Heroes

Chapter 2

Lucas gently tugged back the branches that concealed his view of the camp. People of all ages swarmed the landscape, all burdened with crushingly large packs. Young children stumbled over rocks, cutting their already bleeding feet. Tall men loomed over the workers with whips in their hands, growling in disgust at the vermin that slaved below them. It was a modern day slave camp. Lucas's hands balled into fists.

He looked around the camp for a familiar face, but saw none. If he was caught, he would end up like this children and his work would be for nothing. An idea crossed his mind.

I can't use my powers again, he thought. It's too dangerous. But he knew that it might be his only option.

Sighing, Lucas closed his eyes and focused on the landscape around him. He felt the slow, tranquility of the foliage, the majestic semblance of the redwoods. He felt their life forces pulsing with light and energy brighten at his touch, then darken as one of their brethren were cut down by the slaves.

I am here, he said. Listen and obey. After ensuring he had the full attention of all the plants, he tapped into their consciousness. There was some resistance, but after a minute, they relented and became one with him.

Lucas took a breath to steady himself, then began his attack.

Hundreds of strawberries writhed as their runners coiled around the necks of the slavedrivers. Blackberry bushes scratched at others, leaving bloody trails in their path. A fortress of Apple trees volleyed thousands of missiles into the midst, causing mass confusion and many to fall unconscious. Redwoods lifted their roots to trip any of the evil who tried to escape. Lucas smiled. Everything was going to plan.

Until a knife was thrust into him.

Lucas arched his back in pain and lost all concentration. The plants all fell limp. Without him restoring them to their previous state, they were twisted and nearly screaming in pain, at least, that's what he could hear in his mind. The screaming, the pain from the knife, and the death sentence that now hung above his head were too much. Lucas blinked once, staring at the empty sky, then fell into darkness.

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"Ugh," Lucas groaned. Everything hurt. His back, his arms, his ribs, his face, his legs. "What happened?"

"You were stabbed." A strange feminine voice answered.

Startled, Lucas jumped and then grimaced at the pain that jolted through his body.

"Who are you?" He asked. He couldn't turn his head to see what was around him.

"I'm your caretaker. For now anyway."

"What do you mean 'for now?' Why didn't they kill me?"

"They tried. But they couldn't. So they brought you here."

Lucas was puzzled. "How did they try to kill me? The knife?"

"More than just that. They tried to make you bleed to death. But you didn't really bleed that much for some reason. And after you stopped bleeding? Kept on living. Drowning? Kept breathing. You're a strange case."

"Sounds like it," he muttered.

"So what's your name?"

"Lucas." He figured he could tell her, he'd be as good as dead soon anyway.

"Nice name."

"Thanks."

"My name's Jessi."

"Cool."

"It's not my real name, but that's what they like to call me here."

"What's your real name?"

"Annabelle."

"Pretty name." Lucas thought it suited her voice.

"It's okay."

"I had a little sister named Annabelle."

"What happened to her?"

"She- she died 10 years ago. When I was 8. She was only 6." Tears came to his eyes, but he blinked them away.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. She didn't know she was dying so it was peaceful."

Annabelle didn't say anything.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "I have to turn you on your back. Is that okay?"

"Yeah sure, I guess." He did not fail to notice that she smelled like hazelnuts. "You won't be able to lift me-" Lucas was lifted a whole foot of the bed and flipped over.

"Woah." He said simply.

A tall girl with dark colored skin and chocolate colored hair smiled at him. "It's physics. I studied it for a few years." Lucas was fascinated by her eyes. Despite her obvious African-American ethnicity, she had vibrant blue eyes.

"Cool eyes." Inwardly he slapped himself.

Annabelle laughed. "Pretty cool huh? They're natural by the way. People used to tease me about them, but I love them."

Lucas frowned. "People teased you?"

"Of course," Annabelle replied. "Wouldn't you?"

"No!" He shouted a little louder than intended. "Never."

She grinned even more. "Than I think we'll be pretty good friends."

Lucas smiled. "I'd like that."

"Well if you want to heal up quickly, I'm gonna need you to lay down, relax and try and sleep." All playfulness was gone, and a serious nurse replaced the girl who had stood there before.

"Yes, ma'am," Lucas saluted her. He lay down on the bed and breathed in the pungent fumes as the ether worked its way up his nostrils and into his brain. Sleep took over him as Annabelle smirked above him.