Saved By the Moonlight (Spicy Teatime Shorts)
1. Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Lily
I t’s late, and I’m tired. I worked a double shift at the hospital, and now my muscles ache with exhaustion. Working as an emergency room nurse is fulfilling, but after twelve-hour shifts, I’m always ready to rest. I can’t wait to get home, take a nice hot shower, and go to bed.
As I round the curve, rain comes down in droves, and a thick fog blankets the landscape. These dark mountain roads are treacherous in bad weather. Taking extra care, I come around the bend and see a car on the side of the road. They have their blinkers on and the hood open.
Standing beside the car is a mysterious figure wearing a raincoat with a hood, making it hard to determine their gender. Although I hate the idea of leaving someone stranded in this weather, I’m cautious about stopping.
A split-second decision has me bringing my car to a stop. Exiting my car, I hurry towards them. The person, hidden under the hood, seems too focused on repairing their vehicle to notice me.
“Hello. I just saw you here and wanted to stop and see if I could help. Do you need a lift? I can drive you wherever you need to go.”
As the person turns their face, I realize it’s a man. With the hood covering his head, it’s difficult to get a clear view of his face.
Walking closer to the front of his car where he’s standing, I ask him again if he needs help.
“Do you need to use a phone to call someone?”
“Thank you for stopping,” he murmurs in a hushed, velvety tone, his words barely audible over the sound of pouring rain, almost as if they are muffled by the pitch-black darkness that envelops us.
The strange allure of his voice has me stepping closer, too late to react when he suddenly raises his hand and propels forward. Briefly, I see the glint of a knife in his hand right before I feel the searing pain. The smell of iron fills the air, mixed with the acrid scent of fear.
Every time he raises and lowers his hand, it sends a fresh wave of agonizing pain through me. The edges of my consciousness begin to blur, and my grip on reality weakens with each passing moment, as my senses retreat into a hazy void. The smell of blood hangs heavy in the air; its suffocating presence enveloping me.
With my last fleeting moment of awareness, I hear the distinct snap of a car door opening and shutting, followed by the chugging start of an engine and the squeal of tires on tarmac.