Resting in an awkward position on my sofa, I flipped through the different channels on television, utterly bored. Stumbling upon the news channel, I shrugged slightly.

Eh, why not?

Waiting patiently for the advertisement to be over, I heard the iconic theme music of the news channel.

MYSTERIOUS JAIL OUTBREAK.

I frowned at the title of the news, an apprehensive feeling rising within me.

"Blink, an apeiron, mysteriously disappeared from his jail cell yesterday and right after he escaped, he was seen joining up with another unknown accomplice. Here is a message for the public from the head of the police department, Mr. Drake."

"I'm sure everyone knows of Blink, he is a very prominent apeiron that was finally caught with the help of Omni. He is extremely dangerous, and not to be confronted alone. The accomplice he is with is another suspected apeiron, I advise everyone to remain vigilant at all times."

I observed the television screen as the CCTV captured the fight that occurred yesterday at the grocery store. Despite the lack of light in the video, I could faintly make out the eccentric woman who appeared out of nowhere. After which, the scene was cut off, showing another scene where I recalled the woman whistling loudly, another person appearing inside the room and teleporting them away.

So, that was the supervillain I met on the day I was in the airport?

How did he break out of jail? Weren't they supposed to have a special jail cell for these Apeirons?

"Following other reports, there also have been outbreaks of other Apeirons who were previously jailed by our city's own superhero, Omni. The police are currently investigating the case, they stated it was impossible for them to break out of their own and that it must have been an inside job."

Pressing my hand onto my mouth, a horrified look covered my face. "Oh my god, so, that means somewhere out there, they are roaming around freely?" I whispered to myself, struggling to get up from the sofa as I winced in pain.

"I can't believe it, he was right." I gasped to myself, digging into my pocket and finding a small crumpled paper inside it. Staring at it, my mind recalled a conversation from the day before.

A knock sounded on the door, startling both of us from our reverie and Omni cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Excuse me, Miss Saunders?"

"Ye-yes, please give me a minute!" I hollered towards the door, turning back to face Omni.

"You should go, it'll be a huge problem if they see you in here." I said, lowering my volume as I gestured for him to escape.

Omni nodded in agreement, preparing to head to the window but he hesitated, spinning around to face me.

"Go on, hurry up!" I hissed at him, a concerned frown on my face.

"...here, take this." He said, handing me a piece of paper and I furrowed my eyebrows, staring curiously at the piece of paper in his hands. There were numbers scribbled onto it in a hasty manner but it was tidy enough for me to make out the numbers.

"What's this?" I questioned, taking the piece of paper from his hands, shifting my head to one side, my curiosity piqued.

"A way to contact me." He answered simply, hurriedly heading to another window once another knock sounded on my door.

"Miss Saunders?"

"Just a while more!" I raised my voice, reaching out my hand to grab onto Omni's wrist. I felt my heart skipping a beat as I wrapped my petite hands around his large wrist, but I couldn't afford to be distracted at this moment.

"Wa-wait, why would I need to contact you?" I asked, lowering my volume yet again.

"If Blink escaped, I doubt it would only be him."

"Well, what's all that got to do with me contacting you?"

"Something tells me that you are somehow linked in all this." Omni said, his piercing eyes gazing intently right at me.

My heart skipped another beat, because of what he said or the way he stared at me, I didn't know.

"I thought I told you, it's all because I have extremely bad luck."

"That's ridiculous."

"It's true! It's even possible for me trip over my own feet!" I protested, wincing slightly when I raised my voice.

Before we could continue our talk any further, sirens rang through the air and his whole demeanor changed again. It was similar to the day I saw him in my bedroom.

"Just keep it and contact me when you need to." Omni spoke, directing his piercing eyes at me once more.

In silent acquiesce, I responded to him with a nod as he directed his eyes to the window, an indecipherable expression on his face.

"Go on, they need your help."

With those words, he hovered himself in the air, casting me one last glance before disappearing out the window.

"Miss Saunders?" The nurse questioned and I gazed at his silhouette, that was becoming smaller and smaller with each passing second.

"Yes, please come in, sorry for the delay." I answered, distracted.

My eyes remained on the piece of paper and I heaved a sigh, taking my phone from the table in front of me, punching in the number.

"Just yesterday, late in the night, Omni yet again prevents another petty crime from taking place at a hardware store. Thanks to our city's own superhero, the crime rate has been dropping gradually."

Letting out a satisfying huff, I saved Omni's number under the name 'That Person' and I focused on the news report again.

"There is also an increase in victims waking up from their comatose state from the incident that took place a year ago. What will become of them? Will they use their powers for evil, good or just go back to their normal lives?"

Shaking my head, I grabbed the remote control and pressed on the power button, tossing the remote control to one side. Relaxing back on the sofa in the same awkward position, I gazed at the ceiling, a contemplative look on my face.

***************

A familiar doorbell rang and I struggled to lift my head up from my awkward position on the couch.

"Come in! It's not locked!" I hollered towards the door, a frown etched on my face, wondering who bothered to visit me.

"Jean?" Jessie's voice floated across the living room as she opened the door, her eyes landing on me in puzzlement.

"What...are you doing?" She questioned, a mixture of amusement and confusion evident in her tone. Her right hand was clutching onto a basket of fruits, while the other moved from the doorknob to her sling bag.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

Jessie chuckled, walking into the living room, placing down the basket of fruits on the dining table and her sling bag on the chair.

"You tell me." Jessie said cheekily and I rolled my eyes, remaining in my unpleasant position, that I should say, doesn't seem appropriate.

"My back hurts, Jessie and I'm trying to get in the most comfortable position possible." I huffed and Jessie hummed in response, a small guilty smile on her face.

"I'm sorry, Jean, it's my fault that you ended up like-"

"Stop, just stop. It was my decision to save you and I knew what I was getting into, okay?" I smiled at Jessie and she sighed miserably, but decided not to counter back any further.

"Jessie, you didn't close the door." I reminded, staring at the door, blinking when something caught my attention outside the door.

Isn't that...a mop of...hair?

"Oh right, how silly of me, I had some additional stuff to carry and he offered to help me." Jessie winced, hurrying to the door, making me furrow my eyebrows.

"He?" I said, uncomfortable at the thought of some stranger entering my home, adjusting myself to a more...appropriate position.

"Yeah, you know him, it's Nathan." Jessie nodded, pushing the door further open and revealing a man, tensing up as he saw me.

Nathan?

Who was that again...?

"Here, just come on in and place the stuff on the dining table there, don't worry, Jean doesn't mind it. I practically live in this house too." Jessie grinned at Nathan as I observed him intently, trying to recall where I met him.

Images briefly flashed through my mind and everything just clicked at once.

"Ah! Aren't you the dude who likes Je-"

"Jazz! Yes, he likes jazz! He really likes jazz, like a lot!" Jessie interrupted me, an anxious look in her eyes as she widened her eyes at me.

"I like jazz?" Nathan muttered to himself, a dumbfounded expression on his face as he stepped cautiously into the living room.

"Not jazz, Je-" I shook my head at her answer, correcting her answer only to be cut off once again.

"Just go up and greet your parents! Yes, of course, how rude of me!" Jessie faked a laugh, casting me a warning glare before she marched up the stairs.

A glare that was threatening me to keep my mouth shut.

Watching her figure disappearing into the corridor upstairs, I snickered to myself, directing my eyes to Nathan. He was obviously self-conscious being in a stranger's house, poor thing.

"Nothing is gonna jump out and bite you, you know." I stifled a laugh as he glanced around cautiously, a nervous look in his eyes.

"You can go ahead and place Jessie's stuffs on the dining table, thanks for helping her out." A small friendly smile was on my face as I gestured towards the dining table.

Though, I'm sure you were more than glad to help her out.

"Sorry, I'll just place the stuff here and leave." Nathan walked briskly to the dining table, gently placing the plastic bag on the table as he made a move to leave.

"No, it's fine! You should stay and leave with Jessie!" I protested, my eyes widening in response and Nathan froze, turning around.

"But-"

"It's fine, it's alright!" I insisted and he answered with an awkward nod. Beckoning him to seat on the couch beside me, he agreed hesitantly, settling down uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry, it must be uncomfortable for you to have a stranger in your house." Nathan said, his tone apologetic and I sighed, the tiny smile lingering on my face.

What a polite man.

"No, I should thank you for going through the trouble to help Jessie, but I'm sure you are probably more than glad to do that." My smile widened into a grin and Nathan seemed like a deer caught in the headlights, making me explode into fitful giggles.

Nathan Scott.

A man that wears his heart on his sleeve.

Unlike Jessie's ex-boyfriend, this guy gives off a good vibe.

"Wh-what's so funny?" Nathan asked and I could hear the slight annoyance in his voice but he quickly recovered, a guilty expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be annoyed at you." He apologized and I held my hand up, trying to control my laughter as my shoulders shook with mirth.

"...no, it's fine. I would be annoyed too, if I were you." Finally catching my breath, I continued grinning at Nathan.

"Don't worry, Nathan, I support you."

"Is it really that obvious?" Nathan questioned, scratching at his neck.

Letting out a short chuckle, I nodded. "Yes."

"You can ask me anything about her, you want to know more about her, don't you?"

Nathan widened his eyes in surprise, opening his mouth and pausing for a moment. "...yeah."

However, his agreement felt vague, as if he was half-hearted about his agreement to know more about her, as if something was blocking his way.

Pretending not to notice that, I heard Jessie's quick footsteps down the stairs as she finished greeting my parents. She glared at me once again and I shrugged in response, glancing over to Nathan who was gazing at Jessie.

The look on his face was somehow oddly familiar, knowing that I have seen that same look somewhere before.

"...thank you, Jean, again." Jessie said, breaking the silence in the living room and her glare completely disappeared from her face, replaced by a teary look.

"It wasn't that big of a deal, Jessie."

Jessie approached me, biting on her lower lip as she engulfed me in a soft hug, careful not to touch my back. I patted her soothingly, my eyes catching a glimpse of Nathan who observed her with the same look.

His eyes drifted to mine for a second, before he blinked and glanced away, leaving me bewildered.

****************

Finding myself in the same inappropriate position, I switched on the television as the doorbell rang. My mother, who took a day off from writing, hastily answered the door while I stretched my head, curiously watching her.

Hearing the door shut close, she entered the living room with a beam on her face. "What was at the door that made you so happy, mum?"

"Your aunt sent this to us." My mother proudly showed me a plain notebook and a thought clicked in my mind.

"No way, don't tell me those are the recipes she promised." I gasped, unable to hide my excitement.

My mother nodded eagerly and I squealed happily, my mother rushed to the kitchen, preparing the various appliances and ingredients.

"What are you going to make first?"

"Prawn noodles." My mother sang happily and I cheered quietly to myself.

Oh, how I really missed the local delicacies.

My phone vibrated noisily on the dining table, snapping me out of my drooling and I reached over, grabbing it.

"Hello?"

"Switch to the news channel, now." Jessie's demanding voice entered my ear and I did as she asked me to.

"What, is it something to do with-"

"We are currently showing the live footage of the match between our city's own superhero, Omni and the infamous Apeiron behind the train incident, Frost."

"...Omni." I whispered his name, hanging up on Jessie, listening to the news with rapt attention.

The camera panned shakily towards the street as Omni stood in his iconic hood, approaching the Apeiron I came across in the train in a menacing manner.

Frost.

The streets were in a mess, people were scrambling to safety, knowing that being near them would only get them in harm's way. Cars were haphazardly scattered throughout the roads and walkways, some of the cars even held traces of Frost's ice attacks.

Frost's lips were moving but the camera was too far away to capture his speech, especially with the clamouring when he shot out an icicle from his hand. The camera operator was obviously scared since the camera would shake violently every time shot out something from his hand, it was stupid of him to even film this.

Each time Frost attacked Omni with a sharp icicle, the icicle would break upon impacting on Omni's skin. However, his hoodie would be torn, revealing the same fascinating silvery skin that eventually transforms back into his ordinary skin colour.

"Give up, Frost! You can't hurt me!"

The camera captured Omni's loud voice and Frost only smirked in return. Throwing another icicle at Omni, he stumbled back at its impact but resumed his menacing walk towards Frost with a stoic look in his eyes.

"Do you think that's all I've got?"

Frost raised his voice and he pressed his palm on the road, small ice crystals began to form in the air, floating around him as Omni quickened his pace. Suddenly, ice began to rise from the ground and it formed into an ice wall, pushing Frost into the air as he leaped.

Doing a back flip, Frost's eyes glinted devilishly at the camera as he faced both of his palm towards the camera operator, two icicles immediately flying towards him.

At the same time, Omni was flying towards the camera operator, knowing what Frost was planning to do.

"Look out!"

The camera clattered onto the ground, the lens cracking upon the rough landing. Despite that, the fight was still being filmed as I could see Omni protecting the camera operator by shielding him. Frost used that opportunity to shoot out an ice beam from his hands and Omni grimaced, while Frost chuckled mockingly.

"Surely, you can still freeze to death! You are still human, Omni!"

A trail of ice slowly formed on Omni's body, clinging to his body and restricting his movements. It looked horribly painful, whatever movements Omni made cracked the ice, but the ice just rapidly forms back on his body again.

At his taunting words, Omni's expression darkened and he let out a frustrated cry, spinning around and flying towards Frost. The ice around him shattered into pieces and Omni's movements were slightly sluggish but he tried not to show it.

"What, how can you still mo-ugh!"

Frost stumbled back in alarm, Omni knocking him back and proceeded to lift him up into the air as they disappeared from the camera. The camera operator fumbling to get his camera and he managed to catch the last sight of Omni flying into the sky with Frost in his hands. People emerged from their hiding places, cheering and clapping at Omni saving the day once again.

"Oh, hell ye-ah!" I jumped from my seat in victory, only to feel a sharp pain piercing across my back and I cried out in pain.

"My-my back! My back!"

My watery eyes observed the news and I sniffed, forming a teary smile on my face.

"Good-ah, job, ah...Omni."

"Oh my goodness, Jean! Are you okay?" My mother gasped, horrified as she rushed to my aid.

"No, mum-it's fine, go back to your, ow, cooking." I waved her off and she glanced worriedly at me as she trotted back to the kitchen. I forced a grin on my face, trying to sit up.

"My back!"

"Oh, what am I going to do with this daughter..." My mother muttered as she rushed to my aid once again.

*************

Roused from a deep sleep due to the commotion beside my room, I whined sleepily, startled when I heard a thunderous shout echoing throughout the room.

That voice...

It belongs to dad.

"Dad...?" I called out groggily, heading to my room door and opening it.

Yet again, there was another shout and it sounded frantic, a sense of trepidation welled up in me. Deciding it was best to not interrupt my father, I stayed outside his office room, sitting down on the floor, and leaning against the door.

"...you stay away from her, you got it?"

Her?

I frowned, folding my arms on my knee as I curled them to my chest, resting my head on it.

"No, you listen to me, if you ever cause harm to any of my family again, I will expose it."

...what?

What the hell is dad talking about?

Again? When did we ever get-

"Oh my god..." I mumbled in shock, covering my mouth in shock and I felt a faint painful throbbing at my back.

"You dare hurt my daughter...don't think you will ever get away with this."

Standing up, my knees trembled slightly as I spun around, turning the doorknob with my shivering hands. Barging into the room without any hesitation, I lifted my head up and my father was instantly speechless at my presence.

"Dad, please explain to me what is going on, right now." I implored, my voice soft and trembling slightly.

I thought my painful yet ordinary life couldn't get any worse, with super-powered villains on the loose and going on a rampage in my city, and a superhero paying me visits frequently.

But those super-powered villains are after my family.

Sorry for the super duper late update, I was busy with my own life and stuffs ><. Hope you guys like this chapter as well! ^^

PS: Dedicated to @Olubean, do check out his "Psycho" book if you are interested in reading more superhero books (though it leans towards more on the darker side).