Brave New World
Prologue
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or stories associated with the Heroes universe. I just think they're awesome and I write stuff about them. Hope you enjoy. More installments to come.
A middle-aged man with a touch of gray in his brown head of hair waits in a dark alley. He fidgets nervously while looking for a mysterious friend to show. He taps his thighs relentlessly and listens to the dripping of the leaky water line coming from the building behind him. Occasionally a pedestrian or two passes, but no one gives him a second look.
A dark hooded figure comes down the alley and stops in front of him. His ruffled black hair shines in the moonlight and he looks with scrutiny on his supposed friend.
"When the new world dawned—?" the black-haired man says.
"Heroes and monsters united," the other man finishes.
The black-haired man smiles.
"It's good to see you again, Peter."
"Same to you, Gabriel."
"Is she safe?" Gabriel asks.
"Yes," Peter responds. "As safe as she ever is."
Gabriel detects a sense of worry in Peter's tone.
"Is something wrong?"
"Not with Claire," Peter responds. "Something is happening to me."
Peter pulls back his right sleeve and brings his right thumb and forefinger close to each other. A bolt of blue electricity connects his two fingers. Gabriel's eyes grow wide.
"Who was the last person you touched?"
"It's not from that," Peter says. "I'm still healing. This is different. I haven't been able to do this since I was around Elle."
A pang of nausea jabs Gabriel in the gut as he remembers her.
"Peter, she's dead."
"I know."
"What does this mean?" Gabriel asks.
"I don't know; but there's something else."
"What?"
Peter pauses before he says anything else.
"Gabriel . . . I think I'm dying."