"No way..." Jack mumbled, his eyes fixed on the three figures atop the theater.

  He couldn't make out their appearance because of the sun behind them, but their posture, confident and commanding as they surveyed the chaos below, spoke volumes.

  Like they're kings, and we're peasants.

  They exuded an aura of malevolence, a clear indication that they were up to no good.

  Two women and one man, he thought.

  Though, he couldn't be certain, he based it only to their body sizes.

  "The Abyss..." he can't help but utter.

  Shit. Bad things keep happening on my first day off! No—scratch that—ever since I woke up in that void

  Usually, I'm not even part of the ten percent when they wreak havoc!

  I only watched them on TV, on the news.

  .....

  But that was before I awakened my superpowers..

  Before the void..

  Right, the void. Jack remembered.

  What can I do in this situation?

  He knew he should be heading to the evacuation center together with the other civilians right now but....

  Jack wants to try something.

  Maybe... maybe he could experiment?

  Last time, he'd pulled something from the void in an emergency—with the robber and Mister White.

  Maybe... all he needed were situations like this to manifest his powers?

  I can't get any better conditions than this.. Not with all this commotion around me...

  Jack stopped following Susan and Cole, forgetting them entirely.

  His mind was consumed by the void and the figures he was sure were from the Abyss.

  He scanned his surroundings once more, to see if there are other people like him—a civilian—that saw the villains.

  And to ensure that no one was watching Jack... When he try using his powers.

  Wouldn't want to be seen as someone crazy having a seizure if his superpowers did not work as he hope... not that people are stupid and mad as Jack.

  But he realized it wasn't just the three Abyss. They are accompanied with...

  What was that? He felt the color drain from his face, a cold dread settling in his stomach.

  Dozens of grotesque, monstrous creatures were wreaking havoc on the streets, leaving him stupefied.

  What are those things? Is that a superpowered ability? Fuck...

  His eyes snapped back to the Abyss figures.

  There were only two now.

  Where did the other one go?

  Jack ducked behind a closed storefront and a parked car in the alleyway, trying to stay hidden.

  He scanned the area for the missing figure.

  Noting the damage that the monsters leave on their wake.

  Then his heart dropped out of his mouth.

  He saw Cole walking towards him but he is not looking at Jack. Cole's head was busy looking around.

  What? What the hell is this brat doing here? Jack started to feel angry.

  "Hey, brat!" he whispered harshly, trying to get the kid's attention.

  "Pssst! Cole!" whispering and yelling, Jack can feel the bulging of his nerves in his head.

  Fuck you, Susan, where are you? You leave your fucking kid?

  Dammit. Is that all you ever know? You don't change, do you?

  Jack judged immediately, before knowing the whole truth. "Cole! It's me, Jack!"

  Thankfully, the kid's eyes found him, and Jack saw a wave of relief wash over his face.

  Cole ran towards him. Time seems so awfully slow.

  Suddenly, Susan came into view, still very far away, her face etched with worry, he can tell even without his glasses now. Jack stood up.

  Trying to catch her attention as he waited for Cole, that was now only a few steps away.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Thud.

  Jack's head whipped around at the sound that seemed so close.

  A figure stood behind him. A female Abyss member.

  She looked almost normal, unlike those creatures.

  But her stark black lipstick and theatrical black makeup screamed "try-hard villain."

  And she's wearing a black gothic lolita dress.

  What are you twelve?

  Or maybe it just matched the vibe?

  She stood there, her eyes flickering between Jack, Cole, and Susan, that was now frozen in horror.

  "Hello, boys..." she purred, her voice laced with malice. "Wanna play a little game?"

  A game? I'm having a bad enough day as it is, thank you.

  He wanted to say but did not. If this is all just a game for you people, I'd rather not be a part of it.

  Instead, as if by instinct, Jack immediately dove towards Cole.

  Rolling and shielding the boy with his body.

  He heard a faint, mocking laugh from the emo-styled villain.

  Shit, shit, shit. I don't know her powers, but from the way she appeared, she can somehow fly or teleport.

  Jack's mind raced, trying to process the situation.

  Shinggggg...

  The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

  Danger!

  He knew, deep in his gut, that the female was about to use her powers, aiming directly at him.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  He scooped up Cole and ran, zigzagging through the debris-strewn street.

  The boy felt like a dead weight in his arms, his muscles screaming in protest.

  He wasn't used to lifting anything heavier than a case of canned coke, no, not a child.

  When he was at the store, he usually just used strollers. More efficient, making his work more easy.

  Yet, despite the agonizing strain, he could run with surprising ease.

  Adrenaline, he thought.

  And maybe because I finally awakened.

  Remembering his time inside the bathroom earlier this morning—scrutinizing his suddenly grown muscles in the mirror.

  And ahem, his face too.

  Jack run faster.

  His eyes met Susan's gaze, still filled with horror, rooted to where she's standing. He can see her visibly shake.

  Yes, I've done what you could not, he thought.

  The unspoken words a bitter accusation. Revealing more of what happened to their brother 'Cole'.

  When someone is in danger, and when they are in front of me, I just cant turn a blind eye.

  Even if that person is nothing to me. I won't run away alone.

  "Like what you did, Susan."

  Her name sounded so nasty in his lips.

  *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*

  The ground shook with each impact as he ran, the gothic villain seemingly toying with him, her attacks barely missing their mark.

  Suddenly, he felt that familiar, sticky sensation, Susan's time-warping power, enveloping him and Cole.

  He breathed a sigh of relief, now he could move faster, but he still had to maneuver carefully.

  Jack glanced at Susan. Her face was etched with a slow, sad smile, and her lips were moving.

  He tried to read her words, through the smeared crimson lipstick, her ghostly white face, and the mismatched color of her neck, as if she hadn't bothered with foundation.

  "It's really nice to see you again, Jack! Thank you for saving my son. I owe you..."

  Then she smiled, a final, heartbreaking smile. What the hell are you saying, woman? he thought, but he didn't realize what was happening.

  His eyes were still locked on Susan as he run, when the area around her exploded.

  She was thrown through the air, her body twisting unnaturally. She landed on the ground, her eyes open, vacant, lifeless.

  Jack stared, frozen in horror.