Chapter 6
John went on with his day uneventfully. He got to work on time he had turned in his assignment in the morning and now John's day was essentially over.
John sat at his cubicle staring at his computer screen waiting for an email from his boss about his review, it was already dark; after 6 o'clock.
John Sighed and resigned to the fact that he probably wasn't going to get a rating on his assignment today. He continued to stare off into space in this manner until a pounding noise interrupted his thoughts. John blinked bringing himself back to reality, he looked at the windows of his office building to see sheets of rain beating against the panes of glass. He could barely see through the continuous curtains of water that cascaded against the office building but from what he could see the rain seem to be falling almost horizontally.
Thunder rumbled and John winced at the sound and feel of the sheer power as the building trembled from the force. He began gathering his things preparing himself to make it home through the storm. John fastened his coat and gave himself a once over, he knew all at once that he was going to be completely soaked so he decided to leave his briefcase in the office under his desk. There was nothing pressing that needed to be done before the next morning anyway. He looked up again to review the disaster out the window and he saw a woman gliding about 7 feet away from his position. She had ebony skin and snow white hair, she floated through the air almost like a flying squirrel. He saw that she seem to do this due to the wings on her costume which were the most modest part he noted surveying her as she circled around the building and out of sight.
A few seconds later a bright white blinding flash of lightning seemed to shock the area where she had just gone. John hung his head and proceeded to make his way to the elevators. He rounded a row of cubicles and stumbled over something so drastically that he had to catch himself on the wall near where he stood.
John look down to see what he had tripped over; it was a very large umbrella the umbrella was so large it was almost comically so. He scanned the farm of cubicles and there was no one there due to the late hour. John looked at the offices that ring the walls around the room and no lights were on so he took this as another sign of his apparent good luck.
He hoisted the umbrella under his arm and proceeded to make his way down the elevator. John made his way to the front door and sheltered himself under his new found umbrella.
John marched out into the street and stopped at the curb looking for a taxi but none was in sight. Not only were there no taxis but there was no traffic, not even buses made their way down the street. He stood there huddled under his concealment trying to make himself as small and compact as possible. He looked across the street to see a small child about eight years old running frantically down the street. Alarm rang through John's body as he watched the boy; water streaming down his face his clothes and hair were soaked. John tried to figure out what to do, whether he should help. As he decided to step out into the street and call for the boy, the boy slowed his pace and yelled out "Shazam!". John looked up and time seemed to slow down as he saw lightning arc through the sky racing toward the young boy. It jumped from the puffy gray dark clouds and slammed into the boy with such force and display of light that John turned away and braced himself behind his umbrella.
John raised his umbrella back to its protective position and looked to the place where the boy had stood but there was nothing there. Not even a scorch mark. He looked up to see a large muscled man clad in a red hero's uniform that sported a lightning bolt on his chest. The man soared through the air his half golden cape flapped with the wind as he sped away. John hope that the man had saved the little boy and that he was okay. By now John was soaked from the knees down. At this point the rain continued to come down in buckets. He looked both ways purveying the street and not a vehicle was insight he decided to just walk the full way home, as it didn't seem he had a choice. John's shoes squished as he made his way towards his house.
John padded through the puddles the size of lakes and small shallow streams that had accumulated over the city streets. He rounded the building and held onto his umbrella as a strong Wind threaten to rip it from his grip. He leaned forward struggling to walk against the gale force. As he continued on a loud Crash and a shriek was heard down the street from where he walked.
John looked down the adjacent alley; a woman lay on the ground there he ran to her side fearing for her well-being. When he got there John saw what had made the huge crash. There was a very large almost antique rustic Hammer that had landed there. Lightning crashed in the sky cutting into John's line of vision. He kneeled down to the woman touching her shoulder, trying to check if she was okay. Another bolt of powerful lightning flashed once again and John squinted against the light. The hammer shook and flew high into the sky.
But John discarded this and focused his attention on the woman.
He shook her "Miss, Miss, are you okay?"
The woman moaned and her eyes fluttered open.
The woman change position lying flat on her back and looked up at John confusion in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" John asked again.
The woman sat up, her wet caramel colored hair spilled over her shoulders and Curtained her face.
The woman moaned "I jumped out of the way of that hammer after some huge blind man came running through here." she said as she wiped the water from her face.
The woman tried to stand up.
"Here let me help you." John said steadying the woman as she tried to stand.
She brushed her hair from her face and stood on her own. John finally got a good look at her; she was gorgeous chocolate brown eyes and deep caramel colored hair. She was shorter than him cute and petite.
The woman looked around and spotted something over near the wall of the alley. John looked over and saw her umbrella. The woman rushed over to retrieve it. She bent down to pick it up, John saw her falter in her steps and sway on her feet. He rushed to her side just in time to catch her before she fell against the wall.
He held her there for a moment; her head laying on his chest.
"Ouch..." she whimpered.
"Am I hurting you?" John spoke up, a blush flushing his cheeks.
"No." the woman said. She touched her head and winced. "I think I hit my head."
"Let me see." John said.
He held her head in his hands and looked at her forehead already there was a knot forming. "Yeah it looks like you hit your head pretty hard."
"That's just great!" the woman said.
John bent down and picked up the woman's umbrella and handed it to her.
"Thank you." she said taking it from him. "I guess there's really no need for it now right."
John looked her over she was completely soaked to the bone. The woman rushed down the length of the alley, before she got to the entrance John called out to her you're welcome.