Do you belong to the 1%?
To the top of the top?
Rich? Fast? Strong? Intelligent? Charming?
...
...
The List goes on.
If you are then have my respect for your diligence and determination.
But if you think you belong to the top here... then you are more than wrong.
Naive or ignorant. Choose your side.
Here, the one percent make up one branch of people.
Heroes.
With varying abilities, different world views and success.
They rule the world.
As protectors against evil and madness, against otherworldly beings and lurking villains.
And I…
Ezra Hall,
am destined for an average life.
For chaos.
Excited screams, loud crying, slamming of doors.
It's 7am in the morning.
It's still dark outside, the winter sun only rising a few hours later.
‚I need to go to school in a few minutes' Ezra thought silently as he wolfed down the last of his breakfast.
Scrambled eggs mixed with some peppers and spring onions.
And some leftover bread and ofcourse a hot chocolate against the cold weather.
The vibe is perfect while he looks outside and wanders in his thoughts.
Reality differs though.
Part of a big family consisting of six children, both parents were heavy at work to keep it running.
The oldest son turned 24 in autumn, a few months back.
His name is Bennet. He works on a construction site, with no remarkable school history or whatever.
And he has a daughter…
With his ex girlfriend on top.
While she herself rarely wants to meet her.
Still partying, still hooking up and still having nothing to show off except an average and shit loaded life.
Second in line is my other brother called Rupert.
He's even worse, no success in school, no job, no wife.
I am astonished he didn't turn depressive yet.
Or well… he probably did.
Well, after Rupert, next in line am I.
At seventeen years old I still attend school.
I have 2 more years to go to graduate school and earn my higher education certificate.
The chaos continued next to him.
A baby crying, and the other younger children crying and crying.
„All of you, stop right this instant!" came a scolding voice from the living room.
My mother.
Caroline.
With tired eyes and an unhealthy stance, she tried to keep them at peace.
Bennet left his daughter crying the whole time, he simply stared at his phone.
After cooking the meal, doing the laundry, keeping the family running.
Caroline, my wondrous mother, fed Sidney, the baby.
She changed her pampers and slowly brought her to sleep again.
Ezra looked at his phone.
It's 7:15. Time to go to this miserable place of average people with no future.
Standing up and getting my brown Trenchcoat, putting on my leather shoes, and taking my umbrella, I was ready to go.
One last look at my mom.
The only person I am proud of.
Thankful for.
But there's a still a lingering feeling.
Of being average. And why?
Why succumb to such a fate. Throwing your life away for unthankful children.
For a husband that probably cheated several times.
Putting my hand on the door handle, a clinking sound resounded.
„Mom, I'm off to go. See you lat-"
I saw Liam, the fifth in line, 11 year old, hit my very hardworking mother.
Over some damn game on his phone!
My mothers reaction wasn't that of surprised anymore.
I dont know how much that happened since.
But today there's going to be consequences.
Ezra turned around, and walked with heavy steps to Liam who lifted his eyes off the phone after he stood infront of him.
Umbrella already raised, and rage in his eyes, Ezra swung it down and lashing across Liam's Back.
It was the first time it happened.
That Ezra would be this aggressive.
Liam stumbled on the floor, letting the phone fall across the room.
Painful screaming mixed with crying unfolded.
Ezra bent down and took the phone away with him.
When he looked at Caroline, he saw the surprise and fear he didn't see coming.
„I'm going to school, see you later"
Bennet put down his phone after that.
…
Walking down the Willow Street of Brookdale- Hillside.
As the name implies lots of willow trees lined the sidewalks.
Hillside was situated in a Suburb like location.
It had lots of forest and beautiful hills and gardens.
Taking the Bus from Brookdale-Hillside to Brookdale, Ezra stepped off the Bus and walked the rest.
The usual route met him.
The same students, the same elderly couple on a bench infront the local bakery Wambo.
Newspapers lying on the ground with the news of the day.
„Young Hero's of Northdale Hero Academy are graduating!" with a picture below.
Tens of students lined in a white uniform with a cape.
Ezra looked at it briefly and scoffed.
How he wished to be one of them.
To be a hero.
But alas, heroes are born with a slight chance of becoming one.
The 1%.
Out of 8 billion humans living here, 8 million were born with transcendent powers.
There are ranks too for them.
With fanbases as large as countries and wealth to topple a nation.
But that is a distant world for Ezra.
Unbeknownest when, but at some point he started biting his lip.
He is destined for an average life.
Average family, average school, and average grades.
Well, they are above average in his school, but if you look at the bigger picture, then yes, they are average too.
His potential was written in the stars already.
Infact, theres still a slim chance of awakening a superpower and transcending beyond the human.
But what kind of chance would that be...
Ezras phone rang.
ring ring ring
It was Chloe, his girlfriend of 2 months.
„Hey Ez, where are you? I'm waiting infront of the cafeteria. Why do I always have to message you first?"
‚Here we go' Ezra thought grimly.
„Why don't you show a bit of commitment. We are in it together and it would be more than nice if you show that you like me"
„Chloe, you know how my family situation is… besides I don't like hanging around the phone the whole time…"
„How else do you want to communicate with me? I live on the other side of the city, well we could spend a bit more time together outside of school," Chloe said sharply.
„I will take you out on a date if my financial situation improved, alright? How about a cozy Italian restaurant? Some pasta, maybe?"
„But I don't want to wait the whole time. We are a couple since 2 months and we didn't even kiss yet. We never spend time together, not once. I have the feeling that you aren't loving me anymore."
„I am thinking about you the whole time, Chloe. And of course I am loving you. I just need to learn to show it more often."
Silence
„Chloe, is everything alright? You know that I love you, right?"
„Yeah, yeah, I hope you do," she said finally and hung up.
Ezra sighed heavily.
‚I will make her happy, I promise that. It's just that I'm currently feeling like I'm drowning…'
Ezra put his phone into the right pocket of the Trenchcoat, afterwards shuffling through his black hair with a middle part.
At last he arrived infront of the school gates.
His first class is going to be his advanced class, economy.
…
Going through the corridors, he's as if a ghost ,no one greeting him or even looking his way.
That's who he is here.
An average guy.
With a skinny figure, eyebags and tired eyes.
But before class, he went to the cafteria.
When he arrived, Chloe waited in a group of 2 other girls and 2 boys.
He went up to her, she grabbed his arm excitedly,
They talked and laughed, and together they went to classes.
They are in the same class.
So after lifting her mood with his presence, everything seemed normal and good.
…
Hours flew by and school ended.
It's dark again.
The short daylight of winter passed while in school.
Going to school by dark and returning by dark.
Ezra and Chloe walked side by side, with a hot chocolate in their hands each.
They sat down on a bench in the nearby park.
„Ezra, if you could decide, what kind of powers would you like to have?"
Ezra; surprised by the question thought briefly before answering.
„I would want to be like Ascendent."
„And you, Chloe?"
„I wouldn't want to be a hero, have powers, yes, but I don't want to be in danger. Maybe something like teleporting. No more busses and stuff," she grinned.
„Everything would be easier…"
They looked eachother in the eye, and a romantic glint appeared in their eyes.
Chloe touched his cheek and leaned in closer.
Ezra was caught off guard, and backed away a little.
„Im not ready yet," he stammered nervously.
Chloe backed away a little too.
Her face dark, unreadable.
After a minute, she said reluctantly.
„I break up with you"
She stood up and simply walked away.
Ezra stood alone under a lantern, its warm glow separating him from the lingering dark.
A snowflake landed slowly on the ground.