Before the Silent Scream

  Pinn looked up at the low ceilings, his footsteps echoing as he passed through the underground garage. Wind passed through the area, giving an eerie echo in the dark, unlit area.

  “You’re sure no one’s gonna be down here?” Pinn asked. He saw torn pieces of tarp in a corner, as well as what looked like remains of a sad meal.

  “Project was abandoned years ago,” Rockwell assured him. “And the winds are nonstop. Too uncomfortable to set up a tent and live here.”

  “That doesn’t mean drifters don’t hang around here,” Pinn mentioned. He watched a pillowcase roll by, wondering if it was there from a former resident or blown in from the wind.

  “I think it’s a great spot! Away from prying eyes, and a lot of room for ideas,” Pinn’s mother chimed in, holding a golf club out toward Pinn, head cover still on. The sock cover blew in the wind, and Rockwell eyed his possession, but said nothing.

  “Which one first?” Pinn asked.

  “Do the crown of light, then turn it off and bend the club in half,” Serena suggested.

  “In half?” Rockwell repeated flatly, eyes lingering on his club.

  “Or Pinny can tie it into a bow, if he pleases,” Serena said, smiling.

  Rockwell’s silence was loud. Pinn suppressed a smile.

  “You’re calling it a crown too?” Pinn asked her.

  “My prince deserves a crown,” Serena said, running her hand through his hair. Pinn had worked out his spontaneous Lightcrown eruptions, so he wasn’t as nervous about it, but he still looked away, embarrassed by his mother’s words.

  “We should get started before it gets too dark,” Rockwell said. “No light fixtures down here. Sun’s all we got.”

  Serena and Rockwell stepped away, giving Pinn plenty of room. Bracing himself, Pinn’s head exploded into a tall white flame. A second later, he switched it off. Feeling a bit bold over his control, he flicked it on and off again, like a trick candle. Serena applauded. Rockwell watched quietly.

  Raising the golf club, Pinn looked to his father before attempting to bend it. Rockwell’s lip twitched in disappointment, but he nodded his consent.

  Grunting, Pinn pushed hard against the opposite ends of the club. It resisted. Straining, he pushed again. Nothing. Pinn looked up at his parents.

  “Try from a different angle?” Serena suggested.

  Nodding, Pinn flipped it over and tried again from different points. He could barely make it budge, a slight bend in the metal.

  “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong,” Pinn sighed, looking it over in frustration.

  “Turn on the flame and try again,” Rockwell said, watching closely.

  Igniting in flame, Pinn pushed against the sides of the club. It bent like a wire hanger. Blinking in surprise, Pinn turned off the flame and tried again. A muscle memory came to him this time. The feeling of the power was more familiar, and he didn’t need the flame. Mouth curving in satisfaction, Pinn folded it fully in half, holding it up for his parents to see.

  “The fire helped. It’s like it reminds me how power works.”

  “That’s great, Pinny!” Serena said, placing a hand on Rockwell’s shoulder. Rockwell grunted in approval.

  “Again. No flame this time.”

  Nodding, Pinn pulled on the folded driver and attempted to straighten it out. When he was starting to get some movement, a spark of electricity jumped out of the club and he stopped, stunned. Looking up quickly, Pinn checked to see that his parents were okay. Rockwell had a thick arm in front of Serena, covering her body and expression.

  “Lightning?” Rockwell asked.

  “I dunno.”

  “Try it again.” Rockwell kept his arm raised protectively, despite Serena craning to get a better view.

  First, Pinn extended a hand and tried to release energy. Focusing and straining his fingers, nothing emerged. Then, he went back to the club and called on his Strength to bend it. When he started moving it again, a bolt jumped out and hit Pinn’s shoe. Followed by a shallow cut appearing in the earth beneath him.

  “I didn’t see it! Is he okay?” Serena called, failing to move Rockwell’s limb and get a better view.

  “I’m fine, Ma.”

  “Good. I thought it hit you.”

  “I think it did.” Pinn looked at the dark scorch mark on his laces. “I don’t think it affects me.”

  “Just like your crown!”

  Pinn nodded, hoping that he would never have to worry about hitting his parents with his random outbursts of power.

  “What causes the lightning?” Rockwell asked.

  “I don’t know, Pa. It just happened.”

  “And the invisible blade to scratch the ground?”

  Pinn shrugged.

  “I want an answer, son.”

  “I don’t know, Pa!” Pinn said. “I don’t know about any of this! The flame, I got a good handle on, but the others just sprout randomly. Like I got a bunch of crossed wiring and they keep sending signals when I use other powers.”

  Rockwell took off his glasses and rubbed them in thought. Mild disappointment radiated off of him, and Pinn shared in the feeling. Control kept slipping further and further away. The only thing he could confidently control was the fire on his head, but even that seemed to elicit other powers flaring.

  Resolving himself, Pinn held the club out to bend it again. Rockwell nodded with approval. Serena peeked from behind the wall of her husband. Her eyes went wide. Rockwell’s entire body moved in front of her.

  “No!” Serena screamed, pointing.

  Without a moment’s hesitation, Pinn’s head exploded in flame as he spun in place. Someone was slinking toward them, gun in hand and large pack on his back. The flickering flame revealed a face Pinn knew all too well—the leader of the muggers, and an icy dread washed over him, chilling him to the bone.

  “You again,” the mugger said, moving the gun slowly toward Rockwell and Serena. “Seems I’m blessed! Came looking for an easy few bucks when I heard some old folks talkin’ and I found the jackpot.”

  Pinn tracked the gun with his eyes, fear speaking before he could think. “Leave them alone. It’s me you want.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s them I want. Make a move and they’re done. Turn off the fire, hothead.”

  “I can’t,” Pinn lied, confidence in his tone. He hoped that a new power would emerge, swallowing the man whole.

  “I’m not asking twice.” The man cocked the gun.

  “Don’t you dare listen to him,” Rockwell ordered.

  Pinn kept the flame strong, trusting in his father’s instincts. The mugger tutted his tongue.

  “Shame. I thought I could drag this out.”

  He pulled the trigger. Pinn’s heart skipped a dreadful beat as the explosion went off before he could stop the man. Reaching out, he tried to put his arm in the bullet’s trajectory, but couldn’t judge where it would fly in such little time.

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  It zipped between his fingers.

  Arm stretched out, he turned around to his parents in abject fear.

  Floating next to his head was the bullet spinning in place like a football stopped midair. Once the spiraling came to a stop, the bullet bolted down and slapped against Pinn’s forearm, sticking to him like a magnet. Flinching in shock, he immediately tried to pull it off, but it stuck like something screwed into him.

  “What the…”

  The man fired another round, this time directly at Pinn. Pinn held up his hand and golf club, and the bullet came to a halt once more, zipping down and sticking to his shin. Both the mugger and Pinn stared at it.

  “What are you?”

  Pinn ran at him, and the man unloaded his clip, every bullet stopping inches away from Pinn before jumping to stick to him like a fridge collecting magnets. Ramming into the man with bone-jarring force, Pinn blasted him back dozens of feet.

  Tumbling end over end like a ragdoll, the impact echoed in a sickening thud accented by a flabbergasted yelp. Rushing toward him in a blur, Pinn stood on the man’s back, holding him down as he flailed in struggle. Realizing he was still holding the club, he pinned the man’s arms behind him and tied them together with a bent golf club.

  When he stood at full height, Pinn saw the man had fallen asleep. He would have assumed he passed out, but a sensation in his gut informed him that the sudden slumber came from a power rather than passing out from any pain.

  Breathing heavily, Pinn looked over the man, watching him for any sudden movements. Rockwell appeared next to him, the empty gun in hand. They stared at the criminal, watching for sudden movements.

  Rockwell turned to his son, fire bright on his head. “How many powers was that? I lost count.”

  “I don’t know.”

  Pinn turned off his flames, Serena immediately tackling him from behind in a protective hug, then spinning him around to place herself between her son and the attacker. Watching the man with sharp eyes, his mother spoke in a stark tone.

  “Pinn, if anyone comes at you like that, you defend yourself. Even if that means they have to die, you fight to your last breath.”

  “Serena,” Rockwell muttered.

  “Not now when he’s helpless!” Serena pointed to the sleeping man. “I meant when he had a loaded gun. And this was a terrible spot! Pinn would be dead if it wasn’t for his blessings!” Serena slapped her husband’s broad shoulder.

  To Pinn’s shock, Rockwell recoiled, lowering his head.

  “Sorry,” Rockwell grumbled, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

  Pinn’s eyes went wide. His father had apologized. Genuinely taken account of messing up so badly. He couldn’t remember the last time it had happened. At that moment, sweat rolled down his neck as he realized just how bad the situation had gone. They could have all been dead.

  The apology hung heavy in the air, but acceptance remained elusive. It wasn’t natural for Pinn to have to accept such terms from his father. Silently changing the subject, he turned away from his father and looked back at the tied up man.

  “What do we do with him?”

  The family stared, the man breathing in a deep, contented slumber.

  “Got any memory powers? I don’t like thinking he saw your Ma’s face,” Rockwell mentioned.

  “You know my powers as well as I do, Pa.”

  Rockwell grunted.

  “It was dark down here. I don’t think he got a good look,” Serena speculated.

  “Think or know?” Rockwell asked.

  The three stared again.

  “Let me try and talk to him,” Pinn said. “I’ll put on the flame and tell him to leave me alone or else. He’s seen my power. He’s gotta be scared in some way, right?”

  Rockwell said nothing. Serena shrugged, nodding slightly.

  “I think it’s a decent plan! But keep the club tied to him so he knows his place even when we leave,” Serena said.

  “Serena, we should go while he has the chat with him.”

  Serena whipped his face toward him, but Rockwell continued unperturbed.

  “If the purpose is for this scum to forget about us, we shouldn’t linger and give him a reminder of what we look like.”

  Serena studied her husband, then turned to Pinn.

  “You gonna be okay, Pinny? You don’t have to do this. We might have already scared him enough to leave us alone. Rocky can call the cops and we leave it be. Or you can…” Serena raised eyebrows and tilted her head to the side.

  “I don’t wanna hurt him. Let me give it a shot, Ma. I’ll meet you at the car,” Pinn assured her.

  “I’m not going to the car ‘til you’re out of here. But I’ll be right around the corner with your father,” Serena promised, taking her husband’s arm and walking away.

  As they left, Rockwell turned his head and gave Pinn a serious nod. Pinn shivered. No words were needed. He’d been around his father enough to understand all the meaning behind the simple gesture. A wave of anxious exhilaration washed over him, Rockwell’s blessing a powerful message. He could kill the man and his Pa wouldn’t fault him for it.

  As soon as his parents left eyeshot, Pinn burst the flame on his head to life and lightly kicked the man’s shoulder. Immediately, the mugger spun around, eyes locked onto Pinn’s burning face. Pinn hesitated.

  “How long have you been awake?” Pinn asked, lowering his voice.

  A smile curved on the disheveled man’s face. “Long enough.”

  Pinn froze, several beats of conversation repeating themselves in his head. Contorting himself, the man managed to sit himself on his rear despite the club tying his arms behind him.

  “What did you hear?” Pinn asked. Had they said too much? Was he only pretending to be asleep the entire time?

  “Not much, Pinn. I know you don’t wanna kill me.” A nefarious grin spread wide.

  Pinn’s flame flared with energy, and the man’s smile grew fuller.

  “You’re just some kid!” he laughed. “I knew that from the beginning, but I couldn’t really hear you say much before now! What are you, like a middle schooler?”

  Pinn said nothing, panic eating his heart.

  “Don’t worry, Pinny, I promise I won’t try and challenge you again. But while your parents are out and about, you might want to keep an eye on them,” he laughed.

  Enraged, Pinn kneeled down and picked up the man with ease, holding him by the front of his shirt and dangling him ahead.

  “Forget us. Leave us all alone,” Pinn demanded, his voice booming.

  “Ha! You won’t touch me! Otherwise you already would have! I have the power here, kid!” The man cackled, manic. “You’re gonna run a job for me or it’s lights out for your parents! You think I don’t have cameras in my own home?”

  Somehow, Pinn could feel he was lying. Through the sensation of holding him up, Pinn had a power feeding truth and lies filtered through the man’s speech. There were no cameras. But this was the man’s home.

  “Leave us alone! Or else!”

  “Or else what? Whatever the consequences are, you’re gonna have to do them now. Jail or not, I know everything I need to know. Once you leave me be, every scumbag this side of town will know about a ‘Serena and Rocky.’ Shouldn’t be too hard to—”

  Lightning jumped from his head alongside the flames. Thunder boomed overhead, Pinn feeling out of his depth. He wasn’t going to kill the man. Was he? More and more, he felt inclined towards it. He could hear his mother shouting something behind him, but wind whipping in his ears made it impossible to hear.

  “And there she is now!” the man squealed with delight. “A face to go with the name!”

  Pinn could feel that the man was being honest. He memorized every feature he could and he would spread the word to every criminal he knew.

  The earth rumbled and shallow cuts ran around the ground, slashes flying out and running thin cuts along the ground and the man’s unhinged expression. A tornado manifested around them, whipping hair and clothes in every direction at once. The man smiled through the pain, coughing as he laughed.

  “No!” Pinn exploded, the scream violently shaking the man. “Listen to me! There is no negotiation! You’ll forget everything, okay? Nothing will remain and maybe, just maybe, I’ll let you walk out of here with both legs!”

  The man’s body flailed and Pinn shook him one last forceful time, then dropped him to the floor. Taking a step back, Pinn breathed heavily, trying to get a control over his powers and reduce everything that wasn’t the flame on his head. The man stared up in shock, blood running from thin cuts along his face and chest, his sleeves shredded away. Pinn watched him, wondering how he was going to follow up on his threat, but the man finally looked to be taking him seriously.

  “Okay. Okay.” The man nodded rapidly, looking around in escalating fear.

  The power was weakening once Pinn let him go, but he felt it was the truth. The ground stopped shaking, the wind stopped whipping, and the lighting stopped jumping. All the power reduced to a small flame over Pinn’s head and the man sat with a vacant expression. Placing a hand over his face, Pinn felt like a migraine was trying to break down the walls of his skull. He overdid himself, and for a single homeless man. He didn’t even overextend himself like this when the building collapsed next to his neighborhood.

  The man slumped forward, all defiance deflating from his posture. Pinn finally felt comfortable enough to turn around and look at his mother, nodding that they could leave. Serena gave him a maternal smile and held out her hand for him to take. It was much-needed warmth, even with the fire on his head.

  “Excuse me!” the man called just as they were about to exit the underground area.

  Pinn stopped short, considering whether he should even give him a last glance.

  Uncertain shuffling echoed. “Excuse me!”

  Pinn sighed, his mother squeezing bravery into his hand as he turned around.

  “What?” Pinn snapped.

  “Umm… What… Where am I?”

  Pinn scrunched his face at him, narrowing his eyes and scanning him for another trick or threat. Posture slouched and eyes wide, he looked nothing like the madman who was laughing only minutes ago.

  “What?” Pinn asked, turning his whole body toward him.

  “I… It’s weird…” He shook his head aggressively. “I don’t know where I am. Or…” Waving his head around, he seemed to indicate towards everything. “Do you know why I’m handcuffed? I also think I hurt my face. Did I fall?”

  Taking a few steps closer to him, Pinn could see the stark fear and confusion in his eyes. Pinn flowed from suspicious to confused.

  “Handcuffed? Who said you were handcuffed?”

  “My arms are locked behind my back. Do you know what happened to me?”

  He sounded so sincere.

  “Do you not remember what happened to you?” Pinn took another step toward him. “Do you know who I am?”

  The man leaned in, trying to make out what he knew about the raging flame with a human body attached. Slowly at first, then more confidently, he shook his head.

  “What about your name?” Pinn asked.

  Again, he considered the question, then shook his head. Pinn breathed deeply, a realization striking his gut.

  As Pinn had demanded, the man had forgotten everything.