I usually don't post personal stories on here, but a certain event I went through has been bugging me for the past few months. I have to admit I was very lucky to come out of it alive. It's not something that I will ever forget. I was traveling to South Carolina for a wedding that I was contracted to shoot video for. Before I get to that part. I'll start from the beginning. Remember this is a true story. My personal experience. Hopefully you all would not be scared from the long post. So here we go!
I work as nightlife photographer shooting clubs/events in Atlanta. Even though I asked for that time off so I can travel to Charleston for the wedding, my boss still had me on the schedule. So I had to bite the bullet. Even though shooting clubs are fun (photography not shoot 'em up guns style if anyone was wondering) it can be a strain especially when you have to immediately drive 4 hours afterwards. So I got off work in 3 in the morning. Packed my thousand dollars worth of equipment and drove down to South Carolina.
I was two hours away from my destination and my bladder was about to explode. So I thought I needed to find a gas station. Remember I'm in an rural area in pitch darkness. Anyone who has been to South Carolina will know that there are some areas just nothing but country. Only visible light would be coming from your headlights. I typed nearest gas station on my GPS. I followed the directions to the exit that leads me to the station.
The gas station was some independent joint I've never heard of and I couldn't see anything passed it. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to take the risk. But the lights were on and the place was open. It was meant to be a quick piss stop anyway and I would be off. Bear in mind it was around 5 am.
I enter the establishment. There were only two people inside the convenient store. A clerk and random woman who I had to say was quite attractive and never would have expected to see her in a place like this. She was blonde with freckles dressed in a tank top and of course cut off jean shorts that showed off some booty. She seem like someone no older than 25. I'm not going to lie I took a gander. But let's not get sidetracked.
I asked the clerk if I could use the restroom. The clerk tells me that I had to buy something. Fair enough. I grabbed some honeybuns and take it to the desk. The clerk tells me that the machine is on the fritz and I had to pay in cash. What can you do I thought. Luckily for me I had cash. I paid the man and rush towards the restroom. As I was doing my business; the cute blonde girl begins to have a conversation with the clerk.
I releave myself. Wash my hands and storm out of the store with my snacks. As I was making my way towards my car the cute blonde calls me out.
“Hey! Can you help me out? My car broke down and I've been trying to get a tower but I just really need to go home and sleep. Can you help me out?”
“Like what? A ride?”
“Yeah I would really appreciate it.”
“You don't have any friends to pick you up?”
“I don't want to wake 'em.”
Now I've heard many stories like this. Cute girl uses her charms to flirt her way in. Make me take her someplace remote and bam! I get robbed. I knew her game. Also you have to remember it's 5 in the morning in a rural area of South Carolina. You just don't give strangers rides even if they're a sexy dame like this blonde was. Also there was no sign of her car anywhere. Then again it was so dark outside I couldn't see pass the station.
“I'm sorry. I'm not going your way.”
“Where you're heading?”
Now I'm no idiot. I'm not going to tell this woman where I was heading. Like I said. I know her game.
“It doesn't matter. I can't give you a ride. I'm sorry.”
The cute blonde becomes more aggressive with her flirting. Once again I keep denying her. As I open my car door she rushes towards me. This gets me nervous. So I yell at her in full blast.
“Back the hell off! I know your game! Now back off!”
She doesn't flinch. She doesn't back off. She just stops at her tracks and looks at me. She gives off a confident smile and as she signals to the abyss. A beam of headlights hit me. Apparently a gray truck was hidden in the darkness and pulls up right behind her. I'm become frozen stiff with the hairs in the back of my neck sticking up.
Oh shit! I'm in it now!
There were two men in the truck. I could only see the front passenger side. It was man who seem to be in his thirties, beard and trucker hat. The blonde just smiles and examines me. I have my keys in handy ready to fight. If it comes down to it I'll take the girl down with me and accept my fate what the two other men have in mind. But I don't a make a move unless it is necessary.
I give the blonde my war face as I stay alert on the two men in the truck. Blonde looks at me. She looks at the car. She looks at me again and returns her gaze at my car. It as if we did a stare off. The men glare at me – trying to intimidate me. I hate to admit it was working on their part. I have no idea how long the stance was, but it seemed for hours. Most likely a minute tops. But you all know what I'm talking about.
As the stare down continues. I get ready to attack – knowing if that had to happen I will plan to take the blonde with me. Because there's no way in hell I'll survive this situation. The blonde girl gives her final look down before she makes her decision.
“You know what? Never mind.”
She slowly backs into the truck. They drive off leaving me alone to my thoughts. I don't know how long I was standing there. Could have been seconds, but it felt like I was there for a very good minute. I storm into my car and drive at full speed! I didn't care if I was going to be pulled over by a cop. I just wanted to get the hell out of there.
After about ten mins. I pull the car over. I make sure that no one was following me. Put in the address to my hotel in the GPS. I make it to Charleston. Check in my hotel. Rest up and then got ready to shoot the wedding like it was a normal work day for me.
Till this day I always wonder what made the blonde girl change her mind. What if that was just meant to be a ruse to lead me out into the darkness so they can take me out with no problem. All I know is that I hope that I'll never meet that girl ever again...
