BLACK STORM: The Abandoned Son

Chapter 4: The Endless Struggle

"Just accept It"

Arggh! It's that voice again. It's been like that for the past couple weeks. Ever since that fight with Katz. I can't figure out what it is, no one would tell me. They always find some excuse to leave the room or become preoccupied whenever I ask. Something's being hidden from me.

"Just accept it"

At first, it was concerning but now it's just annoying. I've learned to tune it out every once and a while. I have to make better use of my powers. Katz had an overpowering ability, so I have to catch up. I can't get a better power; I just have to work with what I've got. For the past few days, I've been experimenting. After hours of practice each day, I can now produce more sludge. I can now fill about half the bathtub, much to the dismay of Mother who had to clean it afterwards.

"Just accept it"

You again? Enough, I'm tuning you out now. Lala Lala, can't hear you. Okay back on track now. Grid helped me work on my balance since he's pretty agile. Why? Well, you see I learned if I spray the floor I can sort of ice skate, to give me a speed boost. I tried it on flat ground but what about the stairs? I spray the stairs and give it a try. That was a mistake, I definitely slid, that part worked. But I tumbled and fell on my butt. Stairs weren't made for sliding; they're just not shaped right.

"No fair Newt your downstairs already, I thought you said you'll wait for me.", Grid begins to walk towards the stairs.

"Wait! Grid, don't go down the stairs"

"Haha, what?- ahhhhh!", he falls too.

I should probably fix that. Better get a mop, or rather the mop, cause we only have one. If I'm going to be as strong as a Ghost, I need to train smarter than this. Look, it's Jubilee, she's sliding down the rail, maybe Grid should've done that instead?

"What are you two idiots doing?"

"Oh, I'm training."

"Training? It looks like you're just lying on the ground."

"I'm gonna be a Ghost, you see, so I need training."

"Oh, you'll be a ghost alright, once Mother sees what you've done with the stairs."

I realized something just now. I've stumbled onto a golden opportunity. Yes, it did almost slip my mind, but now that I have her attention...

"Jubilee it's time for those questions, you promised."

She scoffed at me in disgust, "I made a promise... to you?"

"Um, yeah?"

Her face changes to confusion, "Wait, actually, who are you?"

"What?! I'm Newt, what's wrong with you?"

"It's not my fault, you have a very plain face."

Grid interrupts, "That's true, actually."

"I'm the only kid with ginger hair!"

"Come on, I understand that you know I'm perfect, but even I can't keep track of every little detail like that."

She's unbelievable. But she's been avoiding me for several weeks. Even though I can't stand her and she can't stand me, this conversation needs to continue. If not for my own sake then for the sake of the orphanage. Before I could give her more grief for her attitude she speaks up.

"You wanna know about Katz, right? There's nothing special about him, really."

"He has a wealthy father, Tatzalor."

"And?"

"What does he want with us, what's his problem?"

"He was walking past the orphanage and saw me. Like all boys, he then confessed that he was maddeningly in love with me. It gets so tiring"