Invincible: Blood of Krypton

Sleeping Blood

The morning sun spilled into Mark Grayson's room, illuminating the clutter of superhero posters that covered the walls—figures of strength, courage, and unwavering determination. Mark squinted against the light, the weight of sleep still pulling at his eyelids. Today felt just like any other day, but deep down, a sense of anticipation stirred within him.

"Mark! Breakfast is ready!" his mother, Debbie, called from downstairs.

"Coming!" he replied, shaking off the remnants of dreams that felt oddly vivid, as if hinting at something beyond the ordinary.

As he trudged down the stairs, the smell of pancakes filled the air, a familiar comfort easing the day's uncertainties. Debbie stood at the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease, her hair pulled back in a loose bun. She wore a smile, but Mark could see the shadows lingering in her eyes.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked, her tone light, yet he sensed the underlying tension.

"Yeah, I guess," he said, taking a seat at the table. "Just... had a weird dream."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, interest piqued. "What was it about?"

Mark hesitated. "Nothing important. Just the usual superhero stuff." He wanted to ask her about her own worries, but the words lodged in his throat. It was an unspoken rule in their house: some things were better left unsaid.

As they ate, Mark couldn't shake the feeling that today would be different. He finished breakfast quickly, glancing at the clock. "I should get going; I don't want to be late."

"Have a good day, sweetheart," Debbie replied, her smile wavering as he grabbed his backpack and headed out the door.

The neighborhood felt strangely still, as if the world was holding its breath. Mark walked to school, his mind racing with thoughts about his father, Nolan—Omni-Man, the world's most powerful superhero. While Mark admired his dad, there was also a part of him that longed for something more, something that set him apart.

When he arrived at school, the usual chaos of students flooded the hallways, laughter and chatter echoing off the walls. Mark navigated through the crowd, trying to shake off his apprehension. He joined his friend, William, at their usual spot.

"Did you see the news last night?" William exclaimed animatedly. "The Mauler Twins showed up downtown! They say they were taking on the Guardians of the Globe!"

"Yeah, I heard," Mark replied, his stomach knotting at the thought. "It's getting crazy out there, but Omni-Man was there too!"

"Aww, you're such an Omni-Maniac! Way to root for the underdog. Big fan of the Yankees, are ya?" William shot back, annoyance etched on his face. "I mean, I can understand why... those big muscles and that mustache..." He trailed off, lost in thought.

"Alright, back to the straight stuff!" William quickly added, not wanting to annoy Mark further. "You gonna hop on Clash Crash tonight? I'm looking for a level-43 chest piece!"

"You know I can't, man..." Mark started, but William cut him off.

"Aw, don't bring up that job! Don't be that guy!" William huffed, growing frustrated. "William, Seance-Dog is doing double releases all summer! Plus, when's the last time you bought a comic book?"

"You're into the stupidest—" William began, but his sentence was interrupted by a girl's scream.

"Knock it off, Todd!" a dark-skinned girl yelled, her voice ringing through the halls. She was facing Todd, who pushed up against her.

"Come on... quit playing games. I know you're crazy about me! Marcy told me!" he taunted, flexing his muscles.

"Well you are big and strong aren't you..?" The girl said with an annoyed look.