Bounty Hunter

Chapter 11

I try to wriggle away from his tight grasp by kicking him, but before I can strike he grabs my foot midkick. The cashier turns toward us wearing a dull expression. "Sir if you continue creating a nuisance I'll be forced to call security," he drawls in a bored tone. "No problem sir we'll just take this somewhere else," he replies. After forcefully throwing my foot down, he digs his hand into my shoulder and I cry as the sensation of sharp needles prickle my flesh. I stare at him with a look of horrification and bewilderment. "One of the perks of being an extra-terrestrial," he explains casually. "You can't attack me in public," I insist in a panicked voice. "Oh is that what Kai told you? He's right. However, these are extenuating circumstances. I don't suggest you move lest I accidentally rip out your flesh." I stare into his eyes fearfully. "You're going to listen very carefully to what I'm saying. And if you don't I will hunt you down but I won't kill you. Because that'd be a violation of the galaxy moral code, but I will send you away in a lonely orbit around space with only dehydrated space food to eat, and I guess once you run out of food you'll die. But it won't be me who kills you, no. It'll be your sad hungry little belly, and maybe your lack of oxygen," he says humorously. "I need to know where Kai is before he destroys the entire galaxy." "You're the one destroying the entire galaxy," I spit. He stares at me condescendingly, "See now, that's where you're wrong. You see in order for there to be order, there needs to be a little chaos. I provide the chaos and Kai provides the order. Unfortunately Kai's most recent little excursions are a threat to the balance. He's been getting a little too bold. Now there are two things I think you know, two very important things. One being, where I can find Kai, and two being why my bullet didn't kill Kai. And don't tell me I misfired because I never misfire." His threats churn my stomach but are nothing compared to the harrowing pain beginning to seep into the rest of my arm. "My arm!" I gasp. "I can't feel my arm!" I scream. He looks around nervously at the now angry cashier striding towards us. In the brief second that his focus is absorbed I seize my window to escape. As the smarting pain inflicts my shoulder travels down the length of my arm I grit my teeth. I muster up the energy for one powerful kick and my knee rams into his thigh. Although it probably didn't hurt much it distracts him enough to loosen his grip, granting me the chance I needed to wrench my shoulder away. I bite back a hysteric scream and take off running out of the market. I push myself forward ignoring the burning needles digging into my nerves. I can't run home, because then Blue will know where I live. Then my parents will see that there's a suspicious tear in my shirt. And then they'll ask questions. Questions from curious parents are never good. Where can I go? Where can I go? AHA! Where's the one public safe place to go? Starbucks! These brilliant thoughts shoot like a game of rapid fire through my mind and I run ahead faster than my short legs should be able to carry me, smack into someone's solid chest. "Kai!" I exclaim relieved. The relief is extremely short lived. "My shoulder is killing me," I moan. The only thing on my mind is the harrowing pain shooting through me. My cerebrum has begun drifting towards la la land. Some people have a low tolerance for pain, I have none. Kai grabs me by the shoulders to steady me, but carefully avoids the torn and bloody segment of my shirt. Nearby I can hear a faint whizzing and swat the air looking for a mosquito, before realizing its only Gizmo. He holds me back concernedly, "My dad got you didn't he?" "Yes he did," I reply woozily. "I'm so sorry, this is entirely my fault," he says. "Yes it is." I agree with a nod. "I came as soon as I realized he was in the area again." "You were a little too late," I manage to grumble. "I know," he replies guiltily. "But you were also just in time," I add. "We can't stay out here, my dad will be coming at any second, I'm taking you to the hideout," he states. "I can't run my arm is killing me," I protest hysterically. He contemplates to himself for a moment before gesturing for me to follow him. He opens the door to the coffee house's restroom and suddenly Gizmo's face appears. Against my will hot tears slip down my cheeks. "It's burning!" I hiss clutching my arm. "Hold on!" he hisses. "I know! I'm going to fix this, just stay still!" Gizmo flies next to Kai and the push of a button opens a metal door on his stomach. Inside his stomach is a little cavern holding medicine supplies. Kai plucks out an antiseptic wipe and I pull down my sleeve to help him. As he wipes the bloody injury I bite back a whine. He then applies a cold salve which causes the wound to itch unbearably, and for a second I feel the need to claw my arm off. But then the pain subsides and my arm is left clean and healed. The subsiding of the pain also clears my head. "we need to go now!" Kai insists grabbing my hand. We rush out of the restroom and out of the shop. Outside he leads us to an intimidating black bike. He swings one leg and then the other onto the sleek bike. I give him a hesitant look. Conveying my reluctance to hop on his death trap. "I cant run all the way here," he says stating the obvious. Rolling my eyes I hop on to the bike after him accepting the silver helmet he offers. I sling my arms around his torso feeling the armor he wears underneath. He guns the bike propelling us forward. We arrive at his house and suddenly he's mad with intent. He runs around stuffing weapons into his bike while I wait impatiently. He finishes gathering all his weapons and informs me, "We need to leave now." "For how long?" I ask. "definitely more than a month." "What?!" I exclaim. "What about my parents?" "Youre going to have to hypnotize them," he states casually.