Darlene closed the hood of the car. She looked around to see a group of teens heading towards her. They looked harmless enough, and more trustworthy than perhaps the occupants of the black Chevy panel van parked half way down the block might be. It was either them or the leacherous looking bum that sat on the street corner looking at her. She started walking toward the group of teenagers. But before she could take more than three steps, tires squealed and the van quickly closed in on the group of teens.
The old street bum, having lived through so many drive by shootings, quickly sprang from the curb, diving on top of Darlene, knocking her to the sidewalk as shots rang out into the night. He landed perfectly, face first, right in Darlene's splayed crotch.
Gunfire was returned, and the sound of shrieking young females was heard as the van swerved on down the street. "Somebody help me!" a voiced cried out. "I can't stop the bleeding!"
Darlene managed to crawl out from under the bum. She got up and ran down the street to see what happened. Only two teens were left. The rest had scattered. When she got there, a teen boy was cradling a teen girl in his arms. "It hurts so bad, Julio!" the girl cried out. "Come on Sarita, stay with me. Help will be here soon."
Darlene knelt beside the couple. She looked at the girl's wound, which was in her arm. The bullet had gone straight through. "It's a clean wound" she said to the boy. "The bullet went straight through. We just have to find a way to stop the bleeding." She quickly took off her heels and removed her stockings. "Give me your bandana."
Julio took off his bandana and handed it to Darlene. She folded the bandana and placed it over the girl's wound, then secured it tightly with her stockings. After a few moments the bleeding slowed, and finally stopped from the pressure. The girl opened her eyes and smiled. "Thank you lady" she said. "But you've put yourself in danger. The Commancheros will be back. Take Julio and get out!"
"I'm not leaving without you!" exclaimed Julio. Then he pointed a gun at Darlene. "I'm grateful for your help, but you have to get us out of here. Like Sarita said, they will be back."
Darlene raised her hands. "Fine way to thank me. I wish I could get you out of here. My car broke down. I was heading your way to ask for help when the shots were fired."
"I can fix the damn car, lady. Help me get Sarita to it."
"No! You can't do that Julio. Go without me. I'll just slow you down" the girl exclaimed.
Darlene could see the fear in the young girl's eyes. She looked at Julio. "Put the gun away and help me get her to the car. Then you do whatever you have to do. We'll all leave together, I promise you." The young girl started to protest, but Darlene bristled at her. "Just shut up young lady. I didn't save your life, only to let you lose it again."
Julio stuck the gun in his pocket. Then he and Darlene helped Sarita to her feet. Meanwhile the bum had finally regained his wits and came over to help. "Julio, you've been straight with me. Why don't you go on ahead and fix the car while I help the ladies?" Julio galdly accepted the offer and ran to the car. He was still busy under the hood when the others made it there. The old bum and Darlene helped Sarita into the back seat. Then went to check on Julio's progress.
It took some patient searching in the dark, but Julio finally found the problem. It was a broken alternator wire he quickly spliced together.
Meanwhile Darlene looked at the old bum with gratitude. "Thank you for saving my life. I hope you'll be coming with us. It's not safe here."
Julio closed the hood and came around to the passenger side. "She's right Riccardo. Get in."
Darlene started the car as Julio climbed in the back with Sarita. Riccardo got in the front. The car stubbornly ground to life. Darlene put it in drive and moved back onto the road.
Sarita looked out the back window with a sigh of relief. But that relief was short lived as she saw the headlights of an all too familiar black van quickly approaching from behind. "They're coming!" she yelled.
Darlene floored the accellerator as she thought to herself what a fine day she picked to run into a gang fight.
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