Brightburn

If I was scared, as a man, I couldn't show it. Even more so when I embody the model role of heroism. Wanting to live to see another's smile is something that makes me smile. Seeing the genuine feelings behind the expression warms my heart.

Alexander Grand can not feel any other happiness.

Altruism is his everything.

I am scared seeing the fallen expressions of those in grief. Everything in this body of mines, is made of fire, singed from hope.

I can't smile unless I help someone.

My feelings are numb and the righteousness in justice is complicated. No one will understand me if they live in a black and white word.

Alexander Grand has become a flame.

7:30 AM

"You're up early aintcha'?" Called the overtly muscled father; Jonathan Grand, as he flipped a pancake up into the air. The response he got was a grunt like moan from the one in question, his boy; Alexander Grand. The man turned his neck and glanced with gold eyes over his left shoulder to get a small glance of his offspring. Those eyes softened and a smirk came upon his bearded face. "Still down in the dumps about that test huh?"

"Yeah, I could have done better." The scraping noise rounded out as Alexander sat in his chair.

"You know, you say that every time you get like… a ninety-eight outta hundred. 'Surprised it's still on your mind." Jonathan mused as he slid a free hand over to the right side counter top, large tan fingers easily taking hold of the drawer knob and he slid it open.

"Hmm. Yeah I suppose so." The young man's hand reached up to grasp his unruly head of black hair. Nails scraping up against the black hair and his scalp easily. "Just… I'm not sure I should be getting less then the hundred."

"Bah!" Jonathan turned to face his son, spatula raised and pointed at the hollow gold eyed child. "'Less than the hundred!?' Boy! Why can't you be like a normal fourteen year old!? Gaping' at girl's, worrying about gettin' a date, and worrying about hanging' with friends? You know them hooligans you beat up on a by daily bases?"

"The pancakes are burning…" he pointed out. Alexander's right index finger lazily pointing at black smoke that came in wasps.

"Oh-!" Jonathan slammed the iron skillet down, somehow causing the smoke to halt. "Just get ready to eat!"

Same day

6:45 PM

I breathed in deeply, only exhaling after six seconds, then I closed my book. Never once did I take joy in learning, really pushing myself to sit in class ready, to study, to learn, and understand. I'd get antsy, not often enough to be a problem however. At least to my own perspective.

I noticed people staring at me, watching me with keen eyes.

Creepy eyes but that was years ago, and I had tightened up the metaphoric leash on myself.

Though I eventually learned a term for that.

It was willpower.

And hope.

Slipping the book into my single sling backpack, and pushing my chair back to get up, I turned my gaze to the window. Seeing the setting sun and reflecting on my day of school that was rather uneventful. Ah, the orange horizon was beautiful. Something about seeing the end of the day transition into night was comforting, and the opposite as well.

"I should head out before the school locks it's doors." I commented out loud, my eyes closing and throwing the sling over my head so it could rest on my shoulder.

Opening and stepping through the door of my last class, which led into the third floor hallways was surreal. No one was there. Probably a few teachers remained and janitors to clean the floors, but that might've been it for personnel.

"Enough observing, get to stepping Alex." I told myself and I wordlessly did so. Eventually my shoes echoed out as each step rang.

Hmm.

Something smelled…

My heart exhilarated from the wiff I got. Ugh, whatever it was that caused it it was bad.

I made it to the second floor and my nose twitched. Ugh, I could practically taste it. The disgusting smell just sent a chill down my nape and I had to cover my nose with my hand.

My brow twitched and I closed my eyes, my heart in my chest began to beat faster and adrenaline flared through my entire body. My legs felt lighter and my arms felt tingly. The common feelings I'd get when I'd get into fights with the thugs and bullies.

Fight or flight responses.

I stopped.

Ugh… the smell was putrid. And I was only on the second floor.

"Need to tell someone. Hopefully they can clean whatever it is up," I said cringing. Can't say I- "!?" My eyes snapped over to the farthest direction down the hall. Where the sudden knowledge of…

Negativity…?

This is too weird. It got too weird too fast.

Go home. Go home. Go home.

Whatever that was, well, I don't need to stick around. Get home.

Go home.

Go home…

I couldn't help but clench my jaw tightly.

"Go home… please." Oh, her voice was back.

Squinting my eyes closed I knew for the best that it was time to go. But…

Go tell the teacher. There was one here so they knew what to do. Nothing was wrong. There was one close by. On this floor. Down the…

"Crap." Down that way. The way where the feeling came from.

Forget it. I took one step forward and before I knew it, I saw a flicker and glint. And I reacted.

My body moved on its own like usual, knees bending arms shifting, and my head flew back to evade the glint edge of a knife. Yes, a knife, one that almost slit my own throat, only off by a few inches. The glint of a silver blade held by a pale skinned hand caught my attention. The arm was outstretched and didn't move forward like the motion to thrust, but to slice. My throat at that.

My eyes trailed the pale hand, and I saw electric blue eyes gazing at me in befuddled shock. She, because her feminine features stood out by a large margin, had lunged to take me out, kill me.

I breathed in and her lips moved pursing, while her brow furrowed into an intense scowl.

One back step to gain a foothold on my balance and she stepped forward, faster than I could prepare. But not assume.

I took another step back, her bladed weapon barely getting closer to my chest, and she turned and arched her other hand which also had a knife in it. Gritting my teeth and sliding into her lunge and reaching out with both hands. In a second my fingers took hold of her forearm and at that moment, I felt my eyes go wide, and the veins around them bulge.

My other hand made contact with cloth and I heard a pained gasp. My fist had made contact with her gut. Turning said fist and grasping her tucked dark shirt into a balled grasp, I turned my shoulder into her core and pulled her grasped knife hand over my shoulder.

And I threw her over my shoulder by lowering my body enough to get her breasts to go over my nape. She was airborne now, and with this in motion, I felt her body slam into the ground and a pained shout exit her mouth. A scream of pain and her blue eyes flicked closed and open.

Not letting go of the free arm, which was still in my hand, I planted one foot under her other armpit and positioned the other foot on next to her right shoulder. From here, I fell onto my back, pulled back on her arm, and hooked my feet around her wrist.

Yes… dad had me take Martial Arts. This was a requirement.

"First things first," I grunted, feeling the odd person with knives in hands struggle to get free. "S-sto-stop moving or else!"

"Let me go!" Really? No. I pulled and jerked the wrist and elbow in the opposite ways of each other and pulled back on the whole arm. A sickening pop could be heard and I could practically see her eyes bulge, only to now focus on her screaming writhing form.

I couldn't at this moment feel bad for her. What kind of person attacked another out of the blue like that? I bit my lip and held the arm that I dislocated at the shoulder. "Stop. Moving." She started kicking her legs up. Her hills crashed back down and it caused me to glance in that direction.

What the…?

I saw a spark of electricity flare from her black boots-

Oh sh-

Suddenly I was hit with pain. Enough pain to force me to stiffen up not out of desire to do so, but because I couldn't take the sudden shock of it.

I went slack and all I saw was an angered face. My heart beat came in and out as the girl I took down to the ground and hovered over me glaring with absolute hate at me. Her once untucked shirt flickered showing me her stomach and an odd black wound that had spots of purple on it.

It pulsed and pulsed. Weird. What could have done that?

Not having enough time to think about her, I got one glimpse of her raising a knife in her hand. She was about to stab me and…

An object flew past her, forcing her to dodge it and cradle the arm I dislocated. Several more and she ran off.

I gasped for air trying to say something. Anything. Only for a familiar face to come into view. Blonde hair, grey eyes. Those concern filled eyes didn't look right on that face of hers…

She leaned down and I guess she was shook.

"S-sorry Ms. Chase. Looks... like I got into a fight again…" I barely could say. I could hear her say anything, the sound of numb static was all.

Slowly I felt my eyes closing… and I saw flame.

End