Not With A Bang (Closed for wrterlogan)

[AmandaAce]

This is the way the world ends...

Chicago
June 5, 2020
3:22 PM

Modern society, and the human race in general, exists upon a precarious framework of traditions, mores, and unspoken rules that allow us to survive together as a unified whole. This framework is supported by the infrastructures we have created to bear us up, and is at this point so entwined and indistinguishable from the framework itself that one can no longer exist without the other.

This morning, one of those infrastructures ceased to exist. At 6:12 AM, Eastern Standard Time, the communications and electrical grids in seven major cities across the globe was taken down by an aggressive hack that experts were finding nearly impossible to reverse.

Chaos had ensued. By 7 AM EST the President of the United States was on his way to an undisclosed location. By 8 AM all seven cities were gridlocked with people trying to escape. By 9 AM, the military had been deployed.

Highways were impassable. Cars sat stalled for miles on unmoving roads as Army Jeeps trundled down the medians.

Inside the city, people were still trying to get out. The sound of car horns was deafening. Cars jockeyed for space in every direction. Army vehicles weaved in and out of stand still traffic in the streets. Weary disaster workers attempted to corral people, to stop them and redirect them to a disaster center, but the instinct to flee is strong, and they were mostly unsuccessful.

Andi Lane edged around a stalled compact car, going up on the curb to get around, and cursed. The street was blocked down here as well, just a few streets down from a small barely used alley that could, she had hoped, lead her to a different section of highway and out of the city. She couldn't get through, though. An Army Jeep blocked the way, two helmeted soldiers waving her back. She threw it into reverse and backed up onto the curb, screeching her tires as she narrowly avoided the compact again.

"Fuck," she said.

There was a knot of cars up ahead, clustered around a closed highway entrance ramp. There was a group of Jeeps there, and one further down near the highway, and a group of exhausted disaster workers trying to keep people in their cars. Andi let out an exasperated breath, slammed her car into park, and got out.

She pushed through the knot of people clustered around the exit.

"Get back in your cars, please," a short woman with glasses was saying. "Everything is fine, but please, just get back in your cars."

 

[wrterlogan]

Solomon muttered under his breath as he pulled a piece of Big Red gum from his pocket. His office had told him to take a vacation, that if he accrued any more vacation days he would have to be put on a disciplinary plan. Solomon had reluctantly put in for a few days to get out of town but no sooner had he tried to relax when the world decided to go haywire.

Solomon worked for Chicago's infrastructure. He had acquired the reputation for being the person who was able to see the holes in a proposed disaster plan. He had been fighting with one of the mayor's lackeys about the annual disaster preparedness review. Sure most of the time drills and practices were just that but Solomon was certain that the city had grown lax in their approach to certain facets of the plan. Kristy Bishop hadn't returned his last three calls or half dozen emails with proposed changes.

It was an all hands on deck situation and under the circumstances Solomon should have been at least slightly pleased to be needed again. He was worried that being needed like this was almost beyond his capabilities and the rest of the disaster team was probably feeling the same pressure.

Getting around the city on a normal day was bad enough but adding in mass hysteria was not going to help anyone trying to travel. Solomon had decided to take his motorcycle as it allowed him to get through narrow alleys and around stalled cars.Finally he could see that a throng of people was beginning to gather. Solomon made out Ester Hicks at the center of it all.

"We have Ester on field duty?"

Solomon swiftly pulled off his helmet and was striding into earshot of the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen. I know this has been a pretty crazy situation but we need everyone to remain calm. As you can see the mayor is trying to get the situation under control but we need everyone to go home and sit tight so emergency crews can do their thing."

 

[AmandaAce]

"Please," the short woman said again, "just go back to your vehicles."

"No!" a red faced man shouted down at her. "You can't hold us here!"

"Sir," she replied. "No one is holding you here. The highway is closed."

He pointed at her, then gestured to the rest of the group. "You're holding us in this city!" he shouted. "You got the Army -"

"Yeah!" A woman chimed in. "You got the Army out here pointing guns at us!" She gestured to the soldiers standing next to the Jeep. They were all holding guns. They weren't exactly pointing them at the crowd, but it was a near thing.

"Ma'am," the woman began. It was bright, hot, and getting hotter. Andi squinted at the soldier's impassive faces. Sun flashed off the short woman's glasses. The crowd murmured dangerously.

There was a screech of tires. Andi turned to see a motorcycle pull up and stop at the edge of the crowd. The rider dismounted and pulled his helmet off, striding through the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said authoritatively, "I know this has been a pretty crazy situation but we need everyone to remain calm. As you can see, the mayor is trying to get the situation under control but we need everyone to go home and sit tight so emergency crews can do their thing."

He raked his hand through his sandy hair and came to a stop next to the short woman.

"No!" The red faced man shouted. "You let us out!" He turned to he crowd for support. "We are Americans! Let us out!

"Let us out!" The crowd echoed. They surged toward the two, and Andi was jostled along with them. She was shoved forward, almost next to the sandy haired man.

"This is martial law!" The man bawled. He reached into his waistband and pulled out a previously concealed gun. There was a roar from the crowd, and Andi was pushed forward again. Someone screamed. Then the shots started, and there was no more crowd. Everyone was running.

 

[wrterlogan]

There's always one. Solomon had experienced lots of tense situations and normally a calm took over him that would prevent him from losing his perspective. It was almost a given that there would be some asshole with a gun who would assert that rules wouldn't apply to him. Solomon should have been closer to him, should have signaled the support that this was the one to watch.

Then again, he had been told many times about the watched pot. The recklessness came out because it was allowed too, Solomon wouldn't have disputed the man's point ordinarily. Part of his insistence on preparedness lay in the idea that people were more likely to trust someone who sounded confident, who had a plan even if it might be less than sensible. Someone had elected to put Ester out on the front line.

Ester wasnt a bad worker she was just far more comfortable behind a screen running projections or talking analytics. Hell she barely spoke up at meetings with people she had known for years. It had probably taken everything Ester had not to shake.

Time slowed briefly as Solomon saw the man's gun come out and start to point itself in his direction. A woman was nearly pushed into him as he heard the first crack of gunfire. For an awful second Solomon was sure that he'd been hit and he didn't register as the soldiers began to respond in kind. Solomon felt something collide with his leg. Looking down he saw Ester and he realized he was wrong. Blood was gushing out of a wound to the women's chest staining them a bright crimson. He washed he could have muted the sounds around him as screams, gunfire, and chaos prevented him from hearing anything coming from the dying woman.

Instinctively, Solomon dropped to the ground cradling Esters form towards him. He could feel her twitching slightly.

"Shhh shhh," he tried to be as assuring as possible, "its gonna be ok Es. What do you think you're doing out here? Being some superwoman?"

He thought that she might answer him but her body shuddered as Ester's eyes rolled back in her head.

Solomon was trying not to vomit. His whole body was going into fight or flight. Somehow the mob had moved away from him. That was when he noticed the other woman.

"Get out" he spat, less at her and more at the gun guy, "it's not safe out here anymore."

 

[AmandaAce]

Time slowed to a crawl. Andi seemed to see everything at once. The man brandished the gun. Someone tried to stop him, to take it. The crowd surged and there was a crack and everyone seemed to dissipate like smoke.

The woman with glasses staggered back, the tall man caught her, her head lolled back, they sank to the ground. There was blood. Andi stood looking down at them, unable to move, unable to scream. People stampeded past them, flowing around the three of them like water. There were more shots, there was smoke.

The tall man looked up at her, his face grim. “Get out,” he said. “It’s not safe here anymore.”

It wasn’t. The crowd was still running, dispersing, but it had mostly moved past them, leaving them exposed in the middle of the street.

Smoke roiled down the street, bright white in the too hot day. Through it, Andi could see figures slowly approaching. She reached down and tapped the man’s shoulder frantically.

“We have to go,” she finally managed to croak out. “We have to-“

“Go back to your homes.” A booming voice crackled from what seemed like every direction at once. “Go back to your homes.”

The shapes in the smoke were soldiers. Andi’s fingers scrabbled at his jacket collar.

“Clear the street,” the voice boomed. “Clear the street.”

“We have to go!” she shouted.

 

[wrterlogan]

Solomon heard the women's voice as he surveyed the smoke. Someone likely thought gas would make the rowdies in the crowd go home without considering the effect it would have on the rest. A few well timed shots into the air could have easily frightened the ones it needed too but it was now turning into an all out scene.

If Solomon had prayed he would have thanked whatever force had kept the crowd from his motorcycle. Evangeline was waiting from him almost as if nothing had happened. Solomon's ride was not flashy by any means but made up for any lack of beauty in reliability.

"Ok".

Solomon started to maneuver the woman toward Evangeline, trying to hustle her over while still keeping away from the armed force.

"Ever ridden one of these?"

 

[AmandaAce]

The urgency in Andi’s voice got the man’s attention, and he finally looked up to see the approaching smoke and soldiers.

“Clear the street!”

“Ok,” he said to her, and stood up, lowering the dead woman’s body reluctantly into the street. He grabbed Andi’s arm and turned, marching her back the way he had come, away from the danger.

He put his body between her and the approaching soldiers and steered her.

“Where-“ she said, but then she saw the motorcycle.

“Ever ride one of these?” he asked.

He let her arm go, grabbed the bike and swung a leg over it in one fluid motion. He looked at her, motioned with his head.

“What?” Andi said. “No, I -“ she looked behind her at the approaching smoke.

“Clear the street!”

“Fuck,” Andi said. She clambered onto the bike, hesitantly, and barely had time to steady herself before the bike took off. She yelped, pressed herself forward against his broad back, grabbed his waist, and closed her eyes.

 

[wrterlogan]

Solomon would have felt bad under different circumstances. He knew that in general people didn't like to have there first experience on a motorcycle to be one where they were fleeing an intense situation. Solomon kept reassuring himself that the military people wouldn't shoot them because they hadn't done anything wrong but given the current mood, anything was possible. He planned a quick burst of speed that would take them out of the way.

He could feel the womans arms around him and tried to make sure if they needed to turn that it wasnt jarring or rough. He began navigating them towards the rendezvous point. It was a bad habit he had of almost going on autopilot when the best option wasnt clear.

Solomon brought them to a stop outside a rundown building several blocks away from anything interesting. He pulled out a collection of keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. Solomon gestured her inside and pulled his motorcycle in behind them and swiftly locked the door.

The inside was in much better shape as he moved to another interior door which opened with another key fluorescent light was being supplied by a generator as Solomon saw three people waiting for him, two men and a woman. One of the man looked sick and he could tell Mary had been crying.

"Where the hell is the mayor?"

"No ones heard from him" replied Zeke, the other man who always looked annoyed.

"The deputy mayor? Bishop?"

"No and no, we only just heard from Chief Starr. The military is going into secure mode but obviously they dont know long term."

"Who the fuck put Ester out there?"

"Ester?" Mary managed, "Ester was out there?"

"Was. There was a situation..."

Solomon couldn't manage any other words but the others could figure his meaning.

"She knew the risks" replied Zeke, "we were trying to monitor things here. We are waiting for word."

Solomon's mood was continuing to sour. Clearly no one was in charge right now.

"Let me know if the situation changes, I have to take her home."

Solomon looked over to Andi and started to lead her back, "I realize I kinda kidnapped you back there, where can I take you to?"

 

[AmandaAce]

Andi looked up at him. “I live in Minneapolis. I was at a satellite office today. I have a dog I need to feed! I need to get out of this shitty city and go home.”

“Ma’am,” the sour looking man said. “Surely you understand—-“

“The Army shot your friend,” she said to Solomon. “You didn’t see it, but I did. They shot that man but they shot her too.”

“This is a difficult situation.” The woman took a step forward and laid a hand on Andi’s arm. “This is -“

“This is going to be a shit show in about ten minutes and I want out,” Andi said to her. She gestured to the room. “You guys are at some bogus rendezvous point waiting for the mayor or the deputy mayor or whoever and they are gone, guys. They are at a safe location somewhere.”

“That protocol has not been deployed,” the sour man said. “We have no reason to believe —“

“They left you guys here,” Andi said. “Whatever protocol has been deployed and they just didn’t tell you. They are gone. Do you honestly not get that?”

The sour man and the woman exchanged a look.

Andi turned to Solomon. “You work for this city, you know a way out of here, I know it.” She looked up at him, her brown eyes wide. “Please. Please help me get out of here. Let’s both get out of here. Please.”

 

[wrterlogan]

Solomon looked deeply into Andi's eyes and he started to drift away from the present. He could hear the screams and cries starting to get louder although they were still far off. Not wanting to let them get too far, the man blinked a few times very rapidly.

"Have you thought this through? Is this what you really want? I know it doesn't seem like it from this side but there are some good points to being locked within the city. You get out farther and it could be anything."

Solomon let the last statement hang in the air. It wasnt meant to be pessimistic or optimistic, more voicing the two conflicting sides that swirled in all of their brains. Solomon still felt a duty to the city, to his coworkers, and everyone else. Planning had taken up so much of his life and now he was in essence playing blind. The woman believed in him at least enough to get her out of the city. Perhaps that faith would be enough to get through whatever was going on.

 

[AmandaAce]

His grey eyes met hers, and for a second they both just stopped. Zeke and Mary were arguing now, trying to use their emergency phones to call the mayor, but their voices seemed far away. Andi had to force herself to look away. She put a hand to her head.

"Have you thought this through?” he said to her. “Is this what you really want? I know it doesn't seem like it from this side but there are some good points to being locked within the city. You get out farther and it could be anything."

“Do you hear that outside?” she asked. “You cannot keep people locked inside a city with no communications. They are going to start rioting. And when they start rioting, the Army is going to start shooting. Again. This is your job, you know exactly what goes down in this type of situation and you want to stay here?”

“And how do you know so much about this type of situation?” Mary asked.

Andi turned to her, exasperated. “I watch movies, Mary, and I watch the news. And apparently I know enough to know you can’t get the fucking mayor on the phone, can you?”

Mary didn’t answer.

“That’s what I thought,” Andi turned back to Solomon. She took a step closer to him and laid her hand on his arm.

“You are the only person here with any sense,” she said. “They are going to stay in this stupid room until the end of time waiting for someone else to tell them what to do. We need to leave. Please.”

 

[wrterlogan]

Solomon listened to her words carefully and then he glanced to his co-workers. They were for the most part competent but would stay here as she guessed. Like Ester they were not front line thinkers, they would rather be back where it was safe being told what to do. As this situation continued the assumption of safety would become fleeting and then nonexistent. Chances might be better on the outside.

"Ok. I think we should swing by my place first. Dont worry, it will be on the way out but we can grab a few supplies."

Zeke cursed, "So you just gonna abandon your post Solo?"

"Solo?" The woman had immediately responded.

"Short for Solomon, Solomon Voss. Hi and nice to meet you by the way. I'm getting her out Zeke if you find out anything more about the mayor, I will be checking the usual channels. If you do hear from him, give him this."

Solomon found a piece of paper, jotted down a quick note, folded it in half, and gave it to Zeke.

"Mary, dont let them tell you what to do."

Solomon led the woman back to the motorcycle as they carefully climbed on and took off at a slightly more even pace. Neither thought to look back but if they had waited a few more minutes they would have heard the sound of gunfire coming from within the building.

The trip to Solomon's was rather uneventful given the circumstances. Both had heard noises and seen signs of looting but for the most part anyone who was around was trying not to be seen. As they stopped in front of his modest townhome, Solomon opened the garage and tossed the keys to the woman.

"I'm gonna mount my extra gas canister to the side. Hopefully that will give us some more miles. I've got some food inside and lucky for us I finished my laundry before vacation. I dont have anything specifically for you but there are clothes in case you want to change or take something. The bright red one will let you in. Kitchen is on your right. Bedroom is to the left."

 

[AmandaAce]

Solomon introduced himself, almost as an afterthought. “Solomon Voss. Hi and nice to meet you by the way.”

“Andi Lane,” she said, and he nodded to her before continuing his instructions to Zeke and Mary. He had agreed with her so quickly because he knew she was right, Andi realized. He was a professional, he did this for a living, and he knew that building was a death trap. It made her feel better, if that was possible, that the two of them were in agreement.

They left quickly. He swung a leg over his bike and Andi got on behind him. She had barely settled on the bike and slid her arms around his waist before they were off.

The streets they wound through were almost deserted. There was no one. Every house was dark, curtains closed. A car alarm blared from somewhere. Andi glanced behind her. She could see bright white smoke rising above the rooftops, she could hear muffled shouts and what sounded like gunfire.

They were completely exposed as they wound through the empty streets, but Solomon didn’t seem concerned. He sped directly down the middle of the street, turning expertly, weaving through stalled cars.

They pulled up to a block of townhouses and he pulled into a garage. Andi scrambled off the bike, and watched as he dismounted. He was tall, lanky even , but he moved with a compact grace that was almost unsettling. He dug a set of keys from his pocket and tossed them to her. She caught them clumsily.

“I’m gonna mount my extra gas canister to the side. Hopefully that will give us some more miles. I've got some food inside and lucky for us I finished my laundry before vacation. I dont have anything specifically for you but there are clothes in case you want to change or take something. The bright red one will let you in. Kitchen is on your right. Bedroom is to the left."

Andi started to ask a question, but he was already kneeling down beside the bike. She shrugged and let herself into the house.

It was clean inside, but cold. Andi could tell that Solomon didn’t spend a lot of time here. Despite her immense curiosity, Andi didn’t go into his bedroom, instead turning right into the kitchen.

Sunlight spilled into the room. There was no indication that the world was ending outside. The kitchen was peaceful, and Andi stood there for a minute and just let the sun touch her face. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

He came into the kitchen and stood in the doorway. Andi opened her eyes. She came around the island to stand in front of him.

“I really appreciate you helping me,” she continued. “I know you left your post, and I know it wasn’t easy, so,” she looked up at him and placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you.”

 

[wrterlogan]

"No problem Andi," Solomon responded, not sure what to do about her arm. Now that things had slowed down, he had been able to gain a better impression of Andi. Normally he didn't put much stock in scents but as far as he was concerned Andi smelled incredible. Maybe the chaos was causing him to reevaluate priorities.

"Uh, so I have water, protein powder, probably some sports drinks from weeks ago I'm not sure what you are into. I've also got fruit, nuts, and bread. If you're hungry I'd suggest eating now."

Solomon automatically when over time a cupboard and pulled out a jar of nuts. He grabbed a handful and shoved them into his mouth. Just as he finished chewing, he realized Andi was staring at him.

"Sorry force of habit. I usually just come home and refuel for a few minutes. It's a good snack and will keep me going for awhile.

He made his way over to a chair and sat down.

"So back there you mentioned Minnesota right? I take it that means you'll want to start heading North. We can probably get a decent way before nightfall. Where were you wanting to get too?

Solomon looked over at Andi again.

"Now I know you don't want to be raiding my wardrobe all of the time but I'm going to see if I can scrounge you up some sneakers bet they'll feel a heck of a lot better."

Solomon got up and headed into the room Andi assumed was the bedroom.

 

[AmandaAce]

Andi watched as he grabbed a jar of nuts from a cabinet and started to eat them, talking the entire time. He leaned his tall body against the counter as he did so, leaning his head back, and Andi realized she was staring. He was really good looking, and the way he was holding the container with his large, capable hands was distracting her, to say the least.

"Sorry, force of habit,” he said when he noticed her staring. “I usually just come home and refuel for a few minutes. It's a good snack and will keep me going for awhile.” He thought she was staring at him because of the food, which was just as well.

He sat down backwards on a chair, still pouring the cashews into his mouth, still talking. He asked her where she wanted to go, but didn’t wait for her to answer.

“Now I know you don't want to be raiding my wardrobe all of the time,” he said, looking her up and down with his intense grey eyes, “but I'm going to see if I can scrounge you up some sneakers. Bet they'll feel a heck of a lot better.”

He stood up, handed Andi the container of nuts, and strode down the hall towards his bedroom. Andi followed hesitantly.

She couldn’t fit his shoes, she thought.

“I can’t fit your shoes,” she said after him. He didn’t answer, and Andi followed him into the bedroom. It was as clean and spare as the rest of the house. Solomon crouched, rummaging in the closet.

“I can’t-“ she began. He stood up and handed her a pair of women’s sneakers. “Oh,” she said. “Where did you-? Oh.”

“They’re my sister’s,” he said with a shrug, leaning against the wall.

They stood there for a long moment, looking at each other.

“Um,” Andi said, breaking the silence, “I think we need to head for Minneapolis. Anything is better than staying here. We have to get to where we have phones and internet. So we can get in touch with our families. Away from the Army. If we can gather some supplies and get out? What do you think?”

 

[wrterlogan]

As Solomon rummaged through his closet, he took stock of the situation. In the course of a few short hours his city had gone dark, he'd met Andi, and now he was planning an escape from the city. He couldn't say for certain but helping Andi was slowly starting to become a bigger priority. He pushed around his meager collection of shoes until he found what he was looking for. Heather had come through for a week and agreed to go running with him. His younger sister was always able to feign enthusiasm for the things Solomon liked and on that hot humid day Heather had even managed a smile or two. Sighing he silently hoped she was safe.

Andi had come in protesting which made sense. He held up the sneakers and mentioned his sister without getting into much detail.

He listened to Andi's thoughts and nodded, "Okay, we can definitely do that. I just want to know if you've got people along the way or how heavy you want to pack. Easy conditions would be ideal but I think we should at least plan on some type of delays. I've got a couple backpacks we can fill. Is there anything else you can think of that I might not have?"

 

[AmandaAce]

Andi kicked off her shoes and stepped into the sneakers.They pretty much fit. She flexed her toes experimentally, then knelt down to lace them up.

“I don’t have any people along the way,” she said, looking up at him. Solomon stood there, still leaning against the wall, his big hands stuffed in his pockets. Andi was quickly losing focus about what they were supposed to be doing, and she looked away, concentrating on her shoes.

“Do you have a CB radio?” she asked. He thought for a moment, then shrugged.

“Because maybe we could hear something - find out something. Radio waves can’t go down, can they?” she continued, standing up. “Maybe in the garage?”

“Maybe,” he said.

“I’ll go look,” Andi said. She turned and left him standing there. She could feel him looking at her. It took absolutely all her self control not to look back at him.

She walked down the hall and let herself out into the garage. The garage door was half open, and the street outside was bright and eerily quiet.

She started into the room, then stopped. Except, Solomon had closed the garage door behind them when they’d come in. She had heard it. How had it come open?

She looked at the door again, and that’s when she saw the man. Right at the edge of her vision, kneeling next to the bike.

“No,” she said, and he looked up at her with narrowed eyes. “Please, no, you can’t take the bike.”

He stood up, so fast Andi took a step back. He was skinny, dressed in a dirty white t shirt and jeans. He pointed at her.

“Get the fuck out of here,” he said.

“No,” she said, taking another step back towards the door. “You can’t take it.”

If he left the garage with it they’d never get it back, so Andi moved backwards again, and this time he stepped toward her.

“Yes,” he said. “It’s my bike now.”

Andi took a deep breath. “Solomon!” She shouted.

“Oh, you bitch,” the man said. He bent down to fiddle desperately with the bike.

“Solomon!” She shouted again, and the man stood up and lunged toward her, pinning her against the door, his wiry forearm against her neck.

“Why did you do that?” He hissed. “You bitch, you can’t just let me have the bike?”

Andi struggled. “Help!” She croaked. Outside, she could hear faint gunshots.

 

[wrterlogan]

Solomon watched Andi lace up the shoes, the fit was pretty good all things considered. His eyes went over Andi's outfit and he put his hands in his pockets. That was one problem solved for the time being but there would be other things that could come up. Preparing for almost everything was a tedious mental excercise.

Solomon was a little disappointed that there would be no safe stops along the way. Making the trip in one go would be more dangerous and hopefully things on the outside were different. He only half heard her comment about the radio.

"Maybe," he said. Solomon could have chastised himself for not knowing what was in his own garage or the fact that he was letting Andi do all the work of searching for it. Then again, maybe she wanted to be able to have a little time to herself before they were joined at the hip outside.

"Solomon!"

He jumped to his feet and started running towards the garage. He heard his name called again and then a cry for help. What was going on?

As he approached the door, Solomon lowered his shoulder and charged into the door at full force. The door buckled under his momentum and collapsed inwards. Solomon followed through and staggered as he fell through the door. He was already moving his feet, eyes scanning the room for Andi. She had been knocked back and so had her attacker.

Solomon looked him over for weapons and swiftly lashed out with his right palm, catching the other man under the chain and knocking him away.

"Its going to be okay Andi."

He looked over to her for a second and the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small knife. The man's first swing of the knife was wide but the return slash bit into Solomon's left arm. Ignoring the pain, Solomon grabbed the man's right arm with both of his and aimed a kick at the man's ribs. It was probably the hardest he had ever kicked anything in his life and Solomon was sure he'd done damage. The knife fell to the ground as the man began to wheeze.

"Fuck you" spat the man, "and the dumb bitch."

Solomon responded by punching the man square in the jaw flooring him. He pulled the man up again and punched him harder the next time. Solomon could hear how own breathing was heavy and ragged as he bent down to pick up the knife.

"Look away please."

Solomon gripped the knife hard as he plunged it directly into the man's heart. The man shuddered then fell to the ground lifeless.

"Are you ok?"

Solomon turned to Andi and was surprised when she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

 

[AmandaAce]

She heard footsteps, then the door hit them and she was shoved forward. She stumbled, fell, and skidded across the ground.

The skinny man had managed to remain standing. Solomon hit him with an efficient chop to the jaw, and he was knocked back.

“It’s going to be okay, Andi,” Solomon said calmly. He turned to look at her, to reassure her, and the skinny man took the opportunity to pull out a knife. Andi gasped. He turned back to the attacker and was hit by a wild slash of the weapon. In return, Solomon kicked the man so hard that Andi heard something break.

The knife clattered to the floor. She made a horrified noise in her throat and scrambled to her feet, her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide.

Solomon stood over the man, his fists clenched. Blood dripped out of his right fist and puddled on the floor. Andi took a step toward him, her hand reaching toward his shoulder.

“Fuck you,” the skinny man spat, “and the dumb bitch.”

Everything that happened after that was a blur. Solomon moved astonishingly quickly, hauling the man to his feet and punching him with a brutal strength that was shocking. She wanted to tell him to stop but she couldn’t speak. She simply stood there with her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide.

There was a part of her that was horrified. There was a part of her that said this was wrong. But there was another, coldly rational part of her that said this was exactly right.

She had been attacked by a man with a weapon, and Solomon was protecting her. They couldn’t call the police. There was no one to help them. The entire world was in an uproar and she had somehow come across a man who was protecting her, brutally and immediately and without question. That was what she needed. That was what she wanted.

Solomon held the man up by his collar. He turned to look at her. His grey eyes were blazing.

“Look away, please,” he said. She looked down at the ground.

There was a sound, and a thump, and the attackers body slid to the floor. Solomon turned to her.

“Are you okay?” he asked. She nodded, and before he could say anything else, she took a step forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

He was still breathless from fighting, and surprised, but he kissed her back. He took a step closer to her, put his hands on her waist.

Andi’s hands slipped down Solomon’s back. He was all lean and hard muscle, and he tightened his grip on her when she slid her hands under his shirt.

She kissed him harder, pulling him to her. He took another step and they stumbled back against the workbench. Tools clattered to the floor and rolled underneath their feet.

 

[wrterlogan]

Solomon savored the soft taste of Andi's lips as they met his. It was surprising but not as much as the second. His hands moved to her waist and he squeezed her hips. Andi kissed him deeply and the world fell away from Solomon and all that existed was Andi and her smell.

Solomon moved his hands to Andi's blouse and began attempting to unbutton it. He fumbled twice. Andi kissed him again and he ripped the shirt open exposing Andi's black bra underneath.

"I owe you a new shirt."

Solomon picked Andi up and began kissing her hungrily as he carried her toward the bedroom.

 

[AmandaAce]

His hands moved up to cup her face and then down to unbutton her blouse. He fumbled with the small buttons. She kissed him again, more insistently, and he stopped fumbling, took the front of her shirt, and ripped it open.
Buttons hit the floor and rolled in every direction.

“I owe you a new shirt,” he murmured into her ear, and in one smooth motion he put his hands under her thighs, lifted her up, and carried her out of the garage.

She threw her arms around his neck. He kissed her, hard, and she gasped. In only a few of his long strides they were at his bedroom door. He shoved it open with one hand, still kissing her deeply.

 

[wrterlogan]

Solomon carefully moves Andi toward the bed, thankful that it was made. He lays her down so she is sitting up and as his hands move up he deftly unhooked Andi's bra.

"That's better."

Solomon starts to take off his red leather jacket and shirt, trying not to take his eyes off of Andi for too long while at the same time making sure he doesn't have any issues with his shirt. Inhaling slowly, Solomon takes a moment to appreciate Andi's perfume again.

 

[AmandaAce]

Solomon set Andi down on the edge of the bed. They kissed urgently. Her blouse slipped off her shoulders, and he slid his hands up her back and unfastened her bra. She let it slip down, revealing her breasts. His grey eyes moved over her body.

“That’s better,” he said. Andi watched as he stood back and stripped off his jacket and shirt. He raised his arms above his head, the muscles in his stomach tightened, and Andi leaned forward and grabbed the waistband of his jeans and pulled him toward her.

She ran her hand up across his stomach and chest, grabbed the back of his neck, and brought his face down to meet hers.

 

[wrterlogan]

As they kissed again, Solomon's hands went to Andi's chest and began to massage her breasts. His hands started with a long squeeze and then his fingertips would trace her pinkish brown nipples. Solomon continued to alternate as his tongue explored Andi's mouth.

Solomon pulled away from her mouth as he lowered his head to her right breast and began sucking hungrily.

 

[AmandaAce]

He kissed her until she was breathless, his big hands caressing her breasts, then broke away. He leaned down, and Andi gasped sharply as he sucked her nipple firmly into his mouth.

She held his shoulders, pulling him down so that he was kneeling over her on the bed. His hands and mouth were all over her.

Andi thought for a moment that this was crazy. So much had happened since this morning, she didn’t want to stop, but this was crazy.

But was it? The coldly rational part of her said it wasn’t. She wanted him, badly. He wanted her. She was safe with him. That was enough.

So she stopped worrying about it. She arched her back to meet his mouth, wrapped her arms around him, pulled him down on top of her.