𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒎-𝒀𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒂 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒂

𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔

2024, New York City

Astrid sits on the side of her apartment building, avoiding her father as much as possible. She stares at the city's skyline longingly. Astrid never ceases to find something unique about the view. Something important about the New York skyline is that the view is always changing. Starring at the skyline reminds Astrid of endless possibility. Life always changes, and grows. Old buildings become refurbished skyscrapers after being knocked down. Astrid can't help but wonder if she will be a skyscraper one day. Or maybe she will just be a knocked down building forever. 

The ringtone on her phone sings, catching her attention. Astrid smiles when she see's the familiar phone contact of her best friend. 

Robbin Hood 

(Kate Bishop) 

Meet me at the Bell tower

Your'e seriously gonna do the bet?

Yes. ):<

Your gonna get caught

Im not gonna get caught smh

...

Astrid puts her phone in her pocket and sighs, the cold winter air floods her lungs. Sitting up she takes one last look at the astonishing view of the city. She focuses on her powers and the exotic sensation fills her senses. It buzzes throughout her body. Pinpointing Kates location, Within less then second Astrid teleports to her friend. 

Kate lets out a screams of surprise, jumping as Astrid appears in front of her. Astrid releases a small laugh. 

"You know I hate it when you do that!" The archer squeals. 

"Love you too." Astrid yawns mockingly, and stretches her arms. 

"Ugh come on!" pants the archer. Her hands grip at the stone buildings structure as she struggles to climb the walls. Astrid watches as her friend nearly slips. 

"Kate be careful!"Astrid calls out, "You sure you want to do this?" She questions her, giving Kate the opportunity to back out, but of course, she doesn't. 

"A bets a bet." Kate solidifies the dare. "Can you help me get up there?" She points to the top of the roof, knowing Astrids powers are particularly useful for transportation. 

"No problem." Astrid grabs her shoulder as they teleport. Kates stomach clenches as a nauseating feeling takes over. 

"There is no getting use to that." Kate gags and then contemplates, "Does the bell swing back and forth or the dangly thing?" 

"Um I think it's the dangly thing." confirms Astrid as she looks at the tall building directly ahead of them. Frost and snow sits on the roof, and the clock ticks informing them of the time. 

Kate sets her long bow up and gets ready to aim. She lets go of the arrows shaft, letting it fly off to the distance. Though Astrid has the upper hand when it comes to knives, Kates talents never cease to amaze Astrid. 

The loud bellow of the bell fills their ears as the arrow hits the inner parts. Kate cheers but it soon comes to an end as the old metal groans.

"Oh shit." Astrid whispers as the bell cracks in half. 

"Its fine right?" laughs Kate in a panic,"I mean all the famous bells have cracks?" she looks to Astrid for reassurance. 

The building crumples to ground brick by brick turning into dust and debris. It's completely, utterly demolished, simply because of one arrow. 

"I think it gives it character." Astrid coughs awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck. Kate hums in agreement. 

Suddenly, a Security guard opens the door Shining a bright flashlight in the pairs eyes.

"FREEZE." He orders the teens. 

Astrid turns around, covering her face and grabs ahold of Kate. She teleports them away leaving the Security guard in shock, but the college administration finds out about Kates event despite their escape. 

......

Kate eventually has to go home to her shrewd mother Eleanor, leaving Astrid no choice but to go back to her fathers apartment. The girl prays that he is not home tonight but of course the world denies her wishes. 

After transporting to her room Astrid slips into the sheets of her bed, attempting to make no sound successfully doing so, but somehow Mark finds out she's home. Most likely due to the not so subtle smoke she creates when teleporting. The large man slams the door open with an emotion one cannot mistake as rage. 

 "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" Mark shouts and grabs Astrid by the strands of her pink hair causing her too yelp in pain. 

"I was with a friend-" Astrid winces as he throws her to wooden floor like a rag-doll. Her body smacks against the dirty floor, knocking the air out of her lungs. 

"Don't fucking lie." Mark hisses venomously, "You have no friends. You are worthless." He sends a violent kick to the stomach causing her to scream. Astrids chest makes a sickening crack, after the impact of his foot. "Your just a monstrous freak." Mark insults as he takes out a knife, and starts to carve into her back with it. The stinging sensation of the knife cutting through her skin causes tears to roll down her face.

Astrid knows she could fight back.

She wants to.

But something inside her can't.  A part of her feels that she deserves this. 

"You deserve to die." Mark puts more pressure on the knife causing her to release a blood curdling scream. "Say it." He growls threateningly as he grips her face. 

It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my fault. 

"I deserve to die." Astrid croaks as she mouths the words, tears rolling down her cheeks. Mark stands up, wiping the bloody knife on his pants and gathers his things. Astrid lays on the floor, with the crimson words freak, marked into her back. 

"I won't be back for a few days." Mark says as he gives her one last kick to the gut and walks out the door with a large duffel bag filled with God knows what. Drugs, guns, possibly both. 

Astrid doesn't bother to move after he leaves. She just lays on the floor, like a broken building, waiting to be built into something better, something stronger, something new. 

If only she could be a skyscraper, tall enough to touch the sky, not worrying about the world below.