"This is only an assumption. But they could possibly be an S-rank Villain."
My heart dropped immediately. My stomach started to feel achy and I felt like vomiting.
"It's just my assumption, I haven't confirmed the details yet, but still… it frightens me that it could be a possibility." She said with a slight nervous voice in her throat. She pulls out a document of people's file data from her fancy black suit.
"What's with the files for?"
"These are the suspects I believe might be murder." She slides them to me. Now that I take a better look at them, these were the documents I had turned in last month.
"These files contain only two suspects. The first suspect is Michael Andre. He has a bulky figure with a buzz cut. The second suspect, Dan Scouse. He has long dark hair curling down his shoulders, and his left eye has a white eyepatch."
"What about their clothing or any type of clothes they wear?"
"It doesn't matter. It's not that they won't be wearing the same clothes for days or maybe at least 1 or 2 weeks. Besides, they could change clothes at any moment and time. No matter what day."
Huh, I haven't thought about that.
"But aren't these guys… heroes?" I asked. "Were the photos taken when they first became heroes?" Why was she suspecting they might be behind the scene? Aren't they supposed to help people and save them from dangerous situations?
"I know how much you adore heroes Alan, but the reason I suspect them as the first suspects is I'm concerned that these guys were doing some 'dirty' work to begin with," Ava takes another sip of her coffee. "If I had to estimate, I'd say they started doing black-market business around 2 months ago. It hasn't been long since they started."
My heart sank, a chill went down my spine. Heroes that kill the innocent? That's unheard of. That... can't be true. Heroes are supposed to protect them and form smiles on them!
I clenched my first. "Perhaps…. aren't you making a mistake on the suspects?"
"... I'm positive."
For just a split second, I saw as the world had ended. My blood turned cold as my veins were to stop pumping, my heart wanted to pound out of my chest. I grip my chest, and look at Anna.
"Are you sure... there aren't any other suspects?"
Anna shakes her head, I could just tell just by head shaking as well reading the atmosphere that she was not bluffing. I couldn't believe it, no, I refuse to believe it.
I clutched my white long sleeve as a heavy apprehension overcame my body. Was it out of shock? Panic? Loss or grief? Betrayal that some do the opposite role of a ...heroes? One of the things I admire the most… has betrayed the one thing I always wanted to be?
Since the beginning where heroes started to descend on the world, I have admired them. I… looked up to them.
Still unable to get a grip of the situation, Anna called my name several times as I was spacing out until snaps her fingers which turned me back to reality.
"Are you alright?" She was worried. Worried that I would lose myself. Her eyes looked at me with anxiety.
"Ah... yes, I'm alright."
I faced my food. It was cold, but nothing out of the ordinary. With that, I took my fork and ate. Anna and I didn't say a word before we finished eating.
***
Tonight was a breeze night, as stars shone in the night sky. While it darkens, people wander around the city less and less. I scrolled through my phone, it wasn't cheap nor expensive, but it was enough to make calls and text messages. Smartphones are hard to get these days.
As I continued to walk towards my apartment, I then stumbled across a sign which read 'Work Area Ahead'.
I was confused. There haven't been reports or news about constructing nearby. It might've been possible that the construction workers could have started the project. Oooh how lucky, it's near Hallow Street as well.
'Lucky my ass, my mind is just being sarcastic.'
Though I can't disagree, the word 'Hallow' does sound kinda... I don't know "dull" which kinda makes sense since the street is known for being an empty place. What surprises me the most, civilians usually don't ever take this avenue during nighttime.
Rumor has it, this street is haunted the further one goes. People say that a woman with white cloth then reaches her feet along with a white veil, always appearing on the street.
'A ghost perhaps? Reminds me of La Llorona from the county lower to South America uber legend. Not that she could be here in any way.'
Even so, ghost or not, I'm not crossing my way through there. Might as well turn back. Regardless, it'll take even longer for me to arrive at my house.
I don't know why, but just looking through the street, I get the feeling that something is lurking around here. I could be wrong, but not just the feeling, but my whole body is shouting out to not walk through Hallow St.
It's late, the time on my phone showed 10:20 p.m. meaning that all the people have already gone home. The streets were empty. I wanna go home...
The unpleasant feeling was still hovering over me, and my heart was pumping hard as if it wanted to pop out of my chest, it hurts. I can't waste any more time now, I promised Anna that I'll get home safe, I need to keep that promise.
With a final discussion, I decided to make my way through Hallow St. As I'm walking through the side street, I heard multiple jeers.
"Aww~ why don't you come with us. We'll treat you better than that useless piece of shit can do."
"He's right, come with us darlin'~ We're heroes, unlike this punk, we can be more than enough than that useless no power son-of-b*tch."
"I'd told you that I'm not interested! H-hey let me go!"
"Enough already! That's my wife you bastards, take your hands off her please I beg of you!"
Quarrelsome could be heard from a distance where I'm heading. The hustling voices were coming from an alleyway which isn't very far. A married couple and two unknown faces were covered in the dark.
"Please let her go! And you call yourselves heroes!? Aren't you supposed to help and protect us civilians?!"
My body stood motionless. Heroes? What is going on at this hour? In a place like this, I didn't think there would be anyone around this place. But, the real question is, what are they doing to those married couples?
The alleyway looked very more like an arcade, even though there wasn't anything to shop at. It was dark, the light supporting the vicinity wasn't enough to provide light in the darkness
Smack!
"Huh? And what are you going to do about it? Piss off you piece of sh*t!"
I was stunned. How can these heroes hurt an innocent civilian? Somethings wrong here. Heroes certainly can't use any ferocity towards a villain or criminal without permission from the Hero Association. No, this was different.
"Please I beg you!"
"Tch, alright I had enough out of you."
Before he had the chance to smack the husband, the person from behind stopped him.
"Wait. Before you beat this guy, how about we have some fun with her first~" he licks his lips. The husband sees this and immediately loses his temper, showing pure rage.
He tries getting up, but the hero next to him steps on his back from preventing him to hoist. This made me sick to my stomach, but I held it back. The only thing I could do is hide while watching from a distance.
I couldn't do anything. All I could do was watch, as the man was getting beat up to a pulp. I've got to do something. But how? If I try to stop them I'll be another target for them. Even if I try to get other heroes to deal with them, I don't know what'll happen to me before they even come.
Questions started to drive into my brain endlessly. I was stuck in a situation where you had to make a choice. A choice that'll either save your life or the other. In other words, one choice will choose your fate forever.
I bit my lips. Any other choice I come up with will only lead me to my death. I had no other option left, nothing will come out if I just keep standing here! I need to do something quick!
"I-I won't let you... take her..."
"So you can still move huh? Well, in that case, I'll just have to end your life right--- !"
"I won't let you have your way!"
He turned his head, but I already had my arms around his body, trying to tackle him down. I don't know why I was helping this married couple. Both of us fell onto the ground, making an opening for the husband who quickly got up to retrieve his wife.
Did he have spare energy? Well that's a good thing. Thankfully, the other hero hadn't taken his wife hostage.
He looked surprised, realizing now that there was another person here on the streets at night just like them and that I assaulted a hero. Normal people would be scared sh8t-less. I'm afraid as well, but I couldn't find the reason why.
"Go! Leave this place immediately! NOW!" I shouted at them. The husband glanced at me, his eyes showed a sorrowful feeling. Those eyes... I've seen them somewhere... Where have I seen those eyes...
"GO! Don't worry about me!" I repeated.
As the husband looks at me with pity, pity that he won't be able to save me before he can even get help on time. That's fine... at least he and his wife are going to be okay...
He clenches his teeth, without a second a thought he runs caring for his wife far away from where the heroes and I were at. He runs until there isn't a trace of him, as he fades away from the dark.
"Well there they go, running away like animals . Should we go and chase them?" The other hero looked down at me as I was still on top of one of them, with a serious face. It gives a familiar look, a villain's look.
"Nah, don't bother. They may have gotten away, but we still got ourselves a new toy to play with." The hero that I tackled down licks his lips. He gets up from the ground and throws me to the wall.
SLAM!
"Keok!"
I spat out a mouthful of blood. The measurable pain rushed into my body like a tsunami wave. Because of my weak body, this body couldn't endure it. To think I'd experience a hero's strength. How could they be this powerful?
"Ha! Look at these freaks, how weak they are! Can't even handle a single blow from us power users!" he says smirking before switching back to his solemn face. "Now, because of you letting our other toys fun away. You'll just have to take their spot now."
I wheezed while struggling to catch my breath. My lungs couldn't keep up with my breathing as I tried to inhale. I coughed out blood
"Cough... why... cough, cough, a-are you doing this..." My voice was weak. Anything I said could barely be heard. My heart was racing fast. It hurts.
"Hmm? What was that? Speak louder you piece of sh*t!" he continues to kick and punch throughout my whole body.
'This bastard is trying to kill me!'
"Aaaaagh!!"
"If you want to blame others, blame yourself for getting in this situation like this." He lifts me up by the shirt and looks at me. Then, I saw a good look at his face. Now I remember where I have seen this guy!
Michael Andre, who goes the hero name AmoaStar, one of the city's heroes, low ranked E, and also the suspects of committing mass murder. Then that means he was here?!
Cold sweats filled my entire body, as my heart dropped into my stomach once again. My whole body screamed in horror.
My reaction must have been revealed as he took a short pause from thrashing me.
"Oh? Judging by your reaction. You probably know who we are already. Well, you'll be dead before you even get people to know about us." Michael says sternly. "But, before that..."
He raises his fist. "I'll just have to kill you." He punched my gut, I couldn't breathe.
"Uwaaaaak!!"
D*mn, even for a low rank like him, he's this strong?! I don't know how many times he did this. But it felt like hours, punches and kicks constantly kept coming. Sounds of bones breaking were heard throughout the alleyway.
"Aaarhhhh!"
I don't know how much time has lasted. My mind was completely blank. My consciousness was starting to fade.
"Euh..... cough..... uh..."
"Huh? You're still alive? I gotta admit, you're tough to have lasted this long like a freak." He soon cracks both his knuckles, a signal for him to finish off his opponent. "Man~ the fact that you guys are still living makes me sick."
I don't know the reason why he hates me or other people that don't have abilities, but... what's the purpose for hating us? We haven't done anything wrong... why...
I didn't want to ask him... but what changes if I'm already going to die. I swallowed the courage I had left while breathing heavily and asked. "Why do you despise people like me, who have no superhuman abilities? What crime did we commit to deserve this or to hate us?"
Andre stayed quiet. But it didn't take him long to answer. "Hmm, how should I put this. Maybe because it's fun~" He makes a creepy smile. "It's fun, I love to see you guys in pain, screams, despair! I want to see those reactions you guys make!"
He raises the dagger. I couldn't move because of the things that happened. Why haven't I realized yet? Those that are useless in this world have no place to serve. Only those that are strong could survive on this harsh planet.
Ha… I'm gonna die.
Chapter 2 completed.