Chapter VI

John walks in the hallway cramming for a test when he bumps into Arlo.

John: Ah, sorry Arlo.

A kid with blue hair and reddish eyes shoves John back from Arlo.

Holden: Hey cripple, what the hell, you don't just get to bump into someone, especially if...

Arlo: Woah dude, relax, it was a mistake.

Holden: Arlo! but?!

Arlo: Relax, I'll handle it.

Arlo: Hey, watch where you're going crip.

He winks and punches him on the arm, then heads on his way.

John: Yeah, okay Asslo.

Arlo: Hahaha, asshole!

John heads to class and walks into Seraphina. He scans her whole body trying not to make it obvious, but it wasn't something he could control when around her.

John: Oh, hey Seraphina.

Sera: Hey John, watcha studying?

John: I gotta cram for a history test.

Sera: Oh that's easy, here.

The two study together as they head to class, John starts to zone off and gets lost, then the hallway gets dark, and someone highlighted in gold appears in the hallway.

John: You! you're gonna quit doing that!

Joker: Or what, you gonna drown me in your grease ball of a haircut. Relax, time doesn't move much when we are in here anyways, only three seconds will go by when we do this.

John: Well, what is it, what do you want?

Joker: I want you to wake up, know who your little friend is here.

John: Yeah, well whatever you say is all lies.

Joker: Oh yeah, how about when she tried to take that cake from you? Huh, beat you up in front of the whole school? How about when she called you cripple trash?

Joker starts to show John a flashback to when he stood off against her in the cafe over a piece of cake.

Seraphina: You think you can just DO WHATEVER THE FUCK YOU WANT?! YOUR NOTHING!

John looks at the image, his eyes start to glow, bright this time. Really bright. So bright you can't see the normal pupils, nothing but Gold, followed by a pitch black void for a pupil seconds after.

Joker looks back in horror, for once he truly sees himself in John. A MONSTER!

Joker: What are you, crazy, you actually like that girl! You simp! After everything she's said and done to you?! Why are you powering up?! HAHAHAHAHA!

John looks at Joker with a dead look. His golden eyes pierce through Joker like a bullet.

John: Hey, you remember having to tell Sera that you were Joker. I know that must have been hard. Especially how much you LOVED HER!

Joker looks at John in an angry but shocked way.

John: Come on man, you and me, we are the same. So I know everything about you!

Joker starts to flashback.

Joker(in the flash back): Woah, you weren't kidding about a private conversation. Not even a walk or drinks? It's making me kinda nervous, haha.

Seraphina: Drop the act John, this Joker thing needs to stop.

Joker looks at her with surprise leaking out of him like a hole in a bucket.

Joker: Sera, I already told you didn't I, I'm not Joker!

Seraphina: I saw your fight against the Royals.

Joker: My fight? The guy had a mask on it could have been anyone.

Seraphina: I recognized you, your moves, you taught them to me. We have known each other for so long, it was too obvious.

Joker: How many times do I have to say it? I'm not Joker! If we've known each other for so long, then why won't you just fucking believe me? Hello its me JOHN! I'M A CRIPPLE I DON'T HAVE AN ABILITY! I LIKE GOING OUT FOR DRINKS AND HANGING OUT ON THE ROOFTOP, AND EXERCISING AND PLAYING GAMES! SURE I ACT LIKE A SMART ASS AND IT GETS ME IN TROUBLE SOMETIMES. HAVE YOU SEEN JOKER, I CAN'T DO WHAT HE CAN! THAT'S NOT ME! WHY WOULD I ACT LIKE THAT?! DO YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD DO STUFF LIKE THAT!

Seraphina: I didn't until I-

Joker (to John): Enough BRAT!

He swings but misses towards John.

The flash back flashes forward a little

Joker: PLEASE, I'M NOT JOKER!

Seraphina: Please John, if there is something wrong you can talk to me about it, denying it won't help.

Joker: I'm NOT denying it, I'm telling you how it is!

Seraphina: I already know about your expulsion from New Bostin, how you were an elite tier at least...

John from the flash back pauses.

John: No, You weren't supposed to find out about that, No one was, NO ONE!

Joker: WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT!!! It was ARLO WASN'T IT?! OR THAT FUCKING RAT ISEN!

Seraphina: No, John, I asked for the info myself, I came here MYSELF.

Joker: I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! AFTER EVERYTHING YOU CHOSE THEM OVER ME!

Joker (in real time): MAKE IT STOP!

Joker starts to swing at John, but misses, John returns the punches as the flashback is still playing! The battle intensifies as John starts to take more control of the situation.

Seraphina: Calm down, this has nothing to do with sides!

Joker: Shut UP! That's why you have been ignoring me for a week! I TRUSTED YOU, YOU WENT BEHIND MY BACK AND DUG UP DIRT!

Seraphina: Ignoring you was the least you deserved. Do you have any idea what I had to go through when I found out you were Joker. My whole world shattered, everything I knew was a complete lie. I had to reflect on it Piece together our whole past, what was true and what wasn't. So don't YOU DARE talk about trust in front of me WHEN YOU'VE BEEN LYING TO MY BACK THIS WHOLE TIME!

Joker looks at the image of what has gone down in his world.

John: Satisfied?

Joker looks at his hands as they shake, he then looks up at John as his eyes fill with rage.

Joker: I HATE YOU!!!!

John punches Joker in the face, real hard, he receives a hit in return that sends him flying.

Seraphina: YOU DON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT ME GOING BEHIND YOUR BACK, WHEN YOU HAD A WHOLE SEPARATE IDENTITY!

Joker starts to open up the portal. He watches as his past self and Seraphina fight back and forth over and over.

Joker: My past isn't any of your fucking business!

Seraphina: It is when I'm worried for you! Can't you've seen what you have done. You've thrown the school into a panic! You've hurt so many students! You're repeating your history!

Joker in real time starts to yell back: NO! I'm not, I'm fulfilling it!

John looks over in confusion. He sees Joker yelling at the image.

Both Jokers at the same time: I AM AWAKE I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS AWAKE BEFORE! YOUR THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES!

Jokers: EVERYONE I ATTACKED HAS ABUSED THEIR POWER ,THEIR ALL GARBAGE, THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS GARBAGE!

John: For once I agree!

As Joker says his next line in the image, John charges at Joker.

Joker (from image): THEY ONLY HAVE THEMSELVES TO BLAME! EVERYONE GOT EXACTLY WHAT THEY DESERVED!

Seraphina: IF you want revenge on the system fine! AT LEAST help the Royals make their jobs easier!

John rams into Joker, the two get into a tussle while the image still plays.

Seraphina: Great, point proven. Now what are you just gonna let the system collapse?! Burn in HELL?!

Joker: Not my problem!

Seraphina: EVERYONE YOU WANTED TO HELP IS AT WAR WITH EACH OTHER! MAKE IT STOP WE DON'T WANNA FIGHT ANYMORE!

John finally gets Joker in a choke hold when Joker uses Blyke's ability to blast John in the chest. The two are now flying around smashing and bashing at each other. Seraphina and Joker continue to fight each other while John and Joker struggle for victory. The dark void now filled with violence and hatred, two powers struggle for a lawless, empty universe.

Seraphina: WHAT ABOUT UNORDINARY, YOUR DAD! JOHN PLEASE LET ME HELP YOU!

Joker: Except I don't need any help. Sera,

you're just a cripple, what could you possibly help me with anyways.

The voices of Old Joker and Sera echo into the minds of John and New Joker as they fight for dominance.

John looks at the image in horror as to what he heard. He sees Sera crying, as Joker is telling her how she is useless.

John: NOOO, what happened, where is her ability?! I'LL KILL YOU!!!!

Joker takes this opportunity to kick John in the chest, taking the wind right out of him. John starts to cry a little. At this point, his pain for Sera is starting to become his weakness. He clenches his fists to hard his fingers start to poke through his palm. Joker copies a blade ability and stabs John in the chest puncturing a lung.

John to himself: No, I have to be strong.

John Watches as Seraphina slaps Joker, in a rage John does the same, as he does this Joker feels exactly what he felt when he was in that room with Seraphina. Joker now starts to break, John starts to take this opportunity to punch Joker until his nose starts bleeding.

John: MAKE IT STOP ASSHOLE!!!!

More punches fly at Jokers face as the two start to cry, at that moment they both know what they are fighting for.

John: You hurt her, you sonofabitch!

John charges and grabs his arm for an arm break, the break succeeds but he gets kicked in the back, getting it fractured.

Joker: Your days are numbered boy!

John: WORTHLESS TRASH!

John kicks Joker through the portal he made, as the world around him crashes, he starts to get a sense of where he is. In the hallway with Sera as they rushed to cram for a history test.

He watches as Arlo enters the room in the image.

Arlo: You can hit me all you want, all the times you harassed me, but remember all the students you hospitalized for touching her, the people you almost killed for abducting her?!

John looks in horror, in all the times he has fought with students he never has gone near killing one, only criminals deserve such pain in his mind.

Joker (In Image): Your all FUCKING DEAD TO ME!

The hallway of darkness starts to turn into light. Right as this happens John is back in his own senses. Walking with Sera, (at this point the music stops).

Sera: Okay so what year did the City of Rome... Hello? John you with me?

John in a panic doesn't know what to say, so he guesses.

John: 476 AD.

Sera: Hey not bad. I didn't even finish though. The question was actually when was it built. You got the date it fell.

John: April 21, 753 BC

Sera: Heeey, you really did study, hey I have to head off to Math, see yeah last period.

People stare at the two, clearly stating how Sera is too good for John, how the cripple should just disappear. This broke through to him. John went into his history class. He asked if he could use the bathroom, walking to Wallik hall, he found Blyke and Isen fighting again.

Blyke: Dude calm down, it was just a joke.

Isen: YoU MaDe FUn oF mY WaIFu!

Blyke: God damn dude, maybe if you weren't such a weeb then....

John heads into the bathroom, and starts to tear up when thinking back to the Joker battle. Back in the dark void, John pictures him and Joker fighting, all he can hear is Sera crying, turning away, no longer being his friend. He cried till his body couldn't produce tears anymore. He cried till his whole face turned red. He didn't make a single sound, yet Isen and Blyke could sense him at this point and stop fighting. They walk in the bathroom quietly to see John in the bathroom in front of a broken mirror. John spots them around the corner. Blyke and Isen are both startled at John's sudden presence.

John: Oh hey guys! What's up?

He tries to play it cool and casual, to look like nothing just broke him down. He puts on the biggest smile as his face turns back to his normal peachy color.

Isen and Blyke look at John, both thinking he is at his breaking point. Sixteen years of being cripple, on top of that being surrounded by the highest ranking students will do that to someone. Break them, not knowing the dark truth that was really taking place. John heads out of the bathroom.

John: Hey, I'm gonna go back to class now.

Blyke: Hey wait!

John: Yeah?

Blyke gives John a hug, John just stands there confused for a sec, then he hugs back, a bro hug, John might have fucked up in another universe, but this was his reality, that's all that mattered, to him, right here, right now. Isen joins too. The three stand their hugging all their problems away. That's what friends are for. Being there when you need them, without having to know why.

The three head back to their classes and push through the rest of the day. Last period comes around.

Sera: Hey John!

John: Yeah, whats up?

Sera asks if they can go in a private room. John gets nervous, he remembers what Joker showed him. The same yelling, fighting, screaming, all the pain of losing Sera washed over him. However, before his thoughts could drown him, he feels something warm around him. He looks to see Sera giving him a hug.

Sera: Blyke told me you broke down, he didn't know what to do so he wanted me to talk about it.

John: I'm not sure if I can yet.

Sera: Hey hey hey, it's okay look, you've been acting strangely lately, you know you can talk to me about it.

Sera holds John tight, as if squeezing all the toothpaste out of the tube at once. She then pushes John to the wall, gets close to his face before Blyke bursts the door open with his foot.

Blyke: Yooooo! Johnny Boy, you wanted to talk to me on the roof?

John and Sera jump.

John: Oh yeah, coming.

John waves bye to Sera, Sera reciprocates, John before leaving notices Sera blushing as he leaves the room.

John and Blyke on their way to the roof.

Blyke: Hey what was that with Sera?

John gets all nervous and tries to form words.

Blyke: Haha it's okay man, I'll tell yeah a little secret, you know, I'm kinda into Remi.

John: Wait what?

Blyke: Yeah and Arlo doesn't like to admit it, but he has got a thing for Elaine. BUT YOU CAN'T TELL ANYONE, NOT A SOUL.

John looks nervous as Hell.

John: Yeah you got it.

Blyke: Yeah, well what about Sera do you like?

John: What do you mean?

Blyke: Well you know, Remi's so sweet, down to earth, funny, and kinda has a nice as-

They arrive at the rooftop where Isen hears Blyke.

Blyke: Woah, gotta warn me, my guy!

John: No actually I don't in fact I could use both of you. Isen, see if you could dig up any information on Agwin's new Queen. Blyke, I need you to tell me everything about her, how she fights, her powers, to her description.

Blyke: Well actually, she gave me her phone number, and wants me to meet her at Woaba Boba cafe later today.

Isen: Whoa dude, I thought you liked Remi's well you know...

He looks at John for a sec.

Blyke: Nah man it's cool, Johnny boy already knows, also chill with that talk.

Isen: Okay so we all know why this is a little weird.

Blyke: Well to be honest I was gonna go and tell her this feels off, but John if you're right here, you could be talking about the infamous Cult leader, Araña Allet.

Isen gasps in shock.

Isen: Guys, is this really safe to go after, what if one of us gets hurt?!

Blyke: I know, John, if you want me and Isen will handle this, we will keep you informed.

John: NO! this is my calling, I will not be defined by my lack of powers.

Blyke looks at John for a solid minute, shocked at how careless this boy is, born crippled in a world that

hates him for what he is, yet he still fights for a chance to live in it. Such poetry if you ask me.

Blyke: Well Johnny boy, that's why us royals have you, let's not screw this up.

Isen salutes the three of them. They all salute back at each other.

Blyke: Well boys, I have a mission, for the boys am I right?

Isen and John: For the boys!

Blyke, Isen, and John all flashback to when they were all in second grade.

Blykes flashback: Breaking news a city near New Bostin has been taken over by a new terrorist group called The Cult.

Blyke: Mom what are we gonna do?

Blyke's mom heads over to comfort her son.

Isen: Breaking News, hundreds if not thousands are dead due to a take over in New Oklahoma city, that borders New Bostin.

Isen to his parents: Don't worry mom, me and dad will fight off the bad guys.

Isen's dad smiles.

Johns flash back: Breaking news, New Oklahoma city has been taken over by a new terrorist group called The Cult. It's leader has been identified to be an 18 year old that doesn't seem to age like the rest of us

Scientists say it's half breed between a human and some kinda bug.

John: Mom when am I getting my ability?

John's mom: Be patient, I was a late bloomer, you will get it when you're older than a lot of kids.

John's dad: Yeah son don't worry.

John: No, I don't want to wait, when I get my ability, I'm, I'm... I'm gonna hurt all the bad guys in the world, I'M GONNA HURT THEM REALLY BADLY, I'M GONNA KILL THEM ALL, EVERY LAST ONE, TILL THEY LEAVE NOTHING BUT A TWITCHING CORPSE.

John's mom: THAT'S ENOUGH!

John looks at his parents.

John: Mom? dad? I'm Sowwy.

John's mom: I think that's enough TV for you, time for bed.

John's dad: He's just sacred honey, after all if this gets worse we might have to move.

John's mom: Yeah, but come on, that kind of behavior, we are not letting our child grow up like that. And what the hell do you mean he's just scared, last I checked that's Psychotic!

Psychotic, just another word to him. He's heard it so much in New Bostin it got to his head. It was like hearing the word "and'' and "the".

John snaps out of his flashback and back into reality.

John: texts the boys

John: hey, I'm heading home,let me know if you two get a lead.

Blyke: I'll meet up with her.

Isen: I'll look for some leads, then we will find yeah a job Johnny.

Blyke: John, I respect this,

you're risking a lot here, no powers you know.

John: Listen, when the time is right, we should form a superhero team.

Blyke: Uhh lets not get carried away here, we still got high school.

Isen: Yeah man, I get this is exciting, let's just focus on one thing at a time.

John: Typing... Yeah sure.

John to himself: Right, they don't know I have powers, let alone what I do with them.

Meanwhile it cuts to Rein in the cafe, sipping on some tea.

Waiter: Can I get you anything else miss?

Rein: No that will do, I'm waiting for my....

Blyke enters the cafe.

Flash back to Blyke leaving the school.

John: Wait up!

Blyke: Yeah?

John: I almost forgot, here is a wire, wear this, get as much info as you can, Isen will use the press room to get info, and I will record it at home for future reference.

Blyke: Holy shit that's smart. Alright, I'm putting on the wire.

Isen

heads into the Press room while Blyke is at the Cafe.

Cecile is in the press room organizing the next story on Wellstons victory against Agwins. Isen bursts in the room.

Isen: Cecile, I need to use this room!

Cecile: Sorry buster, you know the rules, only I can be here from 3pm till the building shuts down.

Isen: I don't have time! I NEED THIS NOW! Listen, if I told you I had a better article, you would have to trust me.

Cecile: What are you talking about?

Isen: You have to promise me you won't tell a soul.

Cecile: This better be good!

Isen: Me, Blyke, and John are on an investigation, we think we found The Cults leader. The one that took over New Oklahoma city nine years ago.

Cecile: Yeah right, what load of bullshit!

Isen: Listen, this isn't for the school to know, we think we found her!

She goes to a rival school of ours!

Cecile: Listen, we all know what she looks like so if you can't pull up a picture of her now, then I will suspend your press room privileges for the week.

Isen: Okay now let me pull up her profile from Agwins data center.

Cecile stands behind him to watch. As he pulls up the data on the monitor he goes to another monitor to pull up the police description of The Cult leader.

The monitor reads a gray haired individual with red eyes when activated ability. The authorities have not concluded what her ability is.

Isen: Yeah see, there she is.

Cecile: Listen this seems heroic and all, but why wouldn't the government just send soldiers to the city, it's abandoned, maybe she is still there, but she isn't going to a prep school as queen. Trust me Isen, this isn't what you think

you're getting into.

Isen: I just need the room, not YOUR HELP!

Cecile walks out angrily, slamming the door behind her.

Cecile in her head: Whatever, the idiot is just gonna look like a clown!

Isen: Isen to John, Isen to John, do you read me?

John: John to Isen, my computer is ready to receive Blykes messages.

Isen: Wait, you have a receiver on your computer?

John: Yeah man.

Isen: What the hell are you doing in your spare time.

John: My mom was a government official before...you know,

Isen: Yeah man, I hear yeah, listen, I had to tell Cecile about this, I needed access to the press room to get multiple monitors.

John in his head: Well, that's what dad told me at least. But something's off, how come I never knew what her ability was?

John: What, No man I don't trust her! Somethings off about her vibes.

Isen: Relax, she thought we were crazy and...

John: Thanks for telling me. I'll have to watch her.

Isen is now a little confused.

Isen: John? what's going on with you two?

John: I couldn't tell you now, one thing at a time, hey I'm getting a signal from Blyke, when I tell you to, look up files on...

Isen: Got it!

John: Okay, computer turn microphone to Blyke off.

Blyke at the cafe.

Blyke: Hey there, you wanted to see me?

Rein: Hey there laser boy, took you long enough!

Blyke: You realize this isn't a date right?

Rein: Then why did you come?

Blyke to himself: WOW okay this lady is strange.

John starts to text blyke,

John: Listen man, I don't know why she's into you, but you're gonna have to be close with her for a bit. I'm a hundred percent sure she is our target.

Blyke: Hey umm I got to use the restroom.

Rein: Yeah sure.

Blyke: I wasn't asking, he smiles and winks.

Rein giggles a little.

Blyke in the bathroom

Blyke to John: What did you two sign me up for?!

John: Hey man, just look at her like

John: Hey man, just look at her like you're into her, from what Isen is describing she's kinda a hottie.

Blyke: THAT'S NOT THE POINT!

Isen: I don't know man, I got her files, pictures usually don't lie.

Blyke is now visibly frustrated.

Blyke: CAN WE NOT TALK ABOUT GIRLS WHILE WE ARE CATCHING WAR CRIMINALS?!

No one listens.

Isen: Wow, John I'm sending you something!

John: Oh my... wow... holy shit she's....

Blyke: ARE ANY OF YOU EVEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS DONE?!

John and Isen: No?

Blyke: Look I'm signing off.

John and Isen are now communicating via microphones.

Blyke: Hey listen, isn't it weird, how, we are the only ones who think this chick is somehow responsible for starting The Cult.

John: No, she managed to convince the world she died in an altercation with The Golden Dawn. Ever since the authorities stopped caring about crime. They think super heroes will take care of the mess now.

Isen: Oh yeah, well, if she was dead, how come people wouldn't start moving back to New Oklahoma city.

John: Property value has gone down, not to mention

too expensive to send in high tiers to clean up the towers of human body parts, they just fenced it off out of safety and expenses.

Isen: Well that makes sense. Hey how do you know all about...

John: Listen, I gotta...

John's mic cuts out as Seraphina walks in his house.

Sera: Hey, John, where are you? Not home huh?

Sera makes herself comfortable in John's living room while John starts to text Isen.

John: Hey Sera got home, I have to somehow create an alibi that will get her to leave.

Isen: Yeah, go for it.

Blyke in the cafe: So Rein, how long have you been looking this good?

Rein giggles a little and starts to flirt back.

Meanwhile in Johns Lair.

Computer text Seraphine that I am at Blyke's dorm.

Computer, Okay.

Seraphina checks her phone.

Seraphina to John: Okay then, I'll be at Elaine's then.

Meanwhile at Elaine's dorm

Elaine: Arlo! stop it, you know John doesn't mean anything to me. I just was acting weird cause I was nervous in turf wars.

Arlo: Okay then prove it.

The two go back and forth in a flirty way while Cecile's phone is tracking them.

Cecile: I have managed to track all the students so far who are a six and higher on the social hierarchy, except for one, who I know for a fact goes to this school.

The Golden God!

To be Continued.....