A Story Begins Now

by Jane Carver

As he rounded the corner, he spied Vangee in her pale green cape, but his blood ran cold at the sight of five men around her. They wanted her alive but hadn’t touched her yet. She twisted from side to side, watching the men, her arms outstretched, the cloak held open wide.

One man dashed in to grab her, but she sidestepped before moving aside effortlessly. Despite her apparent ease, Gambrel feared for her safety. Outrage filled his heart. Fury boiled in his blood, and a desire to protect her called him to action.

Crossing his arms over his broad chest, he grabbed each blaster out of its holster then ran, his maniac scream taking the five by surprise. From out of nowhere, blasters, phasers, and old-fashioned swords appeared. One swarthy character held a wicked looking knife between his teeth. Perhaps a headlong charge wasn’t a wise thing after all.

Vangee must have figured the man rushing to save her would die as soon as the surprise wore off. Grabbing him by the arm, she put her insubstantial weight behind her heels and dug in. He fell back, and she used his momentum to swing him behind her.

“Put your hands on my shoulders and move in tight, hulking one. We can outwit these in no time. But no one dies here tonight.”

Her hood turned toward him, he saw nothing of her face buried deep in the folds. As if some force took over his body, he did as the woman ordered. By all he held sacred, he fought the idea of hiding behind the safety of a woman. Yet behind her, he went.

Even as his stomach and chest pressed tightly to her backside, she opened her arms wide again and began to chant. First one man then another darted in to grab her. Another man tried to shot Gambrel. But nothing seemed to penetrate the invisible barrier around them.

“Stay close, big one. I can only protect so much, and you take up a lot of space.” Her words came low, sounded a bit humorous. The humor, however, got lost in the combination of men trying to kill them and some power beyond his knowledge working to save them.

The gang withdrew to the other side of the street and debated loudly how to execute the man and take the woman without harming her. When their attention wavered, Vangee made her move.

“Run for the alley back a block, massive one. We can evade them there.” She swirled her cape around him and left him standing alone, no barrier to protect him. Gambrel had no choice but to follow.

His loping gait easily caught up with her. “Dead-end, woman. How’s that going to help us?” He breathed without difficulty while she gasped for air. For every one of his steps, she took five.

“Have faith. We will disappear in plain sight.”

“Uh-huh.” His sarcastic agreement didn’t slow the woman.

She barreled around the corner into the only darkness available for blocks. High buildings created a cave-like atmosphere.

“Put your back to this wall, and stay still. Don’t talk. Don’t move. Don’t even breathe if you can help it.” Vangee took hold of his waist and pressed him against the side of the building then grabbed his hand. “I will blur our images. The men will only see walls and stone. The longer they stay, the harder it is to hold us invisible, so we do not want to alert them to our presence. Still!” With that, she closed her eyes.

Could she do what she said? He turned his head toward her as the attackers neared the alley’s entrance.

If it were possible, he would have laughed. The five hesitated to enter the dark narrow space between the buildings separately. With pokes and prods, they moved forward together one cautious step at a time, looking behind barrels and crates. One man passed within a foot without seeing them.

He would have breathed a sigh of relief when the men backed out of the alley, but he feared they might return and catch the pair unveiling. Discretion told him to wait for her all-clear signal.

Two full minutes past before Vangee appeared out of thin air. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized she had truly been invisible. Whatever or whoever she was, she made a good companion in a tight spot.

A finger to her lips indicated a need for silence. They crept to the front of the alley. The nearer the two came to the entrance, the more the back of Gambrel’s neck itched. Things weren’t what they seemed.

He jerked Vangee behind him and grabbed a knife from his boot. The largest of the five would-be ‘nappers attacked. Smaller than his intended target, the man never stood a chance. Gambrel whirled him up against his chest and slit his throat with quiet dispatch. Blood splatter shot out.

He shoved the dead man aside, grabbed Vangee’s hand, and hastened her out on to the sidewalk.

“Which way to your home?” Gambrel scrutinized the street or closest alleys.

“Two blocks further then another three to the right.”

They ran flat out, seeing few, avoiding all. By the time they arrived at her home, both were out of breath.