The Strange World

In the year 2042 the term 'Superpowers' became reality. Five blessed people capable of the supernatural stood up and took the world by storm. Saving the world from various threats they quickly rose in fame.

Yet in just a year the people with supernatural abilities quickly rose exponentially. Giving birth to an era of villains and more heroes. Such a change was drastic, but not as drastic as the mysterious chemical attack that happened late 2043.

Several missiles were launched into the atmosphere from all over the world. Releasing an unknown chemical into the very air everyone breathed. Then, just overnight, the population that had powers sprung from a mere handful of people, to well over 60% of the world. What happened afterwards was chaos, people began using these powers for whatever they wanted. Soon enough the once stable society collapsed.

After a whole year of chaos a Hero organization sprung forth. Filled with powerful wielders seeking justice and order. When those who used their strength for ill intention were swiftly silenced, many people stood back in line. Society was quickly rebuilt with the newly gained powers.

Eventually it was calculated that 90% of the world had supernatural abilities. However there was no way to tell who had what without a specific ability. They could be obvious, even powerful, but for some it was very specific and impractical. As the world rebuilt and the idea of powers became commonplace, and integrated into natural society. However there was also discrimination against those with abilities that were impractical. Eventually one's worth was tied to their ability and its usefulness. Combat oriented ones were recruited to be a hero or into the army. Certain jobs looked for abilities designed to make the work more efficient. As for those who did not fit in this criteria. . . there were some odd jobs they could take.

Many turned to crime because of it, thus allowing the hero business to remain important and profitable. Advertisements of the people's favorite heroes, public opinion, security grants, etc. In such a world where was room for the ordinary?

After several years passed and technology based around the supernatural increased it was revealed that there wasn't a single person alive who did not have an ability. That was right, 100% of the population had an ability. Thus it became known that your worth was your ability. Something decided at birth.

This also meant there was simply too many variables. Anyone could have any ability, thus governments could not properly hold the populace under control. Additionally the hero organization had only so many heroes.

All of this gave birth to areas that were deemed uncontrollable. One such area was a city located on the edge of the third continent. A place originally named Atra, the city of hope. Such a city gained a lot of traffic in the early years of its construction. Hopes of living a new life was common. Yet in only a decade it spiraled out of control, and the hero organization deemed it a lawless land.

Yet even chaos bred order, and eventually the strong began to control the weak.

In such a city was our focus. A young boy currently lying on bags of trash, feeble and frail, dangling on the edge of life and death. Thrown out like a broken toy. Forgotten and alone. His parents taken at a young age, and his younger years was full of neglect. To be left to die among the trash, a fate cruel for one who can't remember happiness. Wouldn't you agree?

That is not his fate, not yet. For an injured figure limped into the alleyway. Their face bruised and bleeding, clothes torn. Holding one arm in their hand they dragged themselves every step. A leather jacket in their other hand being tugged across the floor.

Pausing and looking towards the boy they laughed weakly, "Left to die is it? Trash among trash as they say."

Coughing violently the figure leaned against the wall and sunk into the trash next to the boy, "Do you mind me sitting here for a moment?"

The boy did not respond.

Flinging the leather jacket over to the boy it covered him awkwardly. Resting their head against the wall the figure closed their eyes and murmured, "No one wants to die alone right? I'll join you."

Silence spread across the alleyway as the two remained still among the trash.