[ WP ] A regular person refuses to become a superhero because ... .. ?

The girl stumbles, cracks her elbow on the floor, whimpers. She scrambles to her feet. Blood on her arm. Blood rushing to her head, she runs, shoes clicking against the pavement, breathing sharp, hurried. 
 
 Pursued. 
 
 She hears the men behind her. Three. Large. She knows what they want, knows what they ’ ll take. She runs, runs, she must escape. 
 Buildings like the walls of a maze, closing in, squeezing tighter until she ’ s trapped, until she reaches the dead end and there ’ s nowhere to go and nothing between her and the ones who follow. She turns. They spread out, crouching, coiled, predatory, surrounding her. She sobs. Please. Someone, please help me. 
 
 A sudden light. A tall shape appears. The men turn towards it, bestial and fearful, blinded, demonic intent in the face of angelic manifestation. 
 The shape moves in a luminescent blur. Limbs swaying, dancing, breaking. The men collapse, bloodied. Limp. The girl steps back, eyes wide, muscles trembling. 
 
 Do not fear me, the light says, for I am not your enemy, but your destiny. Come closer, child. Do you seek justice? The power to dispense with the myriad wrongs of this world? The ability to defend and deliver those weaker than yourself, as I just did for you? 
 
 I can give you this. 
 
 I am the source, and you have been chosen as the manifestation of my power, as one face amongst a thousand. Through all civilisations, all times and places in the infinite universe, I appear to the weak, to grant that power. This is my call. Hear it now. Become a hero. 
 
 She reaches for her fate. Tentative. Fingers extend, shaking. 
 
 The shape moves forward to take her. She feels power begin to seep into her limbs… 
 
 A sudden detonation shakes the air. The being explodes. 
 
 It dissipates, writhing flames fleeing in all directions. The power flees her body, leaves her feeling weak. She sees a sleek silhouette, standing just behind where the apparition had been only moments before, a smoking gun in its hand. 
 
 I refuse, it says. 
 
 The smoke fades. The girl stares, stunned. She recognises the girl standing before her. It is herself. 
 
 You ’ re me. Why did you do that? 
 
 The other girl turns, walks away. The journey it offers is a lie, she says, believe me. I lived the deception. There are no heroes, only the powerful wielding power. I just saved you. I just saved myself. 
 
 She walks away, and ceases to exist. 

