Origin City: Summer Break

This is not Origin City (Chapter Twelve)

My eyes open slowly, my entire body feels like it's on fire. I was wrapped in sheets and the only clothes that remained on me were my underwear. I felt a bit exposed and had no idea where I was. My head was pounding and my body was screaming at me, begging me not to get up, but I needed to know where I was. I need to know if I'm safe. I reached for my face and my mask wasn't there. I then remember that my entire nanotech suit is completely destroyed. I unwrapped myself from the sheets and tried my hardest not to scream from the pain, I slowly stand to my feet and observe my surroundings.

Where am I? I thought. Looks like someone's living room. There was a 32-inch flat screen tv hung up on the wall along with paintings of fruit. I look around more and find pictures sitting on a drawer. I approached the drawer and study the picture, it was a white female in her early 20s. Her hair was the color of amber orange and her eyes were ocean blue, she was smiling in front of a college with a diploma in her hands. NYU? Her smile was pretty and she looked super ecstatic. The diploma she held in her hands showed that she got her bachelor's degree. Teenagers typically graduate at age 18. She looks like she's in her early '20s so...she should be 23. I look at the year on the diploma. 2019. 25. She should be 25. But why would this lady save me? How did she find me? And wait...does this mean I'm in New York?! I slowly crept tiptoed away from the dresser and entered the kitchen. There she was. Drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. She was completely unaware of me being awake. During my training on being a hero, I sort of learned how to be pretty quiet on my toes. Her house looked pretty nice...all things considered. Whatever she does now, she gets paid a fair amount for it. Looking around her kitchen showed me that she lives alone- very few dishes, one mug, and her not looking around her house or searching for noises shows that she doesn't expect them. I took another step and I grew dizzy. I'm not sure how long I've been out, but it's obvious I haven't been eating during the time I was asleep. I fall over and slam onto the hardwood kitchen floor and she jumps. I looked up at her, her eyes widened.

"What the heck?! When did you get up?!" She exclaimed. My heart started racing as I eyed her in worry. My body still feels like a fiery inferno and me falling down made the pain feel even worse. Soon enough, tears started running down my face. I wasn't sobbing or anything, but the pain I was feeling was hurting to such an extent that I couldn't even fight the tears. She hurried over to me and then my eyes started to grow heavy. Damn it! No! Don't fall asleep! Don't fall asleep! Don't fall asleep!

I placed my hand on the ground and tried to push myself up, but my arm gave out. SPLAT! My face slammed into the floor, breaking my nose and also making me even dizzier than I already was. Blood was now leaking onto her perfectly clean hardwood floor. I felt bad. "Jesus! Are you alright?! Stop trying to move! I'm not going to hurt you." She said softly. I wanted to believe her, but after everything that's happened recently, I didn't trust her. I tried to push myself up again, nose still bleeding, my body still aching, and my eyes still pouring. This time, I use both of my hands to help me up. Both my arms give out, and my forehead slams onto the floor. I'm slumped.

-

I woke up again, but this time, my body hurt less and I had clothes on me. I had a Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World shirt and gray sweatpants. The shirt smelled like flowers- it reminded me of Karen. Holy shit. Karen....Jaden...Dad....They must be worried sick! I sat up and rushed off the couch again, but this time the lady was waiting for me. She was sitting right across from me in a chair. As if she's been staring at me the whole time.

"Hey, ninja." She said, I stared at her and then clenched my fist to prepare for a fight. "Easy, tiger. I mean no harm, really."

"How'd you find me?"

"You washed up on shore. I was taking a midnight stroll on the beach and found you lying in the sand. I thought you were dead."

"But I wasn't."