Chapter 1: Just Like You

My name is Yuri Sadisuto, and I am just like you.

"What?"

The young man before me projects a confused and tired expression. The perfect state to entrap and expose my prey.

"I'm just like you."

"What does that even mean?"

"Well, to be just like you means that we share a large similarity, something essent-"

"I know what it means, I mean what about us is similar?"

"Why didn't you just ask that, then?"

"I did."

"No, you didn't. But, either way, what makes us so similar is a secret that until a moment ago, you thought was known to you and you alone."

"And that is?"

"Ya know…"

"I know what?"

"Ya know. Ya know."

"No, I don't know."

"Really gonna make me say it out loud, huh? You and I are different."

"I mean I agree that you're different, but I don't know about myself."

"Different in another way."

As I realize I can no longer make my way around what I'm trying to say, I click my tongue a few times, then say what the man in front of me knows already to be true.

"You have super powers."

"Alright, I'm going to bed."

He reaches for the door that my small frame is barely blocking.

"No, wait! I can prove it!"

"..."

"Aha, that flash of panic on your face confirms it, you know exactly what I know."

"I don't know anything."

"Don't know anything, huh? Let's see what you know about these!"

Thrusting out the three polaroid photos I had been hiding behind my back, I watch, waiting for the mask of ignorance the man is wearing to melt away and reveal the cold calculating expression of a man who would try to explain his way out of undeniable proof.

"Feast your eyes on these."

"On what, it's hard to tell what's even in these photos."

"What? What the hell is this, they're ruined!"

Every photo, the ink was smeared and the parts of the photo that were creased were gone completely.

"Yeah, looks like some nice crease lines; what'd you do, fold them to fit in your pocket?"

"Yeah. I didn't think it would ruin them like this."

"What are these instant developing? Why not just use the camera on your phone."

"Cause it's cooler to use instant film, it makes you feel like a spy."

"Well, looks like someone missed the lesson in spy school where they tell you that folding instant film right after it's developed ruins the photo."

"Good to know. Damn, this really sucks. I had the whole thing planned out and everything, too."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, you would realize I knew the truth and, seeing that you had no option left, you would grab me, take me into your room, and admit to it all. Then you would make me your sidekick and we'd fight bad guys together."

"Well, maybe next time you'll plan out not destroying your only evidence."

"Look, despite what they might be now there was a time when these were proof that you have super powers. Even if they're destroyed now, I'll find new evidence to force you to admit the truth. Every moment of your life, I will keep you under surveillance until you finally slip up."

"If I so much as even feel you are watching me, let alone surveilling me, I'll report you to campus security. I'm sure they have several reports on you already."

"Six."

"Just leave me alone."

As much as I want to find anything else I could use to force him to admit the truth, I realize I have to give up for today. I walk out of his way, and make my way back to my own dorm room, the events of what lead up to this conversation replaying in my mind.

It was three months ago to the day when I first noticed him. I would later find out his name was Terri Pierce, but I would initially call him Subject 12. It was and still is hard to say what exactly it was that made me notice him. Something about him, it felt like he was trying to be unassuming. Like he was in Clark Kent mode and just wanted everyone to think he was the most normal person in the world.

Eventually, this feeling drove me to focus all my attention on him. After a few weeks of watching slight variations of the same boring routine, a single fruit was born from my effort.

I know it to be true. I saw it that day. I can't- I know I'm not crazy. Hell, being crazy would be more interesting than what I am now. No, I saw something far more interesting than a psychotic delusion. He was interesting.

And there is no way I'll allow myself to be left out of something interesting.