V.I.R.A.L

For as long as we know, the idea of superheroes has been a part of society. No one remembers the first superhuman. Ask anyone, and they will all have a different story. Heroes have evolved a lot since over the years. From bands of merry men stealing from the rich and giving to the poor to masked heroes saving the day defeating the bad guy and getting the girl. And like the heroes of yesterday we change again with streamers. One hundred years ago, V.I.R.A.L rose from the ashes and saved humanity from destruction from the hands of so-called heroes. The CEO created the group to help support superhumans and give them a place in society, and so the streamers were born. Gone was the idea of secret identities and taking the law into their own hands. Instead, we found ourselves in a much brighter and safer future. Crime dropped heavily as people could use their powers not only for good but for their gain, making a following and becoming rich and famous.

And that's what I want to be, my name is Clark Henderson, and this is the story on how I become the number one streamer.

*****

"Stop squirming! Give us your lunch money. We aren't fucking about here."

The schoolboy was pushed to the corner surrounded by bullies all ready for a good beating. I couldn't stand for such turmoil. Jumping from the bench, I curled my fists together, yelling out. "Leave him alone!"

The bullies turned to me, looking startled. "Fuck sake it's that weird kid Henderson."

"I heard he put a kid in the hospital just for cutting the line for school lunches."

"Fuck this, let's get out of here."

I bolted forward raring for a fight as the bullies ran off. "That's right, run you pussies!" I felt a sense of justice and goodwill flood through me as I turned to the bullied kid. "That sorts that."

"Thank you, I thought I was a goner."

The boy was, for some reason, ready to leave. As he walked past me, I snagged his collar, throwing him back. "I didn't say you could go!" I snapped, rubbing my fingers together. "No good deed is for free, come on cough up the lunch money."

"What?!" He exclaimed in a shocked tone. I was already starting to lose my patients as he kept trying to wiggle his way out of the unenviable. "But you saved me from those bullies! They were going to steal my money."

"And beat you up, I stopped that so hand over the money, I don't do this stuff for free, you know."

"You're a fraud!"

I pressed my hand against the wall staring at the boy with a dead serious look, I couldn't quite believe him, does he not understand what I did?! I saved him, he owes me, in this day and age no one does anything for free. "Maybe I should call those bullies back over? I'm sure they would love to get a few good beatings in. Or maybe you feel like I get a few cracks at you. My services are not negotiable and non-refundable."

"I didn't ask for your help!" I raised my head staring down the coward. I didn't say anything until he finally broke dropping his wallet. I let him go pushing aside, counting the sweet dollar dollar bills proud of myself. The boy ran off as I smirked. "Thank you for the ten-dollar donation friend!"

Using the rest of the lunch period, I sat in the usual spot. The back of the school under the set of trees, it's the place where the least amount of people would bother me making for a perfect place to enjoy the streams. Switching it on I began glossing over V.I.R.A.L in glee. Vanguard, Ruby, truth, and so many more. All living the dream I so desperately want. I leaned my phone on its side to pretend to record me as I started making heroic poses. I stopped hearing a pin. I ran to the phone full of joy, reading the comments. "RavingLupo! Welcome, thank you for the twelve-dollar donation! Thank you Primeguard for the three-month subscription. How did I become such a famous streamer? Hard work and dedication. When will Vanguard do a joint-stream with you? I'm too busy at this moment, but I am sure I can find time for him!"

Pretending what was to eventually be my full life would always pump me up. It was pretending. No, I saw it more on the line of practising lines for my play. I held my phone dearly in my hand before crumbling away. "My account has been deleted due to violation of terms and conditions?! Again, this quickly? I just brought this account as well…" I began surfing through paid accounts grumbling at the idea of having to cough more cash just to continue my dream. Buying the third account this month I sighed waiting for the details to come through. The bell for the class went as I grumbled, shaking to the idea of being forced to sit through dumber lectures. I should be out there, fighting crime, making a name for myself all while getting rich. It's all I've ever dreamed of since I first laid my eyes on V.I.R.A.L I knew it is what I'm destined for.

I stood up, waiting around as everyone else was heading back into class. Keeping behind the tree, I patiently waited to see if any teachers were around. Once the coast was clear, I climbed up the tree, jumping the wall and heading off to achieve my goals.

****

"What's taking you so long?! Just give me the information…" I snagged refreshing my emails for the new account details. Being too fixated with my phone, I didn't see the coming officers. My eyes met up with them as I froze turning around.

"Hey, kid." I squirmed gulping as I began to walk away. This only drew attention more from the police. "Stop, I said, stop!"

Leaving myself, no chose, I began to run stick glaring down at my phone, hoping for the details. I could hear the two officers in hot pursuit as they soon both began gaining on me. I was already running out of breath, not good with running. I had to stop to catch my breath. Doing so, I saw an old run-down building poorly boarded up. If I wasn't going to run, I should hide. Darting to the building I began tugging at the boarded-up windows clawing away trying to get in. Seeing the cops in the not so far distance, I flurried at the window with all my might breaking off two boards. It wasn't ideal, but it was far enough for me to squeeze through. As I fell through the police continued to shout. "Come out now, kid, you're trespassing on private property." I crawled back letting out a sigh of relief. This was short-lived as they began knocking the door down. I jerked back in shock, hitting the wall behind me.

The wall was covered in leaves and grass forcing me to move back slightly startled and taken back. Getting a good look at the border, the leaves read out a message. "The garden is your salvation?" Standing up, I couldn't help but feel uneasy about this place, I felt like, no knew I shouldn't be here. Stepping back the floor creaked and echoed. This was met by a crack, which followed by a hole. And me falling in it. The fall felt like it lasted forever. Forever falling. Looking up, I could still see the spot from which I fell. It hadn't moved. Yet I was falling. Would I be trapped like this forever? Falling with no stop.

No. That wouldn't be the case. The hole and the light that went with it soon vanished. I hit the ground yet I was okay. Counting roughly in my head, I around knew I had at least fallen for fifteen minutes. Maybe more, maybe less. The fall should have killed me. Yet I was safe. Where I had dropped was close to being pitch black. The ground, although not seen, I could feel like I was lying on a fresh coat of grass. Freshly cut and well looked after. The warm smell of honey danced at the tip of my nose, making me feel safe. Welcome. Although it was tough to see, I could see something in the not so far distance—a small flicker of hope, a tiny glimmer of light. Standing up, I began to approach the light. Every step on the grass felt like I was sinking like trapped in quicksand. Having to make great strides with my walk, I kept pushing towards the light. Getting a closer look, the light was coming from a small crack in the wall. From the gap, a little bud. I stood in confusion, not knowing what to do. It wasn't clear at all if there was a way out, nor could I go the way I came. I was left dumbfounded and lost. That was until I heard a voice. "You seek salvation, no?" My head pivoted around hearing the voice come from the wall. Though there was no clear sign of anyone there. I licked my lips feeling uneasy. "You come here seeking the future. Your future."

My head pivoted down, eyeing the bud of a plant with uncertainty. It sounded absurd. Crazy in fact. But somehow the idea came to me, the plant was talking to me. "Did? Did you just talk?"

"As I did, Clark Henderson."

I stepped back. Shocked yes, but on top of other things captivated. I needed answers, whether I like it or not this plant might hold the key. "Who are you? What is this place?"

"This place is but an echo, an echo of the past and possible future." It spoke softly, whispering each word with a slowly winded slur. "As am I. We've been waiting for you, waiting for you your entire life."

"I don't understand."

"And we never expect you too. You want to become what they refer to as a streamer, yes? Yet they deny you your dream, why?"

I curled my fist together grunting—the words slivering through my mouth. "The test says I'm unstable. Not fit for the task."

"How does that make you feel? Angry? Upset? They don't understand you, that's what you think, yes?"

I walked up to the bud squatting down, looking at it more closely. "How do you know this?"

"Unstable and no powers of your own." The voice hissed playing with my mind as the words echoed through my ears. "You will never be a streamer in your state."

"No, that's not true!"

"Denial."

"You don't know a single thing about me! I will become a streamer! No one can stop that!"

"Anger."

I flinched holding my phone up. "See, I buy accounts. By any means necessary. I am a streamer."

"Bargaining."

"If they just, why? I could be a streamer… Why do they always stand in my way?"

"Depression."

I fell to my knees head hunched over as I began to cry. I didn't bother wiping my eyes as I let the tears run down my face falling onto the grassy floor. "I know. No matter how hard I try. No matter how much I push myself, believe I can be a streamer. It's all the same, my dreams are crushed by everyone. I'll never be a streamer."

"Acceptance." The voice cowered. "These are the five states. The five stages all humans face in their lives—no matter who, no matter what they do. The five stages of grief will always consume the masses until there is nothing left. But there is another. A sixth stage. Salvation." The bud opened up as I peered inside the bud held a small pool of liquids. The colour was a soothing purple. The look of it was thick as it showed my reflection back. "Drink. Drink the liquid of grief and find your salvation."

I stared at myself for a short while. I was unsure. But if it was to help me become a streamer. I'll do anything. Cupping my hands together, I Scooped the water from the bud—the liquid resting calmly in my hands. I moved closer, no going back, I sipped the water accepting their salvation. As the liquid touched my mouth, I fell back into the grassy terrane coughing. My throat burned. It hurt. My whole body reacted to the drink as I began scratching at my throat. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! I began rolling around as once again, I felt myself sinking into the floor. Everything started to go dark before I was left alone also.

"We found him!" The officer yelled. My eyes cracked open at a snail's pace as I found myself a worn-down cellar. The light from which I once fell from basked over me. I lifted my hand seeing a small crushed bud alongside my phone. "Kid, don't make this any harder, are you hurt? Are you alright?"

I turned my head as the police officer reached out towards me. As he reached out for me, my body snapped. I stood up in a matter of moments holding my eye. "Salvation seeks all those who are willing to listen."

"What?"

My sight turned to him as I thrust my hand forward my whole arm phasing through him without any damage. The officer looked on in pure horror as I pulled out his heart without a single drop of blood. I let it fall to the ground as the officer fell dead. The other one recalled in fear as he pulled out his firearm and began firing. The bullets all phased through me as I turned to watch them all leave holes in the wall. The officer squirmed in fear dropping his gun and fleeing. My body recalled from its transparent state to normal as I glanced down at my hands. A playful smile soon followed as my phone went off. I glimpsed down at it seeing my new account details through—the Phantom Streamer.