Portal

Once I stepped out of the office, Bethany stopped me by clearing her throat. “Yes? Have I forgotten something?”

“No, Jackson,” she said with a soft smile. “You didn’t forget anything. I just have some questions regarding your power. Well, that and Anna wanted to know if she could get your number. She had to run out of here in a hurry earlier.”

I sighed softly and rubbed the back of my neck. The last thing I wanted was for yet another person in my life to try and simply exploit my power. “Bethany, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m not very…comfortable talking to you about my power.”

“Oh, no! I don’t want to know your secrets or anything. Just some logistical questions, that’s all.”

I regarded her with some skepticism. “Go on…”

“In the event of a fire or catastrophe, how big a door can you make? How many people can you evacuate?”

“Oh. Is that all?” She nodded. “Well, I can make a door the size of a standard garage door, I think. I’ve not really experimented with making them bigger, and I fear it may drain me much faster than making a standard door.”

She nodded, chewing at her lower lip. “Must it be on a wall?”

I shook my head. “No. It can be at any point in space, really. In the air, on the ground, wherever. Why?”

“I need to know, in the event of an emergency, just who I can count on to help get folks out of the gym. You’ll likely be placed in the Emergency Management team, as well as whatever other team or teams you are assigned to. You won’t cover just your gym, but the one up here, too.” Damn, but her smile was captivating.

I nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. I’m good with that, actually.”

“Excellent. Now about your number?”

I shook my head and smiled as I wrote it down. “Sure. Make sure she knows that she could have come up and asked.”

Bethany laughed. “I will. I hope you have a good night, Jackson. Sleep well!”

“You too. See you tomorrow.”

I walked out of the gym and back to the Wendy’s. No reason not to get a burger and fries, right? Once I’d gotten my dinner, I went into the bathroom, and opened a door to my room. No sense in going outside, and I made sure to unlock their bathroom door before I closed mine.

I’m thoughtful like that.

I sat in my room and ate the modest meal, letting the day’s events play through my mind once again. When I remembered the recurring phone calls, I pulled my phone from its hiding spot and checked the call log.

Eighteen missed calls from the same unknown number. Spanning four hours. Whoever it was had been insistent. Huh. A voicemail. I hit play, and settled in for what was likely a robo-caller.

I was so wrong.

“Portal. Please tell me that you’re not being rude and ignoring my calls. I would just hate to have to make an example out of someone so promising. Return my call, please.”

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuckity fuck. I’d nearly forgotten about No-Face. Hearing his voice fill the room, a chill ran down my spine. His words, though polite, carried an underlying threat that was hard to ignore. Hesitantly, I pressed the button to return the call. Perspiration beaded on my forehead as I waited for the call to connect.

“Hello, Portal. So good of you to call.” His voice oozed a spine-chilling, menacing calm.

“Mr. No-Face. Please accept my apology for not returning your call. I’ve been unconscious for most of the past three days.”

“Three days, he says! And nobody thought to inform me?” The call fell silent as No-Face’s voice cut through the air, laced with an unvoiced threat. I heard nervous muttering and one voice -male- began to explain.

“Silence! Since you four have clearly failed in keeping an eye on him, I suggest some remedial training. Go. See Vigil. Perhaps she can impart some competency where it is sorely lacking.”

I heard footsteps recede and a door close. I swallowed my own protestations. “Now, Portal. Have no fear from me, young man. Whether you join our ranks or shun us entirely, I’ll not retaliate. After all, why would I bring harm upon someone who has done literally nothing to me, hmm?”

I felt a bead of sweat roll down my temple. “Well, sir, you make an excellent point. To be quite honest, I have been dreading speaking to you for just that fear.”

“Nonsense! I, much like yourself, it would seem, abhor harming innocents. Truly, I’d rather we all get along. Would I be correct in assuming that since you’ve feared my wrath, you’re turning down my offer?”

“I’m sorry, sir. You would be correct in that assumption.”

I heard him sigh. “A pity. We could sorely use a new power like yours in our ranks. Are you certain that there’s nothing I can do to sweeten the offer? A higher cut of our global profits, perhaps?”

“A higher cut- Sir? What do you mean?”

“Surely you don’t think we knock over banks and jewelry stores for money! That sort of petty thievery is done by rank amateurs, not members of The Dark Alliance. No, we have many legitimate businesses worldwide. Well, mostly legitimate, anyway.” I heard his rich baritone laugh, and smiled along with him. Maybe he wasn’t such a terrible guy, after all?

“Once again, sir. I’m afraid you will be unable to sweeten the deal. It is tempting, I won’t lie. I think I need to remain unaffiliated for now, though. I hope you understand.”

“Unaffiliated! Well, I cannot blame you one bit for trying to blaze your own trail to glory.” He was silent for a long moment, and I felt my fingers begin to twitch. Thankfully, he resumed speaking a moment later. “In that case Portal, I wish you a long life and great luck in your endeavors. Do keep us in mind if your efforts prove futile, yes?”

“Yes, sir. I will, sir.”

“Very well. Take care of yourself out there.”

The line went silent before I had a chance to reply.

I made sure the call had completed before I let out a shaky breath. No-Face and the Alliance had a reputation for being devastatingly ruthless and unforgiving. Hopefully, he wasn’t a liar as well.

That task finished, I pulled up the number for the Hero’s Guild. At least turning them down shouldn’t be an issue. Being a legitimate group, they were very public about their location and contact information. I dialed the number and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Jeez. Was it always this difficult to contact them? No wonder public opinion of them had gone downhill in recent decades.

An unknown male voice picked up. “Hello?”

“Uh… Hi. This is Portal. I’m trying to reach Brighthawk? She’d said to contact her by Sunday.”

“Who?”

“Portal, sir. Brighthawk had called the Iron News Network last week during my interview. She told me to give an answer by Sunday. Tomorrow.”

“Do what?”

I sighed. “Look, man. Is this the Hero’s Guild?”

“Yes.”

“Is Brighthawk there today?”

“She is.”

“May I speak with her?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“She’s waiting on a call from some new guy.”

Through gritted teeth I asked, “Are you in the lobby right now?”

“Um… Yes. Why?”

“Good.” I terminated the call and opened a door onto the far wall behind the lobby desk at their headquarters. It felt as sterile as any hospital, for some reason. I slammed the door behind me, startling the receptionist who had just hung up the phone.

“What the fuck?”

I leaned over and stage-whispered into the man’s face. “I’m the new guy Brighthawk was waiting for. Now. Where. Is. She?”

He shied away and pushed an intercom buzzer. “M-M-Miss Brighthawk? Ma’am?”

“Sebastian? What’s got you all worked up?”

“R-remember that new guy you talked to? Uh.. He’s here.”

“New guy? Outside? Let him in, man! It’s hot out there.”

“N-no, ma’am. He's right next to me.”

“What? Buzz him in. I’ll deal with him.”

Sebastian pushed a button, and I heard a door click to my right. “Thank you, Sebastian.” Leaving the terrified man there, I walked over to the open door and knocked.

“Come in, please.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I want to-” I cut off as a shining arrow sped towards me.

I created an iron-banded door just in time to see the arrow thwock into it, the head quivering less than an inch from my nose.

“Should I come by some other time, Brighthawk?” I asked from the safety of the door.

“You shouldn’t be able to be inside this building, kid. How’d you get in here?”

“Uh…” I scratched my chin. “I opened a door?”

“Nice try, smartass. The building. How did you breach it without setting off the alarms?”

Realizing that she was dead serious, I decided to safeguard myself.

“What the fuck is this?” I heard her cry.

I reached back and shut her office door, then let the door in front of me vanish, the arrow clattering to the ground. I heard doors open and shut frantically, and Brighthawk beginning to hyperventilate. “No…No, no, no, no…. Please God, no!”

I created a fourth pair, large enough for my head to fit into, above her containment and directly in front of me. I opened it and saw her frantically opening and closing door after door. “Brighthawk? Brighthawk!”

Her head snapped up to the tiny door. “What have you done? Let me out!” She drew her bow and aimed it at me, her arms shaking as tears rolled down her face. I ducked away.

“It’s me! Portal. Put the bow away, please. If I meant any harm, it would have already happened, ma’am. Please. Put the bow away?”

“Just let me out of here. I…I can’t handle being in here.”

Horrified, I dissolved all the doors, watching as the stalwart woman fell to her knees, shaking. “Shit. I had no idea you were claustrophobic. I’m sorry, Brighthawk. Let me… ah.” I opened a door to my kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Pulling out a can of soda, I handed it to the shaking woman. “Here’s a soda. I’m sorry.”

She looked up and hesitantly reached toward the can. “You know, I rarely consume caffeine. Or sugars. Thank you.” She cracked open the can and took a small sip. “Where did you get this from? We don’t keep these here.”

“My refrigerator. We keep a twelve-pack in there at all times.” I extended a hand to her.

She hesitantly placed her hand in mine and pulled herself up. “That makes no sense. You live four miles away.”

I shut my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Does everybody know where I live?”

“Just me. Why?”

“So does Mr. No-Face, apparently. He had four goons watching my home. I got off the phone with him about fifteen minutes before I came here.” She took a seat, and I handed her her bow.

“Thank you. I still don’t understand.”

“You saw the interview, right?”

“Interview?”

“Yes.” My brows knitted together. “The one with Stan Lankholme? Iron News Network?”

“I’ve never seen you before. It must have been our recruiter, Mouth. He’ll watch for likely candidates and contact them on my behalf. He can sound like anyone.”

I nodded. “That explains a lot. I’m sorry for trapping you like that. It was either that or destroy your bow, and I wasn’t about to do that.”

I… wha? Destroy my… How would you do that?” She leaned forward in her chair.

I took a seat opposite her and grabbed a pencil. “Like this.” I made a tiny door on the pencil and separated it.

Her eyes widened as she watched. “You mean to tell me that you could sever almost anything like that?”

“Yes ma’am.”

She picked up both halves and examined them as I made the door vanish. “It’s not cut. Just… severed. Like it was made this way. Your doors can do this?”

“Yes ma’am. As you saw, I can make a prison out of them, as well.”

She shuddered. “I never want to see that again.”

“And you won’t. I have no intention of ever putting you there again. I was hoping to do this over the phone, actually. Sebastian didn’t seem able to understand what was going on.”

“Forgive him, Portal.” She sipped daintily on the soda. “He’s only trying to protect us here.”

“No problem.”

“Now. What was it you wanted to discuss?”

“Well,” I began, “you’ve seen what I’m capable of. Mouth apparently thought that I would be a good addition, and told me to let the Guild know by Sunday. Well, that’s tomorrow, and I’m going to give you the same answer I gave Mr. No-Face. Thank you for the consideration, but my answer is No.”

“Are you certain, Portal? We can safeguard you, you know. And your roommate, too. Send you on some easier missions for some easy pay. Nothing strenuous.”

I smiled graciously. “Once again, I thank you. However, I’d like to go on my own, unaffiliated.”

“Well, be that as it may, we are going to have to keep tabs on you, Portal. Can’t have you running to the Alliance when things fall apart now, can we?”

“With all due respect, Brighthawk, that’s one of the last things you want to do. I value my privacy, and when I find out that it’s being violated, I will react swiftly.” I leveled a cold glare at her. “Whomever it is that’s tailing me will find themselves missing a digit or two. If it continues, that person will be missing something with more substance. A further violation will result in their death.” I continued glaring into her wide eyes. God, but I was tired of being treated as if I were a child. “Please, if you value your subordinates, do not encroach on my privacy. Leave me be, and if I ever choose to join you, I will speak up. Is that clear, Brighthawk?”

“You would threaten us?”

“No, ma’am. I’m simply informing you of the potential consequences of your hypothetical actions. I’m easy to get along with. As long as I’m respected, that is.”

“It sounds like a threat to me.”

“Take it as such, then. I don’t care. Just leave me alone.” I stood, and she did the same, clutching at her bow.

“You won’t make it out of the building.”

“Brighthawk, I can come in and out of this office should I so choose. At any time. And you will never know. Keep that in mind.”

She stood there, mute as I opened a door to the Wendy’s down the street from my home.