81+1 Heroes Ch. 44: Mira's Scars

The Principal let us go home early. Demanded it more likely. When I--I mean, we--got to the apartment building we saw Bugg and Kenny outside. Kenny said, "Uh. We, um, found Dexter." I breathed out relief. "OK. Where is he?" I was looking around, like he might be hiding somewhere.

Bugg and Kenny looked at each other. Kenny sighed and took out a small device. He handed it to me and I looked at it. "Where is this? Is that a heart moniter? Why is it going so slow?" I realized what it was and I said, "What. Happened."

Kenny sighed. "We looked over the video footage. Someone took out the systems and kidnapped Dexter. The school being attacked was just a distraction. That hand-held shows where Dex is. He has a tracking device in a tooth. It detects his vital signs. Right now, it says he's in a deep sleep, but he's still alive and thats what counts."

I remembered something. "What about Little Red?" They said nothing. Then Kenny said, "We, uh, haven't told her anything yet. We were going to but...." He drifted off and I let out a deep, irritated breath. I said, "What are we going to do?" Mira stepped out from behind us. "Well, what do you think?" We all looked at her. "We save the dork, that's what!"

Five minutes later we were in the lab, deciding on what Heroes to assemble. I called up a certain batch of Heroes. We were going to Japan.

I was filling in the guys of what was going down when the main screen turned on. There was an Asian girl on there, looking at us with hate in her eyes. She said, "You took a friend of ours. In return we took your leader. Meet on our terms for an exchange, or the consequences will be fatal." The screen turned off and all of us stood there in shock.

"They think we took their friend?" I said. Mira then said, "In that case, we'll need to make a smaller team that's less threatening to explain things." I nodded. "Then it'll be us two. That's our best bet."

Three ours later, we are in a high-tech-looking jet and flying over the pacific Ocean. Mira said, "Why do you try so hard to help us out?" I was daydreaming so I was taken off guard. "What?" "You heard me." I started fiddling with the end of my shirt. "I......I don't know. Maybe cause....I don't know." Mira kept staring up ahead. "You really like him don't ya?"

My face burned. She laughed a little. "Don't worry. I ain't gonna steal him away from ya." She got a sad expression. "I never had the best luck with relationships. You see these scars on my arm?"
She put her forearm up to show them. I said, "Yeah." "Well, they were from my last boyfriend, and I do mean last. He was in some sort of cult. Basically, they believed that whatever they eat, they'll have the natural abilities of that victim. Whether its an animal, or whatever. I didn't know at the time. He tried several times to cut my hands off and gain my ability. I never really got close to anybody since. I tried, but......I just can't put myself to trust anyone, like that, again. I envy you, and Dexter. Heck, I envy Ken and Jess. Grossman even has Misty to hang out with."

I didn't know what to say. "Mira. I'm so sorry." She shrugged. "Ah, I'm sorry I just threw up my life story on you. Oh, hey. We're coming up on Japan now."

Here we go.