“You have failed me Alexander, do you know what that means?” the man said menacingly.

“No please, they’re dead, it was a slight blip in my plans!” Alexander (aka “The Enforcer”) whimpered.

“But Caspian, he was the big deal, and it took you two tries to stop him? How upsetting,” he smirked.

Electricity flowed from the man’s body electrocuting Alexander. He floundered and choked as pain filled his body. Tears welled up in his eyes, as for the second time in his life, he felt pain.

“Please Zeus, they’re gone. I did it. Please stop hurting me,” he begged.

“You heard the man,” a voice rang behind Zeus.

“Dr. Grimhold, I knew I would run into you soon enough!” Zeus smirked as he turned around, lighting flying from his hands. A person absorbed the lightning, bursting into flames and turning into dust. Suddenly water rained down on him, sparking electricity from his body, directing it in wild directions.

“How could you, you clever disgrace!” Zeus cried.

“Not so strong without your little dog huh?” the man smiled.

A slim man stepped from behind him, he seemed to be of Haitian descent. He sported a pair of gold glasses and wore a tailored suit. He fixed his sleeves as a clone of the man stepped beside him.

“Capture the Enforcer, his powers have been shut off, and take Mr. Zeus in for questioning, he’s meddled with too much. Did you find Heather?” Dr. Grimhold asked, as he produced a pair of specialized handcuffs, “These have a sedative inside that will prevent them from accessing their abilities.”

“Yes sir,” one of the clones said as they apprehended the sparking man. The other clone managed to grab the one weeping on the wall. They both were carried to a van parked in the alley.

“We have Heather,” one said tapping an earpiece.

“Excellent, bring her here we need her,” Dr. Grimhold said as he inspected the bodies.

Heather and one of the clones stepped out of the alley. Heather looked terrified at the mass grave in front of her. One of the clones brought them chairs and he motioned for her to sit down.

“Good afternoon Heather, my name is Dr. Kasey Grimhold, I specialize in people with abilities. I have summoned you here, with the help of my friend, Abacus, and his many clones. However, I am not one who will simply demand a favor without returning one, quid pro quo, sort of say,” he smiled.

“You want me to go through all this pain to heal these three people? Why do I have this stupid power?” she sputtered in anger.

“You see it all began as a government experiment, I bet that pretty much explains it. Twenty-six individuals were chosen coded with initials that all equal one letter. For example, you are Heather Hayes Harper, HHH, you have the ability to heal, you were given this power when you were a child, you never knew why you couldn’t get hurt but you were so young, you thought it was normal. Until you grew up. Then you questioned it, and now you live in fear. That’s what I’m offering today, I have with me a serum that would suppress your fear gland in your brain, you won’t live in fear and you will forget the awful things that had happened to you before. Would you be interested? A few mintues of your time, and no more fear?” Kasey smiled, producing a small box with a needle inside.

“I hate living in fear every day, but this is ridiculous. So I am a genetic experiment?” Heather said, feeling like she’s known this all along.

“I would say, please take your time to think about it, but these people here, they don’t have the luxury and Trevor and I, um, he’s a Time Traveler, have lost touch, so it’s all you. I apologize for the horrific things that have been done to you, but me, I’m on your side. I want to get to the bottom of this. Figure out what corporation has done this. I will find them. I will destroy them, from the inside out.” Kasey said.

“You need these three to help with that?” she asked intrigued.

“Yes.”

“Okay, I will do it. Please figure this out for me. I hate, being different.”

“Don’t ever hate who you are.”

He prepared the needle. She put out her arm and he gently injected it into her.

“This takes time to work, so this is where I leave you, but my card, in case you have questions.” Kasey smiled as he slipped a card in her pocket and walked to his van.

“Thank you,” she said, tears of joy whelming inside her.

Heather walked up to the mangled bodies and took a deep breath. She placed her arms on Quinn, who laid silently on the concrete. She felt pain through her spine, life force leaving her body. His eyes slowly opened, but they were instantly closed. Davis was the most gruesome. Bars through his chest. She needed help with him. She walked up to Caspian, the man she has saved once before. She looked at his exposed bone and blood. A smoking cigarette by him. She found herself attracted to him, like she needed to care for him. After saving her life, she had grown attached, even after his sharp words. She picked his hand up and poured herself into him. Her flesh felt like it was being seared by the sun. She felt the anger inside him. She decided, she would fix this too. What kind of man would he be after this? Suddenly his eyes snapped opened and flames played around his hands as he prepared to defend himself.

“Caspian, it’s me, it’s me!” she cried in fear.

“Heather? Have I been killed again?” Caspian said calmly.

“Yes, and I need your help with the man hanging from the wall!” she asked.

“Where is the Enforcer?” Caspian asked, ignoring her.

“He was taken by Dr. Grimhold, I don’t know where, he sent me here to save you,” Heather explained.

“Oh, okay, I will pursue the answers to that next, first off Davis!” Caspian said snapping his fingers melting the bars that help him up.

Heather walked over to him and touched him, her chest aching and her life force diminishing. His eyes opened as hers closed.

“I’m glad to see everyone awake.” Quinn smirked, dusting himself off.

Caspian came from behind the brick, with a grimace on his face. He looked thoroughly pissed.

“So killing your own kind is a specialty of yours?” Caspian said through gritted teeth.

“I killed you?” the man said flabbergasted.

“Didn’t take,” Caspian laughed as he whipped out his hand and snapped his fingers.

Flames came at him in a stream of blue liquid, exploding on contact with the man. However, he was left unscathed.

“That’s a pity, I will not be crucifying you this time. Your death will be in cold blood. Please my father I beg for your forgiveness as what I’m about to do is frowned upon. If I cannot be forgiven I will sacrifice my soul to you as payment.” the man said, suddenly his eyes began to glow.

Telekinetic energy blasted out of his body crumpling all the brick around them, Caspian barely managed to soften that blow with his flames as he was tossed into the bricks, a couple bones snapping on impact. He crumpled to his knees panting. Suddenly their hand was on his throat and picking him up.

“I killed you so you would be cleansed. I crucified you so you may ask forgiveness from my father, you failed to follow those simples’ requests, and now I must kill you. You will not be given a fair trial, you will not be judged, you will be sent to hell. I will not be the Enforcer this time,” The main said as he hung his head in shame. Tears flowing from his eyes. He tossed his cross in disgust at what he was about to do.

Suddenly Quinn leapt onto his feet and swiftly kicked the Enforcer into the bricks across from the crippled Caspian.

“Forgive me father for I have sinned,” Quinn chuckled as he walked up to the surprised man with bloodlust in his eyes.

Quinn picked him up by the throat and punched several arteries on the man’s body before dropping him to the pavement. The Enforcer gagged as the first time in his life, he tasted blood.

“You managed to hurt me?” The Enforcer pleaded with shock.

“Of course I did, I’m Hyperkinetic, and I know everything about you before you do!” Quinn smiled, “and I know just where to punch you for maximum effect.”

“This will not do, I cannot have this, and I have a mission to save your retched souls. Why do you not want to be saved? Why do you want to rot in hell? Why do you want to be under Satan’s rule?” The Enforcer said angrily, “you need to be saved!”

Suddenly telekinetic energy oozed from the Enforcer and he lifted up Quinn and snapped his body in half. Quinn’s scream was all that could be heard from the whooshing of his power. He dropped to the ground jerking in pain as the Enforcer approached him. He wiped his lip for the blood and drew an A on his forehead.

“You will be saved,” the Enforcer said as he silently prayed.

Caspian tried to stand up but his body was mangled from the brick wall and he didn’t know what to do, Quinn was just snapped in half. He couldn’t win this fight, he needed to get away, and what about that other guy? Looking over Caspian noticed that he wasn’t laying there, he is going to try and fight him. It’s suicide. Caspian bit through the pain.

“Don’t do it man, he’s too strong!” Caspian cried out.

Davis appeared behind the Enforcer and struck him as hard as he could. But nothing happened it was absorbed by telekinetic energy.

“You’re next,” the Enforcer laughed.

He blasted Davis into the brick walls and summoned two pipes and sent them through his chest. A gasp was all that could be heard before death claimed him. Caspian pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He took a pull in and struggled to stand up. He smirked at the Enforcer who noticed him moving.

“Why do you get up? You know you can’t fight the holy light,” the Enforcer said as he walked up to Caspian.

“I figured this may be my last breath, again, why not enjoy my last cigarette? Surly you know about the last meal?” Caspian gasped as he leaned against the brick.

“You don’t deserve such luxuries. You’re a monstrosity and need to be put down!” the Enforcer said angrily.

“Well who said you’re why I’m dying?” Caspian laughed as he closed his eyes.

He took a final drag on his cigarette and began to snap his fingers quietly building up momentum. Snapping faster flames played around his body in a swirling vortex. Suddenly a cyclone of fire was separating them. The Enforcer summoned his telekinetic energy and prepared to defend himself. The glow of eyes could be seen through the fire.

“Dante’s Inferno!” Caspian yelled as he released his fire.

A tornado of flaming disaster destroying everything in its wake, including burning up Caspian. The Enforcer tried to block it with his telekinesis but it only softened the blow. The Enforcer stood in shock as his robes were partially melted. His body burned slightly from the fire. The Enforcer looked at the ghastly view that surrounded him. Davis hung on the wall blood oozing from his wounds. Quinn had finally stopped floundering as he laid silently on the pavement, Caspian was seemingly standing still, a massacre of burned flesh and partially exposed bone.

“All I wanted to do was save you from what you’ve become,” the Enforcer pleaded as he dropped to his knees, “why wouldn’t you let me save you?”

“Maybe we weren’t looking to be saved,” a voice rang out beside him.

The Enforcer looked, with pure fear in his eyes, to see Quinn, somehow standing again. Panting as his body struggled to keep up with him.

“How are you standing?” the Enforcer gasped, truly terrified.

“There is a lot you don’t understand,” Quinn said.

A flurry of kicks came at the Enforcer slamming him into the bricks two nails were tossed at him, aimed at his head. Quinn picked up a couple bricks and tossed those too, nailing the Enforcer. He attempted to protect himself to realize, his telekinesis wasn’t working.

“What did you do?” the Enforcer shuttered.

“Simple. I’ve studied anatomy, and my studies told me there was a slim chance your telekinesis was fueled by two places in your brain. I took the risk of death to shut you down. You’re too strong and we can’t have someone like you running about. I’m sorry Mr. Enforcer, but today is your day of reckoning. I will bring you to whatever god you believe in, where you can atone for your sins. With one cut of this knife, all your blood will spill to the pavement. I will lie next to you as my body can’t fight forever. I will not be dying alone tonight,” Quinn said as he pulled a knife from his pocket. Snapping it open.

“This can’t happen, you can’t do this! I have so many more lives to save! Please don’t!” he begged.

“You haven’t saved anyone. In reality you had just become a cold blooded killer. You say you’re trying to save souls, but really you’re taking them when they are, to your standards, cursed. You are actually sending those souls to hell. If you so believe in such a place.” Quinn said walking up to him.

“No, me crucifying them should save them!” the Enforcer spoke, questioning his actions.

“That’s not how this works, I’m sorry,” Quinn said his head hung low.

Quinn placed the blade at his throat and prepared to take his life. Something he has never done before. He wasn’t sure if he had it in him. Capturing people is different. They are alive. They are just brought to their handler, they do the dirty work, if necessary, and he’s just the collector. Quinn began to tear up. Swiftly he needed to get it over with.

A crack of electricity coursed through Quinn’s body. Spasms struck him as he shuttered on the pavement. His knife tossed aside and his eyes rolling in and out of consciousness.

“I don’t know how you managed to do this to my assassin but I will not tolerate it,” a deep voice boomed.

Quinn tried to look at him, tried to get a look, but his body was already so weak from the battle. He knew unconsciousness was not far away. He fought it but his body gave in. He heard their footsteps approaching him. Wondering what he would do to him now?

“You have let me down Alexander, you must be punished…”

END OF ARC ONE…

Image Prompt: How Did This Couple Get to This Point?

They say love can conquer all. However, I feel like that may be true but some losses love takes its toll. Who would have know that something this horrific could happen. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, of course. It was a simple mission. Our voices needed to be heard. People with abilities like us were shunned terribly. We were so sick of the oppression. We needed to take down the infamous organization, CRI. They paid other people with abilities to kill off their own race. It was sticking. Although Alchemy wasn’t well known, it’s power was overwhelming for so many. I was a master of Alchemy, and I used it sparingly but effectively. My beautiful wife possessed the ability of persuasion. We just needed to get to “Zeus” and convince him all would be well if he crumbled his organization. Who would have known the casualties we would face. They had employed a new person with abilities. Turns out to be their number one. He is only know as the Enforcer and he possessed Telekinesis. What maddening power. No one stood a chance l, he blasted us all back with his terrible power. If it wasn’t for him we both would be dead. A time traveler of all things. We hated him though. Because of all the ones to save. The one he didn’t save was our son. No abilities. Just following in his parents footsteps. An unnecessary life taken. He didn’t even give me the pleasure to spite his name. Now we lay teary eyes on the commercial bus. Loathing in sadness.

My dear Benjamin, I’m sorry. I’ve been a terrible father. It’s only a matter of time before we come to see you. We’re going to end what we began and we’re going to do it for you…

The alleyway had led to a dead end. Davis was struggling to deal with his luck. If they found him, he’s done for. But with his ability he wasn’t too worried. No one can match his Hyperdreanal. Suddenly from the roof a figure emerged. Leaping from balcony to balcony without a skip. There before him landed a young man in his late teens. Black hair spiked up and a serious frown on his face.

“Hello Davis,” the man said calmly.
“Who are you what do you want?” Davis said through gritted teeth. Behind him were two men with guns. He was boxed in.
“I’ve got this, report back to Derek,” the man said to the two men behind him.
They both put their guns away and started to leave.
“You’re with them?” Davis huffed angrily.
“Yes, we need to put you down. Derek’s orders,” the man smiled.
“Well good luck with that, so many have tried. So many have failed,” Davis said as he closed his eyes focusing his energy to the flight or fight response. You can guess which one he went with.
Suddenly Davis lunged at his attacker with superior force. The man blocked it without a thought, deflecting his fist beside him. Davis came in for a low kick but the man leapt not once focusing on where his attacks were coming from. Davis steeped back and prepared his signature move, a punch with all his force. The man dodged his fist with extreme accuracy.
“You’re one of us,” Davis said as he calmed his body.
“No, I am not like you. I am something entirely different. They call me Quinn, I too have an ability. I’ve already deciphered yours.”
Suddenly Davis was punched tossing him back. Three more strikes came hitting him all in pressure points crippling him to his knees.
“Fuck,” Davis swore, “I guess speed is necessary here.”
Focusing his thoughts he enticed the flight response. In a furry of punches and kicks he came at Quinn. Quinn blocked everyone of them and pulled Davis arm back, snapping it and dropping him to his knees.
“Ow what the fucking shit is going on,” Davis cried in agony.
Quinn came at him doing two swift kicks to his kidney as blood poured from Davis’s mouth. He spurted in pain.
“What do you want more? Your other arm or both your legs,” Quinn smiled.
“I said I’d never do this but I have no choice, time to kick it in overdrive,” Davis fell back on the pavement and closed his eyes. He enticed both of his responses at the same time. Suddenly in a flip Davis pummeled Quinn. Punching him in blind rage at speeds he barely could block. He managed to soften every blow before a kick in his stomach through his system off. Quinn buckled in pain as he fell to the ground blood oozing from his mouth and his eyes rolling to the back of his head. Davis crumpled to his knees clutching his chest as he entered cardiac arrest. His eyes jumped and rolled like crazy as his body fought to survive. Suddenly Davis was out.
The two men laid on the ground panting slowly as unconsciousness claimed them. The crunching of footsteps could be heard softly through the pressure in their ear as someone prayed.
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
I pray the lord my soul to take

Suddenly flames burst behind them and a scream could be heard.

“I fucking found you now you little shit….”
To be continued…

She stumbled on the pavement as she tried to escape from her attacker. The night at the bar had not gone well at all, and now her ex was after her. She managed to get a good distance away but quickly realized she was cornered.

“God damn it,” she hissed as blood oozed from her scuffed knees as she looked at the trucks that blocked the exit, “shipping will be the death of me.”

She looked around for someplace to hide as his footsteps bounced off the brick.

“Come here sweetie pie, I only want to talk,” he slurred in his drunken state. He was getting closer now.

She looked around when suddenly she was stricken with a ghastly view. There on the bricks was a man hanging, bars through his hands and feet. The letter “A” bloody on his forehead. On the pavement below were the etched words “forgive me father; for I have sinned”.  She held back tears and a sick gurgling begging to come up. She suddenly saw the attacker only thirty feet from her.

“I don’t have a choice please save me,” she cried, tears running down her face.

She ran up to the dead body on the brick walls and quickly touched him in the chest. Suddenly she felt faint as her life force drained from her body. She felt the pain of bars in her hands and feet and her neck stung with a vengeance. She cried out in pain as it coursed through her body unbearably so. Suddenly the man’s eyes opened wide in terror. He snapped his fingers and flames melted the bars. He fell to the ground, thinker style. The holes in his hands melted together and he stood up; bloodlust in his eyes.

“I’m so fucking pissed,” he screamed as he looked for a way out.

“Hey man, that’s my girl over there don’t touch her she’s mine!” the attacker hiccupped now feet away from them.

He looked over to the girl and saw tears running down her face.

“Please save me,” she begged.

“Good, an outlet,” the bloody man smiled as he snapped his fingers repeatedly.

Every snap caused more flames to devour the man’s body, over and over again. His agonizing screams echoing off the bricks. Melting flesh and bone until nothing was left except a small pile of ash. He was not satisfied he needed to get away before her hurt her next. His venomous anger festering inside him. He struggled a cigarette from his coat shaking uncontrollably as he pulled in out covered in blood. Putting one to his lips he snapped softly lighting it and falling backwards onto the brick. Exhaling a cloud of grey smoke, as the nicotine worked its magic.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he frowned pulling it from his lips.

“Thank you,” she sputtered as she fell to the ground panting desperately.

“So what the hell happened?” he asked suddenly realizing what had happened.

“I’m Heather, I heal people I guess,” Heather said quietly, “I found you here crucified on the bricks. I needed your help.”

“Someone like me, that’s reassuring. My name is Caspian. I burn things,” Caspian snickered.

“How can we do these things?” Heather said looking down.

“I don’t know but what I need to know is how you found me, every little detail,” Caspian said forcefully.

“Oh,” she gasped frightfully, “you were here pinned to the bricks with bars through your hands and feet. Below you were the words forgive me father; for I have sinned. And your forehead.”

Caspian touched his forehead and felt something sticky, he pulled it away to see blood on his fingertips.

“It’s an A,” Heather squeaked.

“Someone murdered me?” Caspian cried out as he bit hard on his cigarette.

“Yes.”

“This is an outrage. Thank you for saving me but I’ve got some work to do. Get home lady, and stay there. Get a gun or something. Don’t be stupid. These streets are nothing but evil.”

Suddenly he was gone around the corner, huffing in anger mumbling to himself as Heather picked herself off the ground. Brushing away dirt and fighting back tears. He’s right. I should have something. I’m pathetic.

Heather rushed through the alleys looking every direction for someone else to make her feel venerable. She found the door to the bathroom. She wanted to clean up before she went back to the club next door to meet her friends. She stood for what seemed like ages looking at her bruised ego in the mirror. It was stupid what she did, thinking about what he’s done to her and then thinking he would change. Especially when he’s drunk. Never flirt with a drunk ex, ever. When she felt she was decent enough she slipped outside into the club. Desperately hoping she could find her friends and get out of here.