Page 118 of Sunrise

I freeze like a deer caught in the headlights, as a car races straight at me. It swerves while I lunge out of the way, and I roll across the asphalt.

Holy shit. I think I just shit myself.

Wait. No. I’m good. I just landed in a goddamn puddle.

Heart racing, I gather my scattered wits and stand up. The car’s already gone, leaving me too stunned to speak. My hands tremble when I put my helmet on and fasten it. Sweet Jeebus, I almost just died.

That would have been so annoying.

Revving my engine, it takes a lot of focus to get myself in gear and onto the road. Adrenaline and exhaustion do not mix well with near-death experiences and summer heat. By the time I make it home, I trip up my steps and stumble inside.

Home sweet home.

The candles and flowers are still out from when Vault and I were trying to surprise Sophie. That feels like it was a million years ago.

I collapse face down on my mattress. Dirty, head-fucked, and hungry, sleep takes me.

???

The sound of my front door slamming shut jars me from my sleep. Blurry eyed and confused, I shoot up in a panic, freeze, and listen for an intruder.

“Knox. You here?”

It’s Dmitri.

“Yeah.” I collapse back on the bed and shut myeyes again.

“I’m sorry, man. I didn’t think you’d still be asleep,” he says from my doorway. “Christ, you look like shit.”

If I had the energy to flip him off, I would. Slowly rolling up to sit on the edge of the bed, I lick my cracked lips. My mouth is dry. Eyes are itchy and swollen. Everything is blurry and bright, and I don’t like it. “What time is it?”

“Two in the afternoon.”

“Damn.” Scratching my head, I get a whiff of myself and nearly gag.

“Rough night?”

“Longnight.”

“Why are you so filthy?”

“Almost got ran over leaving the restaurant. Fell into a puddle on the street.”

“There’s blood all over your sheets and pillow.”

Shit. There is?

Come to think of it, my elbow stings like a motherfucker. I look down to see most of my skin has been scraped off and there’s dried blood all over my arm. Lovely. “I passed out before cleaning myself up. It’s been me and four hours of sleep against the world lately. I think I lost that round.”

“Want coffee?”

“Don’t ask stupid questions, D.” Of course, I want his coffee. Nothing compares to it, and he won’t tell anyone how he makes it.

“Get cleaned up, and I’ll have it ready when you get out here.”

“Thanks, man.” Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees and scrub my face. My eyes close again. Sleep almost sucks me back under, but theclanking of mugs makes me jolt. “I’m up. I’m up.”

Habit has me reaching for my cell, only it’s not where I usually keep it. Oh yeah, it busted last night. Reaching into my back pocket, I pull it out and see it’s not just broken, but dead, too.

---