Rise

Jeremy - The Seraphim

Part I

"Freak!"

"Sideshow!"

"What do you think you are? You think you're like us? Not even close."

He didn't, Jeremy knew he wasn't like the others. He was similar, but the way he saw it, he was better. He didn't see the world like everyone. He saw it more clearly, how it really was. But no one ever saw him the way he saw them. He saw each persons abilities, ambitions, anything they wanted to do and everything they could. He saw their true desires and anything they felt, he felt it too.

"I'm sorry...." he quietly cooed from his perch above his peers. Jeremy was sitting in a tree, a rather impressive feat given he was just over 6'3" and yet only weighed roughly 80lbs. He had the bones of a bird, they were hollow and his muscles were strong but thinner than those of a human. He had white hair, as pure in colour as a cloud itself. His skin was also paler than those around him. He looked down at the small crowd that had formed around him. "I didn't mean to upset any of you, I can feel that you're mad but trying to reason doesn't seem like it'd help."

"How about you just come down here bird boy"

"I'm not a bird boy"

"Then what d'ya call those things coming out of your shirt there"

"They're my wings, but they work independently from my arms, a birds don't do that"

"Get down here you smartass!" The husky boy yelling at Jeremy picked up a rock and wound back his arm. Before he could throw it, Jeremy dove down inches from the boy and caught his arm.

"Why would you throw a rock at me? What did I ever do to you?" He began to squeeze the boy's arm

"Hey! Knock it off! That hurts!" The boy struggled to break his hold but Jeremy's grasp didn't falter.

"You haven't answered my question. I'll release you as soon as you do. I don't like to hurt people, unlike you it would seem."

The boy stopped squirming and looked into Jeremy's vivid green eyes, they sparked a brighter colour, and the boy felt shame flood through his body. He dropped the rock that was still clasped in his hand. "I'm sorry man, I was mad that you always seem to know what I'm thinking... It scares me I guess..."

Jeremy pulled the boy into an embrace and he felt hot tears flowing down the boy's face. "It's okay, I understand." He pat the boy's back and released him. All of his friends looked at his now red faced and swollen eyes with shock.

Jeremy took off full sprint in the direction of his house. He only went maybe ten feet before he leapt into the air getting almost six feet off the ground before his wings began to throw him into the sky.

It was a short flight home, he lived close to the park. Since the park was so close to his house he would go there often to think. He landed harder than normal and stumbled slightly. He regained his balance and walked towards the door of his small house. He pulled his keys from his pocket and found the key to the door, he found the keyhole but before he could turn the key his head was filled with a ringing noise. The shrill pitch made him cringe and throw his hands to cover his ears. He collapsed on the stoop with blood coming from his ears

________

When Jeremy woke up he was in his living room sitting in the recliner he had for guests. His head throbbed and he couldn't remember what had happened, his vision was blurred and he could barely make out the outline of someone standing in his kitchen by the stove. He stood up quickly, wings unfurling to look as threatening as possible. He legs gave out and he shook having to grab the chair arm for support.

"Now now, don't strain yourself." The soft voice flowed from the kitchen. "I made tea, I hope you don't mind but I saw you had some and couldn't help myself."

Jeremy couldn't sense anything from the man, his head was still throbbing and his powers didn't seem to be working. "What do you want?"

"Relax I'm not here to hurt you in any way son. I merely need a person with your skill set."

"What do you mean my skill set?" Jeremy relaxed his wings letting them fold back up as he sat down in the chair.

The man walked over to him and gave him a cup pouring the tea into it before fixing himself a cup and sitting opposite Jeremy on the love seat. "Well you see Jeremy, I'm forming a team."