Prologue
**Crrrrrkshh, crrrrrkshh.** Her eyes flew open as she's startled awake. She turned her head left and right, searching for the noise. **Crrrrrkshh, crrrkshhh.** Terrorized, she took flight, flapping her wings furiously and fleeing whatever the sound was. She flew swiftly into the night sky, her anxiety waning as she put distance between herself and her nest.
She'd made her home there for about a month, feeding nearby and feeling safe. She had fled her previous dwelling after her mate disappeared before they could successfully pass on their bloodlines. She was depressed for a long time and finally decided to relocate.
Looking down, she saw a knocked-over trash can, the refuse spilled on the concrete sidewalk and asphalt of the street. Hunger replaced the fear, and she landed next to a torn bag of fast food. She pecked at a fry, the golden stick of salty goodness satisfying her hunger. A white bright light, a moment of pain as her flesh is pierced, then nothing.
Stevie watched in amazement. He was sweeping up the bird shit the pigeon had dropped by her nest. The animal spooked from the sound of the broom picking up after it. It didn't fly far, just to the opposite end of the driveway where one of the techs had tossed a bag of trash from their lunch. The streetlight's flickering lamp illuminated the trash. She flew down to eat. The stale potato took her mind off the recent scare. A white light bright in her mind, and nothing.
An owl snatched her up into the night sky, and the last moments of her life were satisfying. The sight sent a chill down the shop porter's spine. The thought of everything being over in a moment terrified him.
Chapter 1
Stevie was always small. He steered clear of physical activity as much as possible but was very slender. He also had soft features and wore his hair past his shoulders. He was often mistaken for a girl. Stevie liked reading, playing his RPGs, watching anime and movies. The doctor told his mother he'd be small for the rest of his life.
A week ago, he got into an argument with his mother. She was upset he stayed home all the time, locked in his room or on the couch watching TV. They argued, and she said he had to get a job or leave because a man should be making a way for himself in the world. Tempers flared, and he left home and hadn't returned.
Stevie started sleeping at the body shop he worked at. He had only been there a month, but the manager gave him the key so he could get there early and get the shop ready for the day. The manager, Elmer, was a brash, short, stocky man and mean as a snake. He constantly belittled Stevie for his size, who was shorter than Elmer, and when Stevie made a mistake, Elmer would comment on how stupid he was.
Stevie was sweeping the shop as the techs were working on repairing cars. He would watch as they hammered the metal panels, applied filler and disassembled vehicles. It was so cool how they were able to take a car that had been wrecked and bring it back to its former glory. As he swept he was glancing at a technician cutting a hole in the rear panel of the car he was working on. Stevie didn't notice the screwdriver on the floor and stepped on it. He tripped and the screwdriver flew into a car that had just come out of the spray booth. Elmer lost it. He told Stevie how stupid he was, how useless and a waste of breath he was. Stevie apologized profusely. He started crying and ran off to the restroom to clean up. He hated how he reacted when anyone played into him, especially Elmer. For some reason the dressing down aroused him and it upset him even more. His little nub throbbed and he willed it to stop
He was walked out thinking "Fuck this place and fuck Elmer. I don't need this. Also what the fuck is wrong with me, why did that excite me like that!" He continued to berate himself when he saw a white Lexus LS 500 park in front of the shop.
Chapter 2
It was Balam, the shop owner. Stevie had only seen him a handful of times and spoke with him less than that. Elmer hired him, and Balam was in his office and quickly welcomed him to the body shop. Balam was usually conducting business around town and rarely in his office.
That day, Balam got out of his Lexus and walked over, smiling at Stevie. Balam was a MAN. Although he was chubby, there were muscles covering his frame. He had black slicked-back hair and tan skin. The few times Stevie saw him, he was dressed to impress.
This time, Balam wore a loose cream-colored guayabera with black off-colored accents, khaki slacks, and huaraches. He waved at Stevie as he walked up to him, Stevie blinking the tears away from his eyes and quickly pretending to sneeze so he could wipe his eyes. "Stevie, how are you doing? Hope you're getting on okay!" Balam said with a huge grin. "Great! I'm great, hi sir." Stevie lied, he didn't have it in his heart to upset him. "Are you going to be around today?" Balam walked right up to Stevie and placed a large hand on his shoulder. Man, Balam is huge, Stevie thought as he craned his neck up at him. The weight of his hand made him feel small; he felt like Balam could lift him up if he squeezed and raised his arm. "I am. Stevie, thanks for keeping the shop afloat while I'm not around." Had Elmer said it, his words would have dripped with sarcasm. Coming from Balam, the words felt sincere. Stevie only lied and nodded. The thoughts of leaving and abandoning Balam made him stop thinking about leaving.
"Elmer is an idiot and Balam needs someone better helping him. I need to work hard and move up so I can help Balam run this place." Stevie thought to himself.
Chapter 3