Here's the third chapter!
I thoughtfully munched on my rainbow snow cone as I peered into different store windows. Fury had given me a thousand dollars as a birthday present (who the heck does that?) and so I went shopping the Friday afternoon after my birthday. I wasn't really interested in what the shops had to offer. Mostly high-end boutiques whose clothes were too fancy and too expensive for my style.
As I approached the north side of Central Park, I stumbled upon a flea market. There were booths after booths after booths with everything from a-to-z. I wandered the stalls for a while until I found one with giant bins of necklaces and bracelets.
I dug through the barrels of jewelry when suddenly I felt drawn to this particular spot inside, like something was calling toward my hand. Almost against my own accord, I shoved my hand further and further down the barrel until I felt its wooden base, following the strange direction. My fingers felt a chain and I tugged until I brought the necklace to the surface.
It was a silver chain with a locket on the end. The locket was hexagonal and had beautiful swirl designs carved into it. Something rattled inside-I tried to pop the locket open but it wouldn't budge. Still, I felt the inexplicable need to purchase it.
"How much?" I asked the lady managing the stall. She was tall and thin and exotic looking, with really dark, almost purple eyes. A head scarf contained her hair and she wore a similar one around her neck.
"One-hundred and fifty, sweet cheeks." she replied, her voice having a strange quality that I couldn't put my finger on. It didn't sound like any accent I had heard of before.
I smiled. "Awesome!" I gave her the bills. "Thanks!" I said, and turned away.
"Of course." she purred, restacking the money.
I immediately strung the necklace around my neck. A strange sensation came over me, kinda tingly and traveling from my neck to the ends of my fingers, toes, and scalp. Eh, probably just a shiver. It is kinda nippy out. I exited the flea market and decided to stroll through Central Park on my way home. I made my way under the cover of trees. They provided a slight shade and the beams of light shining through the leaves were beautiful. I twiddled the locket in my fingers. Whatever was inside continued to bounce around, creating a melodic twinkling. I was so hypnotized by it that I almost didn't hear the eerie snapping of twigs behind me.
I quickly turned around. Nobody was on the path. "I know you're out there! I have pepper spray!" I shouted, and held out my canister. I waited a moment before turning back around and walking briskly away. After a bit the snapping began again. Oh Lord. I was about to whip around and begin chaotically spraying my mace, but only a raccoon was there to greet me.
It blinked innocently at me and scratched its ear with it paw. I laughed. "Oh, it's just you. You're a cute little guy, but I gotta get going."
The raccoon rose onto its hind legs and stood.
"Who're you callin' cute, humie?" it growled and crossed it arms.
"HOLY CRAP!" I screamed and ran away. The guy must have laced my snow cone with something...
"Hey! Come back!" the rodent shouted. I looked back and saw it running after me.
I shrieked and ran faster, only to slam into a tree. A tree with arms, legs, and a face. That was smiling at me. My mind snapped in two. I froze and just gaped at the massive plant-man.
"I am Groot." it grumbled indignantly, and began reaching for my neck.
"Just give us the necklace and nobody gets hurt!" the raccoon said, standing on my other side. There was nowhere to run.
I screeched and covered my eyes, spraying the raccoon and then the tree creature in the face with the pepper spray.
"AAAHHHHHHH!" they both yelled and scratched at their eyes. "What the heck was that?!" The raccoon screamed. I made my escape.
"I am Groot!" The plant-man yelled in response. He began running after me, his giant legs catching up with mine in mere seconds. It grabbed the back of my shirt. I thrashed around and tried smacking his hands away to no avail.
"Put me down!" I shouted. "I bought this necklace fair and square!"
"Who cares, Blondie?" The raccoon said. "We need it - the fate of the galaxy depends on us!" He explained with a sarcastic sweep of his paws. They must be aliens. My life is unreal.
I barked a laugh while still trying to break free of the tree-guy's grasp. "Yeah, right. I don't know who y'all are -frankly, what y'all are- but I don't care. I've been around the block a time or two and I'm not afraid of some freak show aliens. Put. Me. Down." I commanded and set my glare onto the tree.
I could have sworn he looked almost hurt at my freak show comment. He mumbled "I am Groot." and set me down gently. Truthfully, I felt kinda bad about it.
I brushed myself off. "Thank you." I replied with a nod. "Goodbye." I said, and turned and walked away. They didn't follow me.
