Heroic Potential
Prologue
Heavy weights lifted as he drearily opened his eyes. Nothing could be seen and his senses were jumbled; the sounds echoed around his ears but none of them were clear. His body felt as if it had been trampled, and he felt a sharp pain ripping through both of his arms. Something tugged down onto his arm, when he looked he saw some kind of contraption attached. Then he noticed he was holding something – a couple of cards in his left hand. He starred at them, unable to decipher the blurs beyond their green borders.
Noticing he was on his knees, he weakly rose to his feet as he examined the cards, slowly remembering where he was and why he was here. After stumbling a bit, he brought his left arm up to his chest, bringing the contraption with it. In a small slot there was a thin deck placed directly over his wrist. Lightly touching the top card, he took a deep breath to prevent himself from shaking. This would be his last draw. He yanked the card out and flames consumed him.
Smoke shot out from the wood as the embers smoldered. Shadows covered the room, with only the light from a small antique lamp fending them off. A man sat alone in his longue chair reading a book carefully. He crossed his legs and repositioned himself in his longue chair as he turned the page. After skimming through another paragraph, he burst into obnoxious laughter.
"Oh Funny Bunny," the man chuckled, moving his long pale-blue hair away from the pages, "you never disappoint me." He closed the book, placing it on the nightstand next to him and watched the ashes fall from the charcoal. He enjoyed nights like this – a quiet evening in his den beside the fireplace. Staring up at the ceiling, he smiled to himself cherishing the stories he had just read.
A blaring ring snapped him out of his peaceful mood. His attention shot across the room at his desk. The phone was ringing. He jumped up adjusting his bathrobe has he stomped towards it.
When he arrived at his destination, he grasped the phone, shoving it into his right ear. "What is it! You know I don't like to be bothered on my night off!" He turned back towards the fireplace listening to the mumbles on the other line, "Speak up! I can't understand a word you're saying."
He sat on top of his desk, moving the sign which read 'Maximillion Pegasus – President of Industrial Illusions' out of his way. The person on the phone was rambling pointlessly and Pegasus was losing his patience.
"I'm hanging up!" A shout could be heard followed by several pleas in quick succession. Pegasus stroked his hair as the person began to speak faster. Suddenly he thrust the phone away from his ear, immediately bringing it back to his mouth.
"What? What do you mean someone's hacked our databases?" The voice on the other side scrambled again speaking even quicker. "I don't care what you have to do! Find the culprit and have them arrested! Anyone who messes with my company is going to face my wrath!"
He slammed the phone onto its base, causing the sign to fall onto the patterned rug. Pegasus circled the desk, facing the window behind it. He rested his hands on the windowsill trembling from rage. "No one messes with my company…"