The Gift - Volume #1

Friend or Foe

A large clear barrier surrounded Wave and Leech. But Wave didn't care. "I'll ask again. What did you do to him!?"

Leech just tilted his head to the side and smiled. "I saved him."

"Don't you lie to me!" Wave's body started to act on its own. With every word he said, his body inched a little bit closer to Leech.

"Why don't you ask him yourself then?"

Wave then turned to Reo. Wave tried to clear his mind and feelings to not let his emotions take over. "What happened?"

Reo's body trembled as he tried to cover his wounds where the blood was oozing out of him. "I-I-was jumped by some men. Then he saved me." Reo pointed at Leech before passing out.

"See. I did nothing wrong. In fact, I helped you out. Maybe I should get into the superhero business."

"I-I don't believe him. You must have done something to him like whatever you did to me!"

Leech didn't say a word back. Instead, he turned his body sideways and moved back to lean against the wall. Behind him were three men. Each one was wearing a leather jacket and pants. They were also carrying weapons. One of the weapons was a bat covered in barbed wire that was dripping blood.

"I knew there was only one way to bring you out. A cry for help." Leech then cleared his throat before shouting, "Help! Help! Help!" It sounded just like the cry for help that got Wave's attention. "It's not that hard to change one's voice. All you got to do is change the pitch a little. I actually stop a few other crimes but you never showed up. So, I thought I try my luck in a few neighborhoods and I guess it paid off."

Wave continued to inch closer and closer. Each step had turned into a stomp. His fist was clenched like he was ready to fight any moment now. "How did you know I was here!?"

Leech simply held out his hand, signaling Wave to stop. "Because you ran into a Gift. I know more about Gifts than Flight. Gifts can actually sense when another Gift is nearby. It's just the range is so small that you have to practically be standing next to them."

"That's bullcrap! I've been near other Gifts and never was able to sense anything."

"Ah! But that is because you never took the time to pay attention. When you were with Flight, you were distracted by learning to use your powers. With Blight, you were focused on trying to survive. With me..." Leech then took a few steps closer to Wave until he was about six feet away. "You were to busy being in shock."

Wave started to feel a cold and warm wave of air circling around him. Even his head started to feel tingly; just like that time at the bookstore.

"Sensing a Gift is such a subtle feeling that if you're too distracted. You might never notice it. Only when someone is calm or is without distractions do you truly sense a Gift. That is why Flight's trait was so special. It made it feasible to find other Gifts. After all, having to be six feet away from a person just to try a sense a Gift is way too cumbersome."

"He's right there. Right in front of me. I can. I can wipe that stupid grind off his face! I have to act now!" Where Wave's thoughts as he pulled his arm back and threw it out towards Leech's face. "Take this! Sound Shot!"

And nothing happened.

"What?" Wave looked at his fist for a few seconds before trying again to hit Leech. "Sound Shot!...Sound Shot!...Sound...Sh...ot"

Leech simply grinned and pointed up at the barrier. "As long as that is out. All Gift's powers are turned off."

Wave took a few steps back not sure what to do now. "You...have a Gift that can do that?"