whoa whoa easy there little lady” the man said holding his hands up. He was holding a bag of garbage in one hand and looked at me with fear, I never had someone afraid of me before, it made me feel awful.

He set the trash down but kept his hands in the air, how did I know if I could trust him? I didn’t know who he was? So far the only man in my life to ever treat me with any ounce of love or care was Axel and I didn’t even know if he was alive now.

Oh god please be alive. I was trying to keep myself together but just thinking about the possibility that Axel being gone made me feel like just curling up into a ball in that alleyway and giving up.

The man saw the look on my face and slowly put his hands down. I looked into his eyes and saw that he had no intention of hurting me, I was so used to being on the defensive that around strange men I just didn’t know how to react or respond.

“Are you alright?” he asked me, flinching when he heard some of the gunshots in the distance.

I leaned against the chain link fence and dropped the broken bottle onto the ground. I didn’t even know how to respond to him, how else do you tell someone that the gunshots they were hearing were directed at the only man in your life to ever give a damn.

“Look I don’t like the sound of those gunshots, you should come inside” he said opening the door for me and extending a friendly hand.

I was hesitant, I didn’t know who this man was but I did hear the sounds of people inside. I didn’t want to just stay in this alleyway all day, I took a deep breath and took a chance, walking past his extended arm and into the building.

It was an older restaurant, not run down but definitely rustic, at the bar two men were playing cards with the bartender. They turned to me in surprise, one of them took out the cigar he was smoking so he could speak to me.

“Sorry sweetheart we’re closed right now, but we’re running some specials tomorrow if you want to come back.”

“It’s ok guys she’s with me” said the bearded man who let me.

“What we’re allowed to invite girlfriends to our after work game?” the bartender asked as he looked down at his cards in frustration.

“Actually I’m not his-”

“She’s just a new friend” the bearded man replied, interrupting me. He turned to me and gave me a half smile and a discrete wink “from out of town right?”

“Yeah whatever Arnie, just invite whoever you want to our games without telling us, I love it when people show up unannounced it just makes my fucking day” one of the men said as he put the cigar back in his mouth. From his clothes I could tell he was the cook, I wondered why they closed so early I mean it was only evening. There was still sun out. Maybe it was because of what was going on outside.

“Yeah let me just go ahead and throw her back out with all the bullets flying” Arnie replied annoyed. I felt a little confused inside, he had no reason to keep me here or to defend me in front of his friends yet he did so anyway. Did he want something from me?

“Fucking Vultures… why can’t they just all lay down and die?” the cook said as he put a few of his chips onto the middle of the bar counter.

The sentence immediately filled me with anger, I couldn’t help but feel like if Axel really did pass away from the gun fight I would have no choice but to blame the cook for wishing death on him.

“They’re not all bad” I blurted out of anger, clenching my fists.

“Last I checked you’re new in town” the chef said, taking his cigar out and pointing it straight at me. “You don’t know how much of a fucking burden those crotch rocket riding degenerates are to this town and to this business.”

“They don’t ride crotch rockets they ride choppers, you know that” the bartender said chuckling.

“Yeah yeah whatever, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t lay down and die…”

“Take that back!” I yelled out causing all four of the men to look at me bewildered.

“Whoah Arnie, looks like your new girlfriend is cheating on you with a Vulture. Better drop her quick before they come after you” the chef said trying hard to stifle his laughter.

“Well… maybe I do have friends who are a part of the Desert Vultures. Maybe I do see the good in some of the men who are a part of that club.”

“Club? Darling that ain’t no club it’s a fucking gang” the chef blurted out as he folded his hand of cards.

“You’re not really friends with them are you?” Arnie asked in disappointment. So what was he only nice to me because he thought he could get something out of me? Was he just like all the others?

I didn’t reply, I didn’t even know if my tie to the club was severed with the sounds of those bullets. I felt just as alone as I did when Edgar’s car ran out of gas on the side of the road.

“Maybe you should get out of here” the Chef said staring straight at me. “I don’t want half a dozen of those guys busting in here and thinking we kidnapped you or some shit. I’ve got enough worries in my life to deal with any bullshit baggage you might have.”

“What’s so bad about them?” I asked as I crossed my arms defensively. “What’s so bad about them that you’d actually wish harm on them? That you’d kick me out of your bar in fear?”

The chef was silent as he took a long drag of his cigar.

“I don’t even need to wish death on them, it already sounds like someone is taking my wish into their own hands” he said chuckling.

I looked at all the men, I could feel anger beginning to take over me as I clenched my fists harder and tighter. I wanted to punch that chef right in his face, I wanted to hurt him for ever wishing harm on the only person who had ever cared about me. But I couldn’t bring myself to cause another person harm.

I looked up at Arnie and smiled “thank you for inviting me in.” I wanted to say more but I guess there really was nothing else to say.

I turned and headed for the exit, my steps echoing in the empty restaurant as I finally reached the door and headed outside.

What’s the point of being free when so many around you are unwilling to give even the slightest bit of help without anything in return? I wasn’t asking for a handout, I just wanted to see if I could make a connection with someone that wasn’t Axel. All those men did was judge me because of the Desert Vultures and kick me out onto the streets fully knowing that the gun fight could spill over at any moment.

I felt helpless. What would I do if Axel was taken from me? I had no support system, I couldn’t fend for myself, and relying on the kindness of others might just put me in a situation where they might be expecting a little something extra from me.

The town was practically dead, did everyone here really feel that way about the Desert Vultures? I knew I hadn’t been around them for long but it seemed like they only did petty crimes when it came to what actually affected the townspeople.

As I walked through the streets looking for any landmarks I could identify to make my way back to Axel’s apartment I noticed that the gunfire finally stopped.

I stood there in the middle of the street, almost as if I was waiting for something to happen. When I heard the sounds of some motorcycles riding off into the distance I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders.

I didn’t know how many bikers there were, I didn’t even know if it was Axel was the one riding out of there, but I liked to imagine that he made sure he got himself out of that fight as fast as he could to make sure that I was safe.

That is what he would do, right?

I heard a the sound of a single motorcycle speeding towards my direction. Was it him? Was he able to find me already?

I looked down the street to see a biker pull over to the side of the road for a moment, I could see him staring down the street at me trying to make out who it was. I squinted my eyes but couldn’t make out who it was, the setting sun was right behind him, causing him to be nothing more than a silhouette standing in the street.

“Axel?” I called out as I waved my hands. “Axel is that you?”

He started the bike back up and revved his engine before speeding towards me. In a matter of seconds he was coming at me going at least 70 miles per hour, and he was only getting faster.

I took a step back, uncertain of what was happening.

I felt petrified, I stood there in the middle of the road with this biker barrelling straight towards me.

Every instinct in my body begged me to just step aside, but deep down my mind told me to just let whatever happened, happen.