WORLD ALONE 一 PETER QUILL

PROLOGUE

WORLD ALONE
BAR BRAWL

If you asked Oribella, she would tell you that she, by far, had the worst fucking job in the entire fucking galaxy. Working in a bar with a bunch of drunk shitheads would be bad enough. Working in a bar on the planet and mining colony, Knowhere, was ten times worse, by far.

"Holy hell," Oribella breathed as she witnessed a bar brawl unfold before her. Two grown, drunk, men started to throw punches at each other. The largely built one with red skin took the Xandarian by the neck and threw him into the table.

With a loud crack, the table practically snapped in half. Oribella let out a deep sigh, praying her manager didn't take that damage out of her pay like he did last time.

"Hey!" She barked at the red man. He snapped around, his face contorted in rage. The man puffed his chest out and clenched his jaw. His hands turned into fists and his eyes were squinted in pure hatred.

"What do you want little lady?" He sneered. In a swift motion, Oribella hopped over the countertop and made her way over to the man.

"I'd really appreciate if you took whatever this," she motioned to the Xandarian and broken table, "outside because it's gonna come out of my paycheck."

The red man laughed in her face. He took two steps towards Oribella, easily towering over the girl. Crossing his arms over his chest, which made his arms look larger, the man arched his eyebrow in almost a challenging way.

"And what will you do if I don't?" He challenged. Oribella rolled her eyes and huffed.

"I really didn't wanna do this," she mumbled before taking the stick of the broom and shoving it in the man's groin. He doubled over, a loud groan leaving his mouth.

"You bitch!" He managed to get out between pants. He slowly stood from his hunched position, knuckles turning a shade of pink from how tightly they were fisted.

Before Oribella could react, the man swung his left hand around, managing to knock Oribella on the side of the head. Bella slammed into the table nearest to her right from the force he hit her out.

Quickly reaching over the bar, Oribella grabbed the knife they use to cut up citrus fruits with. She held it out, waving it in front of her. The red man took a step back, watching the knife being waved in front of him.

"I'd rather not have to stay late and clean your blood up, so please, don't make me," she pleaded sarcastically. He didn't take too well to Bella threatening him with a knife and lunged at her anyway.

Oribella dodged the man, but not before making a slice in his upper arm. He grunted in pain and held his hand over the superficial wound.

"Damn people are so much more stupid when they're wasted," Oribella grumbled. Red hurled himself back at her, yet again. This time he slammed her into the ground on her back.

The knife skidded across the floor and out of her reach. Bella went to reach for it, but Red dug his abnormally long, abnormally gross, nails into Oribella's calf.

She hissed in pain but quickly recovered as she kicked Red in the face, hard. His hands flew up to his now broken nose while Oribella made a mad dash to the knife.

Oribella pushed off the nasty floor, hair askew, blood running down her leg. Her breath was labored, though she hadn't noticed as she glared at Red.

"Free drinks to anyone who'll beat the piece of shit up!"