Pain, then nothing.

Everything, then his room.

You have died.

Returning to checkpoint.

[Minor Pyrokinesis] added

Bill woke up in a sweat. It was the middle of the night, and he wasn’t in some hospital or clinic; he was in his room, alone, unhurt.

“Just what the hell…”

The shaking from what he felt still rocked him, he thought the experience would be instant but the pain blossoming from his spine to his brain in the time the explosion took, it should have killed him. But looking at his hero alarm, it read the same day, but at midnight when it went from Sunday to Monday, he was back before the day began.

“No, no, no, this doesn’t make sense, that had to have been a dream!”

Despite being the logical reason, the pain and experience were too fresh and real to cast aside. Still, the chance that he received some premonition, or in the absurd situation he developed powers, made it equally possible. Such powers were not unheard of but were hunted ruthlessly by governments and other organizations despite most having a major flaw or two. With modern technology, it was also virtually unheard of for a parahuman to avoid detection, only those who specialized in that sort of thing. But as the seconds and minutes passed as he tried to keep himself from panicking, one strange detail stood out amongst his memories, something about having ‘minor pyrokinesis’ a rather fancy way of saying fire powers.

As his thoughts turned to that fact, a bright burst of crimson leaped from his hand, temporarily blinding him with its brightness and closeness.

And in his somewhat burnt hand was a brilliant sphere of fire, it produced no smoke or smell but was hot and radiant. He moved his hand to and from, both amazed and fearful at what he was doing, and he wasn’t sure what it was. Bill wasn’t a parahuman and neither were his parents, true the potential existed in them, everyone had that potential, but the actual chance was astronomically small, three-point something or another percent last he checked.

This was making even less sense, first the most vivid dream of his life, and now he learns he can shoot freaking fire out of his hands?!

M-Maybe this is also part of the dream, maybe he’ll just fall asleep and wake up in the morning?

His thoughts turned from the fire back to sleep, hoping to forget this twisted dream was happening.

(Line break)

Come on hero, there’s work to be done!

Bill did not open his eyes, opting instead to lazily reach for his alarm clock.

It was a gift from Arnold when they were 10 so he was reluctant to get rid of it, but there were only so many years he could handle Grand Hand’s self-marketing before it got old. Maybe he could just sell it, might be worth something, and it wouldn’t hurt to have some cash to burn-

He instantly recoiled his hand as his first edition Grand Hand personal alarm clock (with Blueteeth) melted in his hand, the melting plastic burning his hand, a new mark beside the one from last night.

Shit, fuck, damn, and all the words Arnold would say.

It was real, it was fucking real!

He, Billards Stone was an honest to God parahuman now!

So, his first action as a mighty (teenage) superhero was one many would consider the right path.

“MOM!”

Lauren Stone, wife of Edward Stone, and hospital director, barreled into Bill’s room, knowing that if her one quiet child was yelling like that, then something serious had happened.

“What’s wrong honey, everything all right, why is your clock destroyed!”

Bill found it hard to explain what was going through his head, and subsequently, his hands, but anxiety was chief among them. Like most people these days, his family had no real dislike of parahumans aside from the more villainous ones, but they were also of the opinion that heroes and villains were just old 21st-century fads, something their grandparents were obsessed with.

“Uh-Eh, look!”

He held out his burnt hands, a bright flame floating above them.

“Oh dear lord, um, everything will be all right honey, just put out the fire and we can sort things out, all right?”

“O-ok.”

Remembering last night he released the thought of fire, of heat and burning, and so, the flames calmed down until nothing was there, nothing but the burns.

“Oh gosh, stay here while I get the burn kit. Don’t touch anything, and try not to use your… gift for now, ok sweetie?”

“Yes, mom.”

Bill gave his mom credit, she was taking this a whole lot better than he was. But then again, before she became stuck in the bureaucratic world of medicine, his mom was a doctor for intensive cases, mild if scary burns were likely run-of-the-mill back in her day. Still, this whole thing, powers or no powers, brought up the other part of his experience last night. His new powers, that was strange to think, were explainable, sudden awakenings of a person’s powers were one of the more common ways to get yours. This meant that half the problem could be dealt with, what wasn’t was the dream that came before it.

If the part about his newfound powers was true then what about the dream, the premonition in the unlikely case that it was one. It would mean that more important things were going to happen than just some cool abilities, his school, and his classmates, were in extreme danger, and for the first time in his life, he felt the need to go to school.

But his thoughts were interrupted by his mother, who was carrying the house burn kit and began working on his hands, trying not to aggravate the skin, what was left in some parts, anymore.

“It’ll be all right Bill, I’ve called the hospital and they’ll be ready to help us, I just need you to be my brave hero right now.”

She really was the best, but if the creeping feeling in his stomach was right, then something far more important was going to happen than just a kid with some burns on his hand.

“Actually, I was thinking I should go to school instead, it’s the first day, and look, I don’t feel the pain anymore, and worst case the nurse could help me.”

She gave him a pointed side-eye.

“Bill Stone, you did not just ask me to let you go without proper medical care, I don’t care if it doesn’t hurt and I don’t care if the nurse is Hippolyta herself, you’re not going anywhere besides the hospital mister!”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Shit

“W-well maybe we could just stop by before the first period ends, there could be something important, and you know what dad says, first days are always-”

“My answer is final young man, you are going to the hospital and that’s it.”

Sigh “All right, but how soon could I go back?”

His mother started to pack a small bag of his stuff, normally people weren’t allowed to bring game devices like she was stuffing into his bag, but it paid to be the one in charge. Soon after they began speeding towards the hospital, Bill was determined to slip away somehow, he only needed to find the right moment.

Pulling into the hospital director’s parking space, they hurried into the parahuman wing, a required part of all modern hospitals, and met with one of the nurses to get him checked in and started with an examination. The whole thing only took half an hour but that didn’t help his anxiety, but there was simply no chance to get away without causing a scene. After they finished with the power indexing a male nurse came with the results.

“Well, young man, you’re very lucky, not many unlock powers much less one so, hot.”

“That’s enough of that Brett, what do we need to do for him.”

He gave a short huff.

“As you say, ma'am. From what I can tell your son has awakened a mid-level manipulation ability, primarily that of pyrokinesis, but depending on how his ability manifested then he could potentially control other things related to fire and heat.”

“That’s great, but what about his hands!”

“Huh, oh yes, as you can see, the damage seems extensive but only on the surface, while it looks like damage, and that is partially true, it is also his abilities’ attempt at protecting him, rapidly carbonizing the area to prevent further damage.”

“You got all that just from some tests?”

“Indeed young man, and while the hospital AI did most of the heavy lifting, I can say for certain that the information is correct.”

“And what does Penny say about fixing his hands.”

Penny?

“She says that a topical dermal cream she’s whipping up right now will get things done, she should be done in 40 or so minutes, oh, that and a couple hours of sleep.”

Wait what, he couldn’t wait that long, he only had… two hours before the attack!

Brett seemed to notice my uneasiness.

“It’s ok to be scared, this is a sudden change to your body, but you have a wonderful family to help guide you through it, and who knows, maybe you’ll be a hero too.”

“It’s, um, ok sir, can I go to the courtyard while I wait, I prefer the outdoors.”

“Absolutely not Bill, you will stay right here until Penicillin is ready to help you.”

They named the medical AI penicillin- that’s not the point, Bill had to get to school, and lying to his mother is a small price to pay for the lives of his friends and classmates.

But whether he noticed Bill’s desire or was simply giving him some freedom, Brett stepped in.

“Now it’s not my place to say, but he’ll be all right, there’s no pain, the area is essentially one giant clot, and since his body temperature is much higher now, there’s no current chance of infection.”

“Hm, all right I’ll allow it, but I will check on you soon, so no funny business Bill.”

Hell yeah.

“Ok thanks, love you, bye!”

With that he ran out of the room, going past nurses and other patients as he made his way to the courtyard, there should be a less maintained section where he could slip through the walls. But despite getting there easily enough, the next problem was Penny, the hospital AI, something he was aware of but was never allowed to interact with.

[Query: Why attempt to leave hospital confines?]

“I don’t have time for this, I need to get to school, or I’ll be late.”

[Confusion: Hospital Director Lauren Stone is currently creating a doctor’s note explaining your absence.]

“I’m not talking about my classes, if I don’t get to school then bad things will happen, and people might die.”

[Alarm: Do you believe there may be an incident, if so, please direct these concerns to local law enforcement, vigilantism is a crime.]

“Look, I’m not going to argue with you on this, I need to stop it before people get hurt!”

In the distance, Bill could hear the distinct crack of an explosion, almost like the one from his dream, but that didn’t make any sense, it was far too early.

[Receiving Alarm…]

“What?”

[Attention: There has been a report of an explosion near Morrison High School, please cease your attempts to leave.]

“No, no, it’s too early, it shouldn’t be for another hour, I need to go, don’t stop me, Penny.”

[Attention: Hospital Staff alerted…]

But her generated voice started to fade away as Bill ran down the street, the high school itself was only a couple of miles away but it still took him a solid 30 minutes before he got there, huffing and puffing from the run. He managed to sneak into the parking lot just beyond the grass where Walton was giving the same speech as before, looking noticeably less collected than he did in the dream.

“But, before that, I am willing to offer some mercy, come join me and join my people, otherwise, I’ll paint your friend’s face red with you”

And like last time Bill’s classmates were slowly pushing themselves to the group, unable to fully understand the situation but knowing that doing as he said would let them live that tiniest bit longer. Thankfully Walton's goons were keeping their eye on his classmates, and away from him as he slipped into the small crowd that formed beside Walton.

Bill didn’t have his makeshift bomb from the last time, but Walton didn’t seem any more fireproof than he had, so he would just have to risk getting shot rather than exploding. But as the last of the students joined the crowd, something caught his eye, why was Eddy here?

Eddy should have been in a completely different class across the campus, what was he doing in Bill’s chemistry class? Doesn’t matter, the asshole was probably ecstatic to join a bunch of malignant terrorists. Oh look it was Eddy’s turn up next, why do his eyes look strangely familiar?

“And do tell me my son, what is your name, I hear you’re quite the special person around here.”

“Well-um, I’m Eddison, I’m a junior and I can shoot lightning.”

It was strangely cathartic seeing his bully so sheepish, even if the one making him that was a national terrorist.

“Hmm, good, very good, we could use more superiors among our group. But go ahead and tell us a fun fact about yourself.”

“I ah, wanted to become a hero for the longest time, like my grandfather.”

Since when was his grandpa a hero, I thought he worked for a power plant.

“Well, don’t you worry, once we get you acclimated to your new family, you’ll never think of that dream ever again. Now, give us a demonstration of your gifts, perhaps on… him.”

Damn it, Bill was the one he was pointing at.

“Wah, Bill, I thought you were gone?”

“Got hurt before school Eddy, besides it’s not like we’re friends or anything.”

“Ooh, you two know each other then, this should be interesting.”

Walton stood a bit closer, likely hoping to see the carnage up close.

“I’m actually here to say sorry, for everything.”

“Hmph, you’re about to beat me up and you have the gall to say you’re sorry, kinda too fuckin late Ed.”

We started circling each other.

“I don’t mean this, well I do, but, I’m sorry for the person I was, I’ve been trying to be better over the summer.”

“Didn’t you hurt a dozen or more kids this morning?”

“I-I admit I did something wrong, I had a relapse of behavior, it’ll never happen again. Wait, how do you know about them, you weren’t here?”

“… That’s not important, what is important is why you joined this jackass’s team.”

“That’s also why I’m saying sorry, I’m sorry for doing this.”

His fist started to crack and lash out with arcs of electricity, getting into some kind of martial arts stance as he stood next to Walton, his eyes were resolute, like the next action he took would be the end for him. Again, it was odd that he actually knew what that feeling looked like, it was when Bill pulled the… oh shit.

Eddy sent his supercharged fist into Walton’s direction, almost making it before some invisible force stopped his arm right before hitting Walton's face.

“Well, well, well, what a deliciously dramatic outcome this is, a shame you chose to be like those boorish heroes. Still, I promised we’d beat the truth out, Handy, do restrain the young man while I-”

An orb of fire broke against his side, his clothes and skin visibly melting from the heat.

Instantly I could feel my upper body restrained, the so-called, ‘Handy’ was probably keeping me from taking any more shots, a shame whoever they were forgot to keep Eddy under control.

His supercharged fist socked Walton Brock in the face, sending small spear-like arcs of electricity straight into his brain, causing him to fall to the ground and convulse. This caused his goons to start attacking them, but thanks to whatever god existed out there, Eddy was able to grab Bill and make a break for the school, closely followed by others.

Thankfully we got into the chemistry lab, still getting shot at by guns.

“Dude when the hell could you do that!”

“It’s a new thing, don’t worry about it.”

“Like hell, you scorched half his body before I shocked him.”

“Eh, in a day’s work. What we should focus on is not dying, I have a date with lots of painkillers after this and I don’t want to bleed all over the grass before that.”

“Well then, uh, we’ll need to fight back, how far can you throw that fire?”

“I don’t know, I’ve had it for like two hours, I don’t know what I can or cannot do right now!”

“Then, uh, just think of something and throw it at them, my electricity should be able to stop a bullet or two.”

“Why would you… you’re not thinking of going out there are you?”

“My power doesn’t have any range, I need to get close, cover me while I get to them.”

He leaped through the window, waving around a desk leg like a bat.

Ok, think fire thoughts, think big fire thoughts, think big fire thoughts getting thrown at the goons.

And no sooner did I feel a pull on my hands, and a chunk of the floor began to melt and form into a sphere, bubbling as it grew. Once the heat hit me I knew that it would be more than enough to work.

Oh hell yeah, ‘low-level’ my ass, whoever said that was an idiot.