villains were captured last night and depowered this morning. They have to do something with the blood they rip out, right?” He shakes his head and the vein in his neck bulges. “I’ve been trying, begging, for a sample but they keep denying me.”
A shudder runs through me. Depowering is the process of ripping out the outer layer of veins in a Super—the silvery veins that pump power from our chest to our body. I don’t know the details of the process, as that sort of thing stays confidential, but everyone knows it’s agonizing. Depowering leaves the villain covered in spidery scars from fingers to toes. I’ve only seen two depowered villains in my life. The memory of their lifeless eyes and grotesque bodies will forever haunt me.
“Well, good luck with that.” My lunch rolls around in my stomach, threatening to reveal itself if I keep thinking about the depowering process.
We walk in silence for a few minutes as we near the end of the main corridors inside Central. We come to a stop at the KAPOW docks where several public transportation pods line up to the right. To the left is an empty row for the private pods. Although I live close enough to walk home, Evan will be taking a KAPOW back to Africa. Who knows when I’ll see him again? I’m so not ready to end this conversation.
Evan isn’t treating me as if I’m an evil freak who needs to be locked up. Not only do I appreciate that, I’m drawn to him because of it.
Evan’s head tilts sideways. “What are you thinking?” He studies me as I’m lost in my own thoughts.
There’s no way I’d tell him the real answer, so I tell him the second most real answer. “Friday is judgment day. The examiners will decide if I’m a Hero or …” I study my fingernails, unable to finish the sentence.
Evan jumps in. “… or something else that is equally badass.”
“You can’t even pretend to think any other position on earth is as good as Hero status.”
He shrugs. “I’m fond of Research. Besides, you spent your whole life training for Hero. They won’t give you anything else.” I recognize the tone of his voice. It’s the same I feel sorry for you tone Max has perfected. “Try not to worry about it,” he continues. “I know you want to be a Hero, but you don’t have to be one.”
I scowl at this asinine remark, but he’s right. As the president’s daughter, I don’t have to do anything. Most Supers get married and work jobs in King City and have lives that are pretty much like the humans. Although all of the Super presidents have been Heroes, none of the former president’s chose the same profession. It would be easy, expected even, for me to just start a charity for humans and look pretty as I attend humanitarian events as a cherished member of the Super race.
There’s nothing wrong with that exactly … it’s just not me.
I swallow and a teardrop pools in the corner of my eye. I hold my gaze, staring into the nothingness to the left of Evan’s shoulder because I know the second I blink, that tear will roll down my cheek.
Evan shifts on his feet. “You’re only qualified for Hero. Or maybe Retriever. Try not to worry about it, it’s not like you’ll end up in food service.”
“That’s just it.” My voice is scratchy. “Hero. Retriever.” I hold up my left hand and then my right one. “I’m scared, Evan. What if they make me Retriever? I can’t stand waiting for an answer.” My teeth grind together. “The anticipation is killing me.”
His eyes light up. “You should see Pepper.”
“Pepper? I don’t—why?”
Evan’s tongue runs across his bottom lip as he breaks into a smile. His blue eyes shine like a child’s on the cover of a Christmas movie. “Think about it. Pepper needs a few days to design new Hero suits, right? He makes them all fancy and high tech compared to regular suits.”
“Okay …” I say, still not understanding.
He shoves my shoulder. “Go see Pepper. Act like you’re just dropping by
A shudder runs through me. Depowering is the process of ripping out the outer layer of veins in a Super—the silvery veins that pump power from our chest to our body. I don’t know the details of the process, as that sort of thing stays confidential, but everyone knows it’s agonizing. Depowering leaves the villain covered in spidery scars from fingers to toes. I’ve only seen two depowered villains in my life. The memory of their lifeless eyes and grotesque bodies will forever haunt me.
“Well, good luck with that.” My lunch rolls around in my stomach, threatening to reveal itself if I keep thinking about the depowering process.
We walk in silence for a few minutes as we near the end of the main corridors inside Central. We come to a stop at the KAPOW docks where several public transportation pods line up to the right. To the left is an empty row for the private pods. Although I live close enough to walk home, Evan will be taking a KAPOW back to Africa. Who knows when I’ll see him again? I’m so not ready to end this conversation.
Evan isn’t treating me as if I’m an evil freak who needs to be locked up. Not only do I appreciate that, I’m drawn to him because of it.
Evan’s head tilts sideways. “What are you thinking?” He studies me as I’m lost in my own thoughts.
There’s no way I’d tell him the real answer, so I tell him the second most real answer. “Friday is judgment day. The examiners will decide if I’m a Hero or …” I study my fingernails, unable to finish the sentence.
Evan jumps in. “… or something else that is equally badass.”
“You can’t even pretend to think any other position on earth is as good as Hero status.”
He shrugs. “I’m fond of Research. Besides, you spent your whole life training for Hero. They won’t give you anything else.” I recognize the tone of his voice. It’s the same I feel sorry for you tone Max has perfected. “Try not to worry about it,” he continues. “I know you want to be a Hero, but you don’t have to be one.”
I scowl at this asinine remark, but he’s right. As the president’s daughter, I don’t have to do anything. Most Supers get married and work jobs in King City and have lives that are pretty much like the humans. Although all of the Super presidents have been Heroes, none of the former president’s chose the same profession. It would be easy, expected even, for me to just start a charity for humans and look pretty as I attend humanitarian events as a cherished member of the Super race.
There’s nothing wrong with that exactly … it’s just not me.
I swallow and a teardrop pools in the corner of my eye. I hold my gaze, staring into the nothingness to the left of Evan’s shoulder because I know the second I blink, that tear will roll down my cheek.
Evan shifts on his feet. “You’re only qualified for Hero. Or maybe Retriever. Try not to worry about it, it’s not like you’ll end up in food service.”
“That’s just it.” My voice is scratchy. “Hero. Retriever.” I hold up my left hand and then my right one. “I’m scared, Evan. What if they make me Retriever? I can’t stand waiting for an answer.” My teeth grind together. “The anticipation is killing me.”
His eyes light up. “You should see Pepper.”
“Pepper? I don’t—why?”
Evan’s tongue runs across his bottom lip as he breaks into a smile. His blue eyes shine like a child’s on the cover of a Christmas movie. “Think about it. Pepper needs a few days to design new Hero suits, right? He makes them all fancy and high tech compared to regular suits.”
“Okay …” I say, still not understanding.
He shoves my shoulder. “Go see Pepper. Act like you’re just dropping by
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