Autophobia

Chapter 3: Blackout

 "I'm Elizabeth, by the way." The young woman chirped happily.

"...Charlie."

As the duo made their way down the alleyway, Charlie studied the young woman. She was literally skipping along, her blonde curls bouncing despite the rain soaking them. As she spoke into the phone, her voice grew shrill, almost childlike. Charlie awkwardly trotted to catch up to her, holding the umbrella over them. Elizabeth hung up the phone and slipped it into her pocket, giving Charlie pause. The silhouette of a car appeared through the droves of rain at last- it was a dark blue Cadillac, parked neatly by the metal barrier that marked the dead end of the alley.

A lanky man stepped out of the Cadillac, deploying a purple umbrella in the process. He was sullen in appearance, with greasy-looking brown hair and a toothy smile. The man from Sandy's. I shouldn't be here. The whole situation was off-putting from the start, but the man's demeanor had Charlie pausing again- her feet simply wouldn't move.

"I found someone to help us, daddy!" Elizabeth's voice took on a childlike note that took Charlie aback.

"I see that." The man sniggered. There was that brash British Accent again. It sure didn't help his case. Charlie stood rigidly before the pair.

"What's... what's wrong with your car?" She muttered.

"Show her, Elizabeth." The man tilted his head in the direction of the trunk. Charlie warily followed Elizabeth's bouncing pigtails to the back of the car.

"Daddy says there's something wrong with the axel." She explained, "Or the tire on the right side."

"Oh... I uh, I know how to change a tire, but you should probably..." She trailed off. The man, who she could only assume was related to Elizabeth, was coming up behind her. She could hear his sloshing footsteps. When she glanced over her shoulder, however, he was only leaning against the side of the cadillac and watching her intently.

"Look, I can help if it's a tire problem, but you should probably call a tow truck anyway." She looked pointedly at Elizabeth, whose hands were deep in her raincoat's pockets. She could see the outline of her red flip phone in the left one.

"I've got a spare tire in the back." The man sauntered over and Charlie immediately moved out of his way.

"Okay..."

"I'll hold the umbrella while you fix it." Elizabeth chirped. Just like you're holding my phone? Charlie thought, her mouth twisting in agitation.

"Here, you jack it up and I'll get the spare." The man said.

"Wait, d-do I know you?" She stammered. Something clicked in her mind, other than having seen him at the cafe, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Well, you saw me earlier and you've probably seen me around town. Small world."

Charlie nodded and bent down, reluctantly handing her umbrella to Elizabeth. She cranked the rusty jack with some difficulty but managed it.

"Okay... do you have a-" She cut herself off with a surprised grunt and fell to the ground. It took a moment for her brain to register the immense pain she was suddenly feeling in the back of her head. Black spots blurred her vision and she fell backwards to see Elizabeth's accomplice looming above her, a tire iron held above his head.

"It's a damn shame I have to do this." He sneered, "You're such a pretty one."

Elizabeth burst into shrieking laughter. Charlie tried to shield herself with her forearm to no avail, silent tears running down her cheeks. She was struck once, twice, three times in the forehead. She was frozen with shock, choking on the cry she tried to utter.