- 27 -
Shot
Mary started working on her planet mobile a few days later. She made about a dozen sketches before she settled on a design she liked. Before he left for Dubai, Ben introduced her to Hannah and gave her a quick lesson on how the shop worked. Hannah was a young woman with short brown hair and hipster glasses. She was nice and helpful, but Mary had to keep her distance because the cigarettes she smoked made her smell like she was burning.
Hannah was working on four huge oil paintings that she had set out side by side. Each canvas stood over six feet tall.
Mary stared at the cacophony of color on the massive canvases. "This is so cool! Are these going in the lobby of the hotel?"
"One of the hallways on the way to the restaurant," Hannah explained.
"I want to do a huge painting now," Mary said.
Hannah laughed. "If you do, you'll want to frame your own canvas. It's a lot cheaper to do it yourself."
"I've done little ones in Art class," Mary said. "But not a big one before. Would you show me some time?"
"Sure," Hannah said. She put down her brush and wiped her hands on her apron. "I'm going outside for a bit. You'll be okay for a few minutes?"
Mary nodded. "Yeah. I'm just cutting more pipe. I'll be fine."
"Okay. Holler if you need anything." Hannah grabbed her cigarettes and a bottle of mace from her purse before stepping into the back alley.
Mary went back to the band saw, where a long metal pipe waited for her. She had used a pen to mark out where she wanted to cut it to make the arms of the mobile. She put on some safety goggles and hit the "On" switch. The saw screamed to life.
Zzeeeerrrrrrrr!
When she was finished making the cuts, Mary switched off the saw and pulled off her goggles. She examined the pipe pieces and found some rough edges at the ends. Not wanting to cut herself on them and give her tetanus, she went into the tool cage and grabbed a large metal filer.
When she came out of the cage, she saw Phos standing alone in the middle of the room.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," she answered. "What are you doing here?"
"Seeing you."
She looked down at the heavy filer in her hands. "You're not supposed to."
"I know," he said.
She said nothing.
"I've experienced a new human emotion," he said. "Hate."
She remained silent.
"I hate being away from you," he said.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I can't do anything about that."
"I know," he said again.
Mary swallowed. She didn't want to cry, but she felt the tears coming. "You should go."
He nodded. "Okay. Good night, Mar—"
Crash!
They looked up.
"What was that?" Phos asked.
Mary shook her head. "I don't know, but it came from the store."
They went towards the front of the building. From the dim streetlights outside, Mary could see that the front door was slightly ajar. "Hannah?" Mary asked. She switched on the lights.
Behind the register stood a man she didn't recognize. The empty till was pulled out all the way and little mint tins from the rack next to the register were scattered on the tile floor.
"Who are you?" Mary demanded.
The man looked at her like a deer in headlights.
Mary gasped. "You're robbing the store! Get out of here! HANNAH!"
"Shut up!" the man cried.
"HANNAH!" Mary screamed.
The intruder pulled out a gun and pointed it at them with a shaky hand. "I said shut up!"
Phos pulled Mary behind him. "Sir, please. There is no need for violence."
"Where's the money kept?" the man demanded.
"I don't think there's any here," Phos said calmly. "But if it's money you want, I can give you some."
"What are you doing?" Mary hissed.
"Mary, please," he whispered. He looked back at the man. "Is it all right if I get my wallet?"
The gun was getting shakier, but the man nodded. "All right. But no funny business, got it?"
"I'll turn around, so you can see my hands." Carefully, Phos turned and reached for his wallet in his back pocket. He turned again and held it up.
"Throw it here," the man ordered.
Phos tossed the wallet over to the base of the counter. Still training the gun on them, the intruder slinked over and picked up the wallet.
"You stay there," he said. "Don't follow me."
"Of course," Phos said.
The man began backing towards the door. Mary looked down. His left foot was headed for the mint tins.
"Watch out!" she cried.
He stepped on the tins, and they slipped out from under him.
Bang!
Mary gasped.
Phos translated and was on the man in an instant. He grabbed the hand holding the gun, and Phos' hands ignited.
"AAAAARRRRR!" the intruder shrieked as his skin sizzled and crackled from the heat. He dropped the gun, crying and cradling his scorched hand.
Phos kicked the gun aside. Then he turned to Mary. His eyes became as wide as plates.
Mary was still standing in the same place. She followed his gaze and saw a wet, red patch forming on the front of her shirt.
The filer in her hand suddenly felt too heavy. It slipped from her fingers and struck the floor with a loud clang! Then her legs gave out.
"Mary!" Phos caught her before she hit the ground.
Mary looked down and saw blood pooling on the floor. "Is that mine?" were the words that came from her mouth.
Phos tore her shirt, revealing the hole where the bullet had gone in. He placed one hand over it. "Hold still. This will hurt."
Before she could ask what he was about to do, searing pain gripped her whole body. Mary screamed.
"That's it!" Phos said. "That's all. I'm done. It's all right. I'll translate you to the hospital now."
"What on earth is going on in—?" Hannah said as she came from the back of the shop. "Holy crap! Who are you? What happened—OMIGOSH MARY!"
Phos cursed under his breath. He couldn't translate without being seen now with Hannah there. "Please call the police and an ambulance."
Hannah didn't move for a moment, still too shocked as she looked from him and Mary to the intruder curled up by the door.
"Now!" Phos shouted.
Hannah jolted back to life. "O-okay!" She ran to the phone on the wall.
"Phos?" Mary asked.
He looked down at her. "Yes, I'm here."
A tear raced down the side of her face. "I'm scared."
He held her tighter. "I know, but you'll be all right."
"How do you know?" she asked.
He said nothing for a moment. Then, he kissed her forehead. "Because I promise you will be."
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