Common Power Creativity

Chapter 4: Aspiration

"What am I gonna eat?" James stood at the cold entrance of the cave, reluctantly contemplating the daunting task of food gathering. [let's see, maybe I could pick some fruit? I don't think I could hunt anything yet, at least until I get my magic unlocked.] He reluctantly stepped forward out of the entrance of the cave, only to hear a loud creaking coming from behind him. James turned around to see the cave opening slowly crashing down as the rock's could no longer hold the weight. The mound of dirt and rock collided with the cave floor, spraying a cloud of dust and debris into the air, suffocating his lungs slowly. He stepped back, into the pouring rain, getting soaked in rain water and dust alike, as the earth narrowly misses his body and merges with the surrounding earth to produce a simple hill. [you'd never think there was a subway under there, huh.]

James was currently shivering, the rain covered every part of his body, seeping through to every piece of clothing. He looked around to try and see anything in the environment he could use for cover and immediately settled on an old, wilting, presumably abandoned house about 10 meters down the hill. As he approached he analysed the building to find that it was a one story bungalow, with a metallic thatched roof which housed many bird nests and holes. The walls were made of some kind of gritty stone, and there was a human sized stone door, which hung about 5cm from the floor on its hinges. James got closer and discovered no windows on the building, or any light coming from inside.

[It looks pretty much abandoned. why would someone just build this and then leave?] James could find no perceivable reason to leave something like this here, but was glad that he had the opportunity to sleep rest in relative safety. He approached the door unconcernedly and felt for the rough stone door handle, which was completely fused with the door. As James entered silently, he felt instant relief as the rain stopped its relentless abuse.

The small building had large stone pillars and beams, sporadically placed with no conceivable pattern which held up the ceiling. There were many small holes and cracks around the rocks, although not enough to see much other than the roof itself. James entered further and reached for a light source, any light source, but could find none. [why isn't there any light? Maybe night vision is common here.] He eventually just kicked in a few small, foot sized holes in the wall where there were slight cracks, exerting his last strength to discover that the building had only two rooms, a main area which contained a small cabinet and workstation, presumably for cooking, and a small bed. The second room was contained behind a large rectangular door, but was clearly another room, as it's walls bent inwards, despite the building being perfectly square.

James looked around for a little while, under the bed, inside the cabinets, on top of the high beams holding up the thatched roof but found no objects that could help other than a small wooden stake hidden under the mattress. He attempted to try his power, doing everything he could think of to get it to work, but to no avail. Eventually he became so tired that even keeping his eyes open was a chore, so despite his reluctance to sleep in the cold, hole ridden building, his body naturally moved to the bed and rested, his head falling softly on the pillow. On a closer inspection one might have found the bed made entirely of cloth, stone, and grass uncomfortable but James had no such qualms as he drifted off into a dream of neverland.

When James awoke he found himself isnide his usual bed, inside his normal appartment where he lived alone. There was no Commaner, no dreaded train, and no powers even though he had wanted to try them so much. He lokked at his phone, which was sitting upright on his table, and checked the time. It was 9:45 he was was late for work. But it didn't bother him much. He sat there for a minute, or maybre an hour. He was comtenplating his life up until this point, until he snnaped out of his disillusions and moved on with his day. "oH well, work sucks anyway. i gues I'm just not going in today. I've always hated being a call office worker anwyay." Jame s got up from bed and down stairs to see hIs mom cooking pancakes for braekfast. "Hey honey, you came home late last night did'nt you?" [i guess so mum, but i honestly cant even remember what time i got home. i guess I just blanked out on the train]]

James' mum left the kitchen and walked into the garden to start mawing the grass. [You'll be late for work deer, if you're not late already. Better go and drive fast!] Jame's mum said calmly as she saw him finish his food. JAmes quickly finnished his food and joined her int he garden. He did'nt forget to grab his keys on the way out though. James Got into his car and drove off, it wasn't until he hit the major roads until he remmemmbered that his car had broken down two days ago, so he drove it to the mechanic. "oh no theres load's of traffic tonight. " James thought.

The mechanic had found his verdict after 5 minutes of searching "your drislaughter is broken, it'll take atleast a week to fix it. you'll have t take a train to work instead, instead. sorry."

[Take the train to work. But I did that last time and everyone disappeared. I can't take a train or it'll happen again, I know it.] The dread and fear James had once felt within his very soul. The feeling of stepping on that platform, hearing that guy behind him, it was too much. James was instantly conscious of the truth. It wasn't all a dream, it couldn't be, The fear he felt was all too real. James looked around his bedroom to find that his mother had dissapeare-

wait. He lived alone. His parents kicked him out of the house years ago since he didn't get a job. What was happening? Was this a dream? Would his sick and twisted mind really come up with a fantasy such as this. Would it really give him his greatest wish? To be back home, only to have it ripped away by the fabric of reality. James was within his dream but he knew he was dreaming. All he had to do was wake up.

But would that be better? Even if it isn't real. it sure feels rael. what if he just staYs here. yEah that would be fine.

James turned around to face the mechanic once more only to find that he was secretly an alien. "Damn you! Stupid bugs!" Games started to fly around and kill all o f the aliens and after a few minutes he had finaly beet them all. He stooq victorious at the top of the dead bodies when suddenly "UGH, AAAAAAAAH" he heard his mum screaming outside. "ONE MINUTE MOM ILL SAVE YOU!!!!" JAmes screamed at the top of his lungs. It only took him 5 seconds to fly there, and what he found was an alien trying to hurn his mother. He used telekinesis to-

[wait, I have telekinesis? But it didn't work. I could never use that power no matter how much I tried. Haven't I been here before? I swear I was dreaming but then I woke up]

"AAAAARRRGGH" *Super Strength* There was a loud bang as something came through the cracked, holey wall. James' eye sprung open faster than he flew in his dreams. [I'm back to reality, but the dream wasn't real.] James had a sudden realisation but was soon shaken by the bloody and bruised woman angrily staring at the hole in the wall. "IM GONNA KILL YOU" Her voice carried an echo of power, that made James' bones rumble in cowardice. She bolted out of the building, a large dent was formed in the wall behind her as she kicked it. Rocks and debris fell from the ceiling, almost landing on James, killing him instantly but he was currently in the middle of the room, his body having moved on its own to dodge.

James prepared for an oncoming fight, quickly scanning the area for any weapons before his mind caught up to his actions and realised that it was futile to fight these beings. He left the building to find the unknown woman fighting a man in dark black clothing, wearing a white and red skull mask,

[Wait. That mask isn't red. That's blood.]