“So, um, your-”

“Face? Yes, I’m very well aware that it exists.”

He chuckled awkwardly.

I decided not to expand on my situation and opened up the newspaper. There wasn’t much to say, in fact, I never really find anything interesting in the paper, -it’s filled to the brim with propaganda-, but as I was flipping pages, I saw a very interesting headline. It read:

For the past few weeks, the Red 14 Police Department received many missing person reports. Nothing seemed strange -kids run away, elderly grandparents become disoriented,- until six days ago, a woman named Kelly Orange (name changed for safety purposes) answered a call from an unknown number. The man or woman on the other line stated that they were responsible for the missing people and that they would come after Mrs. Orange’s family if they “didn’t get off their high horse” After they ranted on, using many insulting slurs, they abruptly hung up. Orange called the authorities, and they began their investigation.

Unfortunately, a while after they wrapped up and left, Kelly’s mother, Jacqueline, went missing. Four days later, Jacqueline was discovered in an alleyway. She had suffered amnesia but did remember one single name, Beatrice.

“Cash, please.” The driver turned towards me.

“How much do I owe you?” I asked, reaching into my pockets for money.

“Sixty bucks.” He said.

I frowned. “Why? It wasn’t even that long of a ride.”

He glanced left and right. “I’m not normally supposed to drive around -you know, No-Powers.”

I scoffed. “That seems about right. Here.” I handed him the money, which was almost entirely composed of change, and pulled myself out of the taxi.

My classes were average. I got berated for being late, was overall bullied, and was repeatedly pelted with “You should try harder, Ayako.” and “Don’t use your disability as an excuse, Ayako.”

Not only that, but the mayor is pushing the school board to segregate dances and other events. If I cared, I’d start to kick and scream, but I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I can assure you I was wholeheartedly kicking and screaming internally.

Finally, the school day ended, and I slowly slumped home. My eyes to the ground, I turned a corner.

I tossed and turned in bed, my insomnia increasing by the second. Finally, I decided to give up on sleep, and went out for a walk, dressed in pajama pants and a silver t-shirt.

I walked around a small park that was located near my apartment several times, until, picking up the eerie air outside, I decided to leave.

A thin, red laser shot passed me head, almost scraping my nose. The sound of sirens flooded my ears, drowning my thoughts.

Fight or flight.

I turned around and decided almost instantaneously that I would fight.

I began to dash towards the person who tried to shoot me when somebody wrapped their arms around me and pushed both of us into the bushes, covering my mouth.