traction

The traction resulting from hot, thick, and sweaty skin, joined to freshly tarred bitumen, made it almost impossible for maxwell to move himself off the middle of the road without completely peeling the skin off his body. He thought about asking a passing motorist for some engine coolant, or possibly even some spare ethanol, but the nasty, glancing eyes of the ongoing drivers made him think twice. So maxwell realised that his only option was to produce a tingling sensation that would un-grip his skin from the bitumen; as the tingling would create little bumps, which in turn would make air pockets, making it easier for the skin to detach. But if the tingling went too far, maxwells body would disperse altogether from its original form, and he would never be able to regain his old solid shape - forever having to float around as a cloud of disjointed vapour.