“So what am I going to do today?” I ask myself while looking into the mirror combing my hair.
It is early morning around 6 am, my usual time to get the day started, even tho it is Saturday. Maybe I should head out for a run to get the blood flowing and maybe I will meet up with that hot babe Julie who runs the same route...” I think to myself.
Thinking it over, I quickly put on my black running shorts, a green T-Shirt that sports the words, The Marines, and a pair of old running shoes. I make sure all the lights are off and nothing is left on that could cause a fire, then head out the door of my house, grabbing the keys on the table by the door. After locking the door, I do some stretches to get me limber and ready for my run.
Heading out the gate to my yard, I look around and see my neighbor, a somewhat chubby man, about 6ft tall, slightly balding, with a little gray showing in his brown hair, Jim Burke, grabbing his paper while wearing an old gray robe and some worn black house slippers.
“Morning Jim, nice weather today eh?” I called out my usual morning greeting.
Looking over at me, “Ah, hey Scott how is your day today?” He replies in a friendly tone.
“Good good, going for a run, keep the body in shape, same ole, you know..” I reply. It is the same conversation almost every morning with the same answers.
“Ah good, well be careful out there and have a good one” he says as he begins to walk away towards his house, waving bye.
I smile and sigh to myself. Life is really boring. Since I left the Marines, after having put in 20 years of service, participating in both Gulf Wars with many tours under my belt, most of which were top secret, this peace and quiet was still hard to accept and understand. I left the Marines a mere 2 years ago and now I own my own house and truck, all paid for, no debts, and single. Yes, 41 and single I thought to myself. And all for what? I shake my head and begin my run, breathing in my nose and out my mouth, keeping a steady but brisk pace.
After running for about 10 min thru the various side street of this suburban neighborhood, I finally spot her. Some may say she is a little young for me, but at 30 she is smoking hot, at least in my book. Red hair, green eyes, 5'5” C cup at least, slim waist, long and firm legs that make one gaze longingly. And single too!!
I, already heading in her direction, quicken my pace a little to catch up, her pace being slower than mine, it was rather easy for me. “Good morning Julie” I say in my friendliest voice, as I slowly begin to pass her on her right.
Seeming startled and jumping to her left, “Christ Scott, you scared the hell out of me, sneaking up on me like that!” She says flustered putting her left hand to her chest, but keeps running. “Good morning, jesus you always do that to me.” She says with a look of embarrassment on her face then looks away with reddened cheeks. After 2 years, I had run into her often, and always made sure to greet her. It has become a habit to do this.
“My apologies, I did not mean to scare you there “, I answer somewhat amused. I slow my pace to match hers and continue saying “you going to be ok? Or do I need to call you an ambulance?” I say jokingly and chuckled.
She looks over at me with serious eyes, “do I look like I need an ambulance, you old fart?” OUCH!! that one hurt, sigh well at least I know where I stand now. Oh well, guess being friendly is fine too I think to myself and unintentionally frown.
I start to pull away, increasing my pace.
“HEY!!” Julie yells out.
I turn my head and slow down again “Yes?” I ask a little agitated, somehow the comment old fart hurt, and I guess it showed.
“You going to keep a lady company on this run or just leave her all alone?” she grins at me.
I sigh to myself What the fuck huh? I think to myself, I will NEVER understand women and probably why I am still single.
“Uh, yeah sure, lead the way my lady” I say with smile all the while uncertain if this was an invite or just a casual thing.
Having spent 20 years in the Marines, I had little social life, especially while in the Special Forces. Even during my downtime and R&R, I spent most of it training and reading to continue improving myself not only in knowledge and physical abilities but also to learn the old styles or combat, like sword fighting and archery. A sword may not be handy, but a steel pipe or crow bar may be close by and I can use that as a sword as sorts. It proved handy one day a few years back, when 4 guys tried to jump me coming out of a bar, because of something stupid. What, I can not remember now, but it had to be something stupid.
Them having bats and knives, I hastily looked around and saw a 4 ft long hollow metal conduit pipe laying on the ground. Going hand to hand, weaponless with those guys, I probably still would have won, but I most likely would have wound up with some deep gashes and a few serious bruises if not a broken rib or 2 maybe. But with the conduit pipe, I made easy work of the 4, parrying and slashing, hitting their hands or arms, forcing them to drop their weapons one by one, then proceeded to smack them like they were cattle being herded, until they broke and ran.
Now here I am running next to this beautiful woman, whom I have no idea what is going on in her mind. First I am an old fart, now she wants me to run with her. Sigh I do not get it. Go with the flow is my motto, and make the best decisions I can.
“So what is the great Scott Smith up to today?” Julie asked nonchalantly, interrupting my thoughts.
I look over at her, seeing her face slightly flush and breathing a little harder, I slow my pace some more, as I recognize that she is trying to maintain my pace I unintentionally set while recalling my past.
“Nothing much, thought I would enjoy a day going to the mall maybe and see if I need anything, browse a bit, taking a walk is a more accurate description.” I blurted out what came to mind first.
“Care for some company? I can use a new dress now that summer is approaching.” Julie says
AAARGG!! What the hell, I give up hahaha. I think to myself, ”Sure, what time would you like to meet up?”, I ask a little surprised by her offer.
“Say about 10, you can pick me up, we can shop for before, then have lunch, and do some more shopping after wards” she smiles gleefully.
Ok what just happened I think to myself “sounds good, be there at 10am sharp ma'am”. I say to her. More shopping after lunch, 2 hours before, what the hell did I just get myself into?
“Ma'am? Scott old boy, really now!” She frowns.
Stop with the old crap already I get it, “umm miss?” I ask hesitantly.
“Never mind” she pouts. “See you at 10” and with that she turns and begins her run home.
I continue my run for another 30 min before getting home. I quickly head for the bathroom and take a warm shower, then make myself some breakfast, 2 eggs over easy, some Rye toast with jam, 2 frozen sausage patties from the freezer get nuked, all the while I had a cup of coffee from my single brew maker. I made a 2nd cup for myself when the breakfast was ready to eat.
I sat down at the dining room table that had 4 chairs and a square table, pretty simple really, solid wood, sturdy stuff. I turned on the TV and set it for the news. On the TV a reporter is talking frantically about a monster sighting in New York. Different people come onto the screen to give their analysis. Heh monsters in New York, really now, probably some studio doing a stunt again, like those flash mobs.
I finish my breakfast, and clean up after myself, all the while listening to the news in the background. Suddenly from the TV a scream is heard from one of the reporters on live TV, I turn just in time to see something hairy, big and grotesque biting the head off of the reporter. At the same time in the background other monsters are dropping it seems from the buildings landing on the ground. People are panicking, running in every direction and screaming. The camera suddenly falls to the ground, landing in a vivid pool of blood facing the headless body of the female reporter laying on the ground, showing the blood spurting out onto the lens. Then the view goes to a “we are having technical difficulties” screen.
”What the fuck was that?” I ask myself out loud. “Holy shit” I was dumbfounded by what I just saw.
After about 2 min the Screen on the TV returns to the news room, and the female news caster was seen visibly shaken, and began to speak in a halting and shaky voice, “We have now confirmed that monsters...” she pauses, tears are starting to come from her eyes” excuse me, Monsters...., are in New York City, we urge all citizens to remain in doors at this time. Secure your doors and widows. We will update you as we get more information.”
I anxiously watch for a few more minutes, there seems to be nothing new as for information besides what we saw on live TV. I am not sure how to process this. Werewolf? Naw, no such thing right? What was that thing? It was huge, and had a bird beak, claws like a bear and furry all over. I only heard of such a thing in some of the online games I played for fun to kill my boredom. “What was it called”, I rack my brains asking myself. Then suddenly it comes to me, “a Bugbear!”, That had to be it. But what the hell, how is that even possible?
After about 2 hours of watching the news for more information, the news changes abruptly to live from New York City again. We get the information that the police had been dispatched and killed 6 of the creatures. 41 officers were killed at current count, 23 were critically wounded, while over 100 were wounded from the razor claws, the count is still to be officially determined. But at this time it seems the situation was under control. No other monsters were spotted for now. As for civilian casualties, it seems it went into the hundreds dead either from the monsters or trampled to death by the stampede on a typical busy Saturday morning. And that was at first glance, no official number had been given yet.
“As of now, it seems things in New York City are under control, we will update you as soon as we get more information on the after math of this vicious monster attack” The male news reporter was stating finishing his segment.
Wow, that was crazy, but thank god they got that under control fast, I thought to myself. I look at the time and see it is already 9:30am, crap I need to get ready to meet up with Julie.
With that I turn off the TV and hasten to my bedroom to get dressed for the outing.