CHAPTER 2
SIN OF COWARDICE, part 1

Location: Skies above the North Atlantic Ocean.
Date: 01/07/2016. Time (Italy): 4:00 p.m.

I’m on the plane to Malpensa, and I won’t be landing for another hour. Of course, I couldn’t pass up the chance to read my book, but I also knew it wouldn’t be that simple. As soon as I heard there was yet another mix-up with the seat assignments, I already had a good idea of who was to blame. I could either keep my seat and split up a happy couple with their daughter, or I could sacrifice myself and endure my extraterrestrial travel companion.

“You’re giving up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Yeah. I chose sacrifice. Deck must have hacked the airport system last night and assigned my same seat number to a father who bought a ticket this morning, making the whole thing look like a printing or system error. I would never split up a couple with a baby, so Deck created the perfect conditions for him to travel with me. Also, I certainly couldn’t allow him to talk to my family. I can’t have them knowing about my new nature. Not yet, at least. “How many people can say they’re the world’s only hope?” I’d like to know why he says that, as if the idea is supposed to thrill me.

“I’ll give you a hint to narrow down the playing field: not me,” I say, trying not to take my eyes off my novel.

“You have a heart of ice. The odds of finding another mutant who won’t succumb to transition madness are almost nonexistent… I’d handle it myself if I could.”

“Come on, aren’t you from another planet? You said your species’ technology is superior to ours. Use your brain to figure out a solution,” I suggest, pretending to be uninterested.

“The solution is sitting right next to me,” he says, trying to flatter me.

“Knock it off.” I can’t stand sycophants.

“I haven’t had either my strength or my true form since I came to this planet. I can’t fight against humans who have superpowers,” he complains.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Let me show you.” He pulls a photograph out of his inner pocket, and I let out a sharp but brief yelp of surprise.

“What kind of pervert are you?” I snap quietly, while everyone on the plane gives me dirty looks.

My mother shoots me a glance as if demanding an explanation. “I—I bit my tongue.”

She shoots me another irritated look from her seat and goes back to resting.

“Oops, wrong photo,” Deck says, searching for the right one.

“Care to explain why you’ve got a photo of yourself buck naked?” I ask, still horrified.

“My species changes appearance depending on the atmosphere. I took that photo after I landed on Earth. I wanted to see what I looked like,” he explains. “Here, this should be the right one.”

I grab it to take a closer look, and again, my eyes are assaulted by the vile creature in the picture.

“What kind of creatures are you?” I dread the answer.

“Oh, damn. That’s my aunt.”

Why doesn’t he check the photos before showing them to me?!

“Hey, let me show you my family photo.”

“Please, no!” I exclaim, making sure to control my tone this time. “You’re not going to change my mind. Or do you want to repeat last night’s discussion?”

“No… I remember it all perfectly,” he says, sounding like a child trying to avoid a lecture.

Location: Canada, Prince Edward Island, North Rustico.

Date: 01/06/2016. Time (local): 10:30 p.m.

I was still lying in the hospital bed, rattled by the information Deck had revealed. He was trying to tell me he needed help to thwart the people in transition and find a cure. Or at least a temporary remedy for their impending meltdowns.

“No… not a chance, Deck,” I said firmly, putting on a fake smile.

“Jones, I’m begging you to help me. Your race is doomed to extinction if someone—namely, you—doesn’t do something to defend it. Think about the mutants. They’ll suddenly give in to their instincts and unleash their powers in an attempt to make sense of those impulses.”

“I’ll pray for them,” I replied coolly.

“The solution is right in front of me. Take charge of the responsibilities that are now yours and act,” he ordered, truly expecting me to heed his command.

“You’re not my boss. I don’t even know you.” If I wanted to get him to back off, I had to be honest. “The truth is… I can’t help you because… I’m weak, okay? Both physically and mentally. I don’t want to open another black hole and send anyone in who might be a threat. I don’t think I’d be able to bring them back.”

“It might be a necessary evil,” he replied, completely unfazed.

“Good thing you’d be here to help us. Now go away, or I’ll start yelling. We’re still in a hospital, so they’d get here fast.”

Resigned, Deck did as I told him, but before walking out the door, he wanted to give me one last piece of advice:

“The person who faced that steel man wasn’t so weak. Think about that.”

Location: Skies above the North Atlantic Ocean.
Date: 01/07/2016. Time (Italy): 4:30 p.m.

“But before you say—”

“No.”

“… Whatever. Look at the outfit I gave you to hide your identity.”

“I think you meant costume,” I say, expecting an over-the-top reaction.

“Don’t compare it to something you’d wear to Carnevale!” Just as expected, he snaps, though he holds back. He’s one of those. “Now look.” He grabs his smartphone and swipes to show me the various parts of the costume.

I’m not so sure about his choice. “I don’t think it’s going to inspire confidence in people,” I say.

“Humans… are you all critics?” he scoffs.

“A mask that looks like it’s covered in scars is what you wear for Halloween, not for saving people.”

“I haven’t even been on this planet a week yet. Cut me some slack.”

“It doesn’t matter. This is the last time we’ll see each other.”

Deck finally gives in and doesn’t say another word.

“Anyway, it’s a costume,” I say, just before returning to my reading.

“Take it back!”

Starting now. He doesn’t say another word starting now.

I’m here again, in this dark and desolate place. Actually, I can’t even be sure of that. Without a sliver of light, I can’t even see my hand in front of my face, much less a person.

I recognize it… The same sensation of being in the air, the same one I felt a short time ago on Prince Edward. I try to move by “swimming” through the void, but I have the distinct impression that I’m getting nowhere, or that I’m not moving at all. I’m so confused and scared… The first time I woke up here, I thought I was dreaming, but the painful pinches I keep inflicting on myself prove otherwise.

How I wish I could cry. No one can see me, but I’ve promised myself over and over again not to revert back to the whiner I used to be, no matter how desperate the situation. Otherwise, I’d just go back to being weak.

Suddenly, everything becomes sharper. I’m not sure how to describe it. I can make out some trees, or at least their outlines. It’s as if I were colorblind. At least, I think that’s what it’s like, since I’ve never actually been colorblind. I can also see some cars floating. Even though I don’t see them in color, I recognize them. They’re the same cars that were sucked into the black hole I had conjured to get rid of the steel man. If the cars are here, then maybe he has made it here, too. This is my chance to make up for what I did to him. But what if he tries to kill me again? Maybe I won’t even be able to find him. I pray to the Lord to tell me how I should…

…!

I feel myself being pulled backward. No, sucked in! I wish I knew why all of this was happening to me. Whatever force is sucking me in, it leaves me no escape.