The Ultimates Chapter 2 (Part 1)

Merrick Place, Apt.1226
59℉
5:00 a.m.
November 21th

    He rose his head upwards to see his surroundings. He stood up, searching around, seeing nothing, except the eternal darkness and a reflective floor that covered the entire landscape. A crossroad lined with two paths, the first trailed with azure fire that could roast a live hog just from a single glance. The other, a light. Calling Alex over with its soothing tone, he started towards the intense glimmer down the latter road. As he continued down the lonely road, the light became more distant with each clomping step. Slower and slower Alex walked, the more he walked. Everything was so compact, gravity felt more present than the ongoing light. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Suddenly, nothing. Alex’s feet were no longer hauling him, instead bolted to the ground upon which he stood. Ignoring this fact, he kept trying to move. Still he remained bolted. No, not bolted.

    Frozen. There had been numbing sensation in his body, but still he tries to resist. He reached out to touch the light, embracing its golden aura. Then he finally did get a grasp onto it. The ball stopped glowing and grew dim, however. The golden glow had turned a sour red, and began to shrink exponentially. Inching closer and closer to Alex's ear, the light finally whispered to him. "Hatred."

    An eruption of energy engulfed Alex's being, paralyzing his already immobile self. Is this death ?

    "Hatred consumes all who bear it." the whisper repeated.

    Then darkness consumed his vision.

    “Wake up! Alex!” Camille exclaimed, shaking Alex awake.

    “HEY HEY! I’m up! I’m up!”

    Alex leaned forward, Camille relenting her grip from her brother’s shoulders.

    “Shit, Cam, you could've just knocked.”

    “I did. You were still snoring like you'd been counting sheep all through the night. Get up and get dressed, we're gonna be late for school.” Camille leapt and retreated to her own domain.

    Alex rubbed his strained eyes, trying to recollect his act. “Holy shit, that was intense.” Alex thought to himself. He reluctantly vacated his bed to prepare himself for another day of enriched education. "Another day of absolute dread. I don't know why Cam loves going to school so much." Collecting his belongings, he ate a quick bowl of cereal and met his mother at the door.

    “Now you two be good. Especially you, Alex.” Sheila said, giving Alex an almost literal cold shoulder.

    Camille showed a smug smile. “Can he really guarantee that?"

    Alex gave Camille a look of bitter wrath, about to open a jar of swears. His mother returned him a gaze that signaled for him to keep his head. “Remember how I asked you not to patronize your brother, Camille? So unless you want an ice cold slap, I suggest you start remembering that.” Camille sighed with a mixed look of fear and disinclination.

    The twins picked up their rugged backpacks and strolled out of the apartment, kissing their mother goodbye. “Alex?” Sheila called, Alex turning back. “Yes?” he inquired.

    “Look, I know how you feel wanting all the freedom in the world. You must remember, however, true freedom is anarchy. Anarchy leads to hatred, and hatred consumes all who bear it.”

    Alex nearly jumped out of his skin. Those words. They rang in Alex's brain like church bells. "Too much of a coincidence," he assumed. Alex waved to his mother and soon left with his sister. The walk to school was dull and unspoken like everyday, take the bus, exit, and head to first period. The two Frosts shared most their classes together, though that usually adds more time for them to begrudge each other.

    7:26, Alex thought, reading the time on his watch. "English with Ms. Vang. Worst class, I swear. So goddamn boring in that class." Ms. Vang, an older woman, sat at her desk adjusting her horn-rimmed spectacles. Alex was seated in the back of the class with Naga.

    “Naga, all I’m saying is that next time, let’s try to be a wee more discreet about what we’re doing. You guys were breaking shit loud enough for Vancouver to hear.” Alex said.

    “Well maybe if your ass had gotten outta the mess quick enough…” Naga retorted.

    “Yeah okay, I'll keep that in mind when the shots start firing.” Alex returned, with a hearty chuckle. “So what’s next?”

    “Rook got us another contract. Some protesters in Dawn Heights seem to causing quite a stir for a local business. He wants us to go down there and rough 'em up a bit. What say you?”

    Completely disregarding his mother, he eagerly agreed.

    “Narayan?” Ms. Vang called out.

    Silence surrounded the room.

    “Is Mr. Narayan absent?”

    Naga sighed, raising his hand. “Here.”

    “Ah, there you are.” Ms. Vang said, jotting him off.

    “Seriously, why are you so embarrassed about your name?” Alex asked, giving a sly snicker. "At least your name

    “Can you tell me anyone else with a name like 'Narayan'?” Naga replied.

    “I guess not.”

    "Exactly."

    "Damn right."

    "Speaking of money, did he tell you the pay?"

    “Okay, class. I'll be handing out a story called, The Lady Or The Tiger?”. I want all of you to read it quietly to yourselves. We will discuss it once everyone finishes. Please begin.” Ms. Vang announced.

    Glossing over the printed text, Alex streamed his eyes over the words, simply for the sake of wanting to finish the story as quickly as possible. He remembered the details as any other damsel and death invested story. However, as Alex continued to muse the excerpt, he became more interested in the mystery of such a decision. In his mind, it was just a matter of a 50/50 chance, but the more he pondered the situation, seeing through the eyes of the man in the arena, choosing at random for unwanted love, or unwanted death. The mere anxiety of such a decision would utterly demolish a weaker mind!

    After some time, the class eventually concluded their reading of the passage. Ms. Vang rose up, ready to test her class.

    “Alright, class. First question, what do think came out of the chosen door?” Ms. Vang inquired from everyone.

    Camille raised her hand high and mighty. “The lady.”

    “Why do you say that?”

    “Well, Miss, if the story goes along the theme of how sins are punished harshly, then I suppose that having to marry the lady would be more painful, at least in the long term, than being eaten by the tiger.” Camille answered.

    “Well versed, Ms. Frost. Anyone else?”

    Naga raised his hand. “Well, piggybacking on what Camille said, he chose the lady. Hell, if I was the man, I'd be damn sure not to be eaten alive. Maybe he and the lady took a train to Miami and started getting busy.” Camille groaned in absolute disgust.

    “While I appreciate your... contribution to the discussion, Narayan, whatever you were aiming to convey had clearly missed. I'll always cherish those misconceptions I had of you.” Ms. Vang riposted.

    Silent laughter could be heard from throughout the class, all directed at Naga who was shrinking in his seat.

    “Mr. Frost, would you like to enlighten the class if you have an answer?” Ms. Vang asked, turning her attention to the reserved  silver haired wallflower.

    The class set their eyes on Alex, awaiting his response. Camille lay her hand against her face, subtly flipping her bird. Alex shot a look of disgust at her, then took a calming breath in.

    “Well, ya see, I don’t particularly have a strong opinion of what came out of the door.”

    “Why is that?”

    “Well, when you think about it, it could've gone either way. Sure it may have been wrong for the man to fall in love with the princess, but only the king thought that. You can’t really blame someone for falling in love, can you?”

    “I think what Alex is trying to say is that there are equal reasons for the door to unveil the lady or the tiger, if it all came down to destiny.” a girl spoke out from the opposite side of the class. The pivoted their attention to her, a dark skinned girl, her hair looking almost ablaze. “His past actions would most likely be the cause of whatever outcome he is presented with. And like what Camille said, he would be punished either way, morally or physically.”

    “Excellent." Ms. Vang addressed, stupefied by her answer."Most certainly, Miss uh…”

    “Daniella Masterson. I got a schedule change to this class.”

    “I see. All of you introverted souls should thank Ms. Masterson for saving you from an hour’s worth of homework. I'm going to call some of you up for failure reports starting with... Mr. Narayan.

    “Oh for fu... fine.” Naga sighed to himself, standing up to collect his less than successful report.

    As chattering of the class were scattered throughout the room, Alex became entranced by the girl with flaming hair. He began to stare at her, examining her bodily features. Such a bright hue of hair color said it all, she also was a Powered. He hesitated for but a moment, but managed to work up to the nerve speak to her. Alex stood and walked toward Daniella, who was conversing with some other girls, Heaven knows what about. Alex, however, stopped in his tracks as he had seen another fine-drawn detail about her. Her ears were painted black and orange, almost like tribal markings, but they spoke to Alex, screaming: “The lady IS the tiger.”

    “Can I help you, Alex?” Daniella asked, breaking Alex’s still train of thought.

    “Oh, my bad. Good on you, elaborating on my thought. I don’t think I would've been able to finish it myself.” Alex said, shaking away from the trance.

    “Yeah, sorry about that. You seemed kinda stuck, so I just wanted finish your end of the spectrum.”

    "Right, right. So, uh..."

    “Mr. Frost?” Ms. Vang called out.

    Alex sunk his shoulders and silently groaned, knowing what is to come. “Be back in tick.” he said to Daniella hoping to continue the conversation afterwards, walking to Ms. Vang’s desk. “Yes?”

    “Don't bother asking if I have a report for you. You’re not necessarily failing as of now, but I encourage you to break this constant of being a C student, because you seem like a brilliant student.”

    “Okay so I've gotten teeny bit lazy with the homework…”

    “Mr. Frost, the last homework I assigned was last week Thursday, and the last one you turned in was in October. What I’m saying to you isn't meant to be taken lightly.”

    “Okay, I'll be sure not fall behind anymore. I'll even turn the old work in.”

    “Don't make me an empty promise, Frost. I simply will not accept it, and neither should you. With excellent grades-”

    “You can go anywhere and do anything, I've heard this shtick before.”

    “Then you must know that it is possible, Alex.”

    Alex looked at his teacher strangely, a little put off at her sudden change of identification. As he was about to interject, the bell for the next class rang.