Chapter 8 Promotion

Too many moving parts.

"Guy!" My voice strained as I cried out for him.

He was nowhere in sight but the snake stalled, desperately snapping its jaws. It nearly had Dax–who was content to be a snack for some reason.

"Dammit, Dax!" Using this opportunity, I dashed over and grabbed Dax, throwing him back over my shoulder. The snake followed me with its eyes. That's when I saw what was holding it back.

Guy was holding its tail.

"Move, Cleanup girl!" He screamed at me, gritting his teeth and holding his grip for dear life.

Something was wrong though, he was straining. Guy Dynamo never struggles with anything–he's perfect!

No. He's just as flawed as I am. It's time I started recognizing that.

"Hold on Dax. You've been carrying me around on your bus for years. How bout I give you a ride this time!" My legs pumped as we moved through the streets.

People stared, asking idiotic questions as I moved.

"Isn't she just a janitor?"

My jaw clenched.

"Why is she saving that old man? It's clear he wants to die."

A beast of rage beat against the cage of my heart.

"Man, when it's your time–its your time."

Am I the only one in this city who still cares about human life?

"Hey Sapph, it's hot. When did it get so hot?" Dax murmured over my shoulder.

"Dax, what are you talking about-oh shit!" I dropped him when I smelled something burning. His shirt had caught a flame. It was nowhere near hot enough for spontaneous combustion.

But as I put out the flames, I noticed my hands weren't burning. The heat felt familiar, like a warm hug. I really miss my mom right now.

I shook my head back and forth, trying to wake myself from whatever hellish nightmare I was in.

"Get up Dax." In the background, the snake struggled against Dax–truly on a rampage for Dax.

"Why? It's my time. It's just the way things are." That same blank stare hit his face and made my blood boil.

"Dax, don't–" the words fled from me as I watched what happened next. His face vanished, leaving only a black hole. Yet his voice, his words still came through.

"Dax?" I whispered, blinking several times to try and wake from this nightmare. He stopped talking. The world froze for half a moment. Even the massive snake remained in its place. Everything was still and silent...except for me.

"What the hell?" I glanced around, noticing that each naysayer on the street had turned translucent.

I shouldn't be able to see through people! There might be some superpowers in what I do but this? X-ray vision and time powers?

"I'm just a friggin' janitor. What am I supposed to do with this?!" I exclaimed to no one in particular.

I place Dax down on a chair at a cafe table nearby. When did we get a new cafe?

"Way. Way. Way. Way. It's just the way. Way. way. Things are. Are. Are."

"Dax, shut up! You sound like a glitching robot–" I swallowed the doubts and looked at him–really stared into his abyss of a face. Faintly glowing ones and zeros littered his insides, freaking me the fuck out.

"Are. Are. Are you ready to promote your class?" He asked, turning towards me despite having no eyes.

"Promote my class? Classes don't promote, everybody knows that." But something about the way he asked it. I don't think this is Dax talking to me anymore and if that's the case...who am I talking to?

"Are you ready to promote your class?" He repeated.

"Humoring the creepy face-hole voice, what am I promoting it to?"

No answer.

"Oh no you don't. Don't you go silent on me now! Promote it to what?!"

"Are you ready to promote your class?" for a third time, acting as it didn't hear me.

I sighed.

"Do I really have a choice?"

"There's always a choice, Sapph. I choose to run away with you, as soon as you're ready."

"NO!" I stood up, pointing a finger at not-Dax. "Don't you dare use his voice!"

My hand trembled with rage but I couldn't move, not yet. If I move now, I'll fall apart like a house of cards. I can already feel my soul breaking and it's all I can do to keep it together.

"You're the one...it was always you who wanted to be a superhero, Wyatt. I never wanted that life, damn you!"

I'm yelling at a ghost of ones and zeroes. Tears follow my bitter laugh as I run my hand down my face.

Not-Dax is still waiting.

I lean back in my seat and place my hands on the table, blowing a strand of hair out my face. My brows furrow as I glare into the void, imagining I'm intimidating the hell out of whoever's in there.

"Fine. You want me to upgrade? I'll do it on one fucking condition: stop using his voice. I don't want to hear him in my head. I want–no–i have to move past Wyatt. Because if I can't...if I can't–"

A single tear hit my hand. My throat catches as Dax changes shape. That portly bus driver is gone, replaced in a sudden sunset orange mist by the man himself.

He sits there, a knowing smile on his face.

"Wyatt?" I whisper, reaching out to touch his face. "Are you really here?"

My fingers connect with his cheek, caressing him. He leans into my touch a little too long, eyes closed as we reconnect.

"I don't have much time."

"Wait, no. Are you really here? I'm so confused about what I'm supposed to do!"

I gasp when he places his hand over mine. He opens his eyes, big and brown like almonds.

"Sapphyra. You know what you're supposed to do. You've just been dragging your feet about it for a good long while."

My stomach sank at his words. I could feel something opening behind me but I dared not look, not when he was so close.

A burning sensation in my head started and I doubled over with pain as memories crashed into me like ocean waves.

"Remember, Sapphyra. It was never about me being a hero!"

His voice sounded so far away.

"Gah! My head is..."

I had wings.

They were large and pink and feathery like a bird but also leathery like a bat. In my memories I'm flying. I'm saving people from disasters. My fist connects with a knight riding a black dragon. When my mouth opens, flames spew out, saving trapped victims in a snowstorm.

I'm in a city. No, not The City–Cyran City.

My head snaps up and I see Wyatt–really see him for the first time in a long time.

Not the skeleton. Not the ghost. The man.

"We were part of a team. A team of other superheroes!"

Why does that fill me with joy? Standing side by side with faces I can't quite recall.

He nods, smiling as he holds out his hand towards me. Wyatt always loved to leave me with more questions than answers.

"So, let me ask you one more time. Are you ready to promote your class?"

I clasp his hand and grin as golden energy pours from him to me.

"Lets fucking go!"

[MASTER CUSTODIAN PROMOTION COMPLETE]