Warning: Once again dear readers, this chapter contains some distressing scenes which include racial slurs, and violence.
Chapter Three
Stalked and Pounced
Later that evening, Milo finished his shift and after taking off his name tag and walkie talkie, he went to the bar to order that free drink his boss promised him.
The girl behind the bar, a pretty blonde haired girl with blue eyes and wearing a short white dress poured him a pint of beer and pushed it towards him.
"Thanks Sophie." he said with a smile.
"You're welcome Milo!" the girl smiled "Well done tonight! We all know we can rely on you! Those bastards were giving me such a hard time at the bar before you arrived."
"Did they?" Milo asked raising an eyebrow "Like how?"
"Saying I was supposed to be one of the girls on the poles." Sophie replied "Or their whore girl."
Milo frowned.
"I try and let it go, but it does hurt so much." Sophie said "I can't dance and I don't want to be a dancer, no disrespect to the girls out there who are beautiful and talented."
As she spoke, two lap dancers who also finished their shift and were celebrating their success with a glass of wine each smiled at Sophie.
"But it's not me." she continued "I only want to earn some extra dollars even if it means being a barmaid and waitress for a while, so again, thanks for what you did today."
"No problem!" Milo said as he took a sip of his drink then looked at the barmaid again over the rim of his glass.
"So how are things with you?" he asked.
"Coping." Sophie replied, "My waitress job at the Pizzeria wasn't getting me through so I've had to take extra shifts here."
Milo sighed sadly.
"Damn." he said "I'm sorry Sophie, you deserve so much better than where you are now!"
Sophie chuckled.
"Sometimes you have to take what you're given." she said "I wish there was somewhere else I could go, instead of working all the hours God sends."
"What did you have in mind?" asked Milo.
"I'd love to go away to college." Sophie said "I want to be a children's doctor, and help people."
"And why shouldn't you?" Milo asked, to which he noticed Sophie looked slightly uncomfortable and she lifted her hand to the back of her neck.
"Oh...sorry." he said worried he had upset the girl, but Sophie gave a kind smile "No it's okay." she said "I got a few things going on at the moment, but one day once I've saved enough, and filled out the right forms, I'll get myself into college and do my studies!"
"From what I've seen Sophie." Milo smiled "You work so hard, you can do anything!"
Sophie smiled back and continued with her duties letting Milo drink his pint before he was to go home.
He soon finished his drink then stretched his arms, satisfied that he had done his hard working shift but he was looking forward to a rest at home before he had to come back the following night.
"I'll see you tomorrow night Sophie?" he asked.
"Sure thing Milo!" Sophie smiled "Stay safe okay?"
"Thanks hun!" Milo said "And keep your dreams alive okay? And your chin up."
"I'll do my best!" Sophie smiled then turned back to the till, glad Milo couldn't see the tears that started to fill her eyes.
Meanwhile in a dark area of the city, under a nook in a wall, Marcus had managed to find somewhere to rest for the night, he had used the $10.00 Milo had given him to buy some food which was a large pizza from a late night takeaway which he hoped would keep him full for a long time.
He arranged the few belongings he had which included a blanket, a filthy pillow and a rucksack and made himself as best he could an area to spend the night and sat down bringing his knees up to chest.
Running his left hand over the stump of his right arm, he sighed, thinking again of what lead him here.
"I spent years in the army," he muttered "I studied hard, I worked my way up, I fought in the wars, I suffered many losses, not just personally." he added looking at his stump "Just to protect my men, and my country, and the government fails me..."
Looking in his rucksack, he found a hidden pocket and he reached inside before pulling out what were his most prized treasures.
The medals he had been given for his services, and for his heroism.
He clasped them close as tears fell from his eyes, all he had were his memories of how his men and those who appreciated what he did to comfort him and keep him warm.
He could have sold them like he did most of his other possessions to try and pay the rent before he was evicted, but they were so precious and priceless, he didn't want to part from them, since they were the only thing that showed him that people had once appreciated him and saw him as a hero.
After being discharged honourably from the army, he had tried as hard as he could to live a normal life again, but it was so difficult since he had suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and with only one arm, certain basic things were a challenge.
Now living on the streets, he had suffered abuse and people just staring at him, wondering how he had gotten himself there, if only they could open their eyes to see what he had been through, and give him a chance to have another chance in life.
He had been lucky to meet Milo and thanked God every day that someone cared, but he knew he couldn't rely on Milo to show kindness to him to get him through the days, but he wasn't sure where to go or to turn and apart from the kind Nightclub Bouncer he didn't trust anyone.
He was lost, and fallen and unsure of how to find his way, or get up again.
Lost in his thoughts, Marcus suddenly saw a shadow on the ground move and he frowned before looking up to see what had cast the shadow.
Where he was, there were no homes above him, nor fire escapes or balconies. Blinking several times and shaking off what he thought he saw, coming to the conclusion it had been a bird or something, he rested back hoping to get some sleep.
Marcus hadn't been dozing long before he felt a had kick on the sole of his worn shoe and he looked up to see the same red necks who had abused him earlier!
"Wake up Smelly!" one of them sneered.
Marcus was shaken awake in alarm and he didn't have a chance to react before one of the red necks wearing the MAGA cap walked over and grabbed his rucksack before emptying the contents.
"Stop it!" Marcus shouted as he stood up and tried to push away the Red Neck but he was knocked down by the Skin Head.
"Make us you Invalid!" the Skin Head growled.
As he fell, Marcus dropped his medals before he could hide them somewhere in his clothes and the ginger bearded Red Neck saw them.
"Medals eh?" he growled grabbing at them before Marcus could snatch them up then he saw what they were for.
"War Hero huh?" he asked "Served in the army did yeh?"
Marcus then felt his ribs get kicked and he was forced to roll over onto his back and he felt the second MAGA Capped Red Neck press his dirty boot on his chest.
"What kind of hero are you?"
"What kind of soldier can't even stand up for himself?"
Marcus's eyes widened and he felt his blood boil as these cruel dunk men treated him like scum after all he did for their country, and country they claimed to be proud of, yet they disrespected the men who fought hard and lost everything to protect it.
Using his left arm he punched the Red Neck's ankle hard sending him flying and yelping in pain, then he rolled over and got onto his knees but he felt a fist punch him in the jaw and he felt himself get slammed against the brick wall and kicked again.
As he felt the impact of punches, kicks and even spit raining on him, Marcus felt terrified, even though he was a soldier, he still felt fear, first from the bombs and guns when serving, and he never knew if he would wake up the next day alive, or with less men than he went out with.
He never imagined he would feel such feelings like this, or be abused in such a way, if this was his time to go, under the abuse of some Red Neck Bullies, he was heartbroken and tears started to fall, both from pain and fear.
"Hey!" a voice suddenly shouted and Marcus felt the Red Necks ease off him and through his blurred tearful vision, the Veteran could see who his rescuer was.
"Milo?"
The Bouncer had been walking down that way to go home and heard the sounds of the Red Necks, and investigating the sounds, he saw what they were doing to his friend.
"Get away from him you sons of bitches!" Milo growled clawing his hands and baring his teeth.
The Red Necks turned to Milo and they glowered when they saw who it was.
"You!" the Skinhead hissed.
"Never imagined we'd see you again so soon Nigger!" the ginger bearded red Neck smirked.
Milo snarled.
"I'll make you wish you never touched him!" he said "You claim to be proud of your country, that you love it? That you consider it great? Well, America is ashamed to have you! The way you disrespect her soldiers! The very people who put their lives and bodies on the line so you could see another day! And what do you do? Bully them! And traumatise them more? Don't you think they've been through enough shit already?"
"Shut your mouth Negro!" The Skinhead growled then reached into his pocket pulling out a switch-blade "I'm gonna gut you like a pig!"
"Then lynch him up!" the Ginger bearded man smirked.
Milo swallowed hard, but as a Bouncer, he knew how to defend himself, even though there were four Red Necks who could pull off any dirty trick in the book, he had to be prepared, especially since he wasn't wearing his stab proof jacket.
Marcus was relieved that Milo was there for him, for years he had been helping and protecting others and now seeing the favour returned, he felt a light within him as well as some fighting spirit, and he moved his legs before kicking hard at the MAGA capped red neck who had been standing over him and had been so busy watching his peers square up to Milo he had forgotten about the Veteran.
The Red Neck gave a roar of pain and stumbled then saw Marcus sock him in the mouth with his stump!
"Never judge a book by it's cover!" Marcus smirked "Even an Invalid can be a tough nut!" he then stamped on the Red Neck's crotch making him yell in pain and Marcus snatched his medals back from his tormentor as the Red Neck had dropped them in pain.
Meanwhile Milo was fighting the Skin head trying to avoid the switch-blade then seeing an opening he punched him to the side then turned to the other Red Necks grabbing them by the backs of their necks and clanging their heads together making them fall senseless.
Milo smirked and turned to Marcus.
"You alright mate?" he asked.
"Yeah..." Marcus smiled "Thanks so much Milo, you really are a true friend!"
Milo smiled back.
"You did so much for this country mate, and someone like you deserves to be protected." he walked over to the Veteran and saw the bruises on his skin.
"Here, why don't you stay with me tonight, I got room on the sofa, then first thing tomorrow, we'll find you the help you need eh? Help you start over? You can say goodbye to life on the streets!"
Marcus grinned.
"That would be wonderful." he said "Thank you..."
Milo was about to speak then suddenly he choked and Marcus's eyes widened as Milo gave a gasp and he saw the Skin Head Red Neck appear behind him.
"Milo?" Marcus stuttered then Milo turned painfully behind him and the Red Neck stepped backwards showing his hands were bloody.
As Marcus was still alarmed he stumbled back and he felt himself get grabbed and his left arm was twisted, breaking it in three places then he was thrown down to the ground screaming in agony.
Milo felt something sticky run down his back then he felt a sharp pain as he felt something sharp enter his back and shoulders then he fell on his knees.
"I said we'd get you for this Nigger!" the Skin head smirked then kicked him in the face sending him rolling onto his back and Milo soon saw a couple of trails of blood run on the ground from behind him and he realised the Red Neck had stabbed him with the Switchblade!
"Milo!" Marcus cried "No!"
"Marcus..." Milo choked.
Marcus, despite the pain in his left arm tried to crawl over to the fallen Bouncer, but he saw a foot appear out of the corner of his eye which kicked him hard in the face, knocking him senseless, then he felt it kick him again knocking him out cold.
"Marcus!" Milo cried seeing his friend get beaten then he cried out as he felt the Skinhead kick him in the side.
"I'm gonna make you feel the wrath of Hell Negro!" the Skin Head growled and Milo could hear laughter from the other Red Necks.
Tears appeared in Milo's eyes as he tried to brace himself for the torture, yet he suddenly saw above his head a black shape appear silhouetted against the sky.
At the same time the Red Necks looked up and saw the same shape.
"The fuck?" asked one of the MAGA Capped Red necks.
The the shape got bigger, a loud screech was heard followed by shouting and cried of alarm and fear, Milo then saw the shape land and he could just make out the appearance of a giant Black Bird.
As the pandemonium started so did the pain, and Milo soon passed out but nor before hearing a loud caw, then the sounds of terrified screams...
Jesus, such a distressing scene, and I'm sure a lot of you have guessed whose appeared on the scene!
What will be the outcome of this? Well tune in to find out!