shattering all over the place. I turned to look at the fucker again, and I was thrown out the window. I landed over there,” he said pointing to a spot on the ground where a pile of wood now laid. “I got up to rush back in, but then the place just...exploded. I swear to god it was him. He made it happen...with his mind or something.”
“How much have you had to drink?” Reedy asked.
“I’m kinda drunk now, but I wasn’t then. After everything went down, we kind of went around scrounging what was left off the ground. But this isn’t some drunken vision, or whatever. I saw this shit happen, and so did they.” he said, looking over at the other people. The group stood there like you would at a camp fire, hovering about, and waiting for nothing to happen.
“First mutants and monsters, now this...” Reedy said.
*****
The digital clock read 9:53 am, flashing its faint glow inside the darkened room. Its green numbers reflected off the empty whiskey bottle, which was turned over on its side and covered in empty condom wrappers. The blackout curtains did their job well, blocking the morning sun from entering the small apartment, but a strewn shoe kept them from closing all the way. Its interference allowed enough light in to give the room some slight visibility.
Alpha opened his eyes and felt the weight of his hangover pressing down on his head as his temples and eyes throbbed. Pressing his fingers to his face, he felt the mask he had worn to bed. Its snug fit subdued the pain pounding in his head.
Letting out a groan, he threw his legs over the side of the bed, and laid there for a moment longer. After mustering up the ability to stand, he turned on the lamp, got up, and stumbled into the cramped kitchen. After pouring a glass of water and grabbing a small handful of aspirin, he turned back to the pullout sofa bed, looking at it over the kitchen island.
"Good morning," said a young blonde girl.
She was an attractive woman, slim, yet curvy in the right places, but he sneered when he saw her. She was draped in his cheap sheets, naked beneath, but showing just enough skin and smiling like a mischievous child.
"Is it?" he asked. He opened his mouth and swallowed the pills, chasing them with a swig of water.
"Oh yeah," she said, sitting up.
She didn't bother to cover herself as she did, and her firm, manmade breasts became exposed. He couldn't divert his eyes from her body, which gave her more reason to show off. Standing up, she approached the counter of the island, swaying her hips in a deliberate fashion. Her trimmed pubic hair was nearly gone and the rest was just a small dark brown patch.
"I've been hoping you'd call," she said with a coy smile. "I'm glad you did."
"Yeah, me too" Alpha said, grabbing the coffee pot nearby.
"Fuck coffee, let's go again," she said, leaning up against the island.
Pouring water into the pot, he looked up at her and said, "I don't think so."
Her face went from pleased to annoyed. "You've done such a good job cleaning up this city, what else do you have to do today?"
"I don't have to do anything, I just want you gone so I can take off this damn mask," he said, pouring the coffee in.
"Whatever," she said, rolling her eyes. She turned away from the counter and grabbed up her clothes. Turning back to him, she said, "You know—"
"I know exactly what you're going to say," he said. "I've heard it before, just like I've said this before. It's nothing personal; it’s just time for you to leave."
As she dressed, he walked over to the door with a Styrofoam cup, steaming from the hot coffee inside. He tried to hand it to her as she left, but she turned her nose up as she stormed out. Just before she got to the elevator, she spun around and said, "What’s to keep me from coming back? Maybe with reporters?"
"Nothing, except this isn't my place. The owner owes me a few favors, and he's often out of town. I stay here when I please as long as I clean the sheets when I'm done."
"Fuck