Super Issue #6 - One of Them

                West City has everything a person could want, plus a dozen things they could never dream of in a million years. One of the attractions that draw in people by the hundreds each week is the Sapien Circus, an all human act that shows off the elite freaks of the un-powered world. Each circus performer has to have documented medical proof that they aren’t powered in any way. The people pay good money to see us normal folk do crazy stuff, and they don’t want to be ripped off by any imposter metas.

                My name is Alice, but around here my cohorts call me Caster. I can do all sorts of cool stuff, like make objects grow or shrink in size, make things disappear and reappear elsewhere, and other very magical tricks. At first the ringmaster wouldn’t accept me in the show, and who could blame him? An orphaned, dirty girl appears at his doorstep with abilities that can defy nature; sure sounds like a meta looking to cash in on her powers to me. Only thing is, I’m not a meta. The genetic testing has proven that. So how is it that I can perform my magic? Well according to the ‘official’ explanation, the magic comes from my spell book. But I’ll tell you the truth, cuz it’s not like anyone believes me anyhow.

                People like to believe that the Illumination is what brought out the supernatural in this world. But I’m here to set the story straight; the unnatural has been a part of this world for as long as the natural has existed. I’m talking magic spells, vampires, monsters; all those things you thought were fairy tales were totally true. Still are, actually, but now that the metahumans have made being different mainstream, a lot of the supernatural have come out into the light, passing themselves as metas. I’m doing the same thing, just backwards. I’m trying to pass myself off as what I truly am: a normal human with extraordinary abilities.

                Tonight’s show went smooth, as usual. We don’t keep a lot of cash on hand, so that plus our reputation of being a wholesome family event that is guarded by the police force keeps most of the criminals away. The act is split into a few main attractions, with side performances going on to keep the audience’s interest peaked. I’ve only been here half a year, but I’ve managed to convince everyone to put me in as the last, big main performance. It doesn’t hurt that the crowds love me, being the magical little cutie that I am. I go out there, warp some objects, dazzle the crowd with real magic, flash some smiles and legs, and go back inside, leaving them cheering and guaranteeing I’ll have a roof over my head for another week.

                Except this night, after my show, something seems…off. I look through the cheering crowd, hanging back a little before leaving the show tent. It doesn’t look like anything is…wait. There, I see it; a big hulking shadow that just left the tent in the direction of the performers’ wagons. Great, I wonder where this is heading.

                As I make my way through the bustle of the after-show grounds, I feel as if I’m being followed. Its dark out, so there are shadows everywhere, but for some reason I feel like the darkness is peering out, watching me with evil eyes. I could just conjure up a teleportation spell and be back in my wagon, protected by my charms and incantations. But I left my spell book back with the prop handler, cuz to me that’s all it is. And with so many people around, I really don’t wanna blow my cover.

                Crap, a scream. And a cart being thrown through the air. I just gotta run with the crowd, cuz I hear the sirens already. Told ya we were guarded. I just gotta lay low unt-

                Oof. Ran headfirst into the big shadow I saw earlier. Well, screw the cover. I’m getting out of here.

                From somewhere on the right: “Hey! Leave her alone!”

                “What the hell?” Great, Raymond the Strong is here to rescue me. Oh look, so is everyone else. Wonderful. Guess I can’t disappear now, can I? Not with the hairy woman, lizard man, the fire dancer, and all the rest here to pitch in.

                What is this shadow thing? I blinked once, and it’s gone. Now where…oh no!

“Raymond! Behind you!”

                Too late, shit, oh man Raymond. A human strong man’s got nothing on whatever this shadow thing is. I can’t let anyone else get hurt. I need its attention and then-

                Well clearly I’m the target since its back in front of me. Shit how big is this thing? It didn’t tower over me like this before! I only got one shot while it’s just standing over me. Just a quick few words, a slight movement of hands, and…

                Boom. One flash of light and the teleportation spell worked. Don’t screw with a spell caster, you-whatever-you-were. Hopefully nobody questions how I did that. I think they are all still in shock over how easily it crushed Raymond’s skull. Oh damn, Ray…I’m so sorry.

                Now the police arrive. Not that they could have done anything, but still. Maybe it could have been one of them and not Raymond. …What the hell? Why is lizard man pointing at me?

                A police officer as he walks forward: “Excuse me miss, but you’re going to have to come with us.”

                The officer’s voice is stern, but that’s not fooling me. He’s scared and doesn’t know what’s going on. Metas he can handle. Giant shadows that crush people and girls who can make things disappear, now that’s a totally different story. I should just go with and explain myself. By that I mean lie and say I had a pocket spell book with me, cuz they would never believe I wasn’t a metahuman if I told them the magic came from within me. It could work I guess. Except here comes the ringmaster, and I’m not liking the way he’s pointing and shouting at me.

                The ringmaster: “Get the hell outta here, you damn meta! You’re one of them!”

                “Jerry seriously, I’m not a meta! I swear!” He’s really pissed now. I totally blew it.

                Still the ringmaster: “Thought you could trick us all, huh? I want this little bitch arrested! Where are the damn handcuffs!”

                “What?! No way am I getting arrested!”

Time to split. Another few words, a fold of my fingers, since that’s how my magic really works, and poof. With another teleportation spell I’m gone, along with my little cart I call home. No one will ever be able to track me now.

Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to be what I am all along. Maybe this world’s not ready for my kind yet. It’s the age of the metahumans, after all. Us supernatural people will just have to wait our turn.