A Strider's Curse

Chapter Four: Natalie Sapphire

They both walked over to the car and Max opened the door. He put the seat forward and sat in the back. Then he pulled the seat back into the position it was in so Natalie could get in the car too.

I'm not going to lie, she was pretty and I could see why Max liked her. Her hair alone was a little out of the ordinary but that's just the kind thing he would go for I think. He always sees the best in people... most of the time. She was a little smaller than Max and that means she's smaller than me as well... because me and Max are the same height. She has pink eyes... I think; I couldn't really get a good look when she got in the car. She also wasn't wearing any makeup... this is the first time I've seen a girl without any makeup.

She was wearing a multi-colored t-shirt, with a plain grey hoodie over it, blue jeans and brown boots? I wasn't really sure.

Once they were in the car I started the car back up and reversed out of the parking space. I drove out of the parking area and back onto the main road and the traffic was even worse than before. We were sitting there for about five minutes in silence and then Max tried to make conversation.
"Uh... Natalie, this Dust, Dust this... is Natalie." Max said, hoping me and her would have a civilized conversation. Unfortunately we both sat there and kept our mouths shut, but I could see that she was just a little curious about me.

She was tapping her finger on the top of the door and her leg was bouncing up and down a little. I waited for the questions to come out but she was clearly hesitant . A few more minutes passed and then she decided to socialize.
"What exactly does a... Strider do in their everyday life?" She asked and I didn't actually know how to answer that question... at first.
"Normally I try to act like a normal person and try to make as many friends as I can. But uh... I've never really thought about what a dedicated Strider would do in their "everyday life"." I replied and silence fell in the car for a few moments.

Natalie opened the conversation again.
"I heard that they murdered innocence in-" "Not true, fortunately!" I interrupted and she flinched when I did. Max clearly wanted to say something but he hesitated. "Whoever told you that or whatever you read is lying, it's all lies. I should know... I one of them aren't I?" I said and they both stared at me for the longest time. I kept my eyes on the road though... the whole time.

When I heard that first set of words come out of her mouth I immediately felt like I was going to snap... and of course... I did. Like I always do when someone brings up a topic like that. Is it my fault that the first Strider to be discovered was a stone cold murderer? I don't think it is. Ever since he went on his little rampage, Striders have been seen as evil and murderous monsters. Although... there isn't exactly anything written on them. So I wonder where Natalie actually heard that.

The traffic lights went green and we started moving again. There was a weird tension in the car... like there was going to be another outburst of anger or something like that. Although, until we reached the midpoint of the main road there wasn't anything like that. But, when we reached the third of set of traffic lights, a convoy of cops drove right on passed.

I leaned over the steering wheel to take a better look and I was about to put my foot to the floor.
"Dust, we can't afford to get involved! We're members of a college that's constantly being watched by the authorities. We'll just have to sit this one out." Max said and I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and I was getting so frustrated that I almost didn't even listen to him.
"He's right Dust... just sit this one out. Besides... my dad's probably on his way over there right now and he isn't exactly helpless." Natalie said and I guess I kind of calmed down after that.

Her dad's a cop? No, if she has powers... then he might be part of the "ability elimination" unit; a department that deals with people with powers by using their own. Real hardcore and badass kind of guys that don't like to deal out mercy. I've had a run in with one or two of them and there definitely not fun to deal with. They have weapons that are amplified by some kind of atomic energy but it's not radioactive; they can put holes through buildings with a pull of a trigger. Not something that I wanna deal with. They also have armor that can modify itself to match your weakness, but luckily I haven't had the pleasure of dealing with that yet.

The lights went green and we moved forward again and the conversation continued... surprisingly.
"Do you always feel the need to get involved with crime scenes?" Natalie asked and I thought about it for a few seconds.
"Yeah... but that's because, normally the AE's don't get involved and they lose plenty of regular guys out on the field because they weren't prepared for a person with abilities." I replied and Natalie had another question to fire out.
"You're not really on the best of terms with the AE's then?" She asked and I sat there for a few moments to think about it.
"No not really. Normally they're around every corner when I deal with something before they do." I said and Natalie decided to stop with the questions and instead she decided to tell me something else.
"I don't really like 'Em all that much either. My Dad's the head man of the group and he has no sympathy for the criminals who use their power to frighten the innocent. He considers himself a soldier rather than a leader though and he treats all of his men with utmost respect but... he never made time for me or my Mom." After she said all that I took a quick look back at Max and I could tell that he's already been told this story. Silence fell in the car and it was like that for the rest of the way.

We finally reached the neighborhood and Max decided to fill me in on a detail he missed out.
"Oh, by the way Dust Natalie will be staying with us for awhile. She's been having trouble with her Dad recently and she kind of needs a place to cool off. If... it's alright with you?" He said and I nodded... generously. Maybe that's because of what Natalie said but... I don't really know. I mean... I barely remember my parents or what happened two-hundred and ninety-seven years ago.

My Mom died just after we exited some sort of safe house and my Dad... well... I don't know what happened to him. All I remember is this flash and a loud noise that almost made me deaf. I did try to look for him but never found any trace or any clue to where he would go. Max has always been the one to keep me in check and he's done a damn good job; I don't think I would've made it this far without him. I guess I've just decided to give up and move on... maybe that's what's getting me down all the time. The fact that I'm losing hope... and giving up.

Natalie was about to exit the car first but I had to ask a question before then.
"Hey Natalie... it's a dumb question but... what is your power?" I asked and she stared at me and laughed slightly.
"It's rainbows... duh!" She said and she started to laugh even more. Rainbows... who would've guessed? Well... I mean, I guess the color of her hair is kind of the giveaway then? Huh... well, this... should be interesting.