John woke up in another cold sweat, It was noon when John woke up, he and his friends stayed up late last night fighting Rein and talking with the authorities. He walks downstairs to check on his friends. He finds a note on the kitchen table.
John, the rest of us went back to our dorms, Sera decided to stay and catch some more sleep, Remi.
John went into the kitchen to make some food.
John: Huh, Sera's still asleep.
John sits down to eat his food, recalling the conversation he had with Keon right before he left.
Keon: John, that thing you fought wasn't human, it was something we have been hiding from the public for a while, come talk to me when you're ready, rest up.
John: What the hell was he talking about? Oh well, I'll figure it out later.
Sera wakes up to the smell of eggs and bacon.
Sera: Damn, what's that smell?
John: You want some eggs and Bacon?
Sera joins John for breakfast, the two sit in silence for a while before Sera finally breaks the ice.
Sera: John, what happened last night?
John: What do you mean?
Sera: All I remember was falling asleep, then I woke up with you carrying me out of the city.
John recalls when Sera was taken by the Cult war lord, the pain from that memory made John panic, someone as powerful as her losing to some mid tier, he gets scared, his thoughts race through his mind, what were those powers? How could.....
Sera: John? John?
John snaps out of his fear.
John: Oh hey, what?
Sera: You look stressed, what happened?
John: Oh, nothing, I'm just tired, this superhero stuff is getting to me.
Sera: John, you should take a break, start running Wellston with us.
John: I don't know about that though, I kinda hate a lot of the people there.
Sera: John, you look like a wreck, I think this is what you need.
John: No I-!
The two sit in silence after the shock they just had.
Sera: John, I think you need some space then.
John: No wait, I...
Sera: I'll see you tomorrow.
Sera waves, smiling at John as she exits through the door.
John's Point of view: Every moment I'm with her I feel like I'm about to explode. Her sheer beauty is enough to change a man's entire existence.
A voice starts to talk to John in his head.
Joker: Why didn't you stay mad at her, you were so strong, stronger than you ever were? She was jealous of your power that day she found out, yet you still protected her?
John: No, that was just a rash misunderstanding, I thought she wasn't the same person.
Joker: Hold onto that rage, use it, harvest it, emotions just get in the way. Become the demon you were meant to be.
John: Screw off!
Joker: Oh, you like her?
John: NO, I, I-!
Memories of John's past flood through his mind.
John: ENOUGH!
John looks around, he's all alone, memories of his past haunt him. John collapses in the corner of his kitchen.
John: Dammit, that's the third episode in the past hour, what the hell is wrong with me?
The next day at school Isen is walking around the hall when he spots John on the ground. Two kids are harassing him.
Green haired kid: Haha, look at this guy, so pathetic!
Blue haired kid: A cripple like you should watch where he goes, you just might spread your filth around. What do you have to say?
John looks up.
John: You're garbage, Fuck off.
Blue haired kid: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!
John: I said, you're fucking garbage. FUCK OFF!
Blue haired kid powers up, John does the same but slightly, his eyes glow a dim gold, he slams his head on the blue haired kid, then he takes the green haired kid and slams his head against the blue haired kid. Both of their heads are now bleeding, Isen jumps in and jumps on John.
Isen: John calm down, snap out of it!
John doesn't respond, he looks at Isen with an empty look in his eyes, as if he were somewhere else. A loud ringing noise is all he hears.
Isen: Oh fuck man, he needs a doctor.
Isen carries John to the Infirmary, but before they arrive John starts to wake up.
Isen: John, John?!
John: Oh hey Isen, what happened?
Isen: Dude, your eyes, they almost glew, and on top of that you knocked out two other students.
John: Anything else?
Isen: What do you mean anything else?! John this isn't good.
John thinks to himself: Dammit, if I keep getting angry like this, I'll snap and use my ability in front of everyone. I'll turn back into-
John: Thanks Isen, but I think I should go home for the day.
Isen: John, you're not fine, you need help.
John starts to walk away, ignoring Isen.
John: Oh yeah, I'm gonna have to meet with Arlo on the roof. Nah fuck that.
He exits out of the school and proceeds to walk home. He enters the house to find Seraphina sitting on his couch.
John: Wait, you're still here?
Sera: I'm still suspended for the rest of the week. Hey, weren't you supposed to meet up with Arlo today?
John: Why would I? He just acted all grumpy out of nowhere, plus I got better things to do.
Sera: Like what?
John: I don't know, I gotta figure it out first.
The two laugh as John sits down on the couch next to Sera.
John: So what are we watching?
The two watch tubeyou for hours, cuddled up on the couch. John starts to zone out.
John wakes up in a dark void.
John: Hello? Where am I?!
John sees Keon in the distance talking to his younger self on his last day of correction class.
Keon: John, being a cripple won't solve anything.
John: This power, I'm too weak, I don't deserve to have it.
Keon: Well, whether you deserve it or not, it's still a part of you, who you are. You can't just ignore it.
Younger John doesn't respond. He instead looks straight at current John, his eyes glowing a bright Yellow.
Joker: YOU HEAR THAT, I'M A PART OF YOU !
YOU CAN'T IGNORE ME FOREVER!
John wakes up, Sera is sleeping right next to him, John gets up, trying not to disturb Sera. He goes into the kitchen and grabs a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Sera wakes up to the light in the kitchen.
Sera: Yawwwn, Hey John, what are you doing? It's four in the morning.
John: Oh, I couldn't sleep.
Sera: Come on John, come back on the sofa, I'm cold.
Sera in her head: Just cuddle with me :(
John: Alright, leme just finish this pint.
Sera walks towards John and grabs his hand, pulling him back to the couch. She pulls him on top of her and pulls the blanket over the both of them.
Sera: Shush now, I'm tired.
John starts to blush while Sera starts to fall asleep. The two snuggle in each other's warmth.
The next day at school, Arlo pulls John aside in the hallway.
Arlo: John, why weren't you on the roof yesterday?
John: Listen bud, I don't know why your so grumpy, but-
Arlo shoves John into the lockers.
Arlo: No asshole now you listen up, I'm tired of your shit, how you dragged Seraphina out of the social order, how Blyke Isen and Remi are all acting like everyone is equal, how-
John shoves Arlo off of him and slams him into the lockers across from him, then he punches the wall hard, his fist breaking through into the classroom.
John: What the hell are you suggesting, ASSLO?!
Arlo pauses, thinking his words carefully.
Arlo: John, not everyone was made equally, some are stronger than others. In order to keep the weak safe, they have to know their place, that way they don't start fights with high tiers.
John: Then you should know yours, I gave you king because I couldn't give two shits about ruling a pathetic high school, unlike you I have better things to do than babysit a bunch of rich assholes who paid their way to come here, but if you're asking for an ass beating.
Then I can deliver!
Arlo: Turf, this afternoon. Be there then, we'll settle this.
John: Bitch you're asking for death!
Arlo storms off and meets up with Roland, students begin to pour in the halls.
John in his head: I'm so sick of defending y'all.
He looks around at the other students.
John in his head: Trash, all of them, all you can do is look for someone weaker than you, and stomp on them. Well once you find out about my powers, I bet you'd all drown yourself in piss. No what am I saying I gotta get going and stop wasting my time on these assholes, find out more information about Cecile. I bet she is The Bounty Huntress.
John walks off to his next class.
Later that day after school with Blyke and Isen.
Isen: Okay then, this looks good.
Blyke: Ahh, nice article, gonna post that in the paper?
Isen: Ahhhh nonononono!
Isen shuts his computer off.
Blyke: Hey man, I think we have a problem with Remi.
Isen: Yeah what's up?
Blyke: I feel like she has not been herself lately.
Isen: Yeah, how?
Blyke: Well she bumped into Cecile this morning,
and when Cecile challenged her authority, Remi didn't power up. Even when Cecile insulted Rei, she just walked out.
Isen: Damn, that's rough.
Blyke: Here, take this.
Blyke hands Isen a movie ticket.
Blyke: We're gonna surprise her with a day at the mall. That might cheer her up, just the three of us.
Isen: Yeah but we have school tomorrow.
Blyke: No we don't, it's election day. We get the day off.
Isen: Oh, okay then.
Blyke: Great, see you tomorrow at nine at the mall downtown. I'll tell Remi.
The two part ways not knowing what the day had planned for them.
To be Continued...