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Mira wasn’t sure where Jason had gone when she got up in the morning. He had left a note saying he’d be back by the evening.
With no other cars in the bay or yard to work on, she decided today was the day she’d get her jeep tuned up. It had sounded off the last month, not that she’d tell Jason, it wasn’t off enough to be a problem after all.
Getting it over the well that was used for just such reasons, she climbed under, getting started, humming softly along with the radio as she worked. In the back of her mind, she was tearing apart the engine, each musical component she had heard the last time it had run, marked with a color in her inner mind, bright gold were new parts she didn’t have to worry about, silver, were just starting their normal wear and tear, copper could use cleaning, and rusty… meant that she had to replace it.
Opening the oil pan, she drained the black liquid into an old container to move to the oil drum outside for pick up once it was full.
If she was asked, she wouldn’t complain about being home alone. She had grown used to it actually, being there most of the time. Checking a few other things on the undercarriage, she continued humming, it was something she had picked up back in school, she never explained why, and the guys in her class usually just thought it was a quirk, after all she was in a class of ten guys, and was serious about the work she was doing unlike the other two girls who were just there to goggle at the guys.
With nothing else to do under the car, she climbed out of the well, going for a shop rag, she moved to the front of the engine block, opening the hood to look inside. Most of the parts had faded to silver, though the spark plugs and a few other parts she saw were more copper. Leaning over the engine she removed the air filter and spark plugs. The filter was filthy, though that was normal with where she lived. The South Western desert kicked up a lot of sand into the engine. And Mira Greason hated sticking to the roads, which were less wear and tear on the four-wheel drive death trap, as she lovingly called it.
A new song came on as she cleaned off the plugs, checking to see which needed to be replaced walking across the garage.
“
”She’s talking to Angels
Counting the stars
Making wishes on passing cars
--Waiting for Superman - Daughtry
The sound of breaking glass in the lobby had her pause, tossing the spark plugs to her work bench. Her bat was sitting nearby, still dented from hitting Jason. A frown formed on her lips though she snatched up the bat, in one hand, jumping when she heard more glass break. Laughter and loud country, one of those country pop groups that the locals liked, came from outside.
“Well looks like you can’t even keep the glass in one piece here whore!”
She frowned knowing the voice. He had been the town’s golden boy when she had left for college at fifteen. Now she had a pair of degrees having busted her ass to get them, while he and his buddies worked in the local stores. Ashton worked in his dad’s hardware store.
She’d see if Jay could stay at the garage while she drove the two hours to the home depot to get plywood to cover the windows until she could replace the glass.
“Still mad I didn’t sleep with you? I have standards!” She retorted hearing the movement around the back of the building. The tune was simple, a slight whir, and tick. Something she remembered from classes. Ashton’s little brother, he had a heart monitor in. Ruined his life to follow his brother as a jock, but he was just as bad as his brother, taking out his frustrations on his birth defect on anyone and everyone.
There were other sounds she could pick up, the two trucks that the boys had brought… One was still running, and in bad shape. Mira could tell the timing was off, probably Maxwell’s POS rust bucket of a F150. Which meant the other one had to be Ashton or Zach’s new Tundra. One thing about being the only mechanic within fifty miles of a small town. She knew the cars in the area. She knew they wouldn’t do anything that could risk the gas pumps in the front, though just to be safe, she pounded the emergency shut off valve that was located near the bench. No need risking her livelyhood because the good ol’ boys got drunk and decided to take it out on the town black sheep.
Hearing the door behind her open she spun around, the bat stopping inches from Zach’s face. Only reason she paused is because it was a person. She really didn't want to hurt anyone unless she needed to.
“Shit bitch, you’re going to give me a fucking heart attack.” He shoved the bat away from his face, with enought force to make her stumble slightly.
“Yeah, well serves you right barging in here.” She growled slamming the bat down on the bench making him jump. She realized a moment too late that Zach entering had been a distraction. The rev of an engine and the sickening sound of metal tearing, had her glance back in time to see the garage door get ripped out of place.
Zach was close enough still and she swung out with the bat, managing to hear him scream out about his nose. Not thinking twice, she ran for the well under her jeep. Would be harder for anyone to get to her than if she bolted for the living quarters. At least four on one, she knew what her chances would be getting to the kitchen for a knife. SHe was a musician not an athlete, and even with them being former athletes, they were probably still in better shape than she had ever been.
Sliding under the jeep, she fell hard, three feet, hitting her rear on the cold dirty concrete below. Closing her eyes she managed not to make a sound about it.
“Zach!” Ashton growled as he saw his brother holding his face, and the bloody bat that she had dropped on her slide. “Done it now bitch!” He reached down to grab her, managing to catch her shirt. Mira heard it tear, pulling at the neck to keep it from strangling her. He pulled her closer and she twisted, biting his arm, causing him to scream as she scrambled, tipping over the container of oil, and falling hard to the floor again.
The two brothers were down for the moment at least. She might actually be able to buy time...
Though hearing metal hit metal and air escaping… She realized her mistake a bit late. The jeep was sinking, the tires popped, and air escaping, leaving her precious baby on the rims. In the front and back, there was enough clearance with the tires full for her to wiggle out, but with them deflated…
She was trapped.
She could hear two of the men making a mess of things, Ash probably took his brother to the clinic in town, which would mean the deputy would be there soon, probably with trumped up lies to have her taken in. Sinking to her knees, she tried to calm down. She needed to get out from under the car, hopefully before the deputy arrived. Warn Jay to stay away for a bit, if only because she didn’t want to deal with telling Deputy Asshole about her guest.
Glancing around, she saw the pair with spray paint. The words sprayed on the walls and floor that she could see, were the typical slurs thrown at her, at least they were unimaginative that way..