Bringing out your best - Prologue

She walked down the cold streets of New Orleans, the only sound punctuating the night air was the crunching of snow underfoot and the occasional sound of Alicia’s chattering teeth. It seemed that no matter how many layers of clothing she wore; somehow the frostbite still managed to seep into her bones. She muttered something inaudible and pulled her coat tighter. It didn’t seem overly safe to be wandering the streets this time of night.1

Alicia took a quick sidelong glance down one of the cities many alleys, but kept walking. She wanted to get home as soon as possible. Besides, dirty, dark, smelly alleys weren’t her favourite hang out spot. 2

“Hey, kid! You…”3

A figure emerged. Alicia tried to stifle a gulp. This was the exact thing she was avoiding. Thieves, Assassins,4

Dirty old men?5

“You. What are you? You’re not human. Not real? What? Power. Feel it. Embedded. Earth. Human, not human.”6

He ranted on, reaching out for her. Alicia raised and eyebrow and took a step back. This guy just seemed to be talking gibberish. She wasn’t sure whether to answer or not.7

“I’m a mutant, Mr… erm… Mr. whoever you are. A mutant.”8

“No, no, no. Good and Bad. Power. What are you? You are like them. Off our planet.”9

“Um, right. I’ll just leave now, okay?”10

Alicia walked slowly backwards, aware of the fact that eventually she had to hit the curb. It didn’t bother her too much. She had combat training. She could take him. It would be easy, punch to the stomach, kick to the head and he’d be down. Easy.11

Or at least, it was until Mr. Crazy pulled out a lovely silver gun. Damn America and their legal gun laws…12

This time Alicia audibly gulped.13

“This won’t do at all. Mutie scum. Die. You’ll all die. I’ll kill you myself. Mutie bye-bye. All gone.”14

He lifted the gun and aimed at her head. Alicia did the second most stupidest thing possible. She screamed. Then took off down the street at a run. 15

Mr Crazy’s footsteps could be heard running after her. He was determined to use his own branding of justice. Punishing her for the crime of mutation.16

She realised that while she could run faster, he had a better knowledge of the city. That didn’t stop her running though. She had to get away.17

Alicia rounded a corner and shrieked as she crashed into something solid. A pair of strong arms gripped her shoulders, stopping her falling. She looked up, and into the face of her imminent doom...18