Page 5 of The Not So Super Hero
“French vanilla cappuccino,” Zane spoke, his tone coming across as it had before, monotone.It was incredibly low, almost low enough that Bailey couldn’t hear it.Zane quickly pulled out his wallet, got his money and tacked on, “And a blueberry muffin.”
Bailey took the money and rang up Zane’s order, then handed him his change.Zane’s eyes lingered on Bailey’s hands.Bailey ripped them back to rest beneath the counter.He rubbed his hands, feeling the burn scars that weren’t so obvious from a distance.Rather than asking or even seeming to care, Zane feigned never having seen them.Bailey was grateful he was ‘kind’ enough to do that.
While making Zane’s order, the TV released a shrill siren that had all attention turning to watch.Breaking News flashed across the screen, changing the channel to the chaos of the news.Sounds of screaming and destruction echoed throughout the café.Pillars of smoke and flames danced across the screen.A chopper caught the scene from above, relieving crushed cars on the street below.Civilians sprinted through the streets, desperate to escape a cloud of green gas spreading from the central plaza.The gas dissolved anything caught in its path, reducing it to a smoking paste.
Reporter Ashley Kempt narrated the horrors on the screen.“What you see here is happening in Marshall City.I repeat, the villain known as Corrosion is attacking Marshall City.If you see any sign of green smoke, please, do not go near it.Get as far away as possible.We are asking all those in the Marshall City area to evacuate immediately.”
Everyone in the café watched.Even some who passed by strolled in to witness the news unfold.
“I repeat, evacuate Marshall City.Please follow proper evacuation procedures to not cause any more panic.Those in the surrounding cities such as Ringgold and Shore are asked to keep their eyes open and be prepared in case the chaos spreads.”
Whispers erupted throughout the café, some a bit scared, while others waved the reporter’s words off, claiming that heroes would be on their way.Everything would be fine.
Bailey jolted when someone cleared their throat loudly.Zane’s annoyed blue stare caught him.“My order,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Oh, right, my bad.”Bailey glanced back at the TV, more than interested and very concerned.Marshall City was near Ringgold and it was possible that they would put an evacuation into effect.
Shaking his head, Bailey quickly handed Zane his drink and grabbed him a muffin.Before Bailey could wish him a good day or tell him to be safe, Zane left.Bailey wasn’t all that surprised that Zane seemed uninterested, but whatever.It wasn’t his problem if the dumb ass got into some trouble because he chose not to heed the warnings.
On the TV, they had already contained the smog of destruction to an area thanks to the on-site heroes.Though there was no one on the task force strong enough to take on Corrosion, who was known for being a Level 8 mutant.Their job was to prevent as much mayhem as they could until the big guns arrived, and they did a few minutes later.
And they did only a few minutes later.
“Scorch and Frostbite are on the scene,” Ashley Kempt spoke, sounding as relieved as most everyone felt.Seeing the two star heroes in their suits ready and raring to go made the entire cafe release a heavy sigh of relief.
Scorch was the first to jump out of the military vehicle that had come onto the scene in her deep red fire retardant suit.Her long, flowing brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, keeping it from her dark brown eyes hidden behind a matching red mask.Following behind Scorch was her twin brother, Frostbite, in his own dark blue suit.He brushed back his curly dark hair, proceeding to hop up and down like he was warming himself up for the fight to come.Chants and cheering filtered through the TV from the citizens being evacuated.Neither Scorch nor Frostbite paid the cameras any mind.They went straight to work, disappearing into the green mist that would kill even some lower level mutants.
“Both are healed up from their last battle against Gorgo just a few weeks ago in Brownsville, Virginia.The Mutant Officers on the scene have been able to keep the smog within the central plaza and most of the people of Marshall City have been evacuated safely.As we can see, Scorch and Frostbite have made their way in.Let’s wish them, and all the brave officers, the best of luck, and pray that this ends with as many lives saved as possible.”
“Amazing, aren’t they?”Darcie’s voice chimed in, appearing behind Bailey with a bagel to munch on.He leaned against the counter, facing Darcie.“They don’t have to be heroes or risk their lives just because they happened to be born with the power to do so, but they do it anyway, though they know the risks.Not just them, but all the heroes.I know I wouldn’t have the guts to do half the shit they do.They’re amazing, don’t you think?”
Bailey nodded, facing the TV to watch the smog practically evaporate.Sparks of fire flashed within the cloud, preceded by a tower of ice erupting into the sky.Though the battle was tough to decipher, everyone knew that Scorch and Frostbite were fighting for not only their lives, but everyone’s in the city.For that reason, they were called superheroes.
“Yeah, they’re amazing,” Bailey whispered.
CHAPTER 3
Halloween;oneofBailey’sfavorite times of the year.The leaves changed to the beautiful shades of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns.The weather had changed from the 90% humidity of summer, where everyone felt like they were melting even with the AC on, to a nice cool autumn breeze.Sweater weather, long sleeves, hot chocolate, candy, creepy themed foods and that one-day a year where everyone dressed up because they fucking could.Horror movies, blood and gore, pumpkins and skeletons, witches and ghouls.It was the best!Bailey loved the first of October.
Halloween was one of the, if not the, best holiday.It was everything he loved, jam-packed into a single month.Parties, particularly, were fun.Though Bailey was not one to get plastered, he had no issue watching others get hammered.Campus was pretty crazy, events going on from Halloween themed dances to the cafeteria making Halloween based food.Even Cassi’s Café brought out some gooey delights decorated with bats, spiders, or green goo.Honestly, it all tasted delicious.Bailey had no issue biting into a doughnut that oozed green cream.
“You look like you’re eating snot,” Amery commented, grimacing.Bailey wiped remnants of the cream from his lips with his thumb to lick clean.
“Yeah, and you have fake blood dripping from your lips,” he said, gesturing at the red stains on either side of Amery’s mouth.She also had some creepy bright red contacts in and a black wig.She went for the typical vampire look, though toned down for class.However, she expressed that Slutty Amery would make herself known at the party Darcie invited them to later that evening.
Many others dressed up as well, including Bailey.He went for a dead rocker look with his face and hands painted like a skeleton.His hair was hidden beneath a black worn out top-hat that matched his black long-sleeved jacket and pants.It was about all he could do as a broke college student, but he was content with the look.
Amery shrugged, brushing pieces of her wig back as gently as she could to not to mess it up.“At least it doesn’t look like snot.”
“As a medical student, snot should not gross you out.It’s a normal bodily fluid.”
“No, as a medical student, I have to put up with bodily fluids, but on the inside, I’m still allowed to cringe.”
Bailey rolled his eyes and mentioned Amery wouldn’t last.She stuck out her tongue, then regretted it because she thought she messed up her makeup.Watching her run off to the bathroom to check on it made Bailey let out a laugh, followed by snickers when she returned, glaring at him for laughing.
“Come on, let’s get classes over with so we can party!”Amery hooted, grabbing her things before gripping Bailey’s arm and tugging him off to class.“I am so happy Halloween is on Friday because I am definitely going to have a hangover tomorrow.”
“And likely going to wake up in some strange person’s home with no recollection of how you got there.”
