His leathery fingers came around her throat. She saw his sly smile in the mirror.

"I have to take care of you now," he whispered in her ear. His fingers tighten. Her gag reflex was in place. She started to choke, but struggled more. All she could. He took her breath away. And then it all went black.

She took the deepest breath when she came around. It was like coming up from black water. Only she was in a sweat on the cement floor of his gas station.

The florescent lighting flickered.

Ellie gasped more for air. She felt cold now. Like ice as she rose up on her elbows and saw the sparks fly from the other part of the garage where Bro. Sal was working.

"Why would you do that?" She got up then and came to see what he was doing. Sharpening a machety, Ellie noticed as her eyes open wide.

"Because he missed you." His very quiet voice said.

"But I'm not supposed to be here," Ellie winced.

"Who's to say whats wrong and what's right." He looked back at her then.

"You could get in a lot trouble from who ever's in charge, you know." Ellie understood this.

"Hasn't happened yet, baby." Brother Sal smirked as he put the hot blade down.

"What am I suppose to do? Where's Kale?" She followed him to the soft drink box where he handed her a sickening sweet Pepsi.

It was God awful but she drank it anyway.

"I guess he's at work," Sal said. "Possibly."

"You don't even know?"

"He gets around," Sal shrugged. "What can I tell you? I'm not his body guard."

"You..you choked me!" Had he forgotten or did she forget. Why wasn't she more mad? Wasn't this where she was meant to be?"

"I used to do that for a living," he smiled.

"I have to find, Kale." She nodded. Ellie looked down at her bare feet. She guessed she didn't need shoes. She had to find Kale now.