[ WP ] A drug-addicted , retired 35 year old superhero goes out of retirement and tries ( but fails ) to stop a murder .

“ I remember when people used to recognize me. When people used to ask me for an autograph. I even got tips for a while… ” 
 
 “ You talking to me? ” 
 
 I could see his eyes were barely open, his mouth bleeding from the dry skin, probably hasn ’ t had a drink in two days. “ Yeah man, your missing out on this shit bro. ” I think he was anyways. “ What did you do years ago? ” Might as well make this company count, I doubt he could ruin the high at this point. This alley is normally damp, dirty, smelly, and lonely. At least I have some company today. 
 
 “ I drove truck for a while, its aight. Hated the hours though, driving for fourteen hours was killer on my sanity, you know? ” I see where he is coming from, but he doesn ’ t know a long day. When I was young, I would have loved to only work fourteen hours, but crime never waited. “ Before that I worked at a cosmetic factory, putting makeup in those little plastic casings. Pay was shit, but it was easy, and they didn ’ t background check. ” You don ’ t run into too many people in this alley who don ’ t have some kind of past that involved some time behind bars. 
 
 “ Drug charges? ” Most junkies have been one for a while, not many start as late as I did. 
 
 “ Aggravated battery, at least that is where is started. Some shit-stain in a bar, I can ’ t honestly remember what started it. All ’ s I know is I almost bashed his skull in with the bottle I was drinking. Ha, I used to be quite the scrapper you know, then age finally gets you. ” Right, age. “ Anyways, enough about my past, makes me sick. Didn ’ t you say you where some movie star or some shit? ” At least he was listening a little bit. 
 
 “ Not quite. I used to be a hero. ” By the look on his face, he is either lost again, or doesn ’ t comprehend what I just said. “ You know? ” 
 
 “ Fuck are you talking about? Like one of those underwear-wearing mother fuckers? ” It ’ s fairly safe to assume most people wear underwear, even if you only have one pair. Pair? Whatever. 
 
 “ No, I had some gear, but most of it was to help stop bullets. I used to be impressive. ” The pain in my chest was very familiar, I got this way every time I talked about the past, or my heart was finally quitting. “ I have super strength. ” 
 
 “ No shit? ” He genuinely seems impressed. “ Prove it. ” I feel a smile coming on, would have to be the first one in years. 
 
 “ Pass me on of those rocks over there. ” I point to a pile of assorted rocks, brick pieces, and broken concrete. “ Not that one, make it something I need both hands for. ” Sometimes I forget how big these mitts are. “ Here, pass me that one. ” He is struggling, this is a good start. I grab it with ease, tossing it up and down, feels good to show off. I clench the brick between both my hands. “ Now you see it… ” Now just need to put my hands together, “ Now you don ’ t. ” The powder fell out between my fingers. 
 
 “ Holy shit man! That was insane! ” Looks like someone ’ s inner-child came out, it feels good to make someone happy again. Maybe he will want a picture, man, I have really hit rock bottom. At least I have new friend. “ Man, why ain ’ t you out making money with that kinda shit goin ’ on? ” 
 
 There is that pain again. “ I messed up bad. ” You don ’ t have to talk about it, it isn ’ t any of his business right? But what If he leaves you? “ There was a earthquake about ten years ago… ” 
 
 “ Ah man, I remember that. Buildings falling down and shit. ” 
 
 “ I was on the freeway, pieces had already started to fall, I was helping everyone get off as fast as possible. Cars where so close together I had to rip doors off just to help people out of ‘ em. ” I can feel my chest starting to get heavy again. “ Things started to get worse fast, we had to get out of there quick. As I was backtracking I saw a mom and her son trapped in a car I had missed, their door was crushed from a car that plowed into it. ” Just remember to breathe slowly, don ’ t cry in front of our new friend. “ As I took the door off, I realized the mom was already dead, and the boy was sitting in shock. I called for him to grab my hand, but he wouldn ’ t move. ” 
 
 “ Ah shit man. ” He is feeling this too, maybe he can understand, maybe he won ’ t leave me like everyone else. After everything I did for them, the life I gave up to help people… 
 
 “ That is when the floor started to crumble behind us, if I didn ’ t do something fast we would both die. ” If his nails weren ’ t already worn and bloody, he would ’ ve been biting them by now. “ I grabbed his arm as fast as I could, I ’ m pretty sure I broke it. After I got him out of the car, the floor below us started to give, I didn ’ t have time to run anymore. I was certain I was going to die, but I had a chance to save him still. So I threw him into the reservoir next to the highway. ” 
 
 “ Holy shit man, what happened next? ” Swallowing my tears was not an option at this point, I could feel the warmth running down my face. It hurt so much to think about it, but it felt good to feel, at least for a little bit. 
 
 “ I fell with the freeway and cars, and woke up in a hospital with a broken back and a concussion. The police told me the boy had died. ” He put his hand on my shoulder. “ They said it was likely that the force of the throw stunned him, then he just drowned in the water. Even if he was conscious, the damage I had done to his arm pulling him out made it so he wouldn ’ t have been able to swim to safety. ” It ’ s not a good time to be out of smack. “ You got any left? ” 
 
 “ I just finished off man, I will get next time aight? ” It felt sincere. “ Let me run it down and we can move, aight? ” I let my head rest back and closed my eyes. 
 
 * 
 
 I opened my eyes to two beams of light at the end of the alley. Am I finally giving up? I just made a friend though, maybe I can come back from this. Thats when I hear the footsteps, must just be a car, who would be here? “ Is that your ass Jeff? ” Jeff? I look over at my friend, who is still sleeping. 
 
 “ Hey man, ” softly nudging his shoulder. “ Are you Jeff? ” 
 
 His eyes slowly started to open then quickly widened up once he saw the suit approaching. “ Oh shit man, oh shit, oh shit. ” Safe to say this isn ’ t a friend. “ Fuck man, fuck, fuck! ” 
 
 “ Jeff, what did I tell you? You can ’ t hide from us… ” The suit was eying my friend, he didn ’ t even seem to notice my existence, it felt familiar. “ … For god sakes, you smell like a damn sewer. ” As he put his hands on his hips I could see the pistol tucked in his jacket, he ’ s a southpaw. 
 
 I stood up against the wall, if there was going to be trouble, I couldn ’ t get caught on my ass. “ Excuse… ” 
 
 “ Shut the fuck up and sit your ass down, right now. ” I guess I am real to him, remember, be diplomatic. 
 
 “ Do you need… ” 
 
 “ Are you fucking deaf old man? Do your brain faculties not work? You doped up a little too much, huh? ” Too much? “ Sit your ass down before I put you down. ” That escalated quickly. I don ’ t think he is going to be reasoned with, I am not even sure I could reason. 
 
 “ Sit me down then. ” I could see the look of shock on my friends face, a change from the terrified look he had seconds ago, he believes in me. I don ’ t think the suit expected that response either. 
 
 “ Fucking junkies. ” He laid a straight left into my face, the back of my head cracking against the wall behind me. It has been a long time since I tasted the sweet iron of a fight, the adrenaline pump focusing my senses. I push him back towards the wall behind him, he slammed into it pretty hard. 
 
 “ Holy shit man! ” I am not sure if he is rooting for me, or can ’ t believe what is happening right now, probably a bit of both. The suit looks shocked after trampolining off the wall, he is lucky he is still on his feet at this point. 
 
 “ Please, just go, leave us alone. ” No point in continuing this, I just want to get my friend out of here. “ Please. ” 
 
 He looks as if he is coming back to his senses. We are locking eyes, this isn ’ t good, he doesn ’ t plan on leaving. As he goes for his pistol I grab his arm, not going to need this wrist anymore. I squeeze it down. I can hear the agony in his tone, but he is a tough one. He places his right arm on my shoulder, he ’ s not getting away. I grab his right shoulder and begin to make pudding out of it. Our eyes stay locked as he screams, it is a mix of pain and terror, how appropriate. “ Please… ” Your begging is too little too late! With his back against the wall, I put one of my hands to his throat. I continue to apply pressure as he coughs, here comes the blood, there go his eyes. I finally let go when his neck is coming out of his mouth, he should have just left us alone. Looking at my friend, he is just as terrified. He can ’ t be afraid of me, it must have been the fear of death. I see him pointing toward the light, does he want to take the car? 
 
 By the time I heard the crack of the cannon, I had already felt the burning hole in my chest. Judging by my cough, my lungs must be filling with blood. I kneel to the floor, the spark in my chest growing into a full flame. My vision is starting to blur a little. I reach for a brick under the suit ’ s corpse, I can do this! I turn, throwing the brick as hard as I can muster back at the suit ’ s friend. The crushing of the vehicle was my sign I am not as good as I was when I was younger. The second blast finds its home in my abdomen, I need to sit down. 
 
 I look over at my friend, he is trying to crawl away, maybe he was holding out on me. I try to tell him to run, to get up and get away, but all that comes out is blood. The suit ’ s friend puts his boot in my friends back, his chrome cannon still in hand. I can ’ t make out what he is saying, I can ’ t imagine it ’ s very good. I ’ m so sorry friend, I didn ’ t mean to fail you. I feel sleepy. Looking over at the light at the end of the alley, I tilt my head back, closing my eyes. Everything is going to be okay, maybe now they will put my picture back in the paper, just need to rest before I can get the interview. Good night new friend, I ’ m sure we will see each other soon. 
 
 Edit: barley - > barely
