Matters of Heroes (Delayed)

Prelude II

The following is the original concept for the character of Anaya Campbell, to be rewritten in this book. This is not necessary to read, but is here for your own convenience. Prelude can also be found on the profile of AwhisperOfDoubt.

<{(o)}>

Screaming. Yes, that's how my day started. Looking over at my clock, it wasn't even sunrise. I was alone in the bed, which was almost never the case.

Screaming.

More screaming. I slid on a bathrobe and headed down the stairs, looking for the sound's source.

I found it.

They watched the television, the bright light catching on every reflective surface in the room. I was awake then.

My husband held our baby -who was squealing- in his arms, and our adopted son, Malik clung tight to him. "What is this?" I asked, looking over at the light of the television.

"You might wanna sit down, Anaya." Why? What was so tragic that I- I was stopped. On the screen, there replayed footage I had seen a hundred times.

I remembered it, even after all these years. The blue of the portal against the sky, the aliens coming down, raining fire upon the city. My breath became quicker and I felt myself losing control.

I looked at the screen again. "Are you okay?" My husband asked, reaching an arm for my shoulder. I pushed it away, telling him that I was fine.

We both knew otherwise.

Six years since before and they finally found their way back. I was glad that I had moved from there. I was glad to have found a partner that understood what I had gone through.

It all made me wonder what really happened. What truth I still was missing. I knew that there was one.

I had known even then, when I had held the gun toward the man with the sad eyes and failed to fire.

I knew ever since. There was something lurking in the shadows.

It's time had finally come. It finally sprung. I could only think, could only watch as the news compared the two attacks.

Yes, I could cry, but that I refused myself, knowing that Malik and baby Amari would see me. They didn't need to be any more scared than they already were.

I took baby Amari from my husband, cradling her and assuring her that everything would be fine. Perhaps it was as much for my sake as hers. Possibly more. "As long as the world still spins, as long as the universe lives, so will we." I said to her under my breath. Amari cooed, almost like she understood.

I asked my husband to turn the volume up when the story caught my attention. "...say that Mr. Stark is still missing. He was last seen two days ago leaving the atmosphere. Our sources say that he and other valuable members of the group formerly known as the Avengers have gathered in the reclusive nation of Wakanda. We have reached out to King T'Challa, but he was unavailable for comment."

Looking to my family, Malik looked to be every inch as I had been. Scared and yet able to function fully, as if he knew that he would be fine if he paid attention.

Amari was the perfect likeness to her father. Her dark hair and skin the color of honey, she looked to me with her terrified hazel eyes. She had my eyes.

"We'll be alright. It's far from here." I cooed to her gently.

"In other news, what some are referring to as the 'end of times', scientists are reporting massive power surges from deep in space. Could this be connected to the events that led to Mr. Shark's disappearance?" I turned to my husband, who looked back to me. The kids didn't need to be watching such things.