The drive the rest of the way home was quiet. When Albert got there he sank into his recliner, feeling lost and alone. He forces himself to think about other things, pleasant things, like puppies and cotton candy. He closes his eyes and fades into a pleasant dream.
He shoots up out of his chair like a rocket when the sound of glass shatters behind him. It wakes him from a deep sleep. He spins around and sees a shadow move across the kitchen.
He hunkers down in front of the recliner and grabs the bat that lays beside it as home defense. He gently brushes the dust off of it and holds it tightly. He slowly look sup over the top of the chair and peers into the darkness.
The shadow moves slowly toward him. Albert watches. It is a body, of that much he is certain. He ducks back down in front of the chair and plots his next move. His heartbeat thrums in his head, drowning out any other sounds. He inhales deeply in an attempt to calm himself. He turns his head and listens for the footsteps approaching him. "Now is not the time to panic". He whispers to himself.
He turns toward the front door and attempts to judge the distance in the dark. It's too far for him to make it there before the shadow would be on him. He looks the other direction toward the fireplace. In the corner, between the hearth and the corner is the darkest spot in the room. He creeps toward it and crouches as low as he can.
He lingers there, watching and waiting for the shadow creature to show itself. <What the hell is going on?> Jax yelled.
Albert nearly jumps out of his skin. He falls sideways and drops the bat. He knocked a tall metal vase over. It lands on it's side with a loud clang, revealing his location to the intruder.
Albert picks the bat up as he jumps to his feet. He swings it and connects with the intruder's head with a solid "thwack". As the intruder flies backward and lands on the floor, Albert watches and confirms it is another shadow ninja monk. A thought occurs to him. "These guys aren't very good ninjas."
Jax laughed out loud. Albert is certain that the neighbors probably heard him. Albert watches for the hooded man to move. When he doesn't, Albert strides to the lamp on the end table and turns it on and returns to stand over the hooded man.
<Hit him again.> Jax demanded.
Albert didn't hesitate. He swings the bat down on the cloaked head and waits for him to move. When he doesn't, Albert bends down and feels around on the man's neck for a pulse. It didn't take long for him to find a strong one.
Albert wipes the sweat from his brow and acts quickly. He grabs the man up and hoists him into the recliner. He turns the light on in the kitchen and rummages through a couple of drawers. He hurries back to the recliner with a roll of duck tape and 20 feet of rope. He quickly binds the breaker inner in the recliner.
When Albert is satisfied that the intruder is secure, he steps back and looks him over. He slips the hood off his head. "He doesn't look much like a ninja ."
Jax laughed out loud again. <What should a ninja look like?>
"I don't know. Asian?" Albert laughed out loud this time. He turns his attention inside his head again. "Don't ever yell at me like that again Jax. You scared the shit out of me and he could have killed me because I was more focused on you."
<How was I supposed to know we were under attack?>
"I don't know. It was dark and I was crouched in a corner with a bat in my hand, maybe?"
Jax ignored his question. <Well now what do you plan to do? You have him subdued, right?>
"Yeah, I think he is out cold, but alive."
YOU ARE READING
Terrible Friend
ParanormaleA human, a demon, and a witch walk into a bar. Wait, no. Wrong story. This is the one about the private detective finding a necklace and in the process of finding it's owner, discovers that his entire life has been a lie. A voice in his head is...
