Burning Passion, Settling Ashes: Chapter 2; In Medias Res
#2 of Burning Passion, Settling Ashes
April 23, 2024
The sunrise crept through the blinds and settled atop my face. I opened my eyes to the "beautiful" white plaster ceiling of my room. I turned my head and glanced at my clock.
8:00, time to get up
I slipped out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom. I used the facilities and stepped into the shower. I turned on the water and let it flow down my back, silencing the phantom tingling once again. I washed up and stepped out, moving to the mirror to comb my bright red hair. I had nicked one of my scars again, I proceeded to clean it of dried blood. It apparently is hard to clean a wound by twisting your head to look in the mirror. Better to think these weird thoughts than to remember...never mind. I finished and changed into my standard short sleeve shirt and tie.
I locked up my apartment and jumped into my car when I reached ground level; it was a 2021 VW Fire-star, one of the first cars to use a hydrogen only engine since the hydrogen switch in 2018. I pulled up to the address; 2683 Fuller Blvd. It was a square shaped building, 'bout nine stories; fairly typical for a company this size. Time for another day of work; you see, I am a consultant, I give companies advice on how to reorganize their structure and various other mindless tasks. I don't make a whole lot now, but once I get more years of experience I will be able to charge a large amount for my services. For now, at least it is better than being stuck in some 9-by-9 cubicle, although some would see it differently...
I walked through the revolving door and greeted a secretary at the front desk. I stated my name and appointment. She granted me access through the doors behind her and I walked into what appeared to be the main office. I was greeted by a tall, lanky tiger in a navy blue business suit, with a tie that looked oddly familiar to a certain flag...
"Guten Morgen Herr Hall," (Good morning Mr. Hall) he exclaimed in a heavy German accent, grabbing my hand and shaking. "Ich heisse Stefan Kleist!" (My name is Stefan Kleist)
Well that explains the tie...
"Guten Morgen Herr Kleist. Wie geht's?" (Good morning Mr. Kleist. How are things?) I replied in a smooth accent, although nowhere near as heavy as his.
He thought for a second and said, "Gut, gut, und Sie?" (Good, good, and you?)
"Auch gut. Womit kann ich ihnen deinen?" (Also good. What can I do for you?) I replied.
He motioned me into a nearby office saying, "Das Hauptproblem ist..." (The main problem is.)
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I was back out to my car before 1 o'clock. It had been a relatively simple problem, but would have been hard to see from within the company, but thats why I am here. I simply helped identify the problem and I helped build some Action-Response teams to deal with it. Nothing special today, but I now had the rest of the day to do whatever...
I looked over and saw the glovebox hanging slightly open, again. I opened it and attempted to slam it shut again. I heard an audible Snap, and the entire glovebox came down to the floor with a bang. There lay my Sauer 38H, my beloved handgun of which I have a concealed license for, just in case. I picked it up. It was an old gun, dating back to World War II. It was basically an antique, but it was made to last on the battlefield, and last it did. I ran my fingers over the engraved falcon of Nazi Germany, the only remnants of it's dark past. It still worked (quite well I might add!). As long as the ammunition manufactures made .32 ACP I would keep it as a weapon, besides, I felt that it didn't deserve to be put in a case and forgotten. I felt tied to it, a gun which was once used against its will, for a bad cause.
Like me...
I slipped the leather holster on and tucked the gun away into its cool embrace. I would have to drop the car off to fix the glovebox and I needed a tire rotation anyway...
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I drove to a garage an parked in an empty space. A monkey with a wrench (a monkey wrench!) came out and exchanged words with me and gave me a time: 3 hours.
__
I walked over to a nearby coffee shop and got out my laptop and "surfed" (I prefer "ran-around") the Internet. Time flowed by like water around a rock, I ate a little, drank a little, took a sh-... well you know; and before I knew it, it was 9:15. It had been a lot more than 3 hours!
I gathered up everything and began my 7 block walk back to the garage. I reached about the 4th block. I passed an alley and heard a distinct "Help! No! Stop!" Echo from the alley. I looked around, there was nobody else on the street nearby so I took a peek down the alleyway.
I peered around the corner and saw two people, one was a beautiful red furred vixen, the other was a black haired human. I peered closer. He was holding something shiny near her neck. She was bent over, her skirt lay torn to the side. Below her tail, something long and stiff was about to enter...
Rape...
I'm witnessing rape...
As a bystander this time...
I can't take this. I can't take this! I think I am going to lose my dinner...I think I'm going to...
Three ear-piercing screams ripped into my ear and beat upon my ear-drums with endlessness as a concussive wave traveled the length of my arm.
Gunshots...
I glanced around rapidly to identify the shooter; nobody. I returned my gaze to the scene before me. I was greeted with the sight of my arm jutting forwards, my 38H in my hand, smoke trailing from the barrel.
I shot...
Beyond the sights of the gun barrel lay a mess. There was blood everywhere, a vixen slumped over against the wall staring at me with emerald green eyes in disbelief. Beyond her lay the body of a shattered man. I approached.
The man lay in shambles, a bullet through the hand, a knife laying nearby, and a hole in the head, but something was missing. That something was under my foot, the man's dick lay there, severed from the rest by hot lead. I had killed a man, that sickened me.
But what if I had not?
I turned to the vixen, she had her arms at her chest and waist.
Oh...
I peeled off the jacket I had on and handed it to her, turning my head away so she would not feel embarrassed. She took the jacket and wrapped it around herself. When she was done I put out a hand to help her up, she took my hand and pulled me into a tight, warm embrace. I was not sure what to do, but she felt awfully cold, so I wrapped my hands around her to let her know that she was safe. Her fur was so comfortable and inviting.
"Uh......Hi?" I said, rather unsure of myself. "I'm Brandon."
"Thank you......I am Kaylynn.
Chills crept up my spine. We took in each other's and adrenalin with each breath.
There we stood, confusion in our minds, only able to understand one second after another, and the warmth of one another as sirens crept ever closer.