(Roman's P.O.V.)

In my world, there are many children that are born with what others may dub "super powers". Here we just call them abilities. There are schools and training centers for those with abilities, allowing them to be treated equally to everyone else yet in their own safe environment. And, unlike in the past, it really is equal. Same basic rules, same stereotypes, same cliches, same culture. The only real differences are those that have to be put in place to add "extra padding" to those environments where abilities are allowed. It isn't that bad, especially since ability usage in schools are pretty relaxed. 

The schools for kids with abilities said early on that they believed a tighter restriction on ability usage would mean more rebellion, and with powerful teenagers no one ever wants that. So the higher-ups decided that abilities could be used in schools, as long as misuse was reported and given the proper consequences. Consequences aren't normally all that bad, mainly since most abilities aren't actually that dangerous and it's not common for misuse to equal injury or god forbid fatality. I should know these things, I'm one of the kids with abilities. 

My ability isn't actually that strong, at all. I can manipulate light, and although that can be great for making a quick escape or awesome entrance, that's basically all I'm good at doing. It's the same story for a lot of kids in my school, most of which I'm at least acquaintances with. Weak power, and so a weaker social standing. I'm lucky to be so involved with the drama department honestly, otherwise I would be one of the least popular people in this place, leaving me on the same step as Nancy Jarwacki and Rory Bartswan. 

Not that there's anything wrong with Nancy or Rory, but they're both absolute jokes in this school with how unpopular they are. They're so unpopular it's made them popular, everyone knows who they are but they don't like them because of the low social standing and weak ability. Part of me feels really bad, but the other part knows that if I ever talk to them I'll lose any credibility I have. 

There's one person lower than them though, only one. Virgil Black. Everyone knows his name and what he looks like, but no one knows anything about him. Even his ability is a mystery to the school, students and faculty alike. Only known thing is that he hates people and always has a spool of thread or string, I don't know which, with him. He's what everyone would classify as "emo", even being dubbed the "emo nightmare" at school for his hateful attitude, dark clothes, mysterious ability, and snappy comments. 

Personally, I wouldn't mind getting to know the kid even if it's just to find out more about him, but he would never acknowledge me. According to him, I'm just another prick walking down the halls with some sort of ability allowing people to accept me. Sadly, that ability isn't my actual ability and is instead my singing voice and acting experience. 

Well, maybe he does know that. I think I've seen him at a couple of my shows before, but I was never quite sure, he was always gone before I could get out of the backstage area. Does he know who I am? Does he know why I'm "popular"? Will he give me any sort of chance? I don't know why I'm so hooked either, maybe it's the mystery surrounding him, or the sullen attitude making me feel like he's a challenge I need to win. Whatever it is, this slight obsession isn't stopping any time soon. I wonder... 

My train of thought is broken as I bump into someone. I quickly realize that everyone else should be at lunch, and I'm in an empty hallway, at a dead end, and have just bumped into the leader of the "3 Y's" squad. Ricky Stevens, a jerk with the ability of strength, followed by his lackeys Cory, who is basically made of elastic, and Barry, who has the ability to heal fairly quickly. Against my light manipulation, it's like Godzilla versus a lizard. 

"I-I'm sorry, I'll just be on my way." I speak quietly, and cure my stuttering in the beginning. I hate admitting that I am afraid of these three, just like everyone else in this damn school. It gives them more power than they already have. I start trying to walk away, but I quickly feel a hand on my shoulder and I freeze, tensing as I know what's to come. 

"Oh, really? And uh, what if we say we want to keep you here and teach you a lesson?" I hear Ricky ask, and I turn, trying to appear more threatening than I am. 

"I wouldn't." I say, faking confidence that I definitely don't have. The three start laughing, Cory hitting Barry's arm and Ricky mocking me as he pretends to be scared. 

"Oh no! What are you gonna do? Put me in the spotlight?" He fakes a scream, making the other two laugh harder as my face burns bright red from both embarrassment and anger. I wish I could do more harm to these guys. However my wishes are pushed to the back of my mind by fear as Ricky pushes me to the ground, hands in fists. "Put me in the spotlight for this, pretty boy. I want the whole school to see me ruin your perfect face." He scowls, and lifts his arm. I throw my arms up in a weak attempt to block the punch, but my attacker is quickly interrupted. 

"Leave him alone." I hear a strong voice say, and I put my arms down to look over at my savior. Who it is though shocks me more than I could say, my mouth falling open slightly as I see Ricky put his arm down in shock as well. For there in the hallway, leaning against the lockers and playing with some string, is none other than Virgil Black. He looks almost bored, but the strong glare says otherwise as his lips seem to be in a permanent frown. Ricky scoffs, finally regaining his senses from the surprise. 

"What if we don't?" He asks, and Virgil only sighs. I back up, not wanting to be in whatever mess this is going to turn into, but I watch intently. I'm quite curious as to what will happen. I watch as Virgil starts wrapping the string around his fingers, staying in his place but no longer leaning against the lockers. 

"Well, I was hoping you could get it through your thick skull that I'm not one to mess with, but I guess you'd need a demonstration to really understand." He says, and my eyes widen. Is Virgil going to use his ability? The ability no one knows? The three Y's share a few glances before turning back to the emo. 

"What're you going to do, hm? I don't even think you have any ability." Ricky sneers, seeming proud of himself even though he's so dumb. Virgil only smirks, nodding slightly but not saying a word. The string is wrapped completely around his fingers now, the spool that it was on still holding quite a bit and is currently being held in Virgil's left hand. 

Suddenly, he throws it towards Ricky. I expect it to hit and anger him, but it disappears midair, causing Virgil's smirk to widen. I watch in awe as the string around Virgil's fingers start glowing a soft black, each string now cut and hanging a few inches off his fingers. What catches my eyes next is the glowing black string showing up on Ricky, wrapped around certain parts of his body. 

"What the hell did you do?" He asks, both concerned and frustrated. Virgil says nothing, just watches as the string on Ricky fades to a point it's barely noticeable. Then he nods towards Barry. 

"Your friend over there can heal, right?" He asks. Barry nods, Ricky scowls and looks like he's trying to move but can't. What's keeping him in place. Virgil's head ducks down a bit as his smirk turns a little more malicious, to a point that it actually kind of scares me. "Good." His tone is deep, quiet, and dark. He starts moving his hands then, his fingers, as if directing a puppet. And sure enough, Ricky starts moving towards Barry, seemingly very confused and very concerned. "Let's see how hard you can punch, huh Ricky?" Virgil asks, and Ricky starts trying to punch at Barry. 

Barry does a good job dodging however, and Cory comes in to try and fend off Ricky as well. The three fight for quite a while, Virgil looking quite entertained and moving his hands the entire time. Is he controlling Ricky? He has to be, that's the only explanation. Finally, Ricky manages to land a hit on Barry and it sends him flying down the hall and into the lockers on the other end, indenting them with how hard he hit them. Cory stands in shock, and Ricky is still. Virgil glances at Cory and nods towards Barry, who's groaning in pain and rolling on the floor near the lockers. 

"May want to get your friend there out of here." He says and Cory doesn't hesitate to rush towards the other, picking him up and carrying him somewhere I can't see. I watch as Ricky starts walking towards Virgil, although it seems he's not doing it of his own volition, mainly because he looks terrified. When he's right in front of Virgil, the shorter of the two starts talking in a threatening tone, the string on his fingers slowly starting to disappear. "Now you know what I can do, and I will not be afraid to do it again if I see you pull another stunt like this, understood?" 

Ricky nods without hesitation, watching as the string completely disappears before turning and running out of the hallway as fast as he could go. By the time I turn back to Virgil he's once again leaning against the lockers and playing with a spool of thread, seemingly uninterested in me. Then he glances over and our eyes meet. 

"You good?" He asks, and I nod, slowly standing up and walking towards him. He puts a hand up once I get close enough and I stop moving, assuming he wants space as this is someone that almost never talks to anyone. 

"I'm fine. Thank you, for doing that." I say and he huffs, a small smirk on his lips. 

"Someone had to put that bitch in his place, I'm the only one with the courage to do it. Or maybe it's the overwhelming anxiety clouding my decisions, don't know." He shrugs, smirk falling back into what seems to be a signature frown. I can't help staring at his hands though, as he delicately plays with the thread, wrapping it around his fingers and then unwrapping it over and over again. 

"So...Your ability..." I start, hesitating as I try to find the right words but failing miserably. Virgil laughs without a hint of humor, obviously not happy about me bringing up the topic even though he just continues talking about it. 

"Yeah, I know, I'm dangerous as hell. I can control people, make them my puppets." He says, getting lost in staring at the thread as it's wrapped around his finger. "I hate it." This shocks me, strictly because I can imagine having that much power being exhilarating, and wonderful. But he hates it? 

"How could you hate it? You're so powerful! All I can do is manipulate light, you can manipulate people! That's an amazing ability!" His head snaps up to mine and he looks at me with dark eyes and a grim expression, slightly angered. 

"No, it's terrible. You have no idea what it feels like holding that kind of power, taking someone's ability to do what they want and dangling it over their heads. Forcing them to do something they don't want too." He throws the thread at me and I gasp as it wraps itself around me, my ability to move no longer available. He starts moving his hands, directing me to move just like he did to Ricky. He makes me move towards him, putting my hands on his shoulders before he takes the thread back, letting my muscles relax. 

"That's a very weird feeling." I chuckle, not moving from the position he put me in. He chuckles as well, smirking as he glances up at me.

"You were pretty damn easy to control, unlike Ricky. You had no problem coming over here." He says and my face flushes red, burning as he puts one hand on my waist and the other on my cheek, staring at me with an emotion I've never seen on his face. Adoration. "You aren't afraid of me. Why?" He questions softly, the question seeming to be aimed more towards himself than to me. This doesn't stop me from answering of course, especially since I know the answer. 

"Because I have a feeling you wouldn't hurt me, so there's no reason to be afraid of you." He exhales slowly, nodding as he closes his eyes and smiles. Not smirks, but actually smiles. It's a lovely expression, one of what seems to be pure happiness. 

"You're right." He says, looking up at me once again as he presses his lips to mine in the softest kiss, pulling away almost as quickly as he leaned in. "I'd never hurt you." And with that he turns and walks away, leaving me in the hall wondering what to do next.