Back in his room, Ebenezer sat on his bed and thought. His mind was set, but he still didn’t know the first thing about becoming a Villain. He had the motive, but not… whatever else was needed.

  ‘I’ll need a costume…’ the boy thought. ‘Something to cover my face like a mask or a scarf. I’ll also need a weapon, too. Maybe Uncle Sunny can- Oh… right.’ At the moment, the Monkey King was Ebenezer’s only lifeline. If he turned his back on the boy over his choice, then he’d be in serious trouble.

  “I’ll have to talk to him tonight…” Ebenezer realized. “I hope he won’t be mad at me…” Ebenezer was determined to become a Villain to get justice. Yet a small part of him wanted the Monkey King to be the one to force him down a different path.

  That night, Ebenezer went to Mount Huaguo for Uncle Sunny’s next training session. It went the same way as the first one, with Ebenezer spending the entire time getting knocked around by the Monkey King and then being lectured on what he did wrong. The beating was worse than before since Ebenezer was troubled over the uncomfortable conversation he needed to have.

  “You seem distracted,” Uncle Sunny stated. “Why?” Ebenezer stiffened and felt himself start to sweat as if he was being interrogated by the police. The kid had been preparing himself to make his case to the Monkey King, but to suddenly be put on the spot like this threw all of his argument out the proverbial window.

  Ebenezer wanted, needed, Uncle Sunny in his corner. He was the only relative with the care and the means to help him, and the boy was desperate to keep him. If the Monkey King shunned or exiled Ebenezer for his chosen path, the kid would be alone again, and he’s not sure how he’d handle that.

  For his part, Sun Wukong looked at Ebenezer and patiently waited for his explanation. He was trying to be lenient and not force Ebenezer to speak, but his expectant stare did nothing to ease the boy’s nerves.

  “I’ve… thought about it…” he began slowly. The teen kept his head down lest he lose what little nerve he had for this confession.

  “About what?” Sun Wukong prompted.

  “Fighting…” Ebenezer admitted. “I… I know what I want to do.”

  “And what would that be?” Ebenezer gulped and felt his throat go dry. This was it… The last chance to turn back.

  “I want to be a villain,” Ebenezer admitted. His words echoed throughout the cavern, the sound surrounding the two like a cold and bitter wind.

  “Do you?” Sun Wukong asked. He kept his tone neutral so Ebenezer couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

  “Yes,” the boy said with more conviction than he felt. “I’m done being picked on. I want to fight back. Defend myself. Make everyone pay for how they treated me! If doing that makes me a villain then I’ll gladly be one!” Ebenezer spoke softly at first, but as he kept talking, his anger leaked into his voice and hardened his conviction. He was even brave enough to raise his head and look his ancestor in the eye as he screamed out that last part.

  Uncle Sunny said nothing, he just stared at Ebenezer for a long time. Immediately, Ebenezer's determination began to wane again, but the boy held his ground and stared back at the Monkey King.

  “Very well,” he said. The First Wukong then turned back to the leafy longue and sat down. Ebenezer watched him casually lounge in place for a moment, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but nothing came. There was no condemnation, no declaration of exile, no secret ritual to take away his Wukong powers; the Monkey King just accepted his desires without issue.

  “...That’s it?” Ebenezer asked, stunned. “You’re… fine with me becoming a villain?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Uncle Sunny replied, his tone still neutral. Ebenezer blinked in confusion, he would have panicked if the Monkey King’s wording hadn’t thrown him for a loop.

  “So… You’re not okay with it?”

  “What parent would be okay with a child telling them they want to become a villain?” Uncle Sunny sighed, making Ebenezer feel like a little boy trying to act big and serious in front of an adult. Now that things were a bit more clear, the boy’s anxiety went crazy as it looked like the worst case scenario was coming to fruition.

  “…Does that mean you’re going to stop me?” Ebenezer clenched his fist in a futile attempt to get his shaking under control. If Sun Wukong disapproved of the boy’s plans, then there was nothing he could do about it. And if the Monkey King decided to stop Ebenezer then he’d have no choice but to give up before he even started.

  “No,” Uncle Sunny answered.

  “Wha- Seriously? You just said you don’t approve of my decision!”

  “I also said I don’t dictate the paths of my children. I may disagree with your chosen path, but I won't force you to do what I think is right. Only you can decide how you want to live, and if you want to live as a villain, that’s your choice. But you had better be prepared to face the consequences.”

  “What… kind of consequences?” Ebenezer didn’t quite feel like he was walking through a minefield; it was more like he was being scrutinized by a rigorous teacher. Sun Wukong’s disapproval wasn’t great, but it wasn’t the worst outcome. Not yet at least.

  “Are you telling me you haven’t thought about any repercussions your decision could bring you?” This time, the Monkey King made his disappointment evident with his look and voice.

  “N-No, I did! It’s just… Are you going to stop training me now…?” Uncle Sunny went quiet again and Ebenezer had to fight the urge not to scream in frustration.

  “No,” he finally answered. “At least not yet.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “For now, I’ll keep teaching you. And I’ll even unlock more of your powers. But if you cross the line… I won’t hesitate to take everything away.”

  “I see… What counts as crossing the line?”

  “Hmm… I could tell you…” The Monkey King began thoughtfully. “But that would be too easy. I could give you a set of rules to follow, but what’s to stop you from circumventing them?”

  “I-I wouldn’t!”

  “You say that now,” Sun Wukong said cooly. “But what about after a year of villainy? This path can change you in ways you’d never think was possible. One moral broken out of convenience can spiral into atrocities committed on a whim. So, I will leave setting boundaries to you, Ebenezer. You’re a smart boy, you will know what counts as “crossing the line”.”

  “I… I understand…” Ebenezer said with a bow of his head. “And… thank you…”

  “What are you thanking me for?”

  “For… not turning your back on me, even though you don’t approve of my plans. It means a lot to me that you’ll continue to help me.” Sun Wukong again went silent, staring at his descendant as he pondered something. Then, without warning, he grabbed the tip of his staff, and with a twist of his hand, snapped off the end as if it was made of chalk. Ebenezer wasn’t sure what he was doing until the Monkey King tossed the broken bit towards him.

  As the boy scrambled to catch the lump of gold, he watched in amazement as the piece morphed mid-air and turned from a chunk of metal into a staff. The new weapon landed in Ebenezer’s outstretched hand, and the teenager stared at it in fascination and bewilderment.

  “A piece of Ruyi Jingu Bang,” Uncle Sunny announced. “Carry it as a reminder of your lineage, and what you should lose in case you fall.”

  “I-I see, thank you, sir!” Ebenezer once again bowed and scrambled away from his teacher. Things could’ve gone much worse and Ebenezer’s plan wasn’t completely derailed. But it still stung that the friendly demeanor Uncle Sunny had with him was gone now that his ideas were out in the open. As Ebenezer returns home, he has to wonder if he’s making the right choice.

  That afternoon, Ebenezer’s doubts were pushed to the side when he received the latest homework folder. It was slightly bigger than last time because it now held Ebenezer’s “late” worksheets along with his current assignments, and some choice words from his teachers. Mr. Hassan, his history teacher, wrote a lengthy and long-winded letter reminding Ebenezer that he was already on thin ice over his suspension and that not doing his homework would only make things worse.

  Pompous and self-righteous as his letter was, it was the nicest warning the boy got. The other teachers weren’t inclined to be patient or even subtle with their beratings. Mr. Colbert told him to grow up and take his punishment, apparently assuming his lack of homework was some form of protest. Mr. Patil suggested he get used to the idea of performing manual labor for the rest of his life. And Ms. Albert outright accused him of being a psychotic delinquent who was acting out due to boredom. Regardless of the wording, everyone held the same belief that Ebenezer was a bad kid and needed to do what he was told, or else.

  But Ebenezer had been doing what he was told. He did his homework and the homework of everyone else like the Nice Guy he tried so hard to become. The teachers are as apathetic to his efforts as the students as they’re all quick to label him a slacker and a troublemaker. It was even more galling since Mr. Colbert knew what was going on and knew who did the homework for everyone else, did he not wonder why Ebenezer would do their assignments but not his?!

  “So… what do you want to do?” asked the clone in charge of schoolwork. He sounded concerned, and Ebenezer realized he was holding his new staff with a white-knuckled grip. The two were in his room going over the contents of the folder and the double’s worries were growing as the original looked ready to kill someone. With a breath, Ebenezer calmed himself down enough to loosen his grip and not yell out his next words.

  “Take anything not meant for me and destroy it,” Ebenezer ordered darkly. “Make sure there isn’t a single word that can be read with so much as a passing glance. The last we need is Dad to find out we’re throwing out schoolwork.”

  “Are you sure about that?” the copy asked. “I don’t think the other kids will take that very well.”

  “Screw them!” Ebenezer barked. “If they’re going to mess with my homework, they can kiss theirs goodbye!”

  “Alright…” The doppelganger took the folder and began separating the papers. Ebenezer sat on his computer chair and began stewing over this latest offense. Knowing the teachers weren’t on his side was nothing new. The boy always suspected that his instructors didn’t care about him, and his suspension only confirmed it. But to have them completely disregard his efforts hurt. All of his hard work and they were just as ready to throw him to the wolves the moment it was convenient.

  “Damn them all to Hell…” Ebenezer muttered, his voice a bit raspy as he fought the urge to cry. Any reservations he had were quickly forgotten as rage and spite quickly filled his mind. Tonight he would go out and make his villain persona, and tomorrow he’d officially start his reign of terror!

  Yes! Tomorrow will be the day a new villain is born! Tomorrow Ebenezer will become a criminal! Tomorrow he’ll… he’ll… What exactly? It was one thing to commit yourself to an idea, it was another to have a plan of action. Would it be as simple as just committing crimes? That was an option but Ebenezer didn’t want to be a villain just to break laws. He wanted revenge, but how what was the best way to get that?

  He could just beat up his enemies, but what good was that? Some bed rest or a stay in the hospital and they would be back out and ready to cause more misery in no time. Perhaps if Ebenezer made sure to maim them, hurt them in ways that can never truly heal… Would that suffice?

  Ebenezer closed his eyes and imagined the scenario. He, a cruel and powerful villain, stands over the cowering form of Pery. He would beg for mercy only for Ebenezer to laugh in his face or angrily call him out for his hypocrisy. Then he would hurt him, beat him bloody with his new stick. When Pery was on the ground and could barely move, Ebenezer would grab his arms--the ones he uses to shove him around--and break them! No, that’s too soft. Tear them off! Bite off the fingers or even crush them into-!

  Ebenezer tore himself out of the daydream as a spike of pure horror pierced his soul. Grabbing his head, the boy furiously shook it to chase away the images he conjured.

  “No!” Ebenezer hissed out with a shaky breath. “No… Not that… Definitely not that…” When the boy stopped shaking he made a mental note to add maiming to the list of lines not to cross. But if extreme violence was off the table, then what was on it? Ebenezer still wanted them to pay, still wanted to hurt them in some way, just not in a bloody way. What would that leave him with?

  “I’ll have to figure that out later…” Ebenezer confirm. “For now I’ll need my costume first.”

  Later that night, Ebenezer was once again flying across town, this time with an actual destination in mind. After looking up what kind of clothes would best be useful for what he had in mind, Ebenezer made a shopping list of what he’d need for a proper disguise. His target was the local mall where Ebenezer could get several different items all in one spot.

  The boy in pigeon form landed on the roof of Poppytown’s Central Mall and stayed there until everyone left. Ebenezer had no plans to purchase anything so he needed to make sure the building had closed up and nobody was around to stop him. Once the lights turned off and there wasn’t anyone in the parking lot, Ebenezer made his move.

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  Turning from a pigeon to a cockroach, Ebenezer crawled through the roof vent, the boy scuttled through the air ducts until he found his first target. A grate leading over a sporting goods store. Ebenezer didn’t bother checking for cameras, he was by no means a master thief and wouldn’t know what to look for besides the security systems seen in movies. There was no way the boy wasn’t going to be spotted as he committed his crime, so Ebenezer decided to use another approach.

  When Ebenezer shapeshifted, his clothes shifted with him. It was pretty handy since it meant that the boy didn’t have to constantly change clothes when he shifted forms. It also meant any items he carried stayed with him, such as his phone and his new staff. Like Ruyi Jingu Bang, Ebenezer’s weapon had the power to change its shape. Before coming here, the would-be villain shrunk the golden stick down to the size of a pen and stuffed it in his pocket, allowing it to be carried in his bird form along with with clothes.

  Changing from a cockroach into a chimpanzee, Ebenezer reached into his pocket and pulled out his staff. Another oddity about shapeshifting was that he didn’t feel all that different from how he usually was. As a bird, Ebenezer’s mind told him he was still human and was flapping his arms like a kid pretending to fly. The fact that he was physically small, had feathers and was actually flying didn’t change that. He chalked that up to magic, and was able to use it to take out his weapon despite technically being a naked chimp.

  Ebenezer started smacking his staff against the grate. This probably wasn’t the best method to break into a mall store, but this was the best one Ebenezer could come up with. Worst case scenario, someone came around to investigate, forcing the young thief to flee and try again another day.

  With each clang, Ebenezer's anxiety grew. He must look like a caveman trying to break a rock with a stick, the fact that nobody could see him right now only diluted his self-loathing. So far the grate wasn’t budging which made Ebenezer once again start to second guess everything, from his plans to become a villain to even getting out of bed that morning. But just as he was about to psyche himself up to retreat, he heard a metallic crack.

  The boy looked at his target and was shocked to see an indent in the metal that spread to one of the corners and knocked out a screw. Emboldened by this development, Ebenezer redoubled his efforts and the vent crashed onto the ground before he knew it.

  Acting fast, Ebenezer hid his staff and dropped into the sporting goods store as rummaged through the merchandise. He didn’t bother being subtle or quiet, instead, he went with audacity for his cover. An animal wreaking havoc on a business was strange, but not Gifted strange. Even if the creature in question shouldn’t be part of the local wildlife, it's still in the category of “Normal Problems” that Poppytown would prefer to deal with.

  There were devices out there designed to detect the use of magic or other such unnatural substances, but with the city’s hatred of all things Gifted, including the machines meant to monitor them, it was a safe bet that the mall didn’t have those.

  Ebenezer planned to use his chimpanzee form as a disguise, to befuddle any guard or manager that tries to figure out who stole things from their shops. Even if someone did realize that this random ape was connected to the new supervillain in town, it would be too late, and it should be impossible to link it back to Ebenezer Giroux.

  Rummaging through the racks of sports equipment, Ebenezer eventually finds what he is looking for. A gym bag. Specifically one that had a compartment specifically for sneakers. Ebenezer needed a bag to carry his clothes, and while he could have brought one from home, he felt it’d be the smarter choice to grab something from the mall since he was going to steal stuff anyway.

  The next item on his list was running shoes, something that was made to move around in and could last for a while. The store had plenty of options, but since Ebenezer didn’t know what qualities made for a good shoe, he just grabbed the most expensive pair he could find. People wouldn’t make their products super costly without a reason, right?

  Before leaving, the chimp also grabbed a pair of insulated gloves, stuffed his stolen goods in his bag, and then jumped into the hole he made and went back to scouring the vents. His next targets were clothes that could hide his body while being relatively easy to move in. He raided a clothing store for a red hoodie, a black vest jacket, and a pair of jeans. The jeans weren’t any different from his usual pair, but Ebenezer figured making sure every part of his villain costume didn’t belong to his civilian identity was the smart way to do things.

  He also grabbed a crossbody bag that he’d use as a makeshift sheathe for his staff. While it was possible to store his weapon in his pocket, Ebenezer could imagine that method taking too long when he only had seconds to react. Having his weapon on his back, ready to be pulled out should be quicker and more efficient. Plus, it would look cooler…

  The boy's last stop would be at a party store. Halloween came and went but all Ebenezer needed was a mask. The kid scoured the rows of costume parts, looking at all sorts of masks, from political parodies to classic monsters, the shop he was in had a wide selection. Then Ebenezer found a mask that he liked. It was a simple comedy mask, but with the eyes and mouth being minuscule slits, giving its wearer a creepy smile. It was a perfect villain mask, and Ebenezer grabbed it without a second thought.

  With his last item stuffed in his bag, Ebenezer took one last look at his loot and the still-empty mall he was in. He kept waiting for some other shoe to drop. For something he didn’t expect to happen, like a night guard showing up to try and grab the ape that stealing stuff.

  Nothing happened.

  Instead, Ebenezer jumped up into the vent and returned to the roof. No police helicopters, superheroes, or older villains waiting to tear him to pieces. The kid changed from an ape to a bird, this time an eagle to better carry his new stuff, and flew away. His first ever crime, done. Just like that.

  The butterflies in his stomach finally calmed down as he flew away, but that gave the boy no comfort. Ebenezer didn’t feel joy or excitement over his first crime. If anything he felt nauseous, the way your body feels when you knew something bad was about to happen. Ebenezer felt like he had just crossed the point of no return, that he couldn’t return to his normal life after this. It was a bit of an over-exaggeration. Stealing wasn’t good, but even the most hardcore authoritarians would be hard-pressed to say he was a born criminal.

  The fact that he didn’t feel good about his first step to villainy was a bit disheartening, but Ebenezer wasn’t willing to quit yet. He flew up to the building where he previously hid. It wasn’t the best place for a hideout, but it would work for now.

  Returning to his human form, Ebenezer started changing clothes. The cold night air nipping at his skin was a constant reminder that he was out in the open as he stripped down to his underwear. The location of his hiding spot should keep him away from any late-night prying eyes, but it still added to the kid’s general anxiety.

  With quick and nervous hands, the boy pulled on his stolen clothes and dawned his mask. The boy didn’t have much experience wearing a mask so he was surprised to see how easily he could see through it despite how small the eye area was. Then he got to work setting up his staff sheath. Positioning and resizing his weapon in the crossbody bag, Ebenezer then closed the sack, with the zipper holding the metal stick with minimal wiggle.

  Strapping the bag to his body, his costume change was complete. Ebenezer looked down at himself but only saw his body completely covered. He didn’t feel like a villain, even as he looked at himself in his new clothes. Ebenezer was starting to worry about how he’d come across to others, would he look like a child playing dress-up or a common thug? Would his plans be ruined if he was thought to be a simple criminal instead of a supervillain?

  Wanting a better look at himself, Ebenezer turned into a bird and flew down to the street. He hoped to find a mirror or a very reflective window to see all of him in his new villain attire. Flying into an alleyway, Ebenezer returned to his human form and slowly crept into the street. He snapped his head in every direction to make sure no one was around, then flipped up his hood for good measure.

  Stalking into the streets, Ebenezer looked around for some sort of reflective surface while also keeping an eye out for civilians. His mind was more focused on the people than his objective. The boy was not ready to come out as a villain and didn’t want to deal with people just yet. Ebenezer hoped it was late enough at night not to run into someone, which was why the boy jumped out of his skin to suddenly see a masked hoodlum right next to him.

  Let out a cry that sounded like a drunkard making baboon noises, Ebenezer leaped back and pulled out his staff. He readied himself for a fight and saw the assailant had done the same, even pulling out his own metal stick. Then Ebenezer realized it was a shop window he was facing not a mugger. That was his reflection that scared him.

  After a moment of feeling mortified, Ebenezer put away his weapon and slowly approached the window. The midnight gloom made it difficult to see, but the street lights gave the boy enough light to see his image. Ebenezer stared at the masked man in front of him, the form that managed to scare its owner.

  Despite his doubts, Ebenezer had to admit that he was intimidating in his villain costume. It was simple and made only of casual clothes, but the mask made him look like a proper threat, especially as he stood silently in the dark. Would he have to stay quiet and only commit crimes in the night to be an effective villain, or was this enough for now?

  Ebenezer felt a bit better about his appearance but he still felt unsure of goals. The fact that he wasn’t steadfast in his plans bothered the boy more than anything else, and it wasn’t just because of his talk with Uncle Sunny. Shouldn’t he feel excited to finally be striking back against the world that was so mean to him? Shouldn’t he feel a sense of freedom from breaking the rules? Shouldn’t he be treating this like some sort of adventure to branch out of his comfort zone?

  Ebenezer felt none of those emotions as he stared at himself in the window. While he liked his villain look, he couldn’t help but feel like a child playing dress up. Would other people take him seriously? Would they fear him like he wanted to be feared? Would he be happy if they did? Questions that Ebenezer couldn’t answer himself, but he might get a hint tomorrow

  Deciding he had enough of staring at himself, Ebenezer flew back to his hideout. There he changed back into his civilian clothes and returned home, making sure to hide the gym bag under the ventilation shaft. Ebenezer had an idea of how to start his path to villainy and who was first to be punished for making his life hell.

  The next morning, Ebenezer flew to his school. He was partially concerned about how his latest homework folder was being received. He gave his clone instructions to only turn in his homework while stapling a paper to the folder that explained away the missing assignments and delivering Ebenezer's ultimatum. The boy had used a lot of vulgarity in giving this order, and while he hadn’t read the paper the duplicate made, the fact it was only one page long meant he must’ve at least paraphrased it.

  But Ebenezer was more focused on his mission, his first act as a proper villain. He decided to start his villainy by going after the easiest of motivations, revenge. But since just beating people up was out of the question Ebenezer needed to find other means of hurting his enemies. That would be difficult with his classmates, as other than their homework, the boy didn’t have many means of striking back at them. But the adults he was angry at were another story.

  For as long as Ebenezer could remember, his father had threatened him and Thor with beatings if they so much as smudged his car. Ebenezer didn’t know why, while his knowledge about cars was limited, he knew Menelaus’ ride was neither an old vintage model nor a top-of-the-line sports car. Eventually, the boy would realize the simple truth that no matter how bland or unappealing a vehicle looks, they are expensive.

  As a bird, Ebenezer flew to the school parking lot, several hours before the doors opened, and perched in a tree where he waited and watched. When the cars showed up and started piling into the driveway, Ebenezer paid close attention to who was getting out and what car they were driving. He was looking for one specific person right now, but if this method worked, he might try it again later.

  Finally, he saw his target, stepping out of a pristine white car with a scowl already on her face. Ms. Albert walked into school already looking to tear someone’s head off. Lucas had no idea why someone would willingly start the day in such a sour mood, but Lucas didn’t know anything about the teacher’s personal life. To be frank, he didn’t care about her circumstances. If Ms. Albert was going to label him a delinquent over one bad day, he wouldn’t show her any leniency.

  Ebenezer sat and waited a couple more hours for all the faculty and students to enter the school building. When the parking lot was empty, and Ebenezer was certain there wouldn’t be any stragglers, he put his plan into motion.

  Jumping from his tree hideout, Ebenezer flew into a bush to fully cover himself for his next reveal. He wasn’t sure how well the outside of the school was monitored so he needed at least some cover for this next part.

  Ebenezer took a few deep breaths to steel his resolve. This moment would probably be the point of no return for him. Stealing was one thing, but this would be targeted and malicious. Just like with his theft, Ebenezer’s heart and stomach seemed ready to tear themselves out of his body to get away from this place. But this time, the boy was more determined to see this through. Ms. Albert was ready to tear Ebenezer’s world apart, so he’d need to give her something else to worry about.

  With one last deep breath, Ebenezer shifted into the largest animal that lives in Wyoming. He wanted something that could cause a lot of damage but would be something that would be found in the state; a safety precaution in case anyone was looking into a chimpanzee thief. Ebenezer was shocked to find out what the biggest local animal was, but it was a nice surprise.

  Ebenezer rushed out of the bushes, now in the body of an adult Bison, charging straight for Ms. Albert’s car. He rammed his horns into the hood, bending the metal and forcing the vehicle to lurch backward. He heard the sound of glass shattering and multiple car alarms started going off. Ebenezer winced but kept going.

  He climbed to the top of the car, making sure to stomp his hooves into the metal to do as much internal damage as possible. When he was on the roof, the boy jumped in place, using his weight to crush the top and force the interior to cave in.

  His first attack had pushed Ms. Albert’s car into the one behind it. Ebenezer felt a pang of guilt knowing he was causing damage to other people’s property but he shrugged it off. He wasn’t angry at all of his teachers, but like all bystanders, they shared some of the responsibility for his pain.

  Jumping onto the other car, Ebenezer used his horn to dig into Ms. Albert’s trunk and shoved it forward into the empty part of the parking lot. Once Ebenezer cleared enough space for his bison form to comfortably step off the other car, that’s when he noticed the shrieking. Looking up he saw a group of adults, no doubt the school staff, watching in awe as this random Bison went to town on someone’s car. In front of the group was the owner of said car, Ms. Albert.

  She was gripping her hair, looking ready to tear it out. Her eyes were wide with horror, but her mouth was open wider, letting out a screech that was slightly less high-pitched than nails on a chalkboard. The sight of his science teacher in clear anguish finally gave Ebenezer the rush of exhilaration he was waiting for.

  In a swift motion, and with more power than a bison should probably have, Ebenezer hooked his horns underneath the car and used them to flip the car over. Ebenezer couldn’t see the car fly, but he heard the loud crash as the hit the ground, hood first. The renewed screeching coming from Ms. Albert told the villain he had completed his mission.

  Ebenezer took a moment to admire his handiwork. The car was resting upside down on the parking lot while learning to one side thanks to the crushed roof. Bits of metal and machinery were jutting from the bottom of the car showing off the interior damage Ebenezer managed to inflict. A glance at the victim showed Ms. Albert on her knees, practically frothing at the mouth.

  Once Ebenezer seared the image into his mind, he turned and ran back into the bushes. The nearby patch of green wasn’t enough to fully hide Ebenezer’s Bison form but it obscured the boy enough for him to quickly shift from a bovine to a canine. Anyone trying to keep an eye on the fleeing bison will have a hard time keeping track of him through the foliage. And if they did but found themselves staring at a dog, they’ll think they somehow lost track of the bison before thinking that the two animals are the same creature.

  As a dog, Ebenezer sprinted down the street, passing by stunned bystanders before ducking into the nearest ally. After taking a moment to ensure he wasn’t being followed, Ebenezer switched to a bird and flew back to the scene of the crime. Perching on top of the roof, Ebenezer watched the aftermath of his rampage.

  Various teachers and faculty members were strewn about the parking lot, trying to figure out what happened and examine the damages. He looked at the pained faces of those whose cars were damaged, but the real show came from Ms. Albert. Looking like an escaped mental asylum patient, she paced around the ruined husk of her car while muttering to herself.

  If anyone tried to talk to her she’d snap and screech at them until they ran off. One coworker tried to talk her down, which sent the woman into a hysterical rant that only ended when one of her flailing limbs smacked into the wreckage, sending Ms. Albert to the ground, clutching her damaged hand and letting out a loud stream of inappropriate swears. It was at that moment that Ebenezer did something he hadn’t done in a long time.

  He giggled.

  The sight of his hated teacher losing her mind over what he did filled him with such joy that he couldn’t help but laugh. There was a toxic quality to the mirth he felt, there was no denying that. But at that moment, Ebenezer couldn’t care less. He felt good. Yes it came from the suffering of another, but that person hurt him first, so they got what they deserved.

  Ebenezer took off and flew back home, still chuckling at the memory of the screaming Ms. Albert.

  ‘Maybe being a villain won’t be so bad after all,’ he thought.