Fragment-Challenge Response

6.26.2007

The .50 caliber hand-cannon (because pistol is such an understatement when dealing with this kind of heat) was steady in my hands. It felt good. Solid, powerful, manly... Anyone would feel like they had a steel pair of stones holding this thing. However, I didn't like the fact that he'd made me draw it. I'd always been taught that you never draw your gun unless you plan to kill someone with it. Not just shoot someone, kill someone. If you had the balls to sight in on a person, you better be ready to squeeze one off right between their eyes.

"But... can't I see her? Just for a second?" he was trying to feign innocence, but I'd know those creepy dirt-brown eyes anywhere. A card-carrying sex offender of the worst kind: a child rapist. His face had been plastered all over the papers and each new newsbyte put the entire community up-in-arms. They'd wanted to lynch him, but vigilante justice just doesn't follow through like it used to.

I shook my head sternly, my hold on my gun and my aim on him never wavering. "Miss Melody won't be signing autographs for another hour, and on top of that, shouldn't you me more than five hundred feet away from any personal contact with any minor?" She was a nine year old piano prodigy the likes of which the world had never seen. Her compositions were flawless, and every single concert she ever held would pack any venue we were in.

He looked angry all of a sudden. Viciously angry. His eyes started to change colors. Change... fucking... colors. His breathing deepened, noises akin to growls and snarls coming from his lips. My hands tremored ever so slightly, then. I'd been the big bad bodyguard up until now, but dammit...

The guy advanced a few steps, and I foolishly retreated a few more. "Look... Back off, mister! I don't get paid enough to deal with these... shenanigans!" Way to sound badass, Trevor. Miss Melody hates it when people swear, and when I let one slip, it seems like her demonically sharp ears always catch me. Getting chewed out by a nine year old like she's my grandmother doesn't do much for the ego.

As if on cue, Miss Melody emerged from the door behind me. Her sharp little blue eyes quickly assessed the situation, looking angry that I had my gun drawn, but more angry that this schlub was giving me enough shit for me to be prepared to shoot his ass. Her voice took on that strange grown-up sound it gets when she's about to take control of a situation. "Trevor, put the gun away. I'll handle this."

I nodded without question, holstering the weapon and crossing my arms over my chest, trying to continue looking tough even though this little girl was clearly running the show. She walked closer to the man... monster.. monsterman... Whatever-the-hell he was. She held her delicate, ivory pale hand up towards him, hovering level with his face.
"Relax, Mr. Greene. There is nothing to see here." She paused a moment to take the album from his elongated and claw-tipped fingers, scribbling her autograph on it with a Sharpie she always kept in her pocket. Replacing it in his hand, she gave him a simpering smile that would have had grown men bowing and scraping for her, ready to fulfill her every whim. She was frightening when she was like this, like once she grew up, in about ten years, she'd be this scorchingly hot piano diva who'd be plastered on the walls of teen boys all across the globe.

Mr. Greene was suddenly normal again, completely human, and bowing gratefully to her. "Thank you so much, Miss Melody!" he was like a kid in a candy store. His cheeks flushed and he turned and ran, likely to go home and rub a few out over what had just happened. The mere thought of that made my stomach churn. Something of it must have shown on my face because Miss Melody turned back to me, her face completely that of an innocent child once more. There was no ominous, ancient knowledge present in her eyes any longer; they were just cute, clear blue eyes.

Her blonde ringlets sprung up and down as she bounded over to me and gave me a tight hug around my waist, her tiny arms so fragile and delicate. "Thanks so much, Trevor! You always look out for me!" Her pretty blue eyes looked up at me in adoration.

I smiled down at her and lightly patted her head, careful not to muss her curls. "Come on, Miss Melody. Let's get you back inside. Intermission should be almost over now."

"Okay!" she said, laughter in her voice as she held my hand and half-led me inside, skipping merrily along as if we hadn't almost just been ripped apart by... something that wasn't wholly human.