Rewriters [Completed]

Prologue: Changing Point

The world was alive, screeching as a terrible omen to come. It was then a loud crack split the air, sending a blazing wooden beam plummeting between two figures, one clad in crimson and the other, black. At the moment of impact, the latter collapsed to their knees, their chest heaving painfully with effort.

"This isn't over!" came a mighty roar from behind them, before the owner of the voice doubled over in a coughing fit. Through the holes of his red mask, his eyes seemed to reflect the raging fires that ate away at the building.

"I... will always find you, do you hear me?" he screamed, struggling against the restraining hold of a third masked person dressed in dark blue. "Harbinger!"

Another beam fell, splintering to pieces violently barely a feet away from the person in black. While protected from the smoldering chips by their jacket, reverberations from the crash left a piercing ringing in their ears.

It's always fire.

Shakily, Harbinger attempted to get on their feet, but their supposedly unparalleled superpower failed them and they fell face first into the hard concrete. Every gasp for air only resulted in inhaling more smoke. Their mask slipped off their face, revealing tear filled brown eyes.

Why?

The flames were closing in on them. Their attackers were already long gone while all they could manage was a desperate attempt at dragging their body towards the closest window.

Why does it always have to end up this way?

The super knew, at the back of their head, that at that snail's pace, either the flames or the smoke would get to them before they could even touch the window.

No one was going to save them, especially not the superheroes of Vale.

They were helpless.

I really am pathetic, aren't I?

In normal circumstances Harbinger might have laughed, but their throat was burning and the only thing that could be uttered was an agonising wheeze. Instead, their eyes watered, spilling tears onto the smooth concrete.

Deep in their heart, they knew that it was retribution, the culmination of their crimes bringing forth the flames of justice upon them - quite literally in this case. They made mistake after mistake, again and again... it was unforgivable, and they could accept that at least.

Even so, something kept them going. Fighting back the dizziness that clouded their head, the super continued dragging their exhausted body to the window - their last hope of escaping from the fire even if it meant jumping from the second floor to the ruthless seas below.

The window was almost an arm's reach away when a crumbling sound exploded in volume. As if on cue, a searing pain shot up in their right leg and any remnants of strength were sapped out.

I'm going to die.

Realisation cut through them like a knife. It was cold, numbing everything as the embodiment of death himself stared at them in the face. And in that moment, everything else became irrelevant.

"Giving up so soon?"

Their heart froze upon hearing those words. Their stomach twisted as a powerful wave of nausea washed over them at the sight of the newcomer.

No... no way...

That strawberry blond hair and those blue eyes that reflected the sky... it was him. The very person they never wanted to see again.

"Oh my... you look very pale. Has death reached you already?" His voice was sickeningly laced with concern.

You are not real. You are not real... it's all in my head.

Lowering himself into a squatting position such that the two of them were almost seeing eye to eye, his lips parted to form a strange smile.

"Of course I'm not. But it will be if you don't move in, say, ten seconds."

Sudden pain, combined with a tang of saltiness, in their mouth snapped Harbinger back to reality. Blood was welling at the super's lips - they must have subconsciously bitten it amid their delusion.

Seizing the instant of clarity, they dug up the dregs of their energy and pushed themselves out of the way. In a terrible cacophony of noises, a mess of wood and metal collapsed and buried the spot where they were mere seconds ago.

What was it that kept them going? Was it fear? Was it hope?

They didn't understand.

"Stand."

They heard a voice, but it was so faint that they could be imagining things. Filled with immense sorrow, it begged.

"... please... don't give up on your life."

Their fingers felt the smooth surface of the glass window. Clenching them hard on the window sill, they pushed themselves up inch by inch, sweating from the effort. The flames were almost grazing their jacket now.

"Stand up..."

The super was at full height now, gasping so hard that it felt as if their heart was going to burst out of their chest. Without further hesitation, they crossed the window.

"And live."

Harbinger fell. A sense of calmness came over them like a gentle tide, lulling them towards the point of unconsciousness.

Resigning their fate to the mercy of the sea, they closed their eyes, welcoming the deep darkness that struck them upon touching the water.

•••

Next | Chapter 1: Good Morning