Red lightning: chapter 1
My name is Alec. I lived a relatively peaceful life in Vexen. — a city constantly shrouded in tension and danger due to gangs or just by people in general. But everything started to fall apart for everyone around me, changing my life forever. Some of my friends died from overusing their powers or falling into addiction with a drug that has been circulating Vexen.
I don't know much about the true origins of the curse that haunts us. All I know is that it came from some unknown godlike entity who practically doomed everyone without explanation. People rarely talk badly about it, because doing so could get you killed. Everyone must worship that entity — though no one has ever actually seen it.
Others call it powers or a gift. I call it a curse because that's what it feels like — force draining our lives. Yet, strangely, many still see these powers as a gift, even as they can kill us. Society looks away, pretending not to notice.
Why am I even writing this in a journal? Owen said it might help me feel better. I guess it's to keep myself from falling apart. Anyway, it's late. I should call it a night.
The dark sky over Vexen crackled with thunder. Heavy rain pummeled the deserted streets. Then a flash of purple lightning split an alley.
A girl descended from above, landing hard on the slick concrete. Her knees buckled slightly from the impact. She spotted one of the gang members just before he could react. Instantly, her hand sparked with searing purple lightning, blasting him off his feet and into a stack of crates.
The others retaliated. One generated a blazing fireball, which she narrowly dodged. She countered with a precise bolt of lightning that struck another attacker square in the chest, dropping him instantly. The rest tried to flee some managed one didn't, she was faster.
A streak of lightning flashed in front of the last man, cutting him off. Before he could move, she kicked him hard, sending him sprawling across the wet pavement. She stood still — eyes faintly glowing, breath steady, face calm. Blood trickled from her nose; she ignored it. Nosebleeding was one of the drawbacks from powers, it's something she'd grown used to.
She cast a cold look at the final attacker, still conscious. Grabbing him by the collar, she slammed him against the graffiti-covered wall.
"Where's Ember?" she demanded.
He spat blood. "Mira, you're still at this, huh? Just relax — I know people who might know."
Mira's eyes flickered with electricity as she pressed a finger to his neck. "I don't want those who are associated. I want locations."
"Goddammit! She's at the South Vexen scrapyard. Now leave me alone…" he said with fear in his voice
Mira released him, fighting the urge to end him. She'd planned to kill him — but restraint won out. Violence was familiar to her; holding back was not.
Years ago, she had stood in an alley just like this — smaller, powerless, overwhelmed by loss. Her parents, Miranda and David, fought valiantly against a gang with impossible firepower, as if their weapons had been enhanced by something unnatural. The flames took her mother first, then her father — their bodies burned beyond recognition.
In disbelief, young Mira had summoned a weak bolt of red lightning — a desperate move that startled the gang long enough for her to run. It was red, the weakest lightning imaginable, but it saved her life.
The rain stopped. Silence fell.
"Time to visit a pal of mine," Mira whispered to herself.
"Hey, Alec," Mira called softly.
"Mira? Nobody told you to do what you did! Why are you calling me in the middle of the night? You're bleeding again — nosebleeds, power overuse — how many times do I have to remind you?" Alec's voice was tired but protective.
Mira sat in his cramped apartment, blood streaming from her nose. Exhaustion clung to her.
"I don't care," she said stubbornly.
Alec sighed, gently wiping her face with a tissue. His hands trembled — a faint nosebleed of his own betraying his concern.
"You'll die before you even get close to that gang leader. Stop overusing your power."
"I said I don't care! Her name is Ember. She started this, and I'll end it. She ordered that attack — promised those gangsters that drug—"
Alec's eyes faintly glowed brown as he reached for more tissues with telekinesis. He wiped her nose, his own bleeding lightly.
"Ember's not alone anymore," he said quietly. "She's got muscle now. Before, she just hired random street thugs. Now? She's got serious backup."
"So what? I can fight just like them — better, even," Mira shot back.
"Yeah, but your trauma's fueling your drive," Alec said gently. "We need to be realistic. You're one person, Mira. There are many. We need to group up, train, and stay alive."
They stared at each other in silence.
Later, under the freeway, they regrouped with Owen, Irene, and the others. Owen sat cross-legged, conjuring a small campfire with his fire ability to warm them and light the area. Irene leaned against a graffiti-stained wall, arms crossed, a reckless grin on her face.
"The scrapyard," Mira said. "We hit it tomorrow morning."
"You sure?" Owen asked. "That's deep in gang territory."
"That confirms the intel I got," Mira replied.
Irene ignited a small flame in her palm. "Good. Been wanting a fight."
"This isn't a game," Mira snapped. "We go in, find Ember, end her, and dismantle the Phoenix Gang."
Alec, quiet until now, finally spoke. "I saw Ember once. She's falling apart — power's eating her alive. Her breathing's messed up, her eyes are bloodshot. And she's still using both her ability and the drug. She's addicted. Her gang keeps her supplied."
"She's doomed either way — by us or her own power," Mira said coldly.
They exchanged looks.
"If we're doing this," Alec said, "we disguise ourselves. If we get recognized out there, we're finished."
Mira rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Captain Obvious."
Alec shrugged. "We need more help. What about Jessica? Would she be interested?"
Mira hesitated. "No. This could get deadly. But I agree — we all need more training. Control, skill… at least enough to survive."
Everyone turned toward Irene.
"What? Why are you all looking at me?" she said.
"Let's just start training, move out guys," Mira said firmly.
"Mira if things go south," Alec added quietly, "we bail. No one dies ."
Mira nodded. "I won't allow anyone to die."
To be continued…