Snapshots from Elsewhere
Chapter 2
Nightmares
The mysterious man known as Mr. Bennet, aka Horn-Rimmed Glasses, has classified Carter Daniels as a potential Armageddon Class Super. This designation carries a kill-on-sight command for all agents.HRG fears that Carter could become the next Sylar. What has caused Bennet to think this, and make him fear the young man so much?
Empty.
That was what the city was.
Empty.
A cold wind blew, tossing papers and other rubbish around him. Bennet looked about him, taking in the eerily silent buildings and vacant streets. The hairs on his arms stood up on end as he moved about.
'What happened here?' He thought to himself, peeking into an abandoned grocery store. The area was untouched, no items spilled or carts left unattended. Everything was neat and organized. 'Why does that scare me more then if things had been in disarray?'
Pulling away from the store, Bennet continued through the city, looking about as his thoughts rattled on.
'Where is everyone?' He thought, a chill running down his spine. 'Their all gone…everyone. Like Children of the Corn or something.'
Turning a corner, Bennet found himself now in a totally different section of the city, a residential section. Apartments surrounded him, garbage cans sitting out by the curb, laundry hanging above him on clotheslines. Adjusting his tie, Bennet continued his walk, trying to find someone…anyone…
"No, no…he's coming, he's coming…"
Bennet turned, peering through the darkness of one of the alleys. He could just barely make out the shape of a man curled up beside a dumpster, mumbling softly. Making his way into the darkness, Bennet kneeled down.
"It's ok…it will be ok."
"He's gonna get me…gonna get me…"
"No one is…"
"He'll come…take you too!" The man looked up with panic-filled eyes. "They took everyone…everyone…don't let them take you."
"Who took them?" Bennet asked. "Tell me what happened."
The man looked around, shaking hard. He continued to mutter to himself, saying nothing but gibberish. Bennet sighed, standing up and moving to go. But before he could take a step, the man's hand latched onto his ankle.
"A gun…do you have a gun?" Bennet frowned, reaching down to touch his handgun. But he was startled to find it gone, suddenly in the hands of the man. "Don't let them get you." And with that, he placed the revolver in his mouth.
"WAIT!"
BANG!
Bennet stared in dread, the body falling down with a sickening thump. He took a few steps back in surprise…
…and bumping into another person.
"Looks like someone had a problem with anxiety." The newcomer said.
"Carter…" Bennet said, turning around. The college student was dressed in dark clothing: blue jeans, a black t-shirt with a red P on it, and topped off with a black leather duster. Other then that, the young man appeared the same.
Except for the wicked smile that graced his lips.
"Hello Mr. Bennet." The young man said. "Go by the name Panic now, but you can call me Carter if you want."
Bennet looked at him, slowly inching back towards the dead man, towards his gun. "Carter, what did you do?"
The young man known now as Panic chuckled to himself. "Oh, I just took over a city, using my powers to get exactly what I want without regard for the safety of anyone else." He paused. "Too on the nose?"
"Why?" Bennet asked, shaking his head.
Carter-now-Panic laughed. "Because I could, Bennet. Why else? Why do you do what you do? The thrill of power." He leaned in, lips curled up in crude smile. "Do you have any idea what it is like…to say a single word and bring millions trembling in fear, at your feet in sheer terror? Ooooooh, nothing like it." His eyes twinkled. "Of course, once I got bored with that, I let my partner in crime take care of the leftovers."
"Partner?" Bennet asked.
"Of course…the one that is behind you removing the gun you are trying to get." Panic nodded. "Turn around Bennet."
Mr. Bennet slowly turned, taking in a short gasp of air as he came face to face with the figure in the baseball cap and hoodie jacket.
"Sylar."
The figure's head lifted up. "Not quite Daddy."
"Claire?"
Claire smirked, pointing the gun right at her father. "What, no Claire-Bear?"
"Claire…how…how could you…"
"Kill people?" Claire asked, circling her father and moving towards Carter/Panic. Her older brother wrapped his arms around her waist, chin resting on her shoulder as she continued to point the gun at her adopted brother. "Carter opened my eyes. You remember Carter…the brother you tried to hide from me?" She grinned. "Didn't do him much good, did it bro?"
"Not at all little sister." Panic said with a laugh.
Bennet's eyes narrowed. "You did this…you forced her…"
"He showed me to truth!" Claire shouted. "He accepts me…he accepts what I can do! You wanted me to hide, to be normal! I'm not normal, and I will never be normal. This is who I am, and you can't stop me from being me. Carter showed me that."
"That I did." Panic said. "But now, I think daddy/daughter day is coming to a close." He shrugged, stepping away from Claire as she leveled the gun at Bennet's chest. "Just think Bennet, you will be remembered as the man that raised the first Mistress of Earth. Quite an honor."
"Claire…don't…"
Claire looked at her father, tears in her eyes. "Why didn't you stop him?" She whispered, before her face transformed into a more wicked form. "This is all your fault!" She laughed, pulling the trigger.
&&&
"CLAIRE!"
Bennet panted, his side of the bed covered in sweat. Trying to get his bearings, he could hear his wife's gentle snoring. Getting out of bed, he walked out of the room and over to Claire's bedroom, watching his little girl sleep…so peaceful…
"I won't let him hurt you." Bennet whispered. "I won't let that happen."
