[ WP ] You suddenly realize your true purpose in life ... and it 's a duty you do n't want .

“ Give me all of your money, ” this damn kid again. Every day he “ hid ” in the alley on High Street, between 19th and 18th and harassed a random person who walked by, today it was me. His knife moved back and forth while pointing at my chest as people streamed past in an uncaring haze that was the downtown lunch hour. 
 
 “ You ’ ve got to be fucking kidding me, ” I said. 
 
 “ What did you just say? ” The kid jabbed the knife a little closer and the bubble around us grew wider as the flood of people made more space. Everyone ’ s eyes were so intent on their destination, trying as hard as anyone could to not look at what was happening. 
 
 “ You robbed me last week, kid. I still haven ’ t gotten a replacement wallet, let alone credit cards. ” I pulled my pockets inside out to show him that I spoke the truth. “ Rob one of these pricks instead, ” I motioned with my thumb. 
 
 The kid looked skeptical, his eyes darted from my face to my outward hanging pockets then to the crowd. “ You! Give me your money. ” He jabbed his knife at another random making their way to lunch. They gave me a disgusted stare as though I was some puppet master for the kid and pointed directly to them while screaming for their sweet green cotton. All I could do was roll my eyes as I merged back with the crowd. 
 
 Thankfully the rest of the walk was uneventful and I made it to the closest sandwich place safe and sound. Eric was still in line, second from the front even. “ Just the regular please, ” I said as I planted myself next to him. 
 
 He looked at me with a strange expression. “ Ah, no can do. Wifey said no more handouts. ” 
 
 I stared for a couple of seconds. “ What? Man, you know I ’ m good for it. The bank said I should get my new card by Monday. Besides it ’ s not like I ’ m asking for a hundred bucks, I just need lunch. ” 
 
 “ You don ’ t get it. She ’ s power hungry, took my cards away. ” He flashed the inside of his wallet, absolutely nothing but a five dollar bill and several singles. “ Sorry bro, I know I said I could get you, but I can ’ t. ” 
 
 I ran my hand through my hair and scratched my scalp in a lame attempt to cultivate any idea. All I could think to do was nod at Eric as I turned and walked out of the shop. Before going more than five feet past the door I pulled out my phone and dialed my boss. 
 
 “ What. ” He always answered the phone like that when I called. As far as I knew I was the only person he “ greeted ” that way. 
 
 “ Hey boss, I ’ m going to need an extension on my lunch break. I have to run home to… ” 
 
 “ No, ” the way he talked to me was always short and to the point, but he rarely cut me off mid-sentence. “ If you ’ re late, don ’ t bother coming back at all. Management is here now and they ’ ll be having a mandatory meeting on the hour. Concerning cut backs. ” 
 
 “ Yes, sir. ” I wasn ’ t sure he heard me say “ sir ” before he hung up. “ Fuck this. ” The utterance drew a few looks from the peanut gallery. I made a face and nonchalantly raised a middle finger before walking to the bus station. 
 
 The digital readout above bus number 17 ’ s stop displayed “ 5 minutes, ” indicating how far away the next bus was. I stared at the bench for a moment before deciding standing would be better than sitting in chewing gum, bird droppings, and whatever liquid that was covering half the seat ’ s surface. 
 
 No more than two minutes passed before the display chirped, drawing people to look up at the words “ Out of Service. ” All I could do to keep from screaming was sigh and rub my eyes. 
 
 A thirty minute walk later had me laying on my couch, one leg over the back and an arm covering my face. A police style pounding on the door caused me to sit up with haste. No words were yelled, demanding entrance or claiming they were someone of importance, all they did was pound again. “ Who is it? ” My thoughts raced but the only reasonable thing that came to mind was the police finally apprehended that damn kid and they recovered my wallet. I rushed to the door and opened it while leaving the door chain secure. Before I could see who it was a hand filled my vision and a finger touched my forehead. 
 
 My eyes opened and I was sitting against the wall across from the door. A little man was closing the door from the inside. He turned about and looked at me, “ I am so very sorry for that. ” I attempted to speak but found that I couldn ’ t. “ Ah, your expression says everything. Don ’ t worry, the effects are only temporary. ” He sat on the ground directly in front of me. “ I chose you. I ’ ve observed you for a little more than a year and have come to the conclusion that you are a man of honor and integrity. ” 
 
 “ Now what that means is, I have given you a power not unlike those you can read about in comic books. There is a force on its way to Earth that will inevitably enslave humanity and destroy the planet. I hereby charge you with… ” 
 
 I found my voice, “ let it burn. ” 
 
 The little man ’ s words died in his mouth as it fumbled closed. He stared at me but I refused to say more. “ Oh my, ” were the words which finally worked their way free before he fainted. 

