True Heroes

by Gann, Myles

  “Eh, more like casually playing with them.

  The old priest rubbed at his forehead, aggravating some of his deep wrinkles. “My boy, what you’ve just described to me sounds like the beginning of your journey.”

  Caleb snapped his eyes open. “No, it isn’t that.”

  “Then what would you call it?”

  “A hint.”

  They smiled at each other as Father Lawrence glanced at the clock. “Bringing our conversation together, let me give you what advice I can.” He waited for Caleb’s undivided attention. “God created the Earth in seven days, supposedly brought ten deadly plagues upon the populous, and allowed for an infinite amount of heavenly bodies to be created under his careful eye. These numbers are simply that, numbers, and would it be a stretch to say that we’re some sort of experiment? Not to me, no, but you have to look at any other experiment. They all have a constant, a variable, and a desired conclusion. So, we can put normal humans and their actions as a constant, the internal mind, or free will, and,” waving his hand at the intently listening boy, “mutations are the variables, but nobody can say for sure the mission of God. Maybe it’s for all of us to kill one another so we can rejoin His kingdom or maybe for us to take to the stars and leave Earth forever….”

  The old man’s smile and twinkling, daring eyes gave him away and allowed for Caleb’s lips to curl into their own smile. “But, you don’t think it’s either of those.”

  Father Lawrence laughed loudly. “Leave it to you to see right through me. All right, I’ll cut to the bone. If we are some sort of experiment, then what does that make you? As far as variables in results go, you’re in the furthest part of the paradigm. I believe you are the only one among us who can see the world at its most basic levels, which means you’re in the best position to see everything for what it truly is. If we accept God as perfect, and you as approaching a state of divinity, then I must conclude that you are the closest God has ever come to creating a perfect creature. That is God’s plan, in my mind: for one of his creatures to rise above the others and become the bridge between humanity and the heavenly kingdom. The human race began in Eden—in a state of perfection—and has been clawing its way back to that golden standard ever since. God has sent us a message, and you’re the operator picking up the phone. Let’s face it Caleb, this mission is nothing but a pissing contest between you and every other human being on Earth. You’ve done it though. You’ve got the way to piss further than all the rest buried inside of you, and it can make you a superhero within the same realm of perfect.” He smiled and leaned back in his chair to catch his breath. “The grand advice of this old fart is simply this: Go. Go use your gift and show the world the path to Enlightenment through a modern day savior. Don’t you dare settle for anything less than the limitless potential we both know you have inside you.”

  Caleb leaned back and allowed his mind to become truly wrapped in his potential for the first time. ‘I think I’m finally intrigued by these possibilities, endless possibilities….’ His power, slightly extended out of excitement, feeling vibrations of encroaching footsteps from the hall. He felt Carol’s unmistakable presence behind the closed door at his back right before a knock resounded against each wall of their chamber. Father Lawrence, being the noticing person he was, bought Caleb a few more seconds to recover by standing up and leading the answer. Introductions were over before Caleb managed to gather his mind and lift himself from his deep seat. He wondered, out of a need for a distracting thought, ‘How did Carol develop into the devout Catholic she is without coming to church but a few times in her life?’ His feet made padded noises as he walked and continued to wonder. ‘I mean, she isn’t exactly a nun, but her devotion to such an establishment in this day and age is inspiring. I know every Lent is a guaranteed forty days away from whatever she pledges, even as everyone else topples to temptation. Those forty days and nights are hers to glow over a majority of humanity, or at least even more so than she already does. I’ve never seen her give up on anything once she starts, especially not during that endurance test.’

  “Caleb has talked about you on more than one occasion. Nothing but good things, of course.”

  ‘That devotion really solidifies my fuzzy feeling around her. It’s that kind of thing that lets me know that taking our relationship to this level is an incredible idea. Smile and nod. Home clear. Anyways, old age will be a hoot with her. I know I’ll never let myself be bed ridden, and I’m sure all of her fancy doctor money will have us living in whatever country we want. I could swim in this fantasy to cool my confusion forever, but why would I want to when I have the real thing right next to me? It would take one heck of a screw-up for either of us to walk away from what we feel for one another.’

  “Did he climb out through the window?” His mom’s voice came from behind Carol as she stood to the side and let the two older friends embrace in a hug. “Father.”

  “Hello, Audrey. How have you been lately?”

  “Your mom and I were talking….” Carol’s voice had an unnatural ability to overlap and drown out the voices and actions of other people. ‘What are the old people talking about? Can’t even hear them with this little, beautiful parrot on my shoulder.’ “She knows about us, and approves.”

  “That all you two talked about?”

  Carol smiled playfully. “Well, we couldn’t say much between prayers, what with God listening in on us and all.” ‘Ah wonderful sarcasm.’

  “Are we doing anything tonight? I’d like to hear the rest of my mother’s insights.”

  Lips parted, piercing white teeth shown through her faded, red lips as she inched her mouth closer to his ear. “Funny thing is your mom asked me the same question and even offered a suggestion. Movie, your place, while I do homework?”

  “Am I worthy of your gracious company?”

  He rose from his mock bow to a slight slap across the face from one of her cloud-soft hands. “Watch that tongue, mister. Besides, you know I always have five minutes for you.”

  Caleb just smiled and conceded to this game of insult tag. ‘This is our relationship now: calm, but not careless; relaxed, but vibrant; sarcastic, but straight-forward. I’ve seen other couples notice our hands and the envy in their eyes only excited the twinkles and sparks between us. This is about us, as one. This has to last forever. I can’t survive without her.’

  Father Lawrence waved his hand towards Caleb and averted his eyes and ears back to him. “Well, this boy of yours has quite a head on his shoulders. Where’s he going to college next year?”

  “You’ll have to ask him about that one. As far as I know, the only step we’ve taken towards college is a packet of ACT test scores without a home.”

  Caleb smiled. “I sent them off to a few different schools. All I’m waiting for now is scholarships to come in so she doesn’t have to pay for me any more than she already does.”

  “Do I even have to ask what you got?”

  His mom and he exchanged a smirk—‘I wonder if she knows that Carol knows about my power,’—before she answered for them both. “We,” she started slowly, “decided to have him miss enough questions so that he won’t get as much attention. Try and keep him under the radar as much as possible. Unfortunately, Mr. Showoff here just barely scored under perfect with a thirty-five.”

  Caleb smiled and even blushed slightly as Father Lawrence laughed another hearty laugh. An elbow jabbed him in the ribs from Carol, who was the reason he was blushing in the first place. ‘Highest in school history before I came along, babe. And of course Mom had to bring that up…I never wanted you to know. I never wanted you to lose that pride you felt the day you brought home the score and jumped up and down like a mad woman. You were so happy that day.’ He took her hand and led her out into the hallway as the older people began to gloat about the facts of Caleb. They walked down the hall and turned the corner before turning to her engaging eyes and explaining, “I don’t want you to—”

  “It’s okay, Caleb, I already kne
w. I saw the scores the day you guys got them in the mail, but don’t worry. If a superhero can’t beat my scores then the world needs to change its outlook on superheroes. Don’t worry about it, babe.”

  ‘She can’t lie to me anymore. I know it hurts her, but she’s thinking of me now. Don’t press it, but don’t let it go. Look concerned since you are, but don’t look pouty or she’ll be hurt.’ Any further thought was stopped by the small echo of his name from down the hall. He let himself slip into his power slightly to pick up their conversation. The range of his power couldn’t extend the full ten yards to hear them directly, but he was close enough to be able to clear up the faint echoes he could discern. They became amplified as if he was standing right next to them with no other sound to interrupt. “Are you making any progress on him,” his mother asked.

  “Audrey, I’m not so sure we should be worried about his beliefs as much as we should be about him just living his life. He’s got plenty on the ball of belief and God would accept a gift like him over anything, even blasphemy.”

  His mother’s voice sounded exasperated as she spoke again. “That’s my biggest problem though. He’s God’s greatest gift to Earth since his own son, and he doesn’t even believe. That irony is too much for me to bear, Father.”

  “Caleb has an affinity for not believing in the father figures in his life. Doesn’t make him a pain-in-the-ass just rebellious, but smart. When the time comes, he’ll know the right path to follow. Maybe we should all follow behind him….”

  A light punch to his abdomen brought his powers back to him like a fishing reel. He turned to Carol, who had a slender finger pointed in his face, with a surprised look in his eyes. “Stop listening in on them and let’s go home.”

  He smiled at her and followed her lead out a side door to another part of the parking lot. A sudden pull near where his heart sat caught his attention. ‘What is that? Why do I feel afraid? My power…such a soothing cool on my emotional core…do I wanna stay in my power? I do, but then the world is completely different and it won’t be me in it anymore. Maybe my power is just a more potent “me.” I’m curious to see how far “I” can stretch when I’m at my best. I want to see how much of the world I can cover with my power. How much of it I can protect. I wonder how much would it take to make sure Carol and everyone else I love never see a dark day again?’

  They’d made it all the way to Carol’s car before she’d begun to probe his mind. “You know, now that we’re together, I’m gonna start pushing harder for you to open up a window into that swirling mind of yours.”

  Caleb smiled, taking her tone lightly. “Yeah, maybe tomorrow.”

  ---

  Carol smiled through gritted teeth at anything Caleb said all the way to his house. About halfway home she tore open her anxiety pills and popped two, feeling an attack impending. Ever since she became a certified adult, her acute stress disorder, stemming from Caleb saving her life, mixed with waves of anxiety and made peaceful moments hard to come by. Ninety percent of her seldom moments of clarity came with Caleb, but when he was being closed off, he caused more stress than days without him. She wasn’t entirely sure if he was being his sarcastic self, or if he was totally oblivious to how to be a proper boyfriend. In either case, she had to stay vigilant and lead him in baby steps if she had to. It had been burned into her head long ago that it would be simply impossible to live without him. Besides, when he became Super Caleb, he would need her more than ever.

  They pulled in with her fake smile still plastered on her face. He opened his front door into the dark and empty house and she let her book bag fall off her shoulder, making a loud smacking noise on the tile foyer floor, before plopping herself down on their comfortable couch. Seemingly oblivious to the loud action, Caleb sat a full two cushions down on the couch and flipped on the television. She was becoming furious at his actions and even started to question that he cared for her at all. The thought of just focusing on her homework all night crossed her mind, but then he slid over and repositioned her so that she was completely within his embrace. He began to whisper over her shoulder into her ear. “I’ve been my own person for so many years now that showing everything to you at once is going to be hard. You’ve always been there, but some things you just can’t tell best friends. Now that we’re more, though, I will tell you something. I’ve always thought my problems did nothing but weigh you down. I felt like I unloaded on you so much, over and over, with my problems and fears. Now, that fear of mine has amplified into uncertainty. There’s still so much caring in me, but not even I can change that fast. If you can promise me a little time, I can promise you the best relationship anyone could ever hope for.”

  Carol nodded over her shoulder and gave one of her rare smiles before kissing him on the lips. She snuggled further into his chest and grabbed at the remote to change over to the movie channel, but Caleb’s hand stopped her. Expecting him to make a move on her, she gazed up at him, but she noticed his eyes were glued to the big screen in a serious fashion. She looked as well and saw the violence. Someone had left the television on CNN before turning it off and that channel now shown a rather gruesome sight. A rebel group had killed an entire city’s worth of people to send a message, and the uncensored media spared no detail. A hooded man bashed another man in the back of the head with the butt of his rifle through the sandy storm in the opening scene. Few buildings stood intact as the video zoomed out to a long alley with broken ruins of vehicles and random debris lining each side. The news anchor chimed in with a deep voice to the background as the camera panned to a grouping of guards, “This next part shows a man sprinting for his family, whom he had been separated from, and—well, just watch.”

  Carol was now interested as an overweight man sprinted with tear-filled eyes through ruins that had surely been full buildings just days before. The man careened between the tan and rust remnants as sand and bodies and brick were flying everywhere. The wall of guards had guns raised and were obviously yelling at him to stop, but he didn’t. They started shooting dozens of bullets his way. He just kept running—bullet holes and blood could be seen now—through the curtain of naked lead, forcing the guards back and to reload. The camera view swung around so that the man’s family could be seen just behind the retreating guards, reaching and crawling from under the boots of two sentries, but the closer the running man got, the more bullets pierced him. The guns clicked on empty again and toppled him forward, somehow managing to land on all fours. As he stayed there and breathed as much air as he could, the anchor came back, “From our estimates and slow motion replays, we count that he was shot around forty-two times at this point. But look.”

  The man began to crawl forward on his hands and knees to his crying, wailing family. Blood was dripping from his mouth as he lifted his head—he actually had the strength to lift his neck—and continued to crawl. The guards split without bothering to attack him anymore. They knew he didn’t have much longer, but he didn’t need much longer. The shaky camera zoomed in as he crawled painfully slowly to his outstretched family whom was desperately trying to break away from the hands holding them back. The short woman and even smaller boy tried so hard to reach as far as they could as he crawled.

  “Go.”

  Carol turned, shocked, as she heard Caleb cheer on the man, now within a few feet of their frantic fingers. Caleb stared on intently as if this man was trying to reach for his own hand. She turned back to the screen, and almost gasped in excitement as he was within inches, but a man walked to the dying one’s side. Staring down at him, the rebel produced his sidearm and fired a round directly into the man’s back. “Oh my god, he’s still going for them.” The hovering rebel began to unload the entire clip into the brave man, but he would not stop. As the sidearm finally clicked on empty, the camera man tried to get around to the front, to see if their hands had met, but they hadn’t. The shaky camera focused at just the right angle to plaster the image of his hand fallen just a few inches short of his family, who were doing everyth
ing they could to claw and drag and fill that void that just couldn’t be filled. The fallen man’s face came on the screen in a frozen mask of fear before the camera man was run off by one of the men, leaving Carol only a moment to process all of the events at once.

  She turned away and wiped away tears on the brims of her eyes before turning over to the movie channel. She glanced up at Caleb, but was shocked at his state. He just stared at his open hands. Her urge to ask him what he was thinking was quelled quickly simply because she could read his red eyes. She thought to herself exactly what he must’ve thought, ‘If a man has that kind of strength, then what does that say about me? If he can cheat death, for just a few more seconds of life, can I stop it?’ Carol grabbed one of his hands and dragged it over her shoulder to embrace him forcefully.

  - - -

  Caleb took a huge bite of his jelly sandwich and tried not to drip any over his open notebook. His hand had been quick enough to grab an errant glob before it struck one of the important words on his page. The other recluse students weaved around one another with stomachs full from lunch and minds trying to put off the ringing of the late bell as long as possible while he slurped the gel from his palm. Being the closest thing the school had to a playground, the area about the size of half a football endzone was used for anything from athletics to group gossip sessions. A few passing girls who used to have a crush on him looked on with shocked expressions before walking away quickly. ‘Eh no big loss. It’s more entertaining than distressing. If they changed their opinions because of some different clothes and colors then I’m sure they weren’t interested in the beginning.’ He paid them no more attention as he returned to his training. On his lap sat an open copy of a Batman comic and his notebook, where he was writing down everything he saw. ‘All the heroic traits I can see, no filter. Brave, smart, idealistic, persuasive…. I wish there was something else I could use. Nobody’s written the “Guide to Heroism,” maybe I’ll get on that someday. I’m three notebooks in with random words, and about a tenth of the way through my comic collection. I guess this is my senior project….’