Why the world doesn't need Super Heroes

Chapter One - Continued

Returning to University half a week before the beginning of term was about as close as I could call it without upsetting my parents. My sister went to the high school within the compound and while I missed her tremendously whenever I was away, it felt like I could finally breath again being away from all of that.

I remembered when I first left for university. My mother in tears, my father refused to talk to me, and my sister who had only just been in high school for a year at the time didn't understand. We were about as close as siblings could be and and the painful look of betrayal with which she watched me off through the security gate at the wall was one I could recall with photographic memory.

I remembered when the polite government officials who gestured towards a black SUV waiting outside the wall, I had the briefest moment of misunderstanding before I realised they weren't just showing it to me. I had even responded with "Yes, that's a very shiny vehicle," before one of them, the woman who hadn't given me her name, had looked at me with the slightest smile of not unkind humour before approaching the SUV and opening the back door.

After which she still needed to gesture for me to get in before it clicked. We were an hour into our long drive through mountainous terrain before it really hit me just how big the world was. Once the terrain flattened out and I could see for miles in any direction without laying eyes on any house or building I realised everything I had ever thought I understood about Geography was only now blossoming in my mind.

Three years on and the government officials names were Jen and Liam and we were old friends. Every time I returned the compound they would commiserate with me over the confinement I was about to inflict upon myself and whenever they picked me up it would be with a drive through coffee at the gate and a steaming hot pepperoni pizza waiting for me on the back seat. Which of course we shared while we caught up on my latest prison sentence.

"They really don't get it," I told them throwing my last crust back into the oil stained pizza box, holding it up so Jen could do the same. Liam was driving and never ate when he did so, apparently whatever department of the government they worked for, did not approve of Pizza oil on the steering wheel. "The Olympus Compound is old news out here, they locked everybody out, so no one knows why their tax dollars should be going there,"

Jen and Liam traded a sideways glance I don't think I was supposed to catch. They never shared their opinion on the compound. I pushed Jen on the subject once and she had only responded with "I don't have an opinion on the Olympus Compound, I haven't been issued with one," Liam had remained completely silent.

"My sister said she wished she could fly, and show people what they're paying for," I mused, seeing my wan reflection in the window as I did it.

"It is weird that-" Jen started and stopped suddenly. I looked toward the front cabin of the SUV to see Liam look away from her.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Just a conversation we already finished," Liam responded on Jen's behalf, "A conversation that need not repeat itself,"

"That's a matter of opinion," I challenged him smirking, "I don't recall the conversation, perhaps it might be a new conversation with a third opinion, but than you guys don't have opinions do you," it wasn't really a question.

"I was just saying," Jen went on cautiously, "The world believes the last super heroes were born in the 1970's"

I nodded confused even though neither of them could really see me doing it in the back seat "I don't understand the question,"

There wasn't a response from either of them, but I could see they weren't saying something, their faces registered just the slightest hint of disappointment.

The conversation after this returned to more light-hearted topics, and several hours later the empty land, became farmland, and than towns, and then eventually we were driving through the suburbs of the city and I could already see the familiar landmarks which meant we'd be pulling up to the campus dorms very soon.

"It was good to see you again, Alex" Jen hugged me when we were both standing on the sidewalk and Liam was getting my bag from the back of the SUV. Despite us having become friends this was a significant moment, not having happened before. Liam coughed awkwardly and Jen took a step back letting her arms fall, an ashamed look on her face.

Liam handed my bag over and said nothing, his eyes staring down Jen officially.

"Ok guys, what's going on?" I said to them grasping the retractable handle for my suitcase as the little wheels at the bottom popped out conveniently. You could cut the tension with a hot knife.

"Have a good term, you'll receive instructions for the autumn break," Liam continued nonplussed.

"But not from you?" admittedly I wasn't always quick on the uptake but this was sounding somewhat bluntly like a subtle good bye.

"Maybe..." Jen responded in a voice like a mouse and Liam stared her down silently. "We don't actually know,"

"Administration changes being what they are," Liam added uncomfortably.

"What administration changes, there are no elections coming up in this country," I was confused.

"No, the US elections are only part of it, you know we work for the UN," Jen explained,

"Is this because of funding?" I asked and the two of them looked uncomfortable now, "I agree my family live in a bubble but the Compound does get outside news, you know? America isn't the only country who provide funding,"

"It's not just us," Jen added, and I remembered belatedly that she was American, "You don't think pulling back funding was an original sentiment,"

"Either way," Liam cut over her, eyes severely upon Jen he grabbed my hand and shook it perfunctorily, the expression on his face betraying the friendship I thought we shared, "There is a lot of upheaval at the moment, and there's always a chance we might be reassigned,"

"This might be the last time you will see either of you?" I clarified, it would suck surely, these two and their black suv had been my cupboard to Narnia but I was reminded immediately of their duty to the UN and duty had always been high on the agenda during my upbringing in the Olympus Compound.

"It's likely," Jen nodded raising her hands defensively, "but you will hear from someone when it happens,"

"You will," Liam added shortly, almost uncomfortable enough for me to join in their discomfort.

"Ok?"I was brushing down the wrinkles in my shirt trying not to make eye contact with either of them hoping to defuse the discomfort.

"We're sorry," Jen added simply.

"I get it," I resigned, "This is your job, and jobs change," neither of them had anything to say to that.

"If you don't hear from us, make the usual calls to arrange transport home at the end of term," Liam said this to me every time they dropped me off so I didn't feel I should point out that it contradicted what they just told me. He moved around the opposite side of the SUV with a curt nod.

Jen grabbed my hand in the same gesture. Odd for her. She had never done it before. "Be safe" she said simply and pulled her hand out of mine, closing her other over the top so that my fingers were forced together. Clasping a small folded slip of paper.

She moved away from me without a second look and the doors to the SUV closed with audible thuds. I didn't move as the black car moved away and turned the corner out of the gates to the university.

"That was weird," I caught myself saying to no one in particular but I kept my hand closed around the little scrap of paper now in it. Whatever it was, I knew Jen had gone to a great deal of trouble to make sure no one saw her give it to me. I reached into the pocket of my jeans, withdrawing my smart phone and craftily thumbing the paper onto the screen to make it look like I was simply checking the time.

'I detest public displays of affection' was scribbled on the scrap of paper. And nothing else.