The shadow dodges and locks me in a chokehold. I kneel to his will, claw at his hands then finally tap. He let's go and I fall face first to the floor. He sneaks into the shadows before I can pull my blade.
"Who are you?"
Silence. I shine my light but he slips farther back.
"I said..."
Something drops to the floor and a foo kicks it towards me. I look down. A bouquet of roses. A tear falls on them and I retract my blade.
"Come home Xavier. The town misses you."
"I am home!"
"We need you. I need you."
"Why? So all of you can laugh at me and call me names? I'm not falling for your antiquates."
"But you did fall time and time again. Why do you think you're still here? It was me. It always has been. Every time you fell I was there to dust you off and pick you back up. I believed in you even when you didn't. I saw light in you. You may be 'home' but you're more than just physically a long ways away. It's like you don't even know we exist. Yes, there were many people that kicked you while you were down but a lot of people also have helped you get up and stand by you. Does that mean nothing? Your light has grown dim."
My hands release and the rose falls to the floor, a dash of blood on the end. I take a step back as more tears trickle down my face and the last petal in the urn falls but I stand firm. I wipe my tears and look at the shadows.
"Leave!!"
"You've changed. Your eyes and superpowers may put you above the rest of us but that doesn't mean you are. Your eyes are closed."
"I said leave!!"
"The town has been taken over. They're looking for you and they will find you. What is done in the dark will be brought to light. Everybody's past catches up to them in one shape or another.
"Please leave!"
"Your mom is dead Xavier."
The tears return.
"Stop spreading lies."
"It's true. I swear it. They have your dad tied up in the dark. If you don't come back soon they...will...kill him."
The tears freely flowed now and I didn't bother to stop them. I sniffed.
"Please...leave!"
Footsteps were heard outside and the walls shook. The lights flickered and the room returned to normal. It's just me, my roseblade, and the bouquet of roses. I fell to my knees and cried.