I slowly pushed myself off the ground and started to look around. The trees held a dark red shade and painted the forest. For some reason the sight of the scarlet leaves made my stomach twist into knots. That's when her face came into mind, Annuals.

“Yeah, what the hell happened to you by the way?” Zack blurted out.

“Huh? You mean with Joe?” I asked.

“Yeah, you looked like a busted-up Kool-Aid man when I came back.”

I huffed. “Yeah, it's almost like I fought three guys while you flirted with a mom!”

He waved me off. “You didn't die, it's fine.”

I should kill him.

“You know I-!”

“That kid was really freaking out,” Zack mumbled, and slowly his smile faded. “That lady couldn't even see she was making it worse. I don't get parents, man. It's like she didn't even care that she was freaking him out.”

I sighed and sat back in the grass. “Yeah, the guy had a moment of clarity with me. But I totally messed it up…”

“That sucks.” Zack huffed. “Those two were real pieces of work. And that Red Steel guy. I can't believe they got powers too.”

“Yeah, and now The blue ranger is on their side…”

“Pppfft, whatever, you would've kicked his butt if you weren't jumped. That guy's trash.”

“He's incredibly strong.” I insisted. “He mentioned a health bar, so he's got defense armor, enhanced strength, and a gun that seems to shoot some kind of heated blast. That's strong enough to blast through walls like a regular gun.”

“Well, next time will be ready,” Zack said and went into his pocket, he pulled out a wallet and tossed it to me.

I jumped some but caught it. “U-ummm?”

“That's the mom's wallet.”

“You stole her wallet!”

“Easy Captain America,” Zack said and stood up. “Tell me, do you know any actual information about the Blue Ranger? Besides what he looks like?”

“W-well…”

“If we're gonna take this S.O.B down and protect the hot babe. We need to be able to find them again.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“I…suppose that's fair.” I sighed. “He seemed like he wanted his son. And I can't imagine his son getting dragged into gang affairs is gonna end well.”

“Yeah, I don't personally care. But if there's a chance to sliding into this babes D.M’s I'm here for it.” Zack said and snickered.

I got up and rolled my eyes. Yeah right, I know you're worried about that kid.

“Well anyways, let's get out of here,” I said and stretched. “Will need to plan and strategize. I was completely useless against them until I stole their gun.”

“Don't worry, I know a guy named Queen. He'll get us good.” He said.

I started to walk and followed an almost faded-out man-made trail. Zack followed behind me and I glanced back at him.

“Queen?” I asked.

“You'll understand when you see him.”

“Okay then…”

“Anyways, where are we exactly? How do you know where you're going?”

“Hey, Zack. Remember when we took Annual out on these trails?" I asked.

He blinked a few times, his eyes darting around as he finally came to the same realization.

"Oh yeah! This Is totally the place!" He laughed. "Where you sucked at making a raft for Annual."

I grumbled. "Like you could've done better!"

"Never underestimate the power of partying in the country. Hillbillies know how to get real crazy." He snickered.

I rolled my eyes and suddenly my thoughts began to wander. Annual’s smile and her forest green eyes scratched at the back of my mind. There was a twinge in my chest. Just like that, I was brought back to reality, the reality of my sins. Maybe this was a sign, maybe I needed to face my fears. After all, my sins made me stumble today.

"Hey, do you think, I can see her?" I choked out.

Zack suddenly stopped walking and spun around on his heels. His face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Yeah of course! She's pretty weak now, so we can't take her out. But all she does is talk about you! She's still totally in love." Zack said with a laugh.

I began to pick up some flowers as we walked. Remembering how much Annual liked them.

"I'm nothing special." I hadn't intended on it, but my words came out more bitter than I expected.

"Says the guy with superpowers." Zack retorted. "Besides, you were the brave one who got her to a doctor."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, you were doing everything you could."

"I guess, my old man still looses his crap when it looks like I'm taking her to the hospital again. But I can't be too mad this time around, we definitely can't afford any more medical bills." Zack sighed.

"Wait, is nobody helping her anymore?"

"No, no, Mom's at least getting her medicine still. Plus occasional urgent care visits are…. semi-affordable."

"Man, that's rough."

"Yeah, things were a lot easier when your mom was around."

"Yeah, you're not wrong at all."

Zack suddenly came to a stop and gasped excitedly. "Dude it's a frog!"

I stopped and watched him run over to the edge of the lake, and I decided to take a break and leaned back against the tree. My heart raced and I lifted my fingers to my lips, then started biting at my nails.

'If only you loved me.'

My mom's sweet voice echoed in the back of mind. I couldn't get the image of the dream out of my head. Just what would she think of me? My thoughts ran to earlier, with Joe and Dan.

‘Our paragon of justice is here, are you telling me you've never done something like that?’ Joe's words echoed in my head.

I've done horrible things, I'm a monster. I got mom killed, I abandoned Annual when she needed me most, and today, I failed to reach Dan and help that kid. Someone like me doesn't deserve this opportunity. Why was it me? Why not Lux? Anyone else honestly…

'Looks like that damn gorilla kid is beating people up again.'

Suddenly my dad's words hit me and my heart started to hammer against my chest. Back at the warehouse, I let my lust for war come back. That was sick. I'm a sick person.

"Why is it that someone like me has these powers…" I mumbled.

"Who'd be better!?" Zack's voice suddenly snatched me back to reality.

I jumped a bit and moved my hand down. Now finding Zack walking over to me with a frog on his head.

"W-what?"

"You heard me, who'd be better?" He asked again. "It's not like anybody else in this crap stain of a city would actually wanna help people."

I looked away. "I don't deserve this. Not after what I did, what I keep doing. Maybe I should just pretend like I didn't even get these powers."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"If Mom was alive right now, she'd be here to help you. If I just…didn't run in blindly. If I wasn't such a freak. I don't deserve this gift."

"Stryder, your mom died to protect you. She made that choice for herself, didn't she?"

"If I could've just controlled myself she would be alive right now! I don't deserve to be alive! I'm not good enough, she was better."

"Stryder, that girl was probably gonna die if you didn't do something! If I know your mom as well as I think I do, I'm sure she'd agree. And she'd probably want you to make that decision all over again."

"And how do you know that!?"

"Because you're just like her. The day we met when I tried to rob you. You both decided to help me instead of turning me in. I tried to rob you practically every day, and you'd let me keep the stuff half the time! Not to mention your mom helped Annual all on her dime. You two are like one and the same, and my life wouldn't be the same without her for sure. But it wouldn't be the same without you either. And you can bet Annual feels the same too."

He reached his hand out to me, and suddenly the broken record in my head had stopped. I stared at his hand for a moment. I hadn't even realized I slid down on the grass. Slowly I raised my hand and took his hand into my own. Then he pulled me up.

"Crying about it isn't gonna make anything better you know. If you wanna prove you're alive, then you gotta go out and live." Zack said and looked me in the eyes.

A warmth came into my chest and I nodded.

"Right, you're right," I said with a chuckle.

He let go of my hand and turned back around.

"Now! Onward to the princess’s castle!" Zack cheered.

"Yeah! Let's do it!"