2 Today is 12.1.2023

"Did you get your test back, Simeon"

"No, I have that class next, I totally passed this one. What about you?"

"I say 50% is okay."

"Well If you wan to know a secret, all you got to do is politely ask the weakling, he gets 100 on everything. He hooked me up with the answers."

As I walk into the classroom I see the kids who were scouted to become the next heroes. Heroes against criminals they say. They are regarded as the hope of our world. They enforce the law, keep our streets safe, and represent our country. They don't really care that the same people they recruit are tormentors anyways. When a society is build on superpowers, the ones who are stronger are treated better and in this situation, they are stronger. I don't want to become a hero. Becoming a hero means, Scoring a 90 on the publicly streamed, televised, hero exam. I'm okay with simply being a mercenary.

Being a mercenary pays about half the amount but they gave me exception because they are scared of me, so I make the same amount as a low rank hero. 10,000 dollars a month is a lot, but I guess it is meant to allow those heroes to live comfortably. You know, so they don't uprise.

As I sit down, and class starts, Drew leaves the classroom. By the way the other kid talking was drew, if you didn't catch on, I can leave you confused.

The teacher starts handing out the tests, I sit there fearing my life, 98.7%, I got one question wrong unfortunately, but that is not what I was afraid of. As the teacher hands simeon his test, she notifies him of his score, which he turns and looks at me in response. I can't see it though, I can feel it. The gaze of death. I am going to die when the bell rings. I don't even need to know what the teacher told him, he got a 0, nothing, nada. I gave him all the wrong answers, every Single one. Its easy to on a multiple choice test. He looks at the test, and back at the teacher, then back at me, who sadly looked backwards to savor the moment. He is ready to run at me and kill me, I can sense it.

Class is about to end, there are 3 minutes left. My game plan was to take the halls to the bathroom then use my little gift to become invisible, like chameleons do (I searched up that word, do you expect me to remember it, I learned it in grade 3). As the bell rings we are dismissed, I jet to the front door. If I ran I could easily beat the 0.579 world record for the 100m dash. I take the first turn as if I was riding a motorcycle on a high speed chase. The hallways feel longer and the walls feel like they are closing in on me the faster I get. After the second turn, I can feel the taste of freedom. The bathroom is right there, I can almost taste it.

It goes black for a second.

When I look up, I am being held up to a locker by none other than Simeon Wang. He prefers we call him Pound as that is what he hero name is going to be. I know, how original. I continuously forget that Freedom is a part of their inner circle. The fastest person in our entire school. Freedom, is a clever name for someone who is very fast.

When I find myself in these situations, I bear it. I can heal myself and fix any damages that the soon to be "heroes" of our school are going to inflict upon me. I cant get rid of the pain though.

Punch one was so hard, it could be the definition of pain. I feel like my body blew up, with that. Simeon's abilities are, super strength. That is easy to guess. Punch two broke my ribs, I could feel it. I am starting to hope he finishes this a lot quicker. Punches three through ten, go by like a breeze. Probably because I was barely conscious throughout his one sided brawl.

"You had one job. Do you think the academy will appreciate these scores." Simeon yells. I will go deaf if he keeps screeching.

They call the Bureau of Superhuman affairs the academy. Why. Because you have to spend an entire year there learning the rules of being a hero before you can become one. Obviously, no one really cares about it, It is just a formality.

Simeon repeats "Do you think the academy will appreciate these scores, Weakling"

"Maybe just be smart" I respond. That earns me another punch.

These are the people who will be leading our nation in a year. They will be full heroes after we graduate next year. Why do they get to become heroes, while being my villains. Maybe that is why the Bureau's motto is heroes against criminals. Because the villains are the heroes themselves.

He puts me down. Freedom stomps me to gain some of Simeons approval. They disappear down the hallway. I get a message, accompanied by a image of a white man with short brown hair. He has no facial hair but he has a distinct scar above his eye.

This is your target.

Name: Sean Ryan

Age: 32

Crimes: Kidnapped Sarah -Redacted-

Abilities: Metal Manipulation

Location: East Samanville

There is a job for me to do. As I limp out of the empty school, I modify the composition of my clothes to suit my mission. At least I get paid.