Enemies of Power

The Park

Roman walked to the park. He didn't see who he was looking for.

"Maybe he's not here," Roman mumbled to himself. The theater boy waited for another twenty minutes.

"Hey Roman," He turned to the owner of the voice. "It's been awhile."

The said boy nodded, "Yeah it has. So what have you been up to? And where did you get that scar?" Roman saw the scar going from the other's left ear to about the bottom of his left ear. Making a pink scar run across his cheek.

"Well, you should know that some people are very friendly in juvie, especially if you play with their minds," He smirked. "But I'm out now. They still can't get me in trouble for a few other things because they don't have the proper witnesses. All the witnesses saw different things."

Roman chuckled. "Because of your...uh..." He trailed off.

"Yep, because of what I can do," He said proudly.

"We need to catch up on a lot, Dirk," Roman told him.

"It's been what...only six months?" The other boy said. Roman nodded.

"Yeah, but it's be about three years since we met," The theater boy told him.

"We were fourteen, I believe when we first met," Dirk said.

Roman nodded. "Yeah, Ninth grade."

"I can't believe it's been that long already," Dirk responded.

"I know, last we talked was six months ago."

"A lot has happened in six months." came the reply.

"No kidding about that," Roman mumbled.

"Let's catch up. After all that's what we are here for. Are we not?" He looked at Roman, who in turn nodded.

"What has happened in six months?" Dirk questioned.

"Well," Roman began. "I got accepted in a role for theater."

"Big surprise there," Dirk said sarcastically. Roman laughed and continued.

"I've mostly been practicing for a play we are putting on. I met someone named Joan. We became instant friends. And for awhile nothing interesting happened." He stopped talking.

"For awhile?" Dirk raised his eyebrow. "I'm guessing something happened recently?" Roman nodded.

"I'll tell you after you tell me what you've done in six months, because that's actually the reason why I called you."

"Okay," Dirk stated. "Well, you know about my ability." Roman nodded. "I finally got caught and they took me to a juvenile jail. They put special cuffs on me. Some that had somehow cancelled out my power."

"Do you have some with you?" Dirk nodded.

"I managed to grab some right before I left. I figured I could sell them to some people for a good amount of cash.

"Anyway in juvie some people found out who I was. First they told me I was making everything up and to prove it, but I couldn't because of the cuffs. Let's just say after that I had to be put in my own cell and separated from the others." He traced where his scar was. "It's kind of a reminder of how people will treat those who are different. Just because you are different shouldn't mean that you get in trouble for it."

"Or innocent," Roman added. Dirk nodded.

"What that stranger did to your grandfather was unfair."

"That's actually why I called you. I found a boy a couple days ago," Roman told him. "He looked like a younger version of that stranger and he's recently been adopted. I went to the orphanage to find out more information but the lady wouldn't talk. Said she couldn't give out that information."

"I see. And you don't know anything else about that boy?" Roman nodded.

"I do know that he can control shadows just like him. But I don't know if he knows exactly how yet. He was also with two people. I'm guessing they are the ones that adopted him. One looked like a teacher at least until I bumped into him. And the other looked all silly. I mean, who wears a cardigan around their shoulder? Anyway the play I'm in is tomorrow night. The whole town is practically going."

"And you think they might?" Dirk questioned.

Roman nodded. "Yes. I was wondering if you could help me find them. Even if I don't talk to them, because if one of them is a teacher I could probably find out more about the boy. I'm betting the boy knows about the guy who killed my grandfather."

"It's nice to know that you're finally getting somewhere after what.... 9, 10 years?"

"Friday, tomorrow, is the ten year anniversary," Roman told him.

"I'll find out as much as I can," Dirk told him.

Roman smiled. "Thanks it means a lot."

"I know," Dirk responded. "That stranger deserves to pay."

"Yeah, He does."