Wielder of Time (c) 2005 Mark Dante
Three boys surrounded Jason, each boy three years older and far stronger. Any one of them could beat the snot out of him - he was about to be pulverized. Jason's typically defiant and self-certain attitude stood it's ground in almost every instance, but today it broke. For the first time in his life, Jason was afraid for his life!
He was tallish for a grade 8, but his scrawny figure made him all too easy a target. Jason's only advantage in past skirmishes had been his brains. He was way more intelligent than any of these high school bullies that had come by to rough him up today. Unfortunately, he was also very much cornered. The largest of the three raised up his giant fist, about to strike! Just before he could swing, the guy behind him held his arm.
"Naw Kev, we're not gonna finish him just yet. First we're gonna let the girls swim club get a good look at him." He grinned evilly. After a good chuckle, the leader grabbed Jason and kicked out his legs, sending him reeling to the ground in pain.
"Hey Kev, isn't it about time the girls were hitting the showers by the gym?" Kevin laughed at that.
The three bullies dragged the limp Jason into the high school across the street, down the long hall, and into the gym. They passed 4 students and a teacher, all of whom pretended that they hadn't seen anything happen.
"You've never seen a real pussy, have you midget?" The leader laughed again. They dragged him through the gym and up to the door marked "Girls Change Room & Showers". They opened the door and dragged him over the tile floor and around the corner. The humidity rose dramatically as they approached the showers. They were right on time to catch the entire swim team lounging in their birthday suits, laughing and bragging about next week's competition.
They rounded the last corner and raised up Jason's head towards the revealed showers. It was one big room with twelve showerheads and no barriers anywhere. The four boys had a clear view of everything. A girl screamed as Jason eyed her. He looked her up and down as if viewing a newly planted tree. Her light brown hair flowed long over her slender shoulders, which in turn seemed to almost point to her petite yet mature breasts. Her waist dipped in nicely and then out again to meet her hips. Her legs were long and slender - the closet thing to an angel that Jason could imagine.
His daze was broken by eight other screams as the girls realised they were being watched. Only one girl refrained from screaming - she just looked surprised to see him. He looked behind him and found that the bullies had left and he was facing this group of beautiful, frightened girls alone.
He could only smile weakly as they tried to cover themselves. He noted that one red-headed girl in the corner looked more like she was fingering herself than actually covering anything. Several of the girls became bold and swore at him. They slapped at him and told him to get out at once. He tried to comply, but his poor bruised legs failed him and he fell backwards. Finally, after another few slaps, the girls mercifully withdrew.
A tall, slim blonde stood over him with piercing blue eyes.
"Jason - my name is Angela, and I know that you did not come here of your own free will." She helped him up as she spoke, making no attempt to cover her perfect body. "Time has been unusually cruel to you, and I have come to make sure that things are evened out. I therefore give to you the power to wield time itself."
He smiled in wonder, hearing little of what she said, but being eternally drawn into her eyes.
"Are you a... a god?" She shook her head in amusement.
"No Jason, I am just a person with a gift, and I share it with you. Use it wisely."
It was then that Jason noticed there was no one moving in the showers. In fact, there was no motion at all. The water hung in mid air, and the silence was absolute.
"With this kiss, I pass on my gift to you Jason!"
She kissed him deep and long, soft as a pillow yet as sure as a flame. When she drew her lips away, his eyes fell closed for a moment. When he opened them again, Angela was gone.