Chapter
1 – Blessed Child
My parents say that I’m special,
more than I realize. The sounds of explosions and fighting near their farm made
them check what was going on, and they found me in a military convoy, inside a
capsule. Because the battle sounds were close, they took me to their house to
keep me safe. They thought about giving me up to the government if they came
back to take me, but at the same time, it didn’t feel right to them that the
military was carrying an infant in a capsule, so they didn’t rush to give me
up, even when the military returned to clean up the scene. A common saying in
our town is “love your country, but not always your government”. My parents
decided to keep me since no one came for me and named me John Elio.
At first, they couldn’t tell why
the military had me, but as the years went on, signs began to show. Starting
when I was two, I’d mysteriously disappear from the house and show up at the
church we went to and be in the adoration chapel, saying mama, papa, and
brother to Mary, St. Joseph, and Our Lord Jesus, respectively. The priests and
nuns would first take me home when this happened, and then just call my parents
to pick me up at their convenience about it, because they were convinced that
God was allowing me to do this for a reason they didn’t understand yet. While
in adoration, they’d say that my blonde hair and light blue eyes would shine as
if reflecting the face of God. Not long after, I was able to leap around like a
little frog and lift things like fridges, ovens, and the like by myself, like
how an ant can carry things fifty times their weight.
That's when my parents thought I
was a superhuman, which is why the military had me. Even now, it’s not unusual
for the government to take superhuman children from parents who neither know
what to do with them nor want to handle them, and superhumans are becoming more
common these days. In the past, they would appear during major moments in
history, rumors, and legends. Now, people can visit government-approved labs to
be injected with super strength, speed, and agility, the same abilities I
naturally have. Those born with natural powers, or who acquire them through
accidents, supernatural events, or some extraordinary moment, can join various
government-supported hero groups to become real heroes, fighting for justice
and saving lives. Because of my powers, I dream of being like the heroes I’ve
seen online, on TV, in comics, books, and movies.
My entire room is decorated with
all kinds of heroes, along with pictures of saints and my own little adoration
chapel, which my parents put in my room so I’d never accidentally run off
again. I look out the window to see another sunny morning and thank God for it
before heading downstairs for breakfast. Everything my parents make comes from
the farm, our friends' farms, or the local market. Today’s meal is eggs, bacon,
and toast with orange juice, a classic that I could have every day and never
get tired of. My parents are dressed in jeans, boots, and plain shirts for farm
work, as usual. My mom has bright brown eyes and a bandana wrapped around her
blonde hair, while my dad has slightly darker blonde hair and green eyes. They
both remind me of today’s duties as I enjoy my breakfast and watch them happily
joke around with each other, like I’m watching a slice-of-life romance show.
My mom looks at me and says, “Have
you listened to a word we said?”
“I did,” I say, and then repeat
back to them what they said.
“Alright. I was wondering if you
were awake because you looked like you were daydreaming.”
“I kind of was. I was enjoying the
sight of you two being happy.”
My parents blush. Even though I’m
ten, and ten-year-olds usually start to grow distant from their parents as they
become teenagers, I refuse to do so and will always show and tell my parents
that I love them. My parents and I say our family rosary and prayers before
they drive me to school in town. After giving them both hugs and kisses, I say
goodbye and head off. Once at school, I have to keep my powers contained and
focus on my studies. In a normal school, there aren’t any courses for those
with natural or artificial powers. I wish there were, since I think it’s my
calling, but I focus on my studies anyway, even though I don’t think I’ll ever
use the knowledge I gain here.
Still, some of my friends here want
me to show off my powers by lifting tables or vending machines with one hand or
demonstrating how I can leap up to the second story of the school in one jump.
I tell them I can’t do that while we’re at school and promise to show them
afterward, which disappoints them a little. Some kids get jealous of my powers
and try to bully me because of them, but I shrug it off, smile, give them a
hug, and offer words of understanding.
“You don’t need powers like me to
be special. You’re special the way you are!” I say.
My kindness usually makes them back
off, act nicer towards me, or, in some cases, lash out in anger, which forces
me to tell the teachers. I don’t mind the bullying and jealousy, but what
really upsets me is when they go after my friends. Those are the only times I
raise my voice and push the bullies back with my strength. During these
moments, the bullies often try to tell the teachers about me to get me in
trouble, but they only end up causing themselves more trouble, while I just get
a warning and a reminder to not use my strength and to tell a teacher when
bullying happens. Besides that, today was another fun day at school. Afterward,
I show off my powers in the park and then get picked up by my parents.
I tell them how my day went, and
then help them on our farm by taking care of the animals and vegetables we
grow. Another benefit of my powers is that my stamina allows me to work hard
throughout the day without feeling burned out. Maybe this’ll change as I get
older, as my elders say, but I think I’ll only get stronger if I continue to
exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. With today’s work done, my parents and I
eat dinner and then do my homework. To cap off the day, my parents and I sit on
the porch to look at the stars, read, and then watch TV, before going to bed.
In the night, I’m awoken by a
tapping at my window. Excitedly going to the window, I see a girl with white
hair and a cloak covering her body and most of her face. This girl is a bit
older than I and has been visiting me ever since I was able to talk. She’s
claimed responsibility for freeing me from the government, says she’s the
reason why they’re not coming back for me, and checks up on me from time to
time to see how I’m doing.
“Hey, big sis! How are you doing?”
I ask.
“I…I said to stop calling me that,”
she says.
I can tell that she wants me to
acknowledge her as my sister, even though I can’t see her face, and she
constantly denies it. There’s a feeling in my soul that’s like a voice that tells
me she is. We talk about how my day went, and I try to pry into what she’s been
up to, but she just talks about vague things and tries to change the topic and
focus on me. Still, I try to talk about what’s bothering her.
“What kinds of bad guys have you
been beating up? Has that one general you keep mentioning been giving you trouble
again? Maybe I can help you beat some sense into him,” I say.
The girl smiles for the first time
in a while and laughs.
“No, you can’t. I doubt you’ll be
able to help when you get older, and pray that you don’t meet the general.”
“Why not?”
“He’s not a nice guy.”
The girl’s words sound pained as if
she doesn’t want to say or believe what she said.
“Is he someone you really know?”
“Just know that he’s the reason why
both of us have powers and put us through experiments to do so.”
“I see. Well, if he makes you upset
and isn’t a good guy, I promise you that I’ll find a way to make him pay for what
he’s done.”
“Heh. Don’t count on it or worry
about that. Let me handle everything while you enjoy your life.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay
here with me? My parents are nice and wouldn’t mind taking you in.”
The girl bites her mouth.
“I wish I could, but I can’t, for
your safety and theirs. Go to sleep. I’m sure you have another great day ahead
of you.”
The girl leaps up into the sky and
disappears into the night. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that you live a happy
life like I do one day, and I become a hero like you are, sister. I promise.
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