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Bonds
It's been a few weeks since the storm had passed, but each passing day feels like the day after it. It hit Vanity Island harder than expected. The island now looked like a skeleton of its former self. As expected, the government's response has been sluggish and inadequate. The so-called aid from the USC was nothing but a cruel sham, leaving the townspeople in despair and hopelessness.
Luckily we, The Sunspears, knew we couldn't remain doing nothing. I divided our group, each team setting out to provide the help that the government had failed to deliver. My team – consisting of Kyriah, Owen, Yelena, and myself – found ourselves in Brisalina, a coastal town on the east of the island, struggling with the desolation that had fallen over the entire island.
The town, once renowned for its spectacular sea turtle nesting sites, now lay battered. The once-pristine beaches were strewn with debris, and the crystal-clear waters were clouded with the remnants of the storm. There were fallen trees, debris littered the streets, and damaged homes.
Owen, with his extraordinary ability to create objects from thin air, had become our beacon of hope in these dark times. He worked tirelessly, conjuring generators, cables, and any essentials that breathed life back into the troubled town. His powers were amazing.
As we toiled alongside the townspeople, I found myself in a rather unorthodox role – using my ice powers to literally make ice cubs for the townspeople. I felt like a human freezer. "How much longer? These people will dry me out soon." I joked, half-heartedly, as I created another batch of ice for the locals.
Owen, deeply engrossed in his task, responded without looking up. "Aren't you, like, never melting ice?" A beat passed before he exclaimed, "And, here we go!" signaling the successful activation of the last generator.
The town square, where we were gathered, buzzed with a collective energy. When the lights hesitantly flickered to life, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd, sweeping through the square.
During the celebration, my eyes sought out Kyriah. She was cheering alongside Yelena, her face lit up with an infectious joy. Over the past weeks, I'd grown to admire her more than I'd anticipated. Her resilience, her unwavering commitment to doing what's right, and her deep-seated compassion left an impression on me. Our gazes met across the square, and for a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still. But I quickly looked away, my heart racing with a nervousness I hadn't expected to feel.
The moment was abruptly shattered by the piercing wail of approaching sirens, the island's police. They've been on us in every town we have gone to help, always looking to cause us problems. Nothing bad has happened so far, but I feel that is about to change soon.
The police emerged from their vehicles, their faces set in grim lines, like always. Their arrival was met with a tense silence. The townspeople, whose cheers had moments ago filled the air, now fell into an uneasy hush. The sudden shift from celebration to uncertainty was palpable. We, The Sunspears, exchanged glances, to be ready if anything happened.
I watched as the officer in charge, a man whose gaze seemed to cut through the evening air, made his way towards us. His eyes, sharp and assessing, took in everything – the humming generators, the gathered townspeople, and our small group standing defiantly.
I stepped forward, offering a greeting, "Good evening, officer. We're just helping the town get back on its feet." I said, trying to sound as non-confrontational as possible.
The officer paused, his scrutiny unrelenting. "It's Officer Varbero," he said with an asserting tone. "We've been tracking activities of... unusual nature. There are rumors around the island, of a unique group going around towns, claiming they are 'helping' the people in need."
I couldn't help but respond, a tinge of sarcasm creeping into my tone. "Of course, you guys wouldn't know what helping actually looks like."
His reaction was immediate and subtle – a slight narrowing of the eyes, a sign that my words had struck a chord. "I would be very careful if I were you," he warned his voice a mix of irritation. "We know what you are, and we're watching." With those parting words, he turned, signaling his men to leave.
As the police vehicles rolled away, a collective sigh seemed to pass through the crowd. The tension dissipated, and the festival cautiously resumed. Music once again filled the square, yet, amidst the renewed celebration, my thoughts were clouded with concern. I had to think of what to do, in case the police decide to do something against us.
Seeking solace and a moment to gather my thoughts, I wandered towards a small cliff behind the town square. The path took me uphill, away from the buzz of the square, into a quieter space where the sounds of celebration were a muted backdrop. I found a fallen tree, an unwitting casualty of the storm, and sat on it. From this vantage point, I could see Brisalina below – it lights a patchwork of hope against the backdrop of a darkened island.
Sitting there, looking down at the illuminated town, I pondered our next steps. Should we move on before the police returned with greater numbers? The weight of leadership pressed heavily on my shoulders, each day getting heavier. I needed to find a balance between helping those in need and keeping my team safe. The night air, cool and reflective, seemed to echo my thoughts.
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The tranquility of the night was what I needed to think clearly. I sat there, lost in thought, when suddenly a voice sliced through the silence, catching me off guard.
"Planning your next big move?" The words floated out from the shadows, ethereal and unexpected.
Startled, I turned to see Yelena's figure emerging from the darkness, her approach so silent and ghost-like that it was almost unsettling.
"Not really," I confessed, my voice a reflection of the internal conflict I was grappling with. "Just having a million thoughts at the same time. Wondering if I'm doing the right thing."
Yelena moved closer, her footsteps unheard, her presence felt only when she spoke again. "What are your doubts?" Her voice was soft, yet it carried a weight that seemed to pull the words out of me.
I sighed, feeling my burdens wanting to burst out. "I like what I'm doing, I want to use my powers to help people. A lot of them need this help. But... are we really doing the right thing? Using our powers, making people rely on us. I'm afraid we might be creating a dependency, making their lives easier in the short term but ours harder in the long run." My words poured out in a torrent, each one echoing the uncertainties that had been haunting me.
"You remind me of my brother," Yelena said after a pause. Her tone was tinged with a mix of sadness and admiration, her gaze distant as if lost in memories. "He too had a vision for a better world. He always thought in the needs of others first."
Her words hung in the air, a parallel drawn between her brother's aspirations and my own. The mention of her brother, spoken with such emotion, piqued my curiosity. "Your brother?" I asked, gently prompting her to continue.
Yelena nodded slowly, a shadow of pain crossing her features. "Yes, my brother. He believed that the only link missing in helping each other was mutual understanding and compassion. But how could the people understand and care for each other, when all our lives we've been fighting? Unfortunately, his journey was cut short, leaving his dream in me." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "He would have admired what you're doing, Ellion. The choices you're making, the sacrifices. It's never easy, but it's necessary."
Then I felt her kneel next to me and said softly, "There are very few people like us in this world. We must stand together in this time of change, we all must think alike, or we won't get anywhere." A sudden seriousness in her voice.
Her words resonated with me, offering a strange comfort. But I didn't know what she meant by that last part, possibly she means us, The Sunspears. Nevertheless, I looked up to the black sky, now that there wasn't so much light in the islands, there were millions of stars every night. "Thank you, Yelena. I hope that I keep making the right choices."
Yelena said with a reassuring voice. "You will."
Yelena then suddenly got up and waved goodbye and she started to walk away, into the bushes. I know she's weird, but that's another level of creepiness. Then I heard footsteps from the way I came from. I quickly recognized the long hair and petite face.
"What brings you here?" I asked Kyriah
"I thought you would be all alone up here. Probably what you wanted, but I thought I could keep you company anyway." She said with a smile that made her cheeks turn into a small ball shape.
"Well, I was, but then Yelena came by and we talked a little bit about her dead brother, which I didn't know she had. And weirdly, she left just before you arrived." Did she know Kyriah was coming up?
"Brother?" Kyriah asked confused. "Yelena doesn't have a brother. Unless, she never mentioned him."
"Well, he is dead. Not really a conversation starter. Anyways, how are things down there?" I asked her, trying to change the subject, because I really didn't want to talk about someone's dead brother.
Kyriah then sat very close to me. "You'll see in a few minutes."
I stayed a few seconds in silence thinking what she could've meant by that.
"You're doing an amazing job, Ellion." Kyriah's voice broke the silence. It felt like a comforting melody, softening the harsh chorus of my doubts.
I turned to her, not being able to control the turmoil inside me. "I don't know, Kyriah. Are we going to be able to make a difference? I feel the consequences of our actions will be too high. We're doing things we can't go back from. Poking an enemy that controls the world."
Kyriah listened intently, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. "We are making a difference, Ellion. Every person we help changes something. And what good is controlling the world, if you can't control the people living in it?"
"But what happens when we're not here anymore? When The Sunspears move on? Have we really helped, or just made things turn for their future?" I replied.
Kyriah's hand found mine, her touch gentle yet firm. "Watch." She said, looking at the brightly lit town.
Then, all of a sudden, dozens of fireworks started erupting from the town, lighting up the dark sky with its roaring explosions. It was a beautiful sight, a beautiful moment with a beautiful person. She held my hand until the end of the nightly display.
When it ended, we turned and gazed at each other's eyes momentarily when suddenly, in a playful shift, Kyriah turned her fingers like a gun, "Bang!" She said, pointing her fingers to my left cheek dimple with a smile on her face.
The night was quiet around us, our footsteps a soft rhythm in the hush. But as we approached the town square, everything suddenly turned to darkness, as the sound of the generators was silenced.
"What happened here?" I asked, my voice echoing our shared confusion.
Kyriah released my hand to examine the generators. "Look at this, Ellion," she called over. "The cables are cut."
"Did the police do this?" I immediately said.
Kyriah looked back at me, "It's a probability. It's no surprise if they have people inside the towns."
Great, now we can't trust the locals. How are we supposed to help people we can't trust?
How are we supposed to help people we can't trust? [https://img.wattpad.com/af6f7e2f195bafea7a5fd3d42aa45b4ff4e1c230/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f3642514b67335768776465427a513d3d2d313339363738383038382e313762323064613265336464353737623535323336333830353839382e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Owen Sterling
Clemons Cell Ability: Creation
Character Info: Despite his not-so-sharp intellect and his hate for reading, he studies a lot to harness the full power of his incredible ability. He is cocky but has a kind heart. Also, a hopeless romantic, his dreams are not of grandeur or power, but of finding his soulmate, convinced that true love is the ultimate adventure. He is somewhat frustrating as a friend.