Chương 11: Villains Are Idiots

It was three weeks before I could go out again. Gran got mad last time when I stayed out until eleven and came back acting strange and out of breath. After that, I wasn't allowed to even go get the mail if it was after seven.

"Somethin's up with you, I just know it," she grumbled as she flipped a quesadilla in a pan. One side was already black and the other was about to be.

"You're actin' weird, and that's sayin' somethin'." School ended forty minutes ago, yet here I was with a full backpack slung over a shoulder and shimmying my feet back into my shoes.

"Yeah, I'm trying to make sure I'm able to graduate by the end of the year. There's some old book in the library I need to see for a research paper." Gran flipped the quesadilla onto a plate. It looked like a Frisbee made of tar.

"And you can't use the interwebs? I could go borrow Amelia's phone down in 312. Trebek's sultry voice always soothes her to sleep. I don't understand why, it just gets me excited."

"First of all, eww. Second of all, this book isn't on the internet, hence my teachers will be so amazed they'll probably just give me my diploma straight away." I opened the door.

"You better be back before eight-thirty!" That would give me four hours. Definitely do-able. I waved at her.

"Of course. Bye!" There wasn't much of a plan for tonight. My state of mind was the equivalent of a cheerleader with five cups of coffee and two Red Bulls in her system. I was just raring to go. Maybe it was the new weapons and the fact that I had totally beat up that twitchy guy before. I felt like a completely new person and she was capable of all kinds of things.

The number one thing was that I could not get caught again, so I had a dark hoodie and a homemade mask made from a black sock with holes cut out clutched in one hand, ready to be tied at any moment. Obviously, being rescued by a small teen with the face of the McDonald's Hamburglar might not appeal to some of the people I would save, but they were just going to have to accept it. Neither sun glasses nor swim goggles would do the job. I walked around at first, but then realized that that might tire me out.

So I sat on the edge of a concrete flower bed piled with black snow outside of Lou Malnati's pizzeria on Springfield Ave, watching people as they passed by. It was February and everyone huddled in their puffed jackets whenever an icy wind whipped through. The bag of dry crumbled ramen I was slowly eating through did not compare well with the wafting scent of melted cheese, tomato sauce, and crusty dough. Maybe I should ask for monetary tips after saving people? At least ask for any free coupons?

Wait, no, take it from the criminals themselves as literal payment for their crimes. I had used the last few weeks to practice the little I could. Nothing but true danger could bring on my power, but I could at least get well-acquainted with my new weapons and how to properly use them. I wasn't a gunslinger, but I could whip out my taser wand faster than Dumbledore, let's just say. You'd think some kid would come along to try to do some shoplifting.

Or a pickpocket- I mean, look at all of these people with their heavy and spacious pockets. They were ripe for the picking! I'd even take a streaker, but even they weren't crazy enough to come out until the weather was warmer. Probably more for their ego than safety. We all knew the shrinking effect of the cold. No man wants to be seen at their worst… or smallest. You know what I did see? Couples on dates not talking, their faces lit blue by the screens of their phones.

Children bouncing around like they were in a pinball machine, clearly taking a night off from their ADHD medication. Parents arguing about said medication and the insurance that wouldn't pay for it. There were a lot of crimes of humanity, but very few I could solve with my super powers. After three hours of people watching, I realized I was in the wrong spot. No one should see me or be able to report me, so why was I hanging around one of the busiest places in town? Dark alleyways would be my friend.

I zipped up my parka, bringing the hood of my sweater up over my head and drawing it tightly over my face. I put the smoke bomb canister and face mask in my jacket front pouch and the taser baton in my back jeans pocket. My feet slowly made their way in and out of the various lanes down the street. Mostly they were just filled with stale air, garbage cans, and the scurrying sound of rats, but every now and then you came across a homeless guy.

I expected them to demand money or throw a glass bottle at me, but they were just passed out on the ground like a shivering pile of clothes. It was getting close to eight now, the sky fully dark contrasted with the streetlights shining bright. Crime was not around every corner, and that was a good thing. It wouldn't happen every time I went out. This was just going to be the way it was sometimes.

I wasn't a super at the Academy, no one had a hotline to call for my help, so I couldn't know exactly when and where to be to save someone. So I slowly ambled my way home, yet still watching all around. An angry dog barked at a woman carrying a child, but it was on a leash. Two drunk women started catcalling a man, but it turned out he was into it. I was three blocks from home and tonight was turning out to be a dud. All of my work, all of my prep was for nothing. Good for the city, bad for my progress.

One corner left and I'd be on the road home.

"Hey, wanna hang out?" I turned my head to the side to see a guy leaning against a telephone pole. The place was between streetlamps, so I couldn't get a good look at his face, but his voice sounded deep. I stopped in my tracks, crossing my arms in front of me.

"It's a school night. Bit late to hang out, don't you think?" He laughed, rearranging his shoulder against the pole.

"It's not a big deal, just thought you might wanna talk." I stepped closer to him.

"What are you doing out here?" If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. He shrugged.

"At the moment, trying to rizz a cute girl." He gave me a slimy smile. My eyes narrowed.

"So what, are you just waiting out here for girls to pass so you can bother them on the street?" I took another step towards him. This was it. Another opportunity to use my power. This punk was out here looking for trouble. I could feel it. His hands raised up to ward me back.

"Calm down girlie, I just wanted to hang. I thought you looked good in the hoodie. No need to go full psycho." The guy stepped away from the pole and my heart began to race. He was going to make a move and I would take him down, bringing me one step closer to controlling my powers. The sock mask was still resting in my pocket, but if I tried to put it on now, he'd have time to get away and I'd look like an idiot. So I pushed him and his feet skidded back, launching him against the wooden pole.

"I'm not a psycho! You're the one out here trying to lure young girls off somewhere!" I stalked right up in front of his face.

"Lure? What is wrong with you?" His arm reached out and grabbed my shoulder, rocking me back. This was the moment, just like last time. I gritted my teeth, trying to draw tension to the front of my brain. That was always where the pain exploded first and then the air would grow heavy, time would slow down, and I could fight. But there was no lowering of decibels, no slow motion twisting of his face. The guy was paused, staring at me as if I was crazy and continually huffing out his breath.

He tried to make a break for it, sneakers squeaking against pavement as he spun. My hand shot out to grab him by the back of his shirt. Maybe he needed to try to attack me with a weapon.

"What- no knife? No gun?" I shook him a little to see if anything fell out. His voice came out garbled like my grip on his shirt was choking him.

"Are you kidding me? No!" Ugh, the incompetence of creepos. He flipped around, putting his hands on my shoulders and pushed. My fingers clamped on his and pushed back. His face was still darkened by shadow, but I could see the white of his teeth as he gritted them.

"What is wrong with you? Leave me alone!"

"Why don't you leave girls alone?"

"Believe me, from now on, I will!" He pushed hard this time, sending me backward and breaking my hold on his neck. The guy stared at me like he wanted to punch my face. A headache was forming behind my eyes and my stomach began to churn. He took a step toward me and then the night air stilled, the city went silent, and the guy stood immobile like a cardboard cutout. Before I could think about it, my hand reached into my pocket and whipped out the shock stick.

With a flick of my wrist, the baton extended out and smacked against his side. The street came back to life- the honking horns, music pouring from windows, the electric zing of the streetlights- just in time to cover his scream. His eyes went wide as the electric shock ran through him, mouth gaping open. His body dropped to the ground like a marionette with its string cut. I stood over him for a moment as he cried on the ground, a small puddle forming beneath him. The light finally fell across his face.

He couldn't have been more than fourteen.

"I'm sorry!" He choked out in his deep voice.

"I don't have any money …hick… please.. don't hurt me.. again." Tears rolled down his hairless cheeks. Holy crap, I just tasered Rick Astley. He was definitely going to give me up. I dropped down to my knees next to the poor kid.

"I'm so sorry! I thought.. I thought you were … someone else." My hand reached out to help him, to do something, anything, but he whimpered and crawled away from me.

"I'm sorry!" I yelled, but he wasn't listening. He stumbled to his feet and hobbled down the alley, sobs echoing off the walls. My feet wanted to run but my legs were locked. I kept staring at the ground with its dark puddle, mouth hanging open, sick to my stomach. I electrocuted a kid. I thought I was being a hero and instead I was a monster, a bully, a criminal. My stomach erupted abruptly and the dried ramen clawed its way out of my throat as bile poured down, covering up the urine-soaked concrete.

Down the street, I heard giggling and looked up to see a family walking towards me. A mother and father swung their five year old daughter between them, laughing as they strolled. But their gait was slowing, pausing with concern as they saw me bent over from vomiting. Better run before I hurt them too. Everything was a blur of darkness and the artificial lights of stores and cars. It blinded my eyes, so I scraped against walls and bumped into trash cans in my flight.

I ran until I was out of breath and collapsed against the side of a liquor store. The green notification symbol was flashing in the corner of my vision. It popped up to give me my progress report. 20 Villain Points awarded for assault on civilian minor. [Error] system in state of atrophy. Points can not be accrued at this time. 0. 7 seconds elapsed. Name: Cass Level: 1 Class [Error] system 24% Atrophied. My forehead touched my knees as I slumped over. Here it was: complete and total proof.

I was used to exploring the complexities of moral ambiguity in literature, but there was nothing ambiguous about what I had just done. This was how villains were made. Jeez, they got points for it. Maybe they didn't even intend to do it, maybe it just happened and then they decided to roll with it. Sure was a lot easier than trying to save people. My hands were shaking as they cradled my head. The jeans covering my knees were slowly growing damp from tears falling on it. I wasn't cut out for this.

People were always trying to sell us on the idea that it's the underdog kid who will be the hero, the one who's been mistreated their whole life. That's supposed to make them kind, empathetic, always knowing right from wrong and never crossing that line. In reality, those turn out to be the psychopaths. I'm talking every serial killer out there. Big time. And maybe that was me. I stayed with my head lying on top of my knees.

The sounds of passing cars echoing down the alley, the jingling bell of the store door when it was opened, the murmured talk of strangers when they passed by, that was my whole world for awhile. Sitting on the ground with my back up against a store was a lot better than other things I could do.

"Hey kid, you want me to buy you something?" It was some guy who sounded like he smoked five packs a day and from the direction of his voice had to be standing just to the side of me. I didn't look up, just shook my head. We didn't need to add drunk and disorderly to the mix.

"Kids these days…" he muttered under his breath as the bell on the door jangled. I stared into the darkness created by my selfmade cocoon. Eight-thirty had passed long ago, so Gran was going to have it out on me when I came home. Tomorrow, I'd give back the weapons to Orion, say I'd quit my job, then probably have to get a real one. Back to being normal. Back to regular ol' Cass. It was better than being evil.

But I could hear my inner consciousness crying at the thought, sobbing at the loss of the future where I wasn't just regular. I pressed my hands to my eyes, slumping down further. Then a voice growled from down the alley.

"Shh, shh, just stay quiet."