Ch. 8
It was Saturday evening. Hannah and I were out seeing a movie. It went well. We cuddled as much as you can when you're sitting in uncomfortable theater seats. We kissed a few times and watched the movie. Since the theater wasn't too far away from my friend's house and I insisted on walking, that's what we did.
I held Hannah's hand as we walked down the street, talking and laughing. She smiled up at me and I could tell nothing else was on her mind at that moment. It was just us. The same went for me, until we had an unexpected encounter.
We were rounding the corner behind the theater when three men appeared. I felt the killing intent roll off their bodies. Hannah tensed up and gripped my hand. I took a deep breath. Why now? Why with her here?
"Hey, freak. Remember me?" the largest man said. He was one of the men that beat me up a month before. I grit my teeth.
"What do you want?" I growled, balling my hands into fists. I stepped in front of Hannah. The man laughed and held up a fist, adorned with brass knuckles. I winced at the memory, but stood my ground.
"I want you out of here. This is God's place, and scum who defy him don't belong here," he replied. The other two men behind him stepped forward, closing the gap between us.
I took a step back, making Hannah do the same. I looked the man in the eye and snarled, "If you were doing God's work you would love your neighbor as yourself. Isn't that in the bible?"
The man scoffed. "God is vengeful against those who go against his wishes, and I am one of his angels. Simple. Now you leave, or I send you back to Hell."
One of the men reached for Hannah, a devilish smirk on his face. Hannah flinched and I reared back, punching him in the jaw. He was knocked back and glared at me.
"Don't. Touch. Her," I warned.
"What're you gonna do, faggot? There's three of us. Who's to stop us from taking that pretty little girl from you and teaching her what a real man can do?" The man laughed darkly and, in one swift move, grabbed Hannah's shirt and tore it down the middle, exposing her chest and stomach. She shrieked and pulled away from him, clutching my shirt tightly.
"Felix, I'm scared," she whispered.
"I know. But I'll protect yo-" I was cut off as the second man swiped at me with a pocket knife. It missed my face by an inch.
I took another step back, and not taking my eyes off the men, I said, "Hannah, go back around to the front. Find people and stay around them. Don't leave that area. I'll take care of them."
She held onto me tighter, but I pushed her away. "Go!" I yelled.
"Not on my watch!" the man with the knife growled. He lunged for her, but I stepped in his way and headbutted him, feeling my own brain rock.
I took one look back at Hannah. Her eyes were wide with fear, and she was frozen. "Fucking run!" I screamed, and finally she listened. She disappeared around the corner, and the third man went after her.
I cut him off by kicking him in the side. He snarled at me and punched me in the nose. I cried out, but I wasn't letting them get her. I had to protect her, even if I died.
I wrapped my arm around his neck and tightened my grip. He coughed as his air was cut off and slung me into the wall of the building. I coughed blood and let go, struggling to get to my feet.
"You think you're some knight in shining armor?!" the man with brass knuckles yelled, punching me in the stomach. "You're nothing but a worthless sinner! A freak!"
I looked up at him with a grin. "At least I can admit I'm an abomination. You're so far in denial that you actually /believe/ that killing me will save you from yourself."
He got an enraged look on his face and hit me in the mouth. I spit up more blood as he hoisted me up.
"Come on, fight me! Be the man you claim to be," he commanded. I was happy to oblige.
'I love you Hannah,' I thought as I lunged at the man and wrapped my legs around his torso, punching him repeatedly in the face.
Suddenly I felt something sharp and cold dig into my back. I screamed and turned. The second thug had planted his pocket knife firmly in my back.
Wincing, I pulled the knife out and stabbed the first man in the chest where his heart was, then fell rather ungracefully off of him. I rolled onto my stomach and got up and threw a punch at the second man. My fist connected with his eye. Taking the chance, I dug my fingers into his eye socket, hearing him scream in agony.
The third man stopped me from pulling out his eye by pulling me away from him and slamming my head into the concrete. Two down.
I saw stars and my head swam. I got to my feet eventually and swung at the last one, but he easily moved out of the way. He pulled out something black from his pocket and pointed it at me. I couldn't see straight enough to comprehend that he had a gun. The last thing I remember is hearing the loud BANG of the pistol, then shuffling as he ran away.
