ILLUSION {Charles Xavier}

So-Called Pragmatic Anti-Hero #02

I sit on a set of metal stairs connected to an apartment complex, overlooking the scene before me. Multiple vehicles pull up next to the dingy building, finally arriving to collect their drugs.

I live next door to a local drug house. Cars queue up in my street. Drug abusers loiter in front of my apartment. Gunfire occasionally disturbs my sleep, and in the morning I sometimes find derelicts sleeping in my front yard. I can't help it but every day I step out that door, I'm in danger, and so are they.

One after another, people line up in front of my house to buy their goodies. One after another, I watch the drugs eat away at the sanity of these people, and I don't feel bad. I don't feel one ounce of pity for these life wasters.

As I look down upon these repulsive people, I notice a woman being yanked out of a sleek black truck. I whip my head away, not really wanting to see what they are going to do to her, but I can't help but look closer. She looks worn out as if she was putting up a fight. Blood stains cover her clothing, and her palms are muddy and scraped. Her head falls limp in between her shoulder blades. She manages to fling her head back. She glances at me, her eyes widening. She lets out a whimper for help and I close my eyes. I open them up after awhile, finally deciding to do something about it.

I rush inside my apartment, grabbing my fighting staff with a blade on one end and my balisong knife that I once got from an old man from France. I sneak back out, seeing the people walking into the drug dealer's apartment. I follow suit. I climb off of the metal stairs, making my way towards the men. They walk inside, leaving two guards at the door. I slowly trail towards the two men. I let out a grim smile.

"Hey," I start. "Is this the place to buy drugs?" I question.

"Not right now, it's not," the built man with a cheek scar in the shape of a turd, says.

"Oh, well, then my bad," I smirk before flipping the balisong knife in my hand before snapping my wrist forward, sending the knife into his neck. I rip it out only to whip my hand around, slicing the other man's throat. They both drop to the ground with a thud, still choking on their blood. I drag both bodies behind a dumpster. I rush back to the door of the dealer's apartment, cracking it open. The living room is full of men. I roll my eyes. "Don't you guys have anything better to do?" I groan. Their heads whip my way.

I point to one man. "Your worst nightmare is..." I trail off before snapping my fingers.

A gigantic, steel roller coaster appears in his head. I smile as his eyes widen.

"Great, and then you fall out and die," I state. Suddenly, his body falls to the ground, limp. "That would be a terrible way to die," I mutter before facing the other men. "Alright, I can do this my way, or the... stabby way," I laugh as I make stabbing motions with my knife. They step closer. "Okay, the faster, stabby way." I fling my hand forward, swinging the knife into the farthest man's chest. He falls to the ground, landing on the dark carpet. I grab the staff that is latched to my back and fling it out in front of me. I swing it around a few times before knocking one man upside the head. He falls to the ground unconscious. I spin around to face another man. I lunge forward and stab the blade end of the staff into his groin. He lets out a cry as I twist the staff. I yank it out before smacking him upside the head, knocking him out as well. I face the other men, quickly finishing them off.

I walk past the still bodies on the ground. I glance at the door to the room that is holding the woman I saw earlier. I put my ear on the door, hearing voices inside. I creep towards it and the floor creaks under my step. I cringe at the sound. Suddenly, the voices stop. I take this time to bust the door open. I run in, not hesitating one second to find the dealer. I point my finger at him before snapping my fingers and I instantly see his biggest fears turn into illusions. I take a step closer to him.

What I see step closer to me is not the woman I saw bust in here. She's a terrifying monster now. It lets out a screech as it raises its claws in the air before jumping at me. I stumble back, trying to escape the creature. It lets out another screech before slashing at me. I let out a cry for help as the claws dig into my skin. It tears my skin to shreds-

I jump back to my reality with a gasp for air. I feel blind a few seconds before looking at the man who is now screaming and begging for his life. I watch as he shoves at the air, trying to push away from the imaginary beast. I slowly look to the woman behind me. Her eyes are red and not from crying.

"Hi," I try my best to smile. She scoots farther away from me. "No, no, I came to save you," I frown.

"What did you do to him?" She whispers.

"I- uhh... I made him see things," I shrug.

"Is he dead?"

"I mean- Yes."

"How?" She asks, struggling to stand up from the ground. She looks worn out.

"You didn't see him being killed, but he did. To us, it doesn't look like he was being killed, but to him... It was terrifying," I mutter, stepping towards her to help.

"So... It was an illusion for him?" She asks, her eyes wide.

"Precisely," I smile. "See, you get it... And you explain it even better!" I smile. I open the door for her and we walk into the living room. "Mmm, oh yeah. Don't trip," I say, gesturing to the men on the ground. She lets out a gagging sound. "And don't puke."

We make it outside with nobody blowing chunks. We both step out the door, leaving all the men behind us. She wobbles around before trying to look at me. "Y-You're my hero," she grins and my stomach drops.

"Umm, no. Not a hero," I correct.

"Then... Vigilante?" She suggests.

"Not quite sure."

"Anti-Hero?"

"Sounds about right," I shrug. "Don't come back around here, okay?"

"Okay," she nods slowly, showing me that she's barely listening anymore.

"Go find the police," I demand before walking back towards my apartment. I let out a sigh before entering my living room. I walk straight to my bed before going to bed.

***

"You did a fucking mission without us?" I hear Monticello shout from outside my door. I roll over on my bed to face the door. He's always so controlling. He says it's for my safety but I can take care of myself. Monticello has good intentions though, so I can't blame him.

"It wasn't a mission... I just helped someone." I state matter-of-factly.

"Helped someone? Ha, that's hilarious, Marie. Last time I checked, we don't help people. Pretty positive we just steal money and kill..." Monticello states matter-of-factly.

"I'm sorry, okay? It was a mistake. Besides, it was next door, and low-risk," I yell out. "Just come in." Just then he creates a portal and shows up next to my bed. He pushes me off so I fall to the ground and he starts making my bed.

"You're so stupid sometimes," he shakes his head with a smirk. "But you're honestly so awesome. That drug house that you busted was on the news this morning. The reporter said it was too graphic to show on the TV, " Monti just spits out. I watch as he tries to hold back his grin as he switches tones. "You can't do that... I mean the going in alone part. You could've gotten hurt and I would've been-" I cut him off, stopping his worry instantly.

"I won't do it again."