by David Barton
Then my instinct kicked in. Automatically pulling myself from his grip. I stared at him, out of breath and worried. His smile grew to a smirk. He knew what he was doing and I had no clue. His powers were stranger than mine. Like he wasn’t human. Then again, the same could be said about me.
“Let me show you what you’re missing.” He stretched out his hand again but this time he didn’t touch me. He left it hanging there. Expecting me to take the offer. “Please.”
I swung my hand, knocking his away. As our skin touched there was sudden flash of blue but it was gone quicker than it came. I turned and ran faster than I had before. I just ran, hitting familiar streets and heading in the opposite direction. Not wanting to know where I was going. I just wanted to run and get away from anything I knew.
By the time I stopped I had probably ran around the city for at least a half hour. Doing lap after lap of the whole island. When I finally slowed down and stopped I found myself looking out over the docks at the south end of the island. The city was behind me, all the noises and the lights. In front of me was a dim light and nothing but the sound of the waves hitting the boats.
As I listened to the waves I heard an up roar of noise coming from my right. It was the island just off shore that held a large holiday resort. It was named Holiday Island for obvious reasons. Most of the people that went there were kids out of school for the summer or young couples looking for a good time. You could call it party central.
I took a perch on the edge of the building I was standing on. I stared. The black sky with the bright moon looming high up in the air. Stars surrounded it like a painted background. The soft horn of a boat floating past moved through the night like a wind.
With the windy sound came another. A single footstep directly behind me. Judging by the distance the person had just climbed up the fire escape. I tensed my body, ready to move or react. My whole body on alert. Muscles trembling with the need to move and act on my impulses.
“Do you want to be alone?” It was a soft, sweet voice. One I hadn’t heard before and yet they were being so friendly. Friendly to a random man, sitting on a rooftop staring at boats whilst wearing a strange outfit.
I turned to look over my shoulder. It was a skinny woman. Wearing black jeans and red leather jacket. Her white top underneath just peeked over the closed zip. The face was one of a calm and sweet woman. Nothing like the last time I saw her when she snapped Shade’s neck on the rooftop.
My eyes scanned her body for any visible bumps for hidden weapons. I couldn’t see any but that didn’t make me feel any less tense. I remember how good she was with those blades of hers. “What are you doing here?”
“When I heard about sightings of someone moving at a blurry speed, I figured it was you. A little careless don’t you think?”
It had been careless but I wasn’t interested in that. “That still doesn’t answer the question.”
“Well, I wanted to ask you a question myself.”
I got up from my perch. Looking back at the city over her shoulder. “What’s that?” My body still tense.
Her eyes moved over my shoulders and my feet. “You look like you’re ready to fight.”
“Last time we met you didn’t give me the impression of you being a simple little housewife.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. You can look after yourself as well. Better than me I’d say.” She started walking to the edge, staring out over the docks. “I was wondering why you do what you do?”
“What I do?”
She nodded up towards my mask. “Why do you come out at night and do whatever you do.”
“I…..” My whole body went numb. Her question reminded me of what the man had said. The purpose of why I did what I did. Apparently he had the answer and I didn’t. Did that mean I didn’t have a reason?
“Hello?”
“What?” I looked down at her, unaware I had been staring off into the distance.
“Are you okay? You don’t seem to be acting the same way.”
“Rough night. What was the question again?”
She laughed at me. “Why do you do this? Why do you come out at night chasing hired assassins?”
“Someone has to do it.”
“That’s the worse answer ever.” I couldn’t help but laugh at her. This person was nothing like the last time. It was like she had a twin sister. So different. “You must have a better reason why.”
“Let me ask you something.” She smiled with a cute little nod. “Why were you so angry at Shade?”
She took a deep breath. “That’s sort of why I’m asking you this question. Before I killed him I was so confused and yet focused on it all. I had the memory of him killing my sister. After it all happened, I realised I never had a sister.”
“What?” We both sat down on the edge of the building. Facing away from the city like it held both our troubles inside the walls made from buildings. “What are you trying to say?”
“I have no idea what it all means. All I know now is that some of the memories I had before are gone but there are still some left in my head. You’re the one person who saw me like that, who lived. Do I seem different to you?”
She looked at me. Her blue eyes wide and so innocent looking. She certainly looked different and acted different. Then I remembered the way she changed as soon as Shade was dead. The sudden change in character and personality.
“I think you are different. In more ways than just the way you act. Everything about you seems more innocent.”
“I haven’t been described as innocent before.”
“I guess it’s just the contrast from the last time. So, you say you had memories of things that aren’t true now.”
“In a way yes. But like I said, other things stuck around in my head and in my life.”
“Like what?”
“These.” She bent her arms back and pulled two long daggers out from the back of her jacket. She twiddled them around her fingers like they were toys. The blades moved silently through the air. Catching the moonlight and glinting.
“Where did you get them from?”
“I don’t remember. One night they just appeared in my apartment wrapped in a black leather jacket. I have no memory of getting either these or the jacket.”
“Weird.”
“That’s not the only thing I now possess.”
“What else?”
“Well I have accumulated a few weapons other than these. Also, I can beat people up.” It was such an innocent way of saying it. I couldn’t help but laugh. “What?” She almost seemed offended like I wasn’t taking her seriously.
“It’s not you. Well, I guess it is. You just seem to me like a lost little girl. Someone who shouldn’t know how to use such dangerous equipment.”
“I guess I am a little like a lost girl. It’s just frustrating to know how to fight and how to use these dagger things but not remember how I know.”
“So you remember how to fight but you don’t remember where you learnt it?”
“Yeah. It was like I got all this information in overnight.”
“Do you remember the name of the sister who don’t have?”
She paused the conversation to think. I kept quiet, watching her as she racked her brains until she suddenly blurted it out. “Jenna Hammond. I think.”
“Then that’s where you start. Find this person in newspaper records or maybe look around for her family. I’m sure there’s something that will give you some kind of answer.”
She pulled a simple smile. Her cheeks dipping into dimples. “Thanks.” She threw her arms around my neck, hanging on tightly. My whole body went rigid, not knowing how to react. It stayed that way until she pulled away with a single tear falling down her cheek.
“Are you okay?” She nodded over and over. Lifting a hand up and wiped away the tear mark. “You sure?”
“Yeah. I have somewhere to start. I had been so focused on the assassin for so long my life suddenly felt empty. But thanks to you I n
ow have something to focus on again. Something to actually do with my spare time.”
“You make it seem like I saved your life.”
“I suppose in a way you have. I just have to figure out what kind of life I want from this point onwards.”
“Sounds like a fresh start would do you good.” I quickly stood up, offering my hand to her. She took it and I pulled her up to my level. “I have an idea.”
“What?”
“Let’s have a little fight.”
“What!? You would kick my arse.”
“I don’t mean a real one. And definitely without of those daggers. I might have powers but I still bleed.”
“But you’re super. I don’t stand a chance.”
“No powers. Just skill. You’re trained in martial arts. I’ve made it up as I’ve gone along. Learnt as I fought.”
“Oh. Maybe that will make it a little more even.”
“Come on. You might not know where you got the information but you know how to use it. I’m betting you’re better than me.”
“So how do you want to do this?”
I smiled. Forgetting about my real strength and leaving it at a human level. I threw my fist, feeling so slow as I do it. My big fist came within an inch before she reacted. I had committed to the punch, putting most of my weight behind it.
As she slipped her body out the way my weight went on my front foot. That was until she kicked it mid-spin. The pain was nothing but the sudden feeling of falling knocked my pride down a peg. Hitting the building roof with a heavy thud.
I looked up at her as she stood over me in her fighting stance. “See, you can look after yourself just fine.”
“From one punch I can. Not from an onslaught and not if you used your speed.”
“Planning on fighting people who are just as fast?”
“You never know. First that assassin guy, then you. I wouldn’t have said it was possible to move as fast as you or use shadows like he did.”
“That’s a good point. Who knows what else is out there.”
“Very true.” She offered me a hand. I gladly took it, getting back to my feet and towering over the woman who just knocked me on my arse. “Want to go again?”
I couldn’t help but smile at her. “Sure.” My body prepared to throw another punch, watching out for her counter attack but it was too late. Her body moved with impressive agility. She spun and I felt a pain up my arm before I was spinning to the floor for a second time.
I heard her laugh. “What’s so funny?”
“You were right. You have no training in martial arts what so ever.”
“Not beyond stuff I’ve picked up. I have a few scars I’ve acquired along the way.”
“Maybe I could teach you.”
I looked at her. I had never had someone in my life. No friend. All of a sudden she was offering to help me. A warm feeling in my heart seemed to appear. Nothing I had felt before. I had always worked alone. It could be a good idea to change that. Especially with people like Shade appearing.
“What would you get out of it?”
“Someone to chat with. Ever since this part of my life started I’ve become distanced from my family and the few friends I had. I don’t really have anyone I could say I’m close to. I’m just lonely I guess. Plus you’re different, like me. Something we have in common.” She looked at me and I saw the hope in her eyes.
“Sounds good to me.” I held out my hand to get back on my feet. She grabbed it which was my plan. Pulling my arm towards me she flew through the air. My arms wrapped around her and I rolled pinning her to the floor. “I might not know martial arts but I know never to let my guard down. That’s something I learnt the hard way.”
“Good to know.” Then she performed her own surprise attack. Her body somehow rolled and bent out from underneath me. Next thing I knew my arms were twisted up behind my back, my face pressed into the concrete. “I’ve learnt that there’s always a way out of any situation.”
I winced through gritted teeth. “Good to know.” She chuckled as she climbed off my useless body. “Hate to be in a fight with you.”
“Thanks. I best get going. Want to start the search for Jenna. See if I can find her parents or something. Try and get some answers.”
“Good luck.” She stepped forward, lifting herself on her tip toes I felt her lips against my cheek. It was just a simple peck. Something friends would do. “What was that for?”
“Just a thank you. See you around.”
“How are you going to find me?”
“I have my ways.”
“Fair enough.” She flashed a smile before she went back down the fire escape. Moving back out of my life but not for good. For some reason that made me smile. It could be a good effect on me to have a friend. It wasn’t like she was completely normal.
I stayed on that rooftop, using my hearing to follow her journey until I heard a roar of a motorcycle. Then she was speeding off into the night. Blurring into the rest of the traffic I lost her.
One final look at the silent ocean and then I made my own way off the rooftop. I got back to my place, punched in the codes and moved into the cramped room. Standing in the middle I took a look at the web on my wall. Looking for Donald Morrison who I had met earlier. Maybe a photo that looked like him.
Nothing. There was no sign of his face or his name. He was still some random guy. Someone I could have easily forgotten about but his words seemed to be stuck in my head. They ran around over and over. Reminded me of the blinding blue light I had seen.
I shook my head. Forgetting about the wall I walked over to the computer. Bringing up the police search drive I punched in his name. Watching the wheel turn for a few seconds before a big box came up. Red letters spelt out the words, no results.
That just meant he wasn’t in the system. Hard to believe since he was hanging around a rough neighbourhood roughing people up. But, there was nothing I could do.
I pushed away from the computer and looked back at the wall. The photo of the hired help I had killed was staring at me. I grabbed the red marker on the nearby table and put a massive red cross over his face.
Then I turned my attention to the photo next to his. The smartly dressed guy who seemed like an accountant. He would have to be my next target to try and get some answers. Searching the files on my desk I caught his in my fingers.
I was about to look inside for his last known address when I heard a beeping noise. I quickly spun around, staring at the wall of explosives. However, there were no red lights blinking. No sign that they had been triggered.
So I used my super-speed, rushing around the apartment. Following my impressive hearing until I found it. I pulled it out from behind my computer desk, squeezing it through a small hole. Slamming the briefcase onto the table I snapped it open, not bothering with the clips.
As I opened it I saw the numbers. Two, then one. The next thing I knew I was doused in fire being blown up and back through the air. I felt the smash of metal on my back followed by the noise of broken bricks.
My fingers still gripped the file I had been looking at. I looked at it then up as I laid on my back. The stairway extended up above me. I must have been blown through the door. The stars in the night sky were just visible. That’s when I blacked out. Slipping into a world of darkness.
After what seemed like eternity my eyes snapped open. I was still lying down but this time I was looking up at a ceiling. I sat up, a sudden pain shooting through my arm. My eyes dropped to where the pain was sourced. My jacket was burned so bad that I could see the skin underneath.
Unlike the leather material, my skin was barely burnt. I guess my healing factor had come in handy and the explosion hadn’t killed me right there on the rooftop. I looked up to see my surroundings. If I hadn’t just witnessed my place being blown up I would have sworn I was there right now.
I was in a small room. Brick walls. Tables and a computer in the corner. Furthermore, one of the walls was covered with paper, photos an
d names. It was more organised than mine. This one looked more like a pyramid with important information around the outside. It was easier to follow than mine.
That’s when I started looking around the apartment for the person who brought me here. I couldn’t see anyone and there wasn’t anywhere to hide in such a small space. Walking over the concrete I took a closer look at the pyramid. It was just like mine down to the missing names.
My eyes moved over the strings linking people when I saw something familiar. A piece of paper was linked to the accountant looking man. It was from the file that I had been holding when my place blew up.
My hand rose to take out the pin and take back what was mine when I was interrupted. “Please, leave it there.”
I spun, seeing someone who looked just like me only taller and thinner. Even down to the leather jacket and the black fabric wrapped around his head. “Who are you and what am I doing here?”
“I’m just like you and what you’re doing here is healing. I pulled you away from the fire.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because we are the same. We’re looking to do the same thing as well.” He walked forwards pointing to the wall next to me. “Together we can end this and find who we’re both looking for.”
“Who is that?”
“The man at the top. We need to end this for the sake of the city. Your file helped me fill in a gap I had.”
“I have to get back to my place. Try and salvage something.”
“I already tried. That’s where I’ve just come from. There’s nothing left. That explosion took everything.”
I looked at him seeing the slight markings of dirt on his face. Then I looked at his whole body. It was like looking at myself in the mirror. My stare darted up to his eyes. “Take off your mask.”
“Are you asking or telling me?”
My voice dropped a tone. “Telling.” I wasn’t about to take any risks just because he seems to be just like me. “I don’t trust until it’s earned.”
“Taking off my mask will earn your trust?”