Oversight

Chapter 13 A New 'Hero' In Town

Wade soared through the air, his mind weighing him down with heavy thoughts. He couldn't kill Noah, he knew he wouldn't be able to. But at the same time, he knew that they had to do it. Noah was so powerful, he could do whatever he wanted. He could destroy the world. But he would never do that, Wade knew him well enough to be certain of that. He wanted to find Noah, to help him somehow, but he knew that his friend had changed. They had pushed him past what he once was. Pushed him to kill. Wade didn't know what to do, so he went home. He was done with all this superpower crap for one night.

...

Noah was flying for almost an hour, using all the energy he could muster to keep him going, but no civilization was in sight by the time he began to fall. He managed one last energy construct to slow his fall before he landed hard on his shoulder. He walked for hours before he could see buildings in the distance. The hot sun beamed down on him, which would have been horrible if it wasn't also giving him a little energy to work with. The sight of human constructs filled Noah with hope. His spirits lifted and he picked up his pace.

...

Mark flew towards the mountain, the other four following as fast as they could, which wasn't very fast since none of them could fly. It took them a couple days to get to the mountain but once they were there Mark rushed them to go faster than they had their entire trip. They reached the master's chamber, all physically exhausted. The master looked down at them all, and then up at Mark. He only said three words, leaving any room for questions behind. "Let's get started."

A five foot man with a long beard and a stone hammer walked into the room. He looked up at the master who nodded. The man stuck his hammer in the floor and extended his arms out to either side. The room expanded, creating a large circle with the man in the center. He walked to one part of the circle, letting his hand hover over an empty space. A bed made of rock shot out of the ground a stopped where the man's hand hovered. He made his way around the circle, repeating this action three more times. 

Steven leaned towards Mark and, with his voice low, asked him "Who is that?"

"That is Grimm, controller of the Earth. He moves the stones beneath our feet. He is usually here though, he has other Earth controllers around the world so he stays here to be the master's muscle and emergency escape."

The master walked to the center of the circle and Grimm made a gesture with his hand the caused the stone under the master's feet to raise him a few feet off the ground. Grabbing his hammer, Grimm left the room. 

"All of you, take your positions." The master declared. The four laid on the stone beds around the circle, their heads all pointed towards the master. Mark left the room, pausing for a moment at the door to look back at them. Once the room was sealed, the master raised his hands and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry for what you must go through, but know that it will be for the greater good." Then he began to unleash all the knowledge on the four of them.

The door had been bared with the best protection they could provide, so it was the best in the world. Covered by stone, fire, water, and steel. The wall was feet thick. The controller of fear, and other recruiters waited on the other side of the wall with Mark, their swords drawn as a precaution. Nobody talked. They waited in what should have been silence to see what would happen. Even with the what should have been soundproof wall that separated Mark from his trainees, their screams ripped into everyone that waited outside.

...

Noah made it into the city before nightfall. He stumbled around the sidewalk, cold sweat drenched into his shirt. He blended right in with the drunks that also struggled to stay up on the sidewalk. The only difference was, he was smaller and younger. The drunks didn't seem to notice, he didn't know if they even knew where they were, but the guys in the alley way he passed by did. They grabbed him and pulled him in, a knife already pressed against his throat. 

There was three of them, all taller than him. The knife seemed to be the only weapon they had but they looked like they could beat him up if they wanted to. They all had the stereotypical rags covering their faces. The one with the knife spoke in a low voice. "This is whats going to happen now. You're going to tell us what valuables you have on you right now, then you're going to give them to us, then you're going to leave and forget about us. Got it?"

Noah registered what he said, going over it in his mind. But why should he have to do what these guys say? Fear? He wasn't scared. They could kill him? He was stronger than them. Because they knew what they were doing? Well Noah could put an end to that. 

"Ok" Noah said. "I have no money, no jewels, and nothing that you're going to take from me." They looked at him in obvious shock. Then the knife guy looked to the guy on his left and back at Noah. He moved the knife from his throat and a fist collided with Noah's cheek. Blinking spots out of his eyes, Noah spit some blood into a large puddle next to him. He looked back at the guy, his shirt in a  tight grip in the man's left hand. 

Noah raised his hands in mock surrender. "Oh wow, I didn't know you guys were serious. I thought you just dressed up like jackasses on accident. Here let me give you the money I don't have and I can silently mock you for the rest of my life." The man punched him again and again until Noah felt that he had a broken nose and spit a tooth out into the puddle. "I see your point. But I'm a nice guy. I'll give you a choice. If you two," he pointed t the two that stood behind the boxer, "leave now, I'll let you live." They all laughed and the man lifted his fist for another punch.

As his hand came down, Noah stole the energy from him and caught his slowing fist. "Last chance" The three looked at him in shock. He shrugged. "You're choice." He sucked all the energy from the man, allowing him to collapse. The guy with the knife threw it at Noah, but it was stopped by a small energy wall. "Seriously? I was gonna let you go. But then you just had to piss me off." 

They tried to run out of the alley but an energy wall formed at the exit, blocking their escape. They turned around, fear filling them. Noah cracked his knuckles for dramatic effect and walked towards the two, electric whips forming in his hands. It was seconds before they were drained and laying on the ground motionless. Noah looked down at his work and smiled. He began to walk down the alley, stopping to look at his tooth, still floating in the large puddle. Shaking his head, he walked through the puddle...and felt all his energy leave him. He collapsed, blacking out before he hit the ground.