Everyday Heroes

Prologue

I bolt up as angered shouts rattle the apartment. I run, tripping over discarded shoes in my haste to reach the communal living area. The television is on, a news network covering another protest up in Washington. Kat watches, brow furrowed and lips down turned. Her cereal lays untouched. I flop onto the couch and across her lap.

"Must you play that so loud? Some of us are trying to sleep."

"Sorry," her eyes don't leave the screen.

A man jumps the metal fence and punches one of the activists. A riot brakes out between both sides. the police jump in beating down anyone in reach. A young girl is lying prone on the pavement only to be trampled by two wrestling brutes, a mark clearly visible on her hand. Signs are discarded as many rush toward or away from the epicenter of the fight. 

I grab the remote when the tear gas comes out. She stares even when the screen turns black. 

"Come on," I pull her onto her feet, but her eyes remain blank, "We're going to be late for class."

Campus is quiet in the mornings. Most people are still asleep and only an unfortunate few end up in 8:30 classes. The class is dead silent when we enter. Heads rested on desks while coffee sits on the floor. 

Kat's hand is still clutched in mine as we make our way to the front desks. I nudge her with my shoulder, "Hey, it's gonna be alright."

she looks down, absentmindedly twisting her bracelet, "Will it?"

I am spared from answering as the professor begins class. She is a younger woman in her early twenties. "Okay, I know you're all tired, but hopefully this will wake you up, there is no more content for this semester." a quiet cheer goes up. "As we don't have a written final in here, I'm giving you extra time to work on your final projects. You will be making an argument about a current political issue in whatever medium you choose. I don't want anyone sharing topics, so it's first come, first serve. You can work alone or in groups of no more than three, however, keep in mind that if you do work with others you all get the same grade. You can take time to decide how you will present your work, but I need your topics before you leave today."

Kat and I glance at each other and nod. She leans over as I pull out my notebook. "I want to do something with The Marked."

I freeze, "Kat, Are you crazy?! What would we even do with that? They're still so new."

"It's been a decade, Em."

"You're point?"

"No one ever really speaks to them unless they're trying to figure out where the hell their abilities come from. You know they're just people."

"Well, sure, I do, but what about everyone else?"

"No one will ever believe any different if they don't see it."

"Fine, let's say we did this, how are we presenting?"

"You're a film major." I stare at her in horror.

"Kat, no. Do you know how dangerous that is?"

"They wouldn't do anything."

"I'm not worried about them." She's twisting her bracelet again, eyes downcast. 

"Emmett, please." She's staring at me and her gaze is so earnest. My hands ball into fists, I turn away.

"I hate it when you do that." Sighing I look back, "How do we want to frame this?"

"That they're just like anyone else and have value outside of being weapons or freaks."

"But how do we show that?"

"Haven't the first generation Marked joined the work force? Many of them have done good things."

"Do you know any of them?"

"Maybe Professor Rune does?"

We head to her desk and she looks up as we stand in front of her. "Hello, girls. Do you have your topic?"

Kat speaks, still fiddling with her bracelet, "We want to do a documentary on The Marked, but..."

"But you don't know any."

I shake my head, "No grown ones."

She stares for a moment before grabbing her phone, "I have an old friend from high school. I can't guarantee she'll meet with you, but I'll give her a call. I'll tell her to shoot you an email if she's interested."

Kat links her arm with mine, resting her head on my shoulder, "Who is it?"

"Have either of you heard of Faer's Travels?"