Inversion Read online

“You’re so close,” she said. “Please don’t quit now.”

  “I’m not quitting,” he said, his voice shaky.

  “You’re fired.”

  Carson got a call from Jacob on his way home.

  “Hey man,” Jacob said. “I just wanted to say sorry about the outburst.”

  Despite his anger already at a boiling point Carson pushed it down.

  “Don’t worry about it. I think we’re all just getting stressed.”

  “I knew you were going to say that so I was thinking we could get together and go to the soccer game at school tonight. What do you think?”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yeah. No powers, no training. Just you, me, and Abigail,” Jacob said.

  Carson thought it over for a few seconds. “Sure. When’s it start?”

  “Soon,” Jacob said. “We’re heading to school if you want to meet us there.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

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  CARSON RAN AS FAST as he could to the school, excited to watch the game. It was weird, especially since he didn’t particularly like sports. He knew that they needed a day to just relax. Training and graduation was causing too much stress on all of them.

  There were more people than Carson would have expected when he finally got to the school. He had never been to any of the games before so he didn’t think that so many people would go.

  “Hey, man,” Jacob greeted him.

  “Hey. Hi Abigail.”

  “Hi,” she said bitterly. She still wasn’t fully over the argument they had.

  “Hey,” Jacob said. “No fighting tonight. Tonight is just to relax. No fighting, no powers. Just food, friends, and fun.”

  Carson’s ears perked up. “Food?”

  Jacob pointed across the track at a small metal building. “Let’s go get some first and then find some seats.”

  There were a lot of food choices despite the snack bar being in such a small building. There were too many things that sounded good to Carson. He was so engrossed in the menu that he didn't notice Abigail and Jacob behind him.

  "Get whatever you want,” Jacob said.

  "Really? What is this our first date,” Abigail teased.

  Jacob laughed. "No. That's later tonight."

  Carson continued to study the menu, oblivious to what they were saying.

  After they all got their food they sat at the top of the stands, as far away as they could get from everyone else.

  “What’s your mom doing here,” Abigail asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  Carson watched his mother walk onto the field carrying a microphone.

  “Good evening everyone,” she said. “I just want to inform you all that we will be having a town hall meeting in the gymnasium at Bishop Bay High right after the game. I would appreciate all adults to attend this very important meeting. Thank you and enjoy the game.” She was gone just as quickly as she had appeared.

  Jacob took a bite out of his hot dog. “What’s that about,” he asked Carson.

  “No idea.”

  The game started with players from both teams meeting in the center of the field. The referee blew his whistle and the match started. Matt was the first to get the ball, launching it down the field.

  “I think it's funny how Matt plays sports but still has so much anger,” Abigail said.

  Carson spit out his water.

  She put her food down on the metal seat. “I have an idea,” she said. She grabbed Jacob’s hand and pulled him with her. She motioned for Carson to follow them.

  They walked down to the gate that blocked off the field from the spectators. Carson’s eyes continued to follow the ball. He found the game somewhat entertaining. The ball shot back and forth across the field at a blinding speed.

  “Watch this,” Abigail said devilishly.

  On the field Matt readied himself to kick the ball. There was no one guarding him and it was going to be a straight shot into the goal. Abigail summoned a gust of wind to push the ball just as Matt went to launch it. When Matt’s foot shot forward it met nothing but air. He was on his back a second later.

  Carson and Jacob burst out laughing.

  "Didn't I say no powers,” Jacob asked, still laughing.

  "Oops,” Abigail said. She turned to Carson. "I'm sure that you're holding back a lot of frustration. Why don't you give it a try?"

  "I dont know,” Carson said. "What if I lose control. There's too many people here."

  Abigail shot a glance at Jacob. She didn't know how to handle his lack of confidence. Jacob got the hint.

  "You can't be scared of using your powers,” he said. “That's when you lose control. When I first learned how to fly I got scared and flew across the room into the wall.”

  Carson laughed. “Really?”

  "Really,” Jacob said. "You just have to trust yourself. Yeah you'll make mistakes at first but I mean it's not like there's a manual on superpowers."

  "I guess you're right,” Carson said.

  "I’m always right." Jacob turned Carson so that he was facing the field.

  "Look at Matt. Him and his goons are so tied up with the game that I'm sure they don't even know that you're here watching them. Now's your chance to get some of that sweet, sweet revenge."

  "Ok, ok,” Carson said laughing. He closed his eyes and focused. He could feel the players running across the field as they kicked the ball around. When he opened his eyes he searched for Matt and let out the small amount of energy that he allowed to build up within him. The ground trembled slightly as a shockwave traveled toward Matt. The tremor hit him and a couple of his friends straight on. They all fell onto each other in a jumbled heap.

  Everyone laughed as they tried to untangle themselves. Even from the sidelines Carson could see Matt's face had gone red.

  "Ok,” Abigail said, still laughing. "No more powers for real now."

  The trio watched the rest of the game without attacking Matt with their powers. Carson found himself actually enjoying the game. He liked not having to think about training or graduation for a few hours. It didn't last, however, and reality came crashing back down on him when the final buzzer signaled the end of the game. Bishop Bay had won by four points. Carson and Jacob jumped to their feet and cheered. Abigail covered her face to hide herself from the glances that were thrown their way.

  "That was actually pretty fun,” Carson said as they made their way down the steel bleachers.

  "Good. I'm glad. So no more fights,” Jacob asked.

  Carson looked back and Abigail and smiled. She smiled back.

  "No more fights,” he said to Jacob.

  Carson reached down and picked up a handful of stones from the dirt that surrounded the field and rolled them around in his hand.

  "I think I'm going to go to that meeting my mom's having. You guys want to come with?"

  "Can't,” Abigail said quickly. "I have more college prep to do tonight. Sorry."

  "That's ok,” Carson said. "Jacob?"

  "Sorry man, can’t. Mom needs me at home tonight."

  "No worries,” Carson said, not letting their rejections put a damper on his mood.

  "I'll see you guys later,” Carson said as he broke away from them.

  "Wait,” Jacob shouted after him.

  Carson turned to him, confused.

  "Dude. Look."

  Carson followed Jacob's finger to where he was pointing at his arm.

  The rocks that Carson had been carrying just seconds ago had broken apart and were stretching across his skin. Carson held his hand up for all of them to see.

  The rock clung to him like a second skin.

  "That's new,” Carson whispered. He flexed his fingers and the rock broke apart and fell back to the ground in a cloud of dust.

  "Do it again,” Jacob said.

  Carson picked up another handful of rocks. He closed his fist around it as tightly as he could and directed energy
into them. He opened his hand to reveal them still intact.

  He closed his hand and tried again. No matter what he did the stones wouldn't break apart.

  "Keep trying. You did it once so you’ll be able to do it again eventually,” Jacob said

  ***

  By six forty-five the schools’ gymnasium was packed. A nervous chatter filled the air. Carson found an empty seat in the front row. He tried to get comfortable but was constantly being prodded by bony elbows. Several news reporters stood a few feet away, setting up their equipment. Carson’s leg bounced nervously. The last time he had seen so many cameras together in one place it didn’t end well.

  “Good evening,” Ellie said, starting the meeting.

  Her voice boomed from the speakers that hung from the ceiling. The crowd fell silent.

  “We don’t have much time so I’m going to get straight to the point. Due to the rising costs of electricity and other natural resources, along with what happened at the Aldridge Museum, Governor Williams has decided to adopt a somewhat new federal program known as Dark Hours.”

  Shouts erupted throughout the gym. Questions were being asked faster than Ellie could hope to answer.

  “Please,” Ellie pleaded. “Please. One question at a time.”

  Several hands shot into the air. Ellie randomly called on one.

  “Yes. Richard.”

  “What the hell are Dark Hours,” Richard asked.

  Ellie couldn’t help but smile. She liked answering the easy questions first.

  “Dark Hours are essentially a curfew that is being put on the town as well as the rest of the state. Simply put, at a certain time each night all businesses and residences that are deemed to be nonessential will be required to use minimal power until the following morning. Stores and the like will now close prior to the start of Dark Hours. However, hospitals and other emergency services will remain operational.”

  The crowd started arguing again. Ellie ignored their angry rants and continued.

  “Things that are necessary such as air conditioners or heaters or refrigerators will be allowed to be used for the time being. Other items such as lights or televisions are forbidden, by law, during Dark Hours. Anyone caught using these items are subject to hefty fines or even arrest for repeat offenders. Officials will be randomly monitoring meters every night.”

  “This is unlawful,” someone shouted.

  “How can you do this to us?”

  Ellie yelled into the microphone. “Silence!”

  “Listen,” she said, pulling the mic from its stand.

  “Bishop Bay has not been immune to the growing energy crisis that this country is facing. If you think it’s bad here then imagine what’s happening in the bigger cities. They are moments away from chaos. The Dark Hours are a small price to pay in order to stave off something worse. We will be following this program to the letter. It’s our only chance of keeping peace and order.”

  The woman next to Carson stood up. She held a small child on her hips. Carson moved in his seat so that he could look up at her.

  “How exactly is this supposed to help? It’s not going to solve anything. Saying that you’re doing this to keep peace and order is a downright lie. You’re just using those words to get us to stay quiet.”

  The woman sat down as soon as she was done talking. The jerky movement made her kid upset.

  “I know that this is going to be a big adjustment for all of us but I’m telling you that it is absolutely necessary. You may not see the point of it now but when we are still maintaining order while other cities are in chaos you will be glad that we implemented this program.”

  “When does this start,” someone shouted. Carson couldn’t see who it was.

  Ellie’s smile was long gone. “Tonight.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  |||||

  THE SMELL HIT NICK first. The acrid scent of beer invaded his nostrils as soon he pushed open the unlocked window. He climbed over the windowsill as quietly as he could. When his bare feet met the soft carpet he let himself drop the rest of the way in. He reached back outside and pulled the God Complex through, setting it carefully on the carpet beside him. As he pulled himself in he could hear loud cheering in the distance. He ignored it and shut the window behind him. Nick pulled the car keys he had stolen out of his pocket and tossed them onto a nearby bed. He stood in the middle of the room, resting. He looked down at the bed longingly, wanting nothing more than to sleep. He knew that even trying would be pointless. The voices wouldn’t let it happen until he found what he had come here for. Instead he walked across the room, savoring the soft, cool feeling of the carpet against the cuts on his feet. He pressed his back against the wall and slid onto the floor.

  Nick closed his eyes for a few moments. When he opened them again he let them drift around the mysterious room that he had taken refuge in. He wondered why he had chosen to break into this house in particular. He had no other explanation than it was just a feeling that he had. Not as strong as the pull the traces of energy had, but a feeling all the same. A few posters were messily taped along the walls. He couldn’t help but feel a sliver of sadness looking at them, not understanding why.

  Nick looked at his arms. The black patches had been growing ever since he first left the museum. He winced as he pressed his finger into one of them. The skin there felt frozen and stiff. Touching it sent a shockwave of pain through his sore body. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to stay in the house for much longer. Nick stood up and walked around the room, lightly brushing his dirty fingertips across anything he could touch. There wasn’t much. When he reached the closet he pulled open the door and flipped on the light inside of it. He squinted in the dull yellow light. The closet was nearly as empty as the rest of the room. Nick looked through the clothes that hung in front of him. He slid the ones that he didn’t like to the other side. Most of the clothes looked used and worn out. There was hardly any new clothing. Nick slid a plain white shirt that had more holes than fabric to the other side of the closet, revealing a green hoodie hanging behind it. Nick carefully pulled it off of the hanger. He took off his frayed shirt and slid into the hoodie. It was tight around his wrists but fit perfectly otherwise.

  Nick zipped up the hoodie and stepped out into the hallway. A bright blue light illuminated the path to the living room. The sour stench of alcohol that he had first smelled when he broke into the house grew stronger. Entering the living room, Nick noticed a pair of feet hanging over the edge of the couch. He walked further into the room, curious to see who it was. Anger took over him as the man's face came into view. His head felt hollow despite the overlapping voices. A dull pain formed in the back of his head. He felt like he was supposed to be remembering something, but didn’t know what it was. Nothing managed to push through the fog and it only made him angrier.

  In a flash of rage Nick grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and pulled him onto the floor. The man’s eyes shot open. They were bloodshot and heavy with sleep. Nick had to keep from gagging from the stench on the man’s breath.

  “What the hell,” the man screamed, his words slurring. His eyes finally focused on his attacker.

  “Nick?”

  A small flicker of memory passed through Nick’s head. He had heard the name before but couldn’t remember where. Nick reached down and wrapped his hand around the man's throat. He lifted him into the air with an ease that surprised them both. The man kicked his foot out and connected it with Nick’s shin. The flash of searing pain forced him to let go.

  “You little-,” his father said, grabbing Nick before he could get away. “You shouldn’t have come back.”

  Nick looked up just in time to see a meaty hand slam into the side of his head. The voices were at a frenzy now. Not because of the pain that was pulsating through his skull but at the energy his father was showing. Sure it wasn’t the sparks that he had come for but it was more energy than he had taken from anyone else that night. They want
ed it. Begged for it. His father swung again, his punch loudly connecting with Nick’s collar bone. Nick cried out in pain and fell backwards onto the television. A blue light flashed as the television died, plunging them both into darkness. Nick gasped for air. His father stepped over the fallen tv and stood over him.

  “You were better off dead,” he sneered.

  He reached down to grab Nick but was met with a powerful kick to the stomach. With his father distracted Nick rolled back and disappeared into the darkness.

  “Where are you, you little shit?!” His father swung blindly, unaware that his blows were just barely missing Nick.

  “Right here,” Nick whispered into his ear.

  His father swung behind him but only found empty air.

  “I don’t remember who you are,” Nick said from somewhere in the darkness. “But something gives me the impression that you aren’t a very good person.”

  “Fight like a man for once in your pathetic little life Nicholas.”

  Nicholas. Another tinge of pain sparked in the back of his head. The fog was no longer there. A buzz started in his head, growing louder and louder, overpowering the whispers. The buzzing was soon unbearable. He backed up into a corner of the room as memory after memory forced its way back into his head. Nick cowered, slumping to the floor. He finally knew who he was, and more importantly, who the man in front of him was. He remembered everything his father had done to him.

  “Fight me you coward,” his father shouted.

  Nick stood up, his fists clenched. He couldn’t see through the dark but he could sense the life that flowed through his father’s veins. He wanted nothing more than to rip it out of him. He wanted to make his father pay for the years of torment he forced him to endure. The whispers all merged into a single voice as a bright blue light traveled down his forearms. His veins glew beneath his pale skin. The light softly illuminated the room around them.

  Before he could strike Nick rushed his father and pushed him back against the wall. His father tried to punch but Nick easily caught his hand.