The Spectrumverse

Issue #3

For spring break, things seem calm. Billy wasn’t so bothered; he had other things on his mind too. Making his way across the campus, Billy heard something.

“Hey Kingston.”

He stopped. Turning to the direction of the voice, Billy was blinded by the sunlight. The rays caused him to raise his hand to shield his eyes, Billy saw someone approaching.

From the distance came a young woman, slim and petite. Her grey baggy hoodie, hot pink leggings, and white running shoes were her defining features. Her short brown hair and wide grey eyes caught his attention right away. She races across the campus grounds, waving her hand as she did so. Billy waved back, if not awkwardly. Briskly crossing the campus at a steady pace, the young woman seemed accustomed to running.

Her attire allowed for prolonged periods of sporting activities. As she approached, she carefully wrapped her arms around Billy, the hug was brief and after a second, she backed away.

“Bridget Hamilton” Billy replied with a jolly tone “How is America’s future Olympian?”

She laughed at the very notion, shoving Billy’s shoulder in amusement.

“Please. I have training and I’m a little nervous.”

“Ah don’t think like that.”

“Just some pre-training jitters.”

“Thought you were training over the summer?”

“By myself. Today I want to do my best in front of Coach Robinson, last time I’ll see him until next semester.”

“Worried you’ll get sloppy during spring break?”

Nodding in agreement, the young woman looked away. She didn’t want Billy to see her lack of confidence. Billy picked up on it in an instant. Torn between addressing it or not, Billy decided not to push the issue. Instead, he chose a more tactful approach to the matter. He patted Hamilton’s shoulder. She looked at him and he focused on her.

“You’ll do great. I know so. When you’re at the Olympics you’ll look back at all this and laugh”

“I just-”

“Just focus on what you got to do. You’ll do fine.”

Billy took a step toward the path and then turned back “Bridget, are you going to this party tonight?”

“Brooklyn’s Party?”

Billy nodded.

“A few from the track are going, thought why not.”

Billy was just about to continue his way but before he could, Bridget called to him “Did you hear back from the museum yet?”

His cheerful interaction with a friend almost changed, Billy tried not to let his face drop and reveal his confusion. He told her what she wanted to hear.

“Not yet. Hopefully tomorrow.”

“Oh of course. See you at the party tonight.”

He waved goodbye, she waved back. Billy turned forwards and quickly went on his way. Crossing the campus grounds, Billy tucked his hands into his pockets. Reaching the end of the path he had officially left school grounds. It the last day and there were no formal events planned so he felt comfortable leaving school. On the sidewalk, Billy saw the school’s sign. Standing where the grass met the concrete was an embossed metal plate. Over the years the plate had been tarnished, but only slightly. Bolted onto a red brick block was a silver panel that read;

Graphic High School

Est.1951

“Inspiring the students of today to be the citizens of tomorrow”

He had passed it so many times Billy never really stopped to read it. He’d always been busy, either getting roped into shenanigans with Freddie or been focused on other matters. Over the years, he just hadn’t thought much of it. He hardly remembered passing it at all. Turning leftward, Billy passed the sign once again. This time with some acknowledgment it was there at all. Heading eastward, Billy knew the route he was taking too well. The weather was holding; a sunny day always brought people out. Heading down eastward Billy noticed a convince stores every few feet. On the corner was a coffee place, made back in the mid-nineties.

Above the door was a neon sign, left off during the daytime. Most of the exterior was gradually becoming dated by modern standards. A large window allowed pedestrians to look inward. Inside was a section of two couches, both facing opposite each other and between them was a small coffee table. Around the rest of the place were tables and chairs.

Mostly two or three chairs to each table. It was busy as several people, sitting around drinking coffee. Most were there to escape their work or were meeting friends. Inside he noticed one of his teachers. A middle-aged man wearing a brown blazer and jeans, on a large chair he sat reading a book. Within moments, Billy quickened his pace and hoped to leave before he was noticed.

Safely past the coffee house, Billy felt relief. Running into a teacher beyond the school grounds was awkward enough. He wasn’t in the mood for a casual chat with his English teacher. Billy made it to the end of the road and stood ready, waiting for the lights to change. After a few seconds, the lights flashed green. Billy darted across the road to the other side. Heading southward, Billy followed the route he knew so well. Passing many storefronts, Billy had to dodge outgoing shoppers like cars on a busy road.

Ironically, the roads weren’t so busy. Every few minutes a car would pass by. The further south he went, the fewer cars there were.

After a certain point, small stores were becoming fewer and further between. Three story apartment complexes were tightly packed next to each other on most blocks. Strolling through south Haverford was pleasant. Out here the city blocks were less built up. It didn’t feel like a concrete jungle, trees along the street added natural beauty to the street. Reaching the end of the street, Billy saw a large pair of iron gates wide open. Above the gateway was the sign that read “Protector Park”.

Billy crossed the road once again and entered the main gates. Fields of green were the first thing he saw. With sunlight shining down from the clear blue sky, people were taking advantage of the nice weather. The Park seemed to be busier than normal. Lots of people were having picnics, walking dogs or out with their families. Billy walked among the visitors to the park. Watching so many people enjoying the weather, it truly felt like Summertime. The pathways in the park were grey and almost like AstroTurf. 

Benches are along the path, nearly five meters apart from each other. evading the number of dog walkers and families on the pathway, Billy drudged on. In the distance was a small hill, a steep path led to the top but that didn’t deter people. Every time Billy saw that hill, he became excited. He started gaining speed. With a large smile and at a brisk pace, Billy headed straight toward the hill. Reaching the start of the path, the young man bolted up the steep hill with determination. With one hand on the railing along the path, Billy could use it during his ascent. After a few minutes of rigorous travel, Billy reached the top of the hill. The hilltop was flat, it provided the perfect place for the structure.

Billy caught his breath, going up the steep hill at a fast pace, and had worn him out. Looking at the building before him, excited by what he saw. Billy no longer felt out of breath. Instead, he was in awe of the building. He’d seen it more than a hundred times, yet just like the first time, it was still an amazing site.

Right before him, a four-story structure stood within a section of land.  A thin curtain wall of grey brick provided security and determined the boundary of the property. Billy walked through the main gates of the building. Around the main building were a collection of kiosks. Most of which were closed. Some had been closed for so long they started to deteriorate due to their age. Billy didn’t take any interest in them, he walked past all of them and he was too focused on the main doors of the building. The pair of large brass doors were held open by a hinge mechanism. Over the main doorway was a large sign. Written on in large black words on a huge white panel.

The Museum of Masked Justice

On the corners of the panel were small traces of rust, gradually creeping across the white sign. No matter the aged signs, the charm of the age it opened remained. At least Billy thought so.  His heart started beating faster. Excitement gripped every inch of his soul. With joy and merriment, Billy walked through the doors into the museum. The entrance hall itself was immaculate. The floor was composed of white and black tiles, laid out across the floor in a geometric style. The walls were covered in a grey and black woven pattern, from top to bottom. On the right side of the entrance hall was the information desk. At the front of it, the leaflets regarding the museum’s exhibits filled the shelf. Behind the desk reading, a newspaper sat an elderly woman. Aside from the music playing from speakers on the walls, the museum was extremely quiet. Not a single person could be seen or heard further down the hall.

As she folded the newspaper up, the elderly woman saw Billy in the doorway.

“Mr. Kingston” she spoke with a grisly voice “how are you today?”

Seeing the weather-beaten appearance of this aged museum worker invoked familiarity to his childhood. Billy waved as he approached the desk. Once there, he placed both his hands on the wooden counter.

“Hey Mrs. Lester” Billy replied, “How’re things?”

“I’m doing well thank you.”

Billy looked down the corridor then back to Mrs. Lester “Is Mr. Hoffmann here?”

“He’s on duty so he should be. Let me guess, you’re here to see the usual?”

Billy nodded.

Ms. Lester operated the register and printed out one adult ticket. The small rectangular device made a jittering and wheezing noise. After it went silent, a small pink ticket emerged from the wide. She took the small pink ticket and handed it to Billy. He took the ticket from between her wrinkly fingers. Sliding the ticket into his pocket, Billy proceeded to take his wallet out. Unfolding the black denim wallet, he took out a single five-dollar bill.

“Oh, honey. He if you became a member of the Masked Society, it’d only cost you three bucks”

Billy handed the note across the desk to the member of staff.

“I don’t mind paying the full price. Keeps this place and keeps you employed.”

She chuckled as she took the bill from the customer. Sorting it into the till the elderly staffer printed off Billy’s receipt before handing it to him.

“You know the way.”

Billy nodded in agreement while smiling with delight. He strolled down the hallway, deeper into the museum. At the end of the Hall was a large map of the exhibits and how to reach them. Billy didn’t focus on it. Years of visiting the museum provided all the knowledge he needed for traversing the museum.