Brightsider's Secrets

I Don't Get Paid Enough for this Job

A wise man once told me that the greatest men do not choose the path of greatness. So maybe that 'wise man' was my mentally unstable great uncle, but I thought it was one hell of a quote. That's how I ended up in this empty gas station, banging my head against the counter, wishing for my shift to be over.

"Adam, please tell me you smuggled your flask into work today." I spoke to the only other person idiotic enough to work at this dump. But the dead silence continued. I lifted my head from the cold counter, confused. Adam never missed a moment to talk, especially about alcohol. I glanced around the tiny gas station. Trust me, if Adam was in there, I would have seen him. Standing at 6'7", Adam was nothing but bone. He wore all black and he even went as far as dying his hair black. Sometimes he even showed up to work with man-liner.

"That punk left me in this god forsaken shop, by my-freaking-self. Brilliant." I shook my head in annoyance. That kid needed help. I layed my head back down on the cool counter and signed. This job was unbearable. I began to think over the many ways I could over dramatically quit this job, but my thoughts were interrupted when a cold metal cylinder was pressed to the crown of my head. I knew what this was.

"Lift your head up slowly and I will consider keeping you alive." a gruff voice spoke. I swallowed and brought my head up to meet the man's eye. Was the gun a bluff, or was he actually crazy enough to shoot me? His accomplices, Ugly One and Ugly Two, were raiding the store, while he kept the gun to my face with a smug look. I knew what was coming next.

"When are you going to ask?" I tilted my head, as if challenging him.

"Ask what?"

"Ask to open the cash register and give you all the money." I leaned forward, egging him on. That was the trick. To get them so frustrated they give away the weak point.

"That's not what I'm here for, Wesley." My jaw dropped. I tried to cover up my mistake and play it cool, but he cocked his head and smirked realizing he had now gained the upper hand. I felt my pulse quicken and nervously started shifting my feet. I had to take these guys out, and quickly. Or else something bad was going to happen.

My mind starting working through all the ways I could disarm the man. Maybe if I could get him to look away... No, too obvious. But maybe if I just distracted him I could get my chance. My eyes darted around the isles and looting men looking for something, anything, that could work. Thats when I spotted the pretzel maker. "Would you like a pretzel, sir?" I motioned towards it and smiled. He looked at me confused.

"What are you doing?" He shook his head in annoyance. Just what I needed.

"Just my job, sir." My smile grew bigger as he looked questioningly at me. That was when I took my chance. I collided my fist into the side of his bicep, and the blunt force from my knuckles was enough to break, or at least fracture the bone. That gotta hurt. As if to answer my already formulating thoughts, the crook screamed in pain and his the gun clattered to the floor. His friend's heads shot up from their searches and they all fell upon the scene before them.

"Accident?" I shrugged with a smirk. The two bulky men started making their way towards me. I put one hand on the counter, and used that hand to swing my legs and torso over the counter with a single motion. Once past the first obstacle, I threw a solid punch towards the jaw of the man closet to me. The man moved to face me just as my fist hit him in the middle of his already ugly face. He stumbled backwards as blood dripped from his nose and lips. Ugly Two caught me off guard, pushing me to the ground.

I layed there for a second, stunned. I quickly shook off my confusion and I reached a hand up towards the counter in hopes that it would aid me in standing again, but Ugly One kicked me in the stomach. Hard. I held back my urge to cough up the blood he had released as he lifted me to my feet by the back of my shirt, as if I was an annoying cat about to be thrown outside for the night. If I was going to have any chance of winning, needed to get the upper hand back and fast. Once I was standing again, he punched me, hitting my ear. I fell to the ground again and my injured ear started ringing as I held it. I looked up at the chuckling man and hatred ran through me.

"You're gonna pay for that. That was my favorite ear." I began to yell through clenched teeth and stood up slowly. He stepped forward, attempting to hit me again. Before he could make his move I charged at him and swung my leg towards his and I locked my leg in his inner knee, bringing him crashing to the floor. Once down he hugged his knee to his chest and let out a groan of pain. He attempted to get up, but before he could get his good leg beneath him I had already jumped on top of him and started punching him repeatedly. Over and over again. All the rage I had poured out of me in no pattern but of my own insanity. I had'nt realized until now how much I had held back.

Someone grabbed my shoulders, pulling me up off the bloodied body. He slapped me across the face in a way that caused me to snap back into reality again. I pulled my arm back preparing a punch, but paused noticing it was Adam standing in front of me. I slowly lowered my arms as my heartbeat calmed.

"I think it's okay, dude," he held his hands up defensively and spoke in a calming voice. "I don't think he's going to mess with you anymore." Adam and I glanced back at the unconscious man. He was seriously messed up. His face was now contorted and raw. There was blood everywhere. I looked at Adam. He took a step back from me, fear filled his face. Confused, I looked down at myself. I was covered in a crimson liquid. The smell consumed my nose and I covered my mouth to keep from puking. My breathing staggered. I had done this. I snapped back from my overwhelmed thoughts and emotions when I heard Adam speaking.

"What did you say?" I asked, avoiding eye contact.

"Um, well, first I simply stated 'Your nose is broken.' And then I asked, 'What the hell happened?'" His tone was serious. Adam was never serious. "Uh, three guys came in and starting robbing the store. One of them had a gun. So, I... took care of them." I nodded, pleased with my explanation.

"You are freaking crazy, dude." He looked baffled and sighed. "Let's get your ugly butt to a hospital."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note-
Thank you so much for reading! I would like to throw a house shout out to Lunar_Life . She edited this chapter and is an amazing writer herself.