I know without a doubt I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. I don't regret most ironically. I did what I needed to do at the time to survive. To let us both survive.

But if I could go back and do that day over again…I would.

We weaved through the dark back streets making our way to the convenience store. I gripped her hand tightly not wanting her to get left behind. I couldn't help but notice the distinct grime that coated her hands and soft face, not to mention the slight coating of grease on her white hair. Her bright and youthful blue eyes were the only thing that kept me going. I smiled slightly as we jumped from one dark alley to the next.

The common folk don't often look down the dark alleys. They are comfortable in their little lives, only paying attention to the things that matter to them. Their jobs. Their homes. Their families. Anything outside of that bubble is just noise.

So when it comes to the undesirables, the forgotten, the homeless…and orphaned…they look away not wanting to acknowledge the imperfection that corrupts their perfect world.

To be honest, I never resented them. If I was them, I wouldn't look down dark alleys either. Why acknowledge a tragic fate if you don't have to? After all, our fate wasn't their responsibility. You make your own luck. Well…that's what my dad used to say anyway.

As we ran through the city streets, our worn-out shoes rhythmically clacking against the pavement, and the slight rotten smell of trash mixed with sewage filled my nose, I couldn't help but remember that awful, terrible, horrific day.

My ears were ringing, and my skin burned from a thousand glass cuts and road burn.

In the distance there were explosions and people screaming.

A villain attack.

I crawled my way over to the crushed yellow sedan that lay on its left side. The entire front of the car was smashed inwards. The pain in my body almost completely drowned out the incessant beating of my chest.

There was a slight groaning as I reached the car, and a visible amount of tension left my shoulders as I looked over to see Clayra was moving.

My head moved to the left as there was a visceral coughing.

"Dad! Dad!"

He moved his head slightly, looking to me.

"Connor…" His words were weak, and I almost burst into tears right there as he spoke my name.

He started coughing again, and this time I saw the distinct sign of blood blush his lips.

"Connor…you need…" He gasped with pain as he tried to move his lower body. I looked over and saw that his feet and legs were gruesomely pinned down under the crushed hood.

"Stop! Don't talk! I'm gonna get help!" My words came out frantic and desperate. "WE NEED HELP! SOMEBODY! WE NEED A HERO!" my sight grew blurry and tunneled.

I felt a brush on my arm, and I looked down to see him weakly gripping me to get my attention. It was the same grip he had done so many times. He was never one to yell at us. He would just hold our hand or pat our heads. A slight reassuring reminder that he was there. To listen or help.

"Co..nnor…" His face twisted into a slight smile. It was pained, but no less bright than it had ever been. "I…need you… to protect her…protect…each other."

I looked back to Clayra. She was breathing, I could see that.

"…Dad…" My voice broke as I couldn't stop the tears from coming anymore.

Please. Somebody help us.

"…I'm sorry… son…" His smile widened as he attempted to hide that one silent tear. "I'm sorry…to leave you… with such a big responsibility…" He turned his head as his body wracked with coughs.

"…No…Dad…" The sobs wouldn't stop coming. I could barely see him now.

"…I'll tell…your mother…how proud I am… of you…" The words were weaker now, and his eyes slowly shut. "Of… both…of…you…"

"NO! DAD! NOOOO!"

I shook my head to try to rid myself of the memory of that scream. Those tears. That pain. None of that mattered now. I would honor his request, and I would protect her.

We rounded the corner, and I halted us before we exited the alley. Out in the sunlight, across the road I saw the convenience store, its bright metal exterior and signs glinting against the summer heat.

I turned around to face her, gripping her small lean shoulders firmly to make sure she understood my sincerity.

"Okay, Clay." I stared deeply into her blue eyes. We both had the same bright electric blue, just like our dad. But he always said that we got our white sharp hair from our mother's side, not that either of us would really know. She had died giving birth to Clay. I had a few vague memories of her, but as far as I could really remember it was always just Dad, Clay and myself.

"You know the drill right?" I leaned in closer to her waiting for her acknowledgment.

She nodded. "Yes." The youthfulness of her voice almost made it come out like a squeak. "Stay here until you get back. If anything happens go to the police."

I nodded, finally releasing my hold on her. As I turned to leave, I felt her grip my sleeve.

"Wait! I can help! I'm not little anymore I won't get in the way, I promise!" Her small hands kept a tight grip on me, preventing me from leaving.

I bent down slightly to address her face to face. "I know, Clay…" I put my other hand on her head patting her slightly. "But… this is dangerous okay? And I need you to be safe."

She looked down pouting slightly.

"How about…when I get back you can help me cook up the food!"

Her head shot up in excitement.

"Promise?"

I smiled at her, taking my hand off her head and holding out my pinky to her.

"Promise."

She released my sleeve and instantly wrapped her pinky around mine.

Straightening up, I furrowed my expression and looked once again at the glint of the convenience store.

"Stay here." I reminded her one last time as I set out across the busy street.

As usual, I got tons of nasty looks from passerbys. I'm sure my grungy appearance had everything to do with it. Occasionally I would see one concerned or confused person, but they were few and far between, and they usually didn't act on it.

I pulled the door open to the store and cautiously stepped inside. I started to look for what I needed.

The shelves were stacked with convenient foods and toiletries. Just your basic every day needs. I kept one eye trained to the cashier who also eyed me.

I straightened my back and puffed out my chest. You belong here.

Confidently, and very noticeably, I took basic items off the stacked shelves. Crackers, Towelettes, Nuts and protein bars. Eyeing my haul I figured this should hold us for about a week at least.

Leaving the last isle, I stopped to eye a bright yellow bag. Pineapple Candy. My mouth watered slightly, and I knew that Clay would love the treat.

Would it really be wrong? It wasn't a necessity but…

Before I let my second thoughts drive me insane I grabbed the yellow bag and added it to the stack.

The cashier was still eyeing me.

I kept walking the isles waiting for him to look away.

He wouldn't do it.

"Hey kid…" He called me over to the counter. "You gonna buy those or what?"

"Oh… yea" I chuckled to play it off. "Sorry I was just walking to see if anything else struck me."

The clerk eyed me suspiciously. It was a weak argument, I knew that. He wasn't dumb. He would've seen me walk the isles at least three times now.

There was a slight ding at the entrance of the store indicating the entry of another customer. Neither of us looked his way.

"How about I hold all that stuff up here for you while you wait for uh… inspiration?" The clerk stood up, clearly looking down on me. He was trying to intimidate me.

"Nah I think I'm good thanks though!" I tried to provide a small wave but my hands were full with the merchandise.

I walked back towards the fridge area with the cold drinks, pretending to look at the frozen coffees, when really I could see the clerks reflection in the glass.

Damn! I swear he didn't even blink!

"Kid, you're gonna have to either leave or buy something."

My heart started racing. It was even more dangerous now with this second pair of eyes in the room.

I would have to use it. I didn't have any other option.

I steadied my breathing. I closed my eyes and imagined the world was slower. Imagined that for a moment, I was the only thing moving. I felt a surge of energy rush through my body. This was it.

My face widened into a smile as I opened my eyes to find the world was crawling. It wasn't frozen, but it was like everyone was stuck in molasses.

Unsure of how long I could hold it, exhaustion already setting in, I bolted out of the store and across the street back to Clayra.

It wasn't a moment too soon either as I felt the world return right as I reached the cover of the dark alley. Suddenly I felt exhaustion set in and I collapsed barely able to stand.

"Connor!" Clay came up to me as the world resumed, a deep concern running over her.

I made it back to my knees. I had to be strong for her.

"I'm okay!" The words came out through gritted teeth.

She pursed her lips, obviously aware that I wasn't telling the whole truth.

Dad always told me to be careful when using my quirk, that I needed to practice control and endurance. But I'm sure he didn't really know either. It was mom's quirk afterall. He tried to guide me as best he could from stories she had told him, but when it came down to it, I would just have to figure this out for myself.

"Hey!" I diverted her attention from my burnout. "Look what I got!" I pulled out the bright yellow bag, flashing it directly in front of her.

Her face lit up with happiness as she reached out for the candy. That smile made it all worth it.

We gathered up the rest of the items that had sprawled from my collapse and made our way back through the dark alleys. It wasn't long before the police showed up, of course there wouldn't be anything they could do. We were safe for now.

But if I had been paying attention. Spent less focus on the cashier, or my exhaustion, then I would've noticed the thing that would change our lives forever. I would've notice him and his sick sadistic smile, staring at us from across the street in the convenience store. As a predator eyes its prey.