Jack McGee pulled up to the three-story, white stucco home of Thomas Ryan. A gold painted metal gate surrounded it and the mailbox was on the outside with no visible doorbell or intercom. The giant windows were exposed and fully displayed the wealth of his family. Jack rolled his eyes in frustration and began to bang on the gate. He didn’t have time for this. Whenever the creature made a big splash like at the radio station and diner, the man behind him was bound to leave straightaway.

“Isn’t it great to be so young and live off daddy’s money?” He questioned snidely.

A harried maid finally came to the door and approached the gate. Jack held up his press badge. Tommy and Steven both came out of the house and sent her back inside; they reluctantly opened the gate, but made sure to look out both ways with fear. Steven had a small cast over his right arm and thorn scratches on his face. Tommy looked fine and Jack knew it was because he had run away like a coward, leaving his friend’s to deal with the hulk’s wrath.

“Hey listen, it’s chilly. Are you gonna let me in, or should we talk from here?”

Tommy opened the gate wider and they led him up the marble porch and into the huge living room. Jack took a seat on the cream leather couch and warmed his hands by the fireplace.

“I don’t have much time here gentlemen. I’m sure your friend Carlina told you I was coming?”

“Yeah, what about it? We don’t know anything!” Tommy insisted, pouring himself a shot of brandy.

“Yeah, that stupid monster nearly killed me, he could have eaten me! I’m glad he just threw me from the window.” Steven complained, rubbing his back.

Jack pulled out his notepad and stared them down. “Uh...huh… I know the creature very well; I’ve been following him since the day he first appeared. One thing I can vouch for is that, he doesn’t always attack unless he’s provoked. Oh and…he doesn’t eat people.”

The young men glanced at each other and then at Jack. “We’ll tell you everything, but only if you promise our side of it doesn’t make it to print, fudge it a little if you have to…oh…it’s gonna cost you too. Why should you get this exclusive for free?” Steven demanded.

Jack pulled out his wallet, knowing very well the types of hotshots he was dealing with. “Fifty bucks a piece, since you won’t let me print the entire story.”

“Get outta here! He could have killed us!” Tommy whined.

“Oh yeah? So could weed, pot, grass, doobies, hash, ludes, LSD, PCP, sunshine, mescaline and everything else you crack heads pump into your bodies to get your little kicks! All I wanna know is, what is this guy Eric’s connection with the hulk? I already got the entire story from Carlina and Elizabeth, so I can just expose you from there.”

Tommy grew nervous and waved his hands. “Alright! Alright! Fifty bucks each! Eric is crazy man! He came by tonight saying if we didn’t pay back the two thousand dollars we owed him, he was gonna get the monster on us. He was like, panicking. I gave him the money and I don’t want anymore to do with this, my parents are gonna kill me if they find out!”

“Well too bad for you.” Jack huffed and threw them the money. “Where can I find Eric, huh?”

“He could be at home…” Thomas suggested, but then changed his mind. “Wait! He needed to pay off our dealer, so chances are he went to the club.”

“And what club is that?” Jack asked, rising from the couch.

“That’s the Wrecking Room in Paramus. I’m sure he went there, that’s where he always went to get our stuff.”

Jack hurried to the doorway without waiting to be let out. “Thanks for the tips, kids! I'll be calling you for the rest of the story. If I were you, I’d keep my nose clean and quit it with the stupid drugs otherwise you’ll be seeing monsters of every shade.”

-Oo-

Rebecca was extremely lightheaded and she couldn’t see what was going on around her. The thugs had her tied to a rickety chair in the back of a smelly, hot room for the last hour. Her mouth was still gagged and her eyes covered. The ropes were digging into her and every time she shifted they tightened. They had made sure to tie her legs and chest completely to the chair. She could taste the tears that freely spilled down her cheeks. The gang had done a good job in terrorizing her. She felt their sharp blades against her face and neck, and the heat of cigarettes and lighters upon her arms when they threatened to burn her. She was grateful Mario decided to wait for Eric to come, but had a sickening feeling they wanted him to be present when they tortured her for real. She ceased from screaming for help, because each time she was struck.

-Oo-

David pulled up the rowdy club and barely parked before Eric had jumped out and ran to the entrance. Heavy metal music blared throughout and a few customers loitered outside giving him dirty looks. David’s tension was already beginning to rise; he could only imagine what might have happened to poor Rebecca. He assumed they had her in a secret room. He grasped Eric’s shoulder in support and they entered the club together. It was extremely shady with flashing lights. A band was playing on a tiny stage, their sadistic lyrics garbled over the clash of the electric guitars and pounding drums. They were frightening to behold in black and white punk make-up. David could barely hear himself think, let alone talk to Eric over the commotion.

The two attempted to go into a back door when a lumbering bouncer yanked them bodily away from it.

“Where do you two jerks think you’re goin?” He rumbled.

Eric tried to shove past him, but was getting nowhere and the bouncer nearly pushed him to the ground.

“You don’t understand! I have to get my girlfriend from back there! These guys have her! They’ll hurt her! Let me pass!” He pleaded.

“No way! If your girl is back there, it’s obvious she’s bored with you.”

David cut into the conversation excitably. “You don’t understand, sir, these guys are really no good, they’re drug dealers and she’s been kidnapped! They called us from here. We have to get them money and…”

The bouncer put a meaty hand on David’s chest and thrust him backwards. “What goes on in the back…stays in the back! It’s my job to make sure only certain people get in there.”

Eric was losing his cool and wanted to slug him, but David held him off.

“Listen…then can you please tell Mario to come out with the girl? Tell him we have his money, so now he has to let her go!”

The bouncer agreed and went into the room. They waited impatiently for five minutes, with their heads pounding. The air was dense with smog from sweat, cigarettes and pot and it seared David’s lungs. Eric tried to cover his nose and kept coughing. He looked around at the revelers in disgust; thoroughly ashamed he was ever considering that this was the life he wanted. His heart was aching for Rebecca; she was nearly killed three times in the short time that he had known her. He vowed that he would take her out of all this as soon as he could so they could start a happy life together, free from the drugs and immature associates.

The bouncer returned without Mario or Rebecca and smirked. “Sorry pals, Mario isn’t seeing anyone right now…he said he’s…busy. They all are, so beat it while I’m still chipper!”

David grew enraged at his callousness. “Alright then, we’ll just call the police and have this entire establishment shut down and confiscated immediately. Let’s go Eric!”

He dragged Eric along toward the front entrance, but they were quickly blocked by a by a group of menacing, mohawked bikers who pounded bats into their palms and cracked their knuckles. They were ready for a brawl.

“What did you just say? Nobody is gonna call the police on us! This is our establishment and you two are the intruders. You had your chance to leave, now your gonna get it!”

The biggest of them charged into David and he doubled over, smashing into the hard edge of the table. David grasped his head.

“Eric! Run! Get help! Help Rebecca!”

A brutish, biker made a grab for Eric and he ducked fast, missing him. Eric kicked him in the knee and raced toward the back, tossing tables and chairs behind him to block their chase. The big biker picked David up and practically lifted him over his head, he shouted for the others to find the kid. David felt himself soaring through the air, about to make a full body collision with the bar. He covered his head and slammed forcibly into the mirror opposite the bar table. The bartenders ran for cover when the liquor bottles and the large mirror shattered all over David. The glass shards cut into his arms and legs and he screamed in pain. This was it, what he had been hoping for. The unnerving tension attacked his muscles and they went taut. A small smile passed his lips as deep, guttural, growls escaped him and his eyes changed colors. The band had stopped playing and abandoned the stage, hiding under tables. Eric watched fearfully, crouching behind a broken juke box. However, he realized this was his way to get into the back room since the bouncers had fled their posts. He raced into the doorway just as the Hulk roared and jumped over the bar, scaring everyone into astounded silence.

Eric followed the dark hallway down to the end and found a door marked private. He kicked it open as a surge confidence welled inside him. He glanced back at the Hulk. The creature was hovering over the bikers and had just crushed one of their chains into pieces. Now he splintered their bats. They were scared to death and pleaded for their lives. Mario was in shock as Eric ran inside. Eric dug into his pockets and pulled out an envelope, tossing it at Mario.

“Here’s your damn money! Now where is Rebecca?”

Mario pocketed it and laughed at him. “My guys took her out back, they’re taking her someplace nice and private for a little fun.”

Eric saw red and charged at him when he caught sight of the discarded ropes and gag. He slammed Mario into the chair and grabbed him a headlock, forcing him to look out the door into the club. Mario started to tremble when through the darkness he heard the growls and screams of everyone else.

“You hear that, don’t ya? Don’t ya! That’s him, that’s my friend and he’s gonna come in here and do some real damage!”

Eric dropped him and ran out the back door, leading to an abandoned parking lot. He saw the black and white car revving up. Rebecca was cramped in the backseat between two of the guys and when she saw Eric she started screaming for his help. One of them grabbed her mouth roughly and whispered in her ear.

“Open your yap again and I will snap your little neck!”

The driver rammed the gas pedal and raced in Eric’s direction. Eric’s eyes widened and his body grew stiff when headlights blinded him. He didn’t see the creature run up beside him. Eric suddenly went flying into a row of trashcans against the building and watched in amazement as the creature jumped atop the hood of the car. With his bare hands he started to tear off hood, peeling it back as if it were merely a piece of fruit. The car swerved in every direction, trying to shake him off. The Hulk reached inside and grabbed the driver and the thug who held Rebecca, throwing them both out at the same time. The car was going to crash right into the wall of the club. Everyone from inside had come to watch the spectacle and ran further away. The Hulk yelled in fury and picked Rebecca up; he soared off the and ran, just as the car made impact with the brick wall. The explosion shook the foundations of the building and balls of fire burst into the air, sending shards of metal everywhere.

Jack McGee pulled up with an entire squad of police, just in time to see the explosion. He threw his notepad down in frustration. The creature was gone, once again leaving destruction in his wake. The only thing left to do was question the eyewitnesses.

Eric scrambled to his feet and ran to find the creature; he found him hiding out in a wooded thicket. Rebecca was laying on the ground, unharmed. She fell into Eric’s arms crying hysterically and he wrapped himself around her, kissing her face.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! This is all my fault, Becky. Please forgive me…please!” He sobbed.

Rebecca clutched him to her and they both cried in each other’s arms.

“I do Eric! I do! It was Mario, I know…I know you didn’t mean for this to happen…shhh…shhh…I love you, Eric. I love you!”

The Hulk watched with bewilderment and grabbed his head. He felt his face, and when he looked at his fingers he saw they were wet. A giddy sensation gripped him and he started to stagger into the bushes. His body heaved and contorted until David Banner emerged, shaking off the last of the transformation. He knelt unsteadily beside them and gripped Eric’s shoulder.

“I…I can’t stay here any longer. He’s out there…”

“Who, David?”

“The reporter I told you about, Jack McGee. He’s there, I know it…He can’t see me because…”

“You’re supposed to be dead. David, you better go then. I can handle things from here. I don’t want you to leave but…. wait! Your stuff is in my car. I’ll get it for you… just stay here with Becky. Please?”

David agreed, taking gentle hold of the traumatized young woman and Eric ran back toward the club. Fire engines were now on the scene putting out the flames and it gave Eric the opportunity to blend in the growing crowd and get his car. He jumped into the seat and drove down the road. He pulled up alongside them.

“Quick, get in! David, I’m taking you to the State line.”

David hurriedly jumped into the back seat and changed his clothes. Rebecca dozed until Eric finally came to his destination and they all stepped out of the car.

“I’m sorry things turned out so badly, David. You’re too good of a guy and it gets you nothing but trouble. It’s just not fair!” Eric bemoaned and kicked at the gravel.

“Eric, sometimes life isn’t fair, but we roll with the punches.” David put a hand on both their shoulders. “I want you both to promise me to stay clean and keep each other safe and happy. I know you’ll go very far.” David had to choke back his tears.

Eric grasped his hand with a firm shake, but then hugged him. “I will, man. I’m not fooling around anymore. I love myself too much to throw my life away…and…I love Becky even more.”

He glanced at her adoringly and gripped her hand, caressing her fingers. She moved closer to him and held his waist.

“David, we’re going to miss you. Maybe one day, we’ll see you again?”

“I don’t know that, Rebecca, but I’ll never forget you two…it’s getting late, I better head out in case they come…”

David kissed her cheek and adjusted his shoulder bag. With a final wave, he began his trek down the side of the highway. Eric and Rebecca sadly watched him walk away until he was no longer visible.

-Oo-

New York City, 1982

David traipsed through the busy streets of Times Square trying to avoid getting caught in the swelling crowds of tourists and City workers. He stopped before a hot dog vendor and purchased one. As he ate, he looked up. From the corner his eye he caught a giant billboard advertising the newest version of the old Broadway smash, ‘The Music Man.’ David nearly choked on the bread. Smiling down upon him in a flashy, white and gold marching band outfit was no other than Eric. In one hand he held a trombone and his other arm was wrapped around a beautiful young woman in a quaint nineteen hundreds dress, it was Rebecca. The two of them seemed to jump off the billboard and the glaring headlines read,

‘See the stunning revival of Meredith Wilson’s ‘The Music Man’ starring Broadway’s newest darlings, Eric and Rebecca Kierstead. Tickets on sale now!’

David quickly rifled through his wallet, but only had twenty dollars. He sighed deeply, but couldn’t wipe the joy from his face. They both made it and stayed together. He moved along, stopping again to stare at the sign for the last time and suddenly heard a loud knocking behind him on a glass window. He turned abruptly and saw both Eric and Rebecca with glowing smiles, waving him to come into the restaurant. He looked at the sign; it was Carmine's, a famously over-crowded Italian place in the heart of Times Square. David came in, but didn’t want to push ahead of the line, especially since he was very casually attired. Eric came to greet him and led him straight to the table.

David looked over the young man, two years had made quite a difference. Eric’s physique was bigger and his countenance betrayed a tanned, healthy glow. David imagined the women that must have swooned over him, because he was even more handsome. Rebecca stood up and he gave her a big hug. She was more beautiful then he remembered.

“Oh my God! David! I can’t believe we found you out of seven million people!” Eric beamed. “It’s been so long! We got all your letters in New Jersey, but I know there wasn’t a return address.”

David hugged the young man with pride. “I knew you would make it! I just saw the billboard right now. This is amazing. Look at you both, such a beautiful couple and starring together! I used to love this play!”

“Well hopefully you’ll love our version, because you’re getting a front row seat for tonight’s show.”

“Don’t even try to get out of it, David. We found you and we’re not letting you go so fast.” Rebecca scolded when he was about to decline. “Now sit down and have some lunch with us, it’s our treat of course. The portions here are huge.”

“I…really, it’s okay, I just had a hot dog.”

Eric laughed loudly. “Hot dog! C’mon, I know you can eat more than that, David.”

David took his seat and threw his hands up. “Alright, I give in!”

Throughout the filling meal they discussed their rise to fame. Eric and Rebecca married in nineteen eighty-one and both had vigorously took acting, singing and dancing lessons together. Eric’s charms and boundless energy won him the lead role of this play and it had just started in the last month. So far, there was nothing but positive reviews for both their performances. The critics noted many thanks in part to the sizzling chemistry they had.

David couldn’t have been happier for the two of them. Eric patted his back with a deep concern.

“And what about you, David? Did you ever…I mean are you…cured?” He whispered.

David glanced at them solemnly. “No, I’m not…it just never ends for me…the stories I can tell you, all I’ve been through, it’s been quite a ride.”

“David, we want to hear all about it. I’ll make sure nothing gets your goat down here. Consider this a vacation. Rebecca and I have a big apartment with an extra bedroom.”

“Yes, David. We’d be honored if you stayed with us for a while. Just to relax, take in the sights. You told me years ago that you considered being with us as ‘home.’ So…come home, David.” Rebecca said tearfully, dabbing her eyes as memories of the calamities they encountered came back to mind. Eric put an arm around her.

“I won’t take ‘No’ for an answer, either. If ya don’t come, you’re gonna have to leave the City.” Eric joked.

David smiled warmly at them. He really did feel like he was coming home, to a long lost son and daughter.

“Alright you two, I’ll stay for a little while! Hey, I can be a harsh critic when it comes to my play! So expect to hear it from me. I did some acting in my early years too.”

“Alright! I know you always give the best advice, so you let me know where I mess up.” Eric demanded.

“That I will, and for you too young lady.”

Rebecca laughed gaily. “I'll appreciate it! Go easy on Eric, he has to carry this entire show. You have to hear his rendition of ‘Marion the Librarian’ I really do fall in love with him every time!”

Everyone laughed and David gazed at the two with fondness. There were going to be many more trials ahead of him, but for now he was satisfied to enjoy himself amongst good friends.

The End.