Dragoln's and KZ's Short Stories

A deal you won't regret

There was nothing left of the money except grey dusty ashes, blowing away with a single whisper of the wind.

Desperate and downtrodden, the man's body came to a limp, kneeling on the concrete floor of the streets.

"You..." His voice came off as a nasty growl, rage apparent in his speech. "You said we had a deal. In exchange for using my powers to help you - I'd get the money but..."

Hands gripped tightly at the remaining specks of dust however it uselessly slipped through the thin cracks of his fingers.

John Conners, at 24 years old, was a young man deep into the inescapable well of debt - having gotten into the wrong crowd when he was younger and trying to climb out since.

In a world of villains and heroes, he had the ability to shapeshift into any animal he had touched - including humans.

"Oops. Looks like you didn't know the latest news." The woman spoke with a hint of mockery, jest and arrogance. "A few heroes who thought they were so smart snuck a few nanobots into the cash stored at the National Bank. They were set to self-destruct once the bucks left the premises."

Chloe Clover smirked with a predator-like glint in her eye, while she stood haughtily over the poor John Conners. Despite her seemingly frail stature, she was not at all fearful of a man who could wield a superpower.

"Then... Why did you even set this whole operation into place if it was pointless?" Frustration, hopelessness, despair - John couldn't even begin to describe the hollow feeling that rooted into his body.

Minutes before, he had thought that this was going to be one of the best days of his life - before having it cruelly taken from his very grasp.

—

Earlier...

"Johnny dear, you shouldn't waste time seeing me anymore. Get a job, a home - I believe in you." A woman, impossibly skinny right to the bone, gave a weak but reassuring smile at John - who was sitting in a chair right next to her hospital bed.

Carefully, he felt his Mother's hand - soft and tender. "I promise, Mum, I'll be able to scrape up enough cash to afford the treatment... It'll be-" John spoke fast and rushed, wanting to get the words out.

"Shhh... I already told you it's fine." With a delicate smile she hushed him.

Without saying a word, John left her in the hospital with his fists grasped. In the end, he still had no idea how to amass the amount needed to pay his debt and hospital fees.

Huge billboards in the middle of the city reported news of the latest villainous attacks and prestigious heroes that served to stand as the symbol of hope and peace.

"-a few months ago, we have video footage of the hero 'Stellar' managing to stop a meteorite from destroying earth-"

"-yesterday a few high profile villains unsuccessfully raided the National Bank... Details show that-"

The National Bank?

John tilted his head up to see the image projected on the screen clearly, ignoring the bustling city around him. The temptation tickled the back of his mind.

Enough money would fix all of the problems he had, but John was a man who knew better - right? He was one of the few people in the country gifted with an ability - the ability to change into any creature he touched.

From a young age, John had always loved animals of every kind whether it be snakes, tigers, dogs, cats or rats; it always fascinated him to no end. Maybe, if he didn't make those dumb mistakes that teens did - he would be working at a zoo or perhaps even a vet if he studied hard enough.

Every school trip was cherished in his heart for John knew; those were the only times he was able to visit. Circumstances at home never permitted him to afford those kinds of luxuries.

Walking into an alleyway, John Conners stuffed his hands into his pocket - thinking about more legal ways to make money fast. He had even considered selling out his powers for a job but thought less of it; he didn't want to spend his life being a slave. As everyone knew, being a Superhero didn't pay much either unless you were rich.

"John Conners." The sudden feminine voice stopped him. "I have a proposal for you."

Turning around, he examined the woman standing there. Twirling her blond hair around her finger, she gave him a shy smile. One could say that she was quite an attractive woman; her countenance cultivated a sense of mystery and allure.

"Chloe Clover." She introduced herself. "I would like your help."

"My help? How did you even know who I was?" Frankly, John was uninterested with whatever scam she was proposing. Over time, he had seen many such people fall to prey to vicious scams and trickery - losing possibly thousands of pounds.

"That's not important. If you don't believe me, then take a look at this." She tossed over a white envelope which John caught. Opening it, he slipped in his fingers to find photographs.

Photographs that made him chilled down to the bone. Photographs that contained pictures of all sorts of animals - native to exotic. House cats to barn owls in broad daylight - to the rare vulture and grey rat. All these creatures had one thing in common: they were him.

Hands shaking, he asked, panicking, "H-How did you get this? Who are you?"

Instead of answering, Chloe Clover simply just stared at him with the same shy smile - this time with a sinister feel. "I already told you, I have a proposal- or a deal if you will."

Stepping forward, she intruded his personal space and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking him straight in the eye. "A deal you won't regret."