《Heroes Age》
Prologue
We all had that one question asked of us, or we asked others. It could have been asked as children in a sleepover. Perhaps as adults out in a bar, already gone through a couple of beers. The question did not need to be asked verbally. It could have been asked of us by ourselves through a wish.
Perhaps as a child in the back seat of the car and staring out at the flying birds. Maybe you are in a bad place in life, and you wished you could leave it all behind. Most would be watching a hero movie, playing that new game, or reading a comic and wishing you could be like them.
Regardless of the answer, anyone of us gave, the result would always be the same. That cold hard truth that cares for none, only in our dreams. Perhaps one day we will get a full-body experience virtual reality game that would let us live our dreams. Maybe with luck beyond luck, we all genuinely get our wish.
Some of you may even be telling the truth and never answered the question, let alone asked it of anyone. If you speak the truth, then let me be the one to ask it of you.
"If you could have any superpower, what would it be?"
----------
Alarms are blaring throughout the corridors. Warning lights along the walls fading on and off. A single man, a plain labcoat and glasses with a sleeked back hair, walked down a corridor. A simple white box with no symbols on it carried under his arm. Head straight and focused ahead of him with a side glance from time to time. Nervous and panicky of his actions being found out.
Reaching the door at the end of the corridor, he reaches inside his coat to grab his keycard. Unlocking the door in front of him, he hears another opening behind him. Turning his head around to see who it was, a single streak of sweat on his forehead, he sees two others walk out wearing the same lab coat as him.
"Oh, hey David. Where are you going? Don''t you hear the alarm?" Asked one of the two, a man with messy hair and square glasses.
"Oh. Hi, Robbert. I know, but I need to get these samples to the lab before they go bad. If I don''t get it over there fast, it could set us back." Replied David as he began to turn the handle.
"But the labs not over there." Answered the other, standing beside Robbert. A woman with hair cut shoulder length and shorter than Robbert.
"Oh, yeah, I know. I need to go to the office first to get the paperwork. It was nice seeing you two." Answered David as he walked through the door and not allowing the two to ask further questions.
"Huh, what''s wrong with him?" Asked Robbert as he turned to look at the woman beside her.
"I don''t know. He looked worried, though. Could the al..." She began to reply before being cut short as a group of soldiers came running into view. Noticing the two of them, the head soldier began running up to them, giving orders to three others to check one of the rooms to the side along his way.
"You two, have you seen anyone coming this way!?" Shouted the soldier as he came to a stop in front of the two.
"Aaah, yeah. David just came through." Replied Robbert to the soldier with a shaky voice.
"Which way did he go?" Asked the head soldier with a hint of urgency to his voice.
"Th...Through there. Said he was going to the office for his samples." He replied while pointing to the door.
"Noting inside the room, sir." Said one of the soldiers that came out from the side room.
"Alright, let''s go!" Ordered the head soldier.
"Yes, sir!" Came the reply from the rest.
-------
Few minutes went by as David quickly searched through desks and cabinets, filling a bag with documents and other loose items. He finally fills it up before long and begins to pick up the bag and white container on the desk. Making his way out the door, he hears a shout at the end of the hall as he begins to turn.
"You! Stop where you are!" Came the command from a soldier, his gun held straight in David''s direction.
With an entirely worried face and panic, David begins to run and turn the corner, few gunshots missing him with one grazing his cheek. Now on a full sprint, he starts making turns on his way to get out of the building. The running footsteps of the soldiers following and keeping up with David.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings."Come in command." It could be heard from one of the soldiers as David was making his way through another door. "This is command. What do you need?" Came the muffled reply. "Revoke building access to one Dav.." Came the answer from the soldier before the door closed behind him.
One door later, David came to a stop as the card scanner on the door flashed red, denying the card. Few more swipes followed by a few more denied access readouts he finally gave up. He turned back around to find another way out, only to find the soldiers slowly walking up to him.
"Hold! Stay where you are." Commanded the head soldier as he walked in front, the rest spreading to take up the hall''s width. "David. David. You know, you were not the one I would suspect to do this." Came a voice as a man walked past the soldiers. "I mean, I don''t trust anyone. But you were the last person I would suspect."
"Th...This is wrong. The ones that don''t take to it die, and th...that is in the best scenario." Came a reply from David with a bit of stuttering. Staring at the Soldiers with their guns pointed his way. The man beside the head soldier, medium-length hair slicked back with a suit and dark-rimmed glasses, began to rub his eyes with a bit of annoyance.
"You know David..... It''s a bit late to back down on this. Let us not forget this is your idea, a bit late to grow a moral compass." Finally stopping from rubbing his eyes and adjusting his glasses, he extends his hands out before continuing. "Now, hand it over. After that, we can put this all behind us."
"N...No. We have to stop. It is not right what we are doing. All the p...people that ar.." David began to reply before being cut short.
"David, this all began with you. You sure didn''t seem to care with the first few failures. I am finding it hard to see how you suddenly care. Now last chance, hand it over so we can calm ourselves down and talk about all this." Replied with a hint of annoyance as he cut David short. Hands still out and expecting the container to be handed over.
"NO! It must stop. We can''t do thi..." He began, cut short once more.
"Such a shame, David." Exclaimed the man in the suit as he began to walk backward. "Shoot him, try not to kill him if you can, and avoid hitting the container." He commanded the soldiers once fully behind them.
"Fire!" Came a loud command followed by gunshots. A few shots were missing David as a few others hit him on the shoulder and legs, with two more shots grazed the side of his forehead.
"You fools...." Commented the man in the suit, eyes focused on the container now leaking a red gas. In a few seconds, the container went from leaking a red gas to a loud and powerful explosion. Metal doors shattered and blown outward along with any debris from the walls. David was now floating in the air with the container and slightly transparent. Meanwhile, the rest of the soldiers safe with the commander in front with a hand stretched out and a semi-visible bubble surrounding them.
*Waob*
The container is sending out another wave without any force. David is going a bit fainter as the area around it gains a red tint as if looking through tinted glasses.
*Waob*
Another wave and a bit more transparent as David remains floating on the spot. The area with a red tint growing and expanding out some more.
*Waob*
Another wave and David now nearly entirely see-through.
"Yes, sir. Gone sir. Still here, but I''m afraid noting will be left inside." The man in the suit began to say while holding a phone to his ear. "Of course, sir. Right away. I will get things in motion at once." He finished speaking as he closed the phone.
*Waob*
A few more waves, and David is all but gone from sight. The red-tinted field already expanded beyond view.
*Waob*
"Let us go, J. Also, make sure the next batch has better aim." Ordered the man in the suit as he was walking away. The soldiers, aside from the commander, shakingly holding their guns as they slowly moved them under their throats and fired.
"Right away." The commander replied as the rest fell to the ground.
----------
"He failed. Yes, I know. But this is going to be a bigger problem now. Yes. But we got no plan set for something like this. I know. Alright, I''ll see what I can do, but everyone is now going to be on high alert. Alright then, goodbye." Came the voice from Robbert as he was speaking on the phone and walking away from the blast site.
Ch 1 The change - John
Now let us ask another question under the expectation of the original coming true. How would we gain these powers? Would there be only one method or multiple? Would our powers come to us suddenly without us even noticing it? Waking up one day on our bed to see we are floating above our beds. Would the kid in the school track team be out on practice, only to see himself a mile away after taking that first step.
How about that soldier out in an active zone getting shot, noticing the bullets hitting him and falling to the ground. Maybe we would be visited by an unknown entity. Perhaps a conversation would follow and lead to us getting said powers. If not perhaps this entity would hand them out on a whim on whoever may cross his path.
If a conversation were to follow, how would it go? Maybe it would be to seek those with "pure hearts." What exactly defines a pure heart being a whole other question on its own. If not searching for those pure of hearts, then perhaps those that would share its own beliefs. This is of course not taking into account of said entity reason for giving out powers to be good or bad, what defines good or bad of course varying.
Now, how about that good old school way of gaining powers. That special chemical x, the green ooze, or perhaps that old school nuclear waste. Some of you who picked up a comic book or two most surely read about getting powers by being exposed to that radioactive waste. About a child getting exposed to waste from a crashed truck and ending up having higher abilities but blind.
Then we have those animals that get experimented on and end up growing gaining a more human mentality and escape from the lab. Maybe a meteor crashing into earth carrying an unknown metal or substance that ends up attaching to someone and rewrites their genetic code. Even some jewelry or clothes that grants powers so long as you wear it.
We could keep mentioning more but it ends up the same as the last question. We can not truly know. A life with superpowers is only in our dreams. Perhaps at some point in the future, it will be real. Until such a time comes, it will be just a dream. So have you answered the question yet?
"If you could have any superpower, what would it be?"
"So why aren''t you telling me what you got?" A question came from Jacob a teen riding in the passenger seat of the car. Black hair cut short with a side fade, zipped up hoodie and gym shorts and simple running shoes. "You know how suspicious this is right?" Questioned Jacob again with a playful nature. A bond between the two formed as they became friends as children.
"As I told you, you just have to see it." Replied the driver John. Dark navy jeans with a black hoodie and white plain shirt underneath. "Just trust me. You will not regret it. You might need this though as I''m told." Hand reaching into the glovebox to pull one of the two earmuffs, attention mostly focused ahead at the overgrown road.
"Earmuffs! You going to tell me to put on a blindfold and tie my hands and legs next?" came the reply with equal confusion and a hint of worry. "What kind are this earmuff''s anyway? They don''t look like normal earmuffs."
"Its one of those that they use at those gun ranges."
"Are we going to be shooting some guns then. I don''t see why else we would need this."
"Nope. But what we''re going to set off though might be as loud." He said as he began pulling into a rundown and abandoned factory. "Before you say it, no it''s not a bomb... technically."
"So we going to blow up the rundown factory with it or something?" came the reply as they pulled into the old parking lot and park close to the build. Both passengers exiting with the driver heading to the back of the car and unlocking the trunk.
"We are going to be setting this thing off."
"WOAH! Where the hell you get something like this?" Jacob filled with surprise as John uncovered the huge firework in the trunk. The firework labeled in bold letters FATMAN and artwork with standard firework art. Firework coming close to knee-high and wide enough for a person to stand inside.
"I know a guy ok." Replied John as he began to lift the firework out of the trunk. His grip coming closing to letting go as he misjudged the weight.
"Haha, know a guy. What is this an action movie?" Jacob gave a short laugh as he remembered the movies they would watch. John''s strong love for action movies always seeming to spill out in his behavior.
"HAHA, very funny. Come on then and help me set this up. Need to make a clearing to set it off, the last thing I need is having it explode without firing and blowing up my car."
Over the next few minutes, Jacob and John began clearing a section of the parking lot. Removing a couple of branches and a few loose rocks around the clearing. Shortly after they placed the large firework in the flat clearing. After removing the tape off the fuse, they began to extend it its full ten feet.
"Thats one large fuse." Spoke Jacob as he began to back up towards the factory.
"You''re telling me. The guy did say its one of those show fireworks. I always thought they had these artillery type fireworks in metal tubes though." John replied as he lit the fuse and quickly walked back to Jacob behind the car.
"So what kind is it?"
"He told me it was a two-part type. It will shoot a bunch of artillery ones out then at the end shot another single large one at the end. Said that the last one is one of those that sound like a cannon going off."
Looking at the fuse being an inch away Jacob began to put his earmuffs on. "Hope you did not get ripped off."
"Me too." came the reply from John as he too put on his earmuffs on. A few seconds later the fuse finally reached the end and began to set the shells off. One after another the shells went soaring off, twenty in total. For a good five minutes, the night sky was filled with exploding shells. Few shots went off like regular shells in varied colors.
Some sent off smaller shells that would then go off in their different colors. Two of the shells, one mid-way through and another at the end, would explode and launch a smaller one upward that would, in turn, go off and send a third.
"So... how long for the last one?" Spoke Jacob as he took a couple of steps towards the Fatman.
"I''m not sure. He said it would go after right after the others. Been like two minutes or something now." Came the reply from John as he began to move towards the Fatman. Both too focused ahead to notice the world behind them, slowly gaining a slight red tint. "I think its a dud." John spoke up after a few kicks before finally picking it up to inspect the firework. "Think I can get some of my money back."
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ??"Not with your luck. Do you expect your GUY to just give you your money back?"
"Guess not. Was not that bad of a show at least huh?"
"..."
"Dude, you ok?" Spoke up John as he began to turn. Shocked as a giant red wall approached him. Unable to process what was going on he began to quickly back up, tripping on the firework and landing on his rear. Few seconds went by before John finally opened his eyes after closing them out of shock, the world around him gaining a red hue. After a few bodily checks and finally gaining back his senses, he began to stand and look over at Jacob on his rear with his eyes still closed and hands covering his face.
"Jacob, you ok over there?" John called out as he began walking back to his friend, worry still on his face.
"HUH?" Finally, to his senses, he opened his eyes and turn to face John. "WATCH OUT!" He shouted as he watched the dud firework suddenly catch fire with John barely three feet away.
"What''s wr..."
BOOOM
Came the sound as the final shout finally went off and causing John to fall face-first into the ground, hoodie catching fire from the sparks.
"OH GOD! John, hang on!" Came the shout as Jacob went into a sprint towards the already thrashing and screaming John. John, however, unable to hear his friend shout continues to scream and attempt to put the fire out as the world around him went utterly white and unnoticed by him.
Few moments go by as John continues to put the fire out around him.
"That looks like it hurts." Came a sourceless voice.
"HELP! Please, Help me!" Replied John as he heard the voice and still thrashing around on the white floor if it could be called one.
"From what, you seem fine." the sourceless voice replied.
The calm sounding reply momentarily bringing John back to his senses to notice he no longer felt the heat or pain. Turning to his left shoulder he sees the fire still going to once again make him panic as he hurriedly tries to remove his hoodie. Burning hoodie off, John begins to back away from it and look around.
Noting. The only thought coming to John as he looked around him. The rundown factory, parking lot, his friend, or even the red wall is gone. Everything around him now replaced with nothing but white, the best he could explain. Now standing, he began to look around for the source of the voice to only see himself and his still-burning hoodie. "Wer.. were are you?" Questioned John as a hint of fear slipped out.
"Now? Everywhere." once again replied the sourceless voice. "For now of course."
"What? What do you mean? and where am I? What did you do to me, wh... where did you bring me?" Once again John questioned the sourceless voice as he continued to look to find something, anything around him.
"I didn''t take you anywhere." Came the reply. "Also, everywhere and nowhere... all a matter of perspective. Then again your probably not asking for the meaning of life or something here are you. In the most simple terms, we are here." The sourceless voice finished just as John felt being poked in the forehead by noting.
"What do you mean?" came Johns reply as he rubbed his forehead as he wondered what just booped him.
"Exactly what I said."
"Ok, then where are you then?"
"Around you, basically the same answer as the last. Hey! You ever had cheesecake?" Replied the voice giving a question of its own.
"What! Why?" John started to reply as a simple cheesecake popped out of nowhere floating in front of him. "Woah!? Where did this come from?"
"aah. That looks good." Answered the sourceless voice aa few bite marks began to appear on the floating cheesecake and another boop came to John''s forehead. "Hmm, taste''s plain. Store-bought I guess huh."
"You saying I can just make things appear?"
"More or less. Depends on the person." At the end of the voice''s reply began to appear a kitchen. A kitchen island popped out of no were in front of John. Slowly following an L shaped kitchen counter with sink and cabinets above along with the rest of a kitchen.
"You have a better understanding of this than most. Its.. refreshing really. Most can barely have a coin appear." The voice continued as the fridge opened up. "No milk? Shame... oh wait!" Jug of milk appearing inside and begin to float out as if being carried.
"So who exactly are you? You an alien or something?" Asked John as the floating cheesecake kept showing bite marks and the milk inside the jug disappearing.
"Me? Nah. Do not know myself, call me a guide if you want... or don''t, all the same." The reply came as a figure began to appear. A hand slowly began to show holding the cheesecake as it continued to follow the outline of the rest of the body. At the end of it, a featureless like mannequin appeared with a lab coat holding both the cheesecake and jug.
"You are more accepting of these things than most. I wonder why that is. Hmm? Look at that! Our time seems to be up." The mannequin continued to eat as everything began to crumble. "Aww.... my cheesecake... Well, maybe we''ll meet again. Good luck out there." Came the last words as the mannequin too crumbled into noting. John losing consciousness, unable to say anything those last few minutes as he was entranced at the things he managed to cause to appear.
Beep
Beep
Beep
The first sounds John heard as he finally came too.
"In today''s news, we continue to receive more reports of damages caused by this mysterious event. The president assures us that he will continue to investigate this mysterious event. Reports say that..." John began to awaken as a news report started. Looking around the room he began to notice himself in a hospital. Heart rate monitor on his left and an av on his arm.
Hanging tv in front and an unknown woman on his right, eyes still a bit fuzzy after barely waking from what felt like a long time. As his focused stayed on her so too came her sight as she looked back.
"Oh my god! John... you''re awake. Oh, thank god, my little boy." A gentle voice spoke out as she began to hug John. "Hold on, the doctor should be here soon." She continued as she started to press the button beside the hospital bed.
"What, what happened? Why am I here?" He replied once free from the hug, confused look on his face as the last thing he remembered was falling to the ground.
"Doctor said you were in an accident. You suffered some burns but he said you will make a full recovery. So just stay still and rest. Everything will be fine." Came the tear-filled reply. John slowly falling back asleep as he suddenly felt tired, nurse walking into the room as he closed his eyes.
CH2. Hello...World!?
More reports continue to come in as people around the world are being found dead or unconscious after the event that resulted in thousands of people to fall unconscious. Last night a body was found of a man in his late forties. Authorities say the man was found floating by the river with no visual signs of foul play. Fishing gear has been found about a mile away from the body with no signs of others around.
As of now, it is believed that the individual was fishing at the time that the world was engulfed by the strange red haze. Authorities continue to say the man may have been one of the people who went unconscious. This resulted in him falling into the river and later drown as a result. The man has not been identified. On other news more re...
"It''s tragic what our world has come too." Spoke out Linda as the volume on the tv was turned down. Standing at five feet four inches, shoulder-length natural curly hair, mid-forties, and mother to John. "I hope they find out what caused all this soon. So many people gone."
"Yep, too bad Billy is still here."
"Jacob!" Came the shocked and quick reply from Linda. Shocked at the notion that a kid she knew for so long would wish harm on another. "You should never wish for something bad to happen to a person. Thoughts like that are not good for a person to have and could come back on you."
"Sorry, Linda." Came the quick reply from Jacob. A little shocked at himself after noticing he spoke out loud. Jacob was never one to speak out loud when it came to darker thoughts. It was even more so when he was anywhere near Linda. Never out of fear of his parents finding out though her or of what she would do. It was more out of respect.
Knowing and practically growing up with John since a child, he saw her as another mother figure. It was not that his parents were bad, he just hated treating people badly that treated him kindly.
"Good to hear. Young men like you should not be thinking like that. More so after everything that has happened so far." Feeling a little bit of relief from Jacobs apology, she turns back to the tv. Volume raised slightly, the news continues showing several footages taken through smartphones.
As the days continue to pass us by, more and more reports are coming in of unknown objects flying in the sky. The flying objects too small to be an aircraft as well as maneuvering too well to be one. Several people have said that these objects are people themselves. Many others say it could not be as no technology exist that allows flight to that extent and size. Others claim these people are flying without any aid but out of their own ability.
"I think its people flying." Speaks up Jacob as his attention is on the tv as it goes through several videos. All the videos being a bit unclear. The people taking them trying to keep it focused as they struggle to keep the flying objects in view. Some videos showing the objects being unclear as the objects are quickly coming in and out of view. Few clear enough to show a human outline.
"What makes you think that? You know people can''t fly, at least without a plane or something."
"It''s a gut feeling I think. All of this happening after the world went crazy."
People are also claiming to have woken up with super natural abilities. One such person has filmed himself, with help from others, showing these abilities. We will play the video for you now.
The next second the tv changes from a newsroom to a person surrounded with a few boulders and old rusted car. Surrounded him and the area by loosely packed trees. The man, short hair with a fade and young appearance, stands in the middle of the shot.
"You recording yet dude?" Came the voice from the man as he asked the impromptu cameraman a question, anxious to get started.
"Yeah, yeah. Your good to go." Quickly came the response as a hand appeared in the shot with a thumbs up.
"Oh! Good good good. Alright, here we go then." He began to do a few warmups and a few lights tap to his cheeks before continuing. "Ah, hi. Names Kyle, Kyle Ryce. So after waking up from going unconscious, back when everything went red, I started feeling a bit odd. Thought I was sick or something at first. But the last few days I started being able to lift things that were hard for me before. Every day since then... stuff just kept feeling lighter."
After a short moment of standing still and talking, Kyle walked over to a boulder. "I guess I can show you what I mean." Turning around, he began to stretch out his hands to grasp the boulder. Not too long after his fingers began digging into it with ease. As he felt he had a firm grasp he began to lift it. Boulder standing a foot taller and three times as wide now hanged in the air at his grasp.
"I think I got superpowers during that time. I think I''m still getting stronger." For the next minute, Kyle began to left boulders and tossing them. Both Kyle and the camera were left laughing as the station cut off the video.
Sorry to cut the video short, but the remainder was the same as the last minute. Many are of course saying this video is edited. But what is strange is that there are more saying that the video is real. Several have even gone as far as to say our world has entered a new age. Many are dubbing it as the Age of Heroes. The implications thi.....
"How else can we explain stuff like that. People flying and having super strength." Jacob began to open and close his hands, seeing if he felt different. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Dear, nowadays people will do anything to get some attention. I am sure we have people out there capable to edit videos. The boulders he was tossing around could have been hollow."
"Yeah, I know..." Jacob replied with a hint of disappointment. Hands finally to his sides as he noticed no difference. Sound of his voice showing the same level of disappointment as he got up and began to move to the door. "Gotta go to the bathroom, be right back."
"Are you ok Jacob?"
"Yeah, just really need the bathroom."
"Hope so dear." Last words were spoken to none as Jacob had left the room, the door closing behind. Noting left to do, Linda began to finish watching the news. Several minutes going by as more talk of people with abilities showing up before the news switched to talk of local events.
Not long after John began to wake, Linda watching a show by the bedside. Attempting to move John notices his arms giving a bit of a tug against him. Turning his head to notice an iv connected to his arm along with a cable up to his chest. Head clearing from waking up, John began to see the room around him. Hospital bed with the rails raised. Curtains tucked away behind and side of the bed. Finally seeing his mother beside the bed focused on the tv show.
"Finally up." Spoke up Linda as she noticed her song staring at her. With a smile on her face, she got up from her chair and kissed her son on the forehead. "Glad that your up."
"Mom, what''s going on? Why am I in a hospital?" As the words left him, he began to stretch and notice his left arm shoulder feeling bigger than normal. Sliding the gown down from his shoulder he notices it''s bandaged up.
"As I said, you suffered some burns. But you will be fine. Now leave that alone." With a small slap to John''s arm, the bandages on his shoulder slightly came loose. To Linda''s shock and John''s confusion, the shoulder did not look as Linda remembered. Before the shoulder and arm looked to be a severe burn. Now in the bit that got revealed, at best, was more of a sunburn.
"But.. how? It looked a lot worse last I saw." Acceptance slowly filled her mind as she continued to look. Still finding it hard to believe when she last saw blisters, black spots and every sign of a severe burn. Not often, if at all, would one suffer a very horrible burn and heal up so nicely after such a short time. This was even more true for Linda, she suffered similar burns in her past to a smaller degree.
"It looks, fine mom. Besides how red it is that is." Wincing at the slight burning sensation as John kept poking around his shoulder. "You alright?" John spoke up after turning around, his mother still lost in thought.
"Yes of course. Good doctors, we have here I guess." Full acceptance finally sinking in. "You would not be here if you weren''t fooling around. How many times have I tol..."
"Aah, ok ok. I know alright. I''m fine." John quickly cut in as he remembered how long his mother goes on whenever he makes a mistake.
"Apparently your not. We would not be here otherwise and don''t cut me off." Came the quick reply along with a slap to John''s right shoulder. "I should just lock you up. Maybe that will keep you safe. Lord knows you may even find a way to hurt yourself even then." The last couple of words trailed off as she softly began to mumble to herself.
"I''m ok mom." Hand reaching and grasping hers, trying his best to reassure her before letting go. "So when do I get to leave? Not exactly looking forward to hospital food."
"Now, the food is not bad. The doctor said he will be here about twelve. Said you should be fine to leave today."
"Good, got some gaming to catch up on." Last words as he laid back and joined his mother in watching the show. Few hours went on by before the doctor appeared with a nurse, Jacob was still gone. Much like Linda, the doctor also shared in the surprise to John''s healing. Nurse removing the bandages to reapply the medicine. Same as the rest, the nurse too was surprised. This one is more so due to being the one who bandaged it the first time.
Both doctor and nurse stepping aside for a few moments, quietly whispering to each other. "Well, good news then. John is good as new and is alright to head home. We just to do a few quicks checks. We will go ahead and bandage his arm. Just to be safe on it healing fully. After which we can fill some last paperwork and he can be on his way."
Next half hour went by as a few simple health checks were taken. IV removed and bandaged along with the heart monitor straps removed. Jacob returning as John began to change, ass out in full display to Jacobs dismay. "AAHH, that is going to haunt me in my sleep." Jacob spoke up, hand in front as he tried to block the view.
"Come now, you know you love it." Came the joking reply as John began to walk backward to him.
"You wish, you would even have women running from that. Now put something on."
"Come now boy''s enough with horsing around. John dear, hurry and put something on and stop traumatizing Jacob. I got the paper all done and we are ready to leave as soon as you are ready." All the while Linda started to pack up any loose extra clothing. Even going as far as making the hospital bed due to her good nature and knowing it would be undone and wiped clean by the nurses for the next patient to use.
It was not long until they all got ready to go and got into the car. It was at most thirty minutes from leaving the room and talking to the doctor. "Alright, so this here is just some pain relief. Take two if you have any pain." Doctor giving the instructions as he handed Linda a transparent orange bottle with half small sized pills inside. "This here is some antibiotics. One in the morning and once at night." Handing Linda another similar bottle with pills half a size larger. "That will be all. You guys have yourselves a good day."
"Do I really still need this on? Feels fine, looks fine too." John spoke up after the doctor finished the explanation. Gaining the attention of the rest, John was seen scratching and starting to undo the bandages from the shoulder.
"Stop doing that dear." Linda spoke up after watching John undo the bandages for a second time.
"But they itch, it also looks fine." Bandage now halfway off as it reveals untouched skin as if it was never burned. Linda remained unfazed as she came to the acceptance of her son having faster than normal healing. Jacob was unfazed as he was unable to see the full damage during the incident while the doctor just stared.
The doctor coming back to attention as Linda called for him a few times. "He should be fine without them. If he feels any burning sensation then some off the counter cream should do, otherwise, come see us..." Focus still on John''s shoulder he began to pull a business card before looking at Linda. "Heres my card. If your son feels up for it, we would love to get some blood samples. You would be paid for the blood donation of course. Your son has some strong.. healing. We would love to see why. Anyways, you guys have yourself''s a good day."
The doctor walked off as Linda was left with the nurse and the business card. "You too doctor." Staring at the card to notice it emptier than what most would expect for a doctor''s business card. Showing little but the name of Doctor Martin and a phone number. Name of the hospital and other information missing.
Saying their farewells to the nurse the group left the hospital and on their way home. The hour-long drive being uneventful, Linda focused on driving while the boys joked around.
Ch.3 Hello... world!?
It was never really a grand home in John''s eyes. Compared to the rest, he would place it in the middle in over all quality. But it was his home, and that was enough to make it the best. John''s first thoughts as they began to pull into the driveway. The house was not grand to any degree, but neither was it horrible. Simple two-level house, black roof, colored a light peach with a white door. What made it stand out the most was its yard. Linda working in the landscape business, made it, so their yard outshined the others. Also, the reason why the community had to cancel or exclude her from the best yard competition.
"Home sweet home, boys." Linda spoke as she got out and taking the bag of spare clothes. "Don''t take too long, dear. I''ll get something started to eat." After a kiss to John, Linda began walking inside and leaving the two alone.
Both were later getting out before coming to a stop at the steps to the house before sitting. The silence between the two as John got comfortable. "So how much does mom know?"
"Just about everything. Knows that it was a firework, but not an illegal one."
"Guess thats good then. Maybe ill be safe from being grounded for life. Not really looking forward to the lecture I may end up getting."
Silence followed after Jacob kept walking back and forth in front of the steps. They both have gotten hurt before, but never to the point of almost dying. Jacob himself did not know he was holding in all those emotions all this time. It shocked him, seeing John burning like that. He never got to see the full damage to the arm but knew it was terrible. Even with the doctor saying he would be fine, it still scared him how it took days for John to wake up.
Getting that sense of being watched, Jacob turned around. Eyes locking with John confused look on his face at Jacobs''s quietness. Jacob''s gaze moved to John''s arm, unharmed by the fire. At the sight of the arm, questions began to flood his mind. He may not have seen the full damage, but was exposed to severe burns before. One thing he did know, an injury like that does not heal that quick or that well.
"Do you feel different?" The question finally coming out of Jacob, silence now finally broken between the two.
"Different? Like how? Feel normal." Reply, taking a bit to come as John began to move his arms around. He was inspecting himself along with the supposed burn on his shoulder.
"I don''t know how to explain it. I can''t understand how you healed up so fast. It''s just not normal." Few more moments of silence before speaking up again. "One moment, I''m trying to put out the fire on your shoulder. Next thing I know, the fire goes out on its own."
"I don''t know what to say. I don''t remember much of what happened. One second I''m on fire, then I''m waking up at the hospital." John responded with some confusion. He has never seen Jacob lose control as he has now. He remembers moments as a kid, but those were more tantrums a child would have. "You alright? I know what happened would be quite a shock."
"Huh? Oh...yeah, guess I didn''t know how much I was holding in." Mind clearing after releasing all the bottled stress, Jacob sits beside John on the steps to the front door. "You really feel noting?"
"Nope. Am I suppose too?"
"Guess not. So much has happened since then."
"What did happened? What was that red...Wall!? Don''t know what to call it."
"No one has figured it out yet. It came and went just as quick. As far as I know, it affected everyone. People just went unconscious like you. Some woke up quickly, and others not quick enough."
"What do you mean?" John replied as questions started filling his head. Now completely curious and confused as to what exactly happened. Until now, as far as he understood, it all just happened to him. "Did other people get set on fire or something?"
"No. People all over the world just started to fall unconscious. So I think you can imagine what happens when people are driving, even when the person is flying a plane. One person on the news, while you were out, drowned because of it."
"So, no one has figured out what that wall thing was then? At least what it did or something."
"Nope. It just came and went. It didn''t fry electronics and stuff like that. So far, it just gave our nice little world a nice red filter for a while." Getting up, Jacob begins making his way down to the sidewalk. Waving goodbye to John as he walks away. "See you at school. I gotta go before mom starts to wonder where I am at."
"What, already?" John replied as he also stood up. He was wondering why Jacob would leave so early in the day.
"Yeah, sorry. Don''t want mom getting mad, you know. Bye." Jacob is now crossing the street. Not once looking back and just a wave goodbye. John stood alone in silence for a few moments more. He is trying to put together all that he was told over the events. Everything up until now has mainly been a blur. His memory of the event split like a puzzle, one with missing parts.
The most intact part of the events is until the firework sent its last few shots. Afterward, it becomes a blur. John was walking up to check why the final shot did not go off. Then rolling around on the ground as his shoulder and arm felt hot. The last memory that of a mannequin eating cheesecake, finally waking up in a hospital bed with his mother crying over him. John mostly felt the cheesecake eating mannequin as a bizarre dream. One that he felt like he was being pulled too, like a child tugging at your shirt.
With a quick sigh, John turned around and set his questions aside. His stomach was rumbling, and when it did, little else mattered than food. "Cheesecake... really want one know!" His sweet tooth was kicking in as the mannequin dream played back in his head.
"John, were did Jacob go?" Linda spoke up as she turned to see John without Jacob. Apron with an elegant flower design and a thick-cut piece of bacon cooking in the pan.
"Said he had to go. Did not want Judy getting mad." Replied John as he sat down on the table. A plate of eggs, hashbrowns, and two slices of bacon placed in front of him. "Does he seem strange? It''s like he''s not himself."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ??"Must be the stress. Not really often, you see someone almost die in front of you." Linda replied as she sat down beside him, a cup of coffee on her hands and a glass of juice. "Jacob has a lot happening at once lately. Seeing you finally wake up must of let him release some of that tension. Give him time, its all he needs."
"I know. It feels different somehow."
"Let the dear decompress. He needs time to think and sort it all out. We have other things to talk about." Linda taking a sip of her coffee before turning to face John and right into his eyes. A drop of sweat slowly forming on John''s forehead as he tried to make eye contact.
"Yeah, so when do I go back to classes?" John''s slightly shaky voice as he tries to set the subject. Knowing the signs that Linda gives right before talking about something he did wrong. The signs that John knows he never managed to go through without getting in trouble. Punishments that are typical for parents to give, such as grounding. Others that are more borderline torture, to the mind of a child. "So... do I go back right away? Do I stay at home? Cause of the... of the injury...you know."
"..." Silence on Linda as she continues to look John in the eyes. Linda''s motherly instincts are telling her that her son knows what she wants.
"So... um. Guess ill go take a shower then. Feel dirty and... stuff." John was making to leave, plate nearly empty. Linda''s hand is grasping John''s as he tries to stand. Her hand was not holding on to his tightly, but gently, an act John has gotten used to and found more frighting than he should.
"So, where did you get it?" Her silence was broken for a moment.
"aah, get what?" Slight relief at her broken silence. Not meant to last as the silence continued with no follow-up reply. Wanting to leave, John moves and kisses Linda on the cheek. "Love you, mom." Linda, now letting her son''s hand go as he started to walk away and up the stairs, with a near jogging pace. John vanishing out of sight; she went back to drinking her coffee. A short few moments went on by as she thought to herself.
With a sigh, she got up as she picked up the plate as she spoke to herself. "Glad he''s ok. Should I make him wear all pink with a hello kitty shirt to school again? *sigh* I''ll let him rest for now."
John now upstairs and peeking to see if his mother is making her way up. A few seconds go by until confusion comes over him. A usual lecture, he would typically not be able to walk away. The ease of him being able to walk away had him asking a few questions. Throwing his many questions aside, John made his way to his room, not about to throw away his chance of getting away with getting grounded or worse.
Once inside his room, John makes his way to his bed and lets himself fall into it. With a sigh and letting loose, he looks around as he wonders if he managed to get away with getting in trouble. Not much in the room as John looks around. By most, it is a dull room with a few posters, a pinup on the ceiling. Left of the door used for his tv with a few gaming consoles on the tv stand. Beside his bed, a simple small desk with a laptop and a few school books placed on top.
A couple of minutes went by as John just looked around, letting his mind go blank. His thoughtless rest interrupted as a breeze made its way through the slightly open window. With a shiver of the chill in the room, John''s mind came back to attention. A quick thought, or wish, passed through his mind, as he wished it was a little warmer. Seconds later, the room unnaturally warmed up at that wish. The strange and odd occurrence was not registering as he was just thankful at the sudden warmth.
The remainder of the day went on as usual. Linda was not bringing up the question as to how John got the firework, to his relief. It was not until the weekend that John saw a change in his town. The busy road in and out of town was looking to have a slight emptiness. The road would be active and backed up as people rushed to get home after work. The shops around town were showing a near lack of activity. Some shops would be closed due to lack of staff, while others had long lines for the registers due to it. John''s little hometown came as close to a ghost town as it could.
"So, a lot has changed?" John turned to ask Jacob as they walked through the park. It was not until late afternoon that John finally started to ask his questions. A day spent trying to do some shopping, only to find some stores closed. A local theater was closed due too only having two staff members, not enough to keep it running.
"Us and everyone else." Jacob replied as he came to a stop at a small food stall in the park. "Happened everywhere, even in other countries. Some fries and a sprite, please."
"So, what exactly happened then?" Another question as John grabbed a drink for himself.
"No one knows yet. Haven''t even figured out where it started."
"So, people just started passing out like me then?" John asked as they sat at the park bench. "Was that the only thing that happened."
"So far. They said they found a place where it all happened. Noting much after that. Later on, people began to claim to gain power. Some posted videos online, but they all say it''s fake, but I don''t think it is."
A few moments went by as both sat and ate, or drank their drinks. Their last conversations were raising questions in John''s head. "Hey, is that why you asked me if I felt different? Back at the house."
"Wanted to know if you were one of the people who changed." Jacob turns and looks at John''s arm before continuing. "How else could you explain that. I have seen burns before, and they don''t heal that fast. You were out for a long time, but not that long."
"Well, I don''t know what to say. I feel the same as I have before. I was not exactly awake to see how bad it was." Time went by as they continued talking ¡ª a few videos shared of people who claimed to have gained powers. Couple arguments of how real the videos are, they headed home, as they called it a day. There home slightly quieter and emptier then they are used too.
Hello and sorry
Last couple of months have been crazy.Main reason i havent posted anything.
First i had to move from my apartment. Then came both holidays.Work entered the busy season which meant shorter breaks to write. Then a coworker move to a new shift so fewer people in my department. which means more work until the spot gets filled.This is something that will continue for a while too. A little hard runing a department in a factory with three people for the forseeable months.
As such, i wont be posting much if any until then.
But during this time it did give me a chance to look back at my story and what i have planned for it. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
I did notice that besides characters and a general outline of were i want my story to go from start to finish. I do not have much else plan. Most the inbetween parts.This break from this story will give me time to better think the story out.
I feel like i was overeager to share this story that i did not stop and think if it was ready. This is a story i dont want to mess up in. I had this story in my head for years before i finally starting putting ideas to paper. So i will leave this story for a while as i plan it out better.
Once its ready ill just update the past chapters and start posting again.
So anyone who has followed my story so far, short as it may be, thank you.
I hope you stay following, i will be back and have it more planned.
This is a story i really want to tell correctly.