2
"What the hell do you want?" I asked hoarsely, a rare strain of bravery sparked in me. My assailant watched me with narrowed eyes that glowed green even in the darkened alley. "I don't have anything but the car, you've already ruined it!"
"Ruined it?" He snapped.
"Yes, look what you did to the front!" I pointed wildly at the massive dent in the hood.
"What I did?" He asked incredulously.
"Don't play dumb, you nearly bashed in my engines, you great oaf!"
"How dare you speak to me that way!" He advanced.
I cowered slightly and a door swung open somewhere, slamming into the brick wall.
The owner of the bookstore stuck his head out at me, "Oy, what's all this racket, you're scaring away customers!"
"He-" I pointing towards my assailant but when I turned accusingly, there was no one there. I gulped. What is happening? I turned to the store owner and apologized. "I'm having a strange day, Mr Thom! I'll be off now."
The owner slammed the door.
Something pushed past me and as I looked, my assailant materialized out of thin air before me, storming off towards the main road.
"Hey!" I yelled, racing after him. He owed me a good servicing for my car. Without it I would be unemployed. "I'm not finished with you!"
He didn't pay any attention to me; his obstinate back was retreating from the alley. He was a tall man, I noticed, and I had to run to keep up with his strides.
"Where do you think you're going?" I shouted as he walked onto the sidewalk and then right onto the road, in the middle of traffic. I ran up and grabbed him by the arm, pulling back with all the force I had in me. He staggered backwards with me as a bus whizzed past his, missing him by perhaps a hair's breadth.
"Unhand me!" He bellowed, causing the pedestrians to stare.
"Are you completely mad?" I held my forehead, gawking at him. "I just saved you bloomin' life!"
"Saved?" He snorted. "You?"
"Yes, in fact all I've been doing today's saving your life!"
I hadn't noticed it but a number of people had stopped around us on the sidewalk.
"My head must be a bit fuzzy from the fall, but if I recall correctly, you ran into me with your truck!" The man shot back.
"Which is now dented like it met with the underside of a wrecking ball!" I yelled.
He looked at me curiously.
I caught my breath, noticing the number of onlookers.
Do something quickly! I turned on my heel with a wide grin plastered to my face and addressed the small crowd. "And that ladies and gentlemen is why traffic safety is so important. The Crenshaw School of Performing Arts thanks you for watching and always remember to wear your seat-belts."
I quickly bowed. The man beside me shot me a quizzical look. I punched his arm.
"Bow!" I hissed.
"I bow to no one!" He snarled.
"Why's he in a Mortal Kombat cosplay costume?" Someone asked form the crowd. Somebody else clapped once.
The man turned swiftly back towards the alley. I straightened up and ran after him.
"Your customs are baffling," he remarked, heading for my truck.
"What are you doing?" I asked, breathlessly. All this running around was giving me a head ache.
"This is Midgard?"
"What?"
"Earth?"
"Yeah, where are you from, Mars?"
He did not appreciate humour, obviously. Pulling the door open, he sat down in the passenger seat. I walked up to the truck, peering at him from my open window. He threw me a nasty look and said, "Drive."
"I'm not your caddy!"
The man did not hesitate before ramming his elbow into his window. The glass shattered, falling to the ground outside. He simply brushed away the shards on his clothes and turned to me.
"Your vehicle's already in bad shape, but I could change that for the worse in a heartbeat and then I daresay you'd be out of employment. That wouldn't bode well for you, you're already poor."
My jaw hung open. I felt like I had been punched hard in the ribs. Poor? What sort of aristocratic pig had I managed to scoop up off the road?
"Now get in and drive or the engine's next." He threatened.
Still reeling from the blow he had administered to my ego, I got behind the wheel and slammed my door shut. I keyed the ignition and glared at the rear view.
"Where do you want me to go?"
"Take me back to where you found me."