Storyteller’s Lair

1

Hero Rising

Jonathan MacKennett stared in disbelief at his 4 year son Sean. Who was lying on his back, holding the family car over his head! His son had crawled under the car with him while he was working on it. All at once the car had slipped off the jack. Sean had put up his hands to protect himself and was now holding a one- and- a- half ton car over his head like it was nothing. Little Sean lowered the car to ground and crawled out from under it. He looked up at his daddy happily but was puzzled by the stunned look on his daddy’s face.

One hour later…

Sean’s Grandfather a physician scientist straightened up from the microscope that he had been using to look at a sample of Sean’s blood.

“Well,” he said turning to Sean’s parents Jonathan and Maggie “from what I can tell Sean has some sort of genetic anomaly in his DNA that has caused him to develop muscle fibers that are much more complex than ours, thereby making him super-strong.

Sean’s parents looked at each other.

“Just how strong is he, Dad?” asked Sean’s father

“There’s really no way of telling, Jon.” Said his father, “besides, his muscular system is still developing.

“You mean he’s getting stronger?!” exclaimed Maggie. Dr. McKennett nodded,

“As we speak and there’s no telling how strong he’ll be when he’s full grown!”

12 years later…

Sean was now an athletic looking five feet eleven inch sixteen year-old with brown hair and soulful brown eyes. His parents raised him to keep his strength a secret.

It was 9:30 on a Tuesday morning and Sean was standing at his locker in the James Stokes High School talking with his best friend Chris the only other person who knew his secret.

“Boy,” said Sean shaking his head as he put his math book back into his locker, “Mr. Perkins and his pop quizzes,”

“You’re telling me,” Said Chris, “That one today was a killer and right before the fall Dance. Why I barely had time to find a date!” Sean rolled his eyes.

Just then Trace Martin, the captain of the wrestling team walked by with two of his friends and deliberately knocked Sean into the locker door.

“Oh sorry, Macky,” sneered Trace, “I didn’t see you there!” Trace’s friends Bobby and Max snickered

“Yeah,” snarled Chris, “I’ll just bet you didn’t!”

“Are you called me a liar!!” snapped Trace

“What do you think?” Chris snapped back

“I think I’m going smash you face in!!” snarled Trace Doubling up his fists.

“Mr. Martin!” snapped another voice before the boys could start swinging. It was Coach Fuller of the basketball team.

“Don’t you boys have a class that’s starting right now?” He asked.

“Yes sir,” they stammered

“Then get to it before I send you to the principal’s office!!”

The three bullies left without another word. They knew better than to mess with the 6 foot 9 inch Basketball coach.

Sean and Chris thanked the Coach then headed for class.

“Sean,” said Chris, “why do you let Trace walk all over you like that? You could beat the tar out of the whole wrestling team without even half trying.”

“You know I can’t use my strength in public.” Said Sean

Sean stood in front of his mirror adjusting the bow tie of his tuxedo.

“Don’t know why I let Chris talk me into this,” he said to himself, “I don’t even have a date for the dance tonight.”

It was a drizzly night so Sean put a rain coat on over his tuxedo.

“Well, here goes nothing,” he said.

Just as Sean stepped out of his house a long limo pulled up at the curve. The young chauffer stepped out of the car and opened the passenger door.

“What’s this,” asked Sean

“A favor from a Friend,” said the chauffer Sean smiled to himself,

“Good old Chris,” he said as he climbed into the limo and sat back on the cushy leather seat. About 20 minutes later Sean began to get suspicious when they hadn’t arrived at the school. He picked up the phone.

“Chauffer,” he said, “Stop the Car!” The Chaffer didn’t respond.

Sean pressed a button and lowered the shield between the front and back seat then he reached through and grabbed the chauffer by the throat.

“I said stop the Car!!!” Sean snapped

“All right,” gasped the Chauffer pushing the brake. As soon as the car stopped Sean jumped out. He realized that he was in Gage cities China town on the other side of the city from the school.

Suddenly he heard the car shift into gear. Whirling around, he grabbed the car, lifted the back end off the ground with one arm, and ripped the back tire off with the other arm.

Then he ran to the driver’s door. Jerking the door opened he pulled the Chauffer out by the collar and lifted him off the ground.

“Who put you up to this?!” growled Sean

“T-Trace M-Martin,” stammered the terrified Chauffer, “H-He’s my c-c-Cousin.”

“I should’ve known,” muttered Sean under his breath.

“Alright,” he said dropping the Chauffer, “You can go, but take my advice the next time that slime ball cousin of yours wants you to help him, don’t!”

“R-right,” stammered Chauffer as he took off running down the street. Sean brushed himself off and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Chris’s phone number.

“Hello,” came the answer on the other end

“Chris, it’s Sean.”

“Where are you?”

“Chinatown.”

“Chinatown, What are you doing way over there?!!!”

“It’s a long story, Listen I’m not going to make it to the dance, so could you give me a ride home when you’re done?”

“Sure, where are you I’ll Come get you right now?!”

“No, No,” said Sean, “I don’t want to ruin your evening, do you remember where the China House restaurant is?”

“Oh yeah, that’s your dad’s chow mein connection.”

“Right, Meet me there when the dance is over.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m Sure,”

“Okay bye,”

“Bye,”

Sean had already started toward the restaurant and was nearly there when he ended his call. He stepped through the doorway jingling a little bell as he did. Just as he was sitting down at a table a big burly black haired man came out of the kitchen.

“The restaurant’s closed buddy,” the man snarled.

“Closed,” said Sean, “but it’s just now eight o’clock. Mr. Chen, who owns the place, always stays open until ten.”

“I said the restaurant is closed,” Growled the man there was a flash of metal and all at once there was a gun pointing at Sean’s head!

to be continued…

Come back next week for Chapter 2: Dark Legion