ATN 3: THE JAR IN THE MAZE

WE SAVE A GIRL FROM THE BULLIES

For one last time, I need to be...

No, not the one to take you home (I am not Ariana Grande, am I?). Rather, the one that tells you how my tale ends.

You know, I hate bullies. The last time someone tried to bully me was in school. He ended up locked in the bathroom for fifteen minutes. Never messed with me again. Dark? Yes. Don't worry, it is going to get darker here. So, brace yourselves.

Our probable last month of fun was about to be over. Me and my family had gone to best places in Delhi for a trip, had eaten the best food available in Delhi, and had all sorts of fun possible. And a week before, Tina had arrived with her mother. Ms. Roy was very sweet. Apparently, Tina got her nature, and Ares's mindset. Opposites do attract.

Tina and her mother stayed in a hotel nearby. She and I went out. Of course, we had to keep away from the snogging in front of our elders, but we had our share of fun. It was one early evening, when the two of us were returning from one of our dates, when we saw a horrifying scene.

The street we were in was behind our living complex. It was a quiet and lonely area, and sadly, wasn't a great place. The worst jerks of the city of Gurgaon hung out here. And when I saw it, I wasn't surprised.

A girl was being harassed by five monsters worse than the ones we deal with everyday. She wore a white T-shirt and jeans. But, her T-shirt was torn from the shoulders, her hair had been messed with, and she was crying, and screaming in despair. The guys, however, were laughing in a mocking tone. They had her surrounded, and one of them held her by brute force. The guys were pretty buff.

I started to plan on how to save the girl, but Tina's Ares instincts kicked in. She made her vicious face, and shouted at the guys, "Let her go!" Instantly, my hand hit my head.

The guys turned at us, and smiled evilly. "Fresh meat." One of them said. And my temper went to full. I clenched my fists, while the guys came to us, pulling the girl with them. One of them walked straight to me, and said, "Go, walk away. Your girlfriend has been taken care of."

Shouldn't have said that. I made eye contact with the guy, and he fell on the ground, groaning with unbearable pain. He slapped his hands on the ground, while I went on. When I stopped, one of the other guys asked, "What just happened?"

"Whatever." Another one said, "Let's get this one too." He walked closer to Tina and grabbed her hand. By instinct, I said, "Probably shouldn't have done that." Tina's Ares instinct kicked in again, and she pulled out a super sharp knife from her pocket, and put it on the guy's neck. "Been fighting battles all my life, buddy." She said, "Don't try this on me. Leave, if you wanna live."

The guys took a step back, and then, attacked Tina together. Before I could react, they had disarmed Tina. But, I found my feet within a second. I flicked my fingers, as four guys flew at different directions. I made sure that they hit their heads hardly on the walls around, and knocked out. I turned to the girl and said, "Go home. Never come here alone."

"Who are you guys?" She asked us.

"Just know that," Tina said, "two people who have been dealing with monsters for a long time."

The girl nodded, and left. Apparently, she had not guessed my magic. I felt proud of my Mom's curtain magic. Then, I was hit by something on my head from behind. I blacked out. A faint voice reached my ear, "Now that your boyfriend is down, I am gonna continue." The other guy who had felt my magically induced pain was still there.

As my visions started to return within seconds, I heard Tina utter, "Dad?"

When my vision cleared, I saw him again. The jerk was absolutely shell shocked. He had Tina's knife on his hand, but his grip wasn't strong anymore, for in front of him stood a figure about eight feet tall. He was in a familiar get up of white sleeveless T-shirt and jeans. But sadly for the guy, he had a spear in his hand. The guy dropped the knife and asked the god of war, "What are you?"

"You'll see soon enough." Ares replied. He raised his spear, and turned the guy into a block of Swiss cheese. I closed back my eyes at the blooded sight. Tina looked at Ares crossly, "What did you have to kill him?"

"Come on, daughter. He was trying to harass you." Ares replied, "Plus, its fun."

"No, Dad. This isn't fun. And I don't want you to fight your battles for me. Ever since we met, whichever guy has looked at me with the wrong eye has either had his arm broken, or fingers cut off, or died."

"Well, I left one alone." Ares winked at me.

"You do anything to that one, I'll break your arm, Father."

Ares laughed at that, and the two got into an affectionate hug. I got up, meanwhile. Ares came to me and said, "Hey, warlock. See, you are not exactly my favorite, because you think too much, but I see that my daughter likes you. I asked you to be her friend. Instead, you became more than that. I like that. Plus, I saw what you did here." He put his hand forward for a handshake.

I shook his hand, and asked, "Lord Ares, was killing necessary?"

"When a guy harasses a girl against her will, he deserves nothing short of the pits of Tartarus." We nodded at this, and he went on, "Anyway, bye, you two."

And Ares disappeared in thin air.

Tina came to me, kissed me out of the blue, and put her hand on my head, and asked, "You alright, Jay?"

"I am fine." I replied, still jittered by the sudden kiss, "We should get going before anyone else is murdered."

And we left for Tina's hotel.