Chapter 7 - Mary

Mary Rose was pissed off. Not only she had lost her job AGAIN, but she also had to explain to her parents exactly why she had punched that piece of shit of a neighbor they had. That degraded human being also happened to be the owner of that place she was just fired from.

How a young, 19 year old girl had so many problems of finding a job she could stay in for more than a month without getting into trouble was a mystery.

And the week had started off so well too. Monday, after she had returned home from job hunting, her mother – Betty, had informed her of a nearby cafe looking for a waitress. And Mister Peterson of the building next door happened to be the owner.

Mary's mother, who of course was familiar with most of the neighborhood including the stray cats, had mentioned her daughter was in need of a nice place to work in and Mister Peterson had agreed to hire her on mothers recommendation.

“That fucking peeper, he deserved that broken nose. Should have punched him some more too, while I had the chance.” Mary had caught Mister Peterson looking under another waitresses skirt while she was reaching for something on the higher shelf. “No wonder those uniform skirts were so short.”

Still fuming over the injustice of the world Mary was striding back home. She lifted her hand to look at the index finger she had broken while punching that pigs face, curiously looking at it. It had stopped hurting a while ago and now she could move it without problems.

While wiggling her finger at nothing in particular she thought back to the moment she discovered that she could heal a lot faster than a normal person could. A lot faster.

She was only eleven then and had gotten in trouble at schools playgrounds. One of the boys had taken a toy she had with her and didn't give it back. He even had the nerve to call her names.

So she had punched him and that boy had punched her back right after. What resulted was the first fight he had in her life. When she had went home afterwards Mary was really worried about what her parents would say. She really didn't want to be scolded, but she didn't know how to hide her bruises either, at least she had won the fight and had given the boy worse than she had gotten.

But upon returning home when she took a look in the mirror all the bruises were gone. Afterwards Mary noticed that when she accidentally cut her self she would heal in a few hours. She was always healthy, but after that day she never got sick at all. When she got home tired from a hard workout all the tiredness would go away in no time and there were never any muscle pain the next day she woke up.

As for school, after the fight no one else took her toys anymore. When her friends were having trouble only by mentioning Mary's name the bullies would turn around and run. As the years went by she became someone who every girl looked up to and was was considered eldest sister for every girl in school. Mary was all too happy to help, at least she was as long as it didn't involve studying.

The unfortunate consequences of it was that she was too stupid to get in any decent university. While physically fit, which was a necessity for the frequent fights she got into, it didn't help her land a decent job.

And now standing in front of her house Mary mustered all the courage she could. Hopefully her mother wont be at home.

The luck was not on her side.

“God only knows how hard we tried to rise you properly Mary!” Mary's mother had started her sermon the same moment Mary crossed the doorstep. “All these years we told you to study and stop hanging around with those hooligans! But you never listen to us! Look at you now, hitting our own neighbor! You are lucky Mister Peterson didn't bring up any charges! What will people think about our family now!” she rattle on and on.

Mary knew better than to start arguing back. She had many problems with the outlook her mother had. For one, she really hated how she never listened what Mary had to say. It would come as no surprise if her mother would declare that Mister Peterson was actually a misunderstood saint. But she had never managed to talk any sense into her mother, and usually the talking involved screaming at each other.

“At least she is not asking me to go and apologize.” Mary thought. “She probably fears that I will punch him again.” she concluded.

Her mothers prattling didn't stop.

“What are we going to do about you Mary? At this rate you wont find a decent man to marry you! It is already time for you to find a guy, why cant you just settle down?”

Mary's mother was 47 years old this year and felt that it was time for her to have a grandchild or two. When Mary's brother turned 18 he had packed up his stuff and ran away to some hippy community to be closer with nature.

It was already 8 years ago. The last they had heard from him was that he was a letter he had sent on last Christmas. It turned out he had met his soul mate. It also turned out his soul mate was named Allan.

Mary still remembered that day with glee, because her mother had tried to convince everyone at attending the Christmas party that Allan was also a girls name. That is until they unpacked present their dear son had sent to his parents. It was a picture in a nice black, glossy frame. If there was something said about Allan was that he had a magnificent beard.

At least Mary's father, Gram had written response to William wishing all the best from them both. Both meaning, Mary and Gram. Her father knew better than to inform his wife about the letter.

It want wasn't that Mary wanted to disappoint her mother. She had several confessions from boys around her age. With her Long brown hair, green eyes and slender, well toned body and long legs she was was quite good-looking. She just had no interest in dating anyone. That didn't stop her mother from trying to set her up with various sons of the friends she had.

But Mary would not be a housewife, she didn't want to lead such a boring life. There was sure to be something exiting in the world just waiting for her.

Mary let her mind wander. It did not seem like her mother would run out of steam anytime soon. Her mood was especially bitchy today Mary observed. And if so she might as well go outside and come back later.

As Mary turned around and left she heard her mother yelling after her about “proper manners”, but she didn't care enough to respond.

The neighborhood Mary liven in was generally quiet. But peace wasn't she wanted now, she needed to blow a fuse. Find some outlet to her frustrations. She headed to nearby bar, she usually didn't enter it, but there was always some scumbag to punch nearby.

As the luck dictated she wasn't disappointed. When she arrived she saw two men leading clearly unwilling girl in an alley further down the street.

“Two is a good number. I can take on two thugs easily. Lets henceforth call them Thug A and Thug B.” Mary licked her lips and stretched as she went to find where the trio had gone to.

When Mary found them she saw the girl being held at knife-point behind the trash cans. The two thugs had not expected any company and for a moment gawked at Mary before one of them turned to face her.

“So missy, are you looking for some company?” Thug A asked.

“Make sure she doesn't scream.” said Thug B.

“Guh!” added Thug A.

“Huh?” wondered Thug B.

When both thugs had started to speak Mary was already in motion. She had grabbed one of Thugs A hands pushing it sideways and delivered a swift jab with her extended fingers to his throat. Next she smashed her knee in his groin letting him collapse on the ground.

“Ah, truly refreshing, don't you think?” Mary smiled. This was what she needed to relax.

“You are going to pay for that” Thug B said while changing the his target form the girl to Mary now pointing his knife at her.

“Pay how? You want to get some of my blood as payment? That's a crime you know!” Mary mocked Thug B sharply kicking Thugs A chin and leaving him unconscious.

“You bitch!” Thug B rushed Mary stabbing at her.

Mary meanwhile caught the knife in her palm letting it pierce it. She immediately closed her palm, not letting the Thug B swing it and kicked his shin. When Thug B buckled form the sudden kick she once again used her knee to strike Thugs B solar plexus leaving him without breath.

When Thug B sagged on ground she punched his head knocking him out as well.

“Aah, that felt good!” Mary exclaimed. “Well, apart from this” she pulled knife out of her hand and threw it in the nearby trash can. “Are you OK?” She then turned to face the damsel in distress.

However in place of a scared lady what faced her was a scrutinizing stare.

“That's strange.” Mary thought, she observed the lady once more. She was shorter than Mary was, about 1.7m. Gray, neck long hair, nicely shaped body and blue eyes behind glasses.

“Don't stare at her so much Melita, you will make her uncomfortable.” a girls voice behind her said.

When Mary looked behind she saw that a some point a blond girl with Blond hair and huge black guy had appeared there.

“Hello there Mary!” the girl smiled . “My name is Sainna Reki and this is Hall, the victim behind you is Melita.”

“OK, I will be leaving then.”

Mary was about to make a swift retreat, the wounded hand all but forgotten.

“These guys smell like bad news. AND they know me, are they here for revenge? Is this a trap? Did I damage some rich brat who called in reinforcements?”

“Don't be in such a rush. After all, don't you have any interest in hearing about the Ring you have been seeing above us?” Sainna was not about to let her leave.

Mary stopped suddenly and with a creaky neck turned back to Sainna.

“What ring?” Mary inquired.

“Oh, don't be like that, I know you have been seeing the Ring for past four years. Just as I have. And we are not the only ones, come, let us find a nicer place for a conversation.” Sainna pointedly looked at Thug A and B while saying that.

“And if I don't want to?”

“We wont force you. But! If you want to have more excitement in your life I am sure I could provide it. I can assure you, that the fast healing you have and Ring in the sky is not the only strange things in this world, so you would you be so kind and join us for a cup of coffee?”

Mary was torn. This girl was spouting her greatest secrets in this dumb of a place and somehow managed to not look like the dumbest villain ever. Because she definitely sounded like one.

But despite all the reasons not to go with Sainna and two stooges she found herself sitting with them on the same table in a restaurant near the place she had met them.

“So, why are we here?” Mary wanted to know.

“Where to start, hmm, how about, the world is about to face the end and I am looking for people to help me with securing our future.”

All of Mary's attention was now on Sainna who sported a vicious grin.

“Just like a villains.” Mary thought.