Claws

Chapter Nine

      Adrian arrives home, throwing his phone under my nose.

"Have you seen this? This blogger guy gave you a superhero name! He also works as a journalist, and now it's all over twitter! This is ridiculous! It's not only on twitter, though, it's everywhere!"

"I know, Adrian. It makes sense!" I say.

"Alexis, how did he know? Is he with... Them?" Adrian asks, startled by his sudden thought. I laugh.

"He met me down an alley when I ran away from the reporters. He wanted to know what he should call me instead of Asylum Girl, because he saw it as unfair, you know? And I told him I usually have barbs on my gloves and asked to be called Claws. And no, he's not with them, I asked."

"You're sure?" Adrian asks, in a strange, paranoid way. I wave him off.

"Adrian, the idea was to get rid of the paranoia." I tilt my head and fix him with a stare. He looks down in shame.

"I know..." He mutters. I lean down and look up at him.

"If something goes away in one person and then appears in another, no change has been made." I say. He nods, and I get up. "Anyway, I'm tired. Do you want the shower first?"

"Yeah. And please, rinse the fur off the soap when you're done!" I giggle in response. He rolls his eyes and walks away as I flop down on the couch. I close my eyes, and fall asleep in the sweet dreams of my achievements.

"Wakey wakey eggs and bakey!" The words are enticing, and I open my eyes with a contented hmmmm.

"Good morning, Adrian." I say, sitting up and stretching. I smile up at his face.

"Well, aren't you perky today? I think that's the best reception I've gotten since the first morning you were here." Adrian says, surprised. I think back through the days. It's been about six weeks, now. Over a month.

"That was a long time ago." I say aloud. "It's August now."

"Yep. Let's see... You showed up... July second? And I didn't even get you a gift." Adrian smirks. I roll my eyes.

"You did give me a birthday gift, silly. You gave me a home, and didn't judge me. Hey," I ask, thinking. "When's your birthday, Adrian?"

"October fifth." Adrian says cooly. I can tell he's trying to look cool, though, and I smile again. Adrian checks his watch. "Aren't you going to get dressed?" He asks. I jump up, startled, and grab my clothes.

I emerge from the bathroom dressed and ready, and grab my breakfast from the kitchen. I line up with Adrian out in the hall, and we race down to the elevator. In the lobby, we throw open the doors. I turn out onto the street, and me and Adrian part ways.

I take a different street to the police station. I'm still wary about how they know my route. As a result, I wind up approaching the police station from the opposite side than I usually do. As I approach, I notice a flickering orange light, and a strange crackling sound...

I run around the last building, and the scene unfolds in front of me. The police station is covered in flames, the smoke filling the sky. As I watch, Jean approches behind me.

"What happened?" I ask her. She grimaces.

"When I showed up it was smaller. They evacuated everyone, but the cause is still unknown. I called 9-1-1, but... This is where we answer the calls. The firemen just got alerted, I think. Yes, here they come now." She points down the street, where a fire truck is barreling down the road. It stops in front of the police station, and several men jump out, hooking up the hose. They make a series of gestures, then start blasting water at the scorched building.