Freedom Fighter

5

Phantom's POV

The shrill sound of the alarm pierced through the silence, dragging me from the depths of sleep. Groaning, I fumbled for my phone. "What time is it?" I muttered, squinting at the screen. 9:23 a.m. Glancing around my small, cluttered apartment, I knew it was time to start the day.

I headed to the bathroom, mumbling, "Time for Alex to go out, and Phantom to hide till dusk." I turned on the shower, the hot water cascading over me, washing away the remnants of sleep. My real name is Alex, but to the world that mattered, I was Phantom. A red-haired girl by day, a blueish-purple-haired vigilante by night.

The warm water felt invigorating, and I started humming the tune to my favorite song, 'Red.' It was from an old film I had seen only once after escaping the place I called hell. Yet, every word was etched in my memory. As I sang, my mind wandered back to the reasons I became Phantom. The injustice, the pain, and the need to make a difference.

After the shower, I dressed quickly. Jeans, a hoodie, and a pair of sneakers. Just another 21-year-old girl blending into the crowd after some breakfast, I grabbed my backpack, ensuring my essentials were there: phone, wallet, keys, and Shadow's leash. "Come on boy, it's time for a walk," my best friend ran up to me and we headed out.

Stepping out into the bustling city, I felt the familiar rush of adrenaline. By day, I was just Alex, but the city had no idea what I was capable of. The thought brought a small smile to my lips.

Later that afternoon, I found myself in a small café sipping on a cup of coffee thankfully they thought Shadow was a service dog. The place was cozy, filled with the comforting hum of conversations and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I tried to relax, but my eyes kept darting to the door.

Old habits die hard. My loyal black Lab, lay at my feet, his head resting on his paws. He was my constant companion and a crucial part of my cover. I reached down to scratch behind his ears, feeling a sense of calm from his presence.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a tall man walked in, his eyes scanning the room intently, Leo.

"Great" I muttered to myself under my breath, now that he's here Shadow might start barking and make a scene "Shadow, no." I whispered, noticing that he had seen our cop 'friend.' Leo wasn't a friend. He was someone I liked to mess with when I was Phantom, but right now, I was Alex, so I had to act normal.

Leo's eyes met mine briefly, and I forced a smile, he didn't know my secret, but his instincts were sharp. He was probably here for a reason. I watched him walk up to the counter and talk to the barista probably going to order a coffee after he finished at the counter he walked up to my table,

"Long time no see...Alex right?" "Yep, and you're..." I pretended to search my memory. "Leo." "Oh, I guessed that's what it was, but I wasn't sure," I replied, forcing a British accent I had told him I was from London. Yes, it was a lie, but I couldn't go back to 'hell' if I used my real accent, Leo eyed me suspiciously, then glanced at Shadow.

"Nice dog. Service animal?" "Yes, he helps me with anxiety," I said lying again, keeping my tone light. Shadow, looked at Leo like he wanted to bark at him but he knew not to as I gave him a look like he could read my mind like I could myself. "I suggest not petting him, he's not a fan of being pet by strangers." "I see."

Leo pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze never leaving mine. "So, what brings you to this part of town, Alex?" I shrugged, trying to appear casual. "Just taking a long walk around, you know how it is plus Shadow always likes his walks and pupcups." He nodded slowly, still scrutinizing me. "Yeah, I get that. Well, it was nice running into you. Maybe we'll see each other."

"Maybe," I replied, forcing a smile as he stood and walked away. I watched him go, my heart pounding. Once he was out of sight, I quickly finished my coffee and slipped out the back door, Shadow trotting obediently beside me. "Come on boy, we have a long day."