Fairy Rock

Chapter 42: Tevin's Discovery

As the sun goes down, Tevin returns to his apartment complex. He sneaks up the fire escape, climbs through a cracked window that was left open, and enters his compact apartment. He tiptoes on the squeaky, wooden floor and nearly slips over the dust and plaster from the large holes Sparkle left in the walls.

Tevin quickly enters his bedroom and digs through all the torn newspaper articles, dirty jeans, and t-shirts. He fumbles past his mud-stained socks and balled-up boxer shorts as he finds the leather jacket that Richard gave him. He shakes the sawdust and pieces of ceiling chips off the coat and puts it on. There is no telling how the weather will be in the World of The Fairies. It changes so much that I better be prepared for all the elements. I better stop by the store around the corner to get some food and drinks.

Tevin feels a cold sweat as chills go down his back. He flinches as he hears people talking outside his apartment. Quickly, he grabs his backpack and fills it with a pair of wrinkled black jeans, a crumpled-up black sweater, and his container full of holy water in there.

Tevin creeps back out through the fire escape and notices his landlord's used red Corvette with gold-tinted rims parked right by the entryway of the alley. He tries not to make a noise while stepping down the metal, clanky steps. I know Mr. Franklin is furious about how messed up my apartment is. I better not take any chances and let him see me.

He reaches the ground, sprints down the other side of the ally, trips over a garbage bag with flies hovering over it, and falls face-first into a puddle of water.

Using his handmade leather coat sleeve, he wipes a pickle slice off his forehead from the trash in the puddle.

Tevin limps around the corner and enters the small, congested liquor store. He coughs and gags from the skunk-scented weed from a blunt that one of the customers wearing a green army fatigue outfit is smoking.

The stoner inhales a puff of the potent marijuana. "Hey, bro, do you want to buy some of this strong stuff?"

Tevin walks past the drug dealer. "No, thank you, sir."

Hal Richardson, the store owner, waves his long, thin hands at Tevin as he sees him grab two packages of frosted honey buns and a bag of flaming hot potato chips.

Tevin approaches the glass counter full of scratch-off lottery tickets and an orange lottery machine.

"Will it be the usual four slices of pizza, Tev?" Hal asks.

Tevin puts the junk food items on the counter. "Yes, sir."

Hal twists his black handlebar mustache. "Will it also be the usual pint of James Dennis Whiskey?"

"Yes," Tevin mentions.

Hal turns away from his favorite customer as he looks at the twenty-square-foot wall of various liquors, from vodka to moonshine. He leans down to one knee to the very bottom shelf and grabs a dusty, brown bottle with a black label that reads, "James Dennis Whiskey."

The passionate store owner blows the dust off the plastic pint and wipes the rest of the dirt off it with his blue, checkered polo shirt.

"Um, Mr. Richardson, sir, have you been bulking up?" Tevin ponders.

"Yes, I sure have, Tevy Tev!" Hal places the pint on the counter and flexes his tall, thin arms. You know, Tevin, Hattonville is full of drug addicts. This city may look nice, but it has its share of crime. I have to stay strong."

Tevin scratches his dry black afro, trying to add up the items he is purchasing. He notices a man in a wrinkled blue jean outfit with bloodshot eyes staggering in the store from the corner of his eye. His prolonged curly hair leaks with Jheri curl grease, and the stench of funk from the man's clothes immediately brings his attention.

The short, stocky guy takes a revolver out of his pocket and fires a bullet at a bottle of White Russian, busting it.

Everyone in the store flinches and ducks to the tile on the brown floor. The deranged guy points the gun at Hal. "Give me some money now!"

Hal raises his hands in the air while standing his lanky body up. "Okay, calm down."

Tevin's heart races while looking at the manic man yelling at his friend. I don't want Mr. Richardson to die. I can't die, either. I must go to the fairy world to save everyone. Serenity, I love you, and I want to get you.

"Um, please don't shoot us, sir," Tevin begs.

The man points his gun at the shy hero. "What did you say? Speak louder."

"Please do kill us, sir," Tevin exhorts.

The gunman grunts and hollers, kicking the counter and busting the glass. He fires the weapon carelessly throughout the store, putting bullet holes in the walls and shattering expensive vodka bottles on the top shelf.

"I want some money now," he says.

Hal pulls out his double-barrel shotgun and fires back, missing the assailant as the pellets hit a bag of barbeque potato chips, spilling them to the floor.

The gunman shoots the brave owner in the shoulder, splattering his blood over the cash register. The maniac aims his gun at a trembling Tevin as he covers his head on the ground and shoots him in his back, leaking his blood on the floor.

As the robber jumps the counter to get to the cash register, Tevin lies down, heaving on the cold, bloody floor. Almighty God, please don't let me die. I must save my parents and everyone. Serenity means everything to me, and I must protect her. I love her. Please help me in Jesus' name, Amen.

Tevin closes his eyes, feeling numbness throughout his body, and his freckled face turns pale. His collapsing lungs fail, and he stops moving as his heart stops beating. He can no longer hear the robber struggling to open the register or the weed-smoking drug dealer screaming.

In an instant, Tevin's body starts beaming a shiny blue and gold light. Gold pixie dust shoots out of his skin, removing the bullet from his body and healing his gunshot wound. Blue pixie dust seeps out of his skin, and blue smoke surrounds him, causing an explosion, knocking the white tile out of the ceiling, and rupturing pop, beer, and liquor bottles. The popcorn and potato chip bags burst, sending thousands of tasty food flying.

 As the smoke clears, Tevin has transformed into the handsome, muscular Rock. How did this happen? Sparkle is nowhere near me.