He seemed strange to her. His pale face and brown eyes seemed familiar to her but she could just not place where she had seen him before. The tattered, dirty, and worn-out clothing filled with burn marks and what looked like oil stains a contrast to his clean and clear face. When he first turned back to her while she lay on her knees with tear-streaked cheeks she could have sworn his face had changed. From sharp angular red features to soft and round peach and red colored skin. Not too round as to be chubby cheeked but definitely not sunken as it appeared at first sight when he launched that man through the storefront. He was tall. Easily six foot something making her feel small and petite in comparison. Towering over her she felt relieved when she saw something resembling a smile on his face. The curves of his lips gave way to dimples at the edges of his blemishless face. When the cops arrived I couldn’t help but wonder how he had been able to send that man so far into the parking lot. Lucky it had missed my car but, How?
The masked man looked big and intimidating but he just tossed him like a bag of rice through that window. Reaching into the supply closet to grab the extra t.p. she turned around towards the employee bathroom. Her non-slip shoes made squeaking noises on the linoleum tile floor and knocked on the bathroom door.
“I got the toilet paper out here. I’m going to leave it in front of the door.”
Lian turned back towards the front of the store before hearing the door open and close behind her. Walking towards the front she stopped at the hushed tones of the cops and the store owner speaking.
“This neighborhood has really gone to shit. How am I supposed to run a business when we have armed thugs walking around uncontested! This is reprehensible!” said Leo, the current owner of the donut shop.
Lian could just imagine the redness of his face. Knowing all too well how personal he took everything. Sighing internally she finally entered the main area of the store. All the eyes turned to her with the sound of the employee back room door closing then turning back to their task. As she walked towards the cops and her boss, she noticed odd glances between the police officers and hushed words passing between them as they inspected the wreckage. The crunch of glass under her feet put her on edge.
“Leo?” She said, “Do you think we can start cleaning this up? I can’t be here too late, I have other things to do in the morning.”
“Yes of course Lian” Leo said quickly back to her. “Officer, do you think we will be able to clean this up? I highly doubt there is any need to keep us here longer than necessary?”
The officer looked up from his notepad and turned towards another man. “Ain’t up to me Sir, The inspector will decide that. He should be here in a few minutes.”
From behind him and the three other cops that were looking around the area and assisting the emergency medical team with the suspect. An all black suv parked into the space behind the ambulance. A stocky looking man with wide shoulders and a shorter but doughy woman stepped out of the car. The lights of the ambulance and the police cars blared as the duo made their way towards the donut shop.
“That's them right there.” said the Officer.
Both Lian and Leo turned towards the two people walking carefully through the ruined single door entrance.
Both detective’s eyes jumped around blankly to each person. Seeming to assess and take in everyone in the room.
“Jones, what have we got here?” said the woman. Her voice was brusk and deep for a woman.
“ We have a 132 with a suspect being loaded onto the ambulance. Two witnesses. One female, an employee and one male.” Turning back to Lian and Leo, “Excuse me for a moment” Stepping away from them he continued his report with the detectives. “ The suspect entered the store about an hour ago armed and masked while the employee was closing up. Male came up behind the suspect, disarmed him and tossed him through the window.”
“ Curious.” said the shorter detective next to the large stocky woman. “How far do you think that is Carn? “
“ I’d say about 10 meters.” replied the female detective.
“ Quite a toss, if I do say so myself. What is this guy a linebacker?” said the stocky man.
“ Maybe, where is this guy anyways?” she said, turning towards Officer Jones.
” He went to the bathroom a few minutes ago.” Officer Jones said while pointing his pen in the direction of the employee break room.
****************
He looked at the toilet paper in his hands. Mouth agape as he inspected the human hands holding it. “This is amazing. Still feeling a bit of pressure on his skin he released it and saw how his flesh molded itself back into hard and unyielding dark stone. Placing the t.p. on the side of the sink he changed back into his human form. Jumping from one to the other his eyes lit up and his heart felt lighter than air. A hard knock came from the door and a rough voice sounded from behind it ending his reverie.
“I'm Detective Carn with the NYPD please finish up. My partner needs to speak with you.”
He cursed myself inwardly for letting this moment distract him from what had been happening. Taking a step towards the he caught sight of his reflection and remembered to shift into his human form. It had become easier for him but still required him to separate some of his attention on it. He took one large gulp of air and remembered he did need to breathe and exhaled. Shoulders clenched up and he opened the door.
Coming out of the room he was faced with a small group of people. The girl he had helped, still looking a bit out of sorts and disheveled but alright with the name tag that read Lian. A man of average height with a thick grey mustache and bald spot on the top of his head. Several officers in uniform and a man and woman in matching grey suits. One was broad shouldered with a grey collared shirt. His partner was shorter than him but she wore what looked like a perpetual scow and thick black hair in a tight looking ponytail. He wore a combed back and oily looking red hair.
“Hello there young man, I’m detective Espinosa and this is detective Carn. We just need a few details from you before we can finish our report.” turning back towards the balding man behind him, “is there a spot we can do this without getting in the way of the other officers?”The other officers were currently going over the scene with cameras while the first officer was marking and documenting on what looked like a clipboard.
I spent what could have been my longest hour on earth in the backroom of the donut shop speaking to the cops. They must have asked me the same question in ten different ways but luckily due the state of the store I was able to get an almost endless amount of donuts. Towards the end of the fifty minute mark Detective Espinosa turned to his partner, “ I think we have what we need.” face locked into a grimace as he saw me eat another donut efficiently in three excited bites. Everyone politely gave their goodbyes and the two detectives stepped outside into the calm and snow covered parking lot. Detective Carm stood parallel to Espinosa and reached into her closed coat pocket. Pulling out a small red and white box she took out a cigarette. Lighting it quickly with the zippo lighter she had at the ready in the other hand she took a quick drag and sighed contentedly.
“You know that's going to kill you someday?” Espinosa said automatically.
“Yea I know but at least I’ll die happy.” she replied, chuckling to herself.
“Did you buy any of the crap the kid was selling?” She said seriously after a moment.
“Does the pope shit in the woods?”
“Not likely”
They both chuckled at that.
****************
Back in the store Lian sat with the young man that called himself Luke as he finished his fourth dozen donuts in the last hour. Her mouth slightly agape when he turned to her with a sheepish grin. “Got any more of those jelly filled?” he said.
The Owner had left a few moments ago saying that if the cost of the damages didn’t bankrupt him then Luke would with his blackhole of a stomach could. Siting there and not registering what Luke had asked. He finished up his last glazed donut and looked back to her.
“Are you alright, You have that far off look people get?” Luke said.
She stiffened at Luke's question. Her hand balled into fists and laying on her lap and back ramrod straight. “I didn’t want to contradict you before… but… I was there. I know you didn't throw anything before he landed on the car. I know you throw him through that window and then some. What you did. It’s not normal.” Her face became blank then she turned to face him. “What are you?”
The question hung in the air and Luke was mid lick of of his thumb. He froze at the question. “I’m just a regular guy.” he laughed while rubbing the back of his neck and smiled at her. “What you did is far from regular but… you did save me.” Lian’s lips flattened for a moment. “So I can let you have this secret for now. Why don’t don’t you have shoes?”
“Oh yea I’m what you would call home challenged at the moment” He replied with another laugh. “ Haven't been able to figure out this whole living in the city thing just yet.”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Lian just stared at him, her face making a look that would make professional poker players wonder what her hand was. “How.. you know what? I don't want to know. I doubt you would tell me anyway. “ Suddenly deflating with a heavy sigh. “Where are you staying anyways?”
“Oh just around,” he said while wiping his hands with the donut shop’s brand napkins.
“Fine come on,” standing up and opening the kitchen door she shouted “ Leo! I’m leaving with Luke here. Is that ok?” Leo's muffled reply was covered by Lian saying “ Ok hero boy come with me. I know someone that might be able to help”
With that I followed Lian as she led me out through the backdoor of the donut shop. On the way out she grabbed a bag full of what I assumed were the day old donuts, her bag and a thick coat that fell past her knees. Handing the bag of day-old donuts to me we quietly made it to her car on the other side of the building in the parking lot. She had to wiggle the passenger side door a bit but it opened with only a slight creak of metal. I Took a seat and the car seemed to bob a bit. “Is that normal?” I asked while holding back a bit of a laugh. As I was digging into the bag of donuts she looked over to me and started up the car. “No.” she replied with a flat face.
Several dozen minutes later we found ourselves outside of a building. We hopped out and she directed me towards a window that read ‘closed for the night.’
“This can’t be happening…”, Lian said as she started banging on the door till someone had turned on the lights inside and opened the door by a crack.
“Hello?” a tentative and clearly femine voice came from behind the steel door.
“Hi Jen, I got another one for you. Mind helping him out?”
“Ahh… sry Lian. We are all booked up today.” Popping her head out a bit more than before, what looked like a middle aged blonde with a business casual vibe to her. White collared shirt with black slacks.
“Come in, it must be freezing,” said Jen after taking a good look at the tattered remains of my jacket and sweats. Walking into the building the first thing I noticed was the linoleum floors and a couple of stained ceiling tiles. The white walls were sectioned in half by a light blue border. Still eating from the bag of donuts I watched Lian and Jen.
“So where did you find that giant.” Jen said quizzically. “That's a bit of a story for another day” replied Lian with a slight blush on her cheeks. “So about the rooms.” Turning slightly towards me she continued “Jen here runs a homeless shelter for the locals.”
“That's right, we give three square meals to the indigent of the area and provide temporary shelter at night. Though when it comes to the shelter part we have limited availability and it is first come first served especially in the winter. Come this way” Jen said as we followed her into an office a few doors down from the entrance.
Inside the office we took a seat on a couch set against the wall where the door is. On the other side was a desk with several dozen boxes scattered atop and around it. Jen took a few moments to look through the boxes while Lian seemed preoccupied with the device in her hand. A rectangular shaped box that fit in her hand but also had light coming out of it. She seemed to scroll through images and videos. After a few moments Jen had a couple of pairs of pants, shirts and a pair of worn looking shoes. Placing the clothing in my arms. “You should try these on. I'm not sure if the shoes will fit but it's better than walking barefoot.” she said with a glance and at what appeared like unprotected feet. “ Don’t want you getting frostbite now”
She had a lovely smile.
Both ladies stepped out while I changed out of my raggs and into the hand me downs. I didn’t really need the thick clothing she had given me. My jinn nature all but assured I could survive the most intense weather but the kindness of the gesture was not lost on me and I put on the clothing that was offered. The shoes as she had said were a tight fit but I was able to manage with only a little bit of discomfort in my toe area. I could have changed the size of my feet but the idea of messing with my proportions scared me a bit. Can’t have myself revert back to my Jinn form and terrify these kind ladies all for the sake of a bit of comfort.
I stepped outside the office to see them arguing in hushed tones.
“What am I supposed to do with him! I can’t just drop him off around the corner after he saved my life!” said Lian.
“Well Lili, that's not my problem. He’s your giant not mine. Why don’t you just let him crash on your couch or something. Hell if I was you I would just let him take my bed if you know what I mean. “ Jen said with her eyebrows jumping up and down on her face.
Lian face palmed then noticed me there. Her face blushed furiously as did Jen’s face.
“Well don’t we look all cleaned up? Asked Jen.
“Thank you for the clothing. It was very kind of you.” I said.
“If we didn’t help clothe people we wouldn’t be much of a homeless shelter now would we.”
My face felt warm at the attention. Lian turned back to Jen after an approving nod towards me.
“Thanks again Jen.” said Lian.
“ I guess there is no use for it. Let go Luke.”
Lian and I left promptly and by the time we had made it to the car the snow was falling in sheets causing the roads and surrounding area to be difficult to see. A song I had never heard before played from the car’s speakers and the heater was at full blast. Even then I could tell Lian would still shiver from the cold. Before long we made it to an apartment building. The snow was still falling quite hard and was the first to exit the vehicle. Lian seemed to hesitate at leaving the comfortable warmth of the car and glared at me when I opened the door. I couldn’t even feel the cold but just looking at her brought a grimace to my face. This cold reminded me far too much of limbo. A shiver ran through me at the thought.
“I was wondering when you were going to feel the cold,” Lian said with a muffled voice. Her face was covered by a red scarf I hadn’t noticed before and I followed her as she made her way through the parking lot towards some stairs. Ten flights later we found ourselves at an apartment. Lian seemed to take a breath before opening the door.
“Please don’t judge my apartment too harshly, my mother is a bit of a slob.” Following Lian in I had to hunch my head a bit to keep myself from bumping into the top of the door frame.
Her apartment was a bit small but it seemed due to the fact that it was cluttered with boxes and other items. Some seemed like art supplies while others were mismatched furniture and stacks of books of various sizes and colors. The short entryway led to a small kitchen to the right and a living room with three other doors. Several posters and paintings hung around the walls in various spots and a small television with a couch sitting in the center of the room. Behind it was a small table with two chairs with a vase containing a small bouquet of flowers. Standing in the entryway I saw Lian check into one of the rooms. “My mother must be sound asleep.” She seemed to lock the door and closed it and turned back to me. “ She'll probably still sleep till tomorrow afternoon. This is the bathroom,” she said and pointed to the door behind her. “This is my room. Just take the couch. It won’t be very comfortable for a guy your size but I'm sure it's way better than the sidewalk or whatever you might be used to.
She stood there. I stood there. A silent gap formed between us, for a second it seemed like she was going to say something but ended up closing the door with a quick “good night”.
There I was for the rest of the night on the couch channel surfing. To be honest, it was quite liberating. After a week or more on the streets and having been disabled from the neck down before that. Just the ability to switch the channel whenever I got bored was a god send in itself. It didn’t hurt that I wasn’t feeling tired so binge watching was a lovely change of pace.
Couple of hours later the sun was up and the boredom was starting to get to me. You really could only watch so many late night infomercials. Behind me I could hear the stirring of someone waking up. A phone alarm must have been ringing with a chorus of “ah ah stayin alive stayin alive”. Taking the initiative I went to the kitchen to see if I could mimic what I had seen in one of the cooking channels last night.
********
Lian woke with a start and grabbed her phone to stop the bee gees from hitting another note. Last night's events quickly played through her mind. The quiet night, the subsequent rush of adrenaline and the wash of relief that followed. It wasn’t until just this moment that she realized the gravity of what she had done. I let a homeless man… a complete stranger just sleep on my couch… OMG HE COULD BE A SERIAL KILLER!
Her head began swimming with dangerous what if scenarios. He could have taken all our things in the middle of the night to buy CRACK! He could of set a series of elaborate traps straight from the home alone series or saw to murder us! And on it went. She had hit the Jason Voorhees section of her imagination when she realized the time. OH SHIT I'M LATE! Rushing out of the door without a single care she made a beeline towards the bathroom and locked herself in. Taking precious moments to calm herself while she waited for the shower water to hit “just the right temp” before going about her morning routine. Halfway between putting on her mascara she heard the sound of her mother’s room opening. Moments passed and the sound of chatter could just barely be heard over the sound of the sink running. A cold sweet went down her back and she ran to the door. STRANGER DANGER!!!!!
“Hey ma! I can explain!” but before she could continue the sight before her completely blew her away. Her mother was chatting amicably with Luke in the cupcake patterned pjs Lian had given her last Christmas. Luke for his part was doing a great impression of Betty Crocker in her pink cooking apron with bold white letters that read “ Your opinion is NOT in the recipe”. On the table was a smorgasbord of food. Pancakes, strawberries with creme, scrambled eggs, toast and what had to be freshly squeezed O.J. All of it was a feast for her weary eyes.
Maybe there’s poison in the food!!!!
Lian took a hesitant seat at the kitchen table and before she knew it Luke had piled up some pancakes and eggs on her plate. Clearly confusing her for a jets linebacker with the portions he was serving up. “ Good Morning! Wanted to thank you for letting me stay the night. I wasn’t sure what you would like but I made a bit of everything.” Ending it with a goofy smile that somehow made Lian’s stomach perform somersaults and face burn a bit. Taking one of the stools from the kitchen he brought it out to the table and started loading his own plate with a comical amount of pancakes and drowned it in syrup. Lian and her mother exchanged looks. “Soo Luke here tells me he met you just last night and was kind enough to let him stay the night. A bit unusual for my antisocial daughter.” She turned her nose up somewhat to stare down at Lian from across the table. “I thought to myself, I can always call the police after breakfast so I decided to partake in the offered meal.” Lian’s mother had always thought of herself as a thespian. Going on about her highschool plays and how if it wasn’t for her father she could have been a famous actress on the silver screen. Lian never paid any attention to it. To her it was just part of her mother's long list of eccentricities. “ Well, I’m glad you didn’t call the cops Lian’s mom,” Luke said between mouthfuls of pancakes. “ It’s Alice, you would do well to remember it. Alice Acosta. It means the sea or coast. Regardless, thank you for the wonderful bounty Luke '' covering the side of her mouth she turned to face Lian and mouthed the words, '' He is a keeper”.
Lian sighed and tried to make a dent in her breakfast. “ Well Luke, finish up quick we have to go and by WE have to go I mean. I have to go and you can’t stay here unsupervised.”
Luke responded with a muffled “okay” before finishing up the last of the pancakes and then serving the rest of the eggs onto his plate and decimating it in 30 seconds flat. Lian would have normally been horrified if not for the impressive feat of being able to devour so much food in one go without having to perform the Heimlich maneuver. He is like human garbage disposal, she thought to herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Luke turned to her and asked if she was gonna finish the bulk of her breakfast. Having been shocked by his continued display she nodded dumbfounded. Alice seemed to watch their interplay intensely before asking the obvious question.
“So where did you two meet?” Luke seemed to freeze in place looking towards Lian then back to Alice before polishing off her soggy pancakes.
Lian then spent some time explaining last night's events with as little fanfare as possible. Alice stopped her repeatedly at points saying things like “And weren't you scared!” and “ Luke you are such an angel!” By the time Lian finished the story Alice was already talking about how this could become her big break by selling the story to lifetime or something. Lian of course scoffed at the Idea of her playing herself in the Lifetime original series and quickly hurried to the bathroom to brush and rushed out the door with Luke in tow.