Created

Part 4, Chapter 19

June

Lexington, Kentucky

6 hours after Swipe's accident (Present Time)

Someone was chasing Her. No, not someone, something. June ran down the alley, the shadow following close behind her. Every time she shot a fireball at it, the shadow shot his own projectile which seemed to suck up her flames like a vacuum.June had dumped Swipe into a dumpster when she saw that the shadow was chasing her. Back when it was stalking from a distance. Now it ran right behind her.

Swipe had been knocked senseless. Almost literally. He woke up one time and started talking gibberish. When he went back to sleep, he started mumbling. Something about Glass knowing a guy named Trellis. He mumbled something about June when the Shadow appeared in the room. June immediately picked up Swipe and ran.

Now, they were on an abandoned street. Where were people when you needed them. June ran around a corner and into...the Shadow. How did he get in front of her? She turned around and ran back, but the Shadow was in front of her again. It disappeared for a second, then reappeared even closer than before. It could teleport.

The Shadow was humanoid, with wisps of black clouds encasing it like black fire. It was now walking towards her, slowly. June knew she couldn't run. But, suddenly, the black fire disappeared. She was now looking at a human in a super suit much like hers. Its techsuit was a deep gray, and its armor was a void black with gray highlights. The helmet was skull shaped with the chin attachment ending where its shoulders and collarbone started. The shape and form was definitely masculine, and June felt herself invariably drawn to him/it.

"Who are you?" June asked.

"I...do not know...yet." The shadow said in a smooth deep voice that seemed to rumble the buildings all around her. He spoke slowly and carefully, like he was not used to communicating with others.

"Why were you chasing me?"

"You...are like...me."

"Yes, I guess I am." June clicked a button on her purse and her suit enveloped her. Pull up thermal and x-ray modules in HUD box three and four. June thought, and the suit did so. She saw the rainbow readouts and skeletons of everyone in the buildings next to her, but nothing right in front of her.

"If you are...trying...to see...me, you...can't. I...am invisible...to everything."

"Then how can I see you?"

"Because...I want...you to."

June thought about it and the boxes disappeared from her HUD. "Can you show me?" Suddenly June was looking at empty space. "Hello?"

"I am here." Said a voice behind her. When she turned around, there was nothing.

"Where?"

"Right in front of you."

"Prove it." June was curious. She felt a force on her chest. It was soft, and it felt like a hand. He appeared. His arm was outstretched and his hand was where she felt it. "Amazing." She exclaimed.

"I am like you. You are my fellow Created. Together, we're unstoppable."

"You're speaking a lot better now." June said.

"Indeed I am."

"What is your name?"

"The government named my designation Spectre."

"Where did you come from? Are you a man? Are you even human?"

"Those are the questions I have myself. I believe I am a man, but I also believe I was made in a lab. I think they must have designed me after the male of your species. As for the human question, I think not. I am not a human, I am a monster."

"I don't think your a monster." June said."

"You do not know me."

"I know you enough."

"You really don't." Weird, now he's using contractions. June thought.

"So your powers are dark, mine are light."

"As are your friends."

"How do you know?"

"I can see auras. Yours is fire, his is lightning. That is how I hunt my fellow Created."

"Why did you not come to the base with us?"

"I'm the first. I'm different than you. I can evolve myself. I gain new abilities. My growth rate is accelerated as is all of my other attributes."

"So your powers change?"

"As does everything else. You've heard it in my voice. My skills deepen depending on what I'm doing."

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

"So that I can convince you to join me. Me, you, and all of the other Created can rule this world. We could fix it. We throw out the government that so cruelly has killed thousands of teenagers just like you."

"What do you mean 'kill teenagers?'"

"I would've thought they told you. You and I weren't the first experiment. There were many created bodies, but mine was the first 'successful' trial. Same with you. They have done the trials you've gone through many times. In total, they have killed 304,569 teenagers trying to accomplish their goal, and they will continue to do so."

"Why, it worked didn't it?"

"You think that only the American government is doing it? There are, including you and me, 16 total created. Along with the six Americans, you included, there are 3 Koreans, 4 Japanese, 1 British, and 1 Russian."

"Where were you made?"

"I don't know." There was a pause. "So, have I convinced you?"

"We're talking about treason though."

"I realize. I just need you to come with me."

"And if I refuse?"

His body started shaking with anger. "Don't."

"Too late."

"I am warning you. You will come with me willingly, whether it hurts or not is up to you."

"What?" Spectre pounced. June had learned all sorts of martial art techniques. She would be able to down a regular opponent easily, even without her powers. The only problem was, Spectre kept getting faster, stronger, and started anticipating her moves more. June struck a blow at his nose, but he caught her fist and swung a blow of his own. She grabbed his arm and judo flipped him. Somehow, Spectre landed on his feet and used his momentum to flip her. She landed on the ground with a loud thud. He knelt down on top of her, pinning her down. He grabbed her temple and started reverse glowing, getting darker. As was her vision. It was slowly fading away. Her mind filled with thoughts of Spectre, and only Spectre. His mask was imprinted on her mind. Then, suddenly, a flash of light and it stopped.

Spectre was lying on the ground writhing in pain beside June. Standing across the road, about 100 feet away was Swipe, his right arm sleeve completely gone and tendrils of energy sparking off of the skin. His shirt at the shoulder was there, but the tips were black with soot and ash. Swipe must've thrown lightning, which in turn, blew up his shirt. Swipe took a step forward. At first, June thought he was going to come and help her, but then his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed. June got up and sent a blast of white hot flame at Spectre. He rolled over and dodged it. She sent another burst and he caught it in his palm and extinguished her flame by closing his fist.

This isn't over. Said his voice in her brain. I haven't finished the imprint, but my call will continue to get stronger till you can't resist it anymore. With that, he vanished into the dark night. She walked over and sat next to Swipe on the sidewalk. She must've fallen asleep because moments later, an ambulance came. She was barely awake when they set Swipe on a stretcher and lifted him into the back. Her eyelids were mainly closed when she felt strong arms pick her up and carry her to a soft bench. She fell into inky darkness soon after that.