Uncharted Limits: America

Chapter 3

I wasn't really one to overthink many things, especially when it came to anything school-related. Frankly, I just didn't want to. I tried to live my life the most casual way I could. I never really liked too much action or drama, and just being chill with everything helped with my mental state.

However, it wouldn't be a surprise that I was still thinking about that one night. It was crazy, really, how me and my dad just suddenly found ourselves under such a tight situation… but at the same time it wasn't completely illogical. The signs were there; the "anonymous" client, the late hours, nobody around during my dad's shift… it all made sense. And why? My best bet is because of the stuff we loaded up in the truck, but I'm not sure if those things were really something you'd threaten someone's life for.

In any case, I'm glad my quirk worked out in the end. We managed to quickly leave the junkyard and went back home before any more of those guys came around. My dad didn't really show it, but I could tell he was shook. I tried my best to also be calm, but I couldn't lie to myself either. We spent the entire trip home back in silence.

My dad called and reported to the police the same night. A few hours later—like roughly four in the morning—we got a knock on our door from the sheriff of our town. He told us that his deputies and some firefighters were busy trying to undo the bundle of metal entrapping the men, and that he wanted to speak to us. It wasn't like we were in trouble, they just needed some information on what had actually happened.

And so we told them everything, including that I was the one responsible for the metal. He seemed kinda surprised at first, but after briefly looking at my records he seemed to have found some sort of understanding of it and summarized the situation as just me reacting out of self defense. I kept my mouth shut and just went along with that reasoning.

Really, everyone was tired, so the sheriff just let us off with a small warning to me about unauthorized usage of my quirk. It was the same thing they told us in school, so I was pretty used to it. I never got to know whether those goons even survived that attack… but by that point I didn't want to think about it.

The sheriff did, however, tell us just who exactly those men were. Crazy enough, they were part of this international crime syndicate called The Banded Pines. It was the same people who did the heist in Raleigh, and the same people responsible for the deaths of those heroes. I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't shocked hearing that.

It made me think, though. I had technically defeated and subjugated members of a big shot crime organization, one which had caused the heroes and law enforcement some trouble. Sure, my plan wasn't false proof in any shape or form—and frankly it was a risky coin flip too—but I still nonetheless defeated those guys.

So… I dunno. Does that make me a hero? Fuck no, I'd rather not hold up to that title, whether through dad's approval or not. Too hectic in my opinion. I'm still wondering if I'm even coping with everything normally or if I'm actually mentally damaged by this…

… okay, maybe that last part is a bit extreme, but I'm just glad we got out of that shitty situation.

Today's the weekend, meaning I had some free time on me. Normally what I'd do with said free time is just waste away in my room and play video games. Probably hang out with Eric if I could too.

I had a few things I needed to do. I've got these two CraftWorld worlds that I've been grinding on for a while and there's a few projects I haven't completed yet, especially on the first world. And then there was the season pass that was about to end pretty soon in Strike Zone, and I really wanted to get that skin for my scar-h. In other words, I already had a schedule on what I wanted to do.

'Alright, I might as well get that season pass filled up,' I thought to myself, switching on my TV and console. I slouched on my bean bag, patiently waiting as the console loaded in. From there, I quickled logged into Strike Zone and queued into the solo lobby. And from there, I spent the rest of my years slaving away in this forsaken game, never once achieving the end of the season pass even after reaching the age of eighty…

…

Yeaaah, I'm just bullshitting here. None of that happened.

Instead, suddenly and without warning, a loud shattering sound echoed from the first floor of the house. Greatly concerned, I dropped my controller and made my way out of my room. While doing so, I activated my quirk, quickly being surrounded by my bubbles. I'm definitely sure that that sound was shattered glass—probably a glass cup. But if it's anything bad then I had to be prepared in some way.

My mom and sister were downstairs. I haven't heard anything, which could be both a good or bad thing. I didn't want to overthink and do nothing, and so I cautiously approached the railing of the stairs. Looking down, I just barely saw a glimpse of a black limb disappear in the corner leading towards the kitchen. No one in this house was wearing black today. Fuck.

'Dammit… what the hell is going on these days,' I thought to myself as the bubbles around me transitioned colors. This sucks. I had a feeling we had relaxed too easily after what had happened that day. And now it looks like the crime syndicate those four guys belonged to is trying to get their revenge.

My bubbles turned a cloudy and pale yellow color, and together with me they seemingly vanished into nothingness. With my new invisibility, I silently scaled down the stairs, quickly noticing the shattered window in the living room. Despite my heart racing and my back turning cold, I quickly followed the route where the black limb went and stopped just in time to see—!?

I bit my tongue as I saw my mother's limp form in the hands of a tall and spindly man. The man was covered in all black head to toe, and a giant symbol of a white pine tree was embellished into his chest. That pretty much confirmed that he was from the Banded Pines. In his hand was a white cloth, one he removed from my mom's face. He must've knocked her out with chloroform.

Before I did anything rash, I looked around earnestly for Esther. Fortunately she was still in her high chair. It seems mom was feeding her moments prior. Unfortunately, she wasn't doing anything a baby would naturally do, and by that I mean she wasn't even crying. My body froze as I looked closely at her face, noticing a deep blue haze obscuring her facial features. That was all I needed to see before removing all my restraints.

In a mad dash, I entered the kitchen and shoulder tackled the intruder. I wasn't sure if it would work due to the size difference, but luckily I managed to knock him by surprise, sending him toppling into the ground. With no one holding her, my mother's form was pulled by gravity, but I caught her just in time before she took any fall damage. Quickly and gently placing her down, I immediately turned my attention back to the man to continue my assault. But I stopped abruptly, seeing his hand pointed towards Esther's highchair.

"Stop!" the man yelled, probably still thinking I was moving. When he noticed that he wasn't going to receive his well-deserved punch to the face, he continued. "The child's done for if you do anything else. Unveil yourself."

'...Fuck. Fucking fuck, I messed up,' I cursed to myself as I hesitated. I should've figured that he had a quirk. The blue haze must've been a sleeping gas or something, but the way he threatened me would imply it was a lot more dangerous than that. I really did fuck up here.

Weighing my options, I decided nothing was worth risking Esther's life. I disabled my quirk, resulting in me and my bubbles reappearing. The man stood up, his hand still pointed at Esther as he glared at me.

"You… you're who I'm looking for," the man growled. I'd have asked what he meant by that, but with how close these events were happening, I had a good feeling what he was saying.

"Are you really gonna harm a baby over this?" I warily asked, unsure of where my standing was here. But I had to at least put some effort. I couldn't look to be entirely submissive… there had to be some leeway here. "Leave my sister alone and then we can talk this over?"

"You think you're in control here, runt?" the man scoffed. Seconds later, a blackish purple vortex appeared under Esther's seat, and she slowly descended into it.

"NO!" I yelled, forgoing every caution and jumping towards my sister. However, the man intercepted me with a heavy gut punch, sending me flying into the kitchen island. My body flared with an explosion of unbearable pain, and I screamed in agony.

As my form went limp against the island, I opened my teary eyes and saw the last glimpse of Esther entering the vortex. Then, just like how it appeared, it also instantly disappeared, leaving not a single trace.

The man walked up to me, forcefully raising my head up by the hair. With his face covered in black, I couldn't see what expression he had, but by his tone I could tell it was full of malice.

"I'll be taking you back to our little abode, runt. Gonna show you pain worse than what you gave to our brothers."

Author's Note

Thanks for the read! Lemme just go ahead and say sorry. I promised last chapter to explain Kevin's quirk, but I didn't get the right spot to do it and not make it forced! Maybe next chapter? We'll see just how far this "Banded Pines" group will go for revenge. Until then, have a good day/night!