Powerful
Chapter 1: Tomorrow Never Knows
"So play the game 'existence' to the end, of the beginning, of the beginning".
"What about this one, Eli?" Adam excitedly shouts. Eli turns around sleepily and looks at the comic that Adam is waving around.
"That's a rip off, dude. The story sucks and the quality is poor." Adam, deflated, puts it back on the shelve and begins rummaging around haphazardly, putting his hands on anything he can get. Eli, however, takes a more civilized approach and carefully picks up one, only to set it down after looking it over. That's right everyone, we are at the comic book store or boy heaven. Today's a stormy Saturday, naturally the Saturday that Eli and Adam have designated as Comic Book Saturday. Naturally the Saturday that my parents are with the divorce lawyers in the city for the weekend and Ali is visiting family, meaning I have to tag along on their boyfest. Maybe not my first choice, but it is entertaining to watch them debate which superhero they would want to be.
I'm here in the corner of the store with all of the t-shirts and wacky paraphernalia. I'm talking coffee mugs, pajama bottoms, license plates, key chains, magnets and bumper stickers. The wide variety of mementos and knick knacks makes me smile and I can't help but look around.
"Are those your brothers?" I hear. I turn around and find that the girl at the counter, maybe in her early twenties, is talking to me. She has dark hair with orangey red streaks, a ring in her nose, and tatoos running down her arms.
"No, just my friends." I say.
"Ah, I used to be like you too. Unwillingly shoved into the realm of genetic mutations and unlikely heroes. My boyfriend turned fiancée first took me to this store. He owns it now." She stuck out her hand, "I'm Sylvia. Superhero expert, amateur artist, journalist."
I take her hand, "I'm Clare and I know absolutely nothing about any of this. No offense, but I'm not really into the whole fighting crime and costume thing."
"Well, you might surprise yourself. I didn't believe in this sort of thing, but after last year things...changed." Just then, Eli and Adam come up to the counter to pay. Eli holds two slightly worn comics and Adam has a stack. "That all, Adam?" I ask sarcastically. He roles his eyes.
Sylvia takes the comics and checks them out. They both pay, "Have a nice day." She says to them. "Ready?" Eli asks. I nod. We begin to walk out of the store. "Clare!" I hear from behind me, "I know we just met and all, but if you need to talk about anything, you can find me here. I hope I'll see you back here." Sylvia says. I nod and walk out the door. Eli and Adam are waiting at the curb.
"It's not as good as Goon though! Look at the picture quality!" Adam exclaims.
"The story is ten times better than-" Eli stops once he realizes I'm there. I give him a look.
"Yes, we do compare comic books in our spare time." He says with a smirk.
"I can see that." I reply. They're such dorks, but I have to love them. "Wanna go to the Dot? It's getting cold and I need a hot chocolate." I say.
"Sounds good to me." Adam says. Eli nods. We start to walk down the road. Eli's car, our only ride, is in the shop (the third time this month) so we're forced to huff it. The streets are deserted. Boom. Thunder cracks above us. "Looks like a storm." I say.
"Ah, yes, thunderstorms." Eli sighs happily.
"Don't tell me, you like thunderstorms." I say sarcastically.
"Yes, Miss. Edwards, I happen to love thunderstorms. It's like nature's soundtrack." Boom. Another big bang.
"Yikes, it's close!" I say. The wind is beginning to pick up and I can already feel big drops of rain coming down. After a few seconds it's pouring. I shriek. Adam covers his head with his hoodie and stashes his precious comics under his jacket. Eli, however, looks up to the sky. His hair is sopping wet, but he looks happy, like a young child. A streak of lightning lights up the sky followed by a close bang. Eli looks over at me. "What's wrong, Edwards?" He asks, coming over.
"Nothing, its just close." I say as I try to put a smile on.
"Here," he takes my hand, "let's go find cover." He looks around. There are no doorways, no place for cover along this stretch. "Adam, let's go!" Adam looks at Eli and follows him. I'm being dragged along. Eli turns into a park. I'm about to tell him to turn around because this is probably the most dangerous place to be, with the metal playground and the tall trees looming above us, but I don't have the chance. There's a bright flash and a monstrous boom. All I remember is falling.