Page 34 of The Not So Super Hero
“I heard a lot of mutant students dropped out,” Amery said, causing Bailey to pivot on his heel.Upon seeing his confused expression, Amery nodded.“Crazy, right?I can’t really blame them with all the attacks, M.R.S going crazy, and the missing cases.”
“Missing cases?”Bailey took a seat beside Amery.
“Yeah, there’s been a surge in missing mutant cases long before talk of Rebirth.People didn’t really start putting it together until recently, though.But some say it’s all speculation, drama for the news to thrive off of.No one can say something isn’t up with everything that’s been going on.Rebirth or not, I think we all should keep our heads on a swivel.”
Amery pointed at Bailey as if to say, ‘especially you.’Bailey didn’t need that look, nor did he need to hear it.He knew that.As the world’s unluckiest man, it was clear Bailey would get caught up in every mess.It definitely felt like a storm was on its way.
He wondered if Zane felt it, too.He was a mutant, after all; at least Bailey assumed he was after that night in the alley.Zane could be worried.It could be what was causing his lack of sleep.He may be the not caring type, but even he had to be concerned for his own life and safety.Asking felt rather rude though, even for Bailey, who normally poked and probed at someone, regardless.
Zane had every right to be worried.If Rebirth was back, if the news was right, Zane was in far more trouble than Bailey and that should be proof enough of how bad the situation was.
CHAPTER 12
“Yourstubbornnessisgoingto be the death of you,” Chris hissed.
Zane shrugged from the position on his bed, lying down with every intention of sleeping.Unfortunately, such a wonderful thing never came.It was official; the universe hated him for it had taken away his means of escape, leaving him to attempt his way through life, which was being a colossal pain in the ass at the moment.
Zane rolled to his side and replied, “No argument there.”
“I’ve been saying this for weeks.You need to leave.Now.Pack your bags, get in your car and go,” Chris said, pressing both hands to the back of his neck.
“Go where?”
“Anywhere!”
The moment Zane revealed to Chris that he had an unpleasant visit from Leona, there had been nothing but talk of leaving.Actually, Chris started packing Zane’s bags immediately.Even went so far as to “threaten” to take out as much money from the bank as he could to give to Zane to get going.
After a few hours of arguing, Chris calmed down.After a few days, he was calm enough to return to his own home.However, he remained vigilant and paranoid as the weeks went by, not to say Zane wasn’t the same.Zane understood Chris was trying to be helpful, but it seemed he forgot who they were dealing with.
“You know as well as I, that it doesn’t matter where I go.If Rebirth has their eyes on me, they’ll get me,” Zane countered.
“With that attitude, they sure as hell will.”
“What kind of attitude should I have, then?”Zane inquired.Pushing himself off the futon, Zane took a step towards Chris to speak in a sweet tone that oozed sarcasm.“Should I be hopeful that they somehow forget about me?Oh, maybe I should be brave and battle them for the good of humanity?”
Chris crossed his arms.His fingers pressed firmly into his arms.
“Or even better, I should be like Scorch and Frostbite and run into danger to save all of those who honestly couldn’t give a fuck less about the real me.Thank God, a hero is here to save us all and we love them so much.”Zane scoffed.“Until everyone realizes that there are no such things as heroes.They’re as normal and imperfect as everyone else.When they make one mistake, they’re done for.I ain’t willing to wear spandex for that type of bullshit.”
Zane looked to his window, peering through the dark curtains.He scanned the streets for the signs of anyone, really.
“Sitting around here isn’t a good idea either,” Chris huffed.“They know you’re here, where you work, and who you spend time with.”
Zane flinched at the mention of who.His mind replayed Leona’s words.His expression soured, hands clenched into fists at his sides.The room darkened as if the light itself fled in fear.He heaved a long breath, trying to calm himself.The darkness faded when he sighed, releasing a long breath.
Since classes started back up a week ago, Zane avoided the bad luck charm known as Bailey, never stepping into the café and checking around corners.The less trouble he had in his life, the better.Not to mention, with Bailey’s luck, he would walk into Leona’s deadly claws.Though, to be fair, Zane had brought a deadly trouble.The tables had turned.Imagine that.
“It’s not safe here,” Chris said.
“It’s not safe anywhere,” Zane replied, facing Chris’ solemn expression.
It didn’t matter how much Chris tried; he left that evening without budging Zane or his decision.
Once gone, Zane buried himself within the blankets, though nothing lessened his nerves.His senses were on high alert.Every sound outside his door, every creak of the trees, or the tires on the road caught his attention.His eyes darted about the room.He examined every corner as if he expected something, or someone, to appear.In all honesty, it could happen.It had been years since Zane heard anything of Rebirth.He couldn’t fathom who, or what, they had gotten their slimy hands on.He shivered, pondering his next move, as if he had one.Regardless, he wouldn’t let them take him alive.
Zane chuckled at his own thoughts, finding them to be both cheesy and pathetic.That was it?It was all he could come up with, or was it that he realized it was the only thing to come up with?He wasn’t escaping his fate.For a time, he honestly believed he would, and that only angered him more.
Shaking his head, Zane removed his left hand from the warm barrier he created.Only a sliver of moonlight cascaded its way in from the opened curtains, illuminating the dust that sparkled like jewels in the air.There was a slight tremor in his hand, the hand that he felt he would use to defend himself sometime soon.Remembering the power that he often kept locked inside him only caused the tremors to worsen.Zane, in a hope of stopping the shakes, flexed his fingers open and closed as if to test his own grip, which was comforting for a mere moment.
