by Dexx Peay
“Are you OK? Where are your shoes? And son, why are you so wet?” He was throwing questions at me left and right and I just couldn’t concentrate. I was still panicking about my bag inexplicably disappearing.
“Quiet.” I said softly to myself while Charlie threw question after question. “Charlie, be quiet.” I repeated over and over. I was on edge and he wanted to play twenty-one questions. My emotions quickly got of control.
My head was spinning.
I was nervous.
Anxious.
Overwhelmed.
Tears fell and my vision got blurry. I felt like I was at Dylan’s party all over again. I looked up and the trash can set aflame as my head hit the floor.
I jumped out of my bed in panic mode. Charlie sat on his bed looking at me. Out the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of the burnt trash can.
“I gotta find my backpack,” I said.
“Marcus, what are you talking about, son?”
“My backpack. I gotta find my backpack.” I was still in the same state—anxious and nervous. My throat was sore and it felt like I couldn’t swallow or breath.
“Yo, chill man, ya backpack is right there.”
He pointed to the edge of my bed and there it was, sitting on the floor. I didn’t know what to think. I knew I wasn’t going crazy. I know I took my backpack with me.
But who put it back?
I know I didn’t.
I jumped up and ran over to check it. Charlie was right, it was mine. Had the same pair of shoes and shirt I brought with me to change. Reached down through all the mess and couldn’t feel it.
“My phone…” I said.
“What about your phone?”
“Nothing. I think I just misplaced it. I’m sure it will turn up.”
“You hit the floor pretty hard. Do you want to go get that checked out?”
“No, no I think I’m just going to take a shower and maybe sleep the day away,”
“Hey, one more thing. The strangest thing happened when you fell out, the dang trash can set fire and almost burnt this whole building down.”
“Well, umm… guess it’s a good thing it didn’t. Gonna just hop in the shower. My head is starting to hurt again. Think I just need some peace and quiet.”
I took a shower and got back in the bed. I didn’t get much sleep. I was too paranoid about my bag. It haunted me the whole day and the next. During class and walking the streets, I looked over my shoulder constantly. The thought of sneaking out and flying didn’t even cross my mind again. I didn’t tell Dylan about it either. He would’ve been outraged that I did some kind of training without him, even more so that I put myself in danger.
Over the next few days I tried to be normal. I went to my tutor session after my last class that had grown to about ten freshmen. Each paid me twenty-five dollars every other week so I always had money. When my session was over, Delilah and I went over to Dylan’s room to hang before dinner.
“You have to hurry and get a new phone, Marc,” Dylan said. “Nobody can survive these days without one. Where did you say you lost it at again?”
“I’ve been so busy these days, I could have left it anywhere.”
“Oh, ok…”
“So how are things between you and Airez?”
“Couldn’t be better.”
“Thought I heard the gang.” Gunner walked out from his room and shook my hand. “Marcus. Howdy there, Delilah.”
“Cheers,” she said. “Somebody’s in a bloody good mood.”
“I just completed my darn seven-page Who Am I paper for my Composition class. I can finally go back to having a social life.”
“That’s great, help me write mine then,” Delilah said.
“You’re the one with the genius boyfriend. I bet’cha he can write some good papers,” Gunner said.
“We’re just friends, isn’t that right, Marcus?” Delilah smiled my direction.
“Just friends,” I confirmed.
“Plans for this here weekend?” Gunner said.
“Well, actually, we have plans,” Delilah smiled. Gunner walked over and took a seat on the bed between Delilah and me.
“Describe this ‘we’ little lady,” Gunner said.
Dylan stopped cleaning and looked at the two of us.
“We have a date.” I broke the silence, only to be followed by more awkward silence.
“Oh, that’s cool. That’s all you had to say the first time. I’m sure we can find something to get into then,” Dylan said. Once he finished cleaning his room, we all met up for dinner in the cafe. It was the first time the seven of us had been together since my birthday.
Gunner was going around the table trying to get everyone together for the weekend when Dylan’s phone went off.
“Imani just texted me so I’ll have to pass,” Dylan said.
Everyone stopped eating, looked around, then locked eyes on Dylan.
“When are we gonna meet this bloody girl, Dylan?” Stacey asked.
“She’s just shy that’s all,” he said.
“I’m starting to think she’s a ghost,” Delilah said.
“So no one believes that she’s real?” Dylan said.
“No, they’re not saying that. We would just really like to meet the girl that’s all,” I said.
Dylan rolled his eyes. I knew he didn’t have to lie about a girl, but I was starting to have my suspicions with her and why she never wanted to show her face.
“Can I tell you guys a story about something crazy that happened earlier this week?” Charlie said.
“Yeah sure,” everyone said.
I choked.
“So I’d just woken up when I heard the door slam. I turned around and it was Marcus looking like he’d just escaped a bar fight or something. I mean, son, you looked pretty rough. He was a complete wreck. Mumbling and ranting and going on and on about some crap and then it happened.”
Everyone was into his story and constantly looking at me while he talked, especially Dylan.
“What — happened?” Dylan said, stressing the words.
“Poor Marcus over here passes out and smacks the floor.”
“Ouch.” Everyone’s bodies crunched.
“But that’s not the weird part. As soon as he passes out, the trash can goes up in flames and dang near takes the whole room with it.”
“Is this true, Marcus?” everyone asked. I couldn’t believe he told people that story. I didn’t want to answer and I knew Dylan was going to give me a lecture later.
“I don’t know about the fire, but I was a little sick that day,” I said, wanting to pound my head on the table.
After dinner was over, Dylan asked to speak with me away from everyone else.
“So is it true? Did you set the trash can on fire in front of Charlie?”
“Yeah, but before you get into big brother mode, let me explain.”
“Marc, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation to begin with. It’s already bad enough that Trey knows about you. Last thing we need is Charlie finding out and running around campus screaming that his roommate is a witch, or mutant or whatever it is we are.”
He didn’t let me get a word out. I didn’t get to tell my story of how my bag disappeared off the roof and magically ended up in my room. If it were him, I’m sure he would have sent the campus into the ice age. He walked off and left me there covered in guilt.
Charlie flinched and jumped to attention as I slammed the door behind me. I slid my bag off my shoulder and tossed it to my bed. His eyes followed the bag then back to me. I still had the stench of guilt Dylan left on me, only, it escalated to anger on my walk back to the dorm.
“You OK, son?” Charlie asked, finally sitting back on his bed.
“Charlie, are you serious?” I had to hold back to stop my fist from burning. “Why would you tell everybody that embarrassing ass story?”
“Chill, son,” he laughed.
“No you chill, Charlie. I passed out and damn near had a psychot
ic episode. Next time you decided to use my health as the root your entertainment, think it through again.” I walked out of the room to catch my cool before things really got heated.
Later on as I got ready for my date with Delilah, I tried on what seemed like a million different shirts just to find the perfect one. I was no more stylish than a gym rat on a Friday evening.
So I called for backup. Luckily Dylan brought over something decent for me to wear. Glad I could always count on him to save the day when clothes and women were involved.
I grabbed my wallet and did a quick once over before leaving. Couldn’t believe I was really about to go on a date with Delilah, the girl that had the campus lusting over her. She was actually interested in me… Marcus.
We decided to check out this Union Square place the cashier at the store recommended since it wasn’t too far from campus.
Delilah walked out in skinny jeans and boots with a silver scarf and red jacket. We walked with her hands clenched tightly to my arm, conversing about our favorite snack foods. Walking through the area, we were greeted by a mime. He followed Delilah mimicking her actions: her strut, the way she brushed her hair down the left right before flipping it, and even how she put on lipstick. It was hilarious until she caught on.
There were all kinds of street acts and people just enjoying the night. We grabbed a hot chocolate and sat down on a patch of cold grass next to a tree.
“I’m glad you asked me out, Marcus,” she said.
“Yeah, me too. I was extremely nervous so when you said yes, I was shocked.”
Her tone got serious. “Why? You should give yourself a little more credit.”
“What do you mean?”
She repositioned herself to face me, took my hands and placed them into hers. I began to warm them up.
“You walk around like there is something missing. You always seem a little worried about everything.”
“This’s just me,” I replied.
“Come on.”
“What?”
“Come.”
She stood, still holding my hands, forcing me to stand with her. She ran to the center of the square taking me with her. Music played and she began to dance, never letting go of my hands.
“Dance with me, Marcus,” she said.
I joined in and began to move. “I suck at dancing,” I said. “Last time I danced was prom.”
“You’re doing fine, just move to the beat.”
We spent the next half hour dancing before we went to grab a bite to eat. We grabbed some hot dogs and talked about her life in the UK. She wondered how I became so smart. I laughed at that part because I’ve always loved studying.
“Oh, so did I tell you that Charlie is feeling Stacey,” I said.
“Fe-el-ing?” she said slightly confused.
“Yeah,” I chuckled. “It’s a way of saying he likes her. Charlie wants to ask her out, so see if you can get some info from Stacey on how she feels about him.”
“Hmmm… interesting. I’ll see what I can find out.”
We finished up and started back towards campus.
“I had an amazing night.” She cupped her hand into mine.
Her blonde hair fell down my back as she rested her head on my shoulder. We took the paved trail that cut from the Square to University Place.
“Can you do me a favor?” I asked.
“What is it?”
“Wait for me by that street light over there. I need to go.”
“Sure. I’ll be over here by the phone booth.” She pulled her phone from her purse.
I ran into the trees on the opposite side of the road and almost peed my pants I had to go so bad. I found a tree and let go.
In mid-stream, I heard a noise coming a few yards ahead of me and I peeped around the tree. There was a small glowing light on the ground. I finished up quickly, zipped up my pants, and walked towards it. I glanced back to see if I could see Delilah, but I was too far into the trees. I didn’t want to mess this up, but my curiosity got the best of me.
As I walked closer, I recognized the sound as a ringtone. I picked the phone up when I reached it and—
I couldn’t believe it.
It was my cell phone.
Ringing with an unknown number showing on the screen.
My hands trembled as I looked at the screen. How the hell did my phone get out here?
Again letting my curiosity get to me, I pushed the talk button and put it to my ear.
Hello, I said gently. Before I could say anything else, a force from behind blasted me off the ground. Luckily there was a tree to catch half my face.
Not again. Not now.
Back searing with pain, I rose to my feet only to be greeted by someone covered in sparks bolting at me. In seconds, I sprung up in the air. I looked around to see if I lost him but all I saw was black sky and city lights. I floated, looking around for something, anything.
I started to fly off until thin, heavy fingers choked me from behind. I couldn’t shake him off me as my body wiggled to get free. A stinging sensation overcame me. My bones ached. My heart pumped faster. It felt like every vein, artery, and capillary in my body was about to burst.
Then my body vibrated wildly.
Jolts of electricity generating from his body were transferring to mine. Once he stopped, he pushed my body away and kicked me out of the sky like I was nothing but scum.
I almost crashed, but I caught myself.
My hands flared.
I peered up.
And there he was, agilely rushing down from the sky — feet together and hands at his side.
My back and face were soaked in sweat.
Once he got inches from my face, I boosted back up, causing him to crash into a tree. I followed up with two fireballs. I landed behind him and we stood face-to-face once he got up.
I panted.
He panted.
“No way,” I huffed, taking a step closer to confirm. “You’re a girl.”
It turned out that he was really a she and she was tough. Her arms had angry strings of lightning racing around them and her eyes were hazardous. She rushed again and let out a Spartan war cry. Our arms locked and eyes connected. I ignited fire from my hands and she released lightning. We separated.
Once I got a closer look and shook away the haze, I realized that I knew her. I’d seen her somewhere but couldn’t recall. The more we fought the more it became clear. This was a setup.
Union Square.
The backpack.
The cell phone.
All of it.
It was the girl from the boutique who suggested this place. I pulled my hands back and unleashed a swirl of flames. It knocked her out of her shoes and she tumbled into the dirt. I hurled loads of fireballs; she dodged most by rolling around.
I rushed her and grabbed her off the ground. She grabbed my arm and swung me. We both flew into the air. Then I noticed her attention was no longer on me. She looked down and started to gather energy. Lightning surrounded her body and centralized in her hands. She shot a bolt of lightning down to the ground, but I didn’t know what she was aiming for. I raced down to try and block the attacked aimed at a couple walking through the path.
I flew down and tackled them, leaving spots of fire in the grass. “Sorry, guys. Get out of here!” I screamed. I jumped up and shot back into the sky before they could see my face.
She waited in the sky.
My face tensed and anger boiled at my core from the thought of her trying to hurt innocent people. The flames on my arms grew stronger. I bolted at her, grabbed her by the waist and took her all the way down until we crashed into the lake.
I gasped when I made it to the edge coughing and spitting up water.
I lay there.
My body couldn’t keep taking these beatings. I’m sure with these powers there was a natural resistance.
But this still hurt.
No way a normal person could survive all of this.
I didn’t see her
get out of the water.
I wobbled through the razor-like grass as it cut my feet along with all the sticks and wherever else I was walking in. I got to the bench where I told Delilah to stay and to my surprise she was gone.
I felt like crap.
I had no idea how I was going to explain what happened.
I didn’t want to fly, nor did I really have the strength, so I walked back to campus. I made it to Dylan’s dorm and knocked on his door.
“Whoa, dude you stink. Did you just bathe in a dumpster,” Airez said, walking out the front door.
I flipped him the bird as I walked in.
“Damn, Marc, what the hell happened to you?” Dylan asked.
I slid down the wall as I rested on it.
“I was just attacked. Again.”
“By who this time?”
“Dylan,” I exhaled.
“Yeah, what is it?”
“I have to find my real parents. ASAP!”
Marked
Chapter 16
Ferrari
I hadn’t talked to Delilah in days. She ignored my calls and didn’t show up to study sessions. Dylan went into overprotective mode and had me check-in every twenty minutes. Once again, I had to stop practicing my powers. I wasn’t sure where all these super powered people came from or why they wanted me dead. Maybe there was some proverbial sign over my head that said: he’s a flame-throwing freak and must die.
I sat in class tapping my pencil against the desk, stalking the clock that wouldn’t seem to move. The girl who sat behind me kept popping her gum over and over, breaking what little concentration I had. I counted down the final seconds and once the teacher ended his discussion and handed out the homework, I darted out of the building.
Outside, Dylan stood across the street with his graffiti bag slung across his back, his hair pulled back in a ponytail.
I ran over.
“What are you doing, stalking me now?” I said.
He took a sip from the smoothie he had in his hand. “Someone has to keep an eye on you since you can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Are you ready?”
Today was the day that I’ve always dreamt. I knew I wouldn’t actually get to meet them today, but it was a start. Dylan had already tracked down the street and building to match what we saw in the picture.