I descended further, enough to keep well above people's heads while still being close enough to hear the chatter of hundreds of voices. I idly drifted by, wondering to myself how these people would react if they just looked up and saw me sailing like a kite overhead.I heard a woman talking to a friend as they reclined on their towels. "I told him, 'I don't want to hear it. We're through.'"I grinned, feeling a little mischievous eavesdropping on people."But dad," a little girl whined, "I wanna go in the water!""Not until I put your sunscreen on," her father replied.I kept on going, slowly passing over a small group of elderly people as they headed along the sand toward the water."I got fed up with that shit!" one of the old men said. "I'm not going to pay for extra rent in that dump!"Then, I came across a young couple starting to get a little frisky with each other. I was surprised enough by the sight to come to a complete stop. They were really starting to get into it. The youn
I headed to the outskirts of the city, looking out at the long rows of hotels and motels on the beach side and the small apartment complexes on the other side. As I flew near the bridge leading in and out of the city, I spotted something very colorful underneath it. I was curious enough to go and have a look.Upon closer inspection it was a very brightly-painted van parked in the shade under the bridge. And by 'brightly,' I mean decorated with huge, multicolored flowers and peace signs. It was a hippie van! I touched down a few meters away from it, realizing it was on and had music playing. Hits of the oldies, no less. I looked around carefully to make sure no one was around before making myself visible once again. I then inspected my body, patting myself, making sure I was all there before giving a nod of approval.I walked up to the van, curiously looking inside. There was a young woman with long, brunette hair laying down in the back seat. She was nodding her head to the song, quie
"I think you've got plenty here to get you to the nearest gas station," I said as I clamped the gas can nozzle shut."Sure am," she happily replied. "I don't really have anything to repay you with. I'd sure like to pay you back somehow.""It's fine. Like I said, I just wanted to help to get you back home.""Well," she said as she casually slithered her arms around the back of my neck, "you won't mind if I insist on repaying you, will you?""Oh," I replied in amazement before she planted a brief kiss on my lips and grinned. "Wow."She giggled. "You are pretty cute, you know and very helpful."To my surprise, she began leading me back toward her van with a mischievous look in her eyes. I was very intrigued as to where this was headed."You're really serious about this, aren't you?"She blindly opened the back door of the van where she'd been lounging earlier."Super serious," she replied with a big smirk as she tumbled back into the van. She laughed as she pulled me in with her, causing
"So... you really are time Gods?""If that is what you wish to see us as. For an infinite number of years, we have cared for and maintained the delicate fabric of time. We maintain every thread within its spool and we must act accordingly should we ever find knots.""I suppose I'm a knot then.""Correct. Many beings have attempted to elude time or to defy it. None have ever succeeded ... until you came to be. But you must understand that every time your power has been used, you have caused undue ripples in the fabric of time. Those ripples have recently begun to form tears. If you were to continue on, all of time itself would be completely disintegrated with your power."Sarah really did have a good idea when she asked if I would give it up. I'd have to thank her the next time I saw her."Then I'll just stop using it," I replied."A wise choice. But you see, we cannot go simply upon your words alone." I watched as the center one held its palm upward, creating a strange orb of light ov
Just then, it held its palm out to me. I reacted without thinking, lifting my leg away just as a strange, small portal opened up at my feet and then closed back up."What the hell was that?" I asked in confusion."A dimensional rip." The other two calmly floated up to return to the first's side. "You are a worthy foe. Indeed, we have never had to use our power aggressively. Practical usage of our strength is as new to us as it is to you. However, be aware that you may be fast, but not fast enough. We will continue to create dimensional rips of any size we wish. Once caught in them, your body will be trapped, consumed, and then cease to exist."Needless to say, I didn't really like the sound of that idea."Or you could just back off and let me get back to my normal life. I don't need to use my time-stopping power any longer.""The risk is simply too great.""Then catch me if you can," I replied before making myself invisible. The three seemed to be caught off-guard, slowly turning thei
"Sounds fair," I quietly replied, feeling quite overwhelmed with emotion as I gazed at the ground and smiled. "Truth be told, a good friend of mine told me that I should actually give up this power. It serves no actual use to me anymore, but I have grown a lot thanks to it.""Very good," they said. "So be it. This will be the last time we ever cross paths on the same plane again. Perhaps someday, when your soul sheds its mortal coil, we will meet with you and converse on friendlier terms for an eternity if you so wish."I laughed. "I'd say I'm looking forward to it, but I've got a lot of living left to do."That's when I noticed the van down below and panicked."Wait!" I quickly exclaimed."Hmm?""Just let me get back into the same position I was before you stopped time on Ophelia.""Very well. Do it quickly. We mustn't stay in this time warp for long."I hustled back down to the ground and rushed into the van with her. I crawled atop her once again, letting her immobile hand cradle m
About a week later, I had begun to settle into a patrol around the city. It was late night on Friday. I was soaring invisibly through the air, scouting for any possible trouble. My senses were sharpening to a point where nothing was able to escape me. I could see and hear things clearly from incredible distances. At a hundred feet overhead, I heard a guy coming out of a gas station drop his wallet. There was another man hanging out against the wall of the building that watched him. I came to a slow stop, but the first man simply scooped up his wallet and continued on his way without incident. Looked like it was shaping up to be another quiet night.I'd also started to make it a habit of getting free car rides with strangers to keep me closer to the street. I descended downward upon spotting a roaming police car. I calmly took a seat atop the hood of the car, my legs folded, keeping a watch out. Of course, the police within the car were unable to see me. With the police cars, it gave m
"Well, I guess I could," I replied, nervously scratching the back of my head. "I don't really want people to start thinking I've got superpowers or anything." She laughed as she pulled out her cell phone from her purse."Okay, we'll say it was a joint effort. He ran for it, you tripped him; I came in and knocked him out. Sound good?"I smiled thankfully. "Sounds good."Within minutes, the police were on the scene. Bright police car headlights and emergency lights were going off in all directions. Crap, was I nervous. I kept my cool as best as I could as we ran through our stories together for the police to write down. All the while she seemed to look over at me frequently with this really warm, pretty smile that made me feel like I'd done a ton of good. I had to admit she was actually quite beautiful. It was funny to me to think that I didn't even pay attention to her looks when I was fighting that guy off of her, I just wanted her to be okay. Head back a couple of months and, instead