The Faults Of A Hero

chapter 4

Nigel stands up from the table.

"Hey. Why don't we just go, watch a movie on the couch, eat ice cream, order take out, and forget that guy," suggests Nigel.

Mara is surprised.
"The enemy of the one I love and the villain that kidnapped me wants to help me feel better?" Mara raises an eyebrow.

"I want to help you, dear. Both of us were done dirty by that guy. We're the only two people alive that know how he really is. We should stick together and help each other," the villain answers.

Mara takes a bite of her ice cream.
"'The only people alive that know how he is?' what do you mean? Were there more?" She asks.

"Well let's just say you weren't the only one who he left to die."

Mara looks at Nigel in surprise.
"Wait what??!"

Nigel laughs at her response. "Yeah. There's a lot you don't know about your Luke."

Mara puts down the spoon and tilts her head.
"What else don't I know?" She asks

Nigel grins. "Well I bet you didn't know me and Luke were once friends," he answers.

Mara is very surprised.
"What??!" She asks. She didn't know this at all.

Nigel laughs a little.

"Yeah. I figured he wouldn't tell you."

Mara looks concerned and takes his hand.

"What happened?" She asks gently.

The villain's smile fades.
"I don't know if I should tell you..." He says.

Mara shakes her head.

"You kidnapped me and slammed my face and my belly against the floor. My pregnant belly. I think you owe me at least something."

The villain sighs. "The slamming you on the ground was an accident. I'm sorry."

She gives him a look that says 'just tell me'.

Nigel sighs again.

"In high school we were best friends. Me, Luke, and our buddy Terry. Luke was extremely popular due to his powers. He could get any of the girls he wanted and teachers let him get away with anything and everything. Girls wanted him and the guys wanted to be him. Being friends with him meant you were one of the most popular in the school. And I'll admit, we let the popularity get to our heads. We became bullies,"

Mara looks at him, shocked by everything he's saying.
", I'll admit," he continues, "I'm not proud of the things we did back then. Anyway, obviously me and Terry were jealous of the power Luke had and the things he got away with. We heard of a way to try to get powers of our own and told Luke. He said he wanted to help us. I thought he wanted to help us," his face grows dim as if he's recounting a memory he hates.

",I-.... I thought he wanted to help. But no. He wanted to make sure we, and anyone else, couldn't get powers like him. There was an abandoned warehouse lab that used to be owned by Luke's father where a bunch of scientists were working on some sort of biological science before a disaster forced the lab to close back when Luke's father was alive,"

'I knew Luke's father was a scientist. But I didn't know he owned a lab! What else about Luke's family and past don't I know??" Mara thinks to herself.

"Me, Luke, and Terry broke into the place. We even found some chemicals that were used to give Luke powers-"

"Wait I thought Luke was born with his powers." Mara interrupts.

Nigel shakes his head.
"No. When he was little he was playing around in his father's lab and got exposed to some chemicals," he patiently answers.

"Oh ok. Sorry I interrupted. Go on with your story," Mara says, hand still on Nigel's.