Hero Academy

Chapter 7 : Deadly Dodgeball

When her alarm went off the next morning Diana made it explode accidently. However she stayed in bed, not wanting to go to school. Her parents didn't come into her room to tell her to get up so Diana went back to sleep.

She finally got up around noon when she needed to eat. Downstairs, Diana found both of her parents in the kitchen having a serious conversation over mugs of steaming tea which they concluded as she entered.

"We told the school you're ill," said her mum.

Diana nodded and pulled off the fridge door as she tried to open it. Grumbling, she pulled out cold slices of pizza and started to eat them.

"It will take a while to get used to your abilities," said her dad, getting up to try and fix it. But that wasn't what was annoying her. Diana ate her pizza in silence and then she asked,

"You told me to watch out for the Dark Assassin, is that because he knows who I am?"

Her mum nodded, "He knows everything. You are in so much danger."

Diana didn't reply. She had loved Reuben, he had been more than her godfather and her dad's best friend; he had been her best friend. Reuben had been the only one she had told about her powers and he had always been there for her.

"He – Reuben wouldn't do this. He was or is a good man. He was family."

"He did, Diana," said her dad gently, "We traced back the information sent to Viper from him. After he fell into the sea and we couldn't find his body we thought that he'd been kidnapped. Your mother tracked a remaining part of Viper down, in a mission called Operation Cuckoo. She found him, but not as a prisoner, but as their leading soldier."

Her mum nodded, confirming the story, "He was a good man but no longer. That's what you need to remember, Diana, Reuben is dead."

Before she could stop herself Diana burst into tears and fell down on the floor. Her parents rushed at her but Diana kept crying. She couldn't stop, it was like the ground she had always lived on had been pulled from under feet and now she didn't know where she was.

*

Diana spent the rest of the day eating chocolate and dully looking at day-time television. Her dad came into the living room at six to ask her what she wanted for tea. Diana was still annoyed at him for lying to her but right now she had too much on her mind and no effort in her to continue arguing.

"What are my powers?"

Her dad seemed surprised at the question and considered it, "They appear to be the same as mine so enhanced strength, senses, agility and speed. I can control electricity, see it, conduct it and fire it at people. I can fly and create thunderstorms."

"Wow," said Diana, "You're powerful."

"Yes."

"You said fly, didn't you?" asked Diana, looking out of the window.

Her dad gave a smile, "Yes I did."

Before anyone could stop her Diana raced out of the patio doors and looked up at the sky as the sun was setting. She concentrated on the sky and pushed up into it. Her feet left the ground and Diana felt weightless as raced through the air, getting soaked as she passed through a cloud. For a few blissful minutes she had left all her troubles on the ground.

*

Two days passed and Diana figured that she had got in enough control of her powers to go to school. The moment she got in the doors, Diana marched to Miss Dixon's office.