“Stop! Stop! Please stop, you’re hurting me!” screamed Leslie, an attractive young woman in her twenties, as she lay pinned under the weight of the attacker.

“C’mon girl! You know you like this!” he responded. “You like it rough, right?” The man’s crude voice frightened Leslie as she struggled to push him away.

“No! I hate you! Let me out of this truck! screamed Leslie. You repulsive, drunk son of a…!”

“Yeah, and now you’re gonna get a taste of what I’ve been drinkin---you l’il tramp!” threatened the attacker.

Leslie began to cry as the corpulent attacker continued to straddle her waist. He forcefully pressed her wrists downward above her head while she struggled to get off the cot where she was pinned.

“I’ll kill you!” Leslie proclaimed as she made a desperate jerking attempt to break free.

Leslie’s threat angered the attacker. Quickly he released her right wrist and hit her multiple times across the face with the blunt object that he held in his hand.

Frustrated, exhausted and scared for her life, Leslie could not believe what was happening to her.

She squeezed her eyelids shut and firmly gritted her teeth just seconds before she passed out from the trauma.

“Shhh,” motioned the woman by placing her index finger to her lips.

“If you keep quiet, I won’t hurt you. And I have not been drinking---you’re hallucinating!”

Groggy and bewildered as she drifted back into consciousness, Leslie was startled momentarily when she heard the voice of a woman. She recalled the person atop of her had been a male.

Baffled by the change of scenarios, Leslie shouted, “Let me go now you bitch!” 

As the strange woman straddled Leslie, she applied more pressure to her wrists, which were still above her head on the cot. Her dark eyes pierced deeply into Leslie’s tear-filled eyes.

“What do you want from me?” asked Leslie, “and who are you...what’s going on? Just awhile ago…” Leslie was noticeably confused. Her slender body trembled.

“Why are you so nervous?” asked the woman. “After all, you broke into my truck! Why in God’s name did you break in?”

Leslie started to respond, but she was interrupted before she could speak.

“And not only did you break in here,” continued the woman, “You swung a tire iron at me when I tried to stop you from tearing my truck to pieces. What the hell is going on with you, Leslie?---if that is your real name.”

“Let me up! I’m hurt!” shouted Leslie.

The woman was reluctant to release Leslie, but she was beginning to tire from holding her down.

She also did not want to hurt the young girl. “OK, I will let you up---if you calm down. Don’t think that I won’t put you down again if you mess with me. Got it?”

“Yeah,” responded Leslie in a begrudged tone.

The woman released Leslie’s wrists and then slowly twisted her body off of her. As she removed herself from straddling Leslie’s waist, she kept a keen eye on her.

Standing away from the cot, Leslie noticed the woman was slender and had a very shapely silhouette.

Although the sleep area in the truck was dimly lit, Leslie could clearly see the woman’s feminine body.

Leslie thought to herself, “This is not a man. What happened to the man that attacked me?”

The woman retrieved a footstool from the pantry and placed it at the cot where Leslie was now sitting.

“Something weird is happening,” proclaimed Leslie.

“Something weird? You bet there is! You broke into my truck while I was sleeping---waving a tire iron no less! Yeah, I would say something is very weird,” cautioned the woman.

Leslie sighed. Tears were running down her face. “I don’t know how I got here.”

“I just told you. You broke into my truck.”

“No, I last remember…I remember being attacked by a…by a man, but some how…Oh my God, what is happening?”

"Calm down, calm down. Everything is all right now. And by the way Leslie, my name is Sheára.”

“I don’t remember telling my name. How did you know Leslie was my name? How did you know that?”

“You told me. Don’t you remember?”

“No,” replied Leslie.

“After I took the tire iron from you, we wrestled to the cot. You put up quite a fight young lady. I asked your name and you said it was Lisa.

Then you said it was none of my business.

I asked you again and you screamed that I was hurting you. A short time later you told me that your name was Leslie…You know, if anyone should be asking the questions here, I think it should be me.

Why did you break into my truck?” asked Sheára.

As Leslie began to regain her composure, she examined Sheára in better detail. She thought that she not only had an angelic face, but Sheára also had a striking presence that was both beautiful and frightening.

The sound of strong winds began pounding against the truck. The room darkened.

A small lamp, which rested on the table behind Sheára, started to flicker as if the bulb was going to die.

“So why did you break into my truck?” demanded Sheára. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”

As Sheára spoke, she noticed a small, but distinctive scar above Leslie's left eye.

“What are you looking at?” asked Leslie.

“The scar over your eye. It is so distinctive. I have seen it before.” I just don’t remember when or where I saw it.”

“What scar? What scar Sheára?" Leslie asked again in a frustrated tone. “Like I told you, I do not have any scars on my face. Are you…do you have a mirror?”

“Yeah, I think I have one right here.” Sheára reached into the drawer of the table behind her and handed Leslie a small cosmetic mirror, which was still wrapped in plastic and unopened.

Leslie giggled. “This mirror is exactly like the one I bought from the 5 and Dime last week. We must have similar tastes or something.”

Suddenly, an intense burst of yellow light came through the tiny square window on the truck.

The yellow light completely illuminated the dimly lit room for what seemed like several seconds.

“Oh my God!” screamed Leslie, “What was that?” The tiny lamp flickered once more and then went out completely as thunder crashed loudly outside.

The room went black. Raindrops pounded against the truck.

“Oh my, there’s the storm,” responded Sheára as she reached for a candle and matches from the satchel which was underneath the cot.

She lit the candle and then placed it on the table near the lamp that blew out. “And voilà, let there be light,” she said jokingly as she returned to face Leslie.

“This is the strangest night of my life,” said Leslie. “First, I am attacked by a man who became a woman. I don’t know how I got here and you claim that I broke into your place. And now this creepy storm. I just don’t get it!”

“It does seem strange doesn’t it,” asked Sheára.

“Yes it does! And now you tell me that I have a scar above my eye. You must be kidding me right? I don’t have scars anywhere on my body.” Leslie paused momentarily. “Well, there were no scars on my face. I would have noticed something like that.”

Leslie began to peel the plastic cover from the compact. " I have no idea what you are talking about,” muttered Leslie.

As Leslie fumbled to remove the cover from the compact, Sheára went into the kitchen area of the truck to retrieve a small transistor radio.

Leslie finally removed the plastic wrap and opened the small compact. She rotated her head toward the candlelight. She was anxious to see the alleged scar above her left eye. While adjusting the mirror, she noticed the tiny kitchen area…

Suddenly, Leslie heard a noise and she quickly turned!

“Oh my God! You scared me. I didn’t see you come from the kitchen.”

“I’m sorry I scared you. I have been told millions of times that I walk too lightly,” Sheára commented.

“Well you do…I’m so freaked out…It’s not my day,” explained Leslie.

Leslie caught a glimpse of her left eye in the mirror. “Oh my God, there is a scar, but I don’t know how I got it. I’ve never seen it,” Leslie stated.

“I dunno. Maybe you were involved in some sort of accident or something,” suggested Sheára as she sat down on the stool and placed the radio near the burning candle.

“An accident? I would remember something like that Sheára.” Leslie shut the compact and tossed it on the cot behind her.

Next, she stood up and began to fervently pace in the tiny vestibule between the cot and the kitchen.

“Leslie, can’t you remember anything about how you got here?” asked Sheára.

A voice sounded over the radio. “ News flash! News flash! This is radio 10-I-R-P bringing your weather update. Expect high winds and torrential down pours throughout the county and severe flooding in the valley. This is the worst storm of the summer with lightening and strong wind gusts taking down trees and power lines. Visibility is near zero. The sheriff has issued an alert for citizens to remain off the roads until the storm passes sometime tomorrow morning.

In other news…”

“Oh great!” declared Sheára in a sarcastic tone. “I planned to head upstate in the morning to take a delivery. “Now I don’t know if the roads will be ready by the morning.”

“I have to leave too,” explained Leslie. “I just wish that I could remember what I did before I…”

“Think hard Leslie. You must remember something,” added Sheára.

Leslie returned to the cot and sat down near Sheára. She closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her long, blonde hair.

“Wait a minute! I do remember something.” Leslie looked directly at Sheára. I remember reading an ad in the local newspaper. An agency was looking for models from 18-24. Since I’ve done some print work, I thought this would be an opportunity to make some fast money,” explained Leslie.

Did you go to the agency?” asked Sheára.

“I think I did.” I remember getting into my car and I kept thinking how much I needed the job because I desperately needed money…for things. I was being evicted from my apartment. I…I figured if I could get to the agency before other girls did, I would have a better chance of getting the assignment; I would show them what I could do. I…I remember taking the back roads through Route 999 to save time. I must’ve made a wrong turn or something because I ended up in the next town over.”

“ Were you lost?”

Leslie nodded. “After I realized I was lost I panicked. It was getting dark out and I was desperate for help. My car conked out on me too. I was scared.”

“Can you remember anything else?” Sheára listened intently as Leslie explained her story.

“I remember seeing a gas station about a mile up the road. I also noticed three big trucks parked there too. The trucks had their lights on.

I began walking toward the station for help. Just before I reached the station, the heel of my shoe broke. I remember picking up the heel and placing it in my purse.

I decided to leave my shoes on the roadside until I came back. When I finally reached the station, I realized that it was abandoned---except for the trucks…wait a minute! I remember approaching those trucks when I heard a radio playing and people laughing.

Sheára remained quiet as she listened.

Another sudden burst of yellow light flashed through the small room this time causing the truck to jerk violently. Again the room became filled with light followed by the roar of thunder and torrential rain pounding against the truck.

“This storm is freaking me out,” proclaimed Leslie. “It seems so angry.”

“This is the worst storm of the summer and hopefully it will be the last one this season Leslie. You mentioned something about people laughing…”  

“Oh yeah, behind the trucks there were three men,” added Leslie. “I figured they were truck drivers from their appearances. They all had scruffy beards and they were heavy.”

“What do you mean heavy?” asked Sheára.

“I mean…they were strong-looking and stout.”

“Like me?” asked Sheára with a smile.

“No. I don’t know,” exclaimed Leslie. “Besides I didn’t think their appearances were important. I just wanted to get my car fixed and leave. You’re not heavy Sheára. I didn’t mean you.”

“I know you didn’t.” Sheára confessed. “Is there anything else?”

“Yes. I explained to them that my car had broken down just up the road and I was stranded. The guys seemed willing to help, but they started to ask me questions.”

“Like what?”

Leslie continued, “They asked where I was from? And where I was headed? And if anybody else was with me? You know, stuff like that.

The guys offered to help me out by getting my engine running. I thought they were nice to offer help. The one guy who reeked of beer asked me to show him to my car.

As I turned my back to walk off, someone shouted, "Look out party girl!"

I was grabbed from behind in a choke-hold. I became scared, angry and frustrated all at the same time. My purse fell to the ground and everything came out. I can still remember hearing their laughter---as if something funny was happening.

I managed to break free, but I tripped over the broken heel of my shoe, which had been in my purse. I reached for it thinking that I could use it as a weapon, but one of those guys got to it first.

I tried to get up again, but I was pushed down from behind. I did manage to get on my feet one more time, but I…I…The last thing I remember was seeing flashes of light and feeling a stinging sensation in my head.”

As Leslie's words faded away into the background, a deep sense of silence filled the room. Sheára stood from her stool. Magically, feathered wings sprouted from Sheára's back.

Her presence glowed with the radiance of yellow and orange light, which completely encircled Sheára giving the appearance of divinity that Leslie associated to her Bible studies as a young girl.

“You are safe now,” gestured Sheára as her wings took on a sharp angular shape from Leslie's line of vision.

“Oh my God! What is happening to me? I feel different. Sheára, I have to leave now.  I really do. My family must be worried. I need to go home,” explained Leslie as tears began to fall from her eyes.

The small transistor radio sounded off. “…The ten day search for the body of 22 year old Leslie Morales is over. Her body was found today

under the main bridge on Route 999.

The exact cause of death is unknown, but authorities believe she was murdered by a severe blow to the head with a blunt object. The body is scheduled for autopsy later today.

In other news…

The room brightened. The sounds of birds chirping and lustrous rays of warm sunshine came through the small window of the truck. 

Leslie was still confused. “Where am I? It’s not raining anymore. I have to go now Sheára. I really must go home now.”

Sheára gave an angelic smile to Leslie and said to her, “My dear, don’t worry and rest assured that your family is finally at peace. Leslie, my l’il angel---you are home now. It is your time to rest my child. You have been delivered from your pain. Only peace awaits you now. Only peace---awaits you now.”