499 Words | Won the Superhero prompt for Aim to Engage contest held by  Ambassadors

Prompt: Rise

Nefarious

Kaz was at the back of the passenger car when it happened.

Huge claws ripped the metallic wall apart, eliciting a piercing screech. A woman pressed her hands to her mouth. A toddler burst into tears and an old man muttered a prayer, his fingers flipping through rosary beads.

They'd been found.

The attacker slipped through the hole he'd made and entered the passenger car. An indigo bodysuit costume covered him from head to toe, exposing nothing but a set of needle-like teeth and mutated hands with claws huge as an elephant's tusks. He was Rageclaw, leader of the Nefarious army and scum of Sora City. His reign of terror had crippled the city for five years and snuffed out all traces of peace.

Fear lanced through Kaz's body. He cast a glance at Azar and felt his pulse quicken with dread. White-faced and shaking, she would succumb to a panic attack if he didn't calm her. He pulled her under the seats.

"Be strong for Miriam," he whispered.

Azar clutched her swollen belly. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths.

He squeezed her hand. "I promise I'll get you two to safety."

A guttural growl shattered the windows. Kaz hugged Azar, shielding her from the rain of glass. A man fled in terror. He didn't get far. A giant claw whizzed past, glimmering bone-white through sluices of light that pooled from the open windows.

He fell dead, stabbed in the back.

"Did I not say nobody leaves my city without my permission?" Rageclaw said.

"Please..." someone pleaded. "Leave us alone!"

There was a familiar whoosh of air, a thud and then stillness.

If Rageclaw wasn't stopped, he would keep hurting them. The train would lead him to Sanctuary and then nowhere would be safe.

Flames of anger scorched Kaz's heart.

Rageclaw's footfalls drew closer. The passengers cowered and wept. They would not live to see the day.

As Azar squeezed him, fearful of their fate, Kaz felt a kick on his chest. It was his unborn child, alive and healthy. He had to protect her. He had to protect them both. Quickly, he stood up.

In the time it took Rageclaw to bare his teeth at him, Kaz leapt. The flesh on his back morphed, elongating to razor-sharp strings invisible in the dim light. He swiped them at Rageclaw's arms and pulled taut before flinging him out through the hole.

"Kaz!" Azar cried. 

He shook his head and smiled, sparing one last glance to study her. Then he jumped off the train.

While Rageclaw lay stunned, flung to the farthest wall, the train wended its way out of sight. Like a sentinel, Kaz stood still with determination. He had a promise to keep and keep it he must.

Rageclaw woke from his stupor. In a fit of fury, he flicked his claws. They shot out like blades meant to skewer but his strings snapped to meet the blow.

It was Kaz's last stand and maybe it wasn't.