SFSD-X Short Story Smackdown

4.2 Riding Hood

The three guys on the ground had the good sense to drag themselves back into the shadows of the old bakery. I ignored them as the man in the street came closer. He wasn't alone, but I was fairly sure the skinny dude thrown over his shoulder wished he were somewhere else. I was positive of this when he was dropped to the ground with an unceremonious splat. The man who had spoken was heavy-set, and as bald and ugly as a hairless cat.

This wasn't the SnowBlower himself; he was a direct connection to the drug lord, though. My efforts had drawn his attention. I was finally making progress. A name clicked in place.

"Mr. Frosty, what a pleasure."

"Oh, Red, it's the last pleasure you'll have this evening."

"You might be right Mr. Frosty. The world is a sad, sorry place with you around."

"So is it true your full name is Little Redneck Riding Hood? Not the most glamorous secret identity. Didn't help you stay hidden. The SnowBlower knows you are looking for him, and it looks like he just found you first."

"You're the only one who found me, except for your friend on the ground. By the way, did you break his face?"

Mr. Frosty nudged his unfortunate prisoner with the toe of his steel tipped boot. "If I haven't yet, I'll get to it afterwards, after I've warmed up a bit. I don't normally beat up little girls, but I'll make an exception for you and then we'll make a short trip across town to see the SnowBlower. Would you like that?"

"I suspect you're exaggerating a bit. I think you like beating up anyone and everyone smaller than you. Which obviously is not a reflection of the size of your...uh, I have no idea where I'm going with that sentence. You talk big, you stand tall, but when it comes right down to it, you're just a little dick in loose pants."

"SnowBlower said to bring you in alive, he didn't say nothing about your kneecaps being intact," Mr. Frosty snapped, whipping out a pistol. He aimed and fired.

I flinched, but stood still. Thinking he had missed he aimed again and fired. The noise was deafening in the tight alleyway and nearby car alarms began screaming. He cursed and aimed again, but the skinny guy on the ground decided to be a hero.

He grabbed Mr. Frosty's ankles and pulled up his pants' leg so he could attack his hairy calves with his teeth. My stomach flip-flopped at the thought of what that must taste like, and I leapt into action.

A quick blow to the thug's head with a discarded toilet cover had him kneeling on the ground where I could twist his arm and threaten to break his wrist.

"How about that walk to see the SnowBlower, Mr. Frosty?" I asked. "I think I'm ready now."

The skinny guy stood on shaking legs and shouted, "Yeah, yeah, baby! How do you like that? Not so tough anymore, are you? Serves you right for taking on a girl half your size! Woo-hoo!"

I noticed he had Mr. Frosty's gun. "Hey, dipshit, keep that pointed at the-"

The dipshit in question waved his arms and shook his booty in a touchdown dance right before the gun went off.

Bits of concrete exploded next to Mr. Frosty's head and he shoved me aside. Taking off down the street, he had escaped before I managed to disarm the skinny guy.

"Damn. Of all the fucking idiots in this town, Mr. Frosty had to bring you along to the party." I was tempted to use the gun on the dipshit's foot.

"Did I just let your prisoner escape? Dude, I mean, Red chick, I'm so sorry. You totally just saved my life. He was going to dispose of me for refusing to do hacker work for the SnowBlower. I thought it was over, you know?"

I bent in half to clear the rusted gunk from my knees. They hurt like the dickens and my hands came up bloody.

"Are you Okay?" he asked.

"Just grazed my legs, I'm fine."

"Wow. You are so f'in tough. Anyway, I was hoping I could be your side-kick because you're so awesome. I admire your work. Guess you won't be extending me any professional courtesy. After what I just did, and all."

"Side-kick? What the hell? The only thing I want is a ticket into the SnowBlower's Winter Wonder Land."

"Really?" he asked, a grin on his face. "Because I know where he mixes the magic."