Those sterile and sickly that light up hospitals existed everywhere in the building. Even in the corners no one ventures this late at night it was still bathed in that pale yellow that believed it was an illuminating white.

December 2018 was no different than most months, the rate of people going to hospital seemed to only increase. Even with all the improvements that powers brought to the healthcare system, they never really diminished the need for a hospital and it’s bed. Not to mention any altercation became exacerbated by Alterations. Sure using your powers wasn’t exactly but neither was fighting so it was not a particularly good deterrent.

Jude stared blankly at the vending machine in front of him. It’s light reflecting back on him in the empty hallway. The shirt he wore was barely hanging on him, bullet shaped homes had been pierced into the front from his evening, giving way to the bandages that covered his chest. After scrounging some counts from the inside of his wallet he punched in the numbers and out rolled a can of Pepsi. For a moment or two he just stood there, his brain processing what it needed to do next, then he picked it out of the machine’s bucket.

Sluggish and solemn. That’s what the detective’s first thoughts were. They had been wrapping up a briefing and discussion on their suspects when they had received a call about the events unfolding at Norfield University. They were glad no one had been hurt but it was clear that their suspects had been targeted, was it linked to the murders? No matter what the police rushed to the scene and then again to the hospital.

Jude sat across from them in a dimly lit café that had been opened in the hospital to provide food and drink to those waiting on hours, as well as make it overpriced. “Mr. Zairos can you please explain the situation to us in as much detail as you can remember?” Jude heard the question and instinctively reeled off the events of the night leading up to that moment. He was on autopilot his own perception of reality had loosened thanks to the way he had been healed.

“Thank you Mr. Zairos. We’re very sorry this happened to you, we will be placing police supervision on King’s Court until we can ascertain the goal of the individuals involved.” It was Knight who spoke, his partner was taking notes. She had been the more talkative one in the afternoon but it seems this had really made her think.

Jude walked back to the vending machine and again just stared. Something has been broken in him that night and it wouldn’t be soon fixed.

“Come out of the shadows. I know you’re there.” Jude said to what appeared to be an empty corridor. But as if appearing from the empty space itself was the same figure who had been there at every major step.

“You’re getting better at noticing me.” The voice was gruff, without an accent, it was as if daring Jude to figure it out.

“Just tell me why? I get that you’re from the future, that much is clear but why watch so closely?” Jude was angry, his voice did it’s best to disguise his contempt and yet failed.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“I’m not smart enough to know how time works. I don’t want you dying because then I don’t know if I’ll still exist and then that’s a paradox thing.” Jude grabbed the person by their cloak,

“Then why risk my friends? Are they not important to you? Why is it just me? Why am I special?”

“You’re special because of the friends you have. You make decisions and plans. You deal with people’s lives and I know every decision you make is for the sake of those friends. Tactically you will make the wrong call too many times for you to count, but never at the expense of them.” Jude gripped harder and harder. His anger rising with each sentence.

“Jude!” A voice called out behind him. It was a very broken looking Jack. He was covered in burns and on crutches. “What you shouting at buddy?” Jude turned back round to see the stranger was no longer in his grasp and wasn’t anywhere in his sights at all.

“Just... Angry.” He said defeated.

“Well, I’m pretty happy just to be alive to be honest with ya.”

“Well you did officially die for probably about an hour.” Jude said with a little laugh.

“Yeah and the doc tells me if was you who figured out how to save me. Thanks buddy. Do you mind if you get me a coke, I can’t really balance right now.” Jack asked with that dumb smirk he usually had. Jude obliged and after acquiring the drink he led his friend back to his room. “So what’s got you all angry then?”

“Everyone got hurt because of me.” Jude’s statement caused Jack to start laughing.

“You really believe that? Man if it wasn’t for you Rin would have got kidnapped. No one died or lost an arm or something like that. Don’t worry about it. Plus it was kinda fun to fight some real good fighters. We’ll have to get used to it if we wanna be the best guild in the world right?” Jack shot his friend a look that was an attempt to calm him down.

“You’re right. But I want to be stronger to help everyone.” That was true, at least in part; though he would never tell anyone else, that crippling fear as he was on the floor and the fact Might did not fear him even when he used White Dwarf angered him so much. Whatever strength he needed, whatever he needed to break in him he would make it happen. He would make himself a threat, a viable opponent. He stood up to leave. Jack spoke as he did so.

“I’d start by training your back if you’re going to carry the weight of the rest of us on it.” It was a joke but there was little indication of that, par Jack’s usual warmth in his tone. Whilst not being the most intelligent of his friends he knew when there was something was wrong, though he didn’t necessarily know how to help so he did his best. Jude stopped at the doorway,

“We never had our Chinese food.”

After he was given the good to go home Jude went to his dorm and packed. His parents picked him up a few days later and he went back home. He had scars from the attack but the doctors and nurses were able to make sure they healed over within a few days.

The older Jude popped back up on the hologram. “Hey, thanks for sticking round for the first tape... Recording? I’m not really sure what these are called. But yeah, I’ve installed a little tracking device on each cube so feel free to use this as a way to find the rest. That was my first term at Norfield and the first steps to achieve my dreams. I’ll leave it up to you if you want to search out my next term.” With that the hologram changed to a map that showed the building the first cube had been found in with multiple red flashing dots, with each one being numbered.

The cloaked figure who had rescued the first had been sat at a pretty broken desk. They packed the first cube into a bag they had with them and left. It had gotten dark whilst watching the memories, they planned to come back later.