The Strongest's Babysitter

Alex ran through the forest, his legs burning and his chest heaving. He had been running for more than ten minutes, and he was more than out of breath—he was exhausted. That's when he spotted a gas station up ahead. Desperate for a place to hide, he decided to duck into a garbage can to catch his breath. And so he did.

After a few minutes, he started to hear footsteps. They grew louder and closer, each step making his heart pound like crazy. Suddenly, someone grabbed the garbage can and threw it to the ground, sending Alex tumbling out. When he turned to look, he saw… Bob. Drenched in blood.

Alex scrambled to his feet, his heart still racing. "Bob! You're… you're covered in blood! Are you okay? What happened?"

Bob wiped a streak of blood from his face, his scarlet eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the gas station. "I'm fine. Most of it's not mine." He glanced around, his expression tense. "We need to move. They're still out there."

Alex's eyes widened. "Who's still out there? The people from before? The ones in the black suits?"

Bob nodded, his jaw tightening. "Yeah. And they're not giving up. Come on, we can't stay here."

Alex hesitated, his gaze lingering on the blood staining Bob's clothes. "But… you're hurt. Shouldn't we—"

"I said I'm fine," Bob snapped, his voice sharper than he intended. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Look, kid, I know you're scared. But right now, we need to focus on staying alive. Got it?"

Alex nodded shakily. "Got it."

Bob grabbed Alex's hand and pulled him toward the gas station. The building was small and rundown, its windows dark and its sign flickering faintly. Bob scanned the area, his senses on high alert. "Stay close," he muttered, leading Alex around the back of the building.

As they rounded the corner, Bob froze. Parked behind the gas station was a beat-up pickup truck, its keys still dangling from the ignition. Bob's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Looks like our luck's turning."

"We're stealing a car?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Borrowing," Bob corrected, opening the passenger door and shoving Alex inside. "We'll return it later. Maybe."

Alex didn't argue, buckling his seatbelt as Bob slid into the driver's seat. The engine sputtered to life, and Bob peeled out of the parking lot, the tires kicking up gravel. He kept his eyes on the rearview mirror, watching for any sign of pursuit.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the rumble of the engine and the occasional crackle of the radio. Alex fidgeted in his seat, his hands clenched into fists. Finally, he broke the silence. "Bob… what's going on? Who are those people? Why are they after me?"

Bob's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "They're part of The Order. A group of… well, let's just call them bad guys. They want your powers, kid. And they'll do whatever it takes to get them."

Alex's eyes widened. "My powers? But I don't even know how to use them!"

"That's why they want you," Bob said, his voice grim. "You're untrained. Vulnerable. To them, you're a weapon waiting to be unlocked."

Alex swallowed hard, his stomach churning. "But… why? What do they want with me?"

Bob hesitated, his gaze flicking to Alex for a moment before returning to the road. "Your dad had the same powers as you. Reality manipulation. He was the strongest hero this world ever saw. And The Order… they've been trying to replicate that power for years. Now that he's gone, they think you're the key."

Alex's chest tightened, his vision blurring with tears. "So… it's my fault? All of this is happening because of me?"

"No," Bob said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "None of this is your fault. The Order's the problem, not you. And I'm not going to let them hurt you. Got it?"

Alex nodded, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Got it."

Bob reached over and ruffled Alex's hair, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good. Now try to get some rest. We've got about twenty minutes until we arrive."

"Where?" Alex asked.

"At the safe house Jack—Mr. Smith mentioned," Bob answered, his eyes glued to the road.

"How do you know we're going the right way?" Alex asked.

"I memorized the map while we were in the car, in case something like this happened," Bob answered, as if it were nothing.

"Woah…" Alex gasped.