Safe by Eileen

"Hmm, yes. Yes. I am just going to buy four chicken buckets and I'll be on my way there."

Cielle Antonette Becker, a half-Filipina, half-American woman, parked her car in the parking lot of a popular fast-food chain and turned the engine off. She twisted the key out and disembarked the vehicle just as she informed her best-friend, Silvia, at the other line of her plans.

"Uh huh, I'll be just quick," she added whilst righting her black blazer into position—the first garment she was able to pull out from her luggage that could protect her from the cold October evening. Under it, she wore a white v-neck tee and dark blue jeans—an ensemble of which she deemed simple but elegant paired with a wedged sandal.

Right after locking the car door, she stood right beside her white SUV and studied the whole of the area. At this time of the night, exactly seven in the evening, a lot of customers jovially flock the mouth-watering establishment with their families so it was no wonder most of the parking spaces were occupied.

But no matter. The crowd didn't bother her at all.

She had giddiness in her eyes, smiling from ear to ear as she looked up at the well-known bee mascot signage bolted up some few meters above a thick pole. From where she stood, she could already detail out the long line of customers waiting to order, but once again, it didn't bother her. Heck, it was even a welcomed situation.

It reminded her fondly of her memories back when she was younger, when her grandparents would bring her in the establishment every time her parents visit the Philippines.

She sighed and brushed a single tear that escaped from the corner of her eye. Those were wonderful memories indeed, worthy to be treasured inside her heart. It has been years since then. A beautiful adult she may have become, but that didn't mean she won't get the same happiness when stepping inside the building.

"Alright, four chicken buckets, here I come!" she exclaimed after a deep breath of confidence. These juicy cuts were apparently Cielle's share of food in her own welcome party after having stayed in the US for nearly six years. She had just arrived in the dainty town of Cordova in the province of Cebu a day before and was already very excited meeting her loved ones in their ancestral house in the city.

"I believe I should get some large fries along with the buckets to eat while driving," she murmured to herself and nodded twice, agreeing with her own decision.

When she was finally in the cashier, she did just that—ordering four buckets of chicken and one large fries.

By the time she headed out of the building, her hands were full of her purchases. It was heavy, but she had a fun time carrying it all the way to her car.

'Silv, I'm on my way, ' she texted on her iPhone after she laid the buckets at the passenger side of the car.

After sitting comfortably and adjusting her seatbelt, she turned the ignition on. Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk immediately sounded inside the car as Cielle drove out of the parking lot. She sang along with it and even bobbed her head, swayed her shoulders, and rocked her hips even while driving.

This part of the road that she took was one dark area. From the right and left sides, overgrown shrubbery was seen. No huts or concrete houses. Not even one person was on sight. There were small electric lamps along the way, but it didn't dismiss the gloomy aura of the place.

Cielle didn't mind the overall presence though as she was too engrossed with the booming music of her speakers and eating her crispy fries. However, when a loud gunfire passed through her ears, she yelped and abruptly stepped on the brakes. Her car immediately came to a halt beside a lamppost.

"What the—" she uttered as her eyes fell on the scene a couple of meters away.

A light brown Toyota Fortuner was on a standstill in the middle of the road while a middle-aged man was seen with his head popped out of the driver's shattered window and one hand dangling over it.

Through the windshield, Cielle could see a boy of not more than seven-years-old shaking the unconscious man's shoulder.

Though confused and wide-eyed, her nurse instincts kicked right in. She stepped out of the car, waving her hand and calling out the boy's attention.

"Hey!"

Although wary, she inched forward in quick strides.

"Hey boy!"

The small passenger only noticed Cielle when she arrived on the man's side of the window.

"Oh God," she immediately exclaimed, covering her mouth and stifling a scream when she noticed that the man had a gunshot wound in the head and dead.