Running, I throw my Kit onto the ground. I can hear shouting behind me, but soon I hear the familiar pop of the travel taking place. I think of where I want to go quickly; I wouldn't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere again. The shouting fades away and when I open my eyes I am in a meadow filled with purple flowers. This is my favorite spot to travel to.
My name is Reagan, and the last name that I made up for myself when I was a kid is Novak- don't ask me why. I live in a world where you can travel halfway across the globe in less than three seconds, as long as you have your Kit. I also live in a world where people have strange abilities, otherwise known as superpowers. We wouldn't have our Kits if some super with the gift of intelligence didn't make it happen. We also wouldn't have had so much chaos.
What do you do in a world that can't control its people with laws, or even with force? Well the answer is that you can't control the world, you really just have to hope for the best.
Becoming a Super can happen at any age, but for now I remain a normal human. I kind of enjoy being a human, I mean I can go to a school without being stared at, I don't have to deal with figuring out how my power works, and I won't let power go to my head. I have it set into my brain that Supers eventually go insane with power and authority... Right?
I sigh and think of where I am actually supposed to be, rather than a meadow that washes away the cares of death and pain. I guess it isn't really that bad; some Supers have taken it upon themselves to protect civilians from those who do go crazy with power. I read an old magazine once about how the Old World used to make up stories about a guy named Superman, who protected the world no matter what. I am grateful for those types of people, because one of them saved my life. The pop sounds, and I am whisked away into Headquarters.
"Reagan what took you so long? That was one of your longest trips!" Anna, my supervisor is chastising me once again. I think of her as my mom; granted that I don't know what having one feels like.
"Relax, I got the job done and that is all that matters." I sink into a plush white couch, that reminds me of a marshmallow.
"So getting the job done means getting your face flashed all over the news? Do you know how many idiots are going to try to find you now?" Her normally perfect face looks flushed, and her hands are on her hips; this is the highest degree of madness that she can reach.
"Well it depends on what they are going to try and find me for... I mean I wouldn't mind having some praise, but if they are going to try and kill me I can just use my karate skills on them right?" As if to prove my point I move my hands in a chopping motion.
"I know that you can protect yourself, I just..." She looks tired now, I hate to see that I am stressing her out.
"I'm sorry. I got there late, and there were no other options." I lean my head back and study the ceiling, maybe there is something interesting up there.
"No I'm sorry. The council demands that I provide you with a partner, so that someone can have your back. I am not good enough anymore." My gaze whips back to Anna.
"What did you say?" I can hear the fury in my voice. " I am the best on the team! I work better on my own and everyone knows that. I won't have some rookie slowing me down."
"It is an order. Roger said-"
"Roger! You know that he is out for me!"
Roger Mills is the worst thing that ever happened to this organization, and somehow he got his grubby hands on the title of commander. The only reason that I ever listen to that scum is because it is either him or leaving Headquarters for good. It only took one moment for this hatred to blossom between us, and it hasn't simmered down for two years.
"Reagan you know that you have to do this. And besides, I got you the second best that this organization has." My eyes want to roll into the back of my head; the last time I worked with someone she was turned into a mushroom and it wasn't my fault. Who takes on a Super without assessing their ability first?
"Who is it?"
"I don't have a name, but he might give you a run for your money off of what I have heard." Anna looks excited. Maybe she is getting lonely from just working with me, it has been a while since she has teamed up with anyone else.
"Alright. Fine." If I am going to do this for anyone it is going to be for Anna.
Anna took me in when I was young, after that Super saved my life. She was only in her twenties at the time, yet she threw away her life in order to raise a stubborn kid. I am forever in debt to her, but I wish that she could have made a life for herself. I don't think she has ever dated anyone, and with her long blonde hair and lovable personality I don't see how that could have happened. She has blue eyes that always make me want to be honest with her, and somehow being around her seems to lighten up my day.
A couple of months ago I set my mind on finding someone that would fill in the void for Anna, and that is why I was late to my assignment today. Just as I had finished interviewing the loser, I realized that I was cutting into my saving time. I raced to the bank, only to find that my villain was a guy who could tie people up with hair. It's gross I know. I grabbed a dagger and sawed through the bonds holding people, but I was blindsided. Mr. Hair wrapped me inside of some arm hair, and continued his conquest for the bank's money. The idiot didn't realize that people could simply roll out of the hair. I knocked him unconscious, and waited for the cops to arrive.
The strange part happened when I was attempting to leave the building; I saw one of them. I don't want to tell Anna about it, because she might strangle me for not concealing myself better. There is one type of Super that is the most lethal; they have the power of invincibility. Being invincible means that there is no stopping you. Only some of the luckiest have ever succeeded in bringing in rogue Invincibles, but I only believe them to be fairy tales.
If one of these Supers goes rogue, it is extremely difficult to contain them. I haven't had the pleasure of capturing one yet, but I can feel it coming on soon; I would be a legend. Invincibles seem to have an aura about them, and you can almost feel their perfection floating in the air. The guy that I saw today was extremely attractive, and he didn't seem to be much older than me. His perfect skin and body made me feel extremely uncomfortable, but even more so were his green eyes. They were staring at me across the plaza.
That's when the paparazzi flooded around me, and I was forced to push a couple of them down as I escaped. So much for being a hero. When I looked back, there was no perfect boy in sight.
My face begins to burn, and I realize that there are angry tears starting to form in my eyes.
"Anna?" She is typing furiously on her laptop, hardly seeming to hear my voice.
"Yes?" She swipes her hair over her shoulder and looks at me with her bright blues.
"Will you go on a date this week?" Her mouth opens a little; I have never approached her on this subject before.
"Why, do I suddenly need to get married?"
"No. I just don't want you to be cooped up with these computers all day, always checking up on me."
She eyes me. "Are you going to do something stupid while I am on a date?"
I lean my head back once more. "I think that if I have to have a stupid guy partner, then you should too."
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The waterfall thunders in my ears, and it only seems louder now that it is dark outside. I take off my shirt, and make my way towards the bottom of the falls. The mist emitting from the water sprays me in the face. I grit my teeth and stand directly under it, and feel the weight pounding on my head.
I try to wash away who I am
I try to cool down
I try to wash away the partnership I don't want to happen
I try to cool down again
My mind complains about the cold water and the incredible amount of force that is hammering my head. I can almost see my lips turning purple. Everyone from the Headquarters would think that I was insane if they could see me now; big shot Camden has feelings that he is trying to let out? Unimaginable.
I have no idea if my life is going to change at all tomorrow, but I need to be prepared. One false move and my secret is out again. One false move and I will never be trusted again. One false... My head numbs until I can barely think anymore. I step out of the water, remembering that I should stay physically healthy for my partner's sake. I am violently shaking, but I barely even register it as I make my way back to my car. From what I have heard I am being paired with the toughest of the tough, and I am sure that they don't want me to slow them down. After putting on my shirt, I drive back to the place that I have decided to call home.
I was brought up in England, with my mum. Around three years ago I moved closer to the Headquarters, because I thought that my life would be perfect after I devoted myself to saving people. It isn't perfect yet, but there is still some time left before someone finds out what I am. Maybe I will actually date a girl for once, rather than leading them on.
I snort as I remember the last time that I even attempted to talk to a girl that I liked. All that I can remember is the tripping, the falling, and the large amount of ice water that poured all over May. I happened to dodge a bullet with that one, because she went rogue less than a month later.
Maybe cold water changes you, or at least that is what I hope.