Hero City - Origin Story

Chapter 1 - Amazing Grace

Funerals are generally somber affairs, even more so when it rains. There's still nothing sadder than children burying their parents.

A black-clad crowd surrounded the graves as both coffins were lowered, but the two daughters were separated from them all. The crowd surrounded them, but no one was close enough for a casual touch, not even one of comfort.

The elder held the younger's hand tightly, tight enough to hurt, but the younger just stared blankly at the twin holes in the muddy ground. "I don't understand," she said.

Her voice was low, but everyone heard her words clearly. A shiver went through them, causing even the Priest to pause in his reading. He recovered after a sad glance.

The elder's face was red from trying to hold back tears that came anyway. "It's okay," she hiccupped. "I don't either."

Ellie shook herself awake, bolting upright. She braced her hands in front of her, hitting the back of a seat. Right, the train. It was stopping. "Are we there yet?" The words spilled out of her mouth, followed by a massive yawn. She stretched out as best she could, feeling her shoulders pop.

Gracie seized her firmly. "Come on, come on!" she urged excitedly. "Let's go!"

Ellie took her time getting to her feet. "Relax, it's the last stop, it's not going anywhere."

"Noooo, you missed the BEST part!"

"What? It's the middle of the night and we're probably the only ones left." Ellie grabbed their things from the stowaway rack and beelined the nearest exit. Gracie was desperately trying to push past her, so she deliberately slowed her pace.

"Oh my god, you nerd! Lemme get out!"

"How do you have this much energy? At this time of night?" Ellie pulled her phone out of her pocket and checked the lock screen. 3:25 AM. No wonder she felt like lead.

Gracie heaved past her in the narrow space and ran for the door. She stopped suddenly, looking nervous. Ellie put her phone away. "What's up?"

"People are out there…"

"There can't be many, at this hour."

"What if there are other kids on the train?" Her eyes widened. "What if there is a cute boy out there?" Her voice lowered to a hiss.

Ellie looked down at her sister. "Are those really your top priorities right now?"

Gracie wrung her hands. Her sea-green eyes were wide pools. "Yes."

Her big sister adjusted the bag hanging from her shoulder. "And you call me the nerd…" She pushed past and stepped onto the platform.

First, she glanced up and down the train, checking who else might be getting off. They were the only ones. Then she turned her eyes to the small group on the other side of the platform.

They were all adults, headed by a woman whose hair was a black oil slick scooped up and swirled at the top of her head. She was at least middle-aged, with lines around her eyes and mouth. She wore thin black frames that rested heavily on the bridge of her nose.

Accompanying her were two nondescript men in black suits, wearing obvious earpieces. Slightly off to the side was another man wearing a white lab coat over wrinkled clothes that could only technically be classified as business casual. He wore glasses as well, wide frames that gave him a somewhat surprised expression.

Ellie looked down at Gracie as she peered around her sister's waist. "Don't worry, there are no cute boys out here," she assured her. The man in the lab coat coughed suddenly, covering up either scoff or a laugh.

The platform was slick from a light drizzle that had been with them since morning. Ellie stepped out further into the cool mist. Gracie shivered and trailed behind her. She was hunched slightly and her head barely made it up to Ellie's shoulder.

The two men in black wielded umbrellas while they strode purposefully towards the pair. The held them up over their heads and escorted them to the white-coated pair. Ellie glanced at one and then the other before holding her hand out to the woman. "Doctor Coleman?"

Ellie noticed her mouth twist slightly in distaste before accepting her hand. She squeezed it briefly and let go. "Correct. And this is Grace Dearely, I hope?" Her eyes slid off of Ellie and down to her sister. Gracie nodded but didn't speak.

"Yes," Ellie bit back a sigh at Coleman's obvious rudeness. "I'm her sister and legal Guardian. You can call me Ellie."

"Of course." Doctor Coleman's amber eyes stayed on Grace. "It's such a pleasure to finally meet in person." She held her hand out gently, but Grace let out a huge yawn instead of taking it.

"My apologies, we're up past our bedtime," Ellie said dryly.

Coleman turned to the man in the lab coat. "Let's get back. Mattu, bring the car around."

The man sighed to himself. "That's not-" Coleman was already walking away. "That's not my job." His voice grew firm, but not much louder. "And that's Doctor Mattu." His eyebrows knit together. This was an exchange that had happened often enough where he now gave up quickly.

He noticed Ellie and Grace looking at him and he straightened his shoulders. "Doctor Samir Mattu." He held out a hand. His lab coat was getting damp in the mist. "You can call me Doctor Mattu, or Sam if that's easier."

Gracie spoke up first. "I'm gonna call you Doctor Samir."

He held up a hand reassuringly. "Sam is fine. Most people call me Sam."

Gracie stepped out from under the umbrella and held her hand out to him in a professional manner. "Samir is prettier," she said matter-of-factly.

His tan cheeks flushed a shade darker. He shook her hand. "Then I shall call you Grace."

Gracie's nose wrinkled. "That's fair."

Ellie watched in amusement, then turned as everyone headed out of the station. She looked back at the silver bullet train that had carried them to this lonely city. She looked out over the black ocean. Just on the horizon, she could make out a glimmer of lights from Manhattan.

She turned again, facing forward, looking up at her temporary new home. Tall spires reflecting both moonlight and streetlights. Everything was sleek and symmetrical. There was no mishmash of different architectural styles here. Not in Hero. This city was planned and created by one group, for one purpose.

Hero was the place where both the gifted and the strange could study, work, and live... Her mind suddenly went back to her dream. ...Without hurting anyone.