The boy walked alone down the path, a satchel slung over his shoulder. His coat hung open, showing the ruby red school uniform underneath. He stepped to the side as a band of girls, their uniform showing they were from the same school, sauntered past. Amongst them was a pretty girl with long blond hair piled carelessly around her shoulders. That she was their leader was obvious by the confident way she walked and the way all the other girls crowded around her. Her eyes lingered for a minute on the boy and she said something that caused all the girls around her to burst into mocking laughter. The boy sighed to himself and continued on his way.
All this was observed by the man leaning unseen against a tree, eating an apple. He was quite tall, wearing a long jacket and dark clothes underneath. A battered satchel like the one the boy was wearing was slung in an identical pose over his shoulder. In fact many things about him were like the boy, so much so that anyone who saw him might think him an older brother.
He smiled and closed his eyes, thinking about how confused the boy’s thoughts were, equal parts attraction and nervousness. He concentrated for a moment and when he next looked he could see that the scene had changed. Instead of a path beside a river, now he could see a road that ran through a quiet residential area, though the sound of water could still be heard in the distance. The girl leader, several years older, was walking along, listening to music, her head bobbing along to the beats. Some of her gang of friends appeared from a side street across the road and waved across to her. Without thinking she waved back and ran across towards them.
The lorry that she hadn’t heard slammed on its brakes but continued to slide towards her.
The boy from the river suddenly appeared and ran towards her as she turned and saw the lorry screaming towards her. He bounded across the road but it was plain that he would not be in time.
The man concentrated and suddenly everything froze. He walked over to the lorry and, taking a knife out of his satchel, slashed at the tires. He then walked away and again concentrated.
The world unfroze and lorry lurched back into life. But the slashed tires had slowed it down and the boy was able to get the girl out of the way just as the lorry thundered past. The man took out a phone and dialled 999. On the grass the girl was gasping in the boy’s arms, obviously in the middle of a heart attack. The man ordered an ambulance, then with another burst of concentration, vanished.
The new scene appeared suddenly. He was in a hospital ward, a green curtain hanging just in front of his eyes. He tweaked it aside and looked out.
The girl was lying in a bed just in front of him, looking pale and exhausted. A nurse was standing by her side and was talking.
“…miracle that the lorry’s tires burst. Even then you would have been dead if that boy hadn’t grabbed you in time. But it seems that you have a problem.
“There is a weakness in the walls of your heart. The shock knocked it out for a while. If someone hadn’t called for an ambulance you wouldn't be here now. Luckily now we know about it all you have to do is be careful. You’re young and strong so it might get better but you’re not to do any strenuous exercise. Do you hear me Laura?”
Laura nodded. “Is…is the boy who saved me still around? I don’t even know who it is. I’d like to thank him.”
The nurse nodded. “Yes, he waited to see how you were. I’ll send him up. But you’re not to get over-excited. And he’s the only one you can see at the moment.”
The nurse disappeared and a few minutes later the boy walked into the room. Laura sat up and looked puzzled. “Adam? You are the one who saved me?”
Adam nodded. “If you don’t want to see me I’ll go. I only wanted to make sure you’re all right.” He headed back towards the door but Laura called him back.
“No, wait. I didn’t mean it like that. I only thought…”
The man smiled and took another bite of his apple as he listened to the sounds of a painful conversation between two embarrassed teenagers. Then he concentrated again.
He appeared this time back on the path beside the river. He sidled back behind the tree and looked over towards the bench where Adam and Laura were sitting side by side, holding hands, their fingers entwined. They were both about eighteen. Adam still had his satchel but apart from that it was hard to tell that he was the same nervous boy who had stepped to the side to let Laura pass five years before. Laura too looked different. She was very beautiful but as well as that she looked very confident in herself.
The man felt a stab of pain to his heart to see her like this. He watched as she laughed at something that Adam said and kissed him on the cheek. He watched as they both went very still, their heads very close together. He watched them lean closer together, their lips meeting. He sighed and turned away, taking another bite from his apple as images rose to his mind. Her sweet lips on his, her hair brushing his cheek, her hand in his and the incredible feeling of happiness that had burst through him.
He concentrated again, knowing where he had to go and what he had to do. A final destination burst into being. It was the residential area again. This time it was night and Adam and Laura were walking along, their arms around each other. He could hear her laughing and the sound was like a sword through the heart.
There was movement in the shadows across the street and two men in suits walked out. They approached the couple and a few words were exchanged. Adam and Laura began to back away but it was too late. One of the men raised a tazer and shot at Laura.
The man froze time and walked over. He could see the two small wires snaking out from the tazer almost touching her. He knew that he could easily tweak them aside and she would be ok. But he couldn’t. He knew what would happen if he did. He’d seen it.
So he took one last look at her, saw her face, the way her hair fell across it and saw her beauty. Then he stepped aside and let it happen.
The wires thudded into her and the charge slammed through her body. Her heart fought for an instant then died and she fell limply to the ground. Adam gave a cry and fell to the ground beside her.
The man reached into the satchel and pulled out a gun. With tears streaming down his face he aimed at the two men and fired twice. They fell, blood pumping out of them. The anger gave him power like an avenging angel and he froze time, went and found each of the other men that were waiting in hiding. Each died with a bang from the gun in his hand. Then he put the weapon back in his satchel and returned to Adam.
The boy was where he’d left him, cradling Laura’s dead body in his arms, tears streaming down his face. He looked up when the men approached.
“Who…who are you?” he stammered, his voice choked with emotion.
The man seemed to think for a moment. “What will be,” he said sadly.
Adams face flushed with anger. “Don’t give me any of that crap,” he yelled. “Could you have saved her? Who were those people?”
The man was still for a moment, remembering what he’d seen. Her bruised face and bloody body, begging him to kill her. “No, I couldn’t have saved her. Not for long.”
Adam gave a growl and leaped at him but the man's hand shot out and grabbed him by the throat. He snapped out of whatever memory trip he'd been drowning in. He spoke with new determination. “I couldn’t have saved her. Now listen carefully. Those men wanted you. You have abilities that they want. I’ve kept them off your back for now but they will be back. Wait two weeks then go find a man called Sengario. He lives in Rome. You’ll find him.”
Adam could barely breathe but still he choked out the words, “Go to Hell. Why would they want me?”
The man reached into his pocket and brought out another gun. “You’ll understand one day. This emits an electromagnetic pulse. It’ll kick-start your abilities. Good luck. And learn how to fight.”
The man shot him and let him sag unconscious to the ground beside Laura’s body. The wail of sirens in the distance told him that the gun shots had attracted attention. He threw his apple core away and brought out his first gun. He concentrated and vanished.
And the man Adam would become went to seek vengeance.
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