The young man walked along the beach. His skin only recently touched by the passage of time. The smooth surface radiating in the sun's light. While his eyes were hooded and dark.
The bleached white sand stretched out before him. Umbrellas and towels spread across its length. Postage stamps of color on the otherwise perfect quilt of white.
The sounds of people enjoying their time on the beach carried across the sand. Children splashing in the water. Balls flying through the air and shovels digging trenches through the sand. All carried out with a joy, born in the moment.
Waves lapped up and over the sand as the sea sang in and out. It’s dormant strength on display as it washed away everything in its path. Even the buildings farther inland feared the sea’s strength as their reinforced designs indicated.
Other people laid on towels, hiding in their own worlds. With headphones in, they pretended to be alone. Not that they needed the things to be so. Everyone here was alone in their own way.
The man continued to walk down the beach in a crowd, yet alone as people buzzed about him. The only thing he shared with the others was the cool breeze, tickling his face and bringing the taste of salt from the sea.
The scene reminded the man of a painting he’d seen so long ago. It’d been surrounded by walls of grey and looked out of place in the Academy. Back then, it’d seemed so bright and vibrant. Now though, seeing it in real life, the scene seemed as grey as the walls. The only hints of color coming from the people trying to escape into it as if it was still only an image of what could be.
The man pulled away from the water’s edge. Heading up the sand and towards the disappointing buildings of humanity. They were supposed to be monuments of pleasure and relaxation. Showing the pinnacle of what people could do and make. A place to escape the monotony of your life. Yet that wasn’t what he saw. The buildings were scars on the landscape. If they weren’t there, in fact, if all traces of humanity were missing, the beach would be a true vacation destination.
He tried to ignore it all. The people, the buildings, everything as he moved to two beach chairs. One already occupied by a young woman. The other with a bunched up blue towel on the seat.
Taking the empty seat, the young man settled onto its warm wooden planks. The firm foundation a pleasant exchange for the shifting sands.
Though the man’s body spoke of him being in the prime of his life, his eyes were glazed over. Memories and pain etched across them.
“How was the walk,” the young woman to his side asked. Large dark glasses covered her eyes as she leaned back. The sun beat down on her. A generous application of sunscreen was the only thing preventing her from turning into the color of a tomato.
“It’s beautiful,” the man replied. His voice deadpan.
“I can tell you’re enjoying it,” the woman said. Her head lolling to the side as she looked at him.
The young man was quiet. His eyes turning back to the water. How far out would he have to go for humanity to disappear? To get away from all the problems people created. It wouldn’t be that far until the coast was gone. Would that be far enough to pretend the rest of it had vanished as well? Maybe he should try and create a life out there?
“Is it over?” the woman asked after the silence between them dragged on.
“I’m sure it is,” the man said.
“Even without your testimony?”
“We’re fine. The prosecutor told me they had all the evidence they needed.”
The young woman welcomed the comment, but her posture was still rigid.
“And they’ll be able to keep them locked up?”
“I made sure of it.”
Only now did the woman relax. The young man’s words doing the trick. A passing couple eyed the two on the chairs. A mask of confusion passed over their faces as they took in the others’ conversation.
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“Excuse me, do I know you two?” the woman walking by asked as she stopped in front of the chairs.
“Probably not. We’re here on vacation,” the man on the chair said, his eyes refusing to travel to the woman.
“But you look so familiar.”
“We get that all the time. Some people think I look like Source,” the young man said with a half cocked smile.
This was an everyday question, his posture said. Something he’d grown tired of having to explain. The passerby eyes lit up at the comment.
“That must be it. I can see the resemblance.”
“It’s close but not exact,” the young man in the chair said. Fishing out a cellphone he pulled up a picture of Source and held it next to his face. The picture was the one from the news, all those months ago, when the man was being hunted down.
“They are close. But your chin is a little rounder and your nose is different,” the woman said as she looked between the cell phone picture and the man on the chair.
“It’s kinda cool when people think I’m him. At least it is now. A few months ago it was different. Every other person reported me to the police. I had to meet with the police a dozen times. Eventually the chief gave me his personal number so I could let them know when another bogus report was coming in.”
“I can only imagine,” the girl said. Her own excitement at the noticed similarity fading with the young man’s story. “Well, sorry for interrupting you.” she said as she tried to extricate herself from the exchange. It’s sudden awkwardness getting to her.
“Completely fine. Have a great day,” the young man said as the two walked away. The smile falling off his face as soon as he knew they wouldn’t turn around.
Was this going to be his new norm he wondered? A world where he would always be judged. Even if he tried to leave it behind, he could never truly escape the ghosts of his past.
The young man settled back into the chair, glad the distraction was gone. As he closed his eyes, new footsteps sounded behind him. He waited for the sound to move past, but instead it came to a sudden stop. With a sigh, the man turned to face the new lookie-loos and found three figures standing there.
“The new look suits you,” a young woman said. A bright smile on her face. A cellphone in her hand spun through web pages even though her fingers weren’t touching the screen.
“Thanks, but I still think it’s too close to the original,” the man in the chair said. A smile spreading on his own face. This one bringing genuine emotions to his eyes.
“That one also looked good on you,” the young woman said, her smile turning playful as the two locked eyes.
“Are we clear?” the larger woman interrupted the moment. The scar on her face pulling back as she scowled at anyone who approached..
There was a momentary pause as the young woman’s eyes glazed over, then. “Nothing in my range.”
“There still could be-” the larger woman began, but was interrupted by the man who’d arrived with her.
“We’ll have to trust it. Unless we want to abduct our young friend here, there isn’t much more we can do about it,” the man said. His toned muscles pushing out against the tank top he was wearing.
“I still don’t like it.”
The two stared at each other before the older woman backed down and averted her gaze.
“I couldn’t help but notice you’re still being recognized. I could change some more features,” the jock said as he turned to the man in the chair. “The decision is up to you.”
“I don’t want him to look like someone else,” the girl on the chair said. Reaching out and grabbing the man in question’s arm.
“You heard her,” the man in the chair said with a shrug. “We keep enough of the look, so I’m still me. Only changing enough that I can brush off anyone who sees a similarity. Plus, what would my new boss say if I came back looking different?”
“You already landed a new job,” the woman with the cell phone asked.
“Yep.”
Ignoring the last comment, the man who was standing continued, “It’ll take a little time until people stop asking, but rest assured you look different enough that your explanation will work.”
“No one has pushed things after he explained the cover to them. I’d say the disguise has done its job,” the young girl on the chair said.
“I’m glad at least one person here can respect my craft,” the jock said with a laugh.
The young woman only giggled in response.
“He’s way too old for you,” the young man in the chair said as he scolded his sister.
That got a small chuckle from the group standing and a blush from the girl.
“We came to see if you’d reconsidered,” the jock said. “We’re keeping the team together. It won’t be the same without you.”
“Even I wouldn’t mind having your staff watching my back,” the large older woman said.
“I… this means a lot to me, but I’m done. The cape is hung up.”
“You can always pull it back down.”
Liam turned from the trio and looked out over the ocean. The setting sun spraying reds and oranges over its surface.
“We’ll always have a spot for you if you decide to reconsider,” the jock said. Understanding what the young man on the chair was saying.
“Thanks,” Liam said.
The group stood there. Watching the sun set. For this one last time, they were a team. While their paths were diverging, what they’d shared and accomplished would always be there. No one could take that from them.
And so ended the story of The Hunt, the team of Heroes turned traitor and the techie who brought them down.