Love and Salvation: Chapter 1 – Love at First Sight

Chapter 1 – Love at First Sight

Today’s another beautiful day God has given us in the Sunny City of Tomorrow, Solis, in the best country in the world, the Columbian Union. I help charities relocate donated items from one location to another, ensuring that the homeless and those in need receive the essentials, the sick reach their destinations, cats are rescued from trees, lost pets are reunited with their owners, and I give talks at schools.

“You’re so cool, John Elio!” people tell me.

“You’re such an inspiration to the kids.”

“When I grow up, I want to be like you!”

“I want to beat up bad guys like you did when you went on that rampage through the city,”

For the last particular response, I say, “Don’t do that, unless you absolutely know for sure that you’re doing the right thing, and allies to back you up.”

I wouldn’t want anyone to turn out to be like my friend, Mark, who was a good-hearted but reckless hero. Seeing a rise in crime, I quickly go out to each of the locations, stopping robberies, protecting people in fights, and taking down superhuman villains and criminals who want to make a name for themselves. During street battles, I help the cops quickly restore peace. Right after the fight ends, several heroes and vigilantes arrive on the scene, and they are annoyed and disappointed because they cannot claim the glory or credit for their help. They complain about me constantly resolving issues as soon as they are reported.

“Well, at least you can rest assured that the city is safer with me,” I say.

“Pfft, whatever. That’s easy to say for you since you keep getting all the credit,” one of the heroes says.

“I don’t work for the credit. I’m just trying to help people as soon as they call for it.”

The heroes scoff at me again and head off to the next call for help, while I assist the authorities in cleaning up here, helping them cuff the criminals and put them in their prisoner transports, and aiding the injured who were caught in the fight to get to the ambulances. This is why I prefer doing menial charity work. It’s heartbreaking to see people hurt and their life’s work damaged or broken beyond repair, and the other heroes always complain if I work too hard at my job. I always feel like I have to remind them that we work to protect and help the city rather than work for a paycheck and glory.

One of the officers says to me, “Have you thought about getting an upgrade to your outfit? I’m not trying to say that your casual hero, complete with a hoodie, jeans, and boots, and a classic hero cape, is ugly. I’m just talking about getting some armor.”

“Nah. I’m nearly invulnerable, so I have no need for it,” I say.

“I know that, but you can never be too careful.”

“I’m good. I have a sort of ballistic weave in my clothes, if that makes you feel any better.”

“I guess.”

My friend, Luke, created the ballistic weave that all heroes in Solis have made standard and are upgrading upon. As for me, I keep the last upgrade he made before he passed away. A few onlookers cheer us on for our heroics, and some of the teenagers discuss the pointlessness of being a cop.

“They practically give you powers nowadays because of how far science has advanced. Heck, they do the same for cops, so there’s no reason not to be a hero,” one of the teenagers says.

“Yeah, but I’d still like to be one,” another says.

“Why’s that? I heard the pay isn’t as good, and you have to adhere to more rules.”

“I just admire them.”

“For what? Their knight armor that they wear? You can get better, more stylish gear from the hero associations if you sign up with them. The police have no reason to exist in the modern day because of heroes.”

Going up to the teenagers, I say, “The cops are just as heroic as the heroes and vigilantes, and should be treated with the same respect.”

The one teenager who wants to be a cop thanks me and smiles, while the other tepidly agrees and looks away. My friend, Titus, was a police officer before joining a hero association comprised of former officers. The police should receive due honor just as much as heroes, and not be looked down upon by anyone. Some of the civilians here that I know have offered to make me breakfast since I saved them again. At first, I deny their offer, but after they offer to make me my favorite breakfast: eggs, bacon, and toast with orange juice, and are persistent about it, how could I say no, even though I already ate breakfast with my family in the morning?

While eating breakfast, I look at the friends and their families around me, their smiling faces, and watch them talk and laugh. This is why I became a hero: to serve God, protect people, and bring them happiness. Moments like these are beyond precious and can keep a man going no matter how hard life gets. After finishing my meal and saying goodbye, I head out and am about to respond to more requests for help when my older sister, Idelle, calls me.

Answering the call, I say, “Hey! What’s going on?”

“Have you made any new allies yet, like I’ve been telling you, John?” Idelle asks.

“I…haven’t, yet…”

“This is why I’m calling to remind you, and no, the heroes and vigilantes in Solis, your hometown of Poca Bellezza, and the secret agency don’t count. Have you even made any friends since you lost Luke, Titus, and Mark?”

“…not really.”

“Look, I’m sorry to have brought them up. I just want you to have more people looking after you since so many people have grudges against you, and because the agency told me that you got those same people coming after you today.”

“I’ll find an isolated place to deal with them.”

“It’ll be worse when you’re isolated. I’m heading over to you now. Keep an eye out for trouble.”

“Right. See you soon, sis.”

I leap up into the air and jump around on the rooftops, keeping an eye out for trouble. An hour passes until I feel a presence I’ve never felt before turns my attention to a woman who is quickly running at me with super speed. She’s…she’s…I run at her with my own super speed and meet her halfway. She’s about to stab me with her long, black nails, but I grab her and kiss her on the lips, something that stuns her at first. She then stabs and slices at me with her nails that feel like they have poison to them, none of which are effective against me.

Finally free of my kiss, she says, “Stop! What are you doing?! Why did you kiss me?!”

“You’re the one God made my heart fall for,” I say.

“What?! You just met me. How would you know that?!”

“I just know. I’m sorry that this is so sudden, but will you marry me?”

The woman’s pale face is flushed red, and she’s stunned again before spitting a greenish, black acid in my face, something that doesn’t affect me like the rest of her attacks.

“I came here to kill you and draw out the agency you work for,” she says.

“The agency? I don’t really work for them. I just help them when our interests align,” I say.

“Why would you do that when they’ve experimented on you and your sister? They did the same to me, which is why they have to pay!”

“I thought they stopped experimenting on people against their will?”

“I volunteered, but that doesn’t make a difference. What they did to me wasn’t part of the agreement, and them just letting me go and offering me to work for them doesn’t even start to repay what they did to me. I’m walking death now, and there’s no shot at me going back to a normal life.”

“I can help you. I have to, as your husband.”

“Shut up! Don’t say stupid stuff like that when we’re not even married.”

“But we will be. My name is John. What’s yours?”

“…Deborah.”

I hug her and say, “Deborah, I promise to make you happy and live a fulfilling life. Just tell me what you need.”

Idelle finds us and says, “John! What are you doing?”

I hold Deborah’s hand and say, “This is the woman God chose to be my wife.”

“What? She clearly doesn’t want to be your wife, given how she’s struggling to let go of your hand.”

“I can tell just like how I knew you were my sister before you told me.”

“You were right about that, but this is something completely different.”

“Let go of my hand!” Deborah says.

“Will you let us help you?” I ask.

“Why should I believe that you people don’t work for the same agency that experimented on us?”

“I know the agency better than John does, and know its past evils better than most people, so trust me when I say that we only work with them when our interests and methods align. They’re the ones who told us to watch us for people coming after us today.”

“Huh? I thought Deborah was the one they were warning us about.”

“No, they weren’t concerned about her. We’re facing a larger force that should be arriving soon.”

That larger force soon attacks us as a barrage of missiles hits us, followed by a group of superhumans hitting us with their powers. I let go of Deborah’s hand and protect both her and my sister by getting in the way of attacks meant for them. There’s no time for defense when the two most important people in my life could be seriously hurt or die in this instance. I push myself no matter how much pain I endure to keep the two of them safe until the battle is done. By then, I collapse to my knees, and the agency Idelle and I ally with arrive with the police, who arrest the people who attacked us.

Idelle helps me up and says, “You didn’t have to defend me. You know I hate it when I see you get hurt.”

“And you know I hate it when the same happens to you,” I say.

“You didn’t need to help me either. My acidic blood heals my wounds, and my body is more resistant to damage than it seems,” Deborah says.

“I still wanted to protect you since you’re going to be my wife.”

“You-you just can’t drop that on someone! What if I refuse to be your wife, and keep doing so no matter what you do or say?”

“I’ll convince you. I’m sure of it since our hearts were made for each other. If you want a normal life and justice for your condition, I can make it happen. Let’s work together and go from there. The agency that you want to draw out is here, after all. I just ask that you give me a chance.”

“I might if you help me kill them.”

“That’s not going to do anything to help you.”

One of the agents comes up to us and says, “Deborah, is it? John is right.”

“You’re just saying that to save your lives!”

“It doesn’t make a difference. We know what you want and what we did was wrong, but there’s no going back, and what’s done in the past is permanent. I’d trust John if I were you. He was the reason why we stopped experimenting on people the way we did.”

“I still want payback for what was done to me!”

“If you do, you can go after the people who just attacked you. They were part of the same group that experimented on you and still do the same to others to further their own ends.”

“Oh, and I’m sure you guys are all saints now, huh?”

“I can say we’re the lesser evil, in your terms.”

“Deborah. Please,” I say as I put my hand on her shoulder. “Killing them, and those associated with them for their past actions, will only make you a wanted criminal for life. Help me and I promise that I’ll give you the closest thing to a happy, normal life that you can.”

Deborah seems to think it over for ten seconds, until yelling out, and agrees to help us out.

“It looks like I don’t have a better choice. I’d rather not live miserably on the run for the rest of my life, so I’ll give you a chance.”

“Yes!” I say as I hug her. “Thank you so much! I promise that everything will be better from now on.”

“Stop promising so much! I’m sure you won’t fulfill every single thing you’ve promised.”

“I promise that I will.”

“Tch. You’re impossible to deal with.”

“If anything, he’ll try,” the agent says. “John hasn’t failed to accomplish anything he’s set out to do, so far. Now, follow us to our hideout. We have some leads you may want to follow.”

Idelle, Deborah, and I agree to go with the agents. Please. God, help me be the man Deborah needs, so I can break her heart of stone and help her escape the misery that blinds it.

The first collection of John Elio stories is out today!

Paperback ($10.99) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNKMZ41N

Kindle ($4.99) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNJF2KJQ

Johnson and Josephine Elio find an infant boy in the wreckage of a military convoy and decide to adopt him, naming him John Elio. What they don't realize is that they've discovered a boy with the potential to change the world for the better. John Elio grows up to be a superhero who puts God first in everything he does. Unlike most other heroes, his simple goal is to do God's will in every moment of his life. Though life challenges him and seeks to harm his loved ones in unexpected ways, he always strives to do the right thing, regardless of the odds or consequences.

This collection includes: A Man Who Loves His God and Family, The Value of a Single Life, Even in Conflict, Honor Thy Father and Mother, A Gentle Man's Wrath, and An Older Sister's Responsibility, along with Behind the Story trivia for each story.

My next book is out today for free!

Download my book for free at select online retailers on Books2Read - https://books2read.com/b/bzGDP9

It's been over a year since Idelle's little brother, John Elio, visited and contacted his family. Worried about his safety and state of mind, Idelle is convinced to search for him, despite her thinking that she won't be able to. Even though she's his older sister and he looks up to her, she isn't very good at doing anything that doesn't involve violence, but she'll try anyway, hoping that he's the same beacon of hope for her that he's always been and won't need much convincing.

An Older Sister's Responsibility: Chapter 4 – An Elder Sibling’s Role

Chapter 4 – An Elder Sibling’s Role

After days of going from place to place, I’ve narrowed down where John is. He’s in the crime-ridden city of Meridian, a gothic, art-deco-looking city that’s notorious for its high levels of crime and a dark hero known as L’Obscurité. He’s been sighted here recently, the most for whatever reason, so I search every corner of the city, from the wealthy suburban area to the city’s slums and most depraved areas. One of the people I questioned ends up being an agent I should’ve recognized, who was wearing a disguise.

“I shouldn’t be surprised that you’ve been following me,” I say.

“Why shouldn’t we be, especially after all the commotion you’ve been causing? You’ve probably done more damage to your image than John has, and should consider yourself lucky that we want to keep good relations with you by covering for you in the media,” the agent says.

“You’re doing that just so I can help you further your own ends.”

“Is that really a bad thing? John has been helping us of his own free will without us pushing him. If he says no, we leave. If he says yes, we’re glad and pay him generously.”

“Have you found out where he is yet?”

“Almost. He’s here, but we’re not exactly sure where. We were hoping that you’d find him by now or that he’d find you. How about we help one another?”

“N-”

“Before you say no, let me tell you that our targets are ones that your brother has been going after. Helping us with them will show John that you’re the same sister who goes out of her way to help others, that he thinks that you are, and not one who kills a person just because they get on her nerves.”

“Tch. Fine! Give me a list of names and locations.”

Within seconds, I get what I need sent to my device and head out. Most of these people are simple targets to eliminate or kidnap and bring to the requested locations; however, there are a few who have strange powers that affect my black snake and strengthen it. Thanks to going to confession, I have the grace to overcome their powers over me. Still, the thoughts that they put in my head make it difficult to defeat them, and I’m not used to fighting foes who have supernatural powers. When I call the agent about it, they talk about a cult whose been making Meridian worse through their powers, and despite their best efforts, they haven’t been able to expunge them from the city, but my taking out these people grants temporary relief to the people here.

“How charitable of you,” I say.

“You may not trust us because of our previous actions, but we’ve changed and are trying to make this country a better place, just like your parents wanted,” the agent says over the phone.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll believe it when I see good changes because of you.”

“That’s the thing about being an agent. We receive thanks and payment for our efforts under the table rather than getting any kind of public thanks, stories written about us, or merchandise made of us.”

“I’ve finished your hit list. Have you found John yet?”

“Yes, we have, and you’re going to kick yourself like we did.”

“Why?”

“Where would you think John would go?”

“I’ve been searching for him for weeks, and I’m tired of guessing. Just tell me.”

“A church, particularly its adoration chapel. We’ll send you its location.”

“…I’ll give you that. Those kinds of places should’ve been the first places I should’ve checked.”

“He comes and goes from that location, so if you head over there now, you should be able to catch him. On another topic, can we trust that you’ll help us again if our interests align again?”

“Only if John says I should. Bye.”

Quickly heading to the church, I find it empty except for John, who has a sleeping bed next to a monstrance. It’s like the adoration chapel is his personal room with clothes on a clothes rack and things placed around the altar, which are the same things I’ve heard people giving him as thanks for helping him. He’s dressed just as he was when he left home, wearing a red and blue hoodie with a golden cross on the back, blue jeans, and black boots.

“John!” I say, immediately getting his attention.

He smiles brightly at me like usual, speeds over to me, and gives me a big hug.

“Idelle! I’m so glad that you’re here. What brings you to this part of the country?” he asks.

Okay, this is the moment I’ve been dreading the most. Do I tell him that our parents are worried about not hearing from or seeing him in over a year? Do I act as the older sister that he thinks I am? Do I guilt him into coming back? Well, I'd better first let him know why I’m here and go from there. Please, God, help me say the right words to him.

“John. I’m here to tell you that you need to go back home,” I say.

In nearly an instant, John says, “Okay! Let me get my things first, and let my friends know I’ll be leaving.”

“…huh?” I say, completely taken off guard.

“What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean by ‘what’s wrong’? You’ve been gone from home for over a year! I’ve been searching for you for weeks, getting into God knows how much trouble, was expecting you to have some reason for not coming home, and that I’d have to convince you to come back home.”

“I’ve been roaming the country helping others, especially my new friend, Timeo Severe, who is actually the hero, L’Obscurité. He’s wanted me to look after his city while he looks after his family and plans his return to defending it. I wasn’t sure if I should go back home since so many needed my help, and I had been praying for a sign to go back, particularly for you to find me since I told you to do so if I didn’t come back after a year.”

Having no good argument for what he said, I instead say, “You could’ve at least had your phone on you, so I could call you to find where you were.”

“Yeah…I broke it during a fight with a villain.”

“How have to been accepting requests and helping with the government agents then?”

“I still have the personal device our parents made for me that only responds to my biological signature. I guess it must not have a tracking device in it since they’ve had trouble finding me as well.”

“I can’t believe you!” I say as I punch John in the elbow.

“What?”

“You’re so stupid! I’ve been through and done so much to try to find you, and you’re just here as if missing from our family hasn’t meant anything to you!”

I keep punching John, calling him stupid, an idiot, and other related words, as I air out my grievances, and let him know what I’ve been through and done to find him, as I try to hold back my tears. He hugs me again and kisses me on the head.

“I’m sorry, Idelle. I didn’t mean to make you go through so much for you to find me. I promise that I won’t do it again.”

I hug John tightly and say, “You'd better promise never to leave me again! I didn’t know if you lost yourself or did something you would regret forever, or a bunch of other things! I don’t want to lose you because if I did, I’d lose all hope in the world and myself.”

“Without me, you’ve remained strong. You’re still the same big sister I’ve looked up to my entire life, who's inspired me to not let the pains of the world keep me down. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you. I’d probably lose hope in the world and myself as well.”

I cry in John’s arms as he begins to cry with me. After calming down, John packs his things, says goodbye to the priest in this church, his new friend Timeo Severe, and we head home, arriving in about a day of running thanks to our super speed. Our parents cry and embrace John when they see him, and we have a celebration dinner for John’s return. He shares all his stories about what he was up to while he was away, and I just listen to him speak. As much as he says that I’m his inspiration to be stronger, he’s also an inspiration to me to be strong and to become a better, more virtuous person who always sees the good things in life. I pray to God that I become more like him in my own way, and that we’ll always be together, only changing for the better.

 

The End

An Older Sister's Responsibility: Chapter 3 – Giving in to Irritations

Chapter 3 – Giving in to Irritations

It’s been over a week since I last was in Solis, and everything has gone downhill. I’ve achieved nothing and learned nothing new, except for new places my brother used to frequent that he no longer visits, and more people looking for him, both criminals and villains with grudges, as well as heroes and vigilantes inspired by him. What bothers me the most are the bounty hunters and those after John because he’s still technically an outlaw with a price on his head. Many are dishonest, claiming they’re after him because he’s dangerous, while others are blunt and are just after the payday and fame that come with capturing him. I know this because the bounty hunters and mercenaries often go after me to reach him, or because I have a similar bounty on my head.

After questioning them and hearing them irritate me with their motives and excuses, I’d knock them out with one last hit or two, but more recently, I’ve straight-up killed them and those who help them. There have been cases where I’ve been helping civilians with their mundane problems or protecting them from villains and criminals, only to be attacked by so-called heroes who think I’m some kind of danger to society. They end up getting livelihoods destroyed and innocent people hurt or killed. I’ve dealt with it happening in so many situations that I’ve given up trying to convince them not I’m not a villain. Now, I just kill them, no matter who they are, whether they’re mercenary or self-professed hero. These people never let me get much rest. Not when I’m trying to sleep, eat, or report back to my parents.

Because of my increasingly violent and hateful actions, my appearance has also changed. While trying to get some sleep in an abandoned apartment in a shady city, I get a good look at myself and see that my skin is nearly black, my golden armor is hardly there, my crimson bodysuit has retracted and shows much of my skin, my hair is black and spiky like horns, and my eyes are black and red. My white snake looks weak and partially black, while my black snake looks more alive than ever. I look more like the monster I’ve known I’ve been in my head, and the one who did everything and anything to protect my brother, the one who cared for me the most in my life, more than my adoptive parents, who I’m beginning to be annoyed by. They kept pushing me to go on this chase, sounding impatient every time I called them, and didn’t seem to want me to come home until I had John with me.

They probably care for him more than me. They did raise him since he was an infant and spent more time with him, after all. All they know about me is that I’m his sister and can be an incredibly violent person at times. They probably took me in just because of John and felt pity for me. I’m not even sure if my own brother cares for me now. He must know by now that I’m after him if I’m being targeted and constantly attacked in places he’s been in. Why hasn’t he tried to contact me yet? Why hasn’t he come running to help me when he’s been helping so many others?

“Idelle,” I hear a familiar voice say.

“John?” I ask.

A man who looks like John enters the room. He’s surrounded by light and has a warm, familiar presence, with an uplifting smile on his face.

“John, is that really you?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? I’ve heard you’ve been searching for me for days now. What kind of brother would I be if I didn’t come to you in your time of need?”

“Where have you been? Why has it taken you so long to find me?”

“I’ve been busy helping others and wanted to make sure they were fine without me before coming to you. I’m sorry that it took me so long.”

The man opens his arms, and a force beckons me to enter his embrace. I uncontrollably walk towards him with my arms open as well, until both of my snakes attack him. His light dulls, and my mind clears up as if it were under some dream-like spell. With my eyes open, I see that the man only partially resembles John, as if he had undergone surgery to achieve this resemblance.

“Who are you?!” I say as my snakes wrap around his neck.

“Heh, I guess there’s no pretending anymore. I’m an admirer of your brother, and knowing that you’re his sister, I thought that bringing you down and into police custody would get him to take me under his wing,” he says.

“What? Why would he do that?”

“Have you been paying attention to what you’ve been doing? Did you get possessed like your parents did? You’ve been killing everyone who confronts you about anything concerning your brother.”

“Because they attacked me first!”

“Some of them did, while others didn’t. I have video proof, if you need it.”

“Show me it then!”

My snakes allow the man to show me his phone and the videos where I attack people, and sure enough, he’s right. I watch full videos of people approaching me about my brother, only for me to answer them with a quick death. There are even times when I attacked seemingly normal people who just wanted to talk to me about myself or my brother.

“I…vaguely remember these. It happened differently in my memory,” I say.

“I’ve heard that black snake tempts you with sinful thoughts and evil ideas, and from your appearance, it seems to have almost completely taken over,” the man says.

“I’m fine! It’s under control, and I won’t lose myself again.”

“You didn’t know you were under its control to begin with. How can you be so sure? This is why I’m trying to bring you into police custody so that you can stop being a danger to everyone around you and yourself.”

“I don’t need your help!”

My snakes tighten around the man’s neck and try to break it. He uses his mind powers, making me unintentionally loosen my grip. My mind is hazier now, and I’m beginning to see others in the room with me.

“She’s lost her mind and needs to be restrained before she hurts anyone else!”

Multiple people attack me all at once, and with my patience gone, I attack them with nothing held back by breaking their necks with my snakes, beating them to death with my fists, and crushing their heads with my feet. The man tries to echo sentiments John would say, trying to get me to stop fighting and give in, but this only makes me fight harder and more brutally. I know my brother better than he does! Who does he think he is?! He’s just another idiotic fanboy who wants the admiration of his hero. I don’t need his help to control myself. I’m fine, and don’t need anyone’s help!

When the haze of the mind control wears off, I see that I’m on the streets of the city, standing in a bloodbath. There are mangled, disfigured, and bodies in pieces all around me of superhuman heroes, law enforcers, and even some civilians. Among them, my attention is drawn most to the man who looks like my brother, who is just as mangled as the rest and whose dead gaze feels judgmental. He was…right. What’s happened to me to make me like this? I beat the black snake on my back until the white snake pulls me back and puts the thought in my head that I can’t blame it for my actions. I can only blame myself.

Quickly leaving the area before I can hurt anyone else, I run to the outskirts of the city and rest in an abandoned motel, so I can collect my thoughts in the morning. When I do, I think of the quickest solution to my problems, head to the nearest church that isn’t in the city I was in, and go to confession. There, I feel like I regain control of my body, and my body and snakes return to their normal color.

Despite what I’ve done, the priest says, “For your penance, find your little brother as you’ve said and pray for peace of mind.”

“That’s it? But I’ve committed so many evil deeds,” I say.

“And yet, God has mercy on you. Your living right now is a sign that God still has more for you that He wants you to do, such as finding your missing brother and bringing him home. Your life isn’t over yet, and you aren’t your faults.”

That’s something John would say.

“Do you think my brother will listen to me despite what I’ve done?”

“From what you’ve told me, he seems like a man who sees the best in people and loves you very much. I have no doubt he will.”

“Okay…thank you, father.”

I leave the confessional, pray a bit, exit the church, and head back on the road to continue my search for John. Even if he does learn about what I’ve done sooner or later, he’ll probably still hear me out, if for no other reason than to help me. Yeah, that could be a convincing reason for him to come home. It sounds manipulative, but guilting him by showing him how much I need his help to stay stable is a good reason for him to come home. He has always said that there’s something to be gained from even the worst situations, and in this instance, I found another argument for him to come home. Hopefully, it’ll be worth the price I paid to get it.

An Older Sister's Responsibility: Chapter 2 – Acting Like a Role Model

Chapter 2 – Acting Like a Role Model

It’s only been a few hours since I left the town of Poca Bellezza, and I already regret my decision to search for John. My only leads are the rumors of his appearance here and there and copycat vigilantes. It also doesn’t help that his powers are generic, and he’s inspired people to act and dress like him, so I have very little to go on. As for the news, they talk him up and explain away his actions since the reason why he’s on the run is because he took justice into his own hands and caused a lot of death and destruction on those who were after our family, Poca Bellezza, and the secret government faction that my blood-related parents were a part of. That faction has been using every means to clear his record and justify his action as a favor to make him go back to his normal life as a hero and incentivize him to help them, though his causing trouble as a freelance hero has both hindered and helped their efforts.

That’s my brother, alright. There’s not a single care in that head of his other than serving God and helping others, even if he goes against the law. The thought occurs to me to contact the agents I know, but I don’t want them holding my asking for help over my head for the rest of my life, so I don’t. Besides, they don’t really know where John is either. My best shot right now is the close by city of Solis, the Sunny City of Tomorrow, where John used to operate as a hero and where he has the most fans. Questioning them, I hear that John comes here every other odd month or so to help, see certain friends, and then leave the same day, which only raises more questions. Why would he come here more often than go back to his home?

Many of the people here recognize me since I’ve been here before helping out John, and because he talks about me so much to them. They tell me about their current problems as if asking for my help in a roundabout way. Not wanting to let them down, I help them with their needs by carrying donated boxes of food, clothes, and more to charity houses, carrying people to hospitals for their appointments, and performing other menial tasks like it. Because of my help, they insist on treating me to dinner, something I also feel bad about saying no to, so I accept. Today felt like it was a big waste of time since I feel more lost than before, and yet, something within me feels at peace.

I made a lot of people happy today and helped dozens of people with their issues. This is what John loves to do, and I can see why he loves doing it, even though I don’t feel as satisfied doing it. The simple pleasures in life were his most valuable treasures, such as being with family or praying in silence in an adoration chapel. Not wanting to return to my parents empty-handed, I simply call them and unintentionally tell them what I’ve discovered and did as if reporting to my superiors. They tell me that they’re proud of me for helping, wish me the best of luck, and not to push myself too hard.

“Okay. I won’t,” I say half-heartedly.

Tonight, I rest only for a few hours before continuing my search during the night. It’s then that I realize that my skin is glowing a bit. I look at my reflection in a nearby store window to see that my appearance has changed a bit. My pale skin is now an almost bright white, my golden armor covers more of my skin, my crimson bodysuit is grey, my black eye is also grey, and my black snake is partially turning grey and sagging down while my white snake is pointing upward as if becoming stronger due to its opposite’s weakness. This change in me tends to happen if I lean more towards good than evil, but at the same time is inconsistent unless I’m being really good.

This seems to be a sign that I’m on the right track, despite my feeling more lost than anything. The sounds of fighting catch my attention. Going to it, I find a group of criminals and superhuman villains causing random damage to the city and taking things from stores and houses.

“There she is!” one of them says.

They all start coming after me, forcing me to defend myself. Ever since I met John, I’ve gone easier on the people I fight, and don’t always fight with the end goal of killing my foes to end the fight. With the way I am now, I find myself more restrained, but not weaker. In fact, I feel faster and more able to react to attacks than I normally am. Because of that, the villains and criminals are all down quicker than I imagined.

Questioning them, they say that, “We’re after you because we want to draw out your brother. He put us in jail, and we want payback!”

“You’re not going to get payback, but you will get jail again,” I say before knocking out the villain and getting the same answer out of the rest of them.

The authorities arrive and arrest the villains.

“She’s just like her brother said!” one of the surrounding civilians says.

“She’s so cool!”

“I need to get a picture with her.”

The civilians crowd around me, cheering me on for my deeds, and act like I’m some celebrity hero, which I’m far from, but I have to admit it’s nice. I ask them if villains and criminals start trouble like this to get to John, and they tell me they do. They explain that John comes here now and then, so he can remind them why he's respected and feared, and not to mess with innocent people. They then tell me again how I’m everything that John said I was, and to tell him they said hi when I find him.

“What does John say that I am?” I ask.

“You’re an inspiration to him, and one of the reasons why he’s the hero he is today,” one of them says.

“He’s said you’re really strong in mind and body, and you don’t let anything get you down for long.”

“That you do try to do the right thing no matter what!”

“You showed every reason to us today. Did he never tell you why he looks up to you?”

“Hmm. He might’ve,” I say.

The reasons John gave always felt like honest exaggerations intended to make me feel better, but they might be true if these people echo them, and I may just be underestimating the good things I do more than I realize. If I do end up meeting John, I could use his idealistic view of me as a reason to return. With everything that happened today, receiving kindness, being looked up to, being recognized for all I’ve done, and realizing that I’m better than I think, I feel that my search in Solis wasn’t a waste of time after all. In fact, I believe I’ve gained what I need to keep going and something to hold onto when I see John. I then say goodbye to everyone here, tell them to let John know I’m looking for him if he comes by, and head to another spot they mentioned where he’s told them he’s been, with more hope than before that I’ll find him.

An Older Sister's Responsibility: Chapter 1 – Unsettled in Peace

Chapter 1 – Unsettled in Peace

Today’s another normal day in the life I’ve always wanted. My adoptive parents, Johnson and Josephine Elio, wake me up on another sunny morning. I help them make breakfast and then get dressed, ready for today’s work on the farm. The work is hard for most, but with my strength and speed, it’s nothing more than a light and fun workout. While working, I try to keep my pink dress, dark pink jacket, and black boots as clean as possible. They’re all homemade, and I’d hate to ruin them in the slightest, even though my parents expect it, tell me not to worry about it, and have taught me how to repair them. My parents call me in for lunch and to take a break.

During lunch, my dad asks, “Have you thought about searching for your brother yet?”

I sigh and say, “If John wants to come home, he will.”

“It’s been a year since we last saw him, and he said you could search for him if he didn’t return in that amount of time.”

“I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Shouldn’t you check on him? He wouldn’t miss an opportunity to be with us. Don’t you find that strange?” my mom asks.

“He’s a weird guy.”

“When my siblings got in trouble or lost, I went out of my way to find them and bring them home.”

“He doesn’t need me to help him. I don’t think he ever did.”

“You’re his older sister. He’s always needed your help. You’re the reason why we met after all.”

“Can we stop bringing this up? I’m not going after him, and there’s no reason to worry.”

I go back to work, and the day goes on like normal. At night, I look at myself in the mirror and wonder about John since our parents brought him up again. Look at me. I’m nothing like him. He’s a bright symbol of justice and joy in the face of injustice. Me? I’m a short, grey-haired, grey and black eyed freak, with a white snake on the right side of my back and a black one on my left. The red scarring on my body reminds me of the experts done on me by John and I’s blood-related parents.

No. I’m not going to think about it again. It’s all in the past now, and thinking about it won’t do anything good for me. Going to sleep and waking up again, I go about my daily duties. My parents want us to go into town to walk around and eat lunch at our favorite diner. There, the people happily greet and talk to us as if we were family, and take special attention to me, especially since John and I defended the town on more than one occasion. I admit that he did more than I did, but they thank me, nonetheless.

Once we finish eating, we head to the graveyard. Here, I feel nothing but guilt for the people that I failed to save. My parents guide me to our family’s area and go specifically to the part where my blood-related parents are buried. There they pray over their graces, and my feelings of guilt give way to anger. They’re the reason why John and I have powers. We were put through experiments, and since I was the eldest, I got the harder of the two. John was born and kept in an adoration chapel, while I had two snakes in the room with me, one blessed by a Catholic priest and the other cursed by a Satanist. They tried to separate the evil from me, but only ended up giving me two voices in my head, one telling me to do good, the other tempting me to evil.

If that wasn’t enough, when I freed my brother from captivity as we were being transferred to another location, they forced me to kill, torture, and kidnap people for them to ensure John’s freedom. When John became a hero and showed my parents not only the extent of his power, kindness, and selflessness, they started to change in their ways, but not too much. They forced John and me to fight them to keep our independence from them, and after that, they fell under a villain’s control in pursuit of getting stronger to face us again, both times bringing destruction and death to this quiet and friendly town.

I spit on their graves and step on them. My black snake strikes it with its head, further damaging the ground and gravestones. They didn’t deserve to be buried. They don’t deserve to be honored. After all they put us through, they got what they deserved in the end, being blown to bits at their funeral. I’m sure they hated the fact that they couldn’t live the same happy life John and his adoptive family did. They were jealous of it, and I hope it bothers them for eternity as they burn in Hell.

“Idelle!” my mom says as I snap back to my senses.

My parents are trying to push me away from further damaging the grave, so I stop, realizing that I let my emotions and temptations of the black snake get to me. Back home, I think about why I was brought to the graveyard, and I think it was another attempt to push me to go after John. My parents tried to remind me of how I’ve always protected and looked after him ever since he was born, or at least that’s what I’m guessing. I’m sure they didn’t bring me there to bring up bad memories or make me feel bad for those other people I still reluctantly call parents. During dinner, I apologize for the scene I caused.

“We understand,” my mom says.

“We won’t push you in any other way to go after John, and just pray to God that he’s fine and we’ll see each other sooner or later,” my dad adds.

They said they won’t try, but now I feel bad for not doing what they want. I miss John just as much as they do, if not more, but I also don’t want to disappoint them if I can’t manage to bring him back. I’m not the kind of person who convinces someone to do anything, unless it involves violence and force. The next day is just as good as the others, and nothing special seems to happen until someone rings the doorbell. I answer it and see that it’s one of the secret government agents my other parents and I used to work with.

Before he can say anything, I raise my finger and say, “I know why you’re here. Let’s speak in private.”

I then grab the man and take him into the fields where we won’t be heard.

“You don’t have to be so rough about this. I’m not going to force you to do anything,” the agent says.

“That’s because you don’t have people like Isaias and Irlene backing you, and know that I won’t do anything you say because they’re not the ones giving you orders,” I say.

“Will it kill you to call them your dad and mom?”

“Yes. If you’re here just to get on my nerves, I won’t hesitate to drag you back to your friends.”

“I’m surprised you still know where that is, given you hated being there, and instead, liked sulking and watching happy families go about their lives. Is that why you won’t go after your brother?”

The black snake coils itself around the agent’s neck and is about to crush it until the white snake stops it and calms me down.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Say what you want already and leave.”

“Okay! Okay…We just wanted to tell you that John is doing fine. That’s all.”

“That’s it? What is this, some kind of favor to make me appreciative, or do you need my help with something?”

“Nope. That’s all. Just a courtesy call. If anything, it’s more for John than you, since he told us to tell you his status.”

“He…wanted you to tell us that? Why didn’t he come to tell us himself? With his superhuman speed, he could’ve delivered it himself.”

“He’s busy.”

“What do you have him doing?”

“He accepts odd jobs of his choice here and there from us. Nothing more.”

“Where is he?”

“That we don’t know.”

“Even with all your eyes all over the country?”

“His speed and seemingly random movements and actions make him a slippery man to follow.”

“He’s a very open and honest man. If you asked him what he’s trying to do, I’m sure he’d let you know.”

“It hasn’t been that simple. Trust me when I say that we’ve tried getting the least bit of information out of him, but he refuses to say anything other than ‘I’m just doing what God wants me to’.”

“That’s it? You guys don’t pry as much as you used to.”

“He’s not exactly the kind of man you can pry information out of. I’m sure if you talked to him, you’d get more information. We’re all surprised you haven’t gone after him yet.”

“Are you done talking yet?”

“I was, but you pressed me for more information.”

I take the agent back home, push him into his car, and tell him to go home. Later at night, I sit in the field and look up at the starry sky. I haven’t really wondered if what I’m doing is what God wants from me. I love and respect God, but I don’t always think to ask Him for help, especially since I have many unanswered prayers and some that seem to have backfired. I’ve also had the white snake on me, which has been my guide regarding faithfulness. Maybe I rely on it too much, and there might be a clearer sign right in front of me about what I should do.

On one hand, I could search for John. Maybe he’s happier out there than back in his hometown. He could be under some villain’s mind control. He could’ve done something he’s ashamed of and is in self-imposed exile. I can’t imagine fighting him to bring him back home, and it’s an even crazier idea for me to kill him if he did turn against me. In that instance, I’d allow him to kill me because I can’t bring myself to seriously hurt him.

No, no, no! I’m just imagining things. If I could rip this black snake off my back, I would’ve done it already, but since doing so would kill me, I just have to deal with it. Closing my eyes and praying, I remember how John would always leap into action because he knew it was always the right thing to do. He never thought about taking hits to save a life or throwing himself at villains and criminals of all kinds of strength and influence. He just had to know that he was doing the right thing and did it without a second thought. Even with his simple powers of superhuman strength, endurance, and speed, he’s accomplished so much.

Finally, two choices are presented to me. I could live here happily as I have and have wanted for my entire life, and just leave John to his own devices, or I could follow this push I’ve been feeling to go after him and try to bring him back. I’m not sure whether this feeling is from the white snake or the black snake. This is why I’m always hesitant to pray and just trust God with my gut feeling. It’s probably why John is a better and more faithful person than I’ll ever be.  Screw it. I don’t want our parents to be concerned about him anymore, so I’ll see what’s going on with him, and hopefully, he’ll find me before I find him.

Going back inside, I tell my parents what I’m going to do, and they’re overjoyed at my decision. They hug, kiss me, and tell me to get a good night’s rest before heading out in the morning. I treasure their embrace for as long as it lasts, knowing it’ll be a while until I feel it again. The night doesn’t last as long as I’d like it to, so I force myself up and get ready. I put on my golden armor and crimson bodysuit, which were made by the white snake and black snake while I was still being experimented on. I use this when I’m expecting a fight, and hate that I rely on it and am attached to it so much given its history, so I reluctantly put it on, eat breakfast with my parents, and hug and kiss them one last time before heading out. Please let me find you, John. Please be okay.