Episode 8: Disruption

“I know, I know! I’m sorry I’m late!” Jim apologised as soon as he had gotten off the elevator to his division and came face-to-face with his very displeased boss. “I promise to work overtime to make up for it!”

“You’d better,” was all his boss said in response, before turning on his heel and leaving.

Jim sighed as he got to his workstation. Unfortunately, the traffic gods did not have mercy on him that morning and so he was stuck in traffic for over 45 minutes, all thanks to an annoying, little talkative rabbit, who was currently residing inside his briefcase. The office worker just wanted the rest of his day to go smoothly – well, until his overtime kicked in – but, once again, Lady Luck was not on his side that day.

A red portal suddenly opened in the middle of the workspace, causing everyone to look at it in intrigue. Suddenly, there was a mini-explosion, and in the portal’s place stood an unusual-looking, but undoubtedly terrifying, humanoid creature.

“I am Rentan!” the creature declared, with a diabolical grin. “And all of humanity will bow down to me!”

Naturally, everyone in the office wasted no time in high-tailing it out of there, dodging and diving under Rentan’s multiple attacks. There was one person who stayed back, however, and that was Hannah. Having just narrowly avoided one of the felled cubicles, Hannah suddenly found herself as Rentan’s new target, causing her to scream in sheer terror as he aimed his next energy beam at her.

“HANNAH, LOOK OUT!” Jim yelled, and, before his brain could catch up with his body, he rushed to where Hannah was standing and pushed her aside, causing the two to land roughly, but safely, out of the way of Rentan’s energy beam.

“Hannah, are you alright?” Jim asked gently, brushing stray hairs out of her eyes.

“J-Jim?” Hannah murmured, her blue eyes hazy with disorientation. “You saved me . . .”

Before Jim could get anything else out of her, Hannah eyes fell shut and she fell limp in his hold.

“Hannah?” Jim called, worriedly shaking his crush. “Hannah!”

“Don’t worry about her, Jim, she’s fine,” Fluffy reassured. “She just fainted from the shock!”

Jim nodded and reluctantly set Hannah down on the ground, draping his trenchcoat over her to provide her with some extra protection, before facing back up to Rentan, who was now wrecking the LifeShare office building. He didn’t know who the hell this guy was, but he would be damned before someone like him got away with hurting someone as beautiful and as kind as Hannah.

No way, Jim thought, Not on my watch.