Bringing Hope

Savior

It's dark and cold save for the spotted lights of flashlights and lanterns from other homes nearby in search of survivors or otherwise. You stare into the space where once a grand home stood now lays in ruins; a literal pile of rubble of your life. Something drops over your shoulders from some stranger, warm but hardly inviting as the pain within your chest grows to the single loss of your mother. Your last words to her unknown, forgotten, and hers just the casual worriment of a parent. You drop to your knees in shame as reality kicks in; you could do nothing to save her. NOTHING.

It's then you hear cries of joy echoing into the night. Looking up from where you've cradled your face into your hands, the dark skies begin to light up with rising hope; the Justice League has arrived! Your heart skitters happily as you and many others flag them down. The blanket which had been draped on you, slides clean off, forgotten, because there's only one thing on your mind.

"HELP! PLEASE, HELP!" Your voice is hoarse from inhaling the destruction of your home, as well as a few others along with soot and ash from accidental fires. "MY MOM! MY MOM! PLEASE!!" You trip, about to fall face first when something catches you. Strong, well-defined arms which you cling to to brace yourself in the attack of the sobs you feel welling up in your chest. "Please, please, help her. Please. I couldn't. Please."

You don't realize who it is, this person holding you, but they release you almost immediately and it's somehow a miracle you just managed to catch a glimpse of a shadow jumping into the wreckage of your house. Falling back to your knees, you continue to repeat with your hands folded over your heart "please, please, please, please."

Time is slow. But, with a sounding crack! the fallen beams are busted through the middle by an invisible source which only makes itself known by landing directly in front of you.

Cradling your mom.

Before you can rush over to touch her frail body, the hero steps back. "She needs assistance. I will take her. If you want to come along, you'll have to climb up on my back and hold on tight."

With shaking hands half-extended to the form, you sweep tear-trodden eyes at what makes you gasp. Superman? No. Not Superman. Superboy. The 'other' one. His eyes furrow and his mouth opens once again, in a grimace.

"Hurry up! Do you want to save your mom or not?!" Surprised by the sudden shout, you nod your head and quickly make your way onto his back. Just as your hands clasp about his neck and knees secured to his sides, you hear him yell over his shoulder "Hold on tight! This is already dangerous, and I don't need to have to rescue you, too, got it?!" But before you can manage a confirmation, you feel a horrifying yank against your naval and on instinct cling harder than ever as you watch with wide-eyes to the Earth falling away from you.