"Homecoming dance, this year." Gregory shouted, seemingly appearing out from nowhere. He was out of breath, but for some reason he seemed refreshed and exhilarated. Kathryn looked on longingly at him.
"What?" Kathryn asked, knowing she looked like a mess from all the crying.
"Think about it. I was too scared to ask you. We had just started going out." He said quickly.
"What's going on?"
"Just, think about it. Like how we traveled to the Ed Sullivan Show. Think about it; concentrate as hard as you can. Think about the gym that everyone danced in. But, think about later that night, after everyone left." He said, walking to her and holding her hand. She stood up, doing like he said, out of blind faith. Gregory closed his eyes, hoping that his ability would actually work properly. Focusing on one of their many memories, he also tried to think about where he had just come from. He opened his eyes, and they were at the gym. It was completely empty, but it looked like the dance was still going on.
"Open your eyes." Gregory requested. Kathryn did so. Balloons were everywhere, and the background music sounded familiar. It was one of the slow-ballads they had heard Elvis sing. They were at their high school.
"How did you--" She began.
"Trust me, it wasn't easy. I wasn't exactly completely focused. At first, I traveled to Tokyo. And then I traveled to Paris. And then Peru. But then, I got it right, after a little more concentration."
"You traveled to all of those places?" Kathryn said in amazement.
"Yeah. I guess it's a miracle I didn't end up stranded there. I really suck at this. But, then I thought my hardest and made it here. I spent a long time fixing this place up. But it was worth it. Just you and me."
"It's perfect."
"From now on, it's going to be complete honesty. Things are going to be different. We're going to be stronger than ever, I promise. We'll have a stronger relationship than me and Barbara." Gregory said, chuckling to himself, missing Barbara a little bit.
"Why-- did you do all of this, though?"
"Because you deserve it. I don't know what we're going through; I don't know why out of the blue we discovered these abilities. All of this means something. I feel like we're meant to do amazing things. You've been through so much, and I wanted you to feel at peace. Just you and me, like old times."
"I shouldn't have shifted all my problems on you. I just felt like I was going to explode."
"Shh, don't worry about it. I'm happy to help. I'm always going to be here to protect you."
"Why are we going through all of this?" Kathryn asked, moving with him to the dance floor. She put her hands on his neck, as they drifted into a slow-dance.
"I wish I could lie and say it's just growing pains." Gregory said, running a hand through her hair. She looked up longingly at him, knowing that it was true. Things had changed, but they were certainly not normal, and they were having more than growing pains. They both looked into each others eyes just like they were accustomed to. She felt safe. Time seemed to stand still. It was.
-----
Alexis sat down, handing him a bag of popcorn. It was a ritual at her apartment. One day each week, she would buy a bunch of junk food and pig out while watching something that she loved. This week, it was something that she figured Jason would dread. And it was.
"I hate this movie!" Jason said in agony.
"Have you ever seen it?"
"No." He said after considering it.
"Then shut up." Alexis said, throwing some popcorn at him. Jason, taking offense, took some sweet-tarts and hurled them at her.
"Wait, can I ask you something?" Jason said in retreat. He had been neglecting his questions for far too long.
"What?"
"We need to talk about some things."
"If this is about the birds and the bees, I'm not going there mister."
"It's about your ability. And stuff."
"You have some things to explain too. Buster." She said, half-joking and half-serious.
"Why didn't you use your ability when I hurled the thing at the television? You could have stopped it."
"Why haven't you told me exactly why my boss assigned you to me?" She replied.
"You're embarrassed of your ability aren't you? That's why you only use your ability when no one is watching. That's why you hate your heists."
"No." Alexis struggled to say.
"That's why you never have used it in front of me."
"Look, you don't get it. I don't like flaunting my ability. It's too dangerous. How do you know so much about me?"
"Okay.you want to know what's going on. That night, I came and made sure you would have an easy job. I just stole something, and bam, there you go, a get-out easy pass. I'm just here to make your job easier. Just your new partner."
"You'd tell me if you were lying, right?" Alexis asked her beauty showing that always intimidated him.
"Yes." Jason answered, barely audible. It had taken him seconds to answer, but he had to fight off the urge to tell her everything.
"I believe you. Now, where were we? Starting your favorite movie." She declared. Jason looked over at her, feeling guilty about all the secrets he had.
"I hate that movie."
"Are--you really like me?" She said, starting to shake a little bit.
"There are people out there with extraordinary abilities." He said, turning himself invisible and then returning to his original state. Alexis looked down, then looked back at him, knowing he was telling the truth. She had no more burning questions tonight. She reached over, finally starting Grease. And she finally started to officially pig out on food.
---
Nick sprinted down the neighborhood, using all of his quickness to find the one person who he wanted to talk to. Running down the sidewalk, he sprinted up to the doorbell on the door. Ringing it, his face was in a range of emotions. He had a power. Jennifer was the one person he could talk to about this.
Sitting in Jennifer's room, Joshua tried to act like being invited in a girls room was an occurrence that happened often. There were pictures on the wall, pictures that showed Jennifer and what he suspected was her mom. The pink theme of the room didn't surprise him, and he was most of all looking to see what Jennifer had planned. Fumbling through her belongings, she located what she wanted. An Etch-A-Sketch. The red frame was containing a big blank gray screen. She handed it to him.
"Let's see what you got." She challenged. Joshua looked down, trying to trigger his power. It wasn't working. After trying to several moments, he thrusted his hands down in frustration. Focusing one more time, he told his body to relax. In his posture now, he focused on his power. He could draw others like him. Soon, he seemed to lose sight of most of his vision. The only thing he could see was the drawing in front of him. Jennifer looked on.
His eyes were completely white, the iris missing. Now, his strokes were quicker. Faster. Better. There were two drawings laid out in front of him on the screen. Within several minutes, he had constructed both. They were very detailed. Pulling his head back, he looked at both drawings. Finally, he could examine them. Jennifer moved over by him in awe to look to see what he'd drawn. One drawing showed someone in all black walking out of a room, taking confident steps out. The other one was far clearer. It showed Retroman. In his stomach, there was a gun-shot wound. Retroman was going to be shot.
-----
"The darkest hours we face are all different. We all have different fears, different desires, and different wishes. With the knowledge we gain, we hope to be able to withstand anything that happens in our lives. Can we overcome it?
Chris and Natalie boarded the plane. Taking their seats, they both looked at each other. It wasn't awkward. It was two people that were searching for something bigger than either of them. They were heading to Florida, under the direction of someone he didn't even know. One thing he did know: they were chasing more people with powers, people that needed his help.
"Expect mostly cloudy skies in Florida. A major storm system is moving in." The airplane attendant announced.
"Something tells me the weather is about to change." Natalie said, gazing over at Chris.
"Everything has to change." Chris answered. He shut the book he had been reading. Mohinder's book that he had given him. That had been an exact quote Mohinder had said. Chris was heading back to America. But, things would be different. He had her.
-----
Can we overcome any obstacle in front of us?
"That was actually really good. I wish I could meet someone in the 1950's." Jason said while the credits rolled.
"You make it sound like you don't have that many friends." Alexis replied with concern.
"Something like that. Right now there's only you." He said with the highest sincerity he had ever said to her. Alexis looked back, her beauty radiating. She looked back with more emotion than she had showed anyone in the longest time. Behind them, loud noises erupted suddenly. Footsteps began loudly. There was not just one person, there were two. Before either could react, they had guns pointed at them. There were two guns pointed at the back of their heads.
"We have questions. You have answers." One of them said, pointing the gun at the pretty thief. He seemed to have an accent like he was Irish and not from around here. The intruder took one hand in his pocket, taking out the scribbled note. This was who he was looking for: Alexis Jade. Jason and Alexis shared looks. They were both trying to figure out how to save the other. They were both trying to figure out how to be a hero.
-----
Will you find someone to experience it with?
Kathryn looked around anxiously. Time had stood still. Gregory was frozen, as was everything else in the room. She looked to see where the music had been. Over in the corner, there was the object responsible. Barbara. His record player. How was she able to stop time? It was stunning though. Kathryn walked around, admiring every detail. It looked just like a homecoming dance should, even better. He had obviously put in a lot of work into this. More than a lot. She wanted to thank him for it. Using her brain, she tried to tell it to unstop time. Eventually, it worked. Kathryn walked over, while Gregory tried to figure out where she had gone.
"I'm still here." Kathryn said.
"How did you--"
"I'm not sure."
"I have to tell you the biggest reason I brought you here."
Gregory looked her in the eye, his determination not flickering. He was going to tell her about the future, about what he had to do, what they had to do. They had to save the world.
-----
What if you don't have anyone? What if you're alone and there is nothing but darkness around you?
Gary was still near Gregory's house. Taking one last glance from afar, he knew that his friendship was over with Gregory. But, he didn't mind. He could focus on finding himself. He could focus on getting every single thing that he deserved.
"I'm going to have power." Gary said to himself, releasing the same haunting tone he had used earlier. His envious, jealous, bitter eyes were full of darkness.
-----
Will you let the darkness envelop you?
(UNKNOWN)
A man walked down a hallway. He was dressed in all black. Taking confident steps, he looked completely confident and in control. He entered in the room. He stood there, waiting for the answer for the question he wasn't going to ask.
"Her name is Stephanie Hill. She resides in New York City. Has the ability to fly." The woman said grimly. She handed him a clipboard. After examining it for a few moments, he threw it down to the ground.
The woman was bound to what resembled a dentist chair. But, the room was almost pitch black. Darkness. Reaching for something in the desk, the man pulled out exactly what he was looking for. A needle-- with what he needed, the formula. He looked down at the helpless victim.
"Please, I have kids at home! Two daughters and a son!" She screamed.
"Hush." He said, pausing before he said anything. "I don't care." With this, he practically stabbed her with the needle. She yelled out, but he didn't seem to mind. Injecting the formula into her, the woman's eyes closed in seconds.
"Keep trying." The man instructed his colleague. The colleague who had brought in the latest evolved human. He took one last look at the victim. What a shame, he thought. With one last look, he shined his eyes. Eyes that were envious, jealous, and bitter. Moving away, he burst back out the door. With what seemed to be a smile, he turned and walked away; walking down the hallway in full confidence. He was reveling in what he had. Power.
TO BE CONTINUED...
On the next chapter of Heroes: New Beginnings, the answers are finally here. While some have been answered, others have been left lingering. They will be answered. Gregory finally will tell his best friend the truth of the apocalyptic future. Meanwhile, Joshua tries to change the future--for the first time--of something he has drawn. And, the answers will finally be answered: how did Chris meet the mystery man? Who has Ryan aligned himself with? Who does Jason answer to? How did Kathryn first discover her ability? Who does Alexis work for? These questions will be revealed. The farmboy is the future.
