Please enjoy the next instalment.
"You did what!?" Cried Kathleen at her cousin over the table at lunch.
William had recounted the events at the end of PE to her and she was horrified at what he had done. There was a little pride at standing up to the bully, Knuckles. She couldn't believe that William had it in him, well maybe not before this whole superhero business anyway.
"Mum is going to be when you get home. What did Mrs Reilly say you'll have to do after school?"
"She didn't say anything at all, I just have to go to her office. It's probably something like writing a letter of apology, at least I hope it's nothing more than that."
They sat talking more as they ate their lunch, before the bell went and each departed once more for the final lesson of the day. Kathleen had Food Tech and William was in English Literature. For the rest of the of the time, William sat wondering and worrying about what was going to happen at the end of the day when he returned to the head's office.
Time seemed to move quite slowly, but the bell rang out sooner than he thought it would, making him jump out of his thoughts and back into reality. He realise that he'd not actually paid any attention to what the lesson was about and left the room completely clueless to what he should have learnt.
Walking purposefully slowly, William wended his way through the crowds of students heading home and found his way back to Mrs Reilly's office. He thought about Kathleen catching the bus home and thought about how he'd have to travel alone back to the house after this detention.
"Ah, William, there you are," Mrs Reilly's voice said behind him. "I am glad you came back like I had asked. Come on in."
The headteacher moved in front of William and unlocked the door to her office, pushing it open and inviting him in.
"Take a seat there," she said pointing at the same seat he'd occupied earlier in the day. Mrs Reilly headed round to her side of the desk and sat down in her own swivel chair. There was a moment of silence between them.
"Now, as I said earlier William, I don't think you are the sort of student to cause me problems and today's events are a blip in the system. I trust you are going to ensure it doesn't happen again. I can't condone violence on school property, even if it is defending the honour of those we love and ourselves."
William wondered what she was getting to.
"I've had a lot to be thinking about recently to do with school, especially with our recent criminal activity on site where poor Mrs Pandeer was apprehended by that horrid man. It was so lucky that that new hero was here to save her and prevent any more harm or damage. I know that Mrs Pandeer is one of your favourite teachers."
"She is, yes" William nodded. He thought back to that day and the adrenaline that coursed through his body into saving her and apprehending the criminal.
"I make it my business to know everything about this school and the students who attend it. I notice things which others might, tiny details which, in my humble, makes me good at my job. You William, are one who might meld into the background for most teachers and staff at the school, but I pay special attention to those who I feel could go onto great things. I see a bright future for you, one full of success and achievements."
"Thank you Miss," William replied.
"I know William. I know what you did. And I must say, thank you."
"Sorry Miss, what do you mean?" William's nerves shot through his body.
"Come now William. I have to swallow a lot of my instinct here and urges to report this to the authorities, but something deep down in my body tells me that I shouldn't. There is something happening in these events which don't need me meddling around in them, but rest assured, I am here to support and if you need someone to lean on, I can help. I know you are Billy the Cat. My head is screaming at me to say something, but what you have done is so brave and selfless, a true sign of a strong moral character. Just remember what we have said before. With that great power, comes that huge responsibility. Can you hold that burden?"
William couldn't believe that his identity had been discovered by his headteacher. Who else had worked it out? Was he now compromised? Was this the end of his superhero career?
"I think I can Miss. I want to do right by my parents and uphold justice."
"It's a big job and for someone so young to achieve. Remember, you don't owned the world anything, rather it's the other way around. Now," Mrs Reilly stood up, "get home, have some rest. I assume your aunt knows nothing about this, so don't worry, I haven't told her my suspicions. I think her reaction to today's altercation will be punishment enough. Remember, I am here if you need help with anything. I can't promise I'll be able to fight crime and I certainly don't think I want to be dressing up in a skintight costume. If anyone says anything to you about today, let me know and I'll sort it out. I'll be meeting with Mr Johnson's parents tomorrow, but I think I have enough to keep most of the blame off of you. Have a goodnight Mr Grange and I'll see you in the morning."
William got up and thanked Mrs Reilly, before gathering his things up and heading out of the room and off school site. He'd missed the bus, so it was going to be a walk home. This gave him time to clear his head and think through what had just happened. He had an ally in Mrs Reilly, an unlikely one at that. He'd always liked his headteacher and this just cemented that a bit further.
About 30 minutes later, William walked through the front door of Aunt Mabel's house, to find her stood, hands in hips waiting for him. He slowly dropped his bag down to the floor and kicked off his shoes. He felt so guilty looking at the disappointment filling her face.
"I'm really sorry Aunt Mabel, I don't quite know what came over me," William wanted to be the first to speak, to try and break the ice. His voice was full of contrition.
Mabel had been horrified to receive the call from Mrs Reilly while she was at work. She had been so apologetic for William's actions, knowing it was so unlike her nephew. She promised to talk with him and ensure it wouldn't happen again.
"William," Aunt Mabel paused for a moment. "Come here."
She couldn't stay angry with him. It was wrong really. She knew she should be berating him for hitting and hurting another child. But with everything that had been going on, right now, she knew he needed love, care and attention. Maybe she should encourage him to take up a sport to work out the frustrations. She pulled him into a big hug.
"I know you and I know this is so far from your character. You are a special young man and are capable of so much."
She pulled William out to look him in the eyes.
"Don't do this again, or we will have to think of something more punishing. You'd better make sure you apologise to that boy when you next see him, regardless of what he's done to you. You need to be the bigger man and the hero of your own story."
How apt that last comment was.
"Right, go to your room and h as a think about what you've done and I'll call you down for dinner later. Put your PE kit in the wash first. I can smell the mud from here."
William nodded and went back to grab his bag, before slinging the muddy, sweaty kit into the washing machine and setting it running. He plodded upstairs to find Kathleen leaning against his door.
"Well that was a let down," she said. "If that were me, we'd be screaming the house down. Favourite one," Kathleen playfully jabbed William's arm. "What are you going to do now?"
"I think I'm going to go and sit in my room and just scroll through YouTube."
"Fair enough. I'll leave you to it. Here if you need to talk though."
Kathleen turned and walked off to her own room, leaving William to enter his and shut the door. He walked over to the wardrobe and opened it up, pulling out the box with the suit in. Reaching inside, he pulled out the helmet and took it over to his bed. Sitting up on the bed, he put the helmet on and activated C.A.T.
"Hello William. How are you doing today?" C.A.T asked.
"I've been better thanks. It's been a rough day."
"I'm sorry to hear that. What would you like me to do?"
"People are starting to work out who I am. I need a way of slowing this down and preventing it. Can you look online and try to erase any images of me?"
"That's an interesting proposition. It'll take some time, but I can give it a go. Who has been able to find out?"
"My headteacher has worked it out. I don't mind her knowing, but I want to prevent others from working it out if I can."
"Of course William. I'll get to it."
For the next couple of hours, William sat up in his room going through C.A.T's database trying to find out what else the AI could do. It was amazing the skill and power his father had put into the helmet. It was years beyond anything else out in the world today. C.A.T was almost completely sentient, just with a few more safeguards. It shouldn't be a Skynet situation, like in the Terminator films.
"William, I have managed to purge the internet of images of you and will keep the algorithm running in the background. Also, I am detecting that your name is being called from downstairs. I suspect your dinner is ready."
William hadn't noticed his aunt calling up the stairs. He'd been too engrossed in looking through C.A.T's database.
"Thanks C.A.T, talk toy you later."
He took the helmet off and stuffed it back in the wardrobe and headed downstairs to the smell of dinner. Whatever it was, it smelt good.
"Ahh, there he is," Aunt Mabel said. "Could you set the table please?"
"What have we got?"
"Lasagna and homemade garlic bread."
The three sat down and talked about the rest of the day, ignoring the fight. Kathleen revealed that she'd made the lasagna in her Food Tech lesson that afternoon. William and Aunt Mabel both commented how good it was, their mouths and bellies satisfied by the cheesy goodness. Afterwards, pudding was yoghurt and then the three of them retired to the living room to watch a film.
"What do you want to watch?" Kathleen asked.
"Spider-Man," William voted.
"Ooh, yes, I'd go with that," Aunt Mabel commented. "Can't not love a bit of Tom Holland."
"Mum!" Kathleen cried out in embarrassment. Secretly though, she had to agree.
They put the movie on and sat watching it. Throughout, William found himself watching the different moves Spider-Man did and thought to himself that some of those might work for him. He also couldn't help but fall in love with the hero. He'd always had a bit of a crush on Tom Holland.
The film came to an end and they all went up to bed, for a much needed sleep. All, except William. He had other ideas. He shut his door and immediately stripped off his uniform, before grabbing out the suit and climbed inside of it. Putting the helmet on, he reactivated C.A.T.
"Hello again William. Shouldn't you be going to sleep?" The AI asked.
"I should, yes, but I want some air. Let's go and get some."
William opened the window and leapt out to have a nighttime adventure.