I see. It was good anyway!

This was quite interesting. Was it a dream or something?

Those damn insurance agencies!

Some sort of relaxation program?

"Honey... think this will start being called 'The BLACK House'?"

I wouldn't say this is SUPER close to my heart, but I feel like it's something which no-one thinks about and is important.

​

Someone goes to prison because they did something REALLY bad, like murder for the sake of it, or even one of the few crimes that will get you beaten up by inmates until you're near death. During prison they've had time to reflect on their actions. They've served the sentence, they're allowed out. They're a changed person, according to the law they're clean. But then they try to do ANYTHING in society, and are spat on, insulted and seen as inhuman, for something they've already been punished for. That happened years in the past.

Sorry, I think I forgot to put away the onions!

Glad you liked it!

I sit in my holding cell, waiting for my trial. It's in a few days. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Someone set off a bomb which destroyed several buildings and killed hundreds. I rushed over to help the survivors. Thing is, one of my powers is to cause explosions, and my nemesis happened to be in the area. People assumed I got tired of chasing the villain and tried to take him out permanently.

I could have run, but I want to make a statement. I don't want to just run and hide. I'm confronting this. It doesn't mean I'm not terrified.

My cell door opens. A guy in a guard's outfit stands in front of me. Except he isn't a guard. He's my nemesis. "What are you doing, Derick? You could be in a lot of trouble!" Most supers treat their identities like Schrödinger's cat, but Derick and I have a bit of a friendly relationship. Yes I'm always trying to drag his ass to jail, but neither of us want the other seriously hurt.

"We both know you being here is BS, Valerie. I'm getting you out. I'll deal with the consequences."

I shake my head. "No. The law has decided to trial me, so I'm going through with it."

"Val, the law will do its damn best to find you guilty! I know we've never really seen eye-to-eye, but I won't let you be mistreated! I'm springing ya!" He goes to grab my arm.

I forcefully shove him away. "Derick, listen. I know you don't care much for the law. But busting me out will just make BOTH of us look bad. If you want to help me, be present at my trial. Vouch for me. If I'm found guilty, then that will simply prove you right. You can pressure the courts. Get people to rally behind you. I can't do anything. But you can. It's up to you."

Derick looks at me thoughtfully, then leaves. I just lie back down on my stone bed. I hope justice prevails...

DAY OF TRIAL

I'm marched to my stand. The manacles on my wrists and ankles are tight and uncomfortable. Guards are either side of me, each holding onto an arm. I'm locked into my stand, at the mercy of the court. The judge clears his throat. "Hero Beacon, you are charged with the crimes of vandalism, terrorism and murder. How do you plead?"

"No... not guilty, your honour." I look back at the audience. Many eyes filled with fear, anger or sadness. I stare at my hands.

"Are you sure? I'll do you a courtesy and tell you what's at stake. There are dozens of reports stating that an explosion was heard, then when the dust and debris cleared you were standing right in the centre. It is well-known that you can cause explosions, and it's also reported that Skydive was in the area, a clear motive. If you confess now, I can at least spare you your death."

"Your honour, I am, first and foremost, a hero. I'd NEVER do anything to put anyone's life in danger. I, too, heard the explosion and went over to investigate and check for survivors. Another known power of mine is regeneration, which I can share with other people. I didn't know Skydive was there until after the fact. The explosion must have been from a bomb. I maintain, your honour, that I am not guilty." My body is shaking and crumbling, the stand being my support. I can feel fury coming from all around.

"Your honour" the prosecution says, "she claims that she just 'happened to be there'. But we must consider that she's NEVER just hanging around - she's ALWAYS doing something. Is she to suggest that she just so coincidentally had business there?"

I begin to realise I'm fighting a losing battle. Suddenly I hear the courtroom doors burst open, and Derick is right there. "YOUR HONOUR! THIS TRIAL IS A FARCE AND BUILT ON NOTHING BUT LIES AND DECEIT! I DEMAND TO PRESENT MY EVIDENCE!"

The whole courtroom gasps, and the judge slams his gavel. "ORDER! ORDER!" He turns to Derick. "Skydive, you don't have any business being here."

"Neither does Beacon. As everyone knows, I've dedicated my life to fighting against the court system. Now I have my chance to prove why. I WILL be heard, or I will tear this whole building apart!"

"You understand you're helping your enemy, right, Skydive? Not to mention attempted murderer."

Derick scoffs at the prosecutor. "I'm simply fighting for what I believe in. If Beacon were legitimately a criminal, I'd be singing to the high heavens. But as it stands, a group of terrorists wanted to frame her. I did some investigating. I found this." He dumps a plastic bag onto the prosecutor's bench.

The prosecutor opens the bag to examine the contents. "This appears to have been a bomb..."

Derick nods. "Think about it, Mr Prosecutor. An explosion goes off, what is the most likely reason? To be more specific, what has caused explosions during wars?"

"Well, bombs have been used widely in his..." the man trails off.

"Your honour, I have documents of bribery from the terrorist group, that the police will get a LOT of cash if they assume any explosion comes from whomever is at the scene of the crime. I also have a witness statement from a man who asked Beacon for help with his son, who was going to die without surgery but the family couldn't afford surgery. According to him, he was getting worried when she didn't arrive, so he decided to find out why. Then he saw the news. He didn't want to believe what happened, but it's not like he could SAY anything. After all, he wasn't a witness." I watch Derick smirk, as the prosecutor's face falls and the judge looks horrified.

Derick then turns to the courtroom. "Ladies and gentlemen, Beacon has been your hero for a long time. She has helped you all, stood up for justice, and been the nicest person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. For empty words and false guesses to lead to a situation like THIS... this injustice is what I fight against! Am I really the villain here? I want to encourage you all, today, to fight for what's RIGHT, not believe whatever nonsense is spoonfed to you. DEFEND YOUR HERO! SET THE BEACON FREE!"

The courtroom is silent for a moment. Then a voice shouts "SET THE BEACON FREE!" A few people begin to join in. Before long, the whole courtroom is chanting.

"SET THE BEACON FREE! SET THE BEACON FREE! SET THE BEACON FREE!"

The judge slams his gavel several times. "ORDER IN MY COURT!" He turns to Derick. I'm fighting to hold back tears. He really did it. He stood up for justice... without being a villain...

"In light of all this new evidence, I have no choice but to grant full pardon to Beacon. Guards, release her."

I'm let off the stand, my manacles are removed. I rush up to hug Derick. "Thank you."

Derick hugs me back. "You were right... I wasn't handling things how I should... I need to change that..." he lets go, marches over to the guards, and places the manacles on himself. "I can't speak up for justice, then run from everything I've done." He looks at the judge, a smile on his face. "I was ready to surrender, if you chose let Beacon go. It's time I face what I've done."

Surprised but undeterred, the judge nods. "Very well. Skydive, you've been accused of reckless endangerment, theft and vandalism. How do you plead?"

"Your honour, I am guilty on all accounts of all crimes. I've looked into what Beacon has written about my exploits. Unlike the law, she was honest in every statement. Everything submitted to the police by her is true. I trust any... additions will be ignored?"

The judge thinks for a moment, then nods. "I'll ensure that your sentence is fair. 40 years. If anything is off, I'll make sure that is reduced."

"Thank you, your honour." He turns to me and whispers "Thank you, Valerie." He's then escorted away, being taken to the prison for superhumans.

"No... thank you... Derick..."

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Thank you for reading! More stories here!

That was a bit creepy at the end...

I did get a bit confused tbh, but honestly I'm mostly curious as to what the other thing was, and even what the MC is. Wouldn't mind a part 2.

*shrug* we'll see, even Idk lol

He's just a black market guy, not someone who's REALLY a threat lmao. Sure there's the occasional murder, but only as and when necessary. Tbh I'm wondering if I could make a series out of this?

I was attending a concert, not realising it was a trap by my enemy. Everything happened so fast. Everyone was bound, gagged and blindfolded. I tried to step in and stop the madness, but before I could do ANYTHING, I was being subdued by his henchmen.

The bonds are too strong to break, and without being able to see, my powers of particle manipulation are useless; I can't focus and concentrate. I can't speak either, thanks to the gag placed on me. I hear my nemesis pacing, muttering. "Now I have the hostages, the next step is to lure the hero here. Get him to show who he really is."

NO! THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS? But... HE'S TALKING ABOUT ME! I start to stand up, when I hear a gun being cocked. "Sit the fuck down or you die!"

I oblige. I'm no use to the innocents if I'm dead. I need to somehow... just... somehow tell him...

"What do we do with the hostages if the hero doesn't show?" a different henchman asks.

My nemesis speaks once more. "Kill them and expose to the world he'd rather keep his identity a secret than fulfil his duty. I'm not happy to do it, especially since it'll be messy, but..."

I attempt to protest, terrified that he'll actually kill them. A faint mumbling comes out. I feel a knife to my throat. "Behave yourself! Or I'll cut you right now!"

I shake my head. I have to convince him... somehow... "Oh, you don't want to listen? Fine then!"

"ENOUGH! What did I just say? We're not killing ANYONE for the SAKE of it!"

"But, boss..."

"Listen, if the threat of death isn't enough to get him to shut up, then maybe whatever he has to say is IMPORTANT. Remove the gag, see what he has to say."

YES! I succeeded! Well, at least in the communication department... now to convince him of who I am... I feel the cloth being taken off and I waste no time. "You already HAVE the hero's identity! I'm right here!"

Everything, even the WIND, goes silent. My blindfold is also removed. My nemesis, Stormwind, is standing right in front of me. "Really now? You're not just trying to protect the hero?"

"If you stand back, I can prove it!" I silently plead for him to give me a chance.

He sighs. "Very well. MEN! Make some room." A big area is cleared out. I focus and concentrate my powers, until I've created a small pocket of air. I condense the inside to water, before releasing it, leaving a puddle on the floor.

"So... you are Energiser... and even better, I have you as a captive!" Stormwind laughs, as do his henchmen. He gathers himself. "Fan of my band?"

"YOUR band? YOU manage The Whirlwinds? Actually, that makes a lot of sense all of a sudden..." I quietly beat myself up for not realising sooner.

Stormwind walks back over, kneels down, and lifts my chin up with a finger to look me right in the eyes. "Almost no-one makes the connection. Don't think you're an idiot for not knowing. Now, here's the deal: thousands of people LOVE my band. It's beneficial to me in several ways - it's my source of money from the ridiculous prices I charge, it allows me to monitor people... and I can always capture people. I take it you won't do anything stupid or reckless?"

I narrow my eyes. "And what do you plan to do, with me out of your way?" I never COULD figure out his plan, I just knew he'd commit murders and some shady practices.

"I pretty much dominate the black market. It was all going swimmingly... then YOU came along. All I want is my little capital empire back. Tell you what, I kind of like you. Be a good boy for me and I'll give you exclusive VIP access to all the band's performances and showings."

I wouldn't risk unnecessary harm to the civilians by going against him, but I must admit, I'm fanboying so hard inside. I need to know one more thing... "Does the band work FOR you, or WITH you?"

"With. It's a group of guys I found having a hard time making it big. I know what you're thinking, but I assure you, supporting the band isn't supporting me. They just help me make some legitimate cash. So?" Stormwind grins at me.

I curse myself for what I'm about to do. Not that I have much choice, but he knows he has me backed into a corner, I just feel like I'm playing into his hand. "Alright, deal. But not because of the band."

"I know. You've always been the type to put others first. I just wanted to ensure you'd want to be my prisoner." He ruffles my hair before putting the blindfold back on me. "Release the hostages! We've got our man!"

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This is the first entry in my new series, Black Market Trading. Please check it out!

Ah, ok

Wow... it sounds like Tom REALLY wasn't aware haha, probably used to women being into him. I say that because he genuinely seemed to think it was all a game. The ending confused me slightly... did she keep the body? Did no-one investigate?

Delicately handled, whatever you have in mind is allowed, check out some of MY stuff XD of course you can always make a sub and put a part 2 there. If you choose to make a part 2, please lmk :)

This could go one of two ways... the important thing is, if Chris says no, Tom stops.

I wouldn't call Tom a creep YET, depends on his social awareness, some people really are dense socially (I know I can be lol).

Part 2?

Yeah... he was a conman XD

Matthew doesn't like to listen, does he?

David is a good friend.

This was sad... seems like the imprisoned was broken inside...