Captured
Dark nights were a recipe for disaster and even more so for a young person by themselves. Predators lurked around every corner, ready to snatch any unsuspecting victim and drag them down to hellish depths. Rain beat down on the buildings, thunder rumbling and echoing off brick, metal and glass. The sounds masked the scurrying footsteps of people trying to get out of the rain and the steps of those weathering the storm for more devious reasons.
One young man weathered the storm to get groceries from a corner store, tugging his hood up to shield himself from the rain which was steadily getting heavier as the night passed. He felt as if there were eyes on him and constantly looked over his shoulder as if he would find someone behind him. His heart thudded heavily in his chest, picking up his pace on the way to his small apartment. His fear was well-founded as a man slowly made his way through the shadows, following the young man to his apartment and a pair of man flanked the shadow covered alleys that flanked the brick building. The young man kept his head down while he fumbled with his key in the lock. His followers seemed to close in on him which made him panic. The bag of groceries hit the ground and the air around him seemed to shift. Gravity itself moved around the young man, the one man following behind him getting lifted into the air and just floating as if he were in zero gravity. The two men went after the young boy in an effort to subdue him. He struggled, one of the other men going flying and floated in the air same as the other. The third assailant managed to knock the young man out to free his two friends from their zero gravity prisons.
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“Wakey, wakey.” The young man stirred, his head pounding from the crack to the back of his skull.
“You fellas need to work on your people skills. Don’t they have classes for thugs like you on how to deal with people?” He blinked at the fluorescent lights in his eyes while the three men stood in the interrogation room, two flanking the door and one standing in front of the table. “No? Nothing? Boy, you guys really are no fun.”
“You got a smart mouth on you.” The young man’s hands were handcuffed to the table, clinking while the boy shrugged.
“Smart isn’t the only thing my mouth is.” He just glared at the man in front of him, watching him turn the chair around to sit down and go through a file. “Is this the part where you tell me what I’ve done wrong and find out that my daddy doesn’t love me?” The man just snorted at the boy’s attitude. “Well, I already know that. I’ll save you the trouble.”
“I don’t give a damn about your daddy issues, kid. You’re here because you’re a danger to the city.” The grin on the man’s face was sinister beyond reproach. “We’re gonna lock you up in some freak show asylum where you don’t get to see the light of day unless you’re muzzled and on a leash.” Color left the young man’s face for a moment. “No smart comment? Didn’t think so.”
“I’m not a damn danger. I’ve been this way longer than you’ve been getting off on sitting pretty boys like me down in this chair and no incidents or whatever you pricks want to call them have happened.” His fists clenched which made the man chuckle.
“Don’t try anything slick, kid. We negated that freak gene of yours while you were out.” He stood up to loom over the dark haired young man. “Now you’re gonna get locked away.” There was a knock on the door and before anyone could protest, the door opened to reveal a man in a suit and flanked by two men in all black army gear.
“Sorry to interrupt but we’re going to be taking Mr. Reed with us.” The man narrowed his eyes at the suit.
“Says goddamn who.” A card was quickly produced to show the thug while one of the other man unlocked the cuffs the boy had been forced into. “Who the hell is SHIELD?”
“It’s spelled out on the back. All you need to know is that Mr. Reed is coming with us and any other questions are far out of your pay grade.” A hand rested on the small of the young man’s back to lead him out of the room.
“You can’t just take him. He’s a freak show that needs to be locked up.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you aren’t in charge.” The young man bit back a laugh. “Have a nice day.” The four of them left the building, getting into a sleek black Dodge Charger. The boy shifted in the seat to the man in the suit, stealing a glance.
“So...thanks for that.”
“It’s the least we could do, Mr. Reed.” He offered the young man a smile.
“Tyler. Tyler...works.”
“Then you can call me Phil.” He smiled again, the car ride continuing in relative silence.
