Chp. 5: Having Aura
Civil Police of the State of São Paulo
At the São Paulo Civil Police Station, Watson sat behind a table inside an interrogation room as a police officer stood in the corner of the room. Watson tapped his fingers on the table as his eyes looked around in unease. The door opens and a second police detective with a folder walks in and steps up in front of the table across from Watson.
"Alexander Watson. Right?" the detective asked.
"Y-yes, sir," Watson answered.
The detective pulls something out of the folder and sets it on the table in front of Watson. It was a picture of Augusto.
"Augusto Silva. Is this the guy that shot you?" the detective asked.
"Yes," Watson answered.
"Now one of our fellow officers saw you get shot in the chest at point blank range. Yet you not only survived, but you appear to have no physical damage. And you weren't even wearing a bulletproof vest. Even firing off a blank up close could be fatal. So the question is; how did you survive?" the detective asked.
Watson was silent for a moment, not sure how to answer the question. He did want to sound crazy in front of the detective by answering that he has an aura that can act as a shield to protect him from harm. Then he finally gave the detective an answer.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" the detective asked.
"Yes," Watson lied.
The detective sighed, then picked up the picture from the table and put it in his folder.
"Alright. Right now, your friend and your father are out waiting for you. Just be careful out there. We're already on the hunt for Silva," the detective said before turning his head to the officer in the corner of the room. "Escort him out, please."
Watson got up from his chair as he followed the officer out the door. The detective sighed and pulled out an iPhone. The screen showed dashcam footage of Augusto shooting Watson in the chest. He fast forwards the video for a moment then stops as the video now shows Watson's arms flashing blue for a moment.
"I better make a phone call," the detective said to himself.
Meanwhile out in the lobby, Lucas and Mr. Watson sat out in the lobby, waiting for Watson to come out. A moment later, a door opened and out came the police officer with Watson following behind him.
"Alexander!" Mr. Watson said as he and Lucas got up from their chairs and walked up towards Watson.
Mr. Watson embraced his son in a hug.
"You alright, man?" Lucas asked.
"I'm fine," Watson said. as his father released him from his hug.
"You be careful now," the officer said as he then walked away.
"Come on," Mr. Watson said.
The Watsons and Lucas began to walk to the front door. The three made their exit out of the building and as they did a young teen in a hoodie watched them exit outside the building for a moment before quickly walking away.
Unknown Location
Later at night in an abandoned building covered in graffiti, a small group of teens were spray sitting around a garbage barrel with a lit fire in it. Augusto was one of the teens in the group.
"What now, Augusto? The cops are out looking for us after taking out your competition for Yara," one of the boys asked.
"We'll have to lay low for a while. My old man has some tricks in order to make sure we don't get caught," Augusto explained.
Just then, the hooded teen ran from out of the corner and approached Augusto. He leaned in and whispered into Augusto's ear. He widened his eyes in shock and anger.
"What do you mean he's still alive?!" Augusto shouted.
"It's just what I said. I saw him walk out of the police station completely fine," the hoodied teen explained.
"How? Augusto shot Watson square in the chest at point blank range and he didn't look like he was wearing a vest. There was no way he could have survived!" another boy said.
"Or at the very least walking around as if nothing happened," a third boy answered.
"What do we to now?" the hooded teen asked, facing Augusto.
Augusto was silent for a few moments, thinking of what to do next. He then finally speaks.
"For now, we stay hidden. And like I said, my old man can help us," he said.
Watson Residence
Meanwhile at the Watson household, The Watsons and Lucas all entered inside the living room. So as soon as they were all inside, Mr. Watson turned his head to face Lucas.
"Lucas, could you leave the room for a minute, please?" Mr. Watson asked. " I want to talk with him for a moment."
Without saying a word, Lucas nodded his head at Mr. Watson and walked straight into Watson's room. As soon as the two Watsons were alone, the father turned his head at his son.
"Alexander, what's been happening? Why did that boy try to kill you?" he asked.
"I was always the target of bullying during school and even when I go out it sometimes continues," Watson answered.
"Yeah. Your mother has told me that several times when she was around, but it never got to the point of attempted murder!" Mr. Watson said. "So, why were you nearly killed today?"
Watson was hesitant for a moment, but eventually spoke.
"There is this girl that I like," he answered.
"Oh?" his father asked, looking curious.
"Augusto, the guy that tried to kill me, and I both like her. And he didn't like the fact that I was talking to her. Even though she doesn't like him," Watson explained.
"So this Augusto kid tried to kill you because he got jealous of you for talking to a girl you both happened to like?" Mr. Watson asked.
"Yes," Watson said.
Mr. Watson was silent for a moment, processing all this information before giving out a sigh.
"If only your mother were here right now. She'd be beyond furious at the boy's petty jealousy, but at the same time she would not stop asking about the girl you have your eye on," Mr. Watson said.
"Yeah, she would," Watson said with a small smile.
"Alexander, if you plan to go out there again and plan to speak to that girl, I asked you to be very careful. I don't want to lose another person I love," his father warned.
"I will," Watson replied.
"Lucas is outside. You can go talk with him now. He's probably waiting for you," Mr. Watson said.
"Yeah, you're right," Watson said.
He then walked straight to the backyard to where Lucas was waiting. He opened the back door to the backyard to see his friend sitting on a lawn chair who had been waiting for Watson.
"So how'd it go?" Lucas asked.
"He was worried and told me to be a lot more careful the next time I decide to go out again," Watson explained.
"So what happened out there exactly? Lucas asked. "I mean about Augusto nearly killing you and your... aura being unlocked."
"Augusto and his gang caught up to me, and he pulled out a gun and shot me in the chest right in front of me. They ran away when the cops arrived. I got up upon realizing I was fine, somehow," Watson explained.
"And what made you think you have aura?" Lucas asked as he stood up from the chair.
"As I was calling you, I saw my arm glow in a similar fashion that aura has. I just don't know how that's possible," Watson answered.
"How do we make sure that you actually do have aura?" Lucas asked.
"I don't know. Maybe if I was in the process of getting hurt or maybe if I was..." as Watson trailed off, Lucas picked up a rock from the ground and threw it at Watson's forehead.
"AHHH! Shit! What the fuck?!" Watson exclaimed in pain, placing his hand on his forehead.
Watson removed his hand from his forehead and as he did, Lucas looked at his friend's forehead and found no mark or bruise.
"I threw that rock hard enough to leave a bruise. And I see no bruise, dude," Lucas said.
"You could have given me a heads up you know," Watson said, looking irritated.
"Well, I'm not completely convinced yet," Lucas said as he reached into his pocket.
"Lucas, what are you doing?" Watson asked nervously.
Lucas pulled out his pocket knife and approached Watson.
"Show me your arm," he said.
Watson reluctantly and nervously held out his arm as Lucas grabbed his arm. Lucas took the pocket knife and with a quick motion, dragged the small blade against Watson's arm in an attempt to cut him and to his shock, there was no cut left behind as well as a brief flash of Watson's aura from his arm.
"Holy shit!" Lucas gasped.
"I know. Right? But how is this possible?" Watson asked.
"Perhaps it had something to do with Remnant showing up on Earth," Lucas suggested.
"Maybe," Watson replied.
"Dude, you know with a little training and some experience you could be one of those Huntsmen. Or at the very least a superhero," Lucas said.
"I know," Watson said.
"Hey, I've got an idea. Maybe we can train you up a little. Maybe up the exercises and practice on your parkour," Lucas said.
"What does that have to do with me having aura?" Watson asked.
"Dude, maybe you can use it to fight," Lucas answered.
"But isn't parkour used for athleticism, efficiency and moving past obstacles?" Watson asked.
"Well, yeah. But maybe you can find a way to use it to fight. I mean you can train in both parkour and some martial art," Lucas replied.
Watson took a moment to think about Lucas' idea. Soon after, he spoke to Lucas.
"Let's give it a shot."
"Good. Meet up with me tomorrow morning at Ibirapuera Park," Lucas said as he turned around and walked to the back door. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Lucas," Watson said as he watched his friend walk through the back door.
