Mighty Mortals: Volume 1 Chapter 1 (Midnight)

## Part 1

My name is Anthony Wilson. I'm just an average eight year old kid.

No, less than average.

My parents and I lived in the poor side of town, struggling to make money. I see them leave everyday, having no idea what money they do actually make to raise us all, but they manage. For all I know, they could actually be doing a job or doing something bad to get the money.

I don't question them, however, I think my parents are nice people that are just struggling. They said that they wanted me to get the education to grow up and live a better life than they are. They wanted me to live a normal life.

So I go to school, like any other kid. Lakeside school was the name. The teachers there were nice, but most of the kids picked on me. I was small, and my clothes weren't as good as the other kids. They always teased me, especially about the hole in my ear. My parents said that I just had it as a child so I just have to live through it.

I was okay with it, and I ignored the bullies. I took tae kwon do lessons from a friend at school. He wasn't good at it, but he was good enough for me, in case I have to protect myself.

My parents tell me to continue to tell myself that one day, we can live a better life a safer life. A normal life.

I was ten years old.

It was the middle of the night, and I wanted to get something to drink, but I didn’t want to wake up my parents. I quietly walked through the dark and small hallway, at focus on the light of the kitchen.

Wait, why was the light on?

I snuck over, peeping, hearing murmuring.

I look over to see my parents sitting down on one side of a kitchen table, another person on the other side. He covered himself up: gloves, bandana, hooded sweater, thick pants, long socks, big boots. I couldn’t tell what he looked like.

I can’t remember what they were saying, but it was something about a contract, money… then I heard my name in it. More and more as I listened to what was going on, my parent’s voices sounded more worried.

I continued to peep, not knowing what was happening, but I wanted to help. I took tae kwon do lessons for two years now, whether or not it was from a professional. If this was a bad guy, I would fight him to save my parents. Then something happened that made me jump.

My father stood up so fast, the seat he was just sitting on fell. So did my mother, but hers didn’t fall. At the same time, the hooded man took out a gun, pointing it to them. That’s when their murmuring voices were loud and clear.

“You’re not touching him!” my father yelled.

“We can work something out, just put the gun down!” my mother stated.

The bad guy was silent, then he spoke. “I’m going to go in his room, take him, and walk away. If you try to stop me, I’ll just kill you and be on my way. We don’t need you once this is all over, so you’re expendable.”

“I don’t give a damn what you say!” That was the first time I heard my father use a forbidden word.

Forbidden. Everything was forbidden for me back then. My father just broke one of the big ones.

My dad continued. “We’ll give you five seconds to get out of our house--”

“Oh there he is,” the hooded person said. He was referring to me.

Stupid, I remember calling myself, you peeped your head too far! As he began approaching me, my father lunged at him, throwing a punch. However, when it hit that badguy’s head, my father’s hand broke, and the bad dude wasn’t phased. He was angry that he was hit, however, so he shot my father in his heart.

I was focused on my dad, his bullet wound. I wasn't fully focused on my mother, who had a knife in her hand as she went for the lights. Then it went dark.

A few sounds of commotion, then another gunshot. The light of the gunshot showed that the hood was off of the enemy. He had blue fur, and green eyes. The light left once again, and I heard silence. I slowly backed away in fear, knowing he would be coming for me.

Running scared angry, sad. I know he's coming, but I can't see him. Can't see him! CAN'T SEE HIM!

Can't see anything.

I ran into a wall, stunning myself and revealing my location with a thud. I couldn't see him, but I felt him near me before my head was struck once more, *much* harder... and I was out cold.