I woke up on a stretcher being carried out by paramedics. All I can do is look around at the countless bodies I left behind from my past failure. I could remember reassuring that girl that everything was going to be okay…and I let her down and everyone else. Why wasn't I strong enough? 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.
I was left in a dark empty space within my mind, that of an endless void. My only company was my thoughts. I finally had time to make sense of things. Where had everything gone wrong? I did everything he told me to but something had seemed off. Was I set up? Was I meant to fail? I couldn't wrap my brain around it just yet I was in such a bad place it was hard to think. Maybe the answer will be clearer when I wake.
I finally regained consciousness 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. Paramedics found you bleeding out on the floor when they arrived. 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 then if I made it out alive." I say. Was there really a God? If so, he clearly didn't like me very much. He gave me a warm smile,"You should really get some rest Victor, you went through a very scary and intense situation. You're probably still processing what happened." The doctor said to me before leaving the room.
After the doctor left everything fell quiet. All I could hear was the steady beep of monitors and the hum of the fluorescent lights that hung above me. I stared at the ceiling tiles, counting the tiny holes in each square. That was really all I could do at this point. It wasn't enough to distract me from the pain I was in and the guilt I still felt. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see that woman's face perfectly and hear the cries of the innocent. Why won't my mind let me forget? The events are constantly replaying in my head. Was this my punishment for being a failure? It was tormenting me in a way I had never felt before. Something had to change….
I waited till the hallway sounds faded–no footsteps, no carts, and no more voices. I slowly sat up in my hospital bed, the pain in my head was unbearable. I thought my skull was going to split in half. It even hurt to breathe. Every breath sent a sharp pain down through my lungs like something was piercing me from the inside. Even with the horrible pain I gently unplugged myself from the heart monitor, it let out a loud noise that filled the room as it flatlines before it slowly died out. How was I able to move right now? It should be impossible but something is driving me forward and I can't ignore it.
However, one thing really caught my eye. There was a camera in the room. Most wouldn't find this odd but no patient rooms within Neonhaven city hospital had cameras. The city was simply too poor to afford extra unnecessary equipment. Why was it that my room had one then. I inspected the camera further, that's when I found it. The brand's name was off a few letters, it should've said Nexura but the name was spelled Nexrua. What the hell? Panic struck me quick and hard. Where have I seen this type of thing before!?
I could feel my mind slipping from calm to a complete mess. I can't lose my grip, not now. Finally the realization had washed over me that this was a common mistake with Technology manipulation users. They could create and control any tech but when trying to replicate something it was never to a T. But wait who did I even know that has a tec- Shit! Shit! Shit! Oh no it was them it had to be them! The same group who robbed the bank just the other day. That man had to be the reason for this; he was the one with the tech power! Were they stalking me?! I had to go now! These bastards were really pissing me off. Haven't they tortured me enough?
I knew I only had a brief window to get out of this room before nurses arrived or worse their goons. Regardless, I had to follow this urge deep within me.. I have to get out of here. The only way out of my room was through my room window. I couldn't take the door because I would be spotted so this was really the only way. But I was 3 stories up, if I jumped I could kill myself. But as I thought about it harder I knew what I had to do. I gathered the courage in me to jump, a strange sensation flooding my body. Just breathe you can do this Vic- I run and jump out of the window plummeting to the ground but surprisingly able to stick the landing with this new weird energy.
What is this power? I can't explain what I am feeling but I love it! This weird power is letting me move my body like it was never injured in the first place. I am dreaming right? People give me strange looks as I make my way down the road. Maybe it was because I was still in a hospital gown. Or maybe it was because I was so roughed up and my messy black hair was down in my eyes instead of the usual middle part. I chose to ignore their stares and rude little remarks as I walked by. This kind of thing was normal in Neonhaven, always some kind of crazy person walking down the road so I should fit right in.
When I think about the city I can't think of one time it has ever been…a nice place to live. It was rated the number one most dangerous city in America. On top of that, most people lived under the poverty line. Bars on the windows of homes and small shops, other businesses too. Crime ran rampant through the streets unchecked. Dirty cops everywhere, ones too lazy to enforce justice on such a broken city. Sure there were heroes but even they could undergo the same flaws. It enraged me to even have to think such basic principles of Justice were erased. It's almost as if you had money you could just get away with anything these days. However, that was really the least of my worries right now, I should be focused on getting home.
The street lights cast shadows on the pavement, I used their illumination as the only guidance I needed as I headed out into the night. Unfortunately my house was on the outskirts of the city so I had a long walk. My feet dragging beneath me as I trudged on, it felt like I was never going to make it home. Now that I was truly alone with myself once more I could really get a grasp on my scrambled mind. Even if I could get my hands on just one clue, maybe it could fill a gap in this elaborate puzzle. One thing was sure, the cops will be looking for me. Those slimy pieces of shit probably paid them off. I just know they did. I was trusting my gut on this one. Best to remain cautious for the time being. Besides that, something doesn't sit right with me. Most robbers would try and play it casualty free not go in guns blazing and kill everyone without probable cause.
Speak of the devil, a police car rounded the corner and I ducked behind a parked car, heart hammering. I couldn't afford to get caught, who knows what they would do to me. As I crouched there my injured ribs should have been screaming-but they felt fine? Why was that? More than fine actually. I pressed my hand to where the soldier had kicked me. Nothing. How was that even possible? Whatever this power was, it not only healed my body but made me feel stronger. Like it had multiplied the strength of my muscles. How odd? I felt the power flicker away once more as if it only activated in moments of desperation.
I waited for the police car to pass before coming out of hiding. But as I thought about it harder, the man on the phone had to be the one calling the shots. His tone, his flare, and even his ruthlessness all screamed tyrant. I could sense my own frustration building as I technically had no real evidence.
This whole thing was like an itch that I couldn't scratch, there wasn't a clear answer yet. But even as I walked I was running through all possible scenarios and outcomes through my mind. I kicked a can on the sidewalk out of anger. Ughh why is this so infuriating? One thing I couldn't forget was that girl's face. I didn't even know her, but the thought I had given her even a little hope sickened me.
I felt another surge as my anger was rising. Out of pure rage I punched one of the lamp posts. It ripped straight out of the ground and went flying. I watched as it flew and my jaw dropped in shock and awe. The lamp post crashed into an office building a few city blocks away. How did I do that?! I had no idea how I was even using this power. Regardless, people would question the noise so I had to run.
I don't know how long it took before I finally reached my little home tucked away right outside the city's limits. I was relieved after all that time to have finally made it. I needed to get cleaned up and finally get some sleep. I gently pushed the door open and headed inside. Oddly enough everything seemed to be in order. I expected the place to be ransacked. There was a strange tension in the air but I couldn't explain it. What the hell is going on? I tried to ignore it as I made my way to the bathroom hoping maybe it was just paranoia getting the better of me.
I looked at myself in the mirror and the same old Victor stared back at me–bright blue eyes, dark circles underneath, hair still messy from the hospital. But something still felt off even if I looked the same. What is this unsettling Aura I feel? I walk back into the main part of my house and give it a once over. This isn't how I left my house was it? Everything was too neat, strangely neat it was just too clean. I felt a strange hand on my shoulder as I spun around. Now face to face with a tall, slender man in a black suit, his face covered with a mask, the mask had a dark black plus in the center. Who is this guy?! It all happened way too fast for me to even react. His hand is now on my throat. That's when I heard it..that voice..that ever so wretched voice! Is it him?! He spoke, "Victor, you are so weak and helpless in my grasp. Who would hear you scream if I crushed your windpipe?" The panic really started to hit me now. I had no idea what this guy was capable of!
I tried so desperately to speak but even with my rage fueling me my strength wasn't enough. His grip on my throat continued to tighten. "Shhh Victor, don't try to fight this…your pathetic strength amuses me." Was I really going to die? Although, I felt I couldn't move. I felt another surge of power. I had to try and fight back. When would I get another chance like this again? Desperation and fear were now controlling me. I drove my forehead forward with everything I had. CRACK! His mask crumbled away leaving his 2 evil eyes staring back at me. They pierced through me like a knife. His eyes were cold and lifeless, a deep shade of crimson red. With eyes like that as far as I knew he was the devil himself. He let go of me and I fell to the floor, backing up as fast as I could. Panic began to fill my eyes. The Devil's shadow loomed over me. "You Insolent Brat! You fucked up big time.." He spoke, the power that came off his words strong enough to make me freeze. This guy is on a whole other level!
The devil's gaze burns even in darkness….