Tired Damsel

If I had known being Earth Quaker's favourite reporter would make me the target of so many kidnappings, I would have never flirted back with him. I don’t even know his identity and yet they keep taking me. My boss is getting fed up. And honestly? So am I .

I miss the days when I could drive my car to work; these days I have to ride my bike to work, and even then I still have to look over my shoulder constantly. Just as I round the corner my bike is encased in sludge. “Oh no.” I wince. It’s Swamp Sleeper, my least favourite villain. He’s a literal trash monster. I believe he had been a janitor at a science lab; he’d been the unfortunate victim of the wrong place, wrong time.

“Oh yes, Kitty Carter. And this time, Earth Quaker won’t save you.” Before I can even run, I feel the cold, slimy vines from his trashmobile, wrapping around me and pulling me into the trunk.

“Not again!” I cry out as the trunk slams shut. The stench is awful, and I feel my new dress is stained. Worst of all, I have to listen to Mr. Sleeper singing over the speakers, which is a fate worse than death.

Eventually, the car slows and I know we have arrived where Sleeper thinks the battle will take place. The trunk opens and Sleeper looks down at me with a nasty grin. “Ah, Miss Kitty! I’m so grateful you could join me today!”

“Like I had a choice!” I snap back as he picks me up. I try to wiggle free, but it’s hopeless. He clamps me to a conveyor belt with a freaky trash compactor-looking thing at the end.

Sleeper pokes my nose and I can’t help but cringe at his touch. “Ever sarcastic, Miss Kitty. But that attitude won’t help you here.”

I say nothing; instead, I look around, trying to find a hiding spot for once I get out of this. I refuse to be a useless damsel; if I can free myself I do, or once Quaker frees me I do my best to get out of the way or even help if I can.

The trash yard doesn’t offer many hiding spaces, but some turned-over couches will do in a pinch. Feeling settled with that, I try to figure out what Sleeper's plan is. He’s giddily bouncing between two red buttons on pedestals. That can’t be good. Before I can fully figure out what the plan is, Earth Quaker shows up.

“So the hero arrives!” Swamp Sleeper bellows. “But have you come to save your beloved Kitty…?” he points to one button. “...Or your precious city?” Sleeper presses the two and suddenly the conveyor belt starts moving and the trash compactor roars to life.

“Quake!” I despise the shill in my voice, but I see no way out with him.

“Kit!” He rushes toward me. Only for a pile of trash to flow in front of him.

“Not so fast here,” Sleeper snarls. “The only way to save her is to push this button.” A pile of trash lifts one of the buttons high above us. “But stop her demise and blow up the city. But save the city and the clamps will release Kitty to…well, her end.” Sleeper’s maniacal laughter fills the trash yard and he takes off in his trashmobile.

The trash pile blocking my view of Earth Quaker falls. “Kitty…” his face is soft.

“No.” I watch his eyes looking at the high button. “Quake, you can’t. I’m not worth the city.”

He puts on his charming smile. “But I can’t lose my best girl.”

“Enough! Quaker I’m not your best girl! I’m your target! I miss work, I get a new wardrobe every month. I have to stop driving my car to work because of the risks! I can’t even get a date! I wanted to be a reporter, not your damsel!” I feel my body shaking, and I can’t tell if the heat is from my anger or the trash compactor.

Quaker freezes, the shock etched on his face. “I never thought of it that way. I’ll figure something out.” He looks around. “For the record, I don’t view you as a damsel, I feel like you are a teammate.” Before I can answer his face lights up. “I’ve got it! “

He races to the button for the city; one hand rests over it, and the other starts to lift to the ground. I look at him, and we nod. He hits the button and I feel myself plummet, but before I hit the fire, I hit a rock that Quaker has shot out under me. I leap off the rock and race along the rock toward the couches.

Quaker glances back at me, gives me a small wave, and takes off to stop Swamp Sleeper.

After he disappears into the horizon, I can’t help but notice that I’m sitting in a puddle.

Not just any puddle but one that is glowing green. “I don’t think I’ll be a damsel any longer.”