Elias retreated, clenching his jaw. He didn't have ten hours. His sister, Maya, was a "Sensor"—she could feel the emotions of everyone in a three-block radius. Lately, the city’s collective fear was becoming toxic, causing her to suffer from "The Sinking," a neurological decay common in Powers who overused or couldn't control their gifts. The only cure was Psyke, a dangerous drug made from the spinal fluid of other powered people, and it cost more than Elias could earn in a year of honest work.
Elias was a "Class 4 Electric," but in Lincoln City, that just meant he was a human battery with a target on his back. He spent his mornings standing at the "daily-labor" gates, hoping a foreman would need someone to jump-start a rusted generator for a few credits. "Any Electrics?" a foreman shouted over the rain. Code 8
That night, a black sedan pulled up to the alley where Elias sat. The window rolled down to reveal Garrett, a well-known telekinetic who worked for the local syndicates. Elias retreated, clenching his jaw
He made it back to their cramped apartment, his hands shaking and his veins glowing a faint, dangerous blue. Maya looked up, her eyes wide with the reflected fear of the entire neighborhood. "I got it," Elias whispered, opening the case. Lately, the city’s collective fear was becoming toxic,
"I don't do crime," Elias said, though his stomach cramped from hunger.
: Powered individuals must register and are often excluded from high-paying jobs.
Whether you want to include , like Connor or Garrett?