The park stood in silence as the singing birds were scared off. Occasionally you could hear a car passing by. A pair of young adults, a girl in a light blue sundress drenched in water, was dragging with him a reluctant guy thin as bones, he was wearing a large hoodie. They were heading to an area of the park with better concealment and an onlooker might shake their head and say young love. If only they would have come to stop us.
I was excitedly dragging Hugh to a quieter place. Spotting a fitting area I navigated ourselves there. Then I stopped, turned around and said,
“Hugh you will not believe me” Suspensefully I paused. I grabbed his hand and stared into his brown eyes. “I have superpowers”
Chortling, nearly laughing, Hugh asked, “Are you high?”
Frustrated at him I lifted a rock and levitated it in my left hand.
“How are you doing that?” Narrowing his eyes, Hugh asked.
“I told you I have superpowers!” I said frustrated, needing to repeat myself.
"You're lying." Said, Hugh.
I sighed annoyed "How can I prove it to you?" I said with a smirk forming on my face
We did a few more tests. Finally, Hugh had to accept his new state of reality, and was having a tough time. Shaking his head “For how long did you have them?” he asked, still slightly apprehensive.
Memories of the void like a battering ram wiped the smirk off my face, nervously I checked to make sure it was still bright. Hugh, seeing my reaction, misinterpreted it “That long?! Why didn't you tell me?!” Hugh said feeling betrayed.
“No! I have had them since this morning when I woke up.” I tried convincing him.
We had a few more rounds of back and forth before I gave up on convincing him. all my teasing is biting me in the ass, Though I would never acknowledge that.
Both of us were frustrated and getting nowhere, so we decided to continue on.
“Is your power telekinesis, since you lifted some rocks?” Asked Hugh
“Yeah, I think it is.”
Hugh, stopped to think and asked "That loud bang and rain, was it you?"
“Yes.” I said quietly, pretty embarrassed from my previous experimentation.
“That would explain why you are drenched. Always acting on emotions and pretending to have everything under control.” Hugh remarked venting his frustration.
“Shut up! Like you're any better, always acting high and mighty like you know everything better than anyone else!"
Staring daggers at each other. I decided to continue on.
We did a few more tests with Hugh and came to some conclusions. My range is limited at 23 meters, but if I focus on an object within my vision but outside my range I can still interact with it though I can’t control it that well.
I decided to not bring up testing the strength of my power here, not wanting to continue the argument. And slightly embarrassed about my previous test.
Both of us being superhero fans were geeking out hard, about figuring out my powers.
My telekinesis seemed to have 3 ways I could influence the world 1st I could levitate and object hold it in space without constricting it, 2nd I could give force to the object propelling the object at higher or lower forces, 3rd this one was the weirdest I could freeze objects in space, after freezing them I wouldn’t need to spend extra effort on controlling it or interacting with it. It would just stay there frozen.
We tested it out with me freezing a rock on Hugh's hand constricting it to a tree. He tried hard struggling and getting out but couldn’t free his hand.
'Maybe I could leave him like this to teach a lesson.' No! Hugh was my only friend, I didn't want to lose him as well. Wiping the thought from my mind we continued.
We did some more tests and it turns out once I freeze something it is immovable but it can still be destroyed. I launched a small rock into the frozen one and they both disintegrated rubbing into each other leaving only dust on the floor. I came to the conclusion that if I froze a small rock infront of a car and the car would ram at it, the rock would just disintegrate and the car wouldn’t feel anything. While if I froze a car infront of a fast moving rock the rock would disintegrate again since the car was the stronger. I think this power works on relative toughness of objects so if I constricted someones hands with some iron handcuffs the only way someone could get them out of them is to break apart the iron. Quite a nasty ability and it opens up a whole lot of possibilities.
We did some testing on how much I could control before losing focus it turns out that after levitating 20 pieces I do anymore.
“Can you control the air?” Suddenly asked Hugh
“Hmm, I haven’t tried. Do you have an idea?” I said
“If you can get air to be strong enough you could form plates to stand on, and technically fly.” Hugh said.
“Hugh. You genius!” I said.
Self-satisfied Hugh started smirking. That just rubbed me the wrong way.
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“That gives me an idea I could also use force walls to deflect bullets.”
That said I tried forming a force wall and it was surprisingly easy. I tried launching a rock at it. The rock just harmlessly bounced off the invisible wall.
“What?! Bullets!? Don't tell me you want to fight someone?” Said Hugh.
“Come on don’t be a worry wart, if I had to fight anyone I would beat their ass. Especially with this baby.” Excited to test out my new power I pulled up my dress arm I flexed my bicep and showed it off to him. Showing off to him. With a smirk on my face.
“This isn’t a joke Sarah!” Said Hugh with a frown forming on his face.
“I’m not joking, Hugh!” Defending myself I said
“You are treating this as a game!” Yelled back at me Hugh.
“What?! Me? Do you have any idea what I had to go through getting this?” Screaming back at him, thoughts of the void resurfacing in me.
“As if I would know, you never share anything, all you do is make fun of me. I feel like you don’t even care about me!” Yelled Hugh.
“What did you just say?” Grabbing Hugh by the collar and towering over him I exerted my physical prowess over him.
“So that's how it's going to be everytime you know you are wrong you start to intimidate me. What are you going to use your power on me now?” Yelled Hugh.
“I just might! If you continue on like this!” I yelled back at him.
“I bet your father is really proud right now.” He didn’t just go there. No, he didn’t absolutely fuming “How dare you!” I shrieked at him.
I saw fear on his face mind blinded by anger I launched him at a tree with my levitation. With a mighty thud he hit the tree, the tree was shaking back and forth from the sudden body launched at it.
As he lay there I heard a mind-wrenching scream of pain, coming from him. That woke me up. What did I do? Fear and regret were battling in my mind as I realized what I'd done to my only friend.
“Don’t!” between wheezing breaths Hugh forced out looking at me his brown eyes filled with fear, I got what I wanted fear. It for sure did not feel rewarding. Guilt spreading through me Stopped me dead in my tracks, I stared worry forcing itself on my face. “Hugh I didn’t-”
“Go away! Please!” Said, Hugh.
No, I can’t just abandon my friend after what I just did, no, no, no. Forcing another step forward “Stop! Please go away!” Hugh forced out still wheezing I could see an expression of pure terror mixed with disdain looking at me. Why did I do that regretting my actions, if only I didn't get my powers none of this would've happened. I would be at University studying.
The sound of approaching footsteps and shouts got me out of my thoughts. I followed my hopefully still best friend's request I reluctantly did as I was told and ran away. Out of the park and I kept running and running not knowing what else to do.
A few kilometres away I stopped wheezing out of breath, hands and legs shaking from both exertions and from what I’d done.
Anger fills me, anger at myself, at Hugh for making me do that it’s all his fault! If only he could listen and understand me better! Why would he bring my father up?! This is all his fault! I will show him, I will show him that I do know what I am doing and that I can control my powers.
With these thoughts battling inside me I needed to figure out where I was. Everything is a blur after leaving the park.
I looked around and I was that I was in the abandoned section of town. My house was near the western side of the city, while the hospital is near the city centre. If I remember correctly this side was the direct opposite side of the city on the eastern side.
Looking around I saw some cars trodding along the road, as well as a few abandoned cars littering the parking spaces with rust eating through their frame. I saw the odd passerby and a few homeless people as well. They were sitting in hidden crocks and crannies preparing for the night.
The night? I look up at the sky and see it was the afternoon, slowly turning into the night the sky turning blue in preparation for darkness. Shock passed through me. How did this much time pass? Quickly checking my phone it was around 6 PM.
‘Please let this be a joke’ I won't get back home before darkness descends. The inconsequential thoughts of Hugh and superpowers were ejecting out of my mind as I tried not to focus on the memories of the void. Terror took its place in my stomach.
I checked the map on my phone and found the quickest route home. I started down my path, fear gripping my heart at every step, thinking about all the monsters hiding in the darkness, I reached the near end of the abandoned area when I heard yelling.
“Help! Please Help!--” I heard a woman shriek, coming from the alley on my right. Quickly muffled by something.
Is this really happening? Conflicting emotions battled in me. Should I help? I have superpowers. I need to help, but the darkness is coming.
I turned into the alley like a sacrificial offering to the pedestal, following my destiny but questioning it until the last second.
I saw a man wearing a dark jacket and light blue jeans holding out a knife at a woman, one hand over the woman's mouth the other holding the foot-long knife more suited to be called a machete, pointing it threateningly at the woman.
The woman was the most likely cause of the scream, she was dressed in blue jeans with a brown belt. Wearing a white short sleeve jacket, with a head full of red hair reaching down to her back. She was clutching onto her black laced with gold bag.
“-Told you give me your money and nobody will have to be hurt.” said the man, in the most sleazy voice imaginable. Logically the woman not believing a single word from the man tried to flee and failed. Now in the clutches of the man with the knife.
The woman looked desperately for any way to escape, luckily for her not much for me she spotted me locking her eyes with me. Self-preservation and a slight line of hope entered her eyes.
Tired, annoyed and angry a flame lit up in my heart. This was my chance to show Hugh!
Trying to portray my most intimidating voice I yelled “Let go of her!” I yelled.
Surprised, the man looked in my direction, observing me for a couple of seconds and then sighing. “Damn you scared me, girl, I thought there was someone actually coming to fuck me up.”
Underestimated again just because I’m a girl. “Why don’t you just leave and I’ll pretend I didn’t see you? No need for you to play the hero.”
Not sensing the irony in his words, he turned back to the woman he started rummaging through her bag. Anger welled up inside me at the void, at Hugh, at myself, and at this prick ignoring me. I decided to act I will not sit still I will control my life from now on and no one can tell me what to do! I froze his machete and grabbed him with my power I pushed him away from the woman. Unsuccessfully since the woman's bag is in the hands of the man, they are both pushed the man being pushed and dragging the woman with her, both of them losing their balance they topple.
Both of them were surprised the man was disoriented from being janked and blinded by the woman's red hair.
“What the fuck just happened.” said the man spotting his floating knife, uncaring for the laws of physics.
“Did I smoke too much again? Nah, I haven’t had any in days.” The man thought out loud. lying on the floor not understanding what was happening.
The woman seeing a chance took it and ran towards me. I tensed I thought she might try tackling me for whatever reason. She brushed past me leaving me alone with the man.
The man looked at me now with anger and a dangerous glint in his eyes.
“It’s your fault, isn’t it? You let her get away” Standing up he tried taking his floating knife after a few forceful pulls and gave up. Leaving it.
Staring at me, he started slowly inching towards me. “Now, now, now it seems like it’s just you and me left.”
My flight or fight instinct kicked into gear. I used my power and threw him against the wall letting him collapse to the floor. “Shut up.” I said
This prick wants to mug people, and threaten them with a knife? I will teach him a lesson he will never forget.
“Wha- What is happening?” He asked fearfully. As he was held against the wall. not understanding why he couldn’t move.
Slowly like water trickling in a euphoric feeling washed over me,
‘I am in control. I can do whatever I want.’ The feeling of power is intoxicating, to have the power to decide this pig's life or death.
High on these feelings, I launched him at the other side of the alley his head hitting the wall at the wrong angle, I heard a disturbingly loud crunch, and I saw the man crumple to the floor, something falling to the ground behind him. Waking me up from my high.
“Hello?” I asked the crumpled man on the floor. A shudder passed through my body. “Hey what's wrong get up!” I lightly kicked his body, it turned over and I saw the damage. Blood was gushing like a fountain out the back of his head. there is a hole in his head. There are missing pieces of his skull that I find all over the floor.
‘What have I done?’ I throw up, partially on his head and I see the outline of my morning pancakes reminding me of mom. ‘What would mom think of me now?’ Standing still in shock for a timeless few seconds when I heard sirens approaching.
‘Who called the cops? The woman!’ Realizing, looking back I see her staring at me. she must have seen the whole thing play out, hiding behind the wall.
‘Should I kill her?’ No! What am I thinking? I’m not a murderer! Not coping with my new reality I saw the red and blue lights behind her flash across the buildings as the police are on the way. Not having much choice I took another look at the lady before making a run for it.
The second time today I run away with regrets and anger at myself for what I’d done. Tears fall down my cheeks as I run blindlessly in the night, after an unknown amount of time I found an empty and uncomfortable bench in an abandoned alley I collapse exhaustion going through my body in waves as I fall unconscious almost immediately, hoping that today was all just a dream and that I will wake up tomorrow at home with mom.