Working title as in I made it up just for this post.
New novel, not going to say much about it except I hope you all enjoy critiquing it.
Oh, and if you have a decent name for the character, please post. I am terrible at names.
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Chapter One
“Step away from the edge young man. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. If you just come down here everyone will be better.”
Will they? After all the pain and suffering I have caused, wouldn’t this city, even the world, be better off without me? If only they knew half of it.
“Officer, do you know what it’s like to have people die because you tried to save them? Do you know what it is like to have people throw away their lives to save yours, because, in a split second they came to the demented conclusion I was more important than them? Do you? Answer me!”
I laughed as her squirmed. He obviously wasn’t used to jumpers as confident as me.
“I don’t young man, and I can’t imagine the pain you feel, but I know for sure your life is worth more than this.”
“Is it really? This is my life. Atonement for the grave sins I have committed. An end to the perpetual suffering I feel. It’s the only way forwards for me.”
“You’re wrong. This isn’t the divine punishment you seek. This is a cowardly, selfish act. Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect, human or not. You have to face the truth. Those people were right. You are more important this. This city needs you.”
“No Officer. This city needs a hero. That’s exactly what I’m not.”
With that, I hurled myself off the building to the pavement below. As I fell, I couldn’t help but think about what the officer had said. I suppose it made sense. Was this really something selfish and cowardly rather than the divine punishment I so fervently seek? Was this not the correct way forward? If so, what path should I have taken? Not that any of that really matters. Once I have chosen a path I have to stick to it, don’t I? Or am I allowed to turn back?
A piercing scream cut my pondering short. I turned my body so I was looking downwards and saw a girl standing in the exact place I was about to land.
“Move! Save yourself!” I screamed as loud as I could, but I doubt she could hear. This path was obviously the wrong one to take. The officer was right, but still… Never mind. This wasn’t the time for philosophy and contemplation.
I concentrated hard as I forced my mind to activate the circuitry buried deep inside my skull. As I waited for it to boot, the seconds turned into minutes. After what seemed like an age, I was able to send the signal to the wings tucked inside my back to expand.
“Now this is going to hurt.”
I grimaced as I heard the framework for my wings tear through my back. I hadn’t used them for a few days, so the wounds they exited through had healed up. Once they had fully expanded, they activated and illuminated the surrounding streets with a neon green haze. I had started to descend slower, but I still wasn’t going to be able to land gracefully. I thought about curling up into a ball to minimize the damage, but there wasn’t enough time before impact, so I closed my eyes and focused on steering clear of the girl.
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