Always lock the doors

Jeremy stepped off the crowded Septa train and rubbed his eyes. He had spent most of the ride back to Ambler in that bizarre state of half wakefulness, half unconsciousness, sitting up but weaving slightly side to side. He was just glad that he hadn’t woken up yet on some hapless passengers shoulder, drooling slightly or snoring. The crowd flowed around him, many of the faces familiar from previous train rides. People familiar in the way they are when you never really met them or talked to them or know anything about them, just see them because your work schedules are the same. Jeremy smiled as he headed the opposite way, the fish fighting upstream against the current. While the majority of the commuters headed toward the Septa parking lot, Jeremy parked a few blocks away on a side street, sticking it to the man as he saved twenty bucks a month for a parking pass. Whistling to himself quietly, he checked his cell phone with a quick glance for any messages. Stupid Nextel, which was now stupid Sprint, had crappy service and crappy coverage, and the phone usually cut out on the train ride. Jeremy took a quick left, and headed down a half a block. Jeremy passed the combination bakery/internet café, and saw the owner sitting despondently at a computer near the front window while the rest of the café was empty. The place never seemed busy, and he usually saw the poor guy sitting by himself. Jeremy silently wished him well. He continued down the block and took a right down the first one way street where his Honda was parked. One or two fellow rebels were ahead of him, sticking it to the man as they got into cars and headed home.

A few cars were left on the street as Jeremy’s fellow commuters left, but otherwise he was alone. Taking his keys out of his pocket, Jeremy unlocked his car and threw his backpack into the passenger seat before sitting behind the steering wheel.

“Hi,” said a small voice from the backseat. Whipping his head around, Jeremy saw a blond haired child in t-shirt, Juggernaut action figure in one hand and Wolverine in another.

“What the hell!” Jeremy leapt out of the seat, stumbling backwards and landing on his backside. He scrambled to his feet, staring into his car. The kid ran Wolverine an Juggernaut across his back seat for a moment, before climbing to the front seat and out the open door. Jeremy’s eye jumped around his car’s interior, noticing each door was locked before coming to rest on the child in front of him. His blue eyes were clear and bright.

“Who are you? Why were you in my car?” A car passed by in the street as the duo looked at each other.

“It’s no fun playing by myself. Here, you can be Juggernaut” said the boy, holding out the snarling supervillain in red armor.

“What?”

The boy pushed the action figure into Jeremy’s hand, which reflexively took hold.

“Okay you’re the bad guy. Try and get me!” The child laughed and took off across the street. Jeremy stood, frozen for a moment.

“No, wait, wait a minute” Jeremy yelled, looking quickly to make sure no traffic was oncoming. “Watch out for cars!” The kid was fast, darting across the road and up the sidewalk on the other side. Jeremy chased him, Juggernaut in hand, arms pumping at his sides. Ten feet, then five feet, he closed the distance. The child was still laughing, and turned his head to see how close Jeremy was. His feet got tangled in his untied shoelaces, and the strange child took a tumble. Wolverine went flying head over heels up the sidewalk as the child let go.

Jeremy skidded to a halt. The child was crying, holding his face. Jeremy dropped the Juggernaut.

“Oh man. Oh man. Are you okay?”

The child only began to scream. His chin was scraped, but his nose was far worse off, blood pouring out of it.

“Okay. Where are your parents? What’s your name?” Jeremy didn’t think it was possible to for such a loud sound to come from a small source, nor for it to become even louder, but the child’s screaming increased in volume.

“Hold on. You’ll be okay.” Jeremy sat on his knees, fumbling for his phone and wondering who to call. The front of the child’s t-shirt was becoming soaked in blood. Juggernaut and Wolverine looked on silently.