Page 31 of The Not So Super Hero
The two waited in a calm silence that lasted until the tow truck arrived.Bailey kind of hated himself for that, even if he didn’t dislike the lack of conversation.He wished he took advantage of their alone time to learn a bit more about Zane because…
Oh, fuck it, he didn’t have a reason.At least not one he was willing to admit to.
Zane stayed long enough for Bailey to speak with the driver of the truck before saying his goodbyes.Then Zane pulled out of the parking lot to return home.
Like Zane told Bailey earlier, he didn’t have plans and didn’t wish to make any.He wanted to lie back down, watch more TV, maybe get up to grab some beer later and enjoy his day.However, upon entering his apartment minutes later, Zane realized it wasn’t as empty as when he left it.Years of relaxation had dulled his senses.He felt nothing out of the ordinary until it was too late.
A woman stood at the center of the apartment, someone Zane hoped to never see again.She faced him when the door closed.That familiar smile of hers twisted her ruby red lips into a gut wrenching expression that’d make anyone ill.Her skin was so pale that her veins were apparent, even from a distance.
Zane’s instincts kicked in; his eyes turned to pure black, an intimidation factor.Such a look didn’t bother the woman, though.Her snake-like eyes crinkled at the edges from her smile.She hadn’t aged a day.
“I’m happy to see you too, Zane,” she spoke with her hand on her waist.
Hearing that disgusting voice made Zane feel a rage that he hadn’t felt in years, had hoped to never feel again, but that was asking for too much.
“Leona,” Zane hissed.Black shadows formed around his eyes.“You’re a fool for coming on your own.”
“Believe me, I’m not dumb enough to have come here to pick a fight.”Leona held up her hands, clicking her long sharp nails together.She dropped those hands back to her hips, leaning on her right leg.
“I know that you certainly don’t want a fight unless it’s absolutely necessary, so,” Leona took a few steps forward.Zane growled in warning.She rolled her eyes, but stopped.“I’m safe as long as I behave, right?”
“Define safe.”Zane cracked his neck, tense from the unfamiliar sensation of power coursing through his veins.He hadn’t used this for years, and desperately wished not to.But he had to prepare.Zane never knew what Leona was up to or willing to do.
“So rude to me after we haven’t seen each other in, what, six years?Someone has forgotten his manners.”
“Cut to the chase, Leona, or you will be anything but safe, I assure you.”
Zane’s mind conjured the best options to escape this scenario.Killing Leona would be easier than running, though he’d rather go with the latter.Admittedly, he was curious why Leona appeared now of all times.Why wait so long?What did she want?Why was she there?What plans did she, and the rest of them, have for Zane?
His mediocre life was being torn apart bit by bit, and he hated it.First there was Bailey, but at least the boy was amusing.The type of torment Leona would drag along with her was something Zane desperately wished to avoid.The trouble that was making its way towards him it was something he wasn’t ready for and that wasn’t his laziness talking.
Leona pouted.“And here I thought we’d have a sweet little reunion, but you’re being so mean.Tell me, are you this cruel to that, oh, what is his name, Bailey?”
Zane stiffened.
Leona swiped her tongue over her bottom lip.“He seems like such a sweet thing, too.I’d hate to imagine how badly you treat him.Maybe I should pay him a visit, show him what genuine kindness is.”
Leona hadn’t the time to blink.Zane was across the room.She retreated, overwhelmed by the immense pressure that immediately overcame her.The lights flickered, then shattered.Leona clenched her eyes shut.The sun barely cut through the slightly open curtains.Incapable of illuminating the growing darkness that slithered around the room like snakes.It moved and flowed like water, encasing everything it touched.The way the rays of sun cut across Zane’s face, revealing the black voids that had become his eyes.
“You seem to forget who you’re speaking to.”Zane pressed his thumb under her chin, then dug his fingers into her cheek.She didn’t flinch when Zane pressed her head up, proving how easily he could snap her neck.“I suggest you leave now before you find yourself carried out in a body bag.”
Leona’s eyes sparkled with challenge.Zane could see the inner battle, the one where she wished to go against whatever orders they gave her.However, that spark disappeared in a second, as she seemed to recall what she went there to do.
“I suppose I should.”Leona slapped Zane’s hand away, then brushed past him.“They only sent me here to deliver a message, anyway.”
Leona hesitated at the door, turning to face Zane with that same twisted smile that reminded him he was in for a shit storm no matter what.“Rebirth is back and you’ll be hearing from us again.Very soon.”
Leona blew Zane a kiss, then left with a bounce in her step.
It wasn’t until after her footsteps were long since gone that Zane’s body released some of its tension.The darkness of his room faded.His eyes shifted to their natural shade of blue.On the floor were sparkling shards of glass in the few rays of sun, but Zane paid it no mind.
“Fuck,” he breathed out, bringing his hands up to run his fingers furiously through his hair.“Fuck!”
Zane dropped to his knees, continuing to curse, uncaring of the glass that cut through his jeans and pierced his skin.All he could think about were the memories that came pouring in until he could do nothing but beg for it all to be a bad dream.
CHAPTER 11
Wintervacationmovedswiftly,recharging Bailey’s social meter.There was hardly a day he spent at home, either going out with friends or spending time with his parents.Though today was a rare occurrence where he found himself alone on the couch munching on popcorn in the middle of the afternoon.
