Heroes Without A Plan
Chapter One: First Steps

Eliot Dean wasn’t the kind of person who visited strip clubs, but after his coworker, Josh suggested it as a way to unwind, he joined some of his colleagues from Ikea for a night out after a long day at work.

Mike Copper pulled on his hat and gloves and began his descent down the fire pole.

He squinted at the bright lights that illuminated the dark alley. As he entered, the smell of alcohol was strong on his nose. While the others danced, he sipped his whiskey and chatted with Josh. Eliot talked with them sometimes here and there, but he didn’t consider them as his friends.

While they were sitting together at a table, a server brought another round of drinks. She was very attractive and Josh immediately complimented her. “Hi, beautiful! Are you a magnet? Because I am really attracted to you right now!” Eliot exhaled deeply when Josh drunkenly hit on her, then grabbed the tray of drinks.

“What’s your name?” Josh was already plastered and tried to get the waiter’s attention.

“You can call me, Candy.” She said, “Tell me if you need anything else,” Before she turned on her heels.

“Wow, she’s gorgeous!” Josh took another cup and drank it all in a quick gulp.

Mike and a few others jumped into the truck, driving at full speed while the sirens blared.

Thirty minutes into her shift, Alyssa Harris had to switch from serving to dancing to replace an employee who had left early again.‘Again? That’s the third time this week!’She thought angrily as she finished changing into her costume. It wasn’t her favorite job, but it was the only one with enough money in it to keep her on the payroll.

Josh had just finished an ungodly amount of whiskey and got up to join his friends, dragging Eliot up with him.

“Looky, looky, looky!” Josh hiccupped, poking Eliot in the arm. “That Candy chick is dancin’! Ain’t she good?” Eliot rolled his eyes, not paying much attention to his surroundings as his mind wandered.

Mike sped through the streets as fast as he could, dodging and weaving around the cars, all the while the sirens were wailing.

Josh talked about how Eliot needed more experience with women, calling him a pigeon-hearted virgin, as he pulled Eliot beside him and led him to a weary-looking Candy.

“Hey, baby girl!” Josh stood in front of her as Eliot backed away.

Candy let out a hum in response and turned her head toward them. Josh pulled Eliot forward as he spoke.

“How ’bout 20 minutes of your time?”

Speeding through a red light, Mike spoke into the radio. “Turning onto St. Peter’s now, just past Greenfield.”

“Copy that,” said the voice on the other end.

Eliot cringed as Candy led him to the back of the building.

“What’s your name?” The girl asked as she sat down next to him on the king-size bed, its purple blankets enveloped them.

“Uh, El-Eliot,” he replied, frustrated that his friend had left him. “Yours?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Candy!”

“Yeah, but what’s your real name? I’m not gonna call you that!” There was a moment of hesitation before Candy’s answer. “Alyssa.”

Going to the back of the building, Mike quickly gets out and races straight into the fire.