Half of Nothing - Chapter 2

The lights blinded Aaron as a horn blared. The blue HoverCraft 23 came toward him, hovering just inches off of the ground. Aaron hissed as he usually did when unwanted light blinded him when he wasn't ready. Amuina gripped his hand tightly, her small, young body shaking in terror. She hid behind the half-breed's leg, tightening her grip on his hand until he had to shake her off. Once his hand was free, she grasped the hem of his shirt and held it tightly. The hovercraft stopped in front of him, its headlights blinding him and giving him a terrible headache. The half-breed listened and extended his senses to get a feel of what was going on, but the only sounds he heard was the hum of the hovercraft's engine, and the coughing of the person driving. Sniffing at the air, he smelled cigar smoke, and felt a bit queasy in his stomach. He had never liked cigars.

Aaron began getting into a defensive postion, ready to fight if necessary. The door to the hovercraft opened, and more smoke drifted out into the night. "Oi, Aaron," a voice crowed from the hovercraft. Aaron squinted past the light and saw a figure standing there, standing just behind the open door. "It's only me. Calm yourself."

Aaron didn't calm himself, didn't get out of his defensive stance. Amuina whimpered. "I...I know that voice," she whispered. "Oh, please, don't let him get me. Please, Aaron..."

Aaron was a little confused as to what she was talking about. He, too, knew the person standing there, but had never once thought of them to be a danger to small children. "Oi, Kermie," he said cautiously. "Care to turn your lights off?"

Kermie did so, slowly. The headlights turned off and Aaron could see again. He blinked his auburn eyes a few times before his vision cleared. Kermie did a double take of his eyes. Aaron inwardly smirked, knowing what Kermie was seeing. "The hell's up with your eyes, man?" he questioned, taking a small step forward. Amuina whimpered again. Aaron shushed her by moving his arm, hitting her in the shoulder. He wasn't sure why she was so worried, so upset and frightened, but he knew Kermie. Kermie didn't strike him as someone who would hurt a little kid. But then, who knew? He didn't fear Kermie like he did some people, but he didn't trust him either. Honestly, he didn't really trust anyone. Being a half-breed, he couldn't risk it.

"Why?" Aaron asked. "What's wrong with them?"

"They're red, dude. What's up with you?"

"Nothin'."

"Half-breeds," said Kermie, rolling his eyes. Aaron smirked slowly. Kermie suddenly spoted Amuina as she poked her head around Aaron's side to look at what was going on. Kermie's eyes widened tremendously. "What are you doing with her?"

"Nothing," Aaron responded. "I-"

"Give her to me."

Aaron frowned and narrowed his reddened eyes. "Why should I?"

"Because she belongs to my boss."

That could be true, Aaron pondered. Kermie had a different boss than he did, he could actually have to give her to him to give to the boss. Amuina burried her head into the small of his back.

"No..." she whimpered. A normal person wouldn't have been able to hear it, but Aaron's hearing was better than a normal humans. He was a half-breed, after all. A lot of things about him were better than a normal human's. "Please, no...don't let him take me, please..."

"Give her to me," Kermie repeated, narrowing his sinister gray eyes. "You don't want to make me as an enemy, Aaron."

"...No," said Aaron. "I won't give her to you. She doesn't want to go back. Considering what happened to her tonight, I would think she'd want to, to get off of the streets. She doesn't want to go; I'm not going to force her."

Kermie growled lowly. "One last chance, half-breed. Give her to me."

"Sorry," said Aaron, shaking his head. "I can't."

"Then I'm afraid I have to kill you," Kermie said distastefully. He moved forward, flipping a pocketknife out of one of the pockets of his cargo pants. "I hate to do this to ya, kid."

Aaron shrugged. "Whatever you gotta do, do it." he got into a defensive stance.