Hidden Heroes

FÖŪRTEEŃ

I was one person behind to get my ID checked. I watched as the man with the silver hair jotted down the client's information and gave him a fake smile that he's learned from years on the job.

He waved for me to step up and before he could say anything more, I slid a file on his desk. He gave me a weird look, not saying anything about my hood as he flipped through the papers. His eyes scanned the documents and enlarged.

I pulled my hood back a bit so he could see the defining features of my face.
"I'd like to see Nigel Reade."

The man nodded his head rapidly and started punching in numbers on the phone while I fixed my hood. Hopefully no one would stop me since the sweater had the Hero Academy written on the back.

The man slid me a small box with with gears and wires sticking out of it. A small black knob was on the side of it and I picked it up.
"This'll have enough essence for me to have an actual conversation?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I was under strict orders not to mess with it."

I took the files back and picked up the box.
"You swore an oath not to tell anyone about this, right?"

He nodded. "It's my blood on the line."
"Why were you willing to sacrifice that?"
"I didn't really have a choice."

I placed the box inside my bag and bowed my head. "Thank you."
He just looked over my shoulder and called the next person.

I pushed the doors of the post office open and a cool autumn breeze hit me. The leaves were starting to turn brown and crumple up, ready for the wind to sweep them away.

I pulled out a seafood salad tray I bought from the small grocery mart I passed by and sat on a bench secluded from most of the buildings. I smiled as a small squirrel jumped out of a bush and crawled up a tree.

There was a headphone jack on the side of the box and I placed a cheap pair I got.
Then, I flicked the switch on the mechanism and listened as the gears whirred.

"Hello, dad?"

There was a long pause, with just the gears spinning and the wind rustling the leaves.
I sighed and thought of what else to say.

"It's been about a week, right?," I continued. "I'm trying to get along with Mother Nature but it's been pretty hard spending money sparsely. I haven't taken a shower in a while, either."

On cue, I scratched my face, feeling the layer of grim building up underneath my nails.
"You probably already knew I lied about going to Ivy's but I had a weird interaction with her son. He said we were siblings now, is that true?"

No answer.

My lip started trembling, I felt myself going insane. I felt like I was talking to myself even though this box would let me get through to him. Is he doing it on purpose?

"Do you want to see me crack, dad?," I asked. "Cause that happened the second I started crying in front of you. I just wanted to throw myself off a bridge at that moment, I was so embarrassed. Do you know how that feels? To allow the person you hate the most to see you at your weakest point. It's awful. It was-"

Then I chocked on a small laugh. "It felt really good."

I stretched and picked up the box, examine it before putting my finger on the button.
"Bye dad."

Before I clicked the button, I heard a voice.
"Bye Sunshine."

I smiled and shook my head. I put the box in the plastic bag I had for my salad and started to nibble on a piece of lettuce. For some reason, the salad tasted much batter than it should have for some measly grocery-prepped food.

After a few moments, I got up and pulled my hood.

:.~^*^~.:

"So, you want to stay here?"

I nodded and gave her a feeble smile.
Ivy looked at me for a second, then turned to her son.
"Robert, set up a room for Lizbeth."

He nodded and looked me in the eye with a scowl on his face. I sunk back into the royally large medieval chair.

Ivy stood, her black hair draped over her shoulders and wore a red dress with the same vines wrapped around her legs like in the video she sent to Chance at his place.

"How did you know that I was hanging out with Chance?," I inquired.
Her red lips just put on a bigger smile.

"Go to your room dear."

I broke away from her gaze and walked up the stairs, trailing where I thought Robert had gone.

I saw him just standing their and looking in my direction, with a slight purple glint in his eyes.
He barely moved his lips and spoke in a whisper but it was clear what he was saying.

"You're going to have a bad time."

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Updates are not going to be as frequent because of school and a lack of motivation.

I will update as soon as I can, though.

Lots of luck and other stuff 🍀