"Who's Miguel?"
"Your friend.""I don't know what you're talking about."Miguel sat at a corner sad, he had hypnotized him that night to make him forget.Miguel walked with Maks's shoe searching for Sam He approached the school. "I can smell you."He tracked down Maks at the school looking around, he didn't need the boot anymore. He could just find Sam and take him but first, he had to eliminate Maks.Present day,Miguel walked through the forest, he needed to feed before travel. His eyes rounded at a deer and his fangs elongated.Birds flew out of the trees following the deer's bellow.The next day, he grabbed his coat and books. He waved at Meg in the class.It was a typical biology class at Maks' med school. The professor, Dr. Jenkins, was explaining the basic structure of a cell, using diagrams and models to illustrate his points.Maks was sitting in the front row, taking detailed notes and asking the occasional question. He was focused and attentive, wanting to make sure he understood the material. His notebook was filled with neatly written notes, diagrams, and highlighted passages from the textbook."Who can tell me the powerhouse of a cell?"Most of their hands were raised."Okay, but who can tell me what the function of the ribosomes are?" Maks's hand shot up in the air. He knew the answer - ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis in the cell. He's excited to share what he's learned and show off his knowledge.Dr. Jenkins called on him, and he confidently answered,"Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis in the cell.""Very good. Now this is just the beginning but I'll have you know that this isn't just about acquiring knowledge. You are our future, we are dedicated to raising competent and possibly innovative doctors in the health industry."The professor's words were inspiring and motivating, and Maks felt a sense of pride and purpose. He knew that he has chosen the right path, and that his studies would make a difference in the lives of others.Dr. Jenkins' dedication to educating future doctors was clear, and it was evident that he wants his students to succeed.Maks was inspired to work hard and make the most of this opportunity."This won't be easy, some of you might risk your relationships. Some of you might be terrible at time management...so be very wise."Maks grinned knowing that everything would be fine. He met with Meg Masters after the class."So how's your journey coming hero?""Meg, for the last time. I'm not a hero." He said pausing."I'd be really disappointed if you gave up. Your other life isn't exactly helping matters."Meg's father died recently from an accident after she sent him away. She wasn't truly convinced that he had changed after trying to suppress her.She had lived with her grandmother Meg Masters I for years. In hopes of escaping her controlling dad and she was childhood friends with Sam.Meg sat back. "How do you guys cope? I don't even have any powers, I don't fight bad guys and I'm already failing at being human.""How do you fail at being human?" He asked her.Meg looked up."By the way, where's that knucklehead Sam?" She asked him.Maks recalled yesterday with the chupacabras and those innocent lives. The feral look on Miguel's face, the brutality of Sam's beating. He looked like he could have destroyed Sam but it was clear he was holding back."Maks?" Meg asked."What? He's out there somewhere. I don't know."Meg frowned. "I can handle it. Whatever happens, I promise I won't get mad."Maks walked away."Hey!""Come on." He said and they rode all the way to the fraternity house.Meg grimaced at the frat boys including Baron and Grieve."Well hello there. No girls allowed. And that means you, Anderson.""We're not here for you, Baron. Where's your friend?"Baron looked like he was relieving that moment that Sam fought back.He was convinced by his parents that poor people and middle class people were dirt. And yet here Sam was making friends from different backgrounds like no man's business.He squirmed. "He's outback.""Thanks." Maks said not hesitating to leave.Sam stood by the pool, the cold had subsided long ago and the heat was taking its course. He looked at his bruised face, some of his wounds had healed."Sam!" Meg said.He jumped into the water swimming away.She walked around the pool. "I can just walk around the pool fur for brains.""I was just sun bathing and taking a swim. What do you want?"She stood akimbo. "What happened last night?"Sam glanced at Maks who cleared his throat looking aside."I don't have to explain myself to you." He said smugly.She sighed. "So help me, if you don't step out of that pool!"Sam sat up. "Watch your tone Meg.""I did not walk all the way to this smelly frat house for nothing!" She said.Maks held her shoulder, she promised she wouldn't yell at him.Meg sighed. "Okay, it's fine if you don't tell me. I'm the human in the group. Don't mind me wallowing in my inadequacy."He looked back. "Rex is human.""He doesn't know about this!"Sam sat up blinking because he didn't have his contacts on. "Okay but it seems the pack are in town and they're asking me to join the chupacabras.""You didn't sought out these monsters did you?""Why do you always blame me for everything that happens?""Because you..." She pouted and closed her eyes. Her dad always blamed her for her inadequacy, it seems it caught on to her."Well. I don't want you to get involved with them.""I don't want that either.""So you'll stay back and let Maks do the dirty work.""This is my fight." Sam retorted."Harley sent him to some other dimension.""She can't travel between dimensions.""I was hoping you'd say that." Sam spokeMaks frowned.Sam took a good look at his friend. "You sent her here didn't you."Maks winced. "No, no I didn't, it wasn't premeditated. It's clear Meg cares about you and_""You're a bad liar.""God no. Seriously.""I'm not hiding anymore. This is all I have since my dad made me take that course.""I'm not trying to stop you. I'm just trying to help you weigh your options. You don't stand a chance against that guy."Sam blinked. "You've been training me for this.""I'm a student as much as you are. I'm only doing the best I can."Sam turned sad. "How can you train me if you don't believe that I can make it on my own.""I'm not doing this anymore.""You remember that promise right?""You remember that promise right?" Maks's eyes rounded. He promised that if Sam ever went berserk then he would kill him."Meg will hate me_""You're all about being grounded right. This is the best option, I think she'll understand." Sam said."Staying sane is up to you and killing you is up to me. So for your sake.""I'm doing this for my sanity." Sam said facing him. "Try to stop me."Maks walked out the door. "What did he say?" Meg asked and he couldn't look her in the eyes. "We have an understanding.""What kind of understanding?""You wouldn't get it." Maks said coolly and she sat hugging her knees....Miguel wanted Sam to join his cause, he didn't want him to be a victim of prejudice and rejection just like he was with his friend Stacy.Maks stood, he couldn't wait around for Miguel.He went after Miguel and so did Sam who ran on all fours. Harley hung on to her hellhound Blackjack with Artemis behind her.Miguel was headed his way with his other gang.Maks stood back and he
"I could have killed him.""That scares me, you actually wanted to kill Sam?" She said and he nodded then shook his head."I had a choice." He said to her. "I made a promise to do whatever it took to stop him if he went berserk."Artemis looked stunned. "Okay but why would you do something like that?""It's not exactly easy you know!""No need to get defensive. I train with assassins, I completely understand_""No, he's a monster now. There's a difference between being evil and being monstrous. That's our friend up there.""What are we gonna do?" Artemis asked.Maks was thinking. "I broke my promise. It's up to Sam now. We just have to trust that he can handle it. He did it once before, he can do it again.""Yeah but it's not that simple." She said. "Plan A, we can let him go and have him work on himself or Plan B, isolate him from his family and lock him up." Maks thought about Harley's dad, he was possessed and locked up, lost all the opportunity to connect with her. Because he made
She attended dance classes and girls from the background glared at her."Can you believe her? She's grieving for Bo and still acting like a main character."Harley stopped dancing and she walked towards them. "Can you believe that we're having dance classes and you're back there mouthing about what's none of your business?"Yvonne stepped forward. "Bo was our coursemate, she's our business too."Harley clenched her teeth. "You act like everything's not a big deal! Why don't you get out of your fantasy world and stop acting like everyone's jealous of you."Harley was taken aback. "I never said that.""Yeah but you certainly act that way." Yvonne said hurt.Her lip trembled.Keisha walked in with shopping bags, a yellow crop top, camouflage mini skirt, pop socks and baseball boots. She just went shopping."Ley Ley!""Keish!" Harley brightened up."You're late for class.""As if I care. Ares just let me loose, I can do whatever the hell I want. Ah, I'm so excited."Keisha was a Phoenix g
Maks talked to Sam on the phone. "You broke your promise." "Yeah, I know but you have to trust that you can overcome your dark impulses. It's a struggle everyday so...you're not alone.""Hey Maks, thanks for not giving up on me." Sam said.Maks felt relief. "Yeah."He turned to Harley and she was all prim. His phone almost dropped."Wow." He said.She approached him and he looked stunned.This felt like the first time they went on a date."This is awkward." He said out of his depth again."I must have overdid it. Shoot." She said.'I shouldn't have said that outloud' She thought."No you're fine." He said. 'That was hit and miss' His heart raced."Wanna watch a movie?""Yes, that would be fine." She said walking with a stiff spine to the couch."Wanna watch a movie?""Yes, that would be fine." She said walking with a stiff spine to the couch. She turned on the TV.He watched the movie and cleared his throat."You were right about Yvonne. I was acting spoiled."'Damn, what a turn-off'
She blinked, her heart started to race. It sounded romantic but she was afraid of heights."No, no no."He grinned. "Yes, you've been on a rollercoaster before."She sauntered to a shelf to put her sewing kit up. She was flustered at him."I promise I won't drop you, for most of the part."She clung on."Hang tight.""Oh, I'd never guess." She said.He grinned and his wings refracted flying and then finding a wind thermal.He would be soaring through the air with mighty agility. And aerial awesomeness but tonight he seemed to be flying with grace.Harley was already panicking. This would usually be every girl's dream but this was a bleeding nightmare.She closed her eyes tightly having flashes of exploring the tunnels as a child."Hello?" She said.A guard caught her. "Hey! Get back here!"She screaming running away from him.Ares looked up at her pulling the door open. "Where are you going!?"She ran through the field with Ares on her tail. She had seen the skulls, the spears, he had
She frowned at the familiar voice. "You.""I'm not going to hurt you.""Get away from me!" She waved her arm."Sit down." He said holding her shoulders firmly."You know I have powers right?" She said."You can't use them, you're sick."She eyed him. "I'm fine. What am I doing here anyway?""Your boyfriend brought you to me.""He wouldn't.""That's how desperate he is apparently." Ares grinned."Why would he do that?" She asked and Ares squirmed."Fei took my powers away from me.""Technically they were mine from the beginning?" She said, her feelings of resentment for Ares was rekindled."Don't start." He said lowering his head."Why would she take them? I saved the world even though I made a mistake. I shouldn't have them taken." She said."Settle down. Do you understand why I didn't want you in that battlefield?" She hugged her knees. "Because you didn't think I was a competent hero."He felt so much distance between them."When you were young, at first I was afraid you would use yo
Maks brushed his eyebrows and he prepared to take a nap. He didn't have the strength to go see Sam and his brain was fried.Harley danced along with the football players. She glanced at the punch."One drink wouldn't hurt."She drank from the punch and her head was spinning. She whooped dancing.She hopped on a table. "Drinks for everyone!"They screamed.Artemis's bottle slowly lowered from her lips at Harley laughing and pushing away a guy trying to shake her hand.She skipped outside twirling and a car was coming from up ahead.The man in the car sported the lady with a rhinestone dress and he stepped on it.Artemis lunged pulling her away. "What in the world is wrong with you?" Artemis said scolding her."My powers got taken." Harley said in a slurry voice."Wait till Maks hears about this, Blondie.""He won't balk, I can just teleport outta there." Harley said staggering."Yeah but what if you genuinely got hurt?" Artemis said."I can get back up. I'm fine! Really." Harley poked.
A new monster arrived in town but he was in the form of a human. A robber held up a picture of his son Otis, he had to pay for child support. His wife was keeping his son away from him. He cocked a gun and ran towards the National Bank."Everybody down! Hands in the air!"The people scrambled to do as he said. The air was tense.The banker tried to reach for the panic button. The robber shot him in the chest."I said hands in the air. Now load em up." He said and the bankers did as he said."If I hear a siren, there will be consequences."The robber ran out with his loot, he was relieved that there were no squad cars.He ran to his mobile car. He hissed at the flat tires. "Shit, aright, who's the wise guy."He turned to the guy in a black coat rotating a dagger.The robber assessed the holes. "You son of a_" He began to shoot and the man ran towards him and grabbed him by the neck leaving.The robber struggled, he was at his wits end. The man's grip was like steel. He kicked and his