KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR

  [ Felicity Brown  ]

"Fel its five thirty,come on get up.We have to leave for our shift or Bobby isn't going to give us any bonus this month."

Stacy,my best friend and roommate's voice boomed in the room causing me to groan in my sleep.

"Just five minutes more Stacy please."I close my eyes again with the pillow but next second she snatches it away from me.

"You have been saying the same line for last an hour Fel now get your lazy fat ass out of your bed.Its Saturday babes and we can't miss the heavy tips from our rich oldies."She throws my clothes on my face while I try my best to open my eyes.I don't get proper sleep nowadays as our internal exams are going on.I must keep my grades high in order to get concession in my fees.I have to work part time job as a waitress in a five star hotel.

"Give me ten minutes Stac.I'll meet you at parking lot okay."I said to her and rushed to the bathroom.She is right,we are running late for our shift.

We have only forty five minutes to mark our presence at the restaurant.

I don't have qualifications of a perfectly skilled waitress to work for a well known franchise but to my luck,I look beautiful and attractive,not my words.

I stand at 5'9 in height and a lean figure so when I applied for being a waitress,my employers didn't find any reason to not hire me.So,for last two years I have been working as a waitress and also studying in a culinary school.I want to open my own restaurant one day because it was my parents' dream.

I had a very blissful childhood and teenage years.I lived with my parents and younger brother Franklin.My parents owned a small diner in a town in Canada.We weren't rich but our parents provided us with the best they could.They had only one dream,to open a family restaurant but after a unfortunate night,everything changed.

They were all gone leaving me to struggle with the pain of loosing my loved ones and to escape the worst coming for me.Since then I moved to different cities,lived in cheap motels,worked in stores or as a household maid until I saved enough to move here in New York where I got admission with the aid by a gentleman,whose grandson I used to babysit.

Here I met my two best friends Trixie and Stacy with whom I share an apartment and we also work at the same hotel,well only I and Stacy.Trixie works at a bar but tonight she is going out with her boyfriend so it just I and Stacy.

"You're a minute late girls."Bobby,our supervisor give us a head shake of disappointment.We can't please him even if we arrive two hours before our shift or do the whole work alone.

I and Stacy share a look before I clear my throat,"Sorry Bobby we didn't intend to be late but you know the crazy old landlady of ours,she..she..made..us..clean the..whole compound because..we paid..the rent..a day late.."I fake sniffs.

Bobby's features softened when he heard my cooked up story.He is an emotional person besides a grumpy senior.

"Okay okay don't cry Felicity.I am sparing you for today but don't make it a habit.Next time you'll be late,I would show no regret in deducting your salaries."He gives us a hand gesture to enter inside the changing room.

"Thank you Bobby.You have the kindest heart of the world."I said with gratitude and we run in the changing room.

"How do you do this bitch?"Stacy blinks her eyes in disbelief once we changed into our uniforms and begin applying make up on our face.

"Its called presence of mind babes now hurry up.I am out of excuses for tonight."I locked my locker and we make our way in the main banquet hall of hotel where a rich couple is celebrating their twenty fifth wedding anniversary which also promises us a huge tip from tipsy rich jerks.

I am fine with their flirting if it doesn't include physical harassment because the money they leave help me to save more to open my own restaurant one day.

As I predicted,the night went smoothe and beneficial for both of us.I got a tip of

Fifteen hundred dollars.I don't  believe when I caress the crispy currency notes.

"I don't want to cook.Lets grab a pizza from the way."I suggest while we walk out of the hotel,the air is very chilly though we are wearing warm over coats and mufflers,its freezing my hands and face.

"Its almost twelve Fel and its better we head to home.We can cook noodles.I am not getting a good feeling so lets hurry up."She grabs my hand and begin to walk in a fast pace.I have to practically run to match her steps.

"Stac please slow down,we won't be robbed in a big city okay.My lungs are freezing with the amount of icy air I am breathing."I panted heavily.

"We are being followed so shut up and just walk.We are almost on the main road."She replies.

Her words actually froze my body.We are followed by some stalkers,what if its them,whom I have been escaping for last five years.So,without caring for my almost fainting body,I speed up.

We haven't walked a few meters when all of a sudden,four bulky men block our way.I recognize them instantly.They are the members of a notorious gang who robs and kill innocent people for money and sometimes rape their female victims.

Oh No!We are doomed.

"Heya Babes why in so much hurry."One of them,who has a gun in his hand approaches us.

"Lets us go.We don't have much to give you."Stacy says to them in her scared yet firm voice whereas I clutch my purse close to my chest.I don't want them to take away the money I am saving for my  dream.

"Then we can have some fun with you two little kittens,right friends?"He looks back at his friends who give us creepy smirks.

"Lets run Fel or we won't make it alive."Stacy grabs my hands and we started running backwards.Its one in the in a winter mid night,the city fall asleep in this area and we have to run approximately a kilometer to reach at the main lane.

"Catch those bitches!I think its going to be fun when we screw what feisty pussies they have between their legs."The same man yells to his friends and I hear their heavy footsteps thumping on the pathway of a dark alley.

"Oh no Fel the street ends here.What we are going to do now?"Stacy's panicked voice goes over my numb senses.

Its not something I can't handle.I can burn them to ashes if I use my powers but I took an oath on my family's bodies that I won't ever use them to give satisfaction to my dark world supernatural powers.

"Where will you go now kitties.Come here to Daddy."The man laughs evily joined by the others.

Stacy clutches my arms,we crawl more onto the wall behind us while their predatory steps come closer.

I have to save Stacy if its not for me.My human soul will die after tonight but this is the last option I have.

I have to use the hellish fire on the monsters.

I closed my eyes and concentrate on the man,whom I loathe and fear the most and mumble my prayers.I feel my chest constricting inside my rib cage.

"Leave the girls or you won't make alive from here Ricky."A loud growl of a man echoes in the air.

I jerk my eyes open to see who now jump in the picture.The fire,fortunately didn't surface means I managed to keep my secret intact.

There stood a tall and huge masculine figure at the other end of the alley.His face isn't visible to us due to the lights behind him.

"Boss..we..are..just..having..so..some..fun."The same hulk like man,who was threatening our lives a minute ago now begging like a rat.

"Lets get out of here Fel."Stacy whisper in my ear and I think she is right.Their Boss seems harmless because as I observe,he didn't like his goons to mistreat women in a lone place.

But we can't say that he doesn't want to rob us.They are hooligans after all.

We try to sneak out without catching their attention but before we succeed in leaving the street,the same voice echoes now directed on us.

"Where do you think you are leaving at such time?"

We stopped in our tracks but didn't dare to look at him.I hear him coming towards us.

"Please avoid walking alone at such hours ladies because tonight I saved you but everytime I won't be here."He says and step in front us in light.

My breath caught in my lungs looking at the walking handsome God in front of my eyes.He stands taller than me,wearing a black leather jacket.His skin has an olive shade despite the blood freezing weather and most enchanting grey eyes.

"Let me drop you at your place."He offers and for a moment my heart wanted to trust this stranger who is a goon himself.

"No thanks Mr. but we can manage."Stacy decline his generous offer to help us but I can't blame her after we had a narrow escape from a nightmare.

"I insist ladies.Its not safe for two women roaming alone here.I know the dark sides of the night better than anyone else so please let me drop you at your place safely."He again insists in a soft tone.

"I said once that we-"I slap Stacy's hand to stop her from committing a mistake.

"Okay we are coming with you Mr. Knight in Shining Armour."I nod my head and notice a faint smile crept on his thin lips.

"Please follow me.My car is parked on the next turn."He gesture us to walk along with him.

"I am sorry in their behalf ladies.They work for me but I never allow them to tease innocent people specially girls and women but now I think they need a good lesson."He says after we seated comfortably in the warm air of his car's blower.

"It doesn't make a difference.You can't eliminate dark powers residing in our world forever.They live in us besides our good qualities."I reply to him but it was more for myself.