It had been over 15 years, 15 long years since Dr. Manhattan fled the galaxy. Everyone thought that it would be okay though. The world was at peace, nothing could destroy that. We had been so wrong. Like my father always told me, you can't have good without evil. I understand that now which is why I do what I do.

So who am I exactly? I don't think that question has a simple answer. I am many things. I am the past, the present, the future, and so much more. I am your dream come true and your darkest nightmare. I am evil yet good. I am both the darkness and the light. I am...I am...the antihero.

Confused now? I'm not surprised, how about we just start from the beginning. Yes, that seems like the perfect place to start, ten years ago...2000.

–

"SKYE! We're gonna be late, hurry up!"

"Will you shut it?! I'm coming!"

Ah yes my best friend Morgan Reza was yelling at me again. For someone who hated school as much as she did, she sure did want to get there on time. Walking into the living room I am immediately grabbed by her and escorted out the house and into the passenger seat of her old Chevy pickup. I've always hated her car.

"Jeez Morgan, you know I don't like being manhandled." I whine.

She shrugs me off as we drive to school. I can already tell it's gonna be one of those days. She's not in the happiest of moods and I know all to well why.

"We can still leave you know, I've got like 5 grand saved up from working my ass off since we started high school. It can get us somewhere." I tell her.

"I know but we can't just drop out of school. Graduation is in three months, we can wait until then." Morgan tells me.

I understand her point and nod. We should wait, I guess, even though I'm dying to get out of here, out of Covington.

"Alright then, we'll wait." I agree.

The rest of the car ride is silent as we make our way to Grey High School and our own personal hells. It is there that you'll understand why we want to get out so badly.

It was there that our lives fell apart and all we had was each other.

–

"Hey look it's the freaks!" I hear someone loudly whisper.

Of course I pay no mind to it, I'm used to their ignorant comments. They don't faze me anymore. Beside me though, I can feel Morgan tense up. I shoot her a look that tells her to back down and she complies with no argument. I know the words hurt her though. She's not as steely and cold as me. That doesn't mean she's weak though, not by a long shot. She can kick your ass from here to Japan and not even break a sweat. She also never feels guilty about anything, so don't expect an apology for that ass-whooping.

"Hey Skye! Hear any news from the mother ship?!" a cheerleader giggles.

Honestly, if you're going to make fun of someone, at least come up with something good. I simply give her a nod and wink in response as I open my locker and pull out my books. I can practically feel her hatred wafting off of her so I figure, let's drop the charade for a minute or two. Dropping my books on the floor I turn to her and I know that she sees it, my aura. It's as black as the midnight sky. It terrifies her.

"I don't really appreciate comments like that sweetheart..." I snarl.

Then she feels the electricity, and so do the people around her. I can see the frightened looks on their faces. They seriously think I'm going o do it. But I'm smart, I've learned to control it. That way I won't have to relive that horrifying experience again...the first time I opened a black hole.

"Please don't, I'm sorry! Please don't!" she begs and tears fill her eyes.

Humans never cease to amaze me really. How can you go from being unforgivably cruel to begging for mercy? I mean if you know what I can do, why antagonize me in the first place?

"Skye!" I hear someone yell at me.

And then I see it, a beautiful meadow. It's lush and green, and the sky is an ethereal blue with white fluffy clouds. And someone's calling my name. I know who they are but I just can't place it. I turn to see who it is and...

I snap back into reality and Morgan is glaring at me.

"Seriously Skye? Are you that much of an idiot?" she asks.

I sigh and apologize. How many more months until graduation? Oh that's right, three fucking more months. God, I hate life.

–

As I watch the sun come over the horizon I think about what today will bring. After all, it is my 18th birthday. I'm officially free from whatever chains hold me here and graduation is only a week away. Morgan and I have already begun packing. There's no longer a reason to stick around. My mother isn't too happy about our plan though. She's been griping about it for the past month.

"That girl is a bad influence I tell you Skye. Don't let her drag you down with her." she tells me.

"Stop judging her mom, you don't even know her all that well." I snap.

"All I'm saying is, I don't want you doing something you know you shouldn't, like drugs. God only knows what that girl's momma is giving her..."

"Shut up! She's not even like that. I know Morgan would never touch drugs. She's nothing like her mother!"

"I just want you to be careful Skye..."

Of course I shrug her off. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom but Morgan's the only one who really understands me.

"We'll be fine mother, don't worry." I assure her before getting up and heading out to wait for Morgan on the front step.

I can only wonder how she'll react when I tell her I stopped believing in God years ago. She'll probably find some way to blame it on Morgan. She always does.

But remember, graduation is only a week away.

–

I think you can put the rest of the pieces together from there. After graduation, we left and came here to the new rebuilt New York. It was there that we...

You know what? I'll get to that later. Right now I think you should just take this all in. Because there's a lot more to come. Especially when Dr. Manhattan returns.