I gradually opened my eyes to red lighting. "hello? I said, with some distortion. Then I heard some party music. I didn't know. Then I felt my head hurt like something drilled inside of my skull and the front of my face.

  Then I saw medical supplies, bloody surgery tools, blood packs, bone fragments, and my phone. Then I saw the walls. Posters and spray paint of naked women covered most of the walls. But then the million-dollar questions hit me.

  Where am I? Who kept me alive? Why am I alive?

  I still felt my blood mask.

  I know the heroes didn't get me. They either would have killed me or even if they captured me. Even if they had captured me, I wouldn't be in a dirty and vulgar environment.

  Realization struck like a train; the Bitchgirls captured me. What would they do to me? What the hell did they want with me?

  My thoughts stopped when I saw the door open to see a person, and I recognized them—known notoriously in Chicago, hell with the rest of the United States, The White Serpent. People know her famously across the US and perhaps across the world.

  She was married to one of The Shadow Thirteen, the most notorious terrorist group in the world. But she left her husband for an unknown reason. An incident in Miami that ruined half the city followed her departure. Then, the White Serpent came to Chicago.

  She wore a black dress, with her cleavage being exposed, with what looked to be armor-plating around her skin. One of her arms was hyper-tech like a replacement arm. She then wore high heels and black glasses. The most notable feature was her white hair.

  I Saw in fear as I backed deeper into my bed. I realized I could move, but before I could think to attack, Sperent spoke. "Don't worry, kid, I'm not going to kill you. Even if you heard some stories." I released a sigh of relief as I was safe. Or just taking a break from another fight, likely one I can't win.

  "Why did you not kill me?" I said, which caused her to giggle.

  "Yeah, not a terrible question. Real simple, because you have potential,"

  "Huh?" Potential. I know I had a powerful ability; that was obvious. Yet, I never wanted to fight and murder, but I saw no realistic options to gain a million dollars besides luck. Hell, I never wanted to be a superhero after... he died.

  "You have a compelling ability. Blood manipulation: I saw that you could fight two professional heroes. Well, mostly." She walked towards me and sat in a chair next to my bed. "And best of all, you're still alive, though with modifications. Which will cost you."

  "Ok, then. So, you want me to join this villain team?" I asked worriedly.

  "Of course, I mean, you need money for your brother," she said, which caused my heart racing.

  "How do you..." I said, but I cut off.

  "I know you already. You're Louis Lopez, age 15, and you live with Meranda Lopez and John Lopez as your guardians. I have a sickly brother, Jonathan Lopez, who has Muscular Dystrophy. You Go to Cliff High School and have a crush on Zenaida Ortega. Killed eight individuals and have PTSD with..."

  "Don't!" I said with anger.

  "Oh, sorry. I didn't know that memory was sensitive. I used a stolen mind Hypertech, but this is your price for saving you, especially for implanting tech to make you move again," I heard her say softly.

  "Have you told anyone?" I said in fear.

  "I don't share other people's personal lives or information; I only get information on that."

  I sigh in relief. I retracted my blood mask, knowing it was useless.

  "Okay, what are my options?" I couldn't just join a supervillain team. I wasn't thinking about doing that because some hurt innocent people, and it would be difficult to manage and get along with people. I don't want to be a teammate with Murder Jungle or Animalistic.

  "You have three options. I can wipe your memories and place a special power repressor in your brain. So you can never use your powers again. It would be good if you didn't want to be a supervillain. Then, I will take the credit for killing you.

  Playing a minor role as an info-gathering or a helper, As your blood power can help people. You will provide pay and a place in case you're in trouble. But, you won't be able to fight often, and only in exceptional cases…

  …The last option is to join us as a core member. Don't worry; we have male workers and male core members. Also, the rewards are much greater but much riskier. I will give you more details if you join and how we operate…

  …Also, if you choose to work with us and betray us. All my team will hunt you down and kill you. I thought to mention that just so you don't get any ideas," explained The White Serpent. Then I thought about it.

  I didn't want to lose my powers, so the first option was a no-go. The second option is not bad but also time-consuming. I mean, I don't know how much time I have to pay for my brother's meds before he dies.

  "What happened to the male members of your core team? When I first heard about your team, I remembered you were an only girl's villain team," I said curiously and with some worry.

  "We have a male core member. But he is usually not in the fights. Currently, he is busy with some real-life stuff. Other men die or quit because the ruthless training is too much for them. Also, other members don't like them because of their personalities.

  I knew being a villain wasn't easy, running alone from the heroes and other villains. I now have the opportunity and would take it even if it would be a stupid decision.

  "Fine, I will become a core member," I said,

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Ok, kid. Meet me tomorrow night at this location." I heard her say this, and soon, I saw the map.

  "I planted a device in your brain that allows you to see anything that comes up. The device is almost impossible to detect. And no one can see it."

  So she drilled a brain device into my head. Great.

  I saw the location. It was a little away from Chicago. The time and message were 11:00 PM SHARP.

  "Where did you get your shit from?"

  "It's not shit; it's quality hardware, and you should respect its capabilities. Anyway, I'm giving you some new clothes since your old ones," Serpent said as she rose. I saw the new clothes. I got a similar hoodie and some sweatpants, which were too big for me.

  I exited my hospital bed, put on my clothes, grabbed my phone, and followed her. I went outside of the room and looked below to see a strip club. It was crowded, with men throwing money at women, people dancing like it was no tomorrow and a gigantic bar.

  "What the—" I said in shock while I heard The White Serpent laugh.

  "Don't worry, this is just one of my hideouts. The owner lets me have some rooms on the upper floors." Then I saw her take her phone and talk to someone.

  I knew nothing about the villains' operations in the city, but the thought that they had many connections worries me about how corrupt Chicago is.

  "Hey, I need you to pull up,"

  "Yes, Right now,"

  "Ok, I will pay you later,"

  I soon walked through another door leading to a VIP section. But the White Serpent led me to a back door on the side of it. She opened the door and led me to a back alley, where I saw a man lying in a dumpster with some alcohol in his hand.

  I checked the time on my phone, and it was 10:17.

  Huh, I thought it would be four in the morning or something

  A few minutes later, a black car pulled up and rolled down the window. "better get 200 for this. I have an exam tomorrow," I heard a guy say. I could barely make him out.

  "Don't worry, Volital. Your job is important, but I need you to take this kid home," the White Serpent said.

  "Take a useless kid home, Like come on,"

  "He is a new core member, and he needs to know the basics,"

  "Fine, but I need that 200 Serpent,"

  I walked to the car and opened the passenger seat. Then I saw him. He was an older-looking teen with brown hair. He was wearing a black jacket and some jeans. He didn't have a mask on and didn't care if I saw his face. Though I didn't want my identity to be revealed, both had their masks off.

  "So, kid. My boss is busy, so I give you a simple rundown of what we do here, but before that, what's your name?" I heard Volital say.

  "Uh, IRL or villain," I said. Then he laughed.

  "Dam rookies, both of course,"

  I didn't think about a villain's name. I knew it was important for several reasons but hardly thought about it.

  But, my train of thought stopped when Volital said. "Just a real name for now. I will call you kid until you have one. Don't worry, using first names is fine, but never reveal your last name, or else they can track you down."

  "Lo-," I said, but before I could finish, he said, "IDIOT."

  "What?" I was confused, but to be frank, I just woke up from getting my body destroyed.

  "Don't give your name to anyone, got it..." He said.

  I was a fucking idiot. Giving up simple information under pressure or in a situation like this was easy. "I was just being an idiot,"

  "Good, now, kid, this job is dangerous. Before I send you home, crying like a baby for being an idiot. Your job as a core member is to go on all missions with us, but you are a rookie. You would need some basic training… With this, Serpent expects you to be at all of them, and I don't care how you do it or what you have to do. JUST BE THERE ON TIME," I heard him say with some aggressiveness in his tone.

  "Ok,"

  "Serpent, talked a lot about you earlier after we got Murder Jungle back. So you better be worth it Because I will tell you right now, young kids like you won't last long on this team… because If you get captured, we won't help you like with Murder Jungle. But showcase your worth and survive on the Superhuman streets, and we will start caring about you,"

  "I understand," So this is what it means to be on a team. Cruel.

  "Also, what you did to Murder Jungle wasn't cool. Be happy that you're alive because if you would have killed her. Oh boy, heroes would have given you back shots right now."

  "HUH? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" I said in confusion. To which Volital laughed.

  "I won't lie, though. You make her scared for real. She often talks big, but when she put when things don't go her way, she gets nervous."

  The rest of the ride was largely silent when we arrived a block from my apartment. Volital told me one last thing. "Betrayal is a sin. Do it, and you will die."

  "got it," I said, putting my thumbs up.

  I got out of the car and removed the hood of my head. Then I walked down the block to the door and realized I had destroyed my keys with my backpack.

  "Ugh, fuck" I said in annoyance. I looked around to see if there were people, but there were cameras.

  I put my hand in my pocket and then on the doorknob and put blood inside to open the door.

  I went upstairs to my apartment and used the same blood technique to open my door.

  When I opened the door, I saw my father on the couch watching TV, with some food on the kitchen table. I closed the door and went to eat.

  While I was eating with my father on my back, he started talking, which caught me off guard.

  "Hey, kid, stop pushing yourself so hard," I heard him say.

  "I have to. You're not making ends meet. I mean, look what I had to do in the summer,"

  "I know, but listen, you're working too hard. If you burn out like this, it will affect your grades."

  "I can't. My brother needs to live. He never got to learn or have fun as I did."

  "I know, but me and your mother agree we might have to pull the plug in a month because of inflation." Those singular words triggered my pure hatred.

  "THINK? WHAT, YOU SUGGESTING TO KILL MY BROTHER..." I turned around and yelled in anger. But I could see my father crying.

  "I'm sorry. After your uncle died, we could barely afford the medication. We failed as parents." I heard him say.

  "Don't bring him into this. You know how I think when you talk about him. So, why can't you bring more money home? This is fucking bullshit. I need to spend so much time..." I stopped myself from speaking so I didn't reveal my secret.

  "I know we don't want to do it, but we tried everything," my dad said.

  "Why, try something! Do something illegal! You are just giving up!" I said with more tears. Right as those words left my mouth, my dad slapped me hard.

  "Are you out of your mind?! Do you think crime is the solution?! Knowing that you are hurting others for your benefit?! If you try something like that, I will disown you. Me, your mother, your brother, and your uncle would not want you to be a criminal for them!" my father screamed. But I stomped back to my room and slammed the door.

  I sat on the bed crying. Remembering all the pain I went through. My power awakening, the people I killed, my brother being unable to live, and my uncle.

  He taught me everything, even more than my parents. He taught me how to fight, where my powers came from, and how to deal with situations like this.

  That day, that reality taught me that heroes and villains weren't just white and black.

  They killed him because they were afraid. They were scared about the public knowing about something. I can't remember, but it had to do with those crystals. I never genuinely care about it, even now. All I know is that society has to deal with those crystal-fuel powers.

  Then I remembered earlier today when I had the vision. What was that thing? It was like the pink or blue crystals, usually the size of your pinky or smaller. But that one was purple and looked bigger. What power does it give? I know that blue and purple have to do with something with powers, but I have never seen that before.

  Usually, crystals are one way to give superpowers, or nothing happens. How did I see a new crystal that doesn't even exist? What did my uncle know?

  Whatever is not something essential to answer. Then I remembered something from my uncle.

  "Crying is ok; just remember it is not a way forward. You need to do that yourself. Now, get back up and start fighting the challenges. If you want to be a hero, you will save what you can," my uncle told me.

  I stopped crying and wiped my eyes. I got up from my bed and looked in the mirror. The world is against me, but I have power now. I have the power to change—the ability to save or kill. I shouldn't think I'm weak. I'm alive, after all.

  I couldn't save Uncle Lu, but I could save my brother.

  No, I will save my brother.