by The Eurostar
Edulcore Cicciotto:
I awake in a bed in one of the circus vans.
"You slept a lot, Sardella," says a female voice. It is Lorelei, the contortionist -- a sleek young woman whom I noticed before, during her performance the night we joined the circus.
"What happened?" I ask.
"A strange accident. We saw lightning, and your van went off the road."
"How are my friends? Where are they?"
"They are on various vans and buses. Your van was totally destroyed. I'm sorry."
"But... you didn't wait for the police?" I ask.
She smiles at my words, and then laughs. "You and your friends are not the only ones with secrets to hide, pal."
"What do you mean?"
"You are a meta, your friends are metas. But don't be afraid. I, too have the metagene, and many of the performers in the circus are, too. Yes, none of us is powerful as you, but we are no less metahuman. Actually, after the persecution of the metas began, many of us have begun to hide in circuses. Just like you."
"It seemed obvious to me. We needed a place to work, to rest, two meals every day. What else could we have done?" She nods her head, without replying. "But the MCCA didn't discover this?" I ask.
"Immediately. They attacked many circuses, capturing many metas. But then they developed a way of finding only the metas with more potential, the best for their scopes, and the attacks decreased. And there were political issues, and a rumor goes that many circus owners actually paid MCCA to not be interested in inspecting them."
"Well, at least the MCCA has been shut down."
"What?"
"Yes. I was... by chance... in town yesterday, and it was the news of the day."
"It's great news, but nothing as amazing as the words that a metahuman said at the Zoo site, in the evening. You should have seen it. Basically, he has called the metas to a revolution!"
"Ah.. uh, yes, I have seen him on the TV. I don't think it was a good thing. We metas should keep a low profile. Even without an MCCA, the world hates us," I say. If only the girl knew that her hero is actually me!
"Well, it's time you go back to sleep. You seem totally recovered, but I'm sure you are still very tired."
"Um, yes. Uh, thank you for your spare bed."
"You are welcome, Guido."
She leaves, and I can finally think about what has happened. First, how I did survive that electrical charge? I took it in full. Maybe I instinctively turned ghost when the bolt hit me, but the truth is that I don't know how my body actually operates. I should come back to Dr. Quantos -- only he could explain.
And that brings the next question: Why did Turner call me a traitor? Does he think I am working for Malvan-X? Why? And why a traitor? Why should I be loyal to him?
Turner! He was a sort of secret agent, but last evening he clearly showed the powers of a meta. How can it be possible that the same man is an MCCA agent and a meta? And those costumed people yesterday at the Zoo? They, too, are metas on the opposing side. Why they are fighting their own people? Money? Power? Or are they blackmailed by a higher power?
And then a thing hits my mind. How can Turner have possibly known our location? Has he been spying on us since the beginning? Too many questions; my head hurts, and I slowly fall asleep.
The last thing I think is that I haven't asked Lorelei how my friends are. Tomorrow, tomorrow...