Do you ever feel like you’re having one of those days where everything just pushes you a little closer to throwing something at a wall? Where you just want to scream until your throat can’t scream anymore? Where just the slightest jolt will send you into a rage where you take the crap from your day and start shoving it down someone else’s throat?

Too far? Oh well, you get the point, at least.

At the moment, I was lugging my ass out of a dead night shift, following a crowd of drunk costumes who my manager had just thrown out. This in itself was fine, the usual. I’ve been getting used to working nights and sleeping during the day like a bat (I kinda like that comparison, actually). Nothing extreme had happened: waited on Naiads that were out late for their own reasons that I don’t care about, manage the bar while Cobalt used the bathroom (she returns the favor when she can, so it’s a fair trade), washed the dishes, helped Snapper throw out some aforementioned drunks, plaster a smile on my face to earn a tip or two, and luckily avoided any vomiting incidents. All in all, it was a decent evening, until those rat bastards decided to show up!

A group of over a dozen came stumbling into the tavern last minute, while I was literally preparing to trade off shifts. Then, they order the messiest shit that we serve, about six different drinks each, and then they have the fucking nerve to whistle and make some obscene suggestion every time I walked by! By the time I managed to leave, I was so tired that I considered just collapsing on the side of the road.

Now, take all that into consideration when you hear this next little bit. While passing a couple of these drunks fucks, one has the stones to cut me off while his buddies stood nearby. He reeked of one of our cheapest brands of liquor, whether it was on his breath or sloshed down his front I’ll leave for you to decide.

“Ain’t you sha pwetty little doll,” He slurred, stumbling as he stood in one spot. “You heada home, sweetheart?”

Great, one of these again. “I am, in fact,” I give myself a few points for not just knocking the guy aside the first second, because, ya know, I had a little good spirit remaining somehow.

“Howa ‘bout that, so em I,” A blush coated his weak, blue-tinted skin to a rather pathetic purple. “Howa ‘bout you join me?”

“I’ll pass,” I pushed past my straining teeth.

“Come on,” He pleaded. “If ya want, wona my buddies can join us, or two, if ya prefer.” Said buddies made dizzied chuckling noises and moved a little closer.

Fucking disgusting. What kind of messed up shit do these bastards get a kick from? Actually, I don’t want to know. “Again, I’ll pass.” I stepped around him, done with this shit.

“Don’t be like that,” He purred. “I bet I could convince ya~” At this, I felt a hand grab my ass.

If you haven’t caught on by now, I don’t take shit like that too kindly.

I pivoted on my foot, grabbed his wrist, pulled, and grabbed him by his tiny neck as he fell forward. I got within an inch of his nose, ignoring his stench of liquor. “Listen here, you little bitch. I have put up with too much shit tonight for my night to end with some drunk, dumbass pig grab any part of me. So if you make one more move, I’m to take you fucks and rip off your-”

For certain reasons, I have to skip over the next twenty seconds.

“-until they could be pulled out of your mouth, you damn motherfucker! Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?” He nodded his skin a paler shade of baby blue. “Good.” I released him, and he dropped like a stone. I turned and proceeded back to my home, until I heard heavy footsteps charging at me. Fucking great! I’ve had enough of this!

I bent my knees and threw my elbow back and up, catching the throat of the guy trying to tackle me. He made a choked gasp and fell to his knees, clutching his throat.

The next was almost on me, but his movements were slowed due to his inebriation. I stepped aside, and he stumbled past. A quick kick to the back of his knees, pivot, and a well-placed backhand to his ear was enough for him to go down. Easy enough.

The last two, including the ass grabber, came at me as a pair. The buddy threw a clumsy punch. I parried at his wrist and drove my fist into his gut. The lug doubled over and emptied the contents of his stomach onto the street. The grabber got a hold of my sleeve, pulling it down my shoulder and making me fall backward. I slammed my arm against the side of his head, pulling him down so that he would fall below me. I fell on top of him, driving my elbow into his throat as we landed. Like the first assailant, he gurgled and went still.

I got up, shook out my clothes, and gave the grabber a swift quick in the gut so he ended up puking as well. Boiling, I pulled my sleeve back into place as I heard a rustle from an alleyway. I glanced over, but nobody as in sight. I sighed and walked on, leaving the drunks on the ground.

Great, somebody was watching. No need to help, you fucking cowards! I didn’t need it anyway, but just standing by and watching! Fucker! And they must have seen it! Well, add that pile to the ever-growing pile of shit that is the last few hours. Working overtime on the night shift, running across grabby creeps, and someone getting a peep at my shoulder is not exactly what I would deem an ideal evening!

I came to a pier overlooking a lake. I didn’t see much else as I walked straight off and landed in the cool water. I couldn't focus, so I just sunk until my feet touched the silt along the bottom. I marched across, my frustrated stomps sending up clouds behind me. Small schools of fish streaked by, and at one point, a creature with a few tentacles and flippers sticking it out of what I believe was its head. Weeds and other vegetation bloomed into forests, which I walked straight through.

Eventually, I felt the ground under my feet begin to slant upwards. Slowly, I continued upwards until my head broke the surface. Once I reached land, I flicked my wrist, causing the water to fly away from my body and leaving me dry. The city continued immediately from where it ended on the other as if the lake was nothing more than a hole in the road.

Now I noticed that dawn was seeping over the horizon. My trek through the lake had taken me longer than I thought. Well, shit. If my head was on straight, I could have just zipped right over the water, but no, I just had to be so pissed that I couldn’t concentrate, so I had to walk! Ugh! Whatever! Doesn’t matter now. Those fuckers are gone, so I should just forget about it for now.

A puddle in my path suddenly burst into a shower of droplets and mud. 

Yeah, I’m still pissed.