How My Father Got His Powers | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: How My Father Got His Powers | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Westefeld
01/13/22
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Belinda Snow, AKA the Speedster, was going over some of the files her father had left her upon his death. She could have speed-read the entire batch in a tenth of a second or less, but Belinda preferred going through at a normal pace.

Deciding to go through several files at once this evening, she lifted out a batch, expecting to see the bottom of the box. Instead, she found a journal with a lock, her insignia etched on the cover.

She turned it over in her hands, trying to see how to open it, but when she touched the lock it simply opened. `”Hmmm….” She murmured aloud, “So do I rush read what dear old Dad had kept under wraps, or should I take it slow?”

An instant later she came to her decision, “If I go slow from the beginning, I’ll have more time to appreciate it.”

Belinda kicked off her shoes, curled up in the chair, and began to read, slowly.

“I began the day as usual, brewing up a thermos of coffee,” she read, “and stopped at the convenience store for a breakfast sandwich. I also grabbed an Lightspeed energy drink, since I didn’t sleep well last night. Arriving at the station, I was briefed for the day and went out to my squad car.”

“When the lieutenant said to be alert for some weirdo with a laser gun, I had to work to keep a straight face. I know that the Empire movie came out last month, but really, witnesses are reporting a guy with a laser? What next, a weird little green alien talking weird?”

Belinda had to admit she was having a hard time keeping from laughing as she read the journal. A second later, she was back to the recliner with a bag of chips and a soda, and began to read again.

“I got a call on the radio that there was a robbery going on at the First Capital Bank, something I could deal with seriously.”

“When I arrived at the bank, there was the smell of melting metal. I began to worry if I’d need to call in backup. Despite this, I went in with my gun drawn, along with the energy drink I was gulping down, and saw the strangest looking thief I’d ever seen, dressed all in green with a large backpack and a weird looking rifle. "Drop the rifle," I shouted. Instead, he whirled on me and smirked. ‘You’re dead, copper!’”

“I didn’t notice his finger tighten on the trigger but I felt the impact of his purple ray. He shot me through the energy drink, burning a small hole in my chest. I looked down, expecting to see blood where I felt moisture on my body, but instead I saw the Lightspeed splattered around my wound.”

“I responded to his taunt, ‘You’re under arrest!’, and closed the distance between us faster than I thought possible. A new smell had been added to the air in addition to that of burnt metal, singed cloth. I assumed it was from where his laser had burned my shirt, but I saw smoke wafting from my entire uniform.”

“I slapped the cuffs on the perp and took him in, noticing that everything seemed to be running slower than usual. I did a double-take when I showered for my date and dressed in under a minute. Had the laser done something to me?”

Belinda began to chuckle. “I can do that in under five seconds.”

She resumed reading. “I began to wonder if the rapid chest healing and rushed shower meant that I had changed. Then I realized that my energy drink was shot into my body. I decided to call Doctor Brown on Monday. Until then, I had a shift to do on Saturday, and a quiet day on Sunday.”

“My shift on Saturday was uneventful, but when I took Lois to the ball game Sunday, I noticed that things seemed to be running in slow motion, like the pitch that looked like it was crawling.”

“I realized that I could move faster than anyone, and decided that my new speed could make me a better officer, but only if I kept my new ability secret. I put together a rudimentary costume from fire retardant materials, and wore it under my uniform.”

Belinda closed the journal with a smile. “So that’s how Speedster began.”

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.