Chapter 4 - The Man Daniel Used to Be
Daniel grabbed the chair and swung it hard across the aisle.
It slammed into the tattooed man’s arm.
The weapon dropped.
People screamed.
The tall man charged.
Daniel stepped forward instead of back.
One punch.
Hard.
Clean.
The man stumbled into a table, sending plates and silverware crashing to the floor.
The tattooed man lunged for the fallen weapon.
Daniel kicked it beneath the counter.
Then the man hit him.
Daniel’s head snapped sideways.
Pain flashed across his jaw.
For half a second, the diner disappeared.
He saw dust.
Concrete walls.
A different man coming at him.
A different life.
Then Daniel came back.
The tattooed man swung again.
Daniel blocked him, drove an elbow into his ribs, and shoved him into the counter.
Coffee cups shattered.
The tall man recovered and grabbed Daniel from behind.
Ethan screamed.
“Daniel!”
Daniel drove backward.
The tall man crashed against the wall.
Daniel turned and struck once.
Twice.
The man collapsed.
The tattooed man reached inside his coat again.
Daniel seized his wrist.
“Bad idea.”
He twisted.
The man cried out.
Daniel forced him to the floor.
Seconds later, both men were down.
Breathing.
Groaning.
Alive.
But finished.
Daniel stood over them with his chest rising and falling.
The diner stared at him.
Carol held one hand over her mouth.
The old man had finally lowered his newspaper.
Ethan slowly stepped from behind the booth.
“Are they dead?”
“No.”
Daniel wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
“They’re going to wish they stayed home, though.”
Ethan looked at him with something close to awe.
Daniel hated that look.
He didn’t want to be anybody’s hero.
Heroes died.
Or worse.
They survived and remembered everyone who didn’t.
Outside, sirens grew louder.
Red and blue light washed across the diner windows.
Ethan flinched.
“Police?”
“Looks like it.”
Daniel crouched beside him.
“You’re safe.”
But Ethan didn’t look relieved.
He stared through the window at the arriving patrol cars.
One officer stepped out.
Then another.
Ethan’s face changed.
“No.”
Daniel followed his gaze.
“What?”
Ethan backed away.
“No, no, no.”
His voice rose to a terrified whisper.
Daniel grabbed his shoulders.
“Ethan. What is it?”
The boy pointed toward the police officer entering the diner.
“That man was at my house.”
Daniel slowly looked up.
The officer’s eyes met his.
And the officer reached for his gun.
The next chapters are on the left side of your screen.
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