It started like any other day. There was nothing out of the ordinary. I did the things I usually did.
I was a receptionist a two star hotel and had worked there for the last two years. I had just ended my morning shift and was casually walking home.
I wasn't even that tired since we didn't have that many guests at the moment. We rarely do.
Boredom is what I found myself struggling with the most.
As I signed out, I went into the changing room and changed into my personal clothes and headed home.
The weather was quite balmy, and I was beginning to sweat So I decided to walk faster. If I could get home sooner and take a cold shower.
I've always despised hot climates; they simply don't suit me. I find solace in the embrace of cold climates, where I can dictate my level of warmth without feeling as though I'm simmering in Mother Nature's perpetual soup pot every single day!
As I walked the street heading to my avenue, there were people and cars milling about. Everyone hurried to their destinations, or just to get out of the scorching sun.
Mama Jane glared at me from her provision store and I awkwardly waved at her as I passed hastily. I was still owing her for some of the groceries I bought last month. I promised to pay her everything at the end of this month.
I smiled as I walked past a group of kids playing soccer by the roadside. They reminded me of days when all I wanted to do was play street soccer after school. I used to dream of becoming a famous soccer star. What happened? Well reality.
I reached my Avenue and slowed down a bit. Wiping my brow again, glad to be almost home. I would give anything for a glass of chilled orange juice.
Ahead of me, a guy and a lady were having a heated conversation about something in the middle of the road. beside them were a brown old beat up truck and a pretty blue Nissan car, both battered and smoking. it appeared the truck hit the Nissan from behind and that's what they were arguing about.
I rushed to get closer to see what was going on. Hopefully no one. Got hurt. A crowd was already gathering, they must have the same idea as me.
The lady was a fragile looking beauty, about my age with soft delicate features. dressed in a yellow top and black jeans. She looks more like a damsel in a movie. And the guy she was arguing with happened to be way bigger than her, at least 6ft plus, and thick too. like a wrestler.
The fact that she didn't seem scared of the brutish looking man was quite a fascinating sight.
As I came closer, I could make out some of their words.
".....did you learn to drive in a junkyard? Why did you have to follow so close behind?"
"You were moving too slow, little bird. Seemed like you needed a little nudge"
"Well your nudge just bashed my tail light and bumper, are you sure you even passed driving school?"
"don't sweat it little girl, I'm sure Daddy's insurance has got it covered."
"wow, with the way you drive, I'm surprised you could muster a big word like 'insurance'."
Back and forth they went, hurling words at each other till he seemed to run out of words to throw back at her. Which made him more angry and He starts pushing her with his meaty hands. by now passersby had started gathering to see what was going on, but no one was stepping in to help in any way.
"watch your tone little girl, nobody talks to me like that!!! Especially not some snobby schoolgirl driving a tiny tin-car her daddy got her last week"
Her sharp words only seems to incite him more. I don't think she even noticed his rising temper. A cop should be here any moment now, to diffuse the situation.
While pondering this, a sudden spike caught my attention. Something about the angry dude. Something deep inside, something you can't see with the ordinary eyes. A burst of color.
I blinked a couple of times to be sure, but it was still there. It wasn't a trick of the light.
It was a reddish hue. But more yellow in some areas. It spread slowly all over his body, but more concentrated in certain areas. Like his chest, arms, and thighs. But more concentrated around his chest.
I looked around to see if anyone else was seeing the same thing, but no one looked unusually alarmed or surprised like I was, so I guess it was just me.
Out of curiosity I took a few step closer, to have a better look. That's when I got the feeling that it was spiking. Dangerously. I don't know how I knew, but I was sure.
Again I looked around and everyone was still looking unpeturbed. How were they not seeing that something horrible was about to happen?
I didn't really know what it meant, or why it bothered me so much, but Somebody needed to do something before this got really bad.
I noticed another man from one side of the crowd walking closer to the arguing pair. He was of average height, dressed in white shirt tucked in shirt and black tie, with nice office shoes. At his mid section you could see the early stages of a beer belly. He looked to be in his late 40's.
He was gently approaching them with hands raised in a peaceful gesture, though they hadn't noticed him yet.
"Alright alright, c'mon guys, how bout we all just calm down. I'm sure we can settle this amicably" he said.
"Well nobody asked you, schoolboy!! Why don't you run along now, before you miss your bus?!!"
Replied the brutish bloke, who now turned to address the newcomer.
The spike rose higher. The red was swallowing the other colors now. It felt like it was almost at breaking point. I kept wondering what that meant, or what would happen next.
The lady laughs shaking her head slowly from side to side..."Now I can finally see what the problem is, you're just too blind to see anything beyond that big nose of yours; that's why you bashed my car, and that's why you can't see that this kind gentleman is just trying to hel...."
Her words were abruptly cut off by a sudden backhand slap to the side of her face. Making her crumble to the floor.
The man looks shocked and quickly tried to rush in between the brute and the Lady. "Hey come'on man, you didn't have to hit her like that."
But his forward movement was also cut short by a knee to the mid section, and he too crumpled to the ground like wet cement.
"That should teach you not to stick your nose where it doesn't belong"
Crap, this just got ugly. I'm not not even sure what to do. I mean yeah, all of a sudden I can sense pretty colors, but I'm no fighter. I can't even do three push-ups. What can I do here???
By now almost everyone in the small crowd was raising their voice in protest. Raining rebukes and insults.
But each time the angry bloke in the middle turned his gaze on anyone in particular, they would shrink backwards or avert their gaze. No one else was brave enough to step forward.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. All you got is talk. Now, where's that tiny little twerp, she'll pay for her insolence."
He turned towards the girl, still sitting on the floor where she fell. Tears streamed down her face, she had a split lip, but she still managed to stare at him with such ferocity in her eyes.
He took a few steps towards her but found Me in his way.
