inFAMOUS: Black Lightning
Chapter I
Short Lived Happiness
White, old walls. Slippery tiled floor. Door after door of dorm rooms.
Welcome to Empire Orphanage, my prison. This is the only place I've ever lived in, some say I was brought here after I was born with a deceased father and me killing my mother during my birth. Others say I was abandoned, unable to be cared for. I think, it's a load of crap.
My name is Katherine, last name? Don't know, everyone calls me White though. The reason to that is due to the fact I always complain about this holding cell of a building.
It's too white, and I hate it, always have for my seventeen years of life. I guess, Katherine White would suffice as my name, I've given up hope on being adopted that I might as well make that my name when I leave this place in a few months.
Question is; what will I do? I...was never a good student, if I had a penny for the many times I failed my classes, I'd spend a twenty dollar bill at an arcade. I always had an interest in the martial arts, and engineering too. I really need to think big about what to do with myself...
An arm swung out of a window, resting atop the arm was a rough, round shaped head. Black hair layered back and barely holding onto shoulders, eyes darker than wood but lighter than syrup, darting around the streets below.
A young girl, age seventeen, strong enough to punch a towering bully, yet light enough for a man to toss her across the room. Lips, delicate than her very being, quivered in annoyance.
The girl stepped away from the window, brushing hair back in her low tempered mood. It was noon, time for supper, and she wished not to go. She wanted to leave already, didn't want to see them.
Leaving her dorm, she walked down the blindingly white hall, making her way down the stairs, and down another hall. Double doors faced her from across the hall, the chattering of other orphans could be heard behind them.
A small group of children passed by her, pushing her with an elbow, calling her names. One dared call her the unwanted child, but they were closely the same age. Oh the irony.
"I may be unwanted, yet you're here too." She hissed back, receiving a glare from the other. Katherine did nothing but smirk, passing through the double doors and into a library of staring eyes.
Everyone knew her, and everyone either feared her, or hated her. Katherine only shrugged at everyone, "Think about this, why the hell are you so mean to me, and afraid, when I haven't done anything wrong? You people always let rumors get the best of you." She sighed, walking past table after table towards the cafeteria, where a tray rested waiting for her.
"You know why they're scared, it's all those rumors about why you're an orphan." The woman behind the counter said, "You're not the only one. But you do enforce technical evidence Katherine."
"Let them, in a few more months I'm out of this place anyway." The girl said, a sigh escaping her lips. "When that happens, then everyone, even me, will be happy".
With that said, she walked away, tray in hand and towards an empty table. Eyes never left her, and whispers could be heard. Katherine ate alone, and she preferred it that way, if it kept her away from all those rude ass orphans. She felt sorry for anyone who adopted them, they're no sweet angels.
But, despite her cold manners, she actually was a good kid. Growing up, she'd read all sorts of superhero comics that she could get her hands on. Katherine wanted to be like the heroes from those fictional worlds, but she was human, none of that existed.
A spoonful of mashed potato traveled from the tray to her mouth, a crash of lightning heard outside of the building. Squeals of surprise or the typical fear was heard, but she paid no mind to it of course since she did see the clouds blocking the sky from her room.
Another spoonful of food.
Then another.
Repeat.
Katherine was the last to leave the cafeteria, everyone already heading out to do as they pleased.
She wanted a nap.
Quick steps carried her from the cafeteria to the second floor and towards her room. An 'oof' was bumped out of her as a man and woman left one of the orphan girls' room, this girl truly hated her.
Katherine didn't know why, and through time, didn't care. She turned her attention to the man, apologizing in a whisper for having to bump into him. Surely, both the man and woman were getting to know the girl to consider adoption.
It was strange, this girl was just a few days younger than her, perhaps weeks, she didn't really cared to know. She was, however, curious to know why they wanted that know it all. Usually, everyone who considered adopting, would rather adopt children no older than ten.
Katherine made a swift walk for her room. A long sigh left her lungs, finally back to her safe haven. Slow, tiring steps were taken, leading her towards her bed.
Another lightning crash was heard.
The sixth one so far.
Katherine loved lightning, or anything related to the electrical wonder of it. It lulled her, every crash of thunder brought her closer to sleep. By the time the seventh lightning crashed, she was already a thread away from the world of sleep.
Then.
A knock on her door brought her back to reality. A groan answered whoever was on the other side of the door, taken as permission to enter.
Another groan.
"Forgive me Katherine, but, there's actually a couple here that would like to meet you." One of the caretakers said, seeming excited.
For the first time, people were willing to spend time to get to know Katherine. She however, didn't seem enthusiastic about it as the caretaker was.
"I don't want to see them. As you can tell, I was about to go to sleep. I'm also months away for me to leave this place." She turned to the side, and sighed.
"They're wasting their time here." With that she closed her eyes again. Don't think, just forget, and sleep.
That didn't stop the couple, manly, deep chuckles mixed with feminine, delicate giggles. The laughs got closer to Katherine, making her tense up before tossing herself off her bed and on her feet.
An eighth lightning crash.
"Are you actually serious about adopting a seventeen year old?" Katherine growled, annoyed. The couple gave a nod, unfazed from her temper.
"We hadn't introduced ourselves have we? I'm Leon Scott, and this is my wife." Leon gestured to the woman, who nodded and waved at Katherine.
"My name is Elizabeth, and we're proud parents of a young girl. We want to adopt someone like you because..." Elizabeth stopped, gulping down a lump in her throat.
"Because?" The orphanage girl pressed before being answered with weak smiles sent her way. They were unsettling, but Katherine toned down her temper for their sake.
"We won't have our girl for so long, we want to have someone who can be with us. Someone who can keep us company." Elizabeth responded.
A ninth and final lightning crashed.
Rain raged, pouring down like a hurricane threatening to appear.
"I guess you're stuck with me before you can go home."
It was dark.
That is something she could tell about now.
Darkness, pain, fear.
All these things is what she felt, along with warm, yet hard arms wrapping around her aching body. Picking her up from where she lay and took her somewhere else.
A groan left her lips.
The memory of a man, woman and girl crossed her mind. All welcoming her to her new home.
A choked up cry followed.
Another memory, her new room. A young girl playing games with her, so sickly looking.
A cry of pain. Sadness.
How long has it been? That she had finally got what she wanted?
A family, a home. Taken away in just a few months.
A cry, louder in volume.
Katherine 'White' Scott. Orphan girl, adopted by Leon and Elizabeth Scott. Carried away. A strange woman in black, slowly laying the bloodied, burned eighteen year old on cool ground.
Away from the lava like substance, the source of the blast. Far from the man who soon will meet Katherine. A bald man, woken by a man in white.
Another cry. Another memory, that same young girl, her step sister.
A scream, followed by the panicked scream of Katherine White.
A young woman, changed by the blast.
That name again, shaped into a scream.
"Emily!"
End
Of
Chapter I