EXPLOSION MAN

  Here am I. Hogtied. Kneeling into an open grave with a GUN pointed at my head. They offered me money to stay quiet. WITHOUT receipt. I declined. Like any other person would. I mean, it was fifty grand. Aint no way a librarian make that kind of money. My teeth are chattering so hard im worried I’ll bite my tounge before they can even shoot me. I think I peed a little.

  Feels like theres no hope at all. I closed my eyes. Until a MAN comes. He took out the guys who are pointing at me. And he didn’t even use a gun. He use his goddamn fist. Karate kick and all that. I said “Who are you?”

  “Really?” he said.

  I thank him a lot, but before that let me tell you how I got here. It was just like any other day, before it all went to shit. I was just cleaning the shelves. Some asshole tucked a children book into the adult section. Then I found something strange. Something I’d never even seen it before. And trust me I know EVERY book in here. It was a very dark and dirty secret belonging to one of the mayoral candidates. And of course, he’s the frontrunner to win. Big surprise.

  I didn't know what to do. Standing there, holding that proof, I just wished I could erase my memory and go back to organizing. And that is exactly what I did. Two of the candidates were dicks anyway. Its trash vs garbage.

  But then I remembered, this book doesn’t have a place in here. So I tucked it into a padded envelope and sent it straight to the Candidate’s headquarters. I even included a formal invoice for 5 dollars in postage. They, for some reason, thinks im BLACKMAILING them. I shouldn’t write my name and address next time… three guys brought me into the desert. And threatened me.

  “Last chance nerd, who are you working for?!” he shoved a gun at my head.

  I stay silent. This shit is not easy.

  “ANSWER!” he screamed, his finger twitching on the trigger.

  “Okay! Shit, ugghh… I worked for Los Angeles Central Library. Okay?! 630 West Fifth Street. The…the… my boss! Mr… shit I forgot his name. He…he… seems like the leader there. I just do what his told!”

  One of the guys punched me “Don’t fool us, what do you do exactly. And where do you get this?” throw out the envelope.

  “Im a librarian! It was just randomly there. I swear I don’t know nothing about it. And I… I don’t want anything to do about it.”

  “Who did you tell! You must’ve have a copies of it. Where are the backups!”

  “Wait! Wait! No! I-“

  And then, he arrived, out of nowhere… saves the day. There was no cape, no mask, just a rugged jacket and a tactical vest that looked like it had been through a war zone. Legit, actually moves like a superhero. And that’s how I got here.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  “Really? You don’t know me?” he asked.

  I just raised both of my shoulders. A shrug is hard to do when you’re still half-hogtied, but I managed it.

  “Explosion Man… I save the world many times??”

  Still doesn’t ring a bell. As were talking, one guy wakes up. And starts shooting him. He got SHOT in the leg. We ran away, with him struggling to walk.

  We stole the henchmen car. With me driving. They keep shooting at us. But eventually, we lose them.

  “I heard good things about you,” he said.

  “What? My books?”

  “No, who the hell read books. You. You are the chosen one.”

  I look at him while im driving. Raising my eyebrow.

  “I’ve had to come out of retirement just for this. My one last job.”

  “Okay…” I said, trying to keep us in the lane. “Can you just tell me what the hell is going on? Who are you?”

  “No time to explain! LOOK-“

  Our car start to do funny things. Losing control. We almost crashed into a truck. But we are okay. Turns out our tire is deflated. Because of the shootout.

  “Can you change the tire? My leg is still bleeding.”

  “Uh… yeah…sure…”

  50 minutes later, still couldn’t figure out where “the jacking point” was.

  “Are we done?” Explosion Man yelled from the inside.

  “Ugh…in a minute!” I yelled back while reading the manual. The picture doesn’t even match the thingy things whatever its called.

  Then he finally get out the car and says “You seriously don’t know how to change a tire?”

  “What? Of course, im a librarian. I don’t care bout these things.”

  “Let me just- move,“ he then change the tire easily. We drive again, this time he’s driving.

  “Where are we going?” I said.

  “City hall.”

  “Why would we go there?" I leaned back, feeling the grease from the tire-change staining the headrest. "Look, I’m very thankful for the... rescue. But I gotta go home now. My wife is expecting."

  “Your wife is pregnant?”

  “No, she’s just expecting me to go home. I never went home late. Not once. She’s gonna think im cheating.”

  “We live and die in the shadows, for those we hold close, and for those we never meet.”

  I don’t know what this guy is talking about.

  “What sector do you work?”

  “Librarian, you forgot?” this is the second time I asked that today.

  “What?” he stops the car.

  The car screeched to a halt. He stared at me for a long, silent beat. “You’re good, really good.”

  “What are you talking about,” wish I can just leave all this. But I owe him a lot.

  “That’s genius, the ultimate ‘Everyman’ camouflage. No one will suspects a guy average like that,” he said while laughing and wheezing like Tom Cruise.

  I only stare at him, silent. With a disappointed face.

  Then his laughing stop, his face start to get serious again, “So you’re really are a librarian?”

  “God, this is insane, I thought you’re an agent or some sort of hacker I don’t know,” he adds.

  “Well, sorry to disappoint you. Now, can you take me back to home? Please?”

  “Wait, do you read what is in the files?”

  “You mean the book? Yeah, nasty stuff.”

  “Where is it?”

  Shit, im screwed. Moment like this, its hard to lie, “Ugh… I sent it back to the owner.”

  “WHY would you do that?!” he screams.

  “Im sorry okay! I hate when things aren’t in the right place.”

  And then he pulls out a bag of COCAINE from his vest. ”Well," he rasped, his voice vibrating with a new, terrifying energy. "At least... do you remember it? Tell me you have a photographic memory.”

  “I guess.”

  “Buckle up kids,” He slammed his left foot on the brake and floored the gas at the same time. The car stayed still, “Its gon get good,” he let go of the brake. The car jerked forward instantly. He went FULL SPEED.

  “ITS RED LIGHT!” I begged for help.

  “Not to me!” he didn’t even look at the speedometer.

  We are near the city hall, he smashed through the barrier. He was about to make us crash into the building.

  “ARE YOU GOING TO KILL US? BRAKE YOU IDIOT!”

  “What would you wish you’d done before you died?!”

  “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. LET GO NOW.”

  “Answer! You’re pathetic!”

  “DON’T Fight Club me here YOU DICK! We’ve just met. Im sick of all this. HOLY-“