Life can be a cruel place. Just turn on the news. Murder. Rape. Drugs. Abuse. I believe in God, but sometimes I think we're already in Hell. People die each day. Most people pity them. But how do you know it's not a blessing? To be free of this torture and affliction? But imagine… What if all evil was gone? If people took it into their hands to cleanse the world and defend the innocent. Like... Like...

Superheroes.

I slammed my locker closed after retrieving my belongings.

My name is Jacob Sage Ryder. Straight A student, gamer, and self-proclaimed geek. I'm 14 years old, have aproximately one friend, and I'm the constant target of bullying. I don't really care though, I know they'll be working for me one day.

Yes, I realise how cheesy that sounds. It make me feel better though.

Comics are my life. Sure I love reading, but something about comics and their superhuman protagonists... It's always ben a fantasy of mine to jump over tall buildings or fly or speed faster than a speeding bullet. Now you know what I mean by "geeky". I couldn't find a stronger word. I've lately become obsessed with a certain comic called Kick-Ass. Jeff and Lucy, Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl. It was about those stories of the "wetsuit crusader". You remember, the huge Facebook page, that video of him beating up those muggers, and the news report about him and an eleven year old taking down the mafia? Who could forget? Tons of people thought it was a publicity stunt, but a lot of us dreamers believed otherwise.

30 minutes after the school day I met Addy at the store. Atomic Comic, our favorite place. I picked up the latest Kick-Ass and Addy grabbed a MAD. We put our feet up on the table and read.

Adele was a pretty girl from my class with dark black hair. She was a mixed race, and had coal black eyes. I've known her since we were in diapers. She was the kind of girl who would kick my ass if I ticked her off in the slightest.

And before you you ask, the answer is no. She's a lesbian. She was shunned by all of her friends after coming out, which is probably the only reason she hangs out with me.

Randomly during our conversation (which often seems to have something to do with comics), I spoke up.

"What do you think Kick-Ass had going through his m ind?" I said. "Was he just insane? Or did he really think he could accomplish something?"

"I think..." Addy said, thinking. "I think you're a dumbass." She smirked. She wasn't a dreamer.

"I'm serious," I said, exasperated. "He did it. He took down the fucking mob with a little girl!"

"It's a comic, dude."

"Based on a true story."

"Urban legends."

"They have the videos from the security cameras!"

"Well, I guess he was a fucking phycopath with a lot of luck."

"We could do it, you know."

Addy ignored me. But I was being serious. If a highschooler and an 11 year old could do it, why couldn't we?

Addy shook her head. "Who knows..."

I smiled.

We stayed ther about another 10 minutes with different conversations, although none to do with real-life superheroes. I didn't want her toi think I ws turning crazy.

Suddenly, Addy laughed. I gave her a weird look.

"What?"

"She's cute," she said as she nooded

I followed her look to the table a few feet away from us. I saw a girl about 14, blonde, and really pretty. I think I've seen her at school before, she was a freshman too. She was looking outside the window, bored. Next to her was a group of college age kids, three boys and two girls. I wondered what she was doing here...

"Dibs."

She kicked my leg. "Douchbag."

I pointed one out. "How 'bout her?" It was a cute Asian girl reading Spiderman.

She winked. "I'll be back," she said. She got up to move to the girl's table.

I sighed and put my feet up. Across the room I saw the college kids leaving. The younger girl gave a half-hearted wave, but stayed back. As soon as they left, she got up and grabbed the same issue of Kick-Ass that I got. She sat back down, and opened the comic. I guess she didn't want the older kids to see what she was reading.

I found her intruiging. I almost stayed seated. Maybe if I did, none of this would have happened. But no.

I got up and walked to the girl.

She didn't seem to see me, but the moment I got within 5 feet of her she spoke up.

"Get the. Fuck. Away. You pervert."

I didn't know whether to run away or laugh. She seemed so innocent before. But regardless, I spoke to her.

"Suit yourself. I just wanted talk about that comic you're holding."

Then she did something I never suspected.

She turned around, stood up and grabbed me by the front of my shirt. Despite being my hight, she lifted me off my feet.

I quickly looked around for help. Everyone was so emersed in their comics, they didn't notice, or maybe the douched were ignoring this. So I looked for Addy, she could kick this chick's ass. But unfortunatley she was still hitting on Spidergirl.

"Would you do it?" the phsyco asked me.

"What?" I asked nervously.

"I heard you talking to your girlfriend," she said. "If you had the choice, would you do it?" She was looking really fierce now. "Would you become a superhero?"

I gave a nervous laugh. "R-Really? A Superhero? You're k-kidding right?"

"I want an answer you fucking pussy."

"Yes," I answered, composing myself. "I would."

"And why? Because you want to live out your gayest fantasies of jumping over buildings in tights? You want to be famous?" How the hell did she...?

Oddly, I smiled. "Because there's some fucking assholes in the world that need an ass-kicking."

To my amazement, she set me down. She turned to look at the comic. She frowned as she rubbed her thumb on the purple-clad killer known as Hit-Girl.

"You know," she said. "I'll be seeing you soon Jacob."

"How'd you-" I started. How'd she know my name?

She'd already opened the door, the bell ringing loudly.

I grabbed her arm. "I didn't catch your name."

She twisted my arm, sending pain to ring through my body. I bit my lip to keep myself from yelling.

Then, the weirdest of all happened. She let go, and she smiled.

"Mindy. Mindy Macready."