Amber Deen Leska

Deen ran towards the crashed vans.

“Erind!” She yelled again.

The van with the open backdoors - the one Erind and her clone jumped into - had collided into the side of the other van. As Den approached it, she saw two limp bodies near the side of the truck. They both were filled with darts. Deen’s heart sank.

As she made it to the edge of the van, the brutality Erind faced became clear. Splotches of blood were all over Erind’s clothes. In the middle of these blood splatters were holes in Erind’s clothes. Deen even spotted blood splotches on Erind head.

“No…” Deen mumured.

Deen climbed in the van and checked Erind’s other body. It was in a very similar state. She wasn’t sure which one was her main body, but guilt creeped up inside of Deen.

She was too shocked to do any combat. And because of this, Erind got hurt bad. It shouldn't have been this way. Erind had already sacrificed herself to protect Deen at the Sanders mall. Now, here was Erind lying motionless.

“Erind, please wake up!” Deen cried out as she tried shaking one of Erind’s bodies.

Was Erind dead? No… It looked like she was still breathing. And as Deen took a closer look, she noticed that while there were splotches of blood in Erind’s body, it seemed Erind regenerated all of her wounds.

Still, that didn’t erase Deen’s guilt. The only thing she did was tell Erind to leap out of the way. It was just like at the Sanders mall. Deen was too stunned to really do anything, while Erind did everything to keep them alive and fight the Adumbrae. She could have used her new powers to help Erind fight, but Deen just stood there - like a bystander.

Wasn’t there a point to getting these superpowers? To not be a bystander? Without the Artificial Core, Deen would probably just be stuck in some office. That wouldn’t really make a difference against the Adumbrae. It just meant that Deen would have been powerless. Powerless. That’s what Deen felt right now. There was an Adumbrae here - the one that could liquify concrete - and Deen didn’t even try to kill him. Killing humans? She’d reconcile the fact that she’d have to do it if they worked with the Adumbrae. But she couldn’t even muster up the will to kill the Adumbrae.

“No more,” Deen said. She was going to actually fight next time. Deen would kill her first Adumbrae and make up for not being a hero here. She wouldn’t let the Adumbrae and their allies harm her or Erind anymore.

But what should she do right now? Deen pulled out her phone. Still no signal. Weird. She’d probably have to call the rest of the group for help. They were being targeted by the Adumbrae, and she needed their help to fend them off. Whether it be through training or information, they’d be able to assist her in using her powers better.

What about the wreckage and carnage here? Everett, who went by Emcee, would probably be helpful. He could probably burn it all down. What am I thinking? Burning bodies to destroy evidence? She was basically being a criminal! But what if the police trace this back to us? Then, Deen would have failed at being a hero and stopping the Adumbrae. It’d be best to get rid of any evidence that could have lead to her and Erind being here.

And that brought up a second question. What should she do with Erind? She wasn’t sure which was the real body, but she should rescue both of them either way. She’d bring both bodies back home, and lay them on the couch. Since Erind regenerated, the only thing Deen would need is to help clean her up. She had plenty of washcloths at home. After Erind wokeup, then she could take a shower. Thankfully, Deen’s sister was out of the house and wasn’t planning on returning soon.

While Deen had superstrength, carrying both of Erind’s bodies might be difficult. Both her bodies were carrying her school bags. Should she just take them off of Erind and then haul her to her home?

As Deen was contemplating, the sound of doors opening alarmed her. There’s still people alive in the other van?

She had to protect Erind from them. Now was the time to fight and protect her best friend. Yes! Deen was going to be the hero that Erind needed. She wasn’t going to cower away anymore.

[Run away.]

What? No. Deen wasn’t going to just abandon Erind here. Even though her summon had helped her dodge the darts and bullets, it appeared it didn’t want to fight at all. Deen turned towards her summon, which floated to the side of her. It was like a guardian angel that had the most cowardly instincts. Maybe it reflects me? If so, it was time for that to change. With her powers, Deen should be able to stop the rest of their attackers. It seemed they only had one Adumbrae, yet a bunch of humans with them.

“Come on!” She thought to her summon. “We can’t be scared anymore. Erind is in danger, and we can’t let them harm her.”

Deen’s summon continued to float there. It offered no rebuttal or acknowledgement of Deen’s arguments. I suppose I win by default then. This was it. Deen was going to go into her first fight. And she was going to win it.

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Deen stepped down out of the van. Nobody was in view as she turned towards the other van. Suddenly, a click went off and light emanated from the back of the other van. Deen made sure to stay out of the range of the flashlight.

“You think those bitches are dead?” a voice said.

“Looks like it,” another voice said. “Haven’t heard much from the other van.”

“Ouch, my leg arm hurts,” a third voice said. It was raspy. How many other people were alive in the other van?

“You’ll get over it Cass,” the first voice said. “Just stay awake a few moments longer and we’ll carjack one of these rich people’s cars.”

“I don’t think I can drive anymore Mitch,” Cass said. “I can’t really feel my arms.”

“Shit,” Mitch replied. “Just wait till we get back to the docks.” The docks? That’s where the Adumbrae were hiding? But which one? They were all pretty far away from here.

“How about we check the other van?” the second voice said. “I want to check if Henry is still alive.”

“If they’re alive, they woulda come out already Ian,” Mitch said.

“Yeah, but that fucker still owes me money,” Ian replied. “I’ll have to grab it from his body if he’s dead. Maybe those Adumbrae bitches have money too.”

Deen couldn’t believe what she was hearing. They were planning on robbing Erind? They’d probably kill her too if they came over. She wasn’t going to let them do that.

[Wait for them to come over.]

On instinct, Deen crouched down. She’d catch them by surprise. And then… she’d kill them. A gnawing pain grew in her shoulder. That always happened in tense situations. But Deen was going to persist through the pain.

“Do you think Big Marcy would let me become an Adumbrae?” Cass said. “This really sucks. I could go for some regeneration.”

“The fuck should I know?” Ian said. “I’m just in it for the money. I could care less about this Adumbrae shit.”

“Nah. You’ll probably just get Augs like Jim did,” Mitch said. “You’d have to gain Big Marcy’s trust if you want to be an Adumbrae. And he barely knows you.”

Big Marcy? Was he the leader of the Adumbrae? Deen noted this stuff in her mind for later - she should bring it up with Dario and the others.

“I’ll take it,” Cass replied. “Anything for working arms.”

The flashlight was now headed in the direction of the other van. Here they come.

[Wait.]

Deen’s heart began to beat faster. She wasn’t sure if the humans were armed, but the longer this went on, the more tense Deen felt.

[Leap out of the van.]

Deen leaped out of the van and rolled. As she got up, she saw three figures, each wearing balaclava masks and a black hoodie. Two of them were carrying guns mounted with flashlights, and they were closer to her. The third figure limped behind them. That must be Cass. They all stopped moving.

“Fuck!” Ian, the figure on the left said. “One of those bitches is still alive.”

“Shoot her then!” Mitch, the figure on the right barked. Both figures raised their guns toward Deen as she charged them.

[Dodge left.]

Deen ran to the left, avoiding the bullets that came after her. It was actually pretty thrilling to be fast and dodge. She’d done it earlier with the darts and bullets. Still, now was not the time to be cheering on. She had to save Erind from these evil people.

Deen quickly closed the distance between her and the two gunmen. She slapped the guns out of the hands of the two attackers.

“Ahh!!” They both screamed and clutched their hands in unison. Good. Now they couldn’t harm Erind or herself.

Deen stood there for a few seconds. Was she really going to kill humans? They weren’t even Adumbrae. But they were working with them! What would happen if Deen let the go? They’d probably report back to their Adumbrae bosses. Then, they might send even more bad guys to come after her.

Deen grabbed the closest thug next to her by the neck.

“Let me go you bitch!” Ian gasped.

“I’m sorry,” Deen said as she tightened her grip on the man. “But you’re working with the Adumbrae.”

The man struggled and tried kicking Deen. But it felt like a toddler trying to fight her. There was no point. Eventually the man stopped moving. Deen released her grip and the man fell to the ground like a ragdoll.

“You’re an Adumbrae too!” Mitch cried out. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

He was wrong. Of course, Deen wasn’t going to tell him that. Both her and Erind were Corebrings. They were the heroes that killed the Adumbrae.

Still, even after killing a human, Deen expected some sort of feeling of heroism. Instead, she felt nothing of the sort. Only a lingering feeling of guilt. Still, that persistent drive to fight against the Adumbrae remained within her. She wasn’t sure if she was glad for it. Although, without it, Deen would have certainly let all three of them go. But that was unacceptable because they would probably cause the Adumbrae to come after them more aggressively.

Deen grabbed Mitch by the neck and began to squeeze.

“I’m sorry, you probably won’t ever understand,” Deen said.

“Please… let… me… live…” Mitch choked out as he struggled.

Deen simply tightened her grip. A few seconds later, the body she held stopped fighting. She released it. Finally, it was over.

[There’s still one left.]

Crap. Deen forgot about the third figure. She turned around and saw him limping away. More guilt filled Deen’s heart as she thought of killing him as well. Still Deen strided over to him. Cass turned his head around.

“Please let me go!” Cass said. “I’m just a driver. Just leave me alone.”

That was true, but he also said he wanted to become an Adumbrae. That in itself was an admission to doing even more evil in the future. Deen couldn’t allow it. She grabbed Cass by the neck.

“You said you wanted to become an Adumbrae,” Deen said.

“Yeah, just like you three are,” Cass said as he flailed around. “I wasn’t planning on attacking you like the others did. Please just leave me alone.”

Anger flashed on Deen’s face.

“Don’t you dare compare Erind or me to monsters like that!” Deen yelled as she tightened her grip. Erind was a Corebring hero, and here he was defaming her and calling her an Adumbrae. While Deen disliked it when Mitch called her an Adumbrae, she couldn’t stand her best friend being attacked as well.

Deen tightened her grip so much that blood started to leak as Cass’s neck crumpled. She released her grip and watched him fall to the ground. Most of the guilt had left Deen once Cass accused them.

She turned to the other van. Inside of it sat a strange device with a radio dish.

[Destroy the jammer.]

Was that why the signal wasn’t working? Deen climbed into the van and punched the machine. It easily broke and crumpled. Having super strength and these other superpowers were certainly useful. Fun even.

But as Deen turned back to leave the van and rescue Erind, she saw the carnage of Cass’s body. Deen’s heart sunk as more guilt swelled up inside of her. She was a killer now. But at least she was a killer on the side of good. Deen protected Erind, and she continued to do so.

“Oh, right I should probably call the others,” Deen said. She needed Emcee to burn all this down. Thankfully, they were far away from any homes. Hopefully, the police would know nothing of the brutal events that happened here.