HOWIE’S FACE LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE THE MOMENT he saw me exit the school bus.
Someone must have watched the news this morning, I thought to myself as I approached him.
“Dude, that was awesome!” Howie shouted as soon as I was within earshot.
My paranoia instantly kicked in.
“Shhh!” I said harshly as I peered over my shoulder, nervous that someone might have taken notice of his behavior.
“Take it easy, Adam. There’s no way anyone knows what I’m talking about,” Howie replied.
“I just don’t want to take any chances,” I whispered.
“Understood. Let’s talk behind the cafeteria,” Howie said as we made our way around the building.
“So what prompted this? Why did you do it, Adam?” Howie asked once we were in the back of the building.
“It was sort of an accident. I was just out for a run and I noticed a guy trying to mug this lady. I guess I just did what I had to do, you know?”
“You did the right thing.”
“I don’t know. I shouldn’t have meddled. What gives me the right?”
“Adam, you’re a hero! That man probably would have killed that woman if you hadn't intervened. You saved her life, man!”
“It was reckless. And now people know about me!”
“No they don’t. People know about The Reaper. Your true identity wasn’t compromised. It’s brilliant, Adam! That mask, the name, it all fits together so perfectly!"
“Howie, my last name is Reaper! Someone will find out!”
“I am sure that you’re not the only one with that last name and there is no way that anyone will make that connection out of thin air, Adam. This is destiny, brother. Don’t you see it? This is what you were meant to do!”
“Absolutely not! It was a mistake! A mistake that won’t happen again,” I said in a harsh whisper.
“You cannot continue to hide from what you are, Adam. You think that mask just happened to be there? You think you just happened to be able to do what you can do? This isn’t a coincidence! This is fate! You need to stop running from it and face what you are.”
“I’m a freak! And I’ve already come to terms with that!” I growled.
“No, you’re a hero!” he shot back. “And there’s nothing you can say to convince me otherwise. Because of you, that lady was able to go home and kiss her kids goodnight. Because of you, she now has a chance, Adam. You should be happy about this. You’ve been given an opportunity to make a real difference.”
“Happy? Why should I be happy?!” I roared. “You think saving some random lady that I really care nothing about is supposed to make me happy? I’m still poor! My father still beats the crap out of my mother every time he gets a chance, and she still refuses to leave him despite the fact that he’s nothing more than a lowlife degenerate! And you know what else, Howie?! My brother is still dead! Did saving her bring my brother back, Howie? If I save enough of them, do I get him back, too?” I spat the last word at him. He looked away, unable to bear the sight of the tears that welled in the corners of my eyes against my will.
“I’m sorry, Adam. I didn’t know,” he said. “You’ve changed, you know? I can see it in your eyes. You’re not just out for vengeance; you’re out for blood. When we catch up to The Suspect, and we will catch up to him—I’ll keep my promise and help you take your vengeance, but I won’t stand by and watch you go to prison for the rest of your life. You’re right. The Reaper can’t save your brother, but he can save you. Taking down The Strangers using alter egos presents a situation where we can still have regular lives when this is over. Use The Reaper to go farther than you can possibly go as Adam. And when it’s over, when The Suspect is dead and Strangers are reduced to nothing, we can go back to our regular lives.”
Though I didn’t want to admit it, he was absolutely right. That was Howie’s M.O., always thinking two to three steps ahead— always right. I didn’t say anything else. I simply nodded and stared into the distance, still thinking about the death of my brother.
“I’ll see you at 3D this afternoon. We’ve got work to do,” Howie said.
I nodded and walked away. A few minutes later, as I reached for the glass door of the main building, I noticed in the door’s reflection a man wearing black sunglass and a black suit seemingly watching me through the window of an adjacent building.
My face grew hot as adrenaline flooded my veins. The wind picked up as I turned to face the man. To my surprise, there was no one there.
As I made my way to class, I couldn’t help but wonder if the man had vanished before I turned around or if he was ever there at all.