Not enough sleep

My eyes shot open at the sound of my alarm. Never in my life had I felt so violent as in that moment. If the alarm was a living, breathing being… I would kill it. Unfortunately, it is my phone, and I can’t break that (because I can’t afford to buy a new one). I turned the noise off and stared at the screen. A few notifications, but I noticed something: it’s Monday. That means it has been a week since my life changed.

Technically, it was in between Sunday and Monday that it had started; the whole rat wall/ bomb implant situation. That Monday, however, it had all really began. ‘Ghost handjob’ is where I really think my life could never return to normal.

Not sure why it’d clicked, but I had a bit of… melancholy(?)… for a moment. I felt important, in a way. I was waking up from my first mission, where I’d almost died for the greater good. I was a superhero, right? Isn’t that amazing? Something everyone wishes they could be? A way to start over and reinvent yourself… no one holds a sour past against a hero.

Vanessa wasn’t around. She had said she wanted to talk last night. I said her name a few times in case she was invisible, but she didn’t appear; maybe she’s busy?

I had work. Work. Wow. That’s part of the superhero gig, I suppose. Get shot, be at your desk first thing the next morning.

I peeked the hallway and didn’t see anyone. I wasn’t sure how many allies I had at the moment, so any time I can avoid a roommate is good.

I pissed, shat, and showered. I did the rest of my getting-ready bullshit that is incredibly boring to recite every day and made my way out of the apartment. Sadly, I was caught.

“Can we talk?” Ava asked, sitting at the table with a bowl of oatmeal. Her eyes seemed softer than I’d have guessed; considering I’d slept with her ex, I was expecting her to stab me on sight.

“Ah… sure.” I took a seat across from her. I began feeling nervous, awkwardly fumbling with my hands under the table.

Ava took a bite and stared off, not speaking despite asking to talk. I wasn’t sure if she was just thinking, or if I was meant to start. I didn’t say anything.

She sighed. “Okay, let’s get the big thing out of the way: I’m very, very angry with you.”

I nodded. “That’s fair.”

Ava nodded. “However… you’re both consenting adults.”

I nodded. “That’s true.”

“And… it’s not like you knew….”

“Huh?” I asked. “Knew what?”

She blushed a slight shade and looked away sheepishly. Very cute! “Well… me and Hana… we used to date. I… that’s why I was upset, really.”

Shit. What now? I did know, prior to sleeping with Hana, that they were exes. Do I lie? Do I-

“Oh, fuck you. You knew?!” She spat venomously from across the table.

“What?! I-“

“I can see it on your face! You… you dick!” Ava stormed out of the room. I’d begun the conversation thinking I was going to be forgiven, but it seems that I’ve only been dug a deeper grave.

Shit.

I grabbed myself a granola bar from the cabinet and left for work.

Work was boring. Rich talked my ear off with his inane bullshit, and I got busywork done. There was one moment that was unique, though….

“You know the fucking Hero Hosts are coming to Vocx?” He said nonchalantly, obviously scrolling through Reddit porn on his phone. He just did that casually, like how most people scroll Instagram or the like.

I didn’t know that, actually. “I didn’t know that, actually.” I told him. “Why?”

Rich shrugged. “Above my fucking pay-grade. Some bullshit about a rise in fucks with genetic mutations or whatever, and they’re planning on a way to pre-emptily find them so they get fucking-“ he did a finger across his throat to imply ‘****, “you know?”

My internal temperature rose and dropped at the same time with nerves. “Is… is that possible? Like, a **** test or something?”

Rich scoffed. “I don’t fucking know; why the hell would I know what’s capable within the medical field?”

“You’re in charge of a medical division in the most advanced tech/medicinal company in the world.” I pointed out.

“Shut the fuck up, Michael.”

-

Hey there…! I’ll make this quick: I was kind of scared to get back to writing this, because I wasn’t sure what to do next. I can’t promise frequent uploads, but I can promise that I still care and do have a full overall vision of the story that will be completed (unless I die or whatever). Thanks!