Hello, and I know some of you are waiting for the next chapter, but I did managed to make the second chapter. It wasn't rushed. I already made the idea in my notepad, and it was doubled checked too in case if there were spelling errors (I hope). So, before going to the new chapter, let me reply back to the reviews. Enjoy reading.
In the roads of downtown, Royal Woods. A green family van in the nightly road of 6:30 PM. Inside, the passengers are rather Lincoln and his dad, Lynn Sr, who happens to be driving, who's known for wearing a green vest.
"I'm just glad that you're safe, son." Lynn Sr, the man of eleven said, feeling relieved. "Who knows what will happen to you if those muggers tried to take you." He glanced at the left window. "Even that vigilante. That's another thing."
"What do you mean?" Lincoln was confused at his dad's words about the last part.
"Come on, a vigilante saving someone's life? The same thing you said to the police?" Lynn Sr chuckled. "I mean, what's next? He's gonna beat them up a bunch of candy thieves for you until you become like him?" he laughed. "Classic."
"He didn't just save me from being mugged. He saved me from being killed." Lincoln stated. "He saved my life, how can you laugh at that. At least be thankful that he saved me from getting killed."
"I will once he decided to be like every hero in the world." Lynn Sr said, who still doesn't believe his son. "Lincoln, there was never a masked-hero-in-the-shadows that can do good." he stated. "They just take matter in their own hands, and the next thing, they actually killed someone. Besides, you were interviewed by a detective, right?" This made Lincoln stared at the window, after he remembered the interview with the detective.
Earlier….
The Royal Woods Police Department, or RWPD for short as everyone would like to call it, is known for investigating crime in a mixed balanced way. Unlike NYPD or LAPD which are both stressful to stop criminals, the RWPD was known for dealing the impossible ones, yet struggling to keep the city safe. Like dealing with armed robbers, as an example. Plus, some of them never took a sick day, or even lay off for a while for 24 hours.
Lincoln was in an interview room, despite the room being filled with other stuff, like a stack of paper on a seemingly crowded desk. Lincoln felt desperate that he wanted to go home, that was when the door opened, revealing a man in his mid-30s, wearing a RWPD jacket, along with some other attire for his position. "Sorry about the interview room thing, kid. But we really need to this so I can get this all sorted out."
"It's cool. I just really want to get home now. But is being interviewed about what happened necessary?" The white haired boy asked.
"Yes. Again, we're doing this, because you were part of the crime scene and you might give something to say." The detective said. "Sorry, I'm Quincy Morris. RWPD detective."
"Lincoln Loud." Lincoln greeted back.
"So, I heard that you were saved by a masked man, right?" he started. "Well kid, to be honest, I would wanna agree with them, too. Not because I'm on their side or anything. It's just that, a vigilante like that wasn't suppose to intervene in stuff like this."
"But – "
"But I know, kid. Believe me." Quincy cuts him off. "He saved you, yes. But the question is, did he tried to kill them? Not even make them look hurt badly, as if they can't walk? You know, being brutal with the crooks." He asked.
Lincoln looked back at the questions he asked him. Of course, he was knocked out a little, so he didn't really remember that much after what happened. "Well, uh… all I remember is that he brought a crossbow, and it transformed into a gun." He answered honestly. "I think they were rubber bullets."
"Well, let me put it this way for you, Lincoln." Quincy started, clasping his hands as he explains. "What you saw there, was a vigilante. I'm sure you're aware of them, right?" Lincoln nodded in response. "Well, to start off shortly, any act of vigilantism is against the law. Vigilantes are not really heroes, they're just hiding in the shadows doing their own law, in their own hands. That's all you need to hear." He finished. "Now I know it sounded like I'm against them. But… I really am. We're doing our job as the police, and we have heroes out there to help us, even if this city doesn't have one. Some other places are overrun with crime non-stop. But we never trust them. Not one bit." Quincy explained. "You understand?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I do." Lincoln replied
"Good, now that wraps up our meeting. The hotline managed to call your parents to pick you up. You can wait at the waiting area." He said as he starts to leave the room, and gestured Lincoln outside. "Stay away from trouble, kid."
WHITE RAPTOR
CHAPTER 2
THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
Three Days Later….
As school bell rang in the hallway, most of the students started scattering everywhere as usual. On the other side of the hallway, Lincoln, along with Daniel and Wendy, were at their lockers having a chat. Mostly, it was the two best friends that started having a chat. It was three days ever since Lincoln was saved by the vigilante that night.
"So, you almost got mugged by three muggers, and got saved by a guy in a mask?" Daniel summarized. "How did you take it?"
"Great, I guess." Lincoln said. "I mean, the guy saved my life right before I was about to get mugged to death. But I really didn't get the chance to ask who he is."
"Well, he is a vigilante, what do you expect?" Wendy asked, who was also listening to the entire story. "I was wondering though, how long was he a vigilante? I bet he really did some good around in this city of ours."
"The city was still overrun by crime ever since then." Daniel added. "Then there's the law and the justice system that already became corrupted with fake and corrupted info for the public."
"Hey, don't forget, Greenville. You're dad's running for mayor." Wendy pointed out, right before she closed her locker. "Aren't you a bit… you know, proud that your dad's running for mayor?"
Daniel looked away, and glared. "Yeah… a bit…" he replied. "I just hope what he knows what's he's doing." He hoped. He looked at Lincoln with a mocking smile. "Don't tell me you're gonna try find him and maybe ask him a autograph, or maybe join him. Like a sidekick or something." The rich friend of Lincoln laughed, especially him.
"Yeah, right. No way I'm gonna do that." Lincoln laughed. He knew in his mind, he was willing to find him some day, or eventually meet him in person. "That won't come true at all." his face drop after he saw someone. "Heads up guys, it's Vince."
"Hey, Greenville, still planning to join the tryouts?" the school jock, Vince, called Daniel by her last name. Along with his friends. "We're still saving the spot for you. So, you in or not?"
"Vince, for the last time, I'm not joining." Daniel said, with an annoyed tone. "I'm not interested for the football team."
"That's cool. Really, that's fine." Vince said, with his easy going smile. "I mean, you and McGee, are fine. It ain't my fault that you're hanging out with Dork Wonder over here." He mocked Lincoln, causing some laughs from his friends, along with a few in the hallway who overheard it.
Lincoln felt offended by this. He knows that he was called out for being a dork when hangs out with a cool and smart girl, and a son of a multimillionaire company. So, he tried to do something. "Hey, Fred." He called out.
Fred was Vince's first name, and he felt like it wasn't 'cool' for his taste. Now it was his turn to get offended by the name, as he starts to charge at him. "Got something to say, Loud? You know, it's rude when you call someone by their name if you're not close with them."
Daniel intervened and stop Vince. The white-haired boy was lucky enough to ever meet him since then. "Hey Vince, you better back off. Don't make me hurt you." He warned. "Some of just doesn't want any trouble, but they're looking at you."
Vince was this close to keep his composure from the school. He smiled cockily, and just walk back. "Okay, man. Whatever. I'm leaving, alright? I'm leaving." He decided to leave. "Come on." He muttered to his friends, and followed him elsewhere. Everyone got back to what they're doing.
Brief history. Ever since seventh grade started for Lincoln, he realizes that his old friends aren't gonna be at the same place together. That was until, he met Daniel Greenville, where they ended up as best friends after three weeks during the first day of school. Right before they ended up meeting Wendy McGee seven months ago.
"I don't why you did that, but I'm also glad that you didn't get sucker punched. What you did was almost stupid." Daniel said. "You really got tough soul, Linc. But maybe its not the best time for that." He stated.
"Yeah, that was really stupid of me." Lincoln agreed. At least he didn't felt arrogant about it. "It's like the son of a multimillionaire is now my bodyguard."
The Greenville son playfully punch the white-haired boy. "Don't get your hopes up, buddy. Who knows, we won't be there to see each other after our senior years." He stated, as if it was a joke.
"Yeah, that too." he agreed. "By the way, got any plans for attending a hero program?"
"Well, now that you mentioned it, I was gonna say nothing about it. But yeah, I am planning to. As long it can teach how to be a good sword user." Daniel explained. He glared again like earlier. "That is, if my old man can let me get into one." He groaned.
"Oh yeah, about your dad, though." Wendy spoke while holding her books. "I wonder how your dad's doing with his job and being a mayoral candidate." She asked.
"Huh, now that you mentioned it…" Daniel pondered. "I wonder how's he handling all of it?"
"Speaking of handling it." Lincoln spoke. "We have thirty minutes left to do our report about the evolution chain, the periodic table, and Stephen Hawking."
"Science could be a buzzkill." Daniel groaned. "A lot."
"If my sister were here, she would be easily offended." Lincoln warned. "Let's go." The two best friends dashed their way to the library.
Somewhere at a building where a mayoral speech is held, the business owner, mayoral candidate, and father Edward Greenville, is walking pass by many reporters from all types of media. Reporters, news reporters, journalists, all of the above. They're all trying to ask some questions for the future mayor of Royal Woods.
"Mr. Greenville, is it true that you're going to deal with the banks around Royal Woods to join and collide with other banks across Michigan?"
"Mr. Greenville, are you planning to help and improve the justice system once after you get elected?"
"Sir, what are you going to do to help the Royal Woods Police Department to aid them in finding the criminals from their recent investigations?"
"Are are rumors true about the Sentinel Corps developing advance weapons for the military to improve their fighting strategy?"
Okay, some of them are really hard questions for him to answer, but at least they're a few of them, unless he gives an answer.
The future Greenville mayor decided to keep walking while his bodyguards do their best to block the media, as we walked in his black Mercedes Benz, driving off from the crowd afterwards.
Edward felt like he was exhausted from the duties, and the mayoral speech. "Ah… that was unexpected as I thought about it yesterday." He cleared out his throat. "It was also tiring to start with." He took a sip from a glass of whiskey when theirs a small, liquor table beside. "So Rachel, was next in the agenda?"
"Well, you already did everything in your morning agenda, sir. And I must say, you really did well out there." Rachel complimented. "Although, I received a message from the head scientist of the science division team at the corporation wants to meet with you immediately."
Edward paused, remembering exactly what his assistant announced. "Dr. Peters?" he asked himself. "Terence, step on it." He demanded.
The driver nodded, and took a hard right, driving to the direction of company of Sentinel Corps owner. As they reached at the company's front entrance and exit the car, he noticed with his own eyes a man, five or seven years younger, in a suit, and a smirk on his face.
"What is he doing here?" Edward muttered with an annoyed tone under his voice. He walked towards at were he stands. "Excuse me, sir. I think you're in the wrong place. None unless, you have a meeting with me, which I hopefully don't have."
The man in front of him now scoffed. "Very funny, Edward. And, the man I wanted to see. I was actually waiting for you."
The Sentinel Corps owner began to be annoyed, but it wasn't noticeable. "What do you want, Lionel?"
"Oh, you know, I just wanna have a chat, that's all. Candidate to candidate." He replied. "Well?"
"Inside. Now." Edward faced his assistant. "Rachel, tell Dr. Peters that I'll met him once I'm done." His assistant nodded in response, and walked along with Lionel.
Lionel Reese is a business man, like Edward. Lionel's business was also knew to be a successful one, where he runs an engineering company called BioSpace, which was known for making cures and medicines for the local hospitals to the world. And to add, they are also working on prosthetics for the military and for anyone with missing limbs, born and lost. Except there was a catch, that they're advance for doing it. And, it also known to have a business rivalry with the Sentinel Corps, and Edward himself.
"So, running for mayor huh?" Lionel smugly said. He and Edward are inside in his private office, where they are seated on the most, fine cushions and drinking fine aged wine. "Didn't knew you were into politics. What's the purpose?"
"I wanted to elect myself as mayor of Royal Woods. I want to keep this city safe." Edward simply answered. "You're not even running for mayor as well. Are you, Lionel?"
"Well, I always wanted to, but I decided to drop that dream and focus on my dad's legacy." He answered back. "Creating the best, advanced aircrafts for the future of tomorrow." The Sentinel Corps owner rolled his eyes, and took a sip from his wine. "Although, are you sure you really wanted to be mayor for the city's welfare, or is it just one of your ways of 'rising up to the top', thing." He quoted.
"I'm not running for mayor just to get into the top as Michigan's Top Billionaires." He corrected. "This is different. I'm doing this city a favor. I'm helping help Royal Woods to be protected from the corrupted law we are surfacing now. I don't even believe that a hero is going to save this city, because we live in a world, were 30% of the population is filled with heroes."
"Okay, I understand from what you just said right now." Lionel understood from the entire conversation. "But I have a question. What will happen if you didn't win for mayor?"
"Heh. That's very funny of you, Lionel." Edward chuckled a little, but it was free going one. "There's no possibility that people will never vote anyone else aside from me." He stated. "I mean, have you seen the mayoral candidates? The articles in newspapers? I write my own speeches."
"Yeah, but again, there's always the ones that are better than you." Lionel pointed. "And believe me or not, there really is someone better than you."
Edward smiled, to calm himself and to not look scared about his words. "What the hell you mean, Lionel?" he put down his whiskey. "I think you're starting to get drunk there. Why don't you lay off the whiskey and – "
"Really, I'm serious." Lionel said in a firmer tone. He takes his phone out, and showed Edward an article. "Look here. That's Teddy Dawson. He's the son of that branch owner in New York City. He's running his father's company, which is somewhere in Redwood Valley."
"Okay? So, what? I remember Dawson, he even tried once." Edward's tone was somehow in denial. "What made him the hell come back?"
"Well, to put it, he's doing a better campaign than you." He stated. "Take a look."
Edward grabbed the phone away from Lionel's hand, and started to search through the article. He had a pale look, but was focused while reading some of the important details. But to explain it, notably, the other candidate was stated that he will promise to send in some military equipment from the government itself to support the police force.
"Those are his promises." Lionel said. "He even served the military before getting married. He knows this better than you. And he's getting a lot of supporters."
"This can't be real." Edward was in full denial. "This has to be a joke."
"Well, now that you mentioned it. There are a lot people who thinks that business man, which us you, can't possibly run as mayor for the city. They think you're a crook." Lionel explained. "My advice. Do better."
"I gotta go. I have a meeting in the office in thirty minutes, and I can't be late." Lionel said. "Thanks for the chat, and the drinks." He left afterwards.
Focusing back to Edward, he never knew that there was someone more capable than him. He thought every city in Royal Woods are counting on him. He thought that people will be on his side. He thought that he would succeed to fulfill his promises unlike the rest. He taught wrong.
A knock was heard at the door. "Sir, it's Dr. Peters." Rachel reminded. "He was wondering if you're seeing him or not. He said he can reschedule for another time if you like."
"No, tell him I'm on his way." The Sentinel Corps owner said. "I just... need to relax first."
As his assistant went off, the Greenville multimillionaire walked towards the glass, and stared at the view. He would fear that the city will be out of the mayoral campaign. He worked hard just to find out that he was almost this close to loose. As his rival said earlier; Do better.
Back at Royal Woods Middle School, both Lincoln and Daniel left the library. Both of them looked bored and exhausted at the same time. Thirty minutes of being in the library wasn't really a joke. Science was a buzzkill.
"Looks like you were right about the 'science being a buzzkill' stuff earlier." Lincoln said, in a tired tone.
"Well, he did fair share on who's going this and who's going to that." Daniel gestured his hands. "But I guess you really did your part."
"Yep. Really did the effort in doing it." Lincoln replied.
"Of course, you do, bud. You really did some effort, alright." Daniel complimented. "So, to be good friend, I'm handing our report instead, while you go get yourself clean ready for next class."
"Sure. As long as you don't say you're the one who did it all." The white-haired boy joked.
"Are you kidding me?" His rich friend was sarcastically offended. "I'm always honest. That's how we became best friends three months ago." He chuckled. "Get yourself fix, Loud. I got this." He instructed last time before heading off.
"Yeah. Thanks for the second say, Junior." Lincoln joked back. As he turned around so he can freshen up his face in the bathroom, he suddenly tripped and accidentally pushed someone, right after a splash was heard.
Some students were laughing at both Lincoln and the pushed person. He got up from his feet, only to realized who he pushed was no other than the local jock Fredrick Vince Carson.
"Uh… Vince! Hey man, listen…" Lincoln chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry. I really didn't see you there. I… uh… I was just…"
"Shut it, Loud!" Vince cuts him off. "Not only you're getting a beatdown for pushing me. But you're so dead right now. You made me smell like iced coffee!"
"Look, I said I was sorry, alright!" Lincoln reasoned. "I really didn – "
"Didn't mean it?" Vince finished it for him, "Well, I think it's because of what I said earlier, huh? No one makes a fool out of Vince Carson!" he warned. "Especially you, Dork Wonder." He spat.
Lincoln pushed him at his best, and started to run away. The jock started to give chase as well. "Get back here, Loud! Face me like a man, you pussy!" he yelled.
As the white-haired boy tried to run away as possible, he made a lot of jumps and dodges. Luckily, he didn't trip, or got himself blocked by someone by out of curiosity. He may suck at cardio, and possibly running now. But he did what can do and try to avoid the school jock from tearing him apart, or just beating him senseless.
Lincoln was somehow bumped by a mop bucket, and fell straight to the floor, loosing his pace for running. As he tried to run away again, he was already caught by Vince. "Gotcha!" he said.
"Look, Vince. Please, I really didn't mean it. Okay, I'm sorry!" Lincoln cried.
"It's too late, Loud." He growled. "Now… you're gonna get it." He prepared his fist to be charged on him, only to not let it happen. Vince struggled his right arm to move, but as much as he tried, he can't. As if someone was holding it a lot tighter than it ever could.
"I think you had enough fun there, kid." A man spoke. He spun him around, and faced Vince with his own eyes, which started to glare daggers at the jock. "Why don't you run off and go somewhere else instead, before I call the principal." He warned. "You don't have a choice left."
Vince decided to listen to him, and walked off in embarrassment and in anger when he didn't get the chance. Plus, he really doesn't want to go head straight to the principal's office.
The man, in his late-20s, is wearing a black jacket with a shirt underneath, brown pants, and Nike shoes. "You alright there, young man? I hope you didn't injure yourself."
"Oh yeah, I am, thanks." Lincoln groaned from the fall, but he still can get up from his feet. "Thanks for saving me there, uh…"
"Jim Hudson. I'm the new substitute teacher here." The man introduced himself. "Uh… Well, this might sound off to early, but since no one except us is here, I think I should really tell you something."
"What is it, sir? You need help with directions?" He asked. Since he is a substitute teacher, he asked instead if he needed that.
"No, I wasn't even gonna asked that." Jim replied. "I know you won't believe me, but do you remember back that you were saved by a vigilante from out of nowhere? He asked.
"Yeah." Lincoln answered. "Why are you asking?"
"Well, rather you believe it or not, that was me."
And that's chapter 2. What another cliffhanger, huh? So I'm already working on Chapter 3 and maybe 4, but again, updates will be slower since I can't rush my writing. If you really want to know what happens next, then might as well be patient. Again, please leave a review, it'll boost my confidence in writing, and constructive criticism is allowed. See you on the next chapter.