"You gave him how much to buy me dinner?"
"Come on, Kindling. He's homeless."
"He's not homeless."
"Oh, so you're adopting him then?"
I hate this.
I stomped down the street, practically kicking over a card game as I went. My brother laughed at my silence, what a prick! Okay. He's the nicest guy I know but still!
"Look, man, the guys got guts." Smolder said with a soft 'baaah' in his voice, "just give friendship a chance. For once."
"Friendship is-"
I nearly dropped my phone as I watched two large, animal like people force their way into the bank. I recognized one. The short, choppy hair and snake like eyes. Hotshot. For a heartbeat, I'm twelve years old again, my head being shoved roughly into the lake. I'm gasping and crying out, trying not to drown as she laughs at me.
"Kindle? Are you okay?"
"I'm gonna call you back," I said quickly and hung up, staring petrified at the building and all I could think, Loveall is in there. I couldn't explain how I knew, but I did. So I turned and started to numbly walk away from the bank. I'm not insane. I can't possibly fight Hotshot and whoever else was with her.
"No, no, nuh uh," I said out loud to the voice in my head.
"I'm not going in there and getting myself killed for a guy I just met."
I crossed my arms over my chest and stopped. Everything in me screamed to run, and yet, I felt a tug I couldn't quiet explain.
"I got better things to do, if he gets shot. So be it! He's the idiot who left the apartment. He's the one who swindled my brother out of a hundred smackers."
I paced for a few minutes, arguing with my inner monologue, before sucking air in through my teeth.
"Who are you talking to?" A voice asked.
"None of your business, lady, can't a man argue with himself in peace?"
Shots fired.
"Fuck it!" I growled, turning and racing towards the bank. What am I doing? Am I stupid? What's wrong with me? Why do I care so much?
I felt a hand grab me right as I got to the front doors, pulling me to the side of the building.
"Hey, what the-"
"Shut up," They said with a touch of a French accent hindering their lips, "You want to be shot to death?"
I glared at this other person, eying their strange, porcelain like skin that stood out like snow against the bright red bricks. Their eyes only dots, which caused me to grimace.
"Don't make that face at me! We need to call the po-"
Shots fired.
Every inch of my body screamed, "Loveall is in there! I'm going in, if I get shot, fine. Maybe it's better for the world anyway."
Who said that? The words came out of my mouth, but my own voice I didn't recognize.
"I'm not going to be responsible for your funeral." They said.
More bangs, this time multiple. I clicked my tongue, tossing my jacket off. Running on instinct, I burst through the shattered glass doors. Fire licked up my arms and started to burn my shirt to ashes, but I didn't care. I found myself seeing red as I stepped inside.
"Hey!" I shouted.
I was hardly able to take in the scene before me. All I knew was Loveall needed me, and for some reason, I found myself jumping into the lion's den to save him.