Chapter 76- Future

Timeline: April 21, 1952

Location: Empire State University

Time: 8 am

As Teacher Rex Leroy began his lesson on English literature, the classroom buzzed with anticipation. I sat attentively, my mind focused on absorbing as much knowledge as possible.

"Good morning, everyone. Today, we're going to talk about English literature," Teacher Rex said. 

As the class got started, Ken Bridget, who's known for being one of the popular students, raised his hand like he usually does. Teacher Rex acknowledged him, and Ken asked about something called the "The forgotten Hero."

"Teacher Rex, sir," Ken began, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "Could you tell us about a book called 'The Forgotten Hero'? I heard about it, but I'm not sure what it's about."

Teacher Rex Leroy, known for his patience and passion for teaching, smiled at Ken's question, understanding that not all students were familiar with lesser-known literary works.

"Ah, 'The Forgotten Hero,'" Teacher Rex began, adjusting his glasses as he prepared to explain. "It's a book not many people know about, written by a writer named Mordyln Autentico"

Ken nodded, seemingly intrigued by the mention of the book. "So, what's it about? Is the hero really forgotten?"

Teacher Rex leaned in, his eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. "Indeed, the novel revolves around the life of a man named Mar Greene, who, despite his remarkable achievements, but nobody remembers his real name anymore."

Ken furrowed his brow, processing the information. " nobody remembers his real name? What did he do?"

"Mar Greene was an ordinary man, who had a wife and was a father of two children, both two years old. He performed extraordinary deeds," Teacher Rex explained, his voice carrying a solemn tone. "He was a soldier, a hero, fighting for his country. But during the war, they thought he was dead. After many years, his name was officially declared dead by the society. They moved on without him. His wife remarried, his children grew up without ever knowing him."

The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on the classroom as Teacher Rex continued to paint the picture of Mar Greene's life.

"But even though he was declared dead by society, Mar Greene's legacy lived on in the hearts of those he had saved," Teacher Rex continued, his voice steady. "He may have been erased from official records, but his sacrifices were not in vain. He will always be remembered as a hero."

As Teacher Rex talked, everyone in the classroom listened with respect. I felt really sad for Mar Greene. Imagine having your very existence erased, to be declared dead by society, was a fate I couldn't imagine.

Ken looked sad and impressed, like me, when he heard about the forgotten hero.

"Thank you, Teacher Rex," Ken said softly, his voice tinged with emotion. "That was a powerful story."

Teacher Rex nodded, looking at Ken with a thoughtful expression. "Remember, Ken, sometimes the true heroes are the ones whose names are forgotten by society, but whose deeds live on to inspire others."

[After class]

In the bustling cafeteria, my friends and I gathered at a table. I, Michael Wilson, joined my friends Mark Fletcher, Chris Hilton, Loe Halloway, Emily Hawkins, and Mary Rose Fletcher. We were all 19 years old now, and it was fascinating to see how much we'd all grown and changed since we first met.

Mark Fletcher caught my eye first. His violet hair was a striking change, and he doesnt have his glasses anymore looking buff now.

Chris Hilton looked different too. His once messy hair was now neatly styled into a taper fade, giving him a more refined appearance. Born into a wealthy family, Chris exuded a calm and collected demeanor.

Mary Rose Fletcher, Mark's sister and my girlfriend, had her hair styled in victory rolls, a vibrant shade of red-violet complementing her features perfectly.

Emily Hawkins, Mark's girlfriend, had green hair that added a pop of color to her appearance. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with energy, and her curly bob hairstyle fitting her unique style.

Loe Halloway, with his buzz cut, stood out among us. He had a sassy attitude, especially when it came to teasing Mark, which always brought a smile to our faces.

Then Chris spoke up, "Everyone, you know we're in college now. After we graduate, what's your future path?"

Mark, my closest friend, expressed his gratitude, "Thanks to you, Chris, I'm able to manage the college tuition fees by working part-time at your company. Your support means a lot, even though it's just a part-time job."

Chris nodded, a smile playing on his lips as he acknowledged Mark's words. "You've been a valuable asset to the team, Mark. It's the least I could do to support you."

Mark then said, "Maybe after college, I'll become a cop. It feels like the right thing to do, you know? Serving and protecting people—it's something I've always do."

 "Wow, that's cool," Chris said. "You're already out there doing good, just like Michael and Loe. You got this." He lowered his voice, knowing our chat was private amidst the cafeteria noise.

[Chris already knows that Mark, Loe, and I are vigilantes. We told him, of course, as he's the only one who doesn't know about us. But naturally, we never let them join us in our vigilante acts as it would endanger them. We're not foolish. It's similar to how Spider-Man's Aunt May supports from afar while he fights crime.]

Suddenly, Mary Rose interrupted Chris, her voice carrying a hint of excitement as she shared her aspirations. "You know, Guys," she began, her eyes filled with determination, "I've always dreamt of becoming a fashion designer. Back when money was tight, I couldn't afford to buy new clothes. So, I had to get creative with what I had. I'd take my old clothes and transform them into something beautiful."

Emily jumped into the conversation, brimming with excitement. "That sounds awesome, Mary! I can totally envision you becoming a big name in fashion. And hey, when you become famous, remember to share some of those exclusive designs with me, okay?"

Mary laughed, grateful for her friend's support. "Of course, Em! You'll be my number one VIP customer!" 

Suddenly, Loe, always full of sassy thing, interjected with a playful smirk. "Well, as for me, I'm just here for the ride. But hey, who knows? Maybe I'll become a professional agent or something."

We all chuckled at Loe's remark, knowing that whatever path he chose, he would excel in it. After all, Loe had always been full of surprises.

Then Emily spoke up, her voice filled with determination and conviction. "You know, guys, I've been thinking a lot about my future lately," she began, her eyes shining with passion. "And I've realized that I don't want to follow in my dad's footsteps and join the family business. I want to forge my own path, one that's true to who I am."

We all listened intently as Emily continued, her words resonating with each of us in different ways. "I want to become a journalist," she declared, her voice steady with resolve. "I want to tell stories, uncover the truth, and shine a light on the issues that matter. I want to uncover each crimes and story, one article at a time."

Mary was the first to speak up, her voice filled with admiration. "Emily, that's incredible! I have no doubt that you'll make an amazing journalist. And hey, when you win your first Pulitzer Prize, don't forget about us little people, okay?"

Emily laughed, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she continued, "Thanks, Mary! And don't worry, I'll always remember where I came from."

She paused for a moment before adding with a playful smirk, "Oh, and Especially when it comes to our boyfriends," she teased, a playful twinkle in her eye. "I mean, how could anyone forget about them? They're practically unforgettable."

"Yeah, I mean" I thought to myself, a wry smile playing on my lips. "After all, we're vigilantes, always fighting to keep the city safe, day in and day out." As I thought some thing, Chris chimed in

"I think I will continue my father's footsteps," Chris began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "Back then, my father was always neglecting us, prioritizing work over family. But after that incident four years ago, everything changed. He realized the importance of family and began to bond with us in ways he never had before."

A sense of empathy washed over me as I listened to Chris's words, realizing the depth of his family's journey and the impact it had on him.

"And when I watched my father managing his business, I realized that I wanted to help people too," Chris continued, his voice gaining strength with each word. "Even though our paths may be different, the underlying desire to make a positive impact remains the same. Just like you, Michael, I want to use my skills and resources to help others, to make a difference in their lives."

His words resonated deeply with me, touching on the fundamental truth that no matter our backgrounds or circumstances, we all shared a common humanity and a desire to contribute to the greater good

With a nod of understanding and respect, I reached out to Chris, offering a silent gesture of solidarity and support. "I admire your determination, Chris," I said sincerely. "And I have no doubt that you'll make a positive impact in whatever path you choose to pursue. Just remember, we're all in this together."

Chris suddenly asked, "What about you, Michael? What's your future?"

My future, huh? I don't know about my future. After all, the only thing I think about is the plot of Spider-Man. The system said to me that the plot will start in 1995, and many crazy and badass villains appearing after Peter assumes the role of Spider-Man. I'll need to mentor and protect him throughout his journey. However, considering it's still 1952, and Peter doesn't become Spider-Man until 1995, I'm left wondering about my own future. Hmmm, maybe I should create my own business-like Batman, one as a successful businessperson akin to Bruce Wayne, and the other as a vigilante like Batman. It will be pretty cool, huh? As I pondered on it, suddenly Chris interrupted my thoughts.

Chris's interruption snapped me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the present moment. "Hello, Michael, hello, do you hear me?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Yeah, I hear you, sorry, I was just thinking," I replied, shaking my head slightly to clear my mind. "Hmm, for now, Chris, I don't have anything concrete planned yet."

Chris nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That's okay, Michael. You still have plenty of time to figure things out.

With that we kept talking during lunch, enjoying each other's company and sharing stories. It felt good to be surrounded by friends, and I felt optimistic about what the future held for all of us.

Meanwhile

In a secluded side across the city, Princess Lysandra D'Verte "Vampire Princess" and Atlas Pendragon Holtwood, the vengeful sorcerer, met in the dim light. Their eyes sparked with anticipation as they discussed their plans.

"Atlas, it has been four long years," Princess Lysandra spoke, her voice echoing through the room. "Is this the moment we have been waiting for? The time to unleash our plan upon New York City?"

Atlas grinned wickedly, nodding in agreement. "Yes, my dear Princess," he replied, his voice carrying a chilling edge. "The time has come to set our grand design into motion."

With a flick of his wrist, Atlas summoned a swirling vortex of dark energy, causing the air to crackle with power. "It is time to gather our comrades," he declared, his eyes filled with determination. "But not just any comrades. It is time to gather our original members."

Their eyes met in a evil exchange, and a wicked grin curled Atlas's lips. "Spider-Man," he sneered, his voice oozing with malice. "This is where your suffering begins."

"Let the New York war begin!" he declared, his voice echoing ominously through the room.

Little did I know back then that an incident would happen, completely changing our lives and separating us in a way I couldn't have imagined.

To be continued

The Start of the " New York War"