The Mediterranean's Mysterious Hero
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Published 4/9/2023An enigmatic anti-hero, with a hidden identity, fearlessly battles a powerful citizen for an uncertain fate in an effort to break the cycle of chaos and destruction that has consumed the Mediterranean's epic future world. Will his hidden mission be revealed in time to save the day?
"You're a fool."
The man's hands were shaking. No, his whole body was shaking. He looked like he was about to cry. Tears were streaming down his face. His eyes were wide. I'd never seen him look so terrified in my life.
"No! No, I'm not!"
I laughed out loud, but this didn't seem to help the situation at all. He was still crying. I wonder if he even realizes that he's not making any sense.
"I mean it! You really are a fool, you know." The irony of this statement wasn't lost on me, but I guess if this guy is going to be stubborn enough to not realize when I'm telling the truth, then what can I do? "You keep saying that you're not a hero... But you are! You really are!"
The boy looked up at me with pleading eyes as he cried harder than ever before. There was desperation in his voice as he asked me: "Why do you keep saying that?"
And that's when it hit me: This kid doesn't understand why I'm saying these things. This revelation caused me to stop laughing and feel guilty for a moment - but only a moment, because the kid still hasn't figured out the obvious solution here: If he doesn't know why I'm calling him a hero, then how can he possibly believe that he's not one?
"Listen," I said to him as calmly as possible. But I couldn't stay calm for long; we had to hurry before the others found us. "I've been watching you for awhile now."
"Oh no..." He started sobbing again. It was sad, really.
"Hey!" Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for, but it worked nonetheless; the kid stopped crying and looked up at me again. "Don't worry about it! It's okay!" By telling the kid that everything is fine, maybe that'll convince him that nothing bad happened during the time we've spent together today...
"But you told me not to worry about anything!" He sounded like a five year old who just got told off by his dad for getting something wrong. Angry and confused at once - which either meant that there was something wrong with him or he's just being stupid (hint: there is).
"Well yeah..." Shit, what am I supposed to say here? "...but only when we're alone." I hope the kid figures out what I mean by this.
He looked back down at his feet and started crying again. So much for hope...
– Chapter 1 –
– Chapter 2 –
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This is a work of fiction, assisted by artificial intelligence. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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