The evening was just what John expected. The party at the hotel downtown was a crowded room full of people with their own agendas. Some of them were there to push their own plans, others to be seen, and others for the free drinks. As the night progressed the people became increasingly more irritating to be around. Everybody wanted something, a favor, or free legal advice. There were also those who asked John about the other part of his life. You see his mother was one of the most respected lawyers in town, and it was the law firm she started where John now worked. But his father was just as notable as a scientist and inventor. He founded a research and development company that developed weapons for the government. It had always been a toss up which field John would choose. He was just as talented in one as the other. He shared his time between the two, working on special projects for his father. Eventually John found his way out onto the balcony and that is where Pam found him. They talked for awhile and knowing him like she did it was obvious he was ready to leave. She took his arm and they left the room and headed down to the lobby.
When they went through the front doors of the hotel to the street Pam looked up into the sky. It was a beautiful evening and she had something on her mind to share with John. She wanted to do something to help clear John's mind so she suggested they walk for awhile. John told the driver of the company limo to follow them as they strolled down the street. Walking down the street with Pam on his arm was relaxing. She leaned into him and they laughed and talked, sharing things with each other. Anyone who saw them would have thought they were lovers, but for now they were just good, close friends.
The street was crowded with people, a little more so than usual for this time of night. It was even a little difficult to keep walking in a straight line because the two of them had to keep stepping to the side to avoid the other people. It was at this moment John thought he heard a strange noise, then in a flash of a second there was a horrific booming noise. He grabbed hold of Pam and looked upward. Above them and to the right a tall building had exploded. Had it not been for his training in the martial arts he might have froze and just stood there, but as the debris of the building fell to the ground John had pulled Pam with him as he dove down the entrance to the subway. Whether it was luck or fortune he could not say, because if the entrance to the subway had been any further away they would have not made it. Falling rocks and brick were dropping all around them, and several bricks struck John's back. As they tumbled down the stairs he suffered several cuts and abrasions. Blood poured from his back and he had a cut on his face as well. Pam had fallen down, and John tried his best to shield her from the falling bricks and motor from the building. Her dress caught on the railing next to the steps and ripped all the way up to her waist, exposing her thigh and hip. John quickly picked her up and entered one of the subway cars. The sat down on one of the seats and could hear the noise coming from the street above them. It sounded like the whole world was crashing down, and in a way to those people involved it was. There were hundreds of people inside the building that collapsed. Most of them were killed instantly. On the street there were also many who were crushed to death. Smoke filled the area and it was almost impossible to see. Electrical fires started to pop up all around. The sounds of sirens could be heard as emergency personal rushed to the area.
Again luck played a hand in the events as the subway car was heading in the other direction. It pulled out of the station heading away from downtown. John looked at Pam and she started to cry. She was a strong woman, but all this was too much for her. He took off his diner jacket and wrapped it around her, then he put his arm around her and tried to comfort her. He tried to make her laugh, by telling her all this going on and all I can do is stare at your legs. She smiled and looked up at him, but then closed her eyes and pushed her face into his chest. Her new dress was ruined.
John called for a company car to pick them up from the subway station. He carried Pam to a hospital to have her checked out. He also had to have some stitches in his back and arms. He was hurt more than he realized but the doctors soon took care of his wounds. After they left the hospital he took her to his home. There he took her up to a spare bedroom and put her to bed. She protested but he would not listen. He wanted her to rest, and be safe and no one knew where he lived. He had taken care to keep this a secret. The doctors had given her medicine that would help her sleep, so John kissed her on the forehead, and then left the room. He hurried down to his basement and stood in front of a large metal door. He hesitated for a brief moment, then opened the door. Inside was something he had been working on for some time, something he had kept secret but now it was time to put his invention into use.
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