Wonder World: Ignition

Runaway

It had been a long day, and Kyle had almost nothing to show for it. There had been nothing in the dumpsters behind the mall, and all the fast food joints' had already been picked clean by the homeless. He had found half of a stale bagel in an alley off Broadview, but he was saving it for Sarah. Looks like he would be going hungry. Again. As he trudged back to the bridge he had left Sarah under he scanned the rooftops, his heart racing every time he turned a corner. He hadn't seen or heard the stranger since he and Sarah had escaped, but the thought of him showing up at any moment kept Kyle constantly on edge.  They hadn't slept in the same place twice since the escape. Kyle didn't dare go to a shelter or call the cops. Too risky. Besides, the cops would think he was crazy. They didn't have any family living in town, and Kyle didn't have any friends he knew well enough to stay with. Not that he would anyway, he didn't want anyone else getting hurt.

He passed a McDonald's and the smell made his stomach rumble. God, he was hungry. He eyed the gas station next door. Kyle had never stolen anything before, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Only one employee, and the parking lot was clear so he would have a straight shot back to the road. And once he was outside it's not like anyone could catch him. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. It didn't hurt just to look, right? Kyle pulled up his hood. The door dinged as he walked in. The gray haired man behind the counter didn't even look up from his fishing magazine. Kyle's heart was hammering in his chest as he picked out some bread, a bag of chips, and some chocolate for Sarah. He still wasn't sure he could even follow through with it. If he got caught, what would happen to Sarah? But if he didn't eat and was too exhausted to run at top speed, what would he do if the stranger came back? Kyle was still debating with himself when the front door dinged again.

"HANDS UP OLD MAN! EVERYTHING IN THE REGISTER GOES IN THIS BAG!" a booming voice shouted.

Kyle dropped to the floor, his heart was really racing now. He peered out from behind the candy shelf. A huge black dude with a bandanna and sunglasses was shoving a revolver in the face of the terrified store clerk.

"OK, OK, take it easy, son," the clerk said, his hands shaking as he pulled open the register. 

Why now? Why did there have to be a robbery now? Just his luck. Kyle flattened his back against the shelf, hoping the robber couldn't hear his shallow breathing. Bad idea. The rickety old shelf wobbled, rattling loudly. "Fuck!"

"You. Come out slowly. You stay cool or I blow this old fuck's head off!" The robber yelled.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK! What do I do?"  Kyle thought desperately.

"I said come out! I'll waste him, I swear to God!"  

"Alright," Kyle said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm coming out, just don't shoot anyone." Kyle slowly rose to his feet, his hands above his head. His heart was in his throat as he stared down the barrel of the revolver. Kyle couldn't take his eyes off of the finger wrapped around the trigger. "This guy twitches and I'm dead."

"Now get out where I can see you, then get on your knees! That bag full yet, old man?"

Kyle stepped forward slowly, hoping he'd get to see Sarah again.

"Here, take it!" The old man said, his voice quivering as he shoved the bag across the counter. 

The robber picked up the plastic sack, and as he looked inside the store clerk made a grab for something under the counter. There was a deafening bang. The clerk tumbled backwards, holding his bleeding shoulder with one hand, a baseball bat clutched in the other. The robber pulled back the hammer of the revolver and leaned over the counter. Kyle saw his chance and took it. The world seemed to slow down as he sprinted forward, his claws already out. He slammed into the bigger man's chest, his momentum sending them both sailing through the plate glass door. Kyle was back on his feet in a flash, leaping on top of the robber and raking his hand with his claws, sending the revolver skidding across the pavement. The man screamed in pain, struggling briefly before going limp as Kyle pressed his claws against his throat.