Perception - A Novella

Chapter 1

     It was a pitch black out as there was a clash outside of the city hall, street lamps flooding the scene. The Black Knight (an odd choice of a villain name by the press) and Bullet were fighting. The city hall was currently on fire, conveniently after the building had been cleared of all files as they were doing a huge refiling and organizing in a different building. The Black Knight materialized a thick smoke before disappearing completely. 

     Press rushed to the hero, shoving cameras in his face. Bullet put on his normal charming smile, answering all their questions while he pondered his foe, They always only went after empty government buildings or officials that were working on refuting claims or harm. Of course he knew it was a guise to make them seem better then they were. 

     As Bullet was being interviewed, Sonali made it back to her HQ and pulled off her helmet, letting down her long black and turquoise hair. Her team flitted about doing things, all small time criminals that were after the same goal, taking down the corruption. She had to get home before her mother became worried. "Alright guys, I'm heading out." Sonali cracks a smile as cheers erupt from the group, knowing they were playing.

     She pulls off the armor and puts it away, pulling on a business suit and heels before walking out to her car. Her mother, a CEO no less, thought she just had an office job someplace, working in science. Boy was she wrong. 

     Sonali was ready to crash, exhausted. She was glad the building was empty, her sweep was almost finished when Jamison, or "the Bullet" found her and she had to speed up the job. He always came and screwed everything up last minute, being the "Hero" of the country. Yuck.

     "Hola mama, I'm home!" She smiles, kissing her mother's cheek. "You did not have to stay up for me." Her mom tsks, patting her cheeks. "I always make sure my little girl is okay." Sonali shakes her head. "Go to bed, I am and you should." She points a finger at her mother, heading up to her room as her mother rants in spanish. At 24 she was a notorious villain, living at home to take care of her mother who was turning things over to her brother, and completely alone. 

     Sonali pulls out her phone and looks at the interview footage of Bullet, scoffing. "He's pleasing to look at but that's all he has going for him, I don't get the fan girls" she mutters as she scrolls through the comments. Sonali tosses her phone aside and passes out.

     Jamison walks into the apartment he shares with his best bud, quietly closing the door. He walks to his room, pulling out his phone as it blows up with comments. He turned off his socials, opening his dating app. He scrolls through the profiles of his matches, sitting down. His eyes grow curious at one Sonali Despara.

     "Well that's unique hair. She's the daughter of a business owner, a chemist and microbiologist with a double major...and some very nice features by those last couple of photos." He smirks, swiping and messaging her before going to bed, not expecting a response tonight.