AIDEN
"Hi, handsome, can I get a drink? came the familiar voice.
"Yeah sure" I replied surprised. What's Shirley doing here and how does she know where I work, I asked myself already knowing the answer: Justin
"So this is where you work? She asked as I brought her drink.
"Yes, how did you know?
"Justin told me, he is a very good informant".
Yeah Justin, confirming my suspicion. He has a big mouth and I probably will glue it together for him.
"What time do you get off work?, she asked as I was leaving her table. Stopping my departure, I replied her with a question of my own
"Why are you asking?"
"So we can spend time together" she replied without missing a beat, Like it was a normal thing for us
"what do you really want? I bluntly asked, cause I hated games and it looked like she was playing one with me.
"I like you and I want us to hang out, since am new to town and I don't have any friends...." she stated looking at me dolefully.
I looked at her and thought, damn, she did have beautiful eyes. I contemplated whether she's being honest or not. Giving up i said,
"I clock out around 10:30, if you are still here by that time, we will hang out" I said leaving to work the other tables. The evening rush came and went, with me feeling extra tired today. I remember my sleep these days isn't really sleep. At the end of my shift, I looked around looking for her...well means she had left, I thought.
After I clocked out I was surprised to find her waiting for me outside.
"Staying outside this late isn't safe, you could have waited inside"
"I needed the air, place was too crowded for me" yeah, we had an influx of customers today. Come to think of it, we have been doing well lately, more so than before.
"where do you want to go?, I asked her
"I live close by so let's take a walk" she replied, holding my forearm.
After walking for some minutes in comfortable silence, I like the fact that she's not pressured to fill the silence and also not pressuring me to do the same. It was very nice.
"So.....tell me about yourself" she said
"What do you want to know?
"Anything, I don't know. family, likes, dislikes" she stopped talking, looking at me. I sighed and answered
"Am an orphan, based on what I heard someone, maybe the person that birthed me dumped me at the orphanage doorstep. I grew up there with other kids but I wasn't put up for adoption once. I left the orphanage when I turned 16. I live alone now in a studio, No friends apart from Justin. Let's see, I like reading books, historical ones to be precise. what else? I looked at her
"I don't know, are you asking me? she replied and we both laughed.
"How do can you afford a studio apartment? she asked.
"That's what you want to know? I looked at her incredolously
"I mean, you said you were an orphan and I know that part-time job doesn't pay much.....
"well I guess it's a valid question, let's just say i have a benefactor which made me have access to some money as soon i as I clocked 18"
"Hmmm, okay" and she didn't ask any more questions. We continued walking in silence after that.
After walking for some minutes, I suddenly felt a itch at the back of my neck, that itch that tells me someone is following us. I look around but I don't see anyone and am absolutely sure someone is close by watching us. How do I protect Shirley when I can't even protect myself yet, I thought. I walked faster, with more urgency. If Shirley noticed, she didn't say anything.
"This is me, am on the fourth floor" she said pointing at the five storey high building.
"Okay, I guess that goodnight" I said already backing away.
"My, aren't you in a hurry. I guessed my presence wasn't really appreciated" I saw a shadow move a few blocks away.
"oh, I just remembered I forgot something" I told Shirley hastily.
"What did you forget?
"i forgot my keys at work" I lied "Goodnight then"
I ran without looking back to see if she moved or not. What am I going to do, I thought as I ran.
"Nice try boy"
I froze, shit. so the thing chasing me isn't even human in appearance. "who are you?, I asked with bravado that am not feeling.
"Am a messenger of Osiris"
Yeah I know that name, king of the underworld. "what do you want from me?
"Am just a messenger, son of Ra. I can barely sense any power in you, except for that stench you have"
"i don't stink messenger, or whatever the hell your name is. If it's a fight you want, come and get me"
"Spoken like a true warrior"
He lunges at me with an unimaginable speed, I barely had time to duck before he kicks me in the gut. Damn he is strong, but i can match his speed and I can already feel my strength increasing.
"Trust your instincts', a voice called out in my head. No time to dwell on that for now. He attacks again and this time I land a timely jab, followed by a kick that drove him backwards. "yeah, take that you piece of shit"
"Manifest a fireball' the voice in my head says
"and how do I do that? I asked, I can't believe am talking back to it now.
"You can do it, search within yourself'
Yeah right, as if it was that easy. But I have to try, since am the one fighting the monster or demon. He lunges straight at me with a sword wait, when did it draw out a sword. Shit, I close my eyes, then I start feeling the sensation on my fingertips.
Without thinking I throw it at it and he dissipates immediately. Yeah thats what am talking about, I fist jumped. Crisis averted, and I head home.