I awoke surrounded by wreckage and was outside in the back alleyway behind Bysons. I sat up and groaned as my back pulsed with a numbing ache. I climbed shakily to my feet, looked around, and then looked at the back of Bysons. I could hear sirens wailing distantly and could accurately guess on their destination.

The fast food restaurant was in ruin. And so…was my lively hood. I doubted I would receive any kind of payment this month. Byson tended to leave it till the last second to pay his employees. Even then it was in physical credit-chips. I considered going back through the establishment and into his office. Maybe the man had a hidden safe with bricks of gold within.

Instead I lamented the loss of my first job, shrugged and started out of the alleyway throwing off the stupid apron still wrapped around me.

The police would arrive and likely the SPBI as well. I wanted no part of that at all.

I stank of meat and grease, as well as trash. I needed a hot shower and a change of clothes. I needed to file an update with the academy website and update my job profile to open recipient. Then start looking for another job.

The walk back in the baking summer heat was awful. The various smells and grossness of my clothing kept all manner of people away and stopped them from questioning me. It was until I was handed a small credit chip that I realised it was likely because they thought I was homeless, and moving about.

Homeless people that stayed affixed in one place were fine. Like knowing a spider is in your house. You’re aware of its every movement, yet left alone its likely to stay there.

A homeless person moving is as if the spider was actively hopping about the ceiling and calling your name. Its…unnerving to say the least.

Eventually, an hour later I wound my way home to the suburban neighbour where we lived. It was a nice little nosy neighbourhood, considering that I was the only collared person on the street. My mom, Teresa was a mundane woman.

Raising me, she’d once told me, wasn’t at all mundane for her. I was a reminder of my father for her, not his loss on us but what he left us with. Each other.

We had no pictures of him as everything they’d own while living in Preyta city sank beneath the waves along with everything else. Including him.

Now as I traipsed through the back garden all I could think about was how fucking scared mom was going to be. How bloody fussy she would get when she saw me.

Opening the back door and stepping into the kitchen I heard and smelled the sizzle of grilled salmon. The sound of the television drifting through from the living room.

“Mom?” I called out. There was no sneaking by on this one. The stairs leading to the second floor of the house lay on the opposite side of the living room.

“Eli?” I heard her call back in confusion, and a second later her short figure walked into the kitchen and froze at the sight of me. “What happened?” she asked me calmly and set the glass of red she’d been carrying down on the countertop.

I blinked in surprise at her firm quiet tone and answered, telling her everything that happened. “I look much worse than I feel, it’s just my back that’s bothering me at the moment,” I told her shrugging, which was a bad move to make.

“Come here and sit down,” she commanded and walked off to a cupboard to drag down a dark green medical bag we kept handy. She brought it back and set it down beside her glass of red, that she downed in an instant.

“Take off your top and let’s get a look at your back,” mom said and flicked her hand at me. I did so and a second later I heard her hissing through her teeth.

“Bad?” I asked and flinched as she pressed two finger down, gently probing my back.

“Bad, sweety,” she murmured.

“What do you think they were trying to do?” I asked her. Mom had more insight into super power’s than I, considering she’d told me once—when she’d been ten deep into her cups—that my father has super powers. Had, I corrected myself and winced as she press a cold piece of cotton-wool against my back and began dapping it along.

“Well its sounded as if one, the biker, was a Pulser—”

“Pulser?” I asked, interrupting her.

“Original terminology for super powers that attune and will certain waves of force. Usually it was done through sound, or speech. Someone projecting a wave with multiple attunement’s from their fists is a new one. The woman on the other hand seems to be a Technomancer, exceedingly rare.”

“What about Harry?” I asked her, the area she’d dapped now felt cool, tingly, and blissfully numb.

“Harry…? Hmm, I would say he was a Phaser but usually their powers only activate when encountering the right parameters.”

“What does that mean?” I asked and my eyebrows drew downwards in a frown.

“Phaser’s only shift when certain parameters are met. Going through a walk, walking when the wind hits you. Sitting down, that sort of thing. Though your friends super power is definitely a new breed. In fact both are. Before the collaring, the SPBI, the fall of Winderall. Super powers were usually base forms of one type. Someone had super strength, but their mass was increased as a side effect. It seems that with each different generation of powered people born the less side effects there are.”

“How did Winderall fall anyway? the records and archive at the academy never mentioned it.”

“They won’t,” was all she said and went quiet. “Now go have a shower, you stink, and diner will be ready soon(ish.) Don’t worry about the medi-gel, it’s waterproof.”

I nodded and stumbled almost in a daze upstairs and into my room where I stripped.

The shower felt wondrous washing down on me. Not trusting the supposed water proof label, I showered quickly and dried up. My dusty blonde hair swept back from face and I stared for a second too longer at my reflection. Something felt off. I reached and swiped the perspiration from my forehead… and froze.

My hand came down and hovered over the Arium collar around my neck. Nothing happened. The almost daily constant tingle of numbness when my hand passed near my neck, hadn’t occurred.

With a shaky resolve, the tips of my finger brushed the slightest against the collars cool metal surface. I half-expected to flash fry or to be struck by a jolt comparable to lightning. Nothing happened.

My fingers dug into the slim half inch collar and I parted it from my skin painfully. It was almost stuck around my neck like it had been glued, and considering how long I’d worn the darn thing. Only having had three adjustments so far in my life, that was no surprise.

What did surprise me though was how easily it fell off my neck, parting at the back as easily as unclipping a bra. Which usually meant I prefer zips or buttons. In my hands was the Arium hobble collar that had been used to push my people—those like me—into the minority since birth.

Because I was collared I was different, I was lesser, I was dangerous. I was treated no better than a dog, and not once had I’d ever felt the courage to stand up for myself and others, and seeing this small simple collar in my hands. It was intoxicating, as every single possibility ran through my mind.

Then I stopped as I heard my mom shout that diner was ready. I looked at my reflection and froze. My usual hazel eyes were now completely white. I could see no iris, no pupil, and yet I could still see.

“Eli?” Mom called out annoyed that I hadn’t come bursting down to taste her cooking.

Then the corners of my eyelids started to darkened purple, and It slowly started spreading, I quickly snapped the collar back around my neck and breathed in deeply as my heart slammed against my chest.

The purple colouration receded an instant later. The white layering my eyes faded as well and once again my hazel eyes were staring back at me dumbfounded.

“I guess the collar still holds some trace amount of Arium,” I murmured breathlessly as I felt at my eyelids. Just to test that I was correct. I unclasped the collar and a moment later the whites of eyes started to film over once again.

I clasped it back on and rushed through drying myself up.

What in the sunken hells was I going to do?

“The answer to that, Elias,” I told my reflection. “Is carry on like you never noticed anything was different. Ignorance is bliss after all.”

~*~*~*~

The next day I woke up early and got changed into suitable clothing for attending Idrasa Academy. The academy was a mandatory attendance for all collared persons. Eight years of schooling followed by exams. The exams which I was trying to decide if I needed to take, were buy-ins. Meaning they weren’t mandatory but required a fee on entry.

A few of my friends, fellow collared like I. Had chosen to move on to the working world. I for one wanted to finish the exams. I didn’t want it to feel as if all those eight years were spent for nothing, to have no meaning. Which was my current crux. The buy-in for the exams was one thousand- five hundred credits. I could receive a loan for finance, but the loans were made payable after three years.

As a collared I highly doubt I’d advance in the work industry. Unless some well-paying company in the major city was hiring collared out of sympathy.

Mom dropped me at the academy front gates, as she was off into the city to do some shopping with friends. I waved her goodbye and found myself mixed into the cluttering crowd of students. I stuffed my hands into my pockets of my hoodie and fell into step, keeping my eyes from wandering.

Collared weren’t exactly treated poorly at the academy but drawing attention to yourself wasn’t a great idea. I thought again on my pure white iris(less) eyes. Like hauntingly white orbs, and the purple colouration spreading out from my eyes.

Just what the heck was it all about. Was my base super power some sort of skin pigmentation changing. I was one of few among the collared that I knew who didn’t know their base super power. It wasn’t common. But some collared are informed of their powers and their nature when they go for refitting or medical examinations.

Neither I or my mom knew what was my base power was, so either it wasn’t of any harm to anyone, or to myself. I stopped in line as those before me began to shuffle as their bags and personal items were scanned before going in. The massive complex of buildings ranging before me, was more of a campus. Each building housing classes noted towards different studies. I was in general science, sport, and public service. Though I did math and literacy lessons like everyone else. Even if I was poor at math.

Some understand numbers like it was a science.

The queue tallied forth and eventually I was scanned through quickly, as I had no personal items other than my wrist-phone, wallet, and keys.

I entered the cafeteria and instantly regretted it. The hall was abuzz with talk of the beach front fast food restaurant, Byson’s being attacked.

“Eli!” I heard a nasally call to me from my right.

I looked over to see my only uncollared friend, Marky. He was a short at five foot, with glasses and a messy fringe of hair. He waved to me from an empty table.

I walked sharply over, ignoring the whispered talk from a few tables I past. They were discussing the attack, and what it meant. To these people, super powers where something of speculation and entertainment. It was all flashy lights, and no one ever got hurt. Preyta had sank because of opposing powers, yes. But to the majority of mundane people who witnessed it.

They believed the situation was solved. All who could pose a threat were either dead or collared. They were ignorant, just like I had been.

“Hey, Marky. What’s up?” I greeted him, as I sat across the table.

“Did you hear?”

“Hear what—”

“Byson’s dude. Its fucking gone. Totally wiped off the map,” he infused and fought back a sigh.

“It wasn’t that bad at all,” I started and shut up. Marky leaned forward across the table and peer at my intently. His eyes then flicked over my shoulder, a quick flash of worry creasing his brow.

“What is it—”

“And how would you fucking know?” asked an arrogant deep voice behind me. I turned to see Andrew Wendrin standing directly behind me. His massive imposing figure towering over me.

I consider him for moment. Wondering if ignoring him would better my situation.

“I worked there yesterday,” I stated simply. “The building was still standing.”

It wasn’t until the words left my mouth that I realised how stupid I was being for revealing that. I hadn’t hung around for the SPBI to show up and question anyone. I had simply ran home to mommy.

Now thanks to my big-fat-mouth, I was likely to hear from a teacher or the headmaster by the end of the day. Or worse, by a SPBI agent.

“So you saw it happen?” he suddenly asked me with some surprise and eagerness for detail. Andrew wasn’t exactly a bully. He was just imposing and if beating you meant getting what he wanted, then he was grim in negotiations.

“Well… yeah. It did happen right in front of me.”

He nodded his thick head and said nothing. He lantern jaw and chiselled feature giving nothing away. Then I realised he was waiting for me to continue.

“W-well. It was these two guys who were… well one had this force wave power and the other could make himself into black mist.”

“I heard there were three people involved?” asked Marky unhelpfully. I hated talking to people sometimes.

“I was getting to that,” I said, shooting him an annoyed look. “The third person was a woman; she had some sort of Technomancy power. And could form armour and shoot plasma from her hands.”

They were both leaning forward listening intently as I went to describe the fight. That’s when I noticed that most of the cafeteria hall around our little table had gone quiet. Everyone nearby was listening intently to my tale.

“I must’ve passed out,” I rounded up as I came to the finish, “because the next thing I know is I’m outside the back of Byson’s and the shop is still standing.” This time I shot a glance at Marky and saw my friend sag slightly. Marky liked destruction and doom… and mech anime.

“So you just hid, as a woman fought two villains?” Andrew asked me disapprovingly.

I frowned and shook my head, “what was I supposed to do?” I hated how the mundane’s view it as heroes and villains. Considering the villain’s in this instance were trying to free “our” people from oppression.

“I’m collared,” I stated as if that wasn’t plainly obvious. Andrew leaned away from me his face scrunched in distaste.

“You’re a coward—” he started to snap.

“That woman vigilante - whatever she was - kicked both of their asses without needing assistance,” I snapped. “If you had been there, you would’ve just gotten in her way.”

“I would’ve at least tried,” he confessed in a snarl at me.

“God, you’re an idiot,” I said quietly and shook my head. Noticing that the people around us were beginning to focus on something else. Other than my eventual beating. “Look, I got thrown across the restaurant into the cabinet and bruised the shit out of my back.”

I stood and he back away from me a step. We were of equal height if not build. I started to lift my hoodie and turn around when a feminine voice saved the trouble.

“Andrew, stop harassing him and come back to the table. I miss you,” a petite blond-haired woman said and stepped around the muscular frame of her boyfriend.

She was of medium height, with dark blonde hair and an petite athletic build. She wore tight dark blue jeans that hugged her shapely ass and slender legs perfectly. The tight white top, with a red logo printed across it accentuated her small but firm chest. She wore a slim black choker around her throat with a small silvery lightning bolt dangling from the front of it.

“He’s not worth it,” she cooed to the muscular idiot.

“I’m really not,” I affirmed and cocked an eyebrow when the pretty blonde shot me a dark look.

I wasn’t ugly, in fact I was considered quite charming—whatever that means—but women want muscles, power, and money. And I had a big-fat zero on all accounts.

I was more lean than bulky. I drank my milk and ate my cookies until I was ten. I still do even now.

“You’re still a coward, collar or not,” Andrew shook his head disapprovingly once again and stomped away.

I turned back to my table, about to sit down when the blonde grabbed my arm stopping me. Her grip was incredibly tight and strong like a vice.

“Sorry about him. He took a knock to the head yesterday in practice and his thoughts are slightly addled,” she informed me, apologising for the big guy. I doubted her story, and her apology.

“Yeah, well. I was blasted by some superpowered asshole yesterday and I still woke up on the right side of the bed,” I told her, annoyance lacing my voice. I felt her grip on my arm tightened fractionally. Almost to the point of being hurtful.

“Still, I’m sorry for his words. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Sure,” I agreed and fought not to roll my eyes. She was rather pretty. Her vibrant blue eyes were the clearest I had ever seen. The slight dusting of freckles across her nose and under her eyes gave her features a playful softness.

“I’m Karen by the way,” she introduced herself and let go of my arm. I fought not to grunt from the sudden relief of pressure on my arm.

“Elias,” I replied roughly and bobbed my head at her. My focused sharply affixed past her head and towards the door. The woman that had just entered. The same woman who’d fought against the Pulser biker and Harry the smoke man.

“Oh damn,” I whispered coarsely.

The woman caught my gaze and held it intently. Shit she knew who I was. And funnily enough I saw a collar on her neck.

She stared at me for a full eight seconds and turned and left the cafeteria.

“You know her?” the dark blonde-haired woman, Karen asked me in confusion. Having followed my gaze.

“Trouble,” I answered and gulped nervously.

This novel is the work of Rhys Thomas. If you are reading this and it has not been published by Rhys Thomas, then this work has been stolen. Please report this to Amazon and me at email: [email protected]