The Defiant Ones

Chapter 1

"I laugh in the face of Death. My enemies bow before me. I am the-"

"Go to work dork." I snap and smacked the back of his head with a rolled up issue of volume ten of Spider-Man.

"Hey! That's child abuse." 

"Says a 28 year old man living in the basement of his parent's humble abode." I jeer.

Richard, nonetheless, grumbled and continued entering the data into the store's computer that dates back to the prehistoric ages. I swerved around the corner to head toward the supply room, smacking my gum. When I pushed open the door with placard that read "employees only", I gagged at the rush of cardboard and new books stench. "The smell of majestic freedom" Richard called it when I preferred not to name something that with enough dosage could wipe out humankind.

"I need to get a new job." I mumbled.

Usually, my wolf would insert her opinion like she did with all my life's decisions but like the past few days, she was mute. Without having to fight with her hour by hour has made me a bit pissed. Her interjections on my daily choices was something I gotten used to, not this eerily silence. 

When I finished cutting open last of the plastic wrap that held the boxes together, I placed the box knife back in the tool box. By the end of it, the texture of my hands resembled that of a kid in a sandbox, dusty. Beep. Beep. Beep. I turned off the alarm on my phone and smiled. Just in time.

I exited the box fortress cave and waved at Richard who just sighed and continued tapping on the keys. What should eat? I pondered as I walked toward the food sanctuary right outside the comic store, a.k.a. the food court.

The mall was busy as usual. People walked and gossiped to their own friends as they from scourged one shop to another. As for the lonely few, they tried to look not lonely as possible. I gave a little boy the stink eye when he bumped into me, risking ice cream stains on my discount jeans.

I stalked over to the Mexican food and smiled at the 17 year old girl in front of the cash register.

"The usual." I chirp and handed her a crumpled ten dollar bill from my jean pocket. 

Madison nodded and handed me the change. I picked up my midday snack and sat at one of the couple tables that dotted the area. Right when I was about to unwrap my burrito, I stood up and started heading for the exit of the mall.

Where are you going? An antsy voice rang in my head.

 I chortle, looking like a crazed lunatic to the people who were noisy enough to care to hear.

Now you decided to talk. I thought you eaten up by a brain virus.  Never to be heard again. I retorted.

Stop. She demanded.

I pull up the wall and continue to trek on the parking lot to my jeep. All of a sudden, I felt her become riled up. I scan my surroundings and walk faster. Before I knew it, I was running. My heart rate was escalating and a traitorous bit of fear consumed me. And for good reason - a problem was coming.

I cursed when all I saw and smelled were humans. Humans. Humans. Humans! I put down the wall in my mind ans screeched. What the hell is wrong with your signals? Did your little vacation dull your senses?

He's coming. 

Shit! There's no need to be yoda now. WHAT IS HAPPENING? I shriek.

My hands trembled as I tried to unlock the car door. The ruckus of keys clanging against one another didn't help to calm my nerves. I couldn't be caught now. Not today. When the door finally popped open, I scrambled inside and slammed it shut.

Thrusting the key into the keyhole, I turned it and the engine reved to life. I looked back to back away from the parking space. My eyes frantically darted around. I stomped the pedal and drove out the parking lot of the mall at a speed way beyond the speed limit.

After a minutes, I would have thought the panging in my ears would stop; the dread would dissipate back to where it originated. I slammed the breaks when the traffic light turned red, running my hands through my hand through my wine red hair.

I chewed on my lip and tried to settle my erratic breathing. I felt my wolf bursting to be let out. The moment the light flashed green, I stepped on the gas pedal, leaving no time to organize my thoughts.