The Matters of Power

Chapter 41- Strength Against the Storm

"Heads or tails?" "Heads, change it up this time." The kid flips the coin up into the air and the others expect my luck to run out, but little do they know I've been using levitation in short bursts while it's in the air to make it land in my favor, once again heads. "No way! Ten times in a row, what a lucky genie! Now we know who to turn to when they do a lottery draw!" Out of the corner of my eye, I spot one of the Enforcers in the Guerra Family motion towards me to follow them, so I excuse myself from the game group and go. To no surprise, it is Enforcer Jack Johnson, also known as J.J., who is mad at me once again for hanging out with the members of the Guerra Family. "Marcus, I'm sick of telling you, but stay away from our people if you know what it is you're doing. You are outsiders, with families and a good place to stay that have no place to give them false hope." I don't say anything, aware that there's not much to say that I can reason him with. "Fine, have it your way. If you are so insistent on being buddy-buddy with your boss and 'Father', then I won't stop you anymore. You'll see how much we have suffered soon enough." As he walks away furiously, I see that I overstayed my welcome and decide to visit Sentinel on the way home. It was quite a shock when I met J.J. for the first time when Oscar had introduced us all to him, saying that he was out checking on their hideouts and members when he couldn't meet us firsthand. He wasn't happy when he saw us, and all he ever thinks about is his own revenge against the adults and internal rage that fuels his anger when he meets me or any of the Swift Cross members who sometime hang out with the strays. I think the only time I ever saw him smile was when I lost a practice fight against Oscar in their makeshift ring, leaving me with a determination to increase my training and get stronger.

I change to my original body when I get close to Sentinel's spot, chewing on some bone and playing around with a deflated kickball. Even though it has been a few days since I helped Julieta with her fake boyfriend request, she seems rather quiet about the whole thing, yet we still maintain our distance in case someone suspects that something is going on between us. Yet I still can't get what Guadaro said out of my head that night, as he must be as powerful as Mr. Corvanez if he was able to spot me as a supernatural power user like him, even without looking at the crystal on my left wrist. Sentinel then jumps on me so happily that I cannot help myself to give him a ton of pats and scratches on the belly. If only I were as resilient as Sentinel, and maybe just as strong. "So, this is where you hang out most of the time. It has been a while, Marcus." I quickly turn my head to see Quarter of all people here, looking at Sentinel and I very closely. "Woah! You're that guy from a few months ago. Your name is Quarter, right?" He nods. "Correct. It has been a while. You seem to be taking care of the stray dog well. Do you take care of him by yourself?" I shake my head, "No, another person also comes by to check on him as well. Her name is Julieta, do you know her?" I try to find out if Quarter knows something about her that I don't. "...Huh. That's odd coming from her." That's it, that's all he had to say?! Regardless, he kneels down to try to pet Sentinel even though he growls softly at him. "I guess he can't be too careful on his friends. If he managed to have the strength to survive on the streets, he must have something he wants to protect dearly. What about you, Marcus, have you ever wanted the strength to defend yourself from the worst of other people?" His tone turns somber all of a sudden, surprising me to initially find an answer. Finally, I respond. "Well... yeah. I've been on the receiving end of so much trouble, that as I look myself in the mirror to see the state of me, I wish that I can do something about it. Part of me wishes that I could look like you, with your muscles and peak of physical fitness showing to everyone that you aren't a man that should be messed with."

I sit pondering on what I said, realizing that my past problems in my original body could never be compared to Quarter Lee, leader of the Swift Cross gang. I hear Quarter stand up, but he also puts a hand on my shoulder. "Alright, it's decided. I will help you be in the best shape I can give you, Little Marcus. We meet here tomorrow, be sure to bring your best sport clothes and a water bottle." Just like that, he leaves just as fast as he says all that to me, leaving me to register what he said and prepare for the worst. Too bad Sentinel's hand licking doesn't help me at all.

The next day, after school...

I discreetly left the school as fast as I could, making sure to bring spare clothes in my backpack and changing in the hidden corner near Sentinel's makeshift home, hiding my backpack so Quarter doesn't see it. Sometime later, I see him making his way towards me as well as bringing Yan along for the ride. "So, he's Marcus? The guy we say with Fernando a few months back?" Yan seems to observe me carefully, but Quarter reassures him. "Yes. I will help him grant his wish of improving his body health so that he can be able to defend himself from bullies. Little Marcus, this is Yan, a good friend of mine, he'll be helping with your wish as well." I'm almost bewildered by the change of attitude that he has towards me at school versus right now, but I decide to go along. "Don't you the both of you go to the same school? Are you sure that you can help a homeschooler like me and not affect your grades?" They both shrug in unison, "We can deal with it." Quarter then claps his hands together, "Alright, here's what we'll be doing for the next few days after school: 50 pushups, 50 sit-ups, 50 jumping jacks, one hour of jogging around the neighborhood, and 30 minutes of sparring practice. Oh, and I'll teach you a trusty move of mine that'll keep you standing from any strike they pull on you. A man suggested this routine for me to do every day, but naturally they were initially double the values of what we are doing for you. Now then, let's get started." I'm shocked by the rigorous numbers he said to me, and he expects me to do these with him?!

The next few days feel like the very being of Hell itself, every evening I return home with aches and sore muscles even as I turn into my perfect body back and forth. Still, for some reason the training is extremely effective for my original body and by the end of it I can see that I'm no longer the chubby, unattractive loser that I was before my psychic powers. Even though I'm not as handsome or dexterous as my perfect body form, I can safely say that I can use my original body to blend in with other people, rather than stand out and be picked on. I think the training also improved my perfect body's strength and agility, even as I tried to practice sparring with Oscar and Talia and managed to beat them, though by a noticeable slim margin. If anything happens now between me and Mr. Corvanez or Pot, I think I can say that I have a better chance of beating them, though not by much. A lot seems to be getting better, now that it's the end of March and everybody is getting restless for the start of summer break, even Payton and Carl are talking a lot about their plans to have a date at the Texas coast, at the expense of our peace and quiet at the lunch table.

Unfortunately, I sense Yan approach me one day after school with a look of concern and I ask him what is going on.

"It's about the Guerra Family. Something big is going on tonight, and I think we're gonna be in for a big fight. Tell Carl as soon as you can to head on over to their hideout, I'm gonna rally the guys over there."