CYBORG (VICTOR STONE)
-HOPE-
I look up from my computer in boredom and glance out the window. It's dark out. The stars were showing clearly in the night sky. It was breathtaking, for sure. I seemed transfixed by the light show millions of light years away. After what seemed like an eternity, I faced my screen again, seeing it had gone black from not being used. I grimaced as I see my reflection on the screen.
I'm just a freak.
Staring back at me is my half-human, half robotic face. One of my eyes is normal: almond-shaped, grey, and human. The other one shines bright red. A constant reminder of what I am. What I have become. No thanks to my mother and father.
I blinked into consciousness, but I noticed something wrong right away. I felt like a million pounds, but I could still move. Half my vision was red. Indicators and numbers filled my field of vision as I looked up at my parents. Their faces showed that of worry, but they became happy at the sight of me awake. I placed a hand on the side of my head. The last thing I remember was the accident...
I was horrified when I glanced down. I was no longer a human, but a robot. A cyborg. I was shocked and I panicked.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!" I held out my metallic hands. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't be! This was all just some crazy, messed-up dream! It had to be!
Dad held his hands out. "Son, relax. We had to do this to save your life."
I shook my head, "No, no, no! This isn't happening. This can't-"
"Victor!" Mom placed her white-gloved hand on my shoulder. I could feel it on there, but I could no longer feel her warmth. "Everything will be okay. Your father and I will help you."
"Your prosthesis had given you enhanced powers," Dad said. What the-? Did he sound... Happy... by all this? Man, that's sick.
"Is that just a special way of calling me a FREAK?!" I sat up and looked straight at him. I forced myself not to form fists. Although I was angry, I didn't want to scare my parents like this.
They were shocked by my outburst, but they weren't afraid.
"Everything will be alright, son," Dad promised. "Don't worry."
I couldn't help but shake my head, "No, it's not going to be alright."
"Victor-" Mom persisted.
"No one's going to accept me! What about my football team?! My track team?! My friends?!"
An awkward silence followed. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks when I remembered. My friends were in the car with me. I was driving.
"Mom?" I asked slowly. "What happened to them?"
Mom and Dad were both silent for a while, but finally, Mom spoke, "It was a tragic accident... Only you survived."
I shook my head from the sudden flashback. I felt guilty for running away after what they did to me. They were the only people that cared about me after the accident. No one else accepted me. My other friends, teachers, and coaches were all terrified of me. I could see the fear in their eyes. It made me feel like a monster. An abomination. I was a monster. It was my fault my friends died in that accident. I had to leave school. I tried to use my new-found strength to help others, but they were scared of me. Mothers pushed their children out of the way. They didn't want them near someone like me.
A bright green light distracted me from my thoughts. I looked out my window. A green streak of light zoomed through the sky like a shooting star. I've never seen anything like it. For some reason, I felt drawn to it, like it would give me hope. I headed outside without a second thought.
Maybe this could be my chance to change everything.