12 Plot Points Of Christmas: A Writer's Challenge

Chapter 3: The Kiss

Beverlee's eyes fluttered open. She soon became aware of hands upon her, touching her in an almost intimate way, but not exactly. She looked up and saw it was her friend doing this. He had a look of deep concern.

"Loki," she whispered, "what are you doing...?"

Loki hushed her, "Lay still, I'm trying to ascertain where you're hurt."

"But the shooter," she continued to whisper, "I can still hear him..."

"We're safe here for now," he assured. "Once I know you're okay, I'll take care of it."

Beverlee allowed Loki to continue 'frisking' her body to check for injuries. If there was anyone she trusted to do something like this other than her doctor, it was him.

Beverlee felt a burning sensation in her upper arm. "Loki, my arm," she said, gesturing with her head.

Loki took a look at the arm in question. Beverlee's jacket had a certain thickness of layers, as he could only see a minor amount of blood, meaning the jacket and whatever clothing she was wearing under it were currently acting as an absorbent material to her wound. He couldn't tell if the bullet was still in her arm or if it had gone clean through. For now, he had to make sure whatever bleeding she was experiencing was stopped. He grabbed her scarf and wrapped it around her arm, tying it tightly to maintain pressure. He hoped that would be enough until she could get medical attention.

Not finding any other injuries, he helped her to sit up with her back against the wall of the kiosk. He took off his coat and covered her with it like a blanket, to prevent her from going into any shock. He noticed as she grasped the coat, she was shaking a little. He reached out and stroked her hair, "You're going to be fine."

"I know," she said, putting on a brave face. "You're here."

Loki moved to look around the corner of the kiosk and could see the shooter was getting closer to them.

"I'm going to have to take him down - now," Loki said, his voice sounding like a soft growl.

"You can't reveal yourself to the public, Loki," Beverlee said, trying hard to focus on the situation as a diversion from her shock and fear. "Please, let security handle it."

"Security can only do so much until the authorities arrive. Even then, the authorities may end up killing him."

"You-you don't want him to die?" Beverlee asked with surprise.

"Not at all," Loki slowly replied, his blue-green eyes now looking very intense, "I cannot let... that savage... have such a quick and painless death after hurting you and others."

"Well, you can't risk exposing the Initiative." She clutched Loki's coat closer to herself, "I have my smartphone. Text Thor. He's the only one who can take this guy down without any questions asked."

Loki looked around the corner again, then at Beverlee.

"We don't need Thor," he said, smiling mischievously.
****

It was only a matter of time before the shooter ran out of ammunition. The God of Thunder stood atop the counter of the information kiosk with his hands on his hips. He then pointed at the man with the gun and bellowed, "YOU! Do you think your actions of violence to the helpless make you a big man? They most certainly do not."

Thor's words made the shooter turn to see who spoke to him.

"A real man would take on a challenge - like me," Thor said.

Just the sight of the tall Asgardian caused the man to drop his gun.

Thor leapt and knocked the man down to the floor, pulling his arm behind his back.