9 Chapter 9: Going to Harlem

After all the mishaps, the sky had turned dark. Peter finally managed to retrieve Alex's suit in the correct size. However, rummaging through his school bag, he made a shocking discovery. His candies were gone! The plastic wrappers were scattered on the floor, indicating that Alex had indulged in Peter's stash.

Peter couldn't believe his eyes. There were about 20 candies in there. How could Alex have devoured all of them? Superpowers provided a logical explanation, but it didn't ease Peter's bitterness. Those candies were meant for him, not Alex.

"Sorry, Pete. I couldn't resist," Alex confessed, averting his gaze and whistling nonchalantly.

Peter couldn't help but roll his eyes in annoyance. He held back his frustration and handed the suit to Alex, determined to move past the candy incident.

After changing into his first suit, Alex stood before the mirror, examining his reflection.

However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. Wearing the suit didn't evoke any extraordinary sensation within him. He felt like an ordinary person ready to stroll through the city, devoid of any particular significance.

There was no noticeable change in his mood or emotions. Everything remained unchanged.

As Alex admired his appearance in the mirror sans his mask, he couldn't deny his attractiveness. His features stood out among the crowd, and his emerald green eyes were mesmerizing, or at least that's what he thought, somewhat indulging in his narcissism.

"Alright, Pete. I'm heading out," Alex announced, nodding towards Peter, who responded with a thumbs up.

"Good luck!"

"..."

Alex twitched his lips slightly at Peter's well-wishing gesture, unsure how to react.

With no dependable companion on the chair, Alex set out alone. He hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to take him to Harlem, his chosen battlefield.

'What a superhero way to go to his battlefield! This is just great!'

In a sarcastic tone, he couldn't help but remark on the irony of taking a taxi to his superhero mission.

But soon, a realization struck him. He had forgotten something crucial—the mask. Panic washed over him as he scanned the taxi, realizing it was nowhere to be found.

"Excuse me, can we please turn back? I left something extremely important at home," Alex pleaded with the driver, who sported a disinterested, almost intoxicated expression.

The driver glanced at him and rolled his eyes.

"Kid, you messing with me?"

"I'll pay double," Alex calmly offered, hoping to persuade the driver.

The driver mulled it over before countering, "I want triple."

Realizing the driver's intent to capitalize on the situation, Alex decided against it. "Okay, then drop me off here. I'll find another taxi..."

The driver, seemingly amused by the turn of events, chuckled and said, "Oh, you wanna go back and get it? Alright, kid. Hold on tight!"

And so, they returned to Alex's house to retrieve the mask. As the driver observed Alex's deadpan expression, seemingly unaffected by the predicament, he couldn't help but feel speechless.

"Whatever, kid," the driver muttered under his breath.

Resuming his journey, Alex continued towards his battlefield, his determined expression unwavering.

---

After a brief taxi ride, Alex arrived in Harlem, a vibrant neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. This was the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, his current destination.

As he surveyed the surroundings, everything appeared calm. However, an eerie sensation sent a shiver down his spine, hinting at an underlying tension.

"Alright, time to pick up the pace," Alex muttered to himself, preparing to move swiftly.

With determination in his eyes, he began to run. The Rodriguez's place was approximately a five-minute walk away, but he could reach it in a fraction of the time by sprinting.

BOOM!

Suddenly, a deafening explosion reverberated in the vicinity of his destination. People's screams filled the air, echoing the chaos that ensued.

"Crap!"

Realizing that time was of the essence, Alex pushed himself even harder, his speed increasing exponentially.

He was a blur to onlookers, a motion streak slicing through the air. Within seconds, he arrived at the scene—a residential apartment building.

Alex leaped into the air with no other viable option, propelling himself directly to the floor where Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez resided.

BAM!

His impact created a sizable hole in the wall, potentially incurring repair costs for Mr. Rodriguez. Nevertheless, Alex brushed it off, prioritizing the mission at hand.

His landing was flawless, evoking the image of a classic superhero pose. If there were a camera to capture the moment, it would undoubtedly be dubbed a "superhero landing."

However, there was no time for self-reflection as Alex swiftly began to search the room, determined to locate Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez.

The living room proved fruitless, as he had already occupied that space upon his arrival.

Moving on to the bedrooms, he meticulously checked each one, but they yielded no trace of the couple.

Kitchen... Bathroom... Various other rooms...

He diligently combed through every nook and cranny of the apartment, yet his efforts proved futile. Confusion crept into his mind.

"What the hell is going on here?" Alex wondered, his thoughts racing.

Realizing the need for more information, he retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Mr. Rodriguez's number, preparing to make a call.

"...Hello? Uncle? Where are you?"

Alex inquired anxiously as soon as the call connected.

"Oh, Alex! Hey there! How's it going?"

The cheerful tone of Mr. Rodriguez brought a sense of relief to Alex, and a smile formed on his face. "I'm doing well. So, Uncle, where are you right now?"

"We're visiting my dad. It's his 86th birthday tomorrow. Want to join us?"

Upon hearing this, Alex finally realized the reason behind the empty apartment. His gaze shifted towards the substantial hole he had created moments ago, and a wave of frustration washed over him.

'I messed up...'

"...Uh, no, I mean... Well, actually, I heard there's some commotion in Harlem. I got concerned and thought of checking in. Ha-ha..." Alex stammered, trying to cover up his mistake with a nervous laugh.

"I see, hahaha! You're such a good kid, Alex..."

Upon hearing those words, Alex glanced again at the sizable hole he had created. He couldn't help but think, 'What? A good boy? Seriously?'

Suddenly, his phone signal seemed to vanish, and the call was abruptly cut off. "Hello? Uncle, are you there?"

Alex sighed in relief, grateful that the call had ended. Conversations with either Mr. or Mrs. Rodriguez always seemed to weigh heavily on his conscience, especially now with the guilt lingering in his mind.

"RUN!!!"

"AAAAH!!"

"...GOD, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!!!"

Amidst the chaos and commotion outside, Alex's attention was drawn to the streets where military officers attempted to calm the crowds and evacuate the area. Observing the scene, his expression grew more serious.

"...But am I powerful enough to join the fight?" he pondered silently, his mind filled with doubts and uncertainty.

---

Hey guys,

Just wanted to give you a heads-up that this will be the last chapter for this week. Normally, I aim for 7 chapters per week, like 1 chapter daily for a new story.

However, life has been pretty hectic for me lately. I'm juggling my thesis, an internship, freelancing, and writing all at once.

It's not that I don't want to release 7 chapters a week, but I also need to take care of myself. If I push myself too hard, I risk getting sick or burning out, which would affect all the other responsibilities I'm currently managing. I believe it's important to find a good balance and take some time to relax.

I hope you all understand and continue to support me on this journey. Your understanding means a lot to me, and I appreciate your ongoing support.

Thank you! Hairy

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