Drawing the Wildcard

Chapter 5: A New Day

After a long talk and impromptu wrestling match that ended with a couple cracked walls and a broken coffee table, Jake, Kit, and Ari all agreed to keep Jake's newfound abilities a secret.  Currently, the trio is sitting on the couch playing 'Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U.'

"Get good, Kitty Cat! Or get wrecked!" Jake taunts playfully, landing another hit, sending Kit's Donkey Kong flying. Luckily, Kit managed to recover and land on the stage, dodging an attack from Jake's Sonic and Ari's Female Robin.

"Says the guy using the fastest character in the game." Kit snarks back.

"What can I say? Sonic has been part of my childhood." Jake replies, repressing a curse as Ari lands a hit and sends him flying. Suddenly, Ari pauses the game, causing Jake and Kit to look at her in curiosity.

"Guys, what time is it?" Ari asks nervously. The three of them look toward the clock to see that it's 7:45 in the morning, to their horror.

"Crap! We're gonna be late for class!" Kit says, shutting off the game system and gets up, running into his room with Ari, the both of them getting dressed as quickly as they can.

"Ari! Where's my emergency clothes pack?" Jake asks frantically.

"In the bathroom!" She replies. Jake rushes into the bathroom and finds the pack in the cabinet. He unzips the pack and undresses, putting on the clothes that were in the pack. Jake walks out the bathroom clad in blue jeans, a black t-shirt with 'Unstable' written on it in white letters, his white tennis shoes, a silver spider necklace, and a black hoodie with 'Never Scared' written on the front and 'Guts over Fear' written on the back.

"Kit! Ari! Let's bounce!" Jake calls out, picking up his book-bag.

"Keep your shirt on! We're coming!" Kit replies as he walks out wearing black jeans with a hole cut out in the back for his tail, black tennis shoes, and a black tank-top with a picture of a panther and the words 'Can't be Caged' on it. Ari walks out behind him wearing a black skirt with matching leggings and shoes, and a black t-shirt with the words 'I'm a Biter' on it.

"Let's roll guys." And with that, the trio tore out of the apartment and ran down the streets like bats out of hell. About halfway to the school, Jake scooped up Kit and Ari into both his arms and ran faster than he ever thought possible, bobbing and weaving through traffic and pedestrians. Luckily for them, they managed to make it to the school, thanks to Jake putting his newfound strength and speed to the test.

"Thanks, Jake." Ari says, kissing him on the cheek as he puts them down.

"Yeah man. Thanks. Didn't know you were that fast. You outran the cars like it was nothing." Kit added, giving Jake a fist bump. Jake smirks tiredly.

"No problem, guys. After all, we're in this together, right?"

"Right."

"You know it, Kid Arachnid." Jake rolls his eyes playfully at Kit's new nickname for him as they walk down the hallway, ignoring the stares directed at them. Or more accurately, directed at Kit. Everyday it's the same thing. People always have to stop and stare at Kit. All because he's a mutant. He used to be picked on by the football team until Jake put a stop to it and began to hang around him, forming a strong bond.

'Damn bigots. They have nothing better to do other than stare at us.' Jake thinks bitterly to himself as the trio stop at their lockers, getting their books.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our favorite trio of mutant-lovers. Puny Parker 2.0, Dracula's Bride, and Catman" A voice calls out cockily, making the three of them repress curses. They turn to see Eugene 'Flash' Thompson and his gang of football players. Out of the group, Jake recognizes Randy 'Rand' Robertson and Kenny 'King' Kong.

"Suddenly it reeks of testosterone and stupidity over here, huh boys?" Ari says, making Jake and Kit crack small smiles.

"Shut it, Elvira."

"Hey! No one talks to my girlfriend that way!" Kit says, stepping in front of Flash.

"And what are you gonna do about it, mutant? You shouldn't even be here at a school for humans."

"You shouldn't be here either, Thompson. I don't think you even qualify as human." Jake snarks, attracting his attention. He walks up to Jake and looks him dead in the eye.

"You better apologize, Parker." He says angrily. Jake notices a tingling at the base of his skull and a crowd beginning to form around them out of the corner of his eye, but he ignores them both in favor of dealing with Flash.

"Fine. I'm sorry that you don't qualify as a human. Perhaps neanderthal is what you are. No wait, they look way better than you." Jake replies with a shit eating grin.

"You little bastard!" Flash roars angrily and sends a punch towards Jake. Without warning, Jake leans to the side almost casually, dodging the punch and watching Flash dent a locker slightly.

"You know that's school property, right?" Jake asks rhetorically. Flash growls and sends another punch his way. Again, Jake leans to the side, dodging it with ease. Flash sends a flurry of jabs towards Jake, only to growl in anger as Jake dodges every single one of them, much to the amazement of the crowd.

"Stay still, you little bastard!"

"Stay still? Well since you asked so nicely." Jake grins slightly as he catches Flash's fist in his hand. His grin widens and turns almost feral as he watches Flash try to pull away, but to no avail. Unknown to Jake, his eyes began to glow red in anger. He squeezes Flash's fist, causing him to gasp in pain.

"Now you listen to me and listen good, Thompson. We have dealt with your idiotic, bullying ways long enough. You are nothing but a child who gains pleasure from the torment of others. It's sickening and everyone is tired of it. The second I catch you picking on my best friends or my cousin, you and I are going to have a serious problem. Understand?"

"S-screw you, Parker!" Flash says defiantly, only to scream slightly in pain as Jake squeezes his fist tighter, possibly breaking it.

"I will ask you again. Do. You. Understand?" Jake asks coldly, his eyes glowing a brighter red as he slowly increasing the pressure on Flash's hand.

"Yes! I understand!" Flash yells out in pain. Jake only nods once and lets go of his hand, watching impassively as Flash cradles it against himself.

"Good. Now get out of my sight before I really lose my temper." Jake snarls, baring his new fangs as he watches Flash turn tail and walk away, his gang following him. Kit and Ari walk up to Jake.

"Damn, Jake. Brutal yet effective. I like it." Kit says with a smile.

"Thanks, Kit. I told you that Thompson would pay. Come on, let's go to class." Jake says. The trio begin to walk to class. Ari stays silent during the walk, only taking glances at Jake and his current blood red eyes.

'That strength, that speed, that agility. What else can you do, Jake? What other powers did that bite give you?'  She questions mentally as they walk.