‘FIRE BAD!’ cried Isaac pulling his hand out from the flame. His hand got all burnt and scarred now. He looked over to the rat mocking him from the box house he made. ‘You did this to me!’ he accused it; the rat tilt its head.

  Isaac open up his hand, feeling the dark skin burn and crack. He look to the flames, seeing the heat rise out and funnel into his fingers. Isaac watch as his hand started to heal, the burn fading away and his skin going back to its natural smoothness. ‘Because I’m worth it’ he joked flexing his healed fingers. ‘So, absorbing Heat heals me, that’s good to know, right Larry?’ he turn to the hobo laying on the flat cardboard box, leaning on his hand.

  He still doesn’t say a word.

  ‘Oh Larry, I hope you are real and not a figment of my imagination’ said Isaac sitting back up. ‘Man I am starving! Got anything to eat O’ Larry O’ boy?’

  The Hobo push a plate of a sandwich towards him. Isaac picked it up and look at it. ‘Looks good, but what is it?’ he asked. Larry did not answer. ‘Something tells me I’m better off not knowing’ he mumble taking a bite out of the sandwich. It is kinda good but only as long as Isaac pretends it’s a cheeseburger.

  ‘I can’t take it anymore!’ cried Isaac throwing his arms in the air, ‘How long have I been down here, tormented by the sounds of the happy people in the sky?!’ he spend what he believe was an hour trying to pass the time until nightfall. He played chess with Larry, which he didn’t even play. He played checkers with Larry, which again he refuses to even play. He even re-enact Romeo and Juliet, which Larry watch with the rats as Isaac played both roles splendidly.

  ‘Larry tell me’ said Isaac, ‘I can take it, I know it has only been an hour, maybe twenty minutes. I am a big boy so just spill it out’

  Larry did not say a word.

  Isaac sat back on the crate, ‘This sucks’ he said. ‘Even if it is night, where am I going to go look for them anyway?’ Larry toss a rolled up paper at him which bounce off his head. Isaac glare at him and picked it up. Unwrapping it to find it is a brochure for Vivid tonight.

  ‘Of course!’ he said. Vivid is a festival held in the city once a year. There they show off light shows at the docks, they can make animals fight in the sky, play a movie in the sea, and do cool tricks while jumping through fiery hoops, ok that last one has nothing to do with lights but it is still cool. ‘My friends and I were at Vivid before I went into a coma, wait…’ he remember now.

  He was at the festival with Elizabeth around his arm, and Derek walking by his side. They watch the lights in the sky playing a movie, then look down at the water at the guy on a jet ski speeding along the lights like a rollerblader at a night club. They were having the time of their lives before going to school the next morning, all three of them in Year 12, one more year before they go off to Uni. Isaac had no idea what he wanted to do after school, he is the kind of guy that just go with the flow.

  He and Elizabeth were on the dock looking up at the night sky. He had his arm around her, she leaned into him. When they both look across the horizon, they saw the Storm that is fast approaching, its lightning purple instead of the flashes of white you usually see. Before they could even take a selfie the storm was already over them. Lightning was striking the city, cars exploded, buildings getting hit, people started to run as lightning hit all around them. Some were blown back by the shockwave left behind, Isaac ran with Elizabeth and Derek, they were heading for shelter when Isaac look up to see a flash of lightning strike him. He felt it enter his body and shock his entire nervous system. Elizabeth and Derek tried to help but they were blown back by the shockwave. Then as quickly as it started he fainted.

  ‘Of course’ said Isaac. ‘That lightning strike put me in a coma. Did it also give me these weird powers as well?’ he could hear snoring coming from behind him, turning his head to see Larry asleep with his back to him. ‘I’m sorry, is my life story boring you!’ he yelled, ‘I am having an emotional crisis here and you are sleeping like a bum, which makes sense since you are a bum’

  He sat down on the crate, the flyer still in his hand. ‘Elizabeth and Derek must have heard that I’m awake. Maybe they will go here hoping I would meet them, it would be the sort of thinking I would do, hell I am thinking of doing it’ he put the flyer in his pocket. ‘But I will need a disguise’

  He turn to his one and only friend. ‘Larry, do you have a spare coat I could borrow?’ he asked.

  Larry was still asleep.

  ‘Fine, I will find one myself in your tent’ said Isaac, going through the tent and chucking everything out until he found a spare coat, a scarf, and a beanie. He put them on, making sure the beanie is low over his eyes and the scarf covers his jaw. ‘Perfect’ he said. ‘No one will recognise me, I am incognito’ he did some spy poses. ‘Now to wait until nightfall’ he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turn to see Larry pointing out of the sewer, night has already fallen.

  ‘Huh, I forgot I took a nap earlier’ said Isaac. ‘Very well, let us go my good friend who I hope everyone else can see and not just me out of sheer loneliness and madness’

  Isaac and Larry then walked out to the street, walking past crowds of people going to the local night places like the pub or the nightclub. But where they are going is to the docks for Vivid. No one look twice at them, after all if you see a hobo walking in the street the first thing people will do is avoid their gaze and keep walking. Therefore making this the perfect disguise to get around the city. Isaac of course had to turn his face away when he sees those White Dudes patrol past.

  ‘They’re in the city as well?’ he said to Larry. ‘Just who are these guys, and what does the ACA stand for on their tanks?’ he watched a few of those tanks rolled by. These ACA guys seem to be the new police force in the city. Isaac pull up his collar and continue walking beside Larry. ‘We need to get to the docks, Elizabeth and Derek should be waiting for me there’ he said, ‘Come on, we’re taking the bus’

  Since they have no money whatsoever, Isaac and Larry snuck to the back of the bus and hold on as it drove down the city, people staring at them and taking pictures with their phones. Soon they reach the docks and hopped off. Isaac and Larry then looked at the festival. Already they have lights playing in the sky, making random pictures of animals as the water shine like a rainbow. They do like to take it up a notch each year.

  ‘This way, I remember where about I was standing when that lightning hit me’ Isaac told Larry, leading him past the vendors selling light toys to children. Families of course walk by, along with couples and the occasional group of friends. Children ran by swinging their glowing bats playing a game. Isaac reached the edge of the dock and look out at the water, looking around for any sign of his friends. ‘Maybe I’m early’ he said to himself. Larry stood next to him without saying a word.

  Isaac waited for ten minutes, hoping one of them would come out from the crowds. Sadly not one of them did after twenty minutes. ‘I guess they’re not coming’ Isaac said sadly, looking out at the ocean. The boats glowing bright under the lights in the sky. ‘Guess it’s back to the sewers for us Larry buddy’ Larry did not speak.

  ‘One of these days I will get a word out of you’ Isaac turn to walk off when he spot a bloke standing with his back to him. He held up a phone to his ear.

  ‘Rebecca its Mike, have you seen Isaac yet?’

  Isaac squealed, turning around quickly and acting casual as the bloke named Mike turn his head to him. Isaac whistled a tune. He couldn’t hear the person on the other end of the line. ‘Ok, looks like he isn’t coming here, might as well call it a night’ said Mike, keeping his eyes on the two hobos. ‘See you in the morning’ he hung up.

  Isaac could hear him walked up and stood next to him. Larry kept his cool as always, but at least someone else acknowledges him. ‘You gentlemen enjoying the night?’ he asked.

  ‘Um, yes’ Isaac said in a deep voice, making sure to growl a bit. ‘Pretty lights aye?’

  ‘It always is’ said Mike. ‘I’m hoping you gentlemen can help me, I’m looking for a man named Isaac Clarke have you seen him anywhere tonight?’ he pulled out a photo of Isaac at the hospital and showed it to them.

  Isaac took a look at the photo, ‘Nope never saw him’ he said. ‘But I did hear that guy is awesome’

  Mike raise an eyebrow at him. ‘Well if you do see him, please let me know. You can find me at the Police Station on George Street. Please be advise he is considered dangerous’

  ‘This handsome bloke, you’re kidding right?’ asked Isaac, ‘He looks like he wouldn’t hurt a simple fly’

  ‘This man brought down a helicopter’ said Mike.

  ‘Which I am sure it was the other guy’s fault for being so rude’ Isaac said rudely. ‘I think this handsome man is so smart that he would have skipped town already’

  ‘You seem to be complimenting his looks a lot’ said Mike.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  ‘You got me’ said Isaac, ‘I’m actually Isaac Clarke in a horrible disguise trying to trick you’

  ‘I swear you hobos seem to get drunker each night’ sigh Mike. ‘Thank you for your time gentlemen’ he walked off into the crowd, heading to the showground area where a mascot is doing light tricks with a flashlight for the children.

  Isaac turned to Larry, ‘That was too close. That dude must have been one of those ACA blokes’ he said. ‘Life lesson my friend, if you want to hide from someone, hide in plain sight. Now let’s get out of here before he comes back…’ just like before, he felt a massive heat wash over him. As if by instinct he turn his head to the crowds, searching each person until he laid his eyes on a bald guy with hair growing down the side, wearing a long coat and has a sinister look on his face as he moved to the showground. The Heat boiled around Isaac.

  ‘That guy looks dangerous’ said Isaac. ‘I think we better get out of here…’ he turn his head to see Larry running down the docks. Isaac did not know he could do more then walk. He turn back to see the bald guy stood by the mascot, he touched the stupid rat head and it exploded. Children screamed . Isaac watch as he threw stuffed toys at the parents trying to get to their children, the toys exploded around them forcing them back.

  ‘No one leaves!’ he yelled to the scared group of children, holding up a bottle of water. People started running, the crowds running in a panic as the crazy bomb guy threw more bombs, making sure the children stay where they are. Isaac hid behind the stand with the glowing bats, watching as that Mike guy stood before him.

  ‘Stop!’ he yelled holding out his gun, ‘Put the bombs down!’

  The Bomb guy smiled, ‘A detective? How pathetic’

  ‘Last warning’ said Mike pulling back the thumb.

  The Bomb guy started to laugh, ‘I am Bomber Ali, Detective, one of the top Aftershoks of the Revolution. Do you really think bullets can stop me?’ Mike fired three shots. Bomber pulled out a blanket and whipped it at the bullets, exploding them in the air. Then he threw a tennis ball that hit the detective in the shoulder, exploding on impact. Mike yelled as he was blown back, falling onto the ground as he lost his gun.

  Bomber Ali took out another ball from his bag. ‘I am to cause chaos tonight, enough to send a message to the ACA not to mess with us. I figure the death of a few kids might do that’ he turn back to see the children with their backs to the water, trapped from their own fear.

  ‘Not on my watch’ groaned Mike, getting up on one arm.

  Isaac wanted to run, this guy is way too scary, and beside what is his heat going to do, give him a sunburn? Best to leave it to those ACA guys while he saves his own skin. But he did not move. He looked over to the children, seeing them cry.

  Bomber Ali threw the ball at the detective, aiming for his head this time. Mike didn’t get up in time as the ball reach his face, but a glowing bat swung past his head and hit the ball. ‘Batter up!’ cried Isaac as he hit it back to Bomber, who screamed and jumped out of the way as it flew past the kids and hit the water, exploded, and sending a huge splash into the air.

  Bomber scrambled to his feet, ‘Who the hell are you?!’ he yelled out as Isaac swung the bat in the air and place it on his shoulder.

  ‘Picking on children is a huge sin in my book mate’ said Isaac, tearing off the coat, scarf and hat and threw them away, showing off his black and red striped hoodie and his spiky hair. ‘Why not pick on someone who can fight back’

  Mike glared at him, ‘I had a feeling’ he said. ‘Isaac Clarke I presume?’

  ‘Yes I am!’ Isaac said proudly, brining with such confidence even though on the inside he is sobbing ‘Oh god what the hell am I doing he is going to kill me!’

  Bomber took out more stuffed toys from his bag. ‘Doesn’t matter to me if some mortal decides to play the hero’ he threw them at Isaac, who hit two of them back but on the third one it exploded once it hit the bat.

  The bat splinters to pieces, the explosion pushing Isaac back through the stands. He groaned as he sat up, throwing away the splinted handle. ‘That is so not fair’ he quickly moved out of the way as more bomb toys flew at him. He manage to dodge them as they hit the space he was at, but once he ran around to the dock he stopped, seeing the water below him. The water is not deep so he could jump in but his movement would be slowed down.

  Bomber laughed as he threw three more toys at him, ‘Guess you will be the first mortal to die!’ he yelled.

  Isaac screamed, holding out his hands, ‘Wait give me a second!’ he begged when suddenly a wave of heat shot out from his palms and hit the toys, exploding them in the air before they could reach him. Isaac look at his hands, ‘Alright’ he grinned. He shot out a palm, shooting a Heat Wave at Bomber that push him back across the docks, giving Mike the opening to get to the children and lead them away. Isaac ran past until they were behind him and he shot out another Heat Wave, rolling Bomber even further. ‘Get them out of here Detective’ he called back.

  Mike gave him a look, then quickly ran with the kids to the street. Bomber got up and yelled in frustration,

  ‘What the actual Hell?! You’re an Aftershok like me?! What are you doing here, our Hero gave me this mission!’

  ‘I’m a whaty what like whom?’ asked a confused Isaac.

  ‘Our Hero gave me this mission so get back to the camp and stay out of my business!’ yelled Bomber.

  ‘Mate I don’t have the faintest idea what you’ve been smoking but if this “Mission” of yours involve hurting children then you can bet I am going to have a few words’ said Isaac. He ran forward shooting out more Heat Waves, but it is not powerful enough to actually hurt the guy, he needs a new plan.

  Bomber kept his distance, he ran to a store and grabbed out bottles of water from the tub. He grabbed a bucket and spilled the water in it, filling it up. ‘So, you use Heat huh, then I got a good idea’ he dunked his hand into the water, Isaac stood and tilt his head. ‘I can create bombs by touching them with my hands, now imagine what I can do if I dunk it in water’ he grabbed a handful of water and flung the drops at Isaac.

  Isaac send out a Heat Wave, but the water rush through it and hit him, exploding on Isaac, and flinging him backwards across the docks. He screamed as blood pour out from his wounds. ‘Damnit!’ he cursed. ‘This could be bad’ Bomber kept throwing more drops of water at him. Isaac jumped to the side, shooting out more Heat Wave at the drops but it is not hot enough to explode them. He kept getting hit, being forced to the end of the dock, nothing but the deep water behind as Bomber walked towards him. ‘Please’ said Isaac, standing on his knees, blood pouring down from his head. ‘No more, I’m begging you’

  ‘You should have stayed out of this’ said Bomber. ‘Our Hero made it a law to not kill another Aftershok, so I am not going to kill you, but I am going to make you suffer’ he held up the bucket over Isaac. ‘This is enough to knock some proper sense into you. Then I am going to find more children and paint the streets with their blood, imagine all their parents crying out in sorrow’ he smiled, ‘It will be glorious’

  Isaac clenched his fists, his anger burning all around him, increasing the heat building up inside. ‘You don’t care if a bunch of kids will die?’ he asked coldly.

  ‘Of course not!’ said Bomber, ‘They are just children of Mortals, who cares if a bunch of them explode. I’m doing this cause my Hero needs the ACA to fear us, for the whole city to fear the Revolution, then we will be one step closer to our New World’ he started to pour the bucket, ‘You will see once they get you out from the medic tent’ he spill the bucket, the water falling onto Isaac’s head.

  But they never touched a single hair, instead turning into steam that formed around them. Isaac has never felt so much rage at a person before. Bomber stood back, dropping the bucket. ‘If you don’t give a damn about innocent children, then maybe I shouldn’t give a damn about putting you in the emergency room’ Isaac said in a deep cold voice. Before Bomber could response, Isaac threw a punch right into his cheek.

  Bomber got pushed back, his cheek burning from the inside. The mark Isaac left, left a burning sensation with his punch, so that now his bone feels like it was cooked for hours on a stove. Bomber screamed, feeling the pain he threw his hands towards Isaac, aiming to make him a bomb then explode him to a billion bloody pieces. But Isaac grabbed both his wrists and snapped them back, then head butted him on the nose. Then he kicked him across the dock, landing in a heap as he held up his broken wrists, his hands bloodied and lopsided. ‘How is this happening?!’ he roared.

  ‘You brought this on yourself when you decide to ruin a good night for these people’ said Isaac standing over him.

  Bomber spat at him. ‘I am not afraid of you! Our Hero told us not to kill another Aftershok, so if you kill me then he will come and destroy you’ he started to laugh. ‘The thought of it will give me great comfort knowing that you will die for being a murderous traitor’

  ‘DUOWAA!’

  Isaac kicked him across the chin. ‘I don’t care about your Hero, hell maybe I’ll take it up a notch and punch him next!’ Bomber gurgled blood, his chin feeling like it was on fire. ‘You can also stopped soiling yourself now cause I am not going to kill you, but I am not going to just let you run off and do this shit again’ Isaac told him, cracking his knuckles.

  Bomber looked up at him, fear in his wide eyes. ‘What are you planning to do to me you maniac?’ he said.

  ‘You will feel all the pain and suffering you cause, but ten times worse!’ roared Isaac, punching him mercilessly with rapid fire fists. Bomber cried as each fist dug into his bones, burning him from the inside as the rain of punches kept on coming. Finally Isaac punched him across the jaw, and down he went, screaming at the top of his lungs as his entire skeleton is suffering from third degree burns.

  Isaac grabbed his own head, ‘Damnit!’ he cried, ‘I lost my temper again! This is so going to bite me in the ass later’ he turn his head to the sound of helicopters and sirens coming this way, seeing the ACA copter flying towards the docks. ‘Looks like that time is now’ said Isaac, he turn to run away but met with a gun to the face. Detective Mike stood in his path; revolver pointed straight at his face. Isaac gulped as his anger had already faded.

  They stood there for a few seconds, the ACA coming closer. Mike look behind him at the copters, Isaac tilt his head. ‘Listen I know you’re just doing your job’ he said, ‘But I would really appreciate it if you let me run along, I am just a.. er… hobo like my friend Larry’

  ‘You’re not a hobo’ Mike said glaring back at him. ‘You’re the Aftershok Isaac Clarke’

  ‘There’s that word again’ groaned Isaac.

  Mike looked as if he is contemplating something, Isaac is getting nervous as their time to stand off is getting shorter. He was opening up his hand for a Heat Blast but the Detective put away his gun. ‘They will be here in seconds, locking off the area so there is no way you will get past them’ he told Isaac.

  ‘Uh ok, do you have a better idea?’ said Isaac.

  ‘I do, come with me’ he said already running in the other direction. Isaac looked back, then ran after him.

  They got to the street five minutes away, going up to an old looking car. Mike went around and open the boot, ‘Get in’ he said.

  ‘You’re kidding?’ said Isaac, ‘I’m not going in there’

  ‘They won’t expect you to be in the back of a Detective’s car’ said Mike, ‘This way I can get you out from the docks without anyone being the wiser’ Isaac folded his arms. ‘Do you want to get caught?’

  Isaac looked back at the ACA gathering at the docks behind them, then back at the Detective, ‘Yes’ he said.

  ‘Get in the damn boot!’

  ‘Fine’ Isaac said childishly, ‘But I’m going to speak Shakespearian for the entire trip’ Isaac climbed into the boot, laid with his back against a crowbar that is shoved up where the sun don’t shine, and watch as Mike closed the boot. Leaving him in the car as he hears the door slamming and the engine roaring to life. Once they are on the street driving, Isaac started, ‘Oh cruel fate! Why has thou forsaken me?’ he said in a mock Shakespearian accent, ‘Trapped in the trunk of a mad man, going to who knows where. Oh GOD why do you laugh at me? Do I amuse you?’

  He could hear the Detective sigh from the driver’s seat. ‘This is going to be a long night’