(Original characters/story)
@themerrywhumpofmay
The blood covering his hands made this impossible. And the broken arm didn’t really help.
Hesperus tried to loosen the wheel on his motorbike once again. But his fingers, slick with rain, and oil and blood, just kept slipping off the wrench.
He sat down hard in a puddle on the pavement, panting. More water soaked into his pants and boots. He curled the arm into his chest and held it there. It didn’t really help with the pain but it made the injury feel more stable. The heavy pack on his back rested on the ground.
Yeah, he still had to make the delivery.
Guess he was walking the rest of the way.
After a few minutes of panting, eyes closed and teeth gritted, Hesper dragged himself to his feet. Swaying, he edged around the two bodies. Stopped a moment. Eyed the belt one wore.
Minutes later, Hesper peeked out of the alleyway, his left arm now stable with the belt holding it close to his chest. With his other hand, he steered his shattered motorbike.
No one had witnessed the fight. No one would know what he’d done. They’d jumped him. It was their fault. It was their fault they-
“Need a ride?”
Hesper looked up and saw Rafael. He almost started sobbing on the spot.
Rafael quickly got off his bike. “Hesper?” His hand went towards Hesper’s shoulder. “Are you okay? What happened?”
Hesper glanced back at the entrance to the alley, where the bodies lay hidden. “How did you find me?”
“The wreck alert went off. Biometrics too. I’m on duty tonight. Did you wipe-out?”
Hesper opened his mouth. He wanted to say he’d been attacked. He wanted to say it wasn’t his fault that he’d killed them. He was defending himself. He was defending the delivery on his back.
Hesper swallowed. Blood and dirty rainwater on his tongue. “Y-yeah. Wiped out. Arm’s broken. Bike’s busted.”
Rafel looked over the belt strapping Hesper’s left arm to his chest. Hesper could feel his eyes roving. The other cuts and bruises being taken into account.
Rafael nodded then got back on his motorbike. “Should get you to a doc, I know one in-”
“No, there’s one near here.” Hesper shook his head.
It wasn’t a memory.
Just a strange feeling.
He knew that there was a doc around here. A good one.
Hesper looked up and down the street. No one. Empty.
“I don’t know of one.” Rafael said as Hesper slid gingerly onto the bike behind him.
“It’s weird.” Hesper murmured. “I think the clinic is in the back of a club. A green door, maybe.”
“You think?” Rafael started the bike. “Did you hit your head?”
“Probably.”
“I’m taking you to my doc, then we’ll finish the delivery together.” Rafael said.
“No!” Hesperus shook his head, making the world swim around him. “No, this one’s in the-...” He searched this feeling. “The Wheel! It’s a block away. The sign, it’s-”
“A neon eight-spoked wheel?” Rafael sighed. “You’re right, that is closer. Okay, let’s see if the doc is in. Hold on tight.”
Hesper wrapped his good arm around Rafael’s waist, blushing. He laid his head against Rafael’s back as they sped off.