The Flicker Of Two Lines

Chapta 1: THE ESCAPE

Relative Earth Time: 2013 AD

Location: Jason's Bar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America. Earth, Milkyway Galaxy, 35th Universe. UD: 178413

The end of the alley was blocked and there was nowhere to turn. Malakai Schager was trapped and there was no getting out of this in one piece. Turning around, Kai looked at the door that he had just exited. It was barely hanging on to the one hinge that did not get busted when he kicked it open. It had been a sure bet. With pocket aces, Kai had bet everything he had and lost to a river rat who hit triple kings. I should have never gone into that place, Kai thought, I knew the game was rigged the moment I stepped in there. Now Kai had bigger problems. The kind of problems that leaves you without kneecaps. Well, that's what the movies always said. This time they were more likely to just kill Kai and get it over with.

Looking left, Kai spotted a dumpster to hide behind. The men in the Beamer at the end of the alley did not get out of the car. Why should they? Thought Kai, I have nowhere to run. Placing his head between his knees Kai let out a long but silent breath. Maybe this nightmare will finally be over. Kai had been running from one thing or another for nearly a year now. It started back home, in Central Pennsylvania. Tired of the nowhere life he was living there, Kai had decided to skip out on his probation and fled to Pittsburgh in an attempt to make himself harder to find. He had wanted to leave the state altogether but figured a familiar city would be a better start to this kind of life. What kind of life is that, exactly? Kai pondered this question as he noticed a very tall and equally large black man step out from the passenger seat of the Beamer, drawing a nasty looking S&W Model 686 .38 Special.

"MALAKAI! Come out now! We won't shoot ya, promise!"

Yeah right.

"How 'bout you put that gun down and I might believe ya!" Kai shouted back, but he knew he was just stalling. Off to his right was a door but it would probably be locked and he'd be a sitting duck if he tried it. The 150 foot gap between him and the end of the alley was nothing but a kill zone. This was it. Peeking his head over the dumpster he felt a rush of wind fly past his right ear and heard the bullet hit the wall behind him with a thwack sound.

"Ok, you guys win. Just make sure it's in the head, and don't fuck up your job, ya hear me?" Kai stepped out from behind the dumpster, held up his hands and stared down the alley. Something wasn't right. The man was standing entirely too still for someone most likely coked out. Kai stepped forward and looked past the car. Why weren't the cars on the busy street behind the Beamer moving? Am I already dead? Kai was no longer afraid of the big guy. No, something else was wrong here. Something bigger.