Unto Shadows

i. shattered windows & first-aid

[copyright AubreyParsons ©2017]

Shattered Windows & First-Aid

      "IT'S BEEN THREE weeks since the sudden disappearance of the well known Super known as 'Ace'. Authorities still refuse to speak on whether or not they've found any leads on this so-called vigilante—" I muted the television, in no mood for the fake sympathy and high pitched voice associated with the young newscaster. They'd been ranting on and on for weeks about the 'sudden disappearance' of the cities beloved new hero, Ace, quick to forget the old one who'd saved them more times than they could count.

      "Charity," my mom called from the top of the stairs. Her nose stayed buried in the purse on her arm as she dug around with a huff, heels tapping against each step in quick succession. "I'm headed to that interview as soon as I find my keys. Will you be okay for a few hours on your own?"

      I nodded when she spared a quick glance up. "I'll be fine." I stood from the couch and jogged over towards the kitchen before grabbing the keys off the counter and tossing them into my mom's hands. She stumbled a bit as she tried to catch them, but eventually steadied with flushed cheeks and unlocked the door. 

      "Thanks, love." She tossed the keys in her purse. A gentle smile lit her face as she stared at her only daughter, but the longer she smiled, the easier it was for me to see right through it. She was still hurting. "See you soon. Love you."

      I tried to hide my disappointment at her lack of progression. "Love you too." As she shut the door behind her, I flopped onto the couch with a noisy sigh. The lock clicked shut a few seconds later, leaving me with the deafening silence of our empty apartment. Frustration gnawed at my gut and I groaned. Mom wouldn't be in this situation, living in an apartment and filling out application after application, if it weren't for the Supers. She would still be a cop.

      I switched the TV back on with the remote and flipped through the channels until I found an old action movie—particularly one with absolutely no super powered people. I'd had just about enough of superhuman abilities for the next year, much less for this evening. The sounds of crashing and gun shots burst through the speakers along with the shouting of arguments and fear from the surrounding citizens, and I relaxed into the cushions with a deep sigh.

      My eyebrows furrowed as I continued to hear angry shouting and crashing that didn't follow along with the now calm characters on screen. The action scene had long since been over, and the sounds were starting to appear more and more like they were from outside and not my TV's speakers. I once again pressed mute on the remote just in time to hear an angry shout followed by a loud crash that sounded suspiciously close to my apartment. The remote slid from my hand and into the floor as I shot up and over towards the nearest window.

      It was late evening and the sun was setting beautifully across the horizon, but that wasn't where my focus was. Instead of the sunset, my eyes trained on the three shadowed figures on the street. Two of the dark figures were focused on another, kicking and punching at him. It took less than a second to realize they were Supers as electricity shot from one's metal hand, sending the lone Super flying back into the air. Just before crashing into a building, a third super magically appeared through a wall—both their dark red suit and the wall perfectly unscathed—and punched the loner away before he crashed into the building.

      The red and black Super started to fall from the multistory building, and my eyes widened in fear for him crashing to the ground before one of the other two flew up and caught him.