Chereads / Shattered Autonomy / Chapter 5 - Act 1.2: The First Incident

Chapter 5 - Act 1.2: The First Incident

Church bells rang as I sped by on my sports bike. The best model out these days, albeit costly. Almost as costly as the gold watch and its platinum face, which gleams with an importance befitting of my stature.

I open my mouth gulping down on that fresh air whizzing past on the downward slope. My instincts tell me that this day is going to be a good one. The sun's gleaming heat bounces off the aluminum frame soaking my body in sweat. Yet, I am at peace with this.

I'll just borrow some kid's clothes once I get to school. Doesn't really matter if they disagree or not because in the end, I will get what I want. Just like how my friends will get what they want.

As long as they don't act out.

The city streets line with cars desperately trying to get through the early morning's pile up. All the while pedestrians trudge off to their nine to five jobs sullen with the clocked eyes that long for rest.

Dead beats.

That's what they are after all. Mediocre humans who were either unable to fulfill their dreams or simply never found one. They will work and work for the rest of their lives dying without a single person remembering them.

Such is the life of the mediocre. But I'm fine with them staying around. There needs to be mediocre and even worse types of people on this planet in order to make me shine even brighter that is.

I've heard the sly remarks and still do as I skid the next corner.

Bitch #1, "It's that rich brat again."

Old Bum, "Fucking, punk. I see him and his gang smoking and drinking all the time."

Slut Snitch, "Last week I saw the five of them beating the ever-living shit out of some middle schoolers."

Bitch #2, "How horrible, why does no one report them?"

Oh, they do. All too often in fact. Just no one seems to care. Not the police, the school, or even our parents. I guess it pays to be wealthy. But I do not intend to be satisfied with just this modicum of expense. I will become greater than all these fools that twiddle away as their parents' bank accounts run dry. Oh, how I flutter with the sheer chance to pound the heel of my shoe into their noses!

I lean back on my bike, slowing my speed which allows my nostrils to take in the delicious scent of freshly baked bread. Lennard's parents own the bakery that I habitually attend every Monday. Their delicate bread mixed to the beat of the flour pounded in the backroom satiates the hungry in my gut. I even promised to make them famous once I take control of my father's company. That's what happens when you befriend the rich.

Consequences befall everyone.

Reaching out with my left leg the bike comes to a crawl outside the florist. I can't forget to pick up flowers. Anna always loves roses. Quite cliché, but I find that cute about her. Especially how she acts so stern and serious during classes. Only I get to see her true side once all is said and done.

I didn't even have to use my wealth to win her over. Just some kind words and manipulative actions brought her skipping to my tune.

Pulling out my leather wallet, marked with various baseball stickers, I was then greeted with the chirping of my phone. Removing both the smartphone and the correct amount in cash, I answer the device awkwardly, shuffling the bouquet between hands.

"Hello!" The caller was Anna, my Anna.

"Yes, Anna." I responded, emphasizing the final syllable.

The sudden moving of doors could be heard from her end, "Please, call me Mrs. Kasperan. I'm in the staff room at the moment, the other teachers might hear us."

I grin. These scenarios I love so much. "Don't worry so much. Even if they do find out about our arrangement it won't be a problem. My parents basically own the place. That's how you got the job here after we moved."

"I guess. Still, I would like to avoid the weird glances if possible."

"Alright, what did you call me for Mrs. Kasperan?" I can practically feel her blushing through the device. "I'm already on my way to school so I'll see you in a bit."

"Actually, I was wondering if you can get out of school possibly an hour early. We could go see that movie you like. Then, no one will notice us."

This was exactly what I had prepared for. An evening with my Anna. And I know exactly how to push her buttons.

"The One that Lived. That film? You should love it as well; it has that big named actor you crush on."

"Derek Donner?"

"The very one."

A gasp is heard on the other end as she is taken aback. "Oh, how I love him."

Grinning, I replied, "Hopefully not as much as me… I might be able to. As long as it doesn't just end after the film."

"Oh, what do you mean?" She says with a light bite on her bottom lip glazed in a thick layering of ruby red… Or so I imagine. Afterall, it was the gleam that fit best on a cool spring evening with the lights ever so dimmed.

"How about you get a reservation at that hotel just like last time? Tomorrow is a Saturday."

There was a quiet consideration on the other line. Contemplation then reconsideration finally ending at her decision. "Fine. Make sure to bring the box of fun from before."

Mission accomplished. My parents will not even realize I'm gone until three days from now. Off at another one of their bullshit conferences. The call ends with us flirtatiously giving our goodbyes.

Looks like today will be good, just how I predicted. Although I won't be able to assist Remi with his money crusades after school, Jen can definitely help out. Checking my wallet once more before embarking again I notice just how light it is. Those damn flowers!

Always costs a bundle nowadays. Apparently, they used to grow everywhere and not in reserves. I highly doubt that, how could something so beautiful just be anywhere. They're such exquisite commodities only befitting of someone who could treasure them so kindly. That history teacher must've lost his mind with such spun lies.

Anyways, I'll need a cash refill from the usual suspects once I get there. Need enough for dinner and the film. Anna will pay for the rest; all it takes is getting her in the mood.

A billboard flickering with a holographic neon message stood at the size of an elephant right above the overpass. It depicted the hero, Unity, dressed in his 5th anniversary suit adorned with gold badges and lined with silver streaks on his leggings which then flowed across his wrists emphasized in contrast to the sterling blue base that decorated the rest of his suit. Alongside him were his three sidekicks Jupiter, Krypt, and Hunt pointing toward a mock clipping of the Agency's Headquarters. A 125-story building adorned with a park in the back and at the entrance a concrete platform situated with five statues. Three were of the current most accomplished heroes while the last two, who watched from the back, grinned a marble brilliance cementing their legacy as the originals who protected the nation. Simply, an advert detailing the new positions within the Agency. All the while the back of the billboard screamed for a driver's attention as the trailer for the most recent corporate film began.

What a bunch of corrupt pieces of shit.

Heroes?

Really?

The only reason more villains are popping up nowadays is due to these bastards encouraging them to become showmen. I thank God alone I will never become one of those evolved freaks. Once you get a modicum of power, they immediately ascertain thoughts to become the greatest. They never settle for a moment to become a part of the mediocre, always giving father trouble.

All I have to do is ignore them. Soon enough the business industry will take a majority of shares in the Agency and dissolve these fools of their fantasies. Then, the villains will stop, and corporate business will be the only evil acts committed on a mass scale.

The bike squeaks to a halt in a barren alleyway. Down the next fork in the road was a shortcut. This was what allowed me to sleep so long on weekdays. If this spot didn't exist, I surmise I would probably have to wake an hour earlier and catch a bus.

Later, Lennard and I can hit baseballs at that first-year kid who tried fighting with me the other day. I'll relieve some of my unneeded stress that way. These damn tests are so tiring, I can't even go out drinking these days.

What a pain…

These fuckers always think they can take me down. Forcing me to bloody my knuckles.

"IT HURTS TO PUMMEL YOU RETARDS EVERY DAY! YOU KNOW THAT!" I yell in frustration.

Every month some new idiot who trained his muscles for a week believes he is hot shit. Give me a break. I swear that new transfer kid has been eyeing me for days now. Bet he's going to challenge me today. Well, better than studying, I guess. This way I might be free for a few months if I can show how disgusting the kid is afterward. Shove his face in Jen's dog's shit. Maybe send him into the girl's restroom afterward.

That'll get 'em.

I disembark off my bike walking alongside it down the cramped space. The path was tight and quite long. Usually filled with trash and hypodermic needles. At one point we tried cleaning the spot but only got worse the next time we passed through.

'Fucking bums. Thank God more of 'em burn each day.'

I stop dead in my tracks. My eyes notice something at the far end. A kind of black blob laying against the wall. With more concentration I realize the blob is a person dressed in black boots, black leather pants, a black buckled coat and black gloves. Stranger is that from this distance I am certain his face was completely black.

God, another evolved human. Probably the guy who trashes this place every week. I'll get his face and make sure father sends some guys to beat the crap out of him.

I began to move again. Slowly walking by with my phone stuck just out of my pocket and eyes peering straight down at the ground.

'This guy is soooooo fucked.'

Only three feet away from him did I stop again. A feeling crept across my skin. Goosebumps spread along my legs and arms while the hair stood up on the back of my neck. Gray webbing faintly encircled the man, leaving me in the center of his trap.

My body, frozen in place, unable to do anything but blink and breathe. Images ate my mind apart. Hands strangling children. Gunshots and screaming. Needles dripping with fluid while shriveled up corpses lay on the receiving end. Whatever these images are, they came directly from the man just on my right. He still did not look at me. His head kept down just like mine.

I've heard of this before. Evolved humans possess something like a shield. An area of effect where their presence can be sensed by other evolved and unevolved humans. Unity's is a warm pillow or some crap, but villains have a much darker one. One that can make people vomit or even die if they get too close. The problem is of course that once your aura activates in your life, it can never be shut off, or is that another piece of bullshit we use to satisfy our worries?

The man could just be some drunken evolved who's having a bad day. Maybe his wife kicked him out or he lost his job.

I shouldn't be afraid.

Keep moving.

My legs finally shuffle across the grimy cement. Sweat falls from my face in tandem with my body's constant shaking.

The light on the other side could just be seen.

I'm almost there… to safety.

This is only a bad experience. The rest of the day will be fantastic. Anna will comfort me tonight and I'll release my fear onto her.

Yeah… that's how it will go.

This was all before the man's hand gripped my shoulder.

In a shaky, hoarse voice the man spoke, "Do you got a light, kid?"

Turning toward the man I was proven correct in my assumption. His face is completely black. Small whirlpools float where his eyes should be. Evolution must have made him this way.

"I-I'm sorry… I don-" A great pain shot in my stomach. It felt like a metal bar was jabbed into my rib cage. But no. I knew right away it was the man's fist.

Blood seeps from my mouth mixing with the saliva. Soon vomit comes out as well. With one strike that man won. Grasping one hand over the other fist the man in black approaches me.

I know this move. I've used it many times on my victims. The man is mocking me. Has he been watching me?

No…

NO! I'm invincible, this isn't possible.

"Listen, I'll pay you whatever you want. Plea-" The man struck again, kicking my face with his steel-toed boot. A loud crack rang in my ears. Something had broken and the next thing I knew my jaw hung limp from my mouth.

Still cupping his fist, the man's feet kept their assault on my body. Meticulously hitting into joints and breaking bones. No longer able to speak with my broken jaw I found that tears and moans are my only form of communication.

More and more blood began to leak out from my appendages, manifesting splotches in my cotton undershirt. Everything grew dimmer. The light of the sun became the size of a pea after only a few seconds of this torment.

"Ugh… ill… eee. Ugh… ill… eee!" I moan at the man. The whirlpools on his face leave the position of his eyes instead creating a crooked smile. The man was enjoying this.

Kneeling down to the boy, the man screams, "NO!"

He raises his fists into the sky. Shining down like the beacon of God; the man slams his fist into my face blackening the world around me.