Chapter 4 "They Were Useless Vermin..."

It was raining. the alleys were filled with ankle deep puddles of water, and the moon was covered by clouds so it was hard to see. straight ahead of me was two men hovering over a metal garbage can, filled with the orange glow of burning old magazines and paper goods. it seemed as if they were arguing about something, but i wasnt sure exactly. since they were out of ear shot. curious, i started to walk closer to them slowly to see what the arguement was about. they spotted me from across the alley and started to whisper to eachother as if they were planning something. "hey boy! wheres your mommy? arent you too young to be out here alone?" the guy on the right side smirked and laughed as the one on the left started to walk toward me. "im old enough to take care of myself." i said. i can see now that they were two homeless bums, trying to keep warm in the cold, rainy night. "now boy you look to be bout nine or ten years old. how can you possibly take care of yourself?" by now he was merely a few yards away from where i was standing. "i'd show you but i doubt you would want to find out." i stood my ground as the bum on the left was almost directly in front of me. the other bum was still trying to keep warm by the garbage can, not caring what the man closest to me was up to. "those are some nice shoes, boy. bet i can git a pretty penny for them."



the man came lunging forward at me with his right hand streched out as to grab my neck. almost as a reflex, a large wave of electricity coursed through my body and pinpointed every muscle in my legs and torso. my body almost instinctively ducked down, dodging the mans arm and jumped to the side to avoid the rest of his body. it felt like liquid fire ran through my muscles but it was worth it, considering the alternative. the man stumbled forward and twisted his neck around to face me. his face had a look of confusion and amazement on it. "how'd you move that fast boy? stay still and gimmie those fuckin shoes!" the homeless man. desperate for a couple bucks in his pocket, lunged at me with both hands streched out this time. yet again the powerful wave of electricity coursed through my leg and back muscles. forcing me to duck and roll between the bums legs. dodging him yet another time. the pain afterwards was excruciating, but it was necessary. "theres something wrong with that kid Charlie! let him alone!" the man still near the glowing garbage can shouted towards his apparent comrade. "No! we need this Phil! do you wanna sleep out here again? we need this kids stuff!" the hostile man reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a rusted old knife that looked as if it belonged to a set from a silverware collection. he pointed the knife towards me and said "i dont care what it takes! im not gonna let you outta here without your stuff!" rage filled the mans eyes as he lunged at me once again this time with that rusty old knife. by now my body was on fire and i didnt have another dodge left in me. i knew i had to stop him once and for all. i crouched down onto the puddle-filled alley floor barely dodging the rusty knife that whistled passed my left ear. with my right hand straight out, i placed my palm directly on the bums chest and gripped his grungy old stain-ridden shirt. "clear!" i shouted as i felt two massive surges of electricity force its way out of me. one coming out my hand that was against the mans chest and another out my feet, which were submerged ankle deep in a puddle that the homeless man was also submerged in, creating a complete electric current.


a large cracking noise filled the entire alley way. and the hostile homeless man that was just a foot away from me was now flying through the air towards his buddy near the garbage can. my hand was still stretched out with little neon green archs of electricity jumping from finger to finger. the bum that wasnt fighting me was staring in amazement at his former friend at his feet. twitching and groaning in pain. "yo-your inhuman! your a devil! a demon!" the man reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a snub nosed revolver. my eyes widened when i spotted the gun. i froze in my place knowing i wasnt able to dodge a bullet, then a voice that wasn't mine echoed through my ears. "im bored of this, i think ill just kill both of you..."


the mans hand that had the revolver in it started to shake vigoriously, and he started to point the gun downward at his buddy, still aching in pain from the crude version of shock therapy i gave him earlier. "what the hell is going on?" the man with the gun said. his eyes wide and filled with tears. the hand was still shaking as the hammer of the gun pulled itself back, locking into position. "no! please!" the other man whispered. looking up at his friend who had tears rolling down his face. "i cant... stop... it!" all of a sudden the mans hand and revolver became still. the alley was completely silent when the man whispered to his friend on the ground. "im sorry." followed by two large cracks echoing through the alley.


the mans hand with the revolver in it became limp and fell to his side. the ground was covered in red as the man on the floor was leaking out of his forehead and chest. the other homeless man, still holding the gun, filled his face with tears and anger as he screamed into the air "demon!" suddenly the limp hand became sturdy again. the revolver aimed straight at his own head and pulled the trigger. the man collapsed over the glowing barrel. Red pouring out of the hole in his head and spilled onto the glowing orange fire. sizzling and cracking when it reached the flame. i sat there in the puddle. still in pain from the fight a few seconds ago. staring now at the reddish orange glow that was coming out of the barrel. "they were useless vermin." Rinn said. "they deserved to die." i nodded in agreement as i layed down in the cold wet puddle. cooling my body, and closed my eyes.