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“I don’t understand. This is what you wanted, isn’t it? Why can’t you just be okay that everyone knows what I did? You have to continue to punish me. I will always be at your mercy, won’t I? This whole rivalry thing is never going to end. You find triumph in bringing me down, that’s what this is.”

“By outing yourself you haven’t suffered enough. Rain deserves redemption.”

The last sentence was the one that got the hero. Rain was a super-hero that Chaser had brought down because of mistaken information that claimed that she was a spy. It was her greatest mistake.

“I’m sorry! Is that what you want to hear? I screamed that to the sky so much I made myself hoarse. I regret it! I regret it so much that words cannot even begin to describe it.” Tears gathered in the hero’s eyes, voice cracking.

“That’s not enough-“

“Then what is?!”

Wide eyes and blush red lips confirmed it. 

“Seems the hero has a thing for villains.” I came into the light, smirk unavoidable. 

Hero opened her mouth first, “What do you want, Switch?”

Switch is my name, after the best power I possess, shapeshifting.

“Oh, I don’t know...” 

I effortlessly turned into a tiger and prowled around the cage they were trapped in, before scaring them with a demonstration of my sharp teeth. 

Human, again, I turned from them, continuing my thought, “I wouldn’t want to burden you...”

I turned myself into a boa constrictor at will. Ssssss... Sssssssssss... Sssssss...

I pulled myself through the bar of the cage and squeezed around their feet.

“Trouble us!” the albeit minor villain spoke up.

Human, I was in the cage with them, casually sitting crosslegged. 

“Well if you insist.” 

I looked unnervingly into their eyes before I began again, “I want to take over the world. Do worry, but lie back, and watch the world burn.” 

Zarah’s body was faced toward the full length windows, outside the storm stumbled like a drunk, and she watched taking it all in. She slowly took out her hand from her coat and traced the raindrops’ paths, ruining the newly cleaned windows.

“But do you forgive me?” Behind her trembled the princess, however scared, she was definitely no law-abiding citizen and had an uncanny affinity for adventure.  

Zarah continued as if she hadn’t heard the princess’s question, “It’s in your posture, your mannerisms, your speech...” 

She turned around and eyed the princess. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”

She perfectly clasped her hands behind her back and started to pace waiting for the princess’s answer.

“I-I,” the princess was caught of guard, “I didn’t, I hoped, well, I assumed...” 

She sucked in a breath trying to find her composure and her voice lowered almost naturally, “I didn't want you treat me differently.”

Zarah’s hawk-like eyes were upon her studying her and her words.

Then, they were off her and they turned to the storm once again as if she was substituting the storm for the princess. 

“I won’t lie, I probably would’ve treated you differently. But, you can’t blame me, at least I would have known you. Everything you have ever said to me feels like a giant lie. The only thing I know about you is how you kiss and just as much as the general public and, well, I’ll be brazen, that hurts. I have told you so much and you haven’t the decency to tell the truth until it was out of your hands.”

Princess Marie visibly flinched at Zarah’s words and opened her mouth to say another ‘I’m sorry’ but thought better of it and shut it again.

Zarah put her hand in a fist on the window and leaned against it, trying to find words outside in the chaos. 

“I didn't even know that I might be the next big meal for the gossip fish to prey on. How could you let that happen?” 

At this the princess saw her opening to defend herself, “I used everything I knew to keep you away from prying eyes, even my parents. I evaded my guards recklessly to see you.”

The plan was easy. Go through a secret tunnel the Princess gave us information about and we take the King by surprise. Finally, me, the assassin and probably the most formally trained of all of us, was to put a bullet into the King’s head.

Yes, we are the rebellion. I was just doing my job and saving the day as always.

The ragtag team paused in front of the hidden door looked back at ourselves. Then nodded and whipped the doors open, weapons on alert.

The pebbles were back and this time every time I shook my head they grew more abundant.

I did see the King and I remembered my job.

Cocked my pistol and released the bullet...

Only for my hand to shake in the rebound and disasterly change the bullet’s path.

I watched the bullet hit the side of the King’s neck before I fell to the floor.

I still had energy in me, and I tried to pick myself up but couldn’t.

I saw my own blood on the ground and touched my stomach only to see my blurry hand come back honeyed with red.

Something was up, you don’t live in Mania City and just ignore these sort of weird happenings. Especially since this past few years our city just so happens to look more and more like a comic book.

I excused myself from beating the pants off the rest of my family and went out side where the tingly feeling got stronger. It reminded me of when I was younger and I used to play Hide and Seek. I was horrible at that game so usually one of my siblings would try to help me by pointing me in the right direction by saying either ‘hot’ for closer or ‘cold’ for farther. That’s what it felt like, some sort of homing beacon in my ears. 

I am as stupid as I am curious, so of course I had to blindly follow the strongest feeling of tingling and figure out what it meant, if it meant anything.

The reason I say Mania City looks like scenes from comic books is because back 4 or 5 years ago no one had powers or if they did, they didn’t show them. Now though, I have powers, and 5 out of the 7 of my siblings have powers. The numbers just keep increasing. Also, a rise in crime, regular police officers are nothing compared to supervillains, and therefore, the classic heroes were born.

Flying just so happened to be one of my powers, it would be faster and I would have the advantage of a bird’s eye view if this was a trap of some sort.

I was flying West, towards the taller buildings in the city.

I finally felt as if I was in the strongest place that I could sense and tried to peer down through the clouds. It was hopeless, I was just going to have to be careful. Plus this didn’t feel like a trap, it seems like an awful big effort to make my ears feel like this for a trap, like write me a note, I’m curious enough.

My ears popped as I descended and the tingling grew ever stronger. It felt less like a sneeze in the ear and more like my ears fell asleep like a foot would.

Below me I spotted a green suited heroine, Zing, my rival, she stood with a curious leather jacket on her in addition to her regular getup. Luckily, I had thought enough to put my suit and mask on before I left. Zing didn’t look like she was anticipating me though. She stood on the edge of the building below me, it was the tallest building in Mania City, the Shefford Building. 

That’s when things started jumping out at me. Unlike flying, I couldn’t use my other powers at will, I would say they are random but they truly aren’t, perhaps most evident now. 

My power of super sight was nauseating me. I don’t have X-Ray vision but I might as well, my powers allow me to see through layers, not human skin, I only get bursts anyway of my powers. My powers kept recalibrating and refocusing, like a camera that couldn’t focus.

The first thing my eyes went to was a pill in a zippered pocket of the jacket she was wearing. The second was a gun hidden by her jacket that she had put in a secret compartment in her jacket. The third thing was the numerous knives hidden everywhere on her person.

I’m not going to lie, I wanted to fly away because this amount of dangerous weaponry was probably to defeat me, and as much as I was a villain, I wasn’t ready to die quite yet.

The one thing that kept me was that she wasn’t waiting for me to show up. How could I tell?

She had just launched herself off the building. 

What in the hell was she playing at?

Then, it hit me like a ton of bricks and before I knew what I was doing, I had freefall launched myself after her. It seemed I, the villain, was the only one qualified to rescue her, given I was the only one I knew of in the city who had flight powers.

Zing only had one source of powers, they were electricity themed, as her name stated. As far as I knew, Zing didn’t have any power to save her from a fall from this height. Which only left one conclusion, that had been verified by the amount of artillery she was carrying on herself that very second.

Zing was trying to commit suicide. Even if she and I were opposites, and were doomed to fight constantly, I didn’t wish her to die, and I would do my best to make sure she didn’t.

She clearly had back up plans, I had to be stealthy if I was to save her.

Lucky for me she was looking to see her doom, and that had her occupied so I could take the knives and gun off of her. I was happy close-up magic had served me well over the years, the slight of hand wasn’t lost after all these years.

The one thing I couldn’t get was that pill. I knew it had to be something lethal or she would have been carrying it.

It was in a zippered pouch, and that’s all I had going for me. The reassurance that me popping in and scooping her up from dying would be enough of a surprise to keep her immediately from getting to the pill.

We were approaching the cement below us quicker now. I paused for a second, gathered myself then shot to an angle as to best keep her from getting injured hitting me as a rough impact.

She wasn’t as distracted as I wanted her to be, she immediately went to where her gun used to be in the secret pocket, then looked for all the knives. And finally quickly opened up her jacket pocket to the pill.

Because I was flying so fast, she lost grip on the pill and it in slow motion bounced off my face then into my mouth to my and her horror.

She raked a shaky hand half way through her hair. Her movements were slowed, it would be comical if it was funny. 

She picked up a flat black rock and palmed it as if feeling whether it rattled. Then she attempted to skip it, sadly, instead it sunk down with a dissatisfying plop.

Several feet behind her, rocks skittered. A nicely dressed man was dressed in all black with a top hat to add. He was the one who had skittered the rocks. He also had mysterious powers, like flying, hence the rocks skittering, a rough landing.

He stood in place for a second longer, delaying the inevitable. He stared at her back and gathered himself to meet his demise. Or as close as to it as he would get.

She knew he was there, but she didn’t seem to be doing anything about it.

This was awkward for him. In his opinion, it should never be awkward for a villain. Then again, he was meeting with a grieving hero and was wearing all black for the occasion. So clearly, he cared more than he would care to admit.

“Come to gloat?” The hero’s voice was velvet soft over the brisk, chilly air. It wasn’t what tone the villain was expecting. He was expecting an extreme crescendo, a death battle between them. Instead, he got a given-up tone and a broken person, whom he could barely recognize.

“No.” His tone was soft too. It seemed neither of them had won from a death. He had gradually walked forward, by now he stood to her right, gazing calmly at the inky depths in front of him.

She didn’t respond. Minisculely her hands quivered, the villain didn’t notice. Or if he did he didn’t comment on it.

He sat down on the cool black rocks. This action was so startling for the hero, she forgot not to look.

“Sit.” The villain didn’t look at her.

Perhaps in stubborn glory, she stood and looked back to the glassy waters. Spite is one of the biggest motivators. Perhaps, she had enough of people telling her what to do and she was finally choosing her own path, tired of walking upon the same treaded path as the one laid before her. Perhaps, she was tired of being the white sheep, she could be the black sheep or get away from even being a sheep, perhaps a chicken or a cow or a pig would best suit her fancy.

“I didn’t mean to, you know.” It was the villain again. Her thoughts of individuality vanished, still her willfulness remained.

“I’m sure you didn’t.” The hero left the conversation at that and teleported somewhere else.

“Have you ever drove before?” The villain lazily lifted an eyebrow.

The hero didn’t acknowledge the villain’s comment or perhaps they did but it clearly wasn’t shown.

The villain continued, “For a hero, you’re a terrible driver.” He was staring annoyingly through the rear view mirror. Her jaw clenched, annoyed.

The hero took a wide turn and skidded to a stop thankfully in an empty parking lot.

Anger blazing in their eyes and without being in park the hero ferociously turned back to the villain. Their eyebrows were drawn tightly together as a bad stage manager in a children’s play would handle the curtain.

“Look, I didn’t want to be halling you around all day, but I am saving your bottom. So, stop being a backseat driver or I will drop you off here for the cops to find you.”

The antagonist fake considered for a second, then with a smirk said, “Instead, you look like you’re itching for a fight. Come on into the backseat and punch me in the face a couple of times. It’ll feel good and I will probably be unconscious by the end of it so I won’t be talking.” 

The villain had added some interesting points. “Fine, kick your bottom and back on the road, yada, yada, yada.”

The hero (thankfully) put the car in park and rolled up her sleeves preparing for an easy living punching bag.

Instead, just as she got to the backseat, her legs were kicked out from beneath her, the villain hadn’t gotten out of his cuffs but he might as well have. She had chained him to a head rest but it seemed she had forgotten that they so stealthily could be unscrewed. Even worse, his leg was round the back of her knees, keeping her feet at bay and with his still cuffed hands, he had the cuff chain around her neck. One yank from him and she was a goner.

He pushed her face up to meet his icy glaze. She averted her eyes, what a mess she had gotten herself into, why had she even done it? He was a minor villain and she felt bad she had gotten him into trouble. So, the only logical idea was to tie him up and speed away in the heat of the moment.

This was quite possibly one of, no the worst decision she had made in her life.

“What are you going to do with me now?” It hurt to talk with the pressure on her vocal cords.

The villain responded, “We are going to let the cops catch us.” 

She hadn’t stopped pacing since I had put her in here, which was nearing three hours. I would know I’ve been sitting silent next to her, outside the bars containing her, since then, watching.

Now was a good a time as any to talk, plus she didn’t look as angry as when she came in.

I snapped to get her attention. She just continued walking as if she didn’t hear me. Ugh, she is going to play this game.

“Why are you pacing?” I asked a genuine question.

“Why not? I’ve got nothing else to do and I have already felt numerous threats, it helps, goddamnit!” She hadn’t looked my way once as she talked but kicked the floor as she swore. She was getting angry again.

“Why did you even kidnap me?”

I raised my eyebrows, mildly shocked at her stupidity, “Isn’t that obvious?” She shook her head and kept clunking around pathetically.

“Honey, if you don’t already know, I am a person and I have an agenda, to take over. Knocking out my biggest threat to my rule, is what I am doing. You are the big boss, and I already subdued you, which doesn’t look so good for the rest of them. Especially our newbie superheroine, Spinner. If I had known it was so easy to take you on, I would have tried years ago. You have no clue how bad it must be for them, being cast to the shadow, as shining star princess here, steals the spotlight all of the time, masking the heroes in glory and virtue while the city crumbles as you fight.” She was facing me and had slowed her annoying pacing. She looked into my eyes as I spoke of the future, my future.

I continued and looked away this time me pacing, “If you join me, you will be revered truly as peacekeeper, and a rule follower. No more of this vigilante bullsh*t that you pull on the city. You will have a job and will be held accountable for damage to the city in a fight. But, you will also get job security and a paycheck, that completely helps your family, without getting more jobs. Younger people with powers will get a choice and training, help with their powers. We could easily save villains from truly going off the deep end. I know you think of me as a villain, but I am truly a hero trying to get this city what it needs, what the word needs. Which is safety and caution in dealing with people and powers. What do you say?” I looked point blank at her, daring her to defy me, and my ways, the way people with powers should be handled.

“Nice job. I agree, that does sound good, as long as you don’t lock me up here like Glimmer here.”

I smirked and watched as Glimmer’s face paled, and looked back to the inky darkness that spoke, “It is a good deal, it really shows that is what should be going around this country. Of course, if you sign the paperwork that is required of your new job, then you won’t end up in there.”

“I agree too, I want in.” Another voice spoke, noticeably higher in pitch.

I flipped the switch for the lights, showing how many heroes were truly on my side, more than I could count. 

“Why are you crying, my love?” I hated that my voice had cracked, she wasn’t like this, it’s unnatural. She was the most composed person I had ever met. She would make a majestic queen.

In response, she dug her head deeper into my shoulder. I gingerly hugged and pulled her away to wipe her tears. She wouldn’t look me in the eye. She had me even more worried, I hadn’t had that many romantic partners before her but I had have my share of cheaters. I hated to have that seed of doubt but I had been burned to often given most wanted me for riches or power.

“Why?” I was stricter this time, my voice didn’t crack. She finally looked in my eyes and gasped, I was the silent-mad-person. I rarely look truly infuriated, I am sure she had saw I was mad.

Her voice was small and wispy when she replied, “They don’t approve of us, Lillian.”

Mad, not now, it was more of a powerless feeling. This was different, this wasn’t cheating, thankfully. Despite the fact it was different, the nervousness in my chest hadn’t broke. This was quite possibly worse.

I had always known there was rumors and people who didn't agree with my choice in future, namely that I, a woman, would be marrying another woman. I mean how could they be when we logically couldn’t produce an heir. Sure, I hadn’t had a map of the future because I hoped I could miraculously be given a future worthwhile on a silver platter, which I don’t deny happened, so many were worse off than I. But I hadn’t even known that the hatred of my country was so big that they had completely dismissed her as a candidate because she was a woman instead of a traditional male partner.

“Say something, Lil.” Now, her voice was breaking and I was trying to keep a neutral expression on my face to keep her from rebounding into even bigger tears. 

“Ellie, come here.” My voice was quiet and given up. I patted the bed side beside me and curled my fingers around the crown atop my head, trying to ground myself.

“Eleanor Penelope Rossy, I love you, I always will.” Her smile cautiously started.

“But,” I took my crown from my head and sat it gently on the bedspread, looking at it hoping it had some century old wisdom to make this easier to say, “I would give anything for this country, this, sadly, my life, it’s up to the choice of others. Even if it means marrying for the ability to make an heir, I would do anything for this country, and that-that’s what it seems my people need of me.” I kept my eyes on the brass on my bedspread and saw her look of devastation in the glossiness of the crown that kept us apart.

I went around the many objects that made up this warehouse casually. I figured I might as well get comfortable and I was trying to quit my smoking addiction so I got a pretty big lollipop out of my boot. Got it gingerly out of the wrapper and planted it in my mouth. I wouldn’t lie and say it had stopped me from wanting a cigarette, but I had bigger fish to fry.

I peered around the boxes I had settled at. There in the center under the brightest light in this grungy warehouse yelling and flailing about was Miss Perfect, Invincible, the superheroine of the century. Apparently, she was supposed to be on “hiatus”, clearly she was skipping out on her job as a super. A joke, I jest. She was a little tied up and screaming her guts out.

To her right, lingering was a messy supervillain, Knock Out, powerful to say the least, the power being the ability to manipulate emotion chemicals. He was able to make you hear things, see things, love things, and of course give you a big enough dose of fear to knock you out for hours. 

He was dangerous. I sucked on my lolly some more, rolled the sweet marble on a stick around my mouth, contemplating. I hated playing hero, I was a villain and frankly, child at heart. In front of me sat a super, and perhaps the last of my sanity. 

She had stopped screaming, but instead of making me feel better it made me feel worse. She kept echoing the word ‘no’, yanking at her cuffs holding to her chair. Her voice was getting hoarser from not even yelling. Then, I saw something I would never see in a million years, she was crying. I let myself feel curious for only a second, What could she have conjured up to make the most composed of anyone I had ever met cry?

“Stop.” In my words, Knock Out had lost focus and had unknowingly done what I had asked, that and a little help from my powers. She looked spooked and had promptly puked after being let out of his mind control of sorts. She was still yanking but it was clear she wasn’t here when she was crying, she was still terrified looking around miserably and still yanking. 

“Bloody, stop it, you are giving me a headache.” She had stopped yanking and squinted into the darkness looking for the source of the voice.

“Who are you, Brit?” Oh, yeah, after saving her from a traumatic nightmare, I don’t even get I a thank you.

I smacked my lolly and came into the light, a single eyebrow up. I had to keep my cover of course.

“The name’s Mental, a thank you would be nice.” I had taken the lolly out of my mouth to talk but my cravings for a drag increased 10 fold so I spoke little.

She looked me up and down, questions hanging in her watery eyes, “I don’t know if you are villain or hero, besides you haven’t even gotten me out of the cuffs.”

My friend, more importantly, my crush looked quite literally crushed. She was propped up on a hospital bed barely clinging to life. She had tubes everywhere and was as pale as could be. Sophia was so lively, seeing her like this was like a sin. Her cheeks normally rosy looked red in a different way, a road burn of sorts.

“How-how could this have happened?” I knew her, she knows better than to get herself in trouble like this, she looks like she was in a motorcycle accident.

“Because you are her emergency contact, we have the right to disclose that information with you. Should the information we disclose with you here be somehow outed to someone not a legal guardian or not an emergency contact, which is no one but yourself, she does have the right to sue you for anonymity.”

“-I don’t understand.” I butted in.

“Shush, please let me finish.” She agonizingly paused. “Sophia Arnold is the superheroine, Night. If you don’t already know the news, Night was fighting her nemesis, Charge when he managed to get an upper hand before Night had backup. Charge destroyed her, backup arrived shortly after, and she was admitted into the ICU late last night. She is stable now, but she is showing signs of concussion and possibly of amnesia, we have no way of knowing until she wakes up. Which at this point, it is questionable that she will ever wake up. I am sorry to deliver the devastating news to you, Mr. Lawrence. I will leave you alone with Sophia now. Call a nurse or me if you need help, I am Doctor Callahan.”

I swallowed and nodded, she nodded back and left.

I sat in the uncomfortable chair next to her bedside. It was not comfortable, but how could I think of that when she is probably way more uncomfortable than me. I looked at her skin damaged face, disappointment swallowed me whole. Shame stung like alcohol in a wound. I lowered my head into my arms, tears escaped me but I could not catch them nor care.

“Oh, Sophie,” I muttered. How could she have not told me?

I lay on dry sidewalk, my eyes trained to the sky. In the years of my youth, I would certainly not be as calm, collected, and at peace as I was now. Blood pooled from a wound that had sunk deep in my stomach. It wasn’t painful, or maybe if it was I was too high on adrenaline and shock to hold notice to it.

I could hear my daughter, powerful yet scared voice high with command among me dying. God bless her heart, despite the fact we were Atheists. That’s when the waterworks started. I would never see her down the aisle at her wedding. I wouldn’t see grandchildren if she would have them. I wouldn’t get to hear her soon. Tears started to blotch my vision, but I tried to push them down, after all she was here and I at least wanted to see her and her sea-blue eyes that had matched her mother’s when I was going to die. 

As much as I wanted to put my panic of my time at a close away, my hearing was going now. Her mouth was moving and I could pick up intermittent words when my hearing was going in and out. Her hand had wrapped around mine giving it a squeeze, I could barely find strength the squeeze back. Slowly, the time between the words I could hear increased and it instead was replaced by a sharp ringing that I tuned out as quickly as I could. I had to focus. Focus. Focus. Focus... foc... Why did I need to focus, I was dying.

My girl, my young girl that wasn’t all that young anymore. My breaths got heavier, I felt the weight of gravity increase and I was unable to keep the insistent ringing out of my ears.

My thoughts started to deteriorate, I felt like I was going through a quick progression of amnesia. When the thoughts stopped, memories replaced them, my life story if you will.

The first was when I first met my wife, we were high school sweethearts, I had thought she was destined for much better than I. 

Memories kept tumbling and another straightened and came into focus. I was definitely not her first boyfriend, but later in our life, before our daughter, she had told me curled up near the fire, marshmallows in our cocoa, she had told me that out of all of them I had only ever been the one, I was the one who had treated her the best. I couldn’t contain the soft smile off of my face for a week. I loved hard, I had loved her hard. I was a softy at heart.

More, more, memories plowed through, a glimpse back at our magical wedding day, my radiant bride calming my nerves with her more than genuine smile. The twinkle in her eyes, reminding me why I married her. Our first dance.

A dash of melancholy spiraled down my bones. Memories galore, the newest were centered around our daughter, Ellie. When she was born, birthdays. Her school pageant in third grade, where she forgot her lines but had improvised and had said something incredibly witty and equal parts hilarious. The exact line was lost in time, but I still remember the audience and myself, my wife, all laughing at the hidden joke our daughter had contributed without thought. 

Bike rides. Her first all-nighter with me in eighth grade to finish a huge project before the sun came up. She had earned a hundred and we went out to dinner to celebrate. Driving. Her high school graduation, a huge smile and the very same twinkle her mother had posing for pictures. Her boyfriends and girlfriends that I had looked harshly on to make sure my daughter wasn’t going to get hurt.

The last of the stings had broke, I had coughed up blood. My eyes were heavy. My breaths were heavy. My heart was heavy. 

“Do you really want to know?”

She was close to him now, the kohl around her eyes made her look loony and graceful simultaneously, damn her. She picked the hero back up seamlessly and handed him his sword. Now he was just made to look stupid.

“Yes...” His voice betrayed him though, his nervousness coming through his shaking voice. He languidly brought his sword back up, ready to try again to hit the devil he was faced with. He looked like he was ready to hit a pińata with a baseball bat, without a couple of turns and blindfold.

She smiled honestly, no hostility in her eyes, only a pretty, non violent goddess stood before him. “I’m immortal, hon, you’re never getting rid of me.”

“That’s nice.” He said in bitter sarcasm. He stared at his sword in question, as in: well, what am I supposed to do now?

“Sorry, hon, it’s time for your end, I know you are not immortal.” She gingerly took the sword from him and even killing him she was none the less graceful.

“Yeah, but guess what ya don’t know, I’m a reincarnator and reanimator, chew on that, sucker.” The hero’s voice was in a different body now, a former henchwoman of her’s that is until she didn’t take a direct order.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

How is this even possible?

Why can’t trees be quiet?

This wasn’t happening yesterday or even a couple hours ago, then suddenly trees were just casually chatty and they wouldn’t shut up. Goodbye were my days of silence, all I could listen to was various plants’ inner dialogue.

Truthfully, I don’t care about moving you to the better sunlight or relieving you of the horrendous tire swing, just leave me alone.

After five minutes of me screaming, I heard a voice from the windowsill, “Why are you screaming?”

It was the city’s local heroine, Mix sitting cross legged on the window. She was so comfortable sitting so high because she could literally turn into anything, including birds. Lucky her, I just had tree’s thought’s to hear.

“They won’t stop.” I held my ears, trying to get the plants’ voices out of my head. I probably looked like a lunatic to Mix, I could care less though.

“What won’t stop?” Mix was next to me now, hands delicately removing my hands from my ears probably incredibly confused as to why I didn’t have a wound but was screaming like a loony.

“The voices, I can hear the trees’ voices!” I hollered.

“Look here, you will be fine, okay? If you want I can get you in touch with someone that can help you with handling your powers.”

I put up my hand and blinked, “wait, I have powers?”

I felt the beginnings of a branch breaking beneath my weight. Just a few more inches and... I got it!

And then I fell all the way down the tree...

I don’t remember much, but I do remember a man yelling at me and grabbing my arm. It was then that I got out of my stupor and got scared.

“Why did you steal my mango? Huh? Go on, tell me then!” I might have only got the tail end of his yelling but he sounded mighty angry and I got the jist.

“Uh, I, uh.” I decided then and there that I would give him the truth and accept any consequences that came with it. “I stole your mango because my brother and I are hungry. I’m sorry, sir.” I hung my head ready for a slap that never came.

“Come on, then, I’ll get some other things for you and your brother, then we’ll be on our way to him.” My eyes widened, I fell to my knees.

“Thank you, oh thank you, kind sir!” I was so happy I was weeping. My brother and I hadn’t been eating anything monumental in weeks.

———

As we were walking to my brother, I was trying to figure out how to tell this man we didn’t have a house.

I walked into the cemetery, the man just waited behind the sign until I signaled for him to follow me.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t know your brother had died, my condolences.” He walked carefully, looking down and stepping gracefully over the gnarled roots of the grand trees that overlooked the cemetery.

“What? No, he didn’t die, he is right there.” I pointed to my young brother very much so alive and tracing the letters on our parents tombstones. He was noticeably less energetic and leaned on the grave for support but he was alive.

“Why is he here then, and left alone?” The man looked alarmed by my brother’s dirty and lethargic state, pulled out a handkerchief, and handed it to me.

“We don’t have a home, and mother and father are right there.” I pointed to the tombstones and then proceeded to wipe my brother as much as I could with the thin linen the man had provided.

He swallowed slowly and looked around at the pretty willows that had been shielding us from the rain. “Why here though?”

The main problem was she wasn’t sure who activated the dead drop, an annoying glitch in her system had left her with no clue.

Here she was, world class killer walking to a dead drop. Did I mention it wasn’t too nicely lighted?

She tapped some bricks and alike to Harry Potter, a compartment opened to a tablet? She didn’t have a tablet.

“Hello, Kiera.” The assassin was so on edge that when the computer talked, she threw a knife directly at an echo. It was a reflex, honestly. Especially to someone who didn’t show up and dropped off a creepy tablet, not to mention the use of her first name.

“You know you are really hackable, right? This dead drop was just begging for me to screw you over.” A girl no older than 12 stepped out from the shadows, hands folded neatly behind her back. Her posture didn’t mean that she couldn’t be holding a gun directly behind her back, the killer was weary of this young kid. 

“Look, I don’t have money. I have something more valuable. I’ll encrypt you, successfully this time, your other ‘specialists’ were the ones who really screwed you over. You give me protection and money, otherwise the police are going to be knowin’ which door to be knocking on.” The girl looked way too ferocious to be a princess with a silver spoon, who was she?

The killer asked the same question, “Who are you?”

“Your worst nightmare.” The girl’s jaw was clenched and eyes glowing.

“Who does it look like you are asking? I am your nemesis, I took your friend for a reason, and it looks like I might get what I want.” The villain looked down at the hero, a tough look on his face.

“You-I-You need to save Jessie, I will do anything.” It was so bad, that the smart and quick-witted hero was mixing up his words and literally pulling at his thin hair. A rare and prized day, indeed.

“Anything?” The hero nodded quickly afraid for the amount of time away from his friend. “If you marry me, I will save her.”

-------

It was a rosy day, the hero almost wished for his wedding to get rained out.

There were a small number of people attending, none in fact from the hero’s side, unless you considered his friend he had saved. He didn’t regret it, she looked content and pretty even in a sundress and matching hat, a dazzling smile too. At least, she was safe and sound.

The hero wasn’t listening to what the officiant was saying until he said, “Do you, Keon Roth, take Grant’s hand in marriage till the end of time?”

Suddenly, it seemed like the ants, spiders, and any other creatures around decided that down was a perfect time to stare him down. He roughly swallowed.