Spectacular World

I'm Super?

She tried to keep her calm, but she knew that she wasn't doing a very good job. This wasn't like messing with a school bully. The situation had just become real.

She was on the floor, attempting to roll Kevin off of Kyle, who was also screaming. With shaking hands, she managed to stop and place her hands on Kevin's neck, feeling his pulse. He was alive but out cold, with a nasty red spot on the back of his head.

"Quit yelling." One of the men screamed, and it caused them both to shut up. "Stand up and step back slowly."

They both did as told, backing away from the groaning Kevin. The leader of the group had his arms folded with a smirk on his face as he eyed them up. The one with the bat crouched down and began going through Kevin's pockets, taking the boy's wallet and phone.

She could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest, and she couldn't help but curse herself over and over again for getting Kyle into this mess. Kyle, for his part, had seemingly calmed down and had a hand on her shoulder in an effort to comfort her.

It helped a little, and she was calm enough to study the three men. They were all in their late forties to fifties, covered in battle scars and tattoos. All of them wore black leather jackets with the letters 'BT' carved into the front and back.

The Bad Timers gang. The same people who had robbed the bank earlier that week. They were a group that existed only to cause chaos and make everyone have a bad time. Though she doubted any of these guys had superpowers, it was likely they were just low-level henchmen who were tired of the lack of work due to the last failed bank heist the Victorian had stopped.

"You think they know?" One of the Bad Timers goons asked.

The leader of the little squad rubbed his chin and stared at the two shivering kids. "Nah. No way. They got no clue about our hideout around here. This big one was chasing them. I think it was just bad luck that they stumbled into our den." The man smirked.

"So, then what do we do, boss?" The third one flicked a switchblade and gave a sly grin.

"Here's the deal." The leader said after some time. He eyed them both up, slowly taking them in. "I ain't really one for trying to hurt kids."

"You nearly killed Kevin-"

She was thrown off her feet and crashed into the floor when he backhanded her. The force of it left a large red handprint on her face, and she sat there stunned, feeling the stinging pain of tears in her eyes. Her vision turned blurry as her glasses shattered and fell off her face.

"Hope!" Kyle bent down and helped her back to her feet.

"Next time, let the adults talk." The leader said, giving a grin. He moved his jacket a bit, and her beating heart sped up when she saw the handgun he had holstered. "Now, as I was saying, I ain't one for hurting kids who behave. So, let's make this simple. You two empty your pockets. I want your phones, wallets, and anything else, and then we'll let ya go."

"Just like that?" Kyle frowned.

"Just like that," the man grinned. "I'm no monster, after all. Not like my bosses anyway. Polaron, Demonica, and Mars King—those guys are the real monsters. Me. I'm a human—a runt forced to work for them. I'm like you, so I like you. Enough to make a good deal."

"Yeah, some good deal," Kyle said sarcastically. "You're still robbing us."

"Keep talking, and I'll do worse."

"Okay, okay." She held her hands up in a way to calm everyone down. "I'm not looking for trouble. I'll do what you ask." She tried to get her voice to not crack and slow her beating heart down. Her shaking legs gave her away, though.