Unlikely Heroes (Excerpt)

"Ugh...I don't know who you all are, but thanks." I said, as I raised myself to my feet, carefully watching the three figures who remained hidden in the shadows.

"Yes, thank you." Mom echoed as she lightly dusted herself off, thankfully showing no ill-effects from the brush with the two would-be muggers. She quickly fixed her chunky steel Brietling watch, clasping it securely back onto her left wrist having almost lost it in the struggle less than a minute before.

I remained silent as I studied the three figures who seemed to be doing the same to us in return. My mom put an arm around my shoulder, even at 15 and standing almost the same height as her 5'10 it still gave me a tiny bit of comfort that she was with me. If she was shaken by the incident she gave no hint of it and I tried to do the same.

"Well," Mom continued, clearing her throat as she took a small step forward, keen to break the vocal deadlock from our rescuers; "There must be some way we can repay you all for helping us out." Her watch gleamed as she passed under a street light. The talk of reward made me uneasy around these strangers.

"Think nothing of it m'am. All in a days work." The lead shadow figure replied as he took a step forward into the dim light of the alley mouth.

My relief of the broken silence evaporated almost as quickly as it had appeared.

"Really, I must insis-.." My mom's breath caught in her throat as the other two figures emerged behind the one who had spoken. I felt my own heart rate pound against my chest as the identity of our rescuers is revealed by yellow street lighting.

"You....you're not human!?" Mom managed to gasp.

"I guess you could say that." Admitted one of them gently.

"You..you're..."

"Dealing with a real mind here." His compatriot quipped, apparently enjoying my mom's surprise.

"I-I can't handle thi-unghhhh...." With a soft sigh my Mother slumped against me as she passed out. I just about managed to catch her limp form before it hit the wet tarmac.

"Mom! Mom!"

"Aw, she's no fun! She fainted!"