The country of Nehamack. A country divided into six main cities, each city connected by five highways, each one leading to a different city. Despite the natural beauty and general peace, it's a country with high tensions, a war between all cities a very real threat.
To keep communication between the cities, each city has Couriers. Like unsung heroes, Couriers carry important packages or documents between cities. Each city has an Express Courier, someone who does the job the quickest.
While science and technology are prevalent in the country, every so often, someone is born with supernatural abilities which defy the limits of science's understanding. Despite this, people with these abilities are treated as outcasts, never fully able to integrate into society due to prejudice and fear.
The city of Lehema, well known for its old-fashioned architecture and many flowers. Situated by the sea, it was also well known for its seafood and tranquil beaches. It was looking out over one of the harbours stood one particular citizen.
Tyson Askew, Express Courier for Lehema. Being one of few people born with the supernatural, his speed was well known, the only Courier who could leave Lehema and be at his destination within twenty four hours. His boyishly long brown hair was caught in the gentle breeze, as was his long blue jacket. He wore a darker blue shirt and black jeans, black converse adorning his feet.
"So peaceful," he sighed to himself. Whereas most people of fifteen would be in school, he would be found standing at the harbour, gazing over sapphire seas. Being the only person with powers in the whole city, it was easy to feel lonely.
His peaceful thoughts were broken as a small device on his shoulder bag went off. Pressing a button, he sighed again, turning and jogging to the city centre. He passed very few people, no-one paying him any attention. Most adults simply ignored him. It was people his age that were his problem.
"One of these days I'll prove them wrong. I know it," he mentally determined, smiling at the thought. Arriving at the Embassy, he rushed straight in, not needing to show ID. Easy enough if moving too fast for the naked eye.
He quickly found the office he was called to, opening the door and walking inside. He paid little attention to his surroundings, focusing only on his instructions.
"This package is to go to Necrolas. Leave it in the main sorting office on arrival," the woman behind a desk said monotonously.
"Just like every package to Necrolas," Tyson muttered, walking out the door and out of the Embassy. He walked slowly to the main gates, enjoying the warm breeze and clear blue sky. He always hated being in Necrolas. He'd heard the stories of how the odd courier would vanish after going there.
"Hey speed freak," shouted a mocking voice. Tyson looked to the gates, seeing the group of teens moving towards him.
"I'm a little busy, so I'd get your asses out of the way," Tyson taunted, stopping and crouching, ready to run.
"Why, what're you gonna do?" another boy mocked, still moving closer. Tyson simply rolled his eyes, his muscles tense.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," he sighed, going from crouch to sprint in less than a second, the gust of wind he made throwing the boys from their feet.
"Idiots. They never learn," he mentally chuckled, running down the Lem-Nec Highway. As the air rushed past him, his speed increased, strange energy running through his body, keeping him moving with no exhaustion anytime soon.
After running for about an hour, he heard the distinct noise of a hover-scooter behind him. Looking back, he saw the floating squares of metal with a handle sticking out. It was the people on the scooters that worried him.
Bandits were a constant problem on every highway. While they wouldn't be found too close to any city, they seemed to be moving closer. Couriers were their preferred targets, given the often valuable packages they delivered.
"Pull over freak! We might let ya live!" one of them, clearly the leader, yelled, hovering alongside Tyson while holding a crude melee weapon.
"Fat chance!" Tyson retorted, looking around as each bandit, around seven in total, surrounded him, trying to box him in. While this was a normally lethal tactic, Tyson always had one ace up his sleeve.
Concentrating, he felt energy build up around him, until it got to a point a light blue glow surrounded him. Grinning, both his feet left the ground as he thrust his hand downward, a dome of light blue energy exploding, knocking the bandits from their scooters while Tyson leapt into the trees on one side of the highway, vanishing into the forest.
"How many idiots do I have to deal with today? Too damn many," he mumbled to himself, looking back to the road as the bandits cursed and left, not bothering to pursue him. "Too easy. Still, their closer to Lehema than last time," he mumbled, about to return to the road when he heard something.
"Curiosity killed the cat," his mind told him, until he heard the noise again. "But then, I'm definitely not a cat," he shrugged, jumping down and heading towards the noise, keeping low in case it was more bandits.
Ducking behind a fallen tree, he peeked over, ducking back down as someone walked past. Looking back over, he found he was staring at a bandit camp. Almost right in front of him was a fire, bandits crowded round it while one of them cooked. Further away from him were their tents as well as a long pole.
Sitting at the pole was a girl around his age with lightly tanned skin and curly hair. Her attire was made up of a purple top, pale jeans and dark purple converse. Her arms were tied behind the pole, making it clear she was their prisoner.
"I'm so in over my head. If I leave that girl, who knows what those bandits plan to do with her. But how do I take on the whole camp?" he wondered, glancing around the whole camp. An idea formed in his head as he crouched down, face a picture of concentration.
"The path of the quick is that of the wind. The path of the patient is that of the stone. To combine those paths is to bring great strength of will, body and mind," he mentally chanted, his mantra replaying in his head as he ignored what went on behind him.
At first, things started to vibrate quicker and quicker, eventually flying towards the pot over the fire. Anything that wasn't tied down flew towards it, a bi-pedal shape forming, held together by threads of glowing cyan. The golem stood, swinging its mish-mashed arm around. Bandits were either too shocked to move while others tried to fight the thing.
"Perfect," Tyson muttered, breathing deeper and quicker as he ran to the girl. The girl, who was watching the golem, tried to struggle free from her bonds, stopping when he pulled out a knife and cut them.
"You alright?" he questioned, glancing between her and the golem as it started falling apart. Before she could answer, it fell apart, everyone now focused on them. In the blink of an eye, Tyson picked the girl up bridal style before disappearing through the trees.
After two hours of running, Tyson finally slowed to a stop, turning off the highway into a small clearing. Letting the girl down, he put down his bag and started making camp, while the girl stood there, trying to get her bearings.
"So, you okay?" Tyson asked, already halfway through erecting a tent. A small burner had been set out, as well as a small bag with food and water.
"I'm fine. Who are you?" the girl asked, sitting down.
"Well, I could lie and say I'm a devilishly handsome superhero or tell the truth and say I'm a courier," he responded, a smirk on his face at his joke.
"Is there a difference between couriers and heroes these days? I'm Shadia Wilkinson," she laughed, stretching out her arms.
"Tyson Askew, Express Courier for Lehema. Also speedster and telekinetic," he introduced. Yawning, he sat down, having erected the tent and laid out two sleeping bags.
"I noticed. I'm a flyer and meister myself," Shadia explained, lying back and staring up at the stars.
"Meister?" Tyson asked, his curiosity evident.
"It means I can use a special energy to form a particular kind of weapon. Observe," she sighed, raising her arms as cyan buzz-saw blades appeared on her arms. She fired them into the trees, unaffected by their loud screech as they spun, cutting off a few tree branches before they returned, disappearing upon hitting her arm.
"Whoa. That is cool. Where there any other people with abilities from your home?" Tyson asked, sitting up. It was only after a pause that Shadia answered.
"I came from a village called Lahi. It was a small village, not far from the Lem-Tamo highway. A few weeks ago, bandits attacked, wiping out the village and everyone in it. When they found I had powers, they figured they'd get cash from selling me in Necrolas for experimentation," she whispered, huddling her knees to her chest as cyan wings unfolded from her back, wrapping around her.
"I'm sorry. I know what it's like to lose someone to bandits. My parents were both couriers traveling to Tamola when they were attacked. Two days later, their bodies were found, stripped of anything valuable. I promised I'd avoid sharing that fate, so started learning how to use a sword. I don't have it with me, considering I'm still learning," Tyson sighed. He'd moved from his spot to sit closer to his winged companion, his arm a comforting presence around her shoulder.
"We should get some sleep if we're going to Necrolas in the morning," Shadia sighed after a few minutes. Tyson nodded, both of them getting up silently and getting into their sleeping bags, falling asleep quickly.
The sun was already high in the sky by the time the two of them arrived in Necrolas, a large, modern city without skyscrapers, a few warehouses among the tallest buildings.
"I always hated hearing about the stories of this city. Is it true that so many people have disappeared?" Shadia asked, keeping close to Tyson.
"I've heard every story about this place and seen too many Lehema couriers not make it back. I think that, if they're all true, then I'm just lucky to be gifted with speed," he muttered, walking cautiously through the street towards the Embassy. A brute of a man stood as guard, beady eyes surveying the whole street.
"Hold it. The girl waits out here," he ordered as the two teens got within earshot.
"No way. I didn't rescue her from bandits to have her disappear here," Tyson growled, already in battle stance. Taking the taunt, the guard charged forward, attempted a shoulder barge, when Tyson ducked, swinging his leg at the guards and sweeping them out from under him. As the guard fell, Tyson's hands glowed cyan before a soft boom echoed as he thrust his hands forward, knocking the guard flying into a wall and out cold.
"Come on, let's deliver this damn thing and get outta here," Tyson muttered, the two of them jogging through the doors of the Embassy. Taking a right, Tyson pushed open the door, slowing to a walk in front of the sorting office booth. Setting the package on the counter, he rang a bell and turned to leave, Shadia close behind as they left, passing the knocked out guard.
"I'll fly. Don't go too fast now," Shadia warned, opening her wings as they burst past the Necrolas gates.
"Don't worry, I won't. That is if you don't fly too far in front," Tyson chuckled, already breaking into a sprint as Shadia took to the skies, the two of them heading for Lehema.