Ultraviolet

Chapter 3

Overture

The scream was followed by deadly silence. Violet prayed silently that nothing would happen to her mother. She moved towards her mother's room, turning invisible in the process. Yeah, like her floating blouse would scare whoever was inside.

With the initial panic subsiding, Violet's logic kicked in. This assailant, whoever he was, could not be a two-bit burglar; surely her mother could handle that. No, this person must have powers too. The door to their parent's room was ajar. She reached out for it, giving it a slight push. The door creaked as it opened.

The first thing Violet saw was her mother; tied up in her own elongated arms and legs. Violet gasped, and knelt down beside the wild tangle of limbs, working to undo them. Her mother's cardigan had its sleeve ripped off, and there were deep gouges carved in her arms.

"Mom, what happened?" Violet said as she untied her mother's arms from her mouth, which served as a gag.

"We were attacked… but I don't know who… He's got superpowers, Violet… I was overpowered. He tied me up… Dash and Jack-Jack… I sent them to Lucius's." She gasped for breath as she spoke.

"Where did he go?" Violet questioned, heart racing. This assailant could be anywhere. The mystery behind his powers made them even more vulnerable. They don't know what they're up against.

"He's… Look out! Behind you!" Helen's fist shot around Violet's body and connected with the assailant. Violet rolled away, turning to face the door where their attacker had come from. In the back of her mind, she wondered why she didn't hear a fully-grown man running at top speed. She scrambled to her feet and took a good look at their assailant.

Facing them was a stocky man, shrouded in a cloak that covered his face. In a low growl, he said, "You're their daughter. Powers of invisibility and force fields... Your invisibility makes no difference here; your scent marks you well."

Helen got up to her feet. "What do you want?" she demanded.

"To capture your whole family. Alive."

"What? Why?"

"Money, of course. This client paid good money to see you back at his headquarters. Though I'd rather kill you, he insists that you were brought back… unspoilt."

So this guy's some kind of mercenary? Violet thought. He's gonna deal with our whole family alone?

"Who sent you?"

"You'll find out… when I capture you!" He sprung forward, catching Helen off-guard. His hand was about to strike Helen's arms when Violet cast a force field around her. The man bounced off the barrier, landing on all fours away from Violet and her mother. Letting loose a roar, he charged again. He made to attack Violet, and she responded with yet another force field. He's not going to get us, not while I'm using my force fields, Violet thought.

The answer came almost instantly. He used the force field around Violet as a springboard to pounce on Helen. With a bestial swipe, he knocked out Helen.

"Mom!"

"Don't scream, girl, because it's your turn next!"

He charged for the third time. Violet, without any time to think, dove to the left. The sharp nails dug into the spring mattress behind her, sending down feathers everywhere, leaving her attacker entangled in the metal springs of the bed. The grunts indicated that he was still struggling with the metal frame of the bed.

Violet surveyed the situation, a skill her father taught her, in case of such an occasion. Her attacker was busy freeing himself. She could try for the door, but it's no use. Their house was only this small, and she wasn't sure if she could outrun him outside. She thought of a plan, far riskier, but at least it could slow him down. Turning invisible, she crawled beside the glass panel window in their parent's room, searching for a piece of clothing with her hands. Her fingers came upon one of her blouses, freshly cleaned from the laundry. This can work, she thought to herself, scrambling to her feet.

Standing behind the curtain with the blouse held out in front of it like a bullfighter, she was sure that it looked exactly like her. Hopefully, he won't notice that her lower half were missing.

The sounds of metal thrown carelessly on the ground warned Violet that the assailant was free. He sniffed the air for a second, seemingly pondering about something. He turned his head towards her direction, with a menacing look on his face.

"Smart girl. You're invisible… but you're still IN MY SIGHT!"

He hit the blouse a second after Violet retracted her hands. Headfirst through the glass, it shattered. Shards of glass littered the grass; some were embedded in his blood-soaked cloak. He lay, motionless, in the grass.

Violet's first reaction was that he was dead. She stepped cautiously outside, through the now-broken glass window. Bending down, she turned the body over and took a glance at his facial features. Shaggy, grey hair that was cropped short, thick eyebrows that cast a dark shadow over his bright yellow eyes. Her fingers inched forward, shaking with every movement, towards the man's nose. Her fingers maintained for a few seconds, before she drew them back in an instant.

He was still breathing; Violet had not committed murder. The thought made her feel better, but it also meant that she had to deal with him in case he awoke. She turned back towards the house to get some rope, but the roaring of an engine drew her attention.

It was their family car, driven by her father. It tore down the road and Violet felt a wave of hope. Momentarily forgetting her task, she stumbled over the unconscious man's body as she ran onto the road. She stood in the path of the car, waving her arms and shouting, "Dad! Stop the car!"

The vehicle screeched as the brakes were applied. Skidding towards Violet, it came to a halt in front of her. Her father literally burst out of the car. His shirt was creased, it wasn't tucked in properly and his collar wasn't straight.

"Dad! We've been…"

"…Attacked. Yes, I know. His name is Bloodhound. He's a Super-hunting mercenary. He has senses like a dog, especially his ability to sniff out a target, given a blood sample, from a distance of more than a mile."

"So who hired him? And how did you know all this anyway?"

Her father stared at the ground, scratching his head and obviously avoiding the question. "That's not important. Where is he now?"

Violet explained their predicament briefly. "He's lying on the lawn, knocked out."

"Good." As he said that, he ripped out his shirt, revealing his Super-suit under it, picked up the car with one hand and laid it on the driveway. Violet winced, but subtlety didn't matter now. "We'll go check out Bloodhound."

Violet's view was blocked out by her father's large frame as they made their way to the lawn. "You see him, Dad?"

"He's gone!" Her father punched the air in frustration. Violet ducked under his massive arm to have a look herself. Sure enough, the only signs that an injured man ever lay there was the blood stains on the grass, and the glass shards marking his outline. "Get back into the house, and stay invisible."

After making enough room for Mr Incredible to enter, the duo stalked in silence towards the living room. Violet stayed crouched beside the television and her father stood in the centre of the room, arms out and ready for action. They tried to listen out for any movement; though it was most likely drowned out by their loud breathing. For a few seconds they waited…

The thin wall to the living room from across the room burst open as the villain, with his fists clenched, dove through the hole. He rolled to his feet, landing between Violet and her father.

"Ah, Mr Incredible. At last we meet. I'd love a good fight to the end, and you'd better stay out of this, Violet, or I'll take you out like I did to your mother."

"Bloodhound… Who sent you?" Mr Incredible's voice was quaking with fury.

"My client's information are private, Bob Parr, and you'd be glad it is, or the whole country will know about you and your little family of heroes." He spat at the last word. "Your secrets will be safe. I never get caught anyway. Now, for our fight." The villain squared off with the hero, as they circled around each other. Violet watched as they locked eyes, each with their purpose to fight. In a flash, the first blow was landed and the fight ensued.

Trivia: Reading on later, you'll find out about Mr Incredible and Mirage's affair… In this chapter, Mr Incredible knew about Bloodhound from Mirage, and rushed back immediately. (Notice the untidiness in his attire mentioned in that part)

Overture, referring to prelude, was chosen as chapter title as Bloodhound was just a prelude to the other villains. His purpose was really to appease the 'new villain' part I included in the summary.