"Here's your food honey."
"Thank you!" Winston said while eagerly grabbing the fast food bag and rolling his window back up as the snow began to blanket the restaurant parking lot. He placed the bag in the seat between us while pulling out into a mushy snow plowed road. I watched the snow melt and run down Winston's truck windows as he sped off down the road towards the winter countryside where I lived.
Burgers and fries became a usual occurrence for me ever since I started riding with Winston. Sometimes it would be everyday, sometimes every other day. It was an event determined by his stomach and Winston loves to eat. He always bought me food even when I wasn't hungry, he would tell me to save it for leftovers or bring it to lunch tomorrow.
"Alic?" Winston said to get my attention from daydreaming while looking out the passenger window at the snowfall. I looked at him and he had a basket of fries held out towards my face. "No one likes cold fries so stop staring and start munching."
I wasn't too hungry but I've never turned down free food, plus they were hot and fresh. "So is your dad going to make you work out in this snow?" I asked.
"Oh yeah!" He said. "The homes we're roofing usually don't have shingles to block the snow so we need to get them slapped on ASAP."
Winston's father owned a construction company from Seattle but after he divorced from Winston's mom he decided on a change of scenery. During the school year Winston stays in Alaska to help his dad and attend school. Then during our vacations he stays in Seattle with his mom. Just like his determination at chess he has an aggressive work ethic. Everyday after school he will drop me off and immediately head to work with his dad and his construction crew.
"You still want to work with your dad after school?" I asked while eating some fries.
"Eh…" He says while shrugging his shoulders. "With my grades I'm not getting into college and my dad is paying better than most other jobs but it's not what I want to do."
"What do you want to do?" I ask.
"I wanted to be a hero when I was younger. Specifically I wanted to join the United Minus Team." He said right before taking a bite of his burger.
I paused for a moment while chewing my food after hearing what he said. I've known Winston for two years, playing him at chess everyday after school, and I've never heard him mention this. As I stared at his Deus collar the faint curiosity about Winston's powers crossed my mind.
"That's surprising." I said. "What's your power?"
"I don't know." Winston said. "My Apollo gene never mutated before I got my collar."
"I suppose you were a late bloomer." I said.
"Or I wasn't going to mutate." He said through a chewed up burger. "It's rare but it does happen."
A weight of remorse suddenly fell over me as I realized that my dad was the reason Winston couldn't be a hero. My appetite disappeared as it was filled by the what ifs of life. The low hum of Winston's truck engine started to fill my ears as the flashing images of my father jumped through my mind. Even now my father's actions continue to ruin my life. Why!? Why did this have to happen!?
"What do you think?" Winston asked.
"Wh-What? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." I said.
He looked at me with a disgruntled gaze. "I asked what do you think my mutation would have been?"
"Oh I'm sorry I just have a lot on my mind." I said.
"You worried about graduation?" Winston asked.
"Yeah." I lied.
"Hey!" He said while patting me on the shoulder. "Worst part of graduation is losing your friends. But if it will make you feel better I promised that I would beat you at chess. So until that happens you'll still be seeing a lot of me."
Winston always knew how to dig me out of my own darkness. I couldn't help but chuckle at the remark. "Well I'm not going to college either so I'll still be sticking around here. Anytime you wanna lose, you know where to find me." I said.
"Hell yeah." Winston said while pumping his fist.
"By the way, I think you'd have a sonic scream, with how much you shout." I teased him.
"You know what! Just go back to staring out the window!" He said.
I laughed as Winston turned on the radio and blasted rock music the rest of the way home. Watching the snow blanket the open plans of Alaska was such a relaxing sight. Miles of picture perfect beauty between each house. It's hard to imagine I used to hate it here but I suppose everyone eventually learns to like their circumstances if they don't have a choice in the matter. It's better than living your whole life with hate in your heart.
After another few minutes, Winston pulled up to my house in the middle of the snow covered forest. When me and mom first moved here I thought it looked like a location where someone would film a horror movie. I think most cabins in the woods give off that vibe but soon it felt like a vacation home. It's never truly felt like home, as much as mom wants me to think it is.
Winston hopped out of the truck and grabbed my wheel chair out of the bed. He shook the snow off before opening it and helping me into it.
"Adios my friend! I'm off to freeze my ass off." Winston said while handing me my backpack.
"I'll see you tomorrow." I said while rolling away and up the handicap walking ramp in front of my house.
I waved goodbye to Winston one more time as he drove off. The snow settled on my lap as I pushed up to the front door and began to pull out my house keys. Mom told me she'd be working late tonight so I brought them to school with me. She always worked late so me coming home to a quiet house and having to make myself dinner wasn't uncommon. What was uncommon was for the front door to already be unlocked.
What the hell?
When I grabbed the door knob it jiggled slightly rather than being stiff and when I turned it the door opened. A shiver jolted down my spine and a cold sweat formed on my forehead. I sporadically looked around to search for signs that someone had approached my house but the falling snow probably covered their tracks by now. What's worse is my phone died while playing chess at school.
My fingers started to numb while waiting in the snow. I couldn't wheel myself to help in this weather, my closest neighbor is five miles away and there's no telling when mom will be home. With my teeth chattering I decided to make a rash and stupid decision. I pushed the door open suddenly to the sight of the main hallway that stretched down the middle of my house.
Immediately I knew that someone was here because the kitchen light was on and beaming light into the hallway from the open door to the right. As I wheeled myself into the house the sound of the news channel filled the living room to the left. I dropped my backpack and grabbed the umbrella near the door for some form of protection. With it tucked under my armpit, aiming outwards in front of me and both hands on my wheels, I jousted full speed into the living room.
"Who the hell is in here!?" I screamed.
The umbrella slipped from my arm and somehow jammed my wheel causing me to drift awkwardly into the room and loss any chance of being intimidating. I leaned away from the wheel to keep myself from tipping over and as I came to a final stop I looked around the tv lit room. The TV was broadcasting the recent interview with Deus Ex. On the table there was a bowl of popcorn, and on the couch were the intruders.
A man and woman in black suits, the dark skinned man was frozen with a handful of popcorn near his mouth and the red headed woman was holding the remote with the intention of changing the channel. They looked at me like I was the weird one in this whole scenario.
"Damn, what an entrance." The woman said.
"Who are you!?" I said. "What are you doing in my house!?"
"Are you Alic Viser?" The man asked.
"My name is Alic Curran." I answer without thinking. "Wait! Don't ignore my question! Who are you two!?"
The man reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a small thick black disc. He picks up the popcorn and places it on the table just before tapping its center. The disc glows with a white light that brightens the entire room and causes me to cover my eyes. Suddenly the light focuses and emits beams of light that form an image right in front of me.
"Hello Alic, it's been a while." The voice of Deus Ex said.