Some people would assume a scenario like that would have broken the human spirit within me to keep going and fight on. That is where you are very wrong, I am only just beginning my story.
Later I wake up on a stretcher being carried out by paramedics all I can do is look around at the countless bodies littered throughout my place of work. Well used to be my place of work anyway. All I could hear in my head was that same grueling voice "Tick Tock Victor you are almost out of time." His voice echoed within my own mind. Then everything went black one final time. I can't even recall how many times I blinked in and out of being awake and unconscious. This time I had definitely been out for a few hours.
All I can remember is waking up in the hospital with a doctor monitoring me making sure I didn't just suddenly flatline. "Wha-What happened doctor?" I barely managed to utter those words out to him. "Well Victor you are one very lucky man your skull was cracked in many different places from a nasty blow to your head. You should be grateful you're even alive. God must really be on your side." The doctor told me. "Yea I guess he really is doc." I say. "You should really get some rest Victor, you went through a very scary and intense situation. You probably still aren't sure how to comprehend it mentally yet." The Doctor said to me before leaving the room.
Why'd he have to remind me of my failure at the tragedy caused by me because I couldn't even save anyone from dying at the hands of that villain. Maybe I could be more useful if I wasn't around just as a plastic bag rolling in the wind across a highway or something. I'd be better if I was just off of everyone's radar if no one was to care about me then I wouldn't be such a pain. To think how my friends, family, and anyone else close saw this on the news and is worrying about me right now or so I'd hope. Who am I to put that kind've stress on someone, especially people who don't deserve it at all. I knew I couldn't even afford this hospital bill. The job I worked didn't even provide insurance to cover the type of injuries I sustained.
I waited till I knew no one was around and unplugged myself from the machines and got out of the bed. The pain was so bad I could barely stand it. I'm pretty sure my brain was liquid after taking that punch. Regardless of the pain I snuck out of the hospital through my room window thankfully I was only on the 3rd story. I lowered myself down and realized I had to make the drop so I let go and plummeted 3 stories leaving me with a few broken ribs and cracked cranium that I already had. I limped my way and off into the city still in my hospital gown. The streets of Neonhaven were rough so no one even questioned this kind of thing anymore so it gave me a free path and I walked miles to my house.
After a few hours I finally made it to my house. I smelled like shit probably wreaking the smell of death and sadness. I ripped the gown off revealing my dirty and tattered beaten body. What the hell had I done? Now I can't live here. I've committed my own crime but not as bad as the crime of murder at least. I just decided before I am on the run I can at least take a shower, get something to eat and go to sleep in my own bed.
Skip till daytime I get dressed and I leave my place for good so I put up my hood and cover my face, the shadow of the hoodie covering me perfectly masking me in a dark shade of black. If this was my vigilante outfit it would just have to do maybe it will suit me. I didn't even have any pads or anything for protection. It was all my body, my bones would be my only armor. I walk down the sidewalk with my hands in my pockets looking more than suspicious. How could I beat people with flares? I'm not Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark. I'm not getting a bite from a spider like Peter Parker and becoming Spiderman so what was I to do. I had more than enough time to ponder all that as I began walking the streets.
As day turned into night I scouted the city making sure it was safe and no crime was happening till I had seen a woman getting mugged she like me had no flare but the thug robbing her had a flame flare they were common but his was a relatively simple one but still would roast me alive. "Hey give her back the purse I won't tell you a second time." Truth is I was shaking but still I wanted to sound strong. "And who the hell are you supposed to get lost nobody before I kick your ass," He Practically ignores me after saying that. I take my stance and throw a punch hoping I can just do this quickly. He doges my punch and grabs my arm with such speed and effortlessly throws me into an alleyway wall. Shit Victor that wasn't smart you are basically crippled how are you going to fight this guy! "What the hell did I say to you punk get lost before I jack up that face of yours!" He is screaming at me now. I slowly manage to push myself up as he walks toward me. "I told you to leave that woman alone you thief I'll make sure you get what you deserve!" So as I utter these words of confidence I stand up and take my stance once more.
The alley reeked of garbage and desperation, much like my current situation. The thug blocking my path cracked his knuckles, and small flames danced between his fingers like deadly embers. Nothing fancy—just enough firepower to turn my night into a living hell. "Should've stayed home, buddy you aren't cut out for this vigilantes don't survive in this city," he sneered, flicking a small fireball that signed the brick wall inches from my head. The acrid smell of charred ash filled my nose. I dodged left as another flame burst sailed past my shoulder, the heat making my skin prickle. I had no powers, no backup, no plan. Just me, my fists, and a growing certainty that I was about to get my ass handed to me.
The thug advanced, flames wreathing his hands like gloves made of pure hate. I threw a desperate punch, but he caught my wrist again. The searing pain shot up my arm as his heated grip burned through my hoodie sleeve. I jerked back, stumbling over a broken bottle. "Pathetic," he laughed, sending a concentrated jet of fire toward my chest. I rolled behind a dumpster, feeling the metal grow warm against my back as flames peered around its edges. My heart hammered against my ribs. This wasn't a fight—it was just like target practice for this guy, and I was losing badly as I was out of options.
Another fireball exploded against the dumpster, showering me with sparks. I scrambled away, but he was already there, his flaming fist connecting with my jaw. Stars exploded across my vision as I hit the alley wall hard, tasting my own blood and defeat. I couldn't let it end this way no not again. "Time to finish this," he said, both hands now wreathed in his hungry orange flames.
That's when something inside me snapped. Maybe it was the taste of my own blood, or the way he looked at me like I was nothing—like I was already dead or that his voice reminded me of the one on the phone. The fear evolved into something else entirely: pure unmistakable rage, one that I had never felt before. I spotted an overturned trash can nearby, its metal lid glinting in the fires bright light. As the thug raised his hands for what would probably be my final barbecue, I lunged. My fingers closed around the lid's rim just as a massive fireball roared toward me. I brought the makeshift shield up, and the flames crashed against it like a wave against a seawall. The metal grew scalding hot, but I held on, my rage burning hotter than any fire he could put out.
"What the—" he started, but I was already moving. I charged forward, using the lid to deflect another blast that would have taken my head clean off if it hit. The flames parted around my improvised shield, and suddenly I was inside his guard. His eyes widened as I drove my shoulder into his chest, slamming him back against the opposite wall. I was never good at fighting. I was always the kid getting beaten up in school fights but now it was coming naturally to me. I was whooping some serious ass! The fire around his hands flickered—surprise breaking his concentration. I didn't give him time to recover though I was gaining speed I didn't know I had. Using the lid like a battering ram, I struck his wrist, disrupting another forming fireball. Sparks scattered harmlessly to the ground.
"You little bast—" he snarled, but his flames were weaker now, his focus shattered. I pressed my advantage, the rage giving me strength I didn't even know was dormant in me. The trash can lid rang like a gong as I used it to block, deflect, and strike. Each impact sent vibrations up my arms, but I welcomed the pain—it meant I was still fighting, still alive. It was giving me this adrenaline I was loving every second of, pain is my power. His fire sputtered as panic crept into his eyes. Without his flames, he was just another low level street thug, and I'd been dealing with those long before tonight even as a normal worker they hassle you but they were never scary. I dodged left with the shield, then drove my right fist into his solar plexus. He doubled over, gasping trying to find air that he couldn't even take in. The lid came down on the back of his neck—not hard enough to seriously injure him, but enough to drop him to his knees. His hands hit the grimy alley floor, completely flameless now.
"Should've stayed home yourself you worthless piece of shit," I said, breathing hard as I stood over him. The rage was already fading, leaving me shaky and exhausted. But I was alive, and he wasn't getting back up anytime soon. Sometimes the best power is just refusing to quit—even when you know you are past your body's perceived limits. The only thing holding you back from moving forward is yourself. What if you stopped doing that and started doing the things that shouldn't be possible? Who is really stopping you.
I noticed now the woman had fled the scene leaving her belongings behind and all maybe because of the way I was dressed I didn't look like any hero to her at all. It's all okay though at least this guy didn't get away with anything. I'll just return the lady's goods outside the police station and an officer will probably end up seeing it. As I start to walk away, that's when I hear that same voice, the same one I promised I'd hate for the rest of my life! "Oh Victor, very impressive indeed. I can't believe you did that all on your own without any powers," he says as his dark figure emerges out from the shadows. It's almost as if in that very moment I was no longer in control of my own body like it wouldn't respond to my brain anymore.
"YOU BASTARD I'LL KILL YOU!" My legs took off sprinting and next thing I knew I was about to swing on him someone I wasn't even sure his malice and evil had an end. "I wish you wouldn't choose violence Victor, it will never end well for you." He caught my fist the second I threw it his speed was insane he was leagues beyond me, this guy could kill me in one hit. He grabbed me by my throat, lifting me off the ground and bringing his face real close to mine while I tried my best to resist. "Victor my boy you are too young and inexperienced to try your hand at hero work. I promise it won't end with a happy ending for you." his voice was so much worse in person just by hearing him speak it would make you shake and shudder.
"Why do you kill people anway why did you rob my bank? What is the money going to be used for huh?!" I wish I could scream at him but his grip around my neck held me back. "You see boy this mask I wear bears the plus sign which we all know as the symbol for addition. The reason I wear it is that all humans are flawed in their own very special way. I only wish to improve upon their very design. I need money for my experiments. All that tech doesn't come cheap you know." His words pierced my like a knife he was experimenting on people and openly talking about it to me! "You are messed up mentally what the hell is wrong with you!" this time I did scream at him. "That's how the world is, you know, full of crazy people, ones that are nothing but pure blooded evil. Those people are the ones who made me who I am." As he says this he pulls up his mask to reveal the skeleton face underneath skin patches of flesh still attached with blood all over. I thought I was going to puke right then and there. "Look upon my face boy you know nothing of the pain I went through and others shall suffer such the same fate." That was the last thing he said to me before he vanished into black and I was dropped to the ground. Only now I was left by myself.
He was right there and I was powerless to him. I was too weak to fight him. You just don't know what it's like to have everything ripped away from you and to be left standing with no other clear path in sight. You don't know what it's truly like to break do you? Then to keep pushing yourself off of one goal you are not even sure you can accomplish! I'm not here to scare or threaten people off of my rather villainous appearance but I can tell you I'm here to rip you apart piece by piece! You've started a raging inferno that can no longer be put out. I'm going to make sure you feel every second of the pain you caused me. You will watch as I take everything you care about away from you just as you did me. You wanted a damn monster and now you have one!!
I was just talking to myself at that point he had already vanished and who was sure I'd ever find him again. I'd probably only amount to nothing more than a basic street vigilante anyway…sometimes all you can do is start back from the beginning. Where was it that I all began? Was it that moment as a child when I wished to play hero or was there more to it then I was remembering. Just maybe if I take another moment alone in the dark I'd finally find that answer.