Ms. Timeless

Chapter 2
Distaster at The Mall

“In local news, the infamous Ice is still at large. Ice, who real identity had allotted the police and other authority, is said to be a mastermind. He is solo responsible for six bank robberies in the post six mouths. It’s also believed he has staged his own death so he continue his criminal career free of pursuit.”

Michael turned the radio to his favorite satiation, unable to hear anymore of this. It seems like he can’t turn on a radio or TV without hearing about this Ice person. It was just getting a little ridiculous, well to him anyways.

I have lived in this place my entire life and nothing has really happened, expected for a few fires, but that was really nothing, Michael thought contently.

The young man gazed out of his windshield, taking in the relaxing view of his hometown, Red Bird Falls. It was to big to be called a town, but to small to be called a major city. If he would have to guess, he would figure his hometown would be called a small city.

Red Bird Falls were built about the time of his great grand father and since it was so secluded, nothing really happens, expect for the rare fires. But his grandfather had taken care of that problem when they built a sewer system in mountains, leading to an underground river. The people of this city take great care of this city, building a different system for waste dispassion, so not to pollute their water.

Michael was suddenly brought out of his thoughts as a sharp pain erupted throughout his enough body, threatening to overwhelm his sense. He had enough common sense to pull over and wait for the pain to subside. He wrapped his arms around himself as the pain want to a whole new level.

This pain was like nothing he had ever experienced before. It seemed to center in several different locations, namely the skin, bone and the biggest pain sensation, the groin. It was like his skin was tightening so much that it was putting immense pressure on his bones, making it feel like his bones were being crushed. But his groin was a different matter entirely. It felt like his manhood was compressing, folding into his body. It wasn’t a very enjoyable feeling to experience. And just as quick as it started, the pain quickly ceased, leaving the young man gaping from breath.

Michael leaned against his stealing wheel as he caught his breath. He couldn’t tell at the moment, but something felt different about him. As his mind cleared, he thought he felt lighter for some reason.

What was that? Where did all of that pain come from, Michael thought to himself in concern?

Suddenly there was a tip on his window. Turning his head, Michael came face to face with a sewer worker.

“Are you okay, son?” the worker asked when Michael rolled down his window.

The young man just nodded his head and said weakly,” Yeah, I just a little light headed.”

“Well, take care son, we wouldn’t want an accident, now would we?” the man said coldly and Michael nodded. “And you might want to think about eating some meat, you look like a bean pole.”

Michael again nodded and then headed off. As he drove away, he noticed that those workers were close to the Red Bird National Bank. But he just shrugged it off as nothing.

(...)

Red Bird Falls Mega mall is always a busy place. Kids and teens come to just hang out on a lazy afternoon. Adults of all shapes and sizes are constantly moving from store to store, carrying many different size bags, filled with different items from different stores. The mall is always a place where one could get lost and where people blended into the background. Well...almost everyone.

Why is my jacket sliding off me, Michael wondered, as he pulled up his right sleeve for like the seventh time in the past two minutes.

“You know, someone as bone thin as you shouldn’t diet,” a voice said causally.

Looking to his right, Michael saw a man, about a year older then him, leaning on the stairs leading to the second floor. The man wore the standard uniform of mall security, with a mild built, that his suit highlighted. His blonde hair was slightly long with a large section covering his left eye. His stumble was one of the few turn off of this person, but still have a certain charm to him.

“Oh, hi Sam,” Michael said with a smile.

Sam Cane is a year older then Michael, but since he was so smart, Michael skipped a grade. The two had actually been neighbors in the same apartment building. When Michael’s dad had got a better paying job, the family moved to a better neighborhood, but the two still kept in touch.

“The old man is about to go into rocket mode because he just realized he left his lunch...again,” Sam joked in light humor.

Despite hearing that joke a million times, Michael couldn’t help but laugh, but something was different. Sam frown when he notice that his life long friend’s laughter sound slightly higher then normal and softer sounding. It was about this time that he also noticed that Michael looked smaller, maybe an inch or two. One thought immediately popped into his head.

“Did another one of your gadgets blew up in your face?” Sam asked seriously.

“Is it that obvious?” Michael asked, putting on a sour face.

Again, the face set bell off in Sam’s head. Though his face still looked thin, Michael’s cheeks seem to have rose a bit and gain just little fat. Or maybe it was just Sam’s mind, playing a trick on him.

“Well, I better get this to the old man before he blast off to the moon again,” Michael said, feeling uneasy from his friend staring.

Sam just nodded and watched as he friend walked in the direction of the main security office. Sam notice as his friend walked away, that his clothes look loose on him. But Sam just shook this idea out of his head.

(...)

After a mild struggle through the crowd and a few stops to fix his jacket, Michael found himself at the door, leading to the security office. After fixing his jacket again, he opened the door without even knocking. He stepped into a small barely lid room. There wasn’t much to say about the office, medium size with a roll of monitors in the front of the door to the room. There were a few more things, but they really weren’t important.

“Hey, dad, lunch is delivered!” Michael said in a hearty voice.

The man watching the monitors, turned around to face the man with a hearty smile. Josh Times could be considered an older vision of Michael. They share a lot character traits and personality traits, with some manor difference, such as Michael’s smarts.

The two meant in the middle and Michael handed his father the brown paper bag. Suddenly Josh frowned, noticing something off about his son.

“Did another one of things blow up?” the middle age security guard in concern. “You look thinner then usual.”

Michael let out a mild frustrated sigh and said,” you too?”

“Huh?” Josh just gave his son a confused stare.

“You’re about the third person to see I look thinner then normal,” Michael replied in mild frustration.

Josh could only laugh slightly as his son’s outburst reminded him of his childhood, when his older sister was confronted about her eating habits. Michael opened his mouth to say something, when a beeping noise interrupted him. Josh hurried back to his desk, immediately recognizing the noise immediately.

“What’s wrong, Sam?” Josh asked as he picked up the two-way radio.

“Boss!!” came the distressed voice of Sam. “We have trouble and I MEAN trouble. You better get down to the entrance and bring some guns we keep for emergencies!”

And with that, the line went dead. Michael looked at his father, confused as to what’s happening. But Josh, with years of experience, knew that he needed to act more then think. So, he grabbed his keys, and hurried to emergency gun case. He quickly unlocked it and took out a couple of handguns for the other guards on duty. And then hurried out the door, without a word. Still confused, the young man followed behind his father.

The two hurried to the front entrance, but wasn’t prepared from the sight they saw. They’re most have been 30 or 40 of them, armed to the bone with semi and automatic guns. Most look like they were thugs off the streets, but one seemed to stand out among all of the others.

“What is the meaning of all of this?” Sam asked boldly.

Sam, along with two other security guards, was in front of a crowd of shocked and confused people. Still the thugs didn’t seem to acknowledge Sam’s demands. Instead, the one that stood out among the thugs easily made his way to front of the group. Everyone in area immediate could tell this guy was different.

This man was easily the tallest, about six feet, plus and built like a rock. He wore black cargo pants and a white muscle shirt. He also had a chocker and white finger gloves. His hair is an icy white and slicked back. No one could see his eyes because of his sunglasses, but someone just knew that this person was as cold as ice.

Without a word or warning, the mysterious man whipped out a pistol from seemingly nowhere. He quickly aimed it at Sam’s head and pulled the trigger without a second thought. The bullet got Sam right between the eyes and he want down fast.

“SAM!!” Michael cried from his fallen friend.

He would rushed to his friend’s aid without a second thought, if he father hadn’t put his arm out before his son stopping him. Confused more then again, he looked at his dad and was shocked. His father had a grim look of determination, something he rarely see in his dad.

“Listen, Mike, I want you to head back to office and triggered the silent alarm,” Michael was shocked speechless. This was a side he never saw before. “Listen, these guys mean business. If we ever hope to make it out, we need help.”

Dad... Michael was still at a loss for words. So he need nodded and turn back in the direction of the security office.

“...And one more thing,” Michael looked at his father. “If I don’t make it out of this, tell your mother, that these years with her were some of me best, despite all of the hardship we had.”

Still at a loss, Michael just nodded and turned around, obeying his father wishes. But he was also wishing that they both made it out of this one alive.