I

A Chapter by Rudy Afzal

Jayden gets caught robbing a bank. We learn a bit about his past and a relationship between him and O'Connor seems sincere on both sides.

“Sit down,” Officer O’Connor said as he forced me into the cold, steel chair. He cuffed my hands to the table before me.

O’Connor sat in the chair across from me. He threw a folder on the table, allowing the contents to spill out. Across the front of the folder the word “Mutant” was printed. I looked at the files in the folder and smirked while reading over all the things I’ve done since I’d turned 18. I’m 21 now. My folder was thick. In the top right corner read my name “Jayden Phoenix.”

O’Connor was the commanding officer of the MTA (Mutant Task Force). He was in charge with keeping the mutants the inhabited the country under control. It must be tough for him having no type of powers; some mutants aren’t as cooperative as I am. He looked at me with his hard brown eyes, just by looking in them one could tell he’s been through hell and back a few times. His mustache was the cliché police officer one: thick like and hairy, like a caterpillar. He reminded me of the G.I. Joe toys from when I was a kid.

“A bank Jayden,” His voice was just as hard as his eyes.

I looked up a bit startled. I was distracted by the blandness of the room we were in. there was a double sided mirror and a small TV in the room. Besides the table, the chairs and the TV the room was empty. Oh there was a camera too. I was looking into the camera when he called my name; h my best “I don’t care” look.

“What?” I asked nonchalantly, “I needed money.”

“So you used your powers to rob the bank?” He was being patient with me.

Before I became a criminal we had a history. He used to keep me out of trouble as a kid. I lived in a foster home. My parents died in a car accident when I was 3. He even helped me with my powers; on how to control them better. It seemed out at the time because he didn't have powers of his own, but all of his techniques work. I’m more in control of my powers than ever now. I was born with a mutated gene, I can manipulate and wield the element of fire.

“There’s such thing as getting a job,” He continued.

“That’s too main stream O’Connor,” I was toying with him. “you know I like to be different than the rest.”

He scratched his head in frustration and knitted his eyebrows at me.

“Do you mind proving that it was me that robbed that bank.” I looked at the TV with anticipation.

O’Connor stood up and picked a tape. He put the tape in and pressed play. The scene came on. It was only yesterday that this happened so I remembered it vividly. I walked into the bank with a bag on my back and a mask covering my face; it was one of those Mexican skull masks. My hair wasn't hidden though; I keep my long, brown dread locks in a ponytail. The video was silent; I remember it was busy and loud at the bank.

“I’ll narrate for you,” I said smirking at O'Connor.

I looked at myself on the screen and put myself back in the situation.

****

“Ok everyone, let’s stay calm. Down on the ground and put all your valuables in the bag.” I held up both of my arms and my hands were mimicking the shape of guns.

The people all looked at me funny; maybe due to the lack of a real firearm. The security guard upholstered his gun and aimed it at me.

“You got to be shitting me,” he mumbled under his breath.

He started walking towards me. “I wouldn't take another step if I were you.” I flailed my left hand at him.

“Come on kid, I don’t have time for your games. Put your hands behind your head and slowly drop to your knees.”

He continued walking towards me, ignoring my warning. I pressed my thumb down on my index finger and a small ball of fire shot out of my index. It hit the guard square in the chest; it was strong enough to knock him off his feet. His gun skirted across the floor, the crowd in the bank started to scream.

“I said stay calm people!” I managed to yell over all of them. “Now, do I have to repeat myself?”

They all slowly knelt removing their watches and necklaces and bracelets. The tellers behind the counters stood silently with their hands behind their heads; probably to let me know they wouldn’t press the alarm button. I knew one of them already did though but I wasn’t worried. I made my way around all the people and the emptied all their belongings into my backpack. I walked casually over to the tellers and told them to fit as much money as they could into the bag.

The teller took a good 3 minutes; he came back with a bag full of cash. He was shaking when he handed me the bag. Sirens were heard outside when he returned and the blue and red lights flashed through the sun that drowned the inside of the bank.

“Come out with your hands up,” I could hear O’Connor’s voice through a megaphone.

“It’s been a pleasure working with you people, but I must bid you all ado; they’re calling me.

I walked to the door and gave a final wave to my audience. I pushed through the revolving doors and was instantly blinded. When my eyes adjusted I could see I was cornered and guns were all aimed at me. They weren’t real guns though, they were more like dart guns; each vile holding a chemical that dulled my mutant powers. I raised my hands above my head and focused all of my energy on every gun aimed at me. I flexed my fingers and got my reaction. Each officer holding a gun threw it from their hands because they had begun to grown hot. The guns steamed on the ground and I took off.

****

The video cut to the police cars camera.

****

I ran through the streets of New York City. The cars scattered out of the way for the police, but I had enough strength to keep my distance. I cut down an alley and the car came bustling behind me. I cut through another alley and I threw my bag up onto a fire escape. The car turned right after it landed. I kept my head forward and flung my arms back vertically, expelling two lanes of fire. The tires rolled right through them and gave out. The officers exited their car and continued their pursuit on foot. I knew they wouldn't be able to catch me I was in the clear.

SLAM

A police car came barreling into the alley am smacked right into me. I cracked the windshield when I hit it. O'Connor stepped out of the car and put cuffs around my wrists. He escorted me to the back seat and slammed the door shut. He looked at me disappointed and I just looked down.

****

The screen went fuzzy and O'Connor looked at me, “Here’s what we’re going to do Jayden.”

“Shoot,” I looked back void of expression.

“I’m going to let you go, but if you f**k up one more time. I’m putting you away for good. We ordered a nice cooler for you to chill in.”

He was serious this time. I looked at him and lost my sarcasm altogether. I looked at him trying to find something, but he gave me all the sympathy that he could. He was all tapped out and I knew this was it. He continued to look at me with that hard expression and I could feel my face soften. He unlocked the cuffs on the table and I massaged my wrists as I stood up.

“I’m out of here. See you around O’Connor.” I put two fingers up to my forehead and saluted him.

I opened the door and walked out of the office. I averted my eyes from every officer. The sun was just as blinding as it was yesterday when I stepped through the door back into reality.