I knew where he was, her ex-husband. After the split I kept tabs on him, just in case. It had been so long that I’d forgotten about him. I didn’t think he was a threat.
Bloody smudges decorated my body as I flew toward his shitty duplex rental. I’d hurt him, I’d beat him until he begged Julie’s forgiveness, then I’d crush his windpipe and watch the light leave his eyes.
The green glow of a television seeped from his dark living room. I burst through the window, plaster and glass erupted like a volcano.
“James!” I cursed his name.
“Eh, what the hell?” he leapt off the couch, startled.
I was on him in a flash, my hand around his throat; I lifted him into the air and reeled my other hand back in a fist.
“You are going to pay, you piece of shit!”
“Wha? What’d I?” he was terrified, something in his eyes made me stop. I studied the deep brown pools filled with fear and confusion. I exhaled deeply and looked around.
The place was a shithole; empty pizza boxes and beer cans scattered everywhere. James reeked of booze and body odor. He wore a gross undershirt and boxers stained with pizza and jism.
I opened my hand and dropped him to the ground. He didn’t kill her, he probably hadn’t left his house for days.
James stood and rubbed his neck. “Jesus you crazy asshole! Lookit what you did to my window! You just come here to ruin my life some more?”
The adrenaline left me, my shoulders slumped.
“I’ve got nothing left!” James waved his arms violently. “Go ahead and finish the job! Go ahead and kill me.”
I started toward the door.
“Now you’re gonna leave? Why’d you even come?”
I opened the door and stopped.
“She’s dead. Someone killed her.” I spat over my shoulder.
He stood silent, his gazed dropped to the floor as the news sunk in. Then his mouth tightened and his eyes narrowed.
“You let someone kill her? Some fuckin’ hero. Where were you?”
I flew off as he yelled behind me.
“Where the hell were you?”
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
“Hero’s” Story – Chapter 23
I knelt down and touched her cheek. So cold. I closed her eyes and took a step back. I stood frozen, unable to move or think. On instinct my hand slid into my pocket, fingers dialed 9-1-1, shaking hand brought the phone up to my ear.
“911, what’s the nature of your-“
“She’s dead.”
“Wha, Sir, who is dead?”
“Jul- my girlfriend. In the bathroom.”
“Okay Sir, stay calm, what’s the situation?”
“Some-someone killed her.” Stomach churned.
“Is the attacker still in the home?”
“No, no one’s here. No one, oh God.” Throat burned like acid. “She was all alone like this.”
“Sir, breathe, stay calm, what is your location?”
“1518 Marigold, Jesus fuck, it’s different.” I gagged.
“Sir?”
“It’s different from the others, I know her, I love her.” I gagged again; acid burned the back of my mouth.
“Sir, calm-“
I threw up. Stomach wrenched, I doubled over in pain. Phone fell to the bloody tile. Warm chunks burned my tongue.
“Sir?” the Operator’s voice called out from the floor.
Again liquid filled my mouth, tried to choke it down, I couldn’t. Spit the grossness out onto the counter. Knees trembled. I fell on all fours. Another wave came up, filling my throat, I forced it back down. Grabbed my forehead with a bloody hand and took a deep breath.
“Sir, are you still there?”
Another breath, fuck, fuck, shit, fuck. Two more breaths, count one, two, fuck!
“Sir, Sir, are you alright?”
Alone, I was all alone, she was so sweet, who would hurt her?
“Who!?” I screamed, launching a fist at the vanity. Wood shattered.
“Sir?”
I picked up the phone, blood dripped off of it and down my arm.
“He did it. He-he couldn’t let her go.”
“Who? Who is the attacker, are they-“
“I have to go, I have to-“
“Sir, wait there until the police arrive.”
“I have to go, fuck, I’m going to kill him.”
“No, stay right where you-“ click.
I closed the phone and stood.
I looked at her one last time. It wasn’t right, like a beautiful vase that someone took a bat to. Closed my eyes, remembered her touch, her laugh, the taste of her mouth.
Red fog crept up my body, clouded my eyes. I took off. I’d find him and kill him with my bare hands.
“911, what’s the nature of your-“
“She’s dead.”
“Wha, Sir, who is dead?”
“Jul- my girlfriend. In the bathroom.”
“Okay Sir, stay calm, what’s the situation?”
“Some-someone killed her.” Stomach churned.
“Is the attacker still in the home?”
“No, no one’s here. No one, oh God.” Throat burned like acid. “She was all alone like this.”
“Sir, breathe, stay calm, what is your location?”
“1518 Marigold, Jesus fuck, it’s different.” I gagged.
“Sir?”
“It’s different from the others, I know her, I love her.” I gagged again; acid burned the back of my mouth.
“Sir, calm-“
I threw up. Stomach wrenched, I doubled over in pain. Phone fell to the bloody tile. Warm chunks burned my tongue.
“Sir?” the Operator’s voice called out from the floor.
Again liquid filled my mouth, tried to choke it down, I couldn’t. Spit the grossness out onto the counter. Knees trembled. I fell on all fours. Another wave came up, filling my throat, I forced it back down. Grabbed my forehead with a bloody hand and took a deep breath.
“Sir, are you still there?”
Another breath, fuck, fuck, shit, fuck. Two more breaths, count one, two, fuck!
“Sir, Sir, are you alright?”
Alone, I was all alone, she was so sweet, who would hurt her?
“Who!?” I screamed, launching a fist at the vanity. Wood shattered.
“Sir?”
I picked up the phone, blood dripped off of it and down my arm.
“He did it. He-he couldn’t let her go.”
“Who? Who is the attacker, are they-“
“I have to go, I have to-“
“Sir, wait there until the police arrive.”
“I have to go, fuck, I’m going to kill him.”
“No, stay right where you-“ click.
I closed the phone and stood.
I looked at her one last time. It wasn’t right, like a beautiful vase that someone took a bat to. Closed my eyes, remembered her touch, her laugh, the taste of her mouth.
Red fog crept up my body, clouded my eyes. I took off. I’d find him and kill him with my bare hands.
Monday, September 28, 2009
“Hero’s” Story – Chapter 22
We slept in the woods that night. Spoke in hushed tones. Our bodies shivered, not from the cold, but from what had just happened. Adrenaline was replaced by fear and doubt. In the morning we said our goodbyes. They’d go on the run; I knew I’d never see them again. I remember thinking that life seemed just a bit lonelier. If only I knew what I’d done to myself.
I headed home, watched my apartment from across the street for two hours before going in. Bionic erased any electronic evidence of what happened, but I wasn’t going to take any chances. I crashed as soon as the door closed behind me.
I woke up two days later. Took the longest shower of my life, headed to IHOP and ate the biggest meal ever, flew to the top of the tallest building in town and just sat. It was midday; I just listened to the cars driving past, the people shopping, working, living life. For just an hour I felt close to normal. Well, normal for me.
After the last few days my “costume” was trashed. Jeans shredded, shirt filled with bullet holes. Lost my leather jacket when the tank shot me. I spent some time picking up some new clothes, a dozen roses and a batch of fresh cupcakes.
When the sun had finally set, I flew over to Julie’s house. The window was closed but unlocked. I opened it and slid inside.
“Julie?” I didn’t want to scare her.
She wasn’t in the bedroom, or upstairs at all. I headed downstairs and into the living room. An end table was flipped over; the lamp that usually sat atop it lay in a thousand pieces in the far corner of the room. Into the kitchen, it was worse, pots and pans littered the floor, utensils were strewn across the counter, pictures torn off the wall.
“Julie?” My heart pounded loudly in my chest.
Into the hallway, blood pooled on the hard wood, leaking out from the bathroom. Opened the bathroom door; mirror lay in shards, porcelain shattered, bloody towel rack ripped of the wall.
I dropped the roses; they fell into the sea of blood covering the tile floor. My heart sank. Red hair drenched in wet crimson, her limbs twisted impossible directions. Her eyes open, white haze filled them, mouth open slightly, lips glossy with lipstick.
“Julie”.
I headed home, watched my apartment from across the street for two hours before going in. Bionic erased any electronic evidence of what happened, but I wasn’t going to take any chances. I crashed as soon as the door closed behind me.
I woke up two days later. Took the longest shower of my life, headed to IHOP and ate the biggest meal ever, flew to the top of the tallest building in town and just sat. It was midday; I just listened to the cars driving past, the people shopping, working, living life. For just an hour I felt close to normal. Well, normal for me.
After the last few days my “costume” was trashed. Jeans shredded, shirt filled with bullet holes. Lost my leather jacket when the tank shot me. I spent some time picking up some new clothes, a dozen roses and a batch of fresh cupcakes.
When the sun had finally set, I flew over to Julie’s house. The window was closed but unlocked. I opened it and slid inside.
“Julie?” I didn’t want to scare her.
She wasn’t in the bedroom, or upstairs at all. I headed downstairs and into the living room. An end table was flipped over; the lamp that usually sat atop it lay in a thousand pieces in the far corner of the room. Into the kitchen, it was worse, pots and pans littered the floor, utensils were strewn across the counter, pictures torn off the wall.
“Julie?” My heart pounded loudly in my chest.
Into the hallway, blood pooled on the hard wood, leaking out from the bathroom. Opened the bathroom door; mirror lay in shards, porcelain shattered, bloody towel rack ripped of the wall.
I dropped the roses; they fell into the sea of blood covering the tile floor. My heart sank. Red hair drenched in wet crimson, her limbs twisted impossible directions. Her eyes open, white haze filled them, mouth open slightly, lips glossy with lipstick.
“Julie”.
Friday, September 25, 2009
“Hero’s” Story – Chapter 21
I shook my head to clear the haze. Had to act quick, do something, anything, before I was overwhelmed. Couldn’t take another hit from that cannon.
Soldiers grabbed at me, their hands trembled with fear. They may have seen battle, but I was an inhuman enemy. I shrugged them off and bolted for the tank. My hands grabbed the cool, rough metal and I lifted. Damn it was heavy. Grunting, I heaved with all my strength and flipped the metal behemoth over.
Steel grated against earth as the tank wobbled like a turtle on its back. More soldiers opened fire on me. I barely felt the bullets anymore. Time was running out, I had to hurry. I made my way through the hole in the side of the building. Ran into a pack of guards in the hallway, I didn’t do any permanent damage.
Flare and Lady Speed were three floors straight down. I looked for an elevator, with none in sight I improvised. Balled up my fist and punched the ground as hard as I could. Skin tore, blood dripped from my hand but I ripped a hole in the floor.
I shot down, head first, arms stretched in front of me, hands balled into fists. Three floors, straight down. Covered in dust, scraped, bruised, but still in one piece.
I flew toward the holding cells, more soldiers, quick but tiring work. Finally made it to the cells, they were more like cages. Flare and Speed were strapped down; wires and sensors dotted their naked bodies. Covered in Purple bruises from torture and abuse. Anger surged through me. I tore the doors off their cages, broke their shackles and found them clothes. Lady Speed was in bad shape, barely able to stand. Flare was in slightly better condition.
Cell phone vibrated in my pocket, the screen read: “On roof, surrounded, hurry.” It was Bionic.
I asked Flare if he was okay and he nodded weakly.
“Grab speed and follow me.”
He scooped her into his arms as I rocketed through the ceiling. Eight stories straight up and I burst through the roof. Flare was behind me, flames erupted from his feet.
One look and I could see; Bionic was hunkered down, soldiers swarmed toward him, blood seeped from his shoulder. I swooped in, grabbed him and the four of us flew off into the darkness of night.
Soldiers grabbed at me, their hands trembled with fear. They may have seen battle, but I was an inhuman enemy. I shrugged them off and bolted for the tank. My hands grabbed the cool, rough metal and I lifted. Damn it was heavy. Grunting, I heaved with all my strength and flipped the metal behemoth over.
Steel grated against earth as the tank wobbled like a turtle on its back. More soldiers opened fire on me. I barely felt the bullets anymore. Time was running out, I had to hurry. I made my way through the hole in the side of the building. Ran into a pack of guards in the hallway, I didn’t do any permanent damage.
Flare and Lady Speed were three floors straight down. I looked for an elevator, with none in sight I improvised. Balled up my fist and punched the ground as hard as I could. Skin tore, blood dripped from my hand but I ripped a hole in the floor.
I shot down, head first, arms stretched in front of me, hands balled into fists. Three floors, straight down. Covered in dust, scraped, bruised, but still in one piece.
I flew toward the holding cells, more soldiers, quick but tiring work. Finally made it to the cells, they were more like cages. Flare and Speed were strapped down; wires and sensors dotted their naked bodies. Covered in Purple bruises from torture and abuse. Anger surged through me. I tore the doors off their cages, broke their shackles and found them clothes. Lady Speed was in bad shape, barely able to stand. Flare was in slightly better condition.
Cell phone vibrated in my pocket, the screen read: “On roof, surrounded, hurry.” It was Bionic.
I asked Flare if he was okay and he nodded weakly.
“Grab speed and follow me.”
He scooped her into his arms as I rocketed through the ceiling. Eight stories straight up and I burst through the roof. Flare was behind me, flames erupted from his feet.
One look and I could see; Bionic was hunkered down, soldiers swarmed toward him, blood seeped from his shoulder. I swooped in, grabbed him and the four of us flew off into the darkness of night.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
“Hero’s” Story – Chapter 20
We stood on the roof of the Super 8 facing the direction of the holding facility. Though we couldn’t see it, I knew it was there, I could feel its presence. I was about to make a life changing action, but I had no choice. Flare and Speedy were my friends; they were like me, and except for Julie, my only friends.
I looked at Bionic, I could never read his expressions but I just assumed he was as nervous as I was. Maybe worse, I mean he wasn’t invincible.
“Okay, you know the plan. I get Flare and Speed; you ‘talk’ to the computers and erase everything they have on us.”
He nodded; we’d gone over it more than once.
He wrapped his scrawny arms around my neck and wrapped his legs around my waist. I was wearing a Bionic backpack.
We took off towards the Federal holding facility. I flew slow and cautious, keeping my eyes open for helicopters, but the skies seemed quiet. When we got within sight of the facility I sped up. The closer we got, the faster I flew. Bionic’s arms almost choked me as he clung to my back.
The building was intimidating. Tall, cream white stone, guards with machine guns, twenty foot tall fence with barbed wire wound across the top. Military vehicles with guns mounted on the roof. Only one word entered my head, “unreal”.
We were spotted approaching; guards pointed at us and shouted commands at each other. Hummers with turrets mount to the top drove toward us. No time to lose, no time to think, I flew through the fence, arms outstretched. Metal flew everywhere stunning some of the soldiers momentarily.
I dropped Bionic; he took off blasting some crazy gun at everyone who got in his way. Weird orange energy left the gun in blobs and when it hit someone, they fell instantly to the ground, stunned, unable to move, but unhurt.
I turned my attention back to my task. Bionic had told me where Flare and Speed were being held, all I had to do was fight a small army to get there. I grabbed a nearby soldier and tossed him into a group of his friends, knocking them down like bowling pins. Had to be careful, couldn’t risk killing anyone.
One of the Hummers sped toward me, bullets whizzed past me, the sound was frightening. One of the bullets hit me in the shoulder and I somersaulted backwards. The pain was intense. Bending at the knees I propelled myself toward the vehicle, grabbed the turret with both hands and ripped it from the roof. I twisted and hurled the scrap at the side of the building as hard as I could.
The broken gun ripped a hole through the side of the holding facility. Guards scattered as brick and metal shrapnel flew through the air. I dove toward the hole as fast as possible. I didn’t make it. As I neared the opening a tank turned the corner of the building and shot at me.
I’d never been shot by a tank before. It hurt like a motherfucker. The huge shell hit me in the side and tossed me like a rag doll. I hit the dirt and slid at least a hundred feet before I stopped. My ears were ringing, dust in my eyes clouded my vision, everything seemed far away for a moment. I looked up and saw soldiers descending on me, machine guns pointed at me. It felt like someone else, like I was watching something on TV that wasn’t real, that wasn’t me.
I looked at Bionic, I could never read his expressions but I just assumed he was as nervous as I was. Maybe worse, I mean he wasn’t invincible.
“Okay, you know the plan. I get Flare and Speed; you ‘talk’ to the computers and erase everything they have on us.”
He nodded; we’d gone over it more than once.
He wrapped his scrawny arms around my neck and wrapped his legs around my waist. I was wearing a Bionic backpack.
We took off towards the Federal holding facility. I flew slow and cautious, keeping my eyes open for helicopters, but the skies seemed quiet. When we got within sight of the facility I sped up. The closer we got, the faster I flew. Bionic’s arms almost choked me as he clung to my back.
The building was intimidating. Tall, cream white stone, guards with machine guns, twenty foot tall fence with barbed wire wound across the top. Military vehicles with guns mounted on the roof. Only one word entered my head, “unreal”.
We were spotted approaching; guards pointed at us and shouted commands at each other. Hummers with turrets mount to the top drove toward us. No time to lose, no time to think, I flew through the fence, arms outstretched. Metal flew everywhere stunning some of the soldiers momentarily.
I dropped Bionic; he took off blasting some crazy gun at everyone who got in his way. Weird orange energy left the gun in blobs and when it hit someone, they fell instantly to the ground, stunned, unable to move, but unhurt.
I turned my attention back to my task. Bionic had told me where Flare and Speed were being held, all I had to do was fight a small army to get there. I grabbed a nearby soldier and tossed him into a group of his friends, knocking them down like bowling pins. Had to be careful, couldn’t risk killing anyone.
One of the Hummers sped toward me, bullets whizzed past me, the sound was frightening. One of the bullets hit me in the shoulder and I somersaulted backwards. The pain was intense. Bending at the knees I propelled myself toward the vehicle, grabbed the turret with both hands and ripped it from the roof. I twisted and hurled the scrap at the side of the building as hard as I could.
The broken gun ripped a hole through the side of the holding facility. Guards scattered as brick and metal shrapnel flew through the air. I dove toward the hole as fast as possible. I didn’t make it. As I neared the opening a tank turned the corner of the building and shot at me.
I’d never been shot by a tank before. It hurt like a motherfucker. The huge shell hit me in the side and tossed me like a rag doll. I hit the dirt and slid at least a hundred feet before I stopped. My ears were ringing, dust in my eyes clouded my vision, everything seemed far away for a moment. I looked up and saw soldiers descending on me, machine guns pointed at me. It felt like someone else, like I was watching something on TV that wasn’t real, that wasn’t me.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
“Hero’s” Story – Chapter 19
We grabbed a room at a Super 8 just outside of town. I work IT all day and fight crime all night; I can’t afford to stay anywhere else. Bionic was antsy, we both were. It’s not every day you decide to break into a federally run prison. I lay on the hard mattress, on top of the ugly flower patterned comforter, trying to clear my head, trying to sleep.
My phone rang, caller ID said it was my wife, ex-wife. I answered.
“Daddy?” It was my son’s voice. Unexpected guilt slammed my stomach.
“Uh. Hey buddy.”
“Um, Daddy, when are we going to the park? You said we could go to the park and we didn’t.”
“I know.” Broken promises, one after another. Hadn’t seen my kids in weeks, hadn’t missed them. Out of sight, out of mind.
I heard my ex-wife’s voice in the background, “Put the phone down. Who are you talking to? Give me that phone.”
“Okay Daddy, bye.”
She took the phone from him. “Hello?”
“Hey.”
“Don’t call here unless you are going to talk to me.”
“Sorry, he called me.”
“Whatever, listen, unless you are going to be a real father and be around your kids, don’t talk to them.”
Click. She hung up the phone.
Reflex kicked in, “I love you.”
Bionic looked over at me, his face puzzled. I shrugged and tossed the phone down on the bed.
I closed my eyes and let the black shadow of relaxation wash over my body.
I woke up to Bionic standing over me, shaking me gently. I sat up, rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked outside. Night had come, it was time.
My phone rang, caller ID said it was my wife, ex-wife. I answered.
“Daddy?” It was my son’s voice. Unexpected guilt slammed my stomach.
“Uh. Hey buddy.”
“Um, Daddy, when are we going to the park? You said we could go to the park and we didn’t.”
“I know.” Broken promises, one after another. Hadn’t seen my kids in weeks, hadn’t missed them. Out of sight, out of mind.
I heard my ex-wife’s voice in the background, “Put the phone down. Who are you talking to? Give me that phone.”
“Okay Daddy, bye.”
She took the phone from him. “Hello?”
“Hey.”
“Don’t call here unless you are going to talk to me.”
“Sorry, he called me.”
“Whatever, listen, unless you are going to be a real father and be around your kids, don’t talk to them.”
Click. She hung up the phone.
Reflex kicked in, “I love you.”
Bionic looked over at me, his face puzzled. I shrugged and tossed the phone down on the bed.
I closed my eyes and let the black shadow of relaxation wash over my body.
I woke up to Bionic standing over me, shaking me gently. I sat up, rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked outside. Night had come, it was time.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
“Hero’s” Story – Chapter 18
I reacted almost immediately. I swooped down, grabbed Bionic and took off. There was no way I was going to fight Government Agents; I didn’t want to end up on America’s Most Wanted. I took Bionic up to the top of a building a few blocks off. It’d take them a while to get to us, if I hadn’t lost them.
“What the hell is going on man?” I looked him over, his clothes were torn and he had bruises on his arms and legs.
He looked at me pleadingly. Of course, he couldn’t speak. He made his hands into the symbol for a telephone and held it up to his ear. I understood, pulled out my cell phone and handed it to him. He closed his eyes for a moment as he grabbed my phone, and then held it near my face so I could see the screen.
My cell phone screen went black, green words started scrolling across the screen. “We were abducted by the FBI. They took us to a holding facility and ran tests on us. They still have Flare and Speed. We need to rescue them.”
My powers were straight forward, but his powers were just cool.
“Okay, do you know where they are?” The idea hadn’t really sunk in. I was standing there planning on breaking into a Government prison to spring two people with super powers. Yeah, my world was a little screwed up.
Bionic closed his eyes again and the GPS map came up on my phone, he then mapped directions to the Facility.
“Let’s go NOW!!!” The green letters scrolled across the screen.
“No way. You are beat to shit and I’m in no condition. We lay low, rest for the night and head out tomorrow evening.”
His eyes got wide and he shook his head. It was like talking to a child. “NOW!!!”
“No, if we go now we’ll both end up captured, or worse. We go tomorrow, end of discussion.”
It was then that I heard the whirling thump of a helicopter. I looked in the direction of the noise and saw a black helicopter flying toward us quickly. Black helicopters, I am not shitting you. I felt like I was in a really bad conspiracy movie.
I grabbed Bionic and headed off, we’d find a hotel and lay low for the night and then tomorrow we’d free Flare and Lady Speed.
“What the hell is going on man?” I looked him over, his clothes were torn and he had bruises on his arms and legs.
He looked at me pleadingly. Of course, he couldn’t speak. He made his hands into the symbol for a telephone and held it up to his ear. I understood, pulled out my cell phone and handed it to him. He closed his eyes for a moment as he grabbed my phone, and then held it near my face so I could see the screen.
My cell phone screen went black, green words started scrolling across the screen. “We were abducted by the FBI. They took us to a holding facility and ran tests on us. They still have Flare and Speed. We need to rescue them.”
My powers were straight forward, but his powers were just cool.
“Okay, do you know where they are?” The idea hadn’t really sunk in. I was standing there planning on breaking into a Government prison to spring two people with super powers. Yeah, my world was a little screwed up.
Bionic closed his eyes again and the GPS map came up on my phone, he then mapped directions to the Facility.
“Let’s go NOW!!!” The green letters scrolled across the screen.
“No way. You are beat to shit and I’m in no condition. We lay low, rest for the night and head out tomorrow evening.”
His eyes got wide and he shook his head. It was like talking to a child. “NOW!!!”
“No, if we go now we’ll both end up captured, or worse. We go tomorrow, end of discussion.”
It was then that I heard the whirling thump of a helicopter. I looked in the direction of the noise and saw a black helicopter flying toward us quickly. Black helicopters, I am not shitting you. I felt like I was in a really bad conspiracy movie.
I grabbed Bionic and headed off, we’d find a hotel and lay low for the night and then tomorrow we’d free Flare and Lady Speed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)