Turns out the kitchen doors in fact were boarded up but Shadow used a fancy laser to cut out the opening.
It would be impressive if he didn't say what he said afterwards.
"A couple of wood planks are not a problem for my cutting edge gadgets."
Somehow I can see through the cowl he is wagging his eyebrows.
'I wonder if I slap him, would he still help me.'
I didn't get to find out the answer for this question because Shadow took me by the hand to drag me outside. This man's grip is like vice and strength when he pulled me nearly dislocated my shoulder.
"Tsssk…Don't pull so hard. It hurts."
"Sorry, sometimes I can't control my strength." Strangely enough he sounded like he was actually sorry. If he sounds like that I can't keep being mad at him.
"It's okay."
"Or maybe it's not that I am too strong but you are too weak, pipsqueak? It's hard to tell. But I'm still sorry."
Goddammit! I step right into it. I'm so mad!
"Pffff…ha ha ha… If you could only see your face. You look like a furious hamster. Ha ha ha…"
Ughh… I better change the topic or he will clown on me for God only knows how long.
"So, how will we get back to Timin City? It looks like we are in the middle of nowhere?" I gesticulated in the direction of the forest to emphasise my point.
"We are 60 miles from the city. They didn't take you too far away."
After stating that he reached to one of his many pockets in his military style pants. He fished out a small remote car key and clicked it. Then out of nowhere from the foliage emerged an armoured car. Its body was painted green and brown perfectly blending in scenery but then Shadow pressed seething again on the remote and the colour of the car changed to black.
"Wow! How does this work?!" I ask excitedly.
Shadow smiles amused by my reaction.
"Explanation of how it work may be too complex for you, pipsqueak. Let's say it works thanks to magic."
My face instantly fell. Excited look was replaced by a nasty scowl.
"Oh, don't sulk, pipsqueak. I let you sit in the front seat. Aren't you happy?"
He opens the door for me like I'm some helpless lady. Sulking I answer bitterly.
"I suppose it's okay but I was hoping for a chance to experience flying with a hero. I guess I have to settle for a car ride. Don't worry, it's understandable. Not every hero can be like The Champion. Oh, well, I'm thankful to you anyways." I end my monologue with a slight shoulder shrug.
Shadow shook his head in exasperation.
"Ha ha ha… I nearly choked on sarcasm oozing from you kid." He caught me by the shoulder and manhandled me to the car and fastened my seatbelt. "Don't get your panties in the twist I was only teasing. Now better be good or I will leave you here on the mercy of the scary forest wild life." He pointed his finger at me like he was reprimanding me."We don't want to give grizzly indigestion from munching on your spiteful heart, don't we pipsqueak?"
"There are no bears in Pramara State. We are more likely to meet a mountain lion than a grizzly." I only say it to be contrary.
"Looks like kidnapping didn't faze you too much if you can bicker with me like that."
Then he sharply pulled on the gear stick and stepped hard on the accelerator pedal. Immediately to my ears reached sound roar of the car engine and we zoomed right into the forest.
Is he fucking nuts!?!
"I hope my driving skills will make more of an impression on you. Hold on to something, it will be a wild ride."
While he was saying it, the car drove through the forest slaloming between the trees. Slowly trees were becoming more and more sparse. Wait…What the fuck! We are driving directly into the edge of the cliff.
"What are you doing! We are going to fall to our death moron!"
"Ha ha ha… Relax kid I know what I am doing"
"Somehow I don't believe you!" I don't know if I am more scared or furious.If I get out of this alive I will beat the living shit out of him. Doesn't matter he is a living wall of muscles I make him surfer.
Time stops for a moment. First I felt turbulence sending shock waves through my body. Then I saw we were flying off the cliff.
"You are crazy!" My scream probably heard every animal in five miles.
"Everything is alright. You will see."
Then I heard some weird sound coming from the bottom of the car. Next thing I know, a car somehow sticks to the cliff side and driving on it like gravity is not a thing that you know exists.
"See everything is alright. Janis won't let you get hurt."
"Who's Janis?"
"It's the name of my car. Afet Janis Joplin. Very fitting don't you think?"
"Of course you would be the guy naming the car."
Afterwards the drive was uneventful. I was mostly spacing out. I never had motion sickness but now I feel like at any moment I might throw up. Flying and bouncing off the trees will probably do that to ya.
"Kid, we are almost in the city. I will drop you off near your house so no one can kidnap again at least today. So tell me your address?"
Holding in my need to puke I only answer shortly.
"Ninth block on Sid Cross." I decided to not tell my whole home address just in case.
"You got it, boss."
On city streets he drives a lot slower and with accord to traffic rules.
"We're here boss. I hope driving with me was pleasant. Please give me five stars."
"I don't know if I would give you one star dude."
"Ha ha ha… You wound me so."
I don't know how one would proceed in a situation like that. I thank him and just go on my erry way?
I scratch the back of my head awkwardly.
"So I will go now? Thanks for saving me and all."
Then I'm getting out of the car.
"Wait!"
I looked back puzzled. What now?
"I don't know why goblins took you. I'm trying to find out what they are planning but you better stay in your house if you can? Just to be safe."
"What do you mean? In the news I heard The Goblins like to beat up people for fun. I was probably their random target. Nothing personal or anything like that."
"I wouldn't be so sure about it"
"What do you mean?"
But he didn't answer me. I heard the roar of the engine and he was driving away on the back drop of the city night.
'What the fuck did he mean!?'