[3rd POV]
"You're an Odd one, are you?"
Scott said to her and she was shocked or surprise by the man's statement infront of her as she nodded.
Scott observed her closely and the girl was curious as to why he's not saying anything or afraid.
"Why didn't you call me mutant like the rest of the world?" The girl asked him a question and Scott looked at her but replied.
"But you aren't a mutant."
"Yes I am. Can't you see how I look?"
"Why did I call you "an odd one" instead of 'mutant'?
"I don't know"
"Because in the civil war that happened, he fought for every single mutant to have rights. That's why there's a Mutant Civil Act of 1866."
"..."
"That's why the Statue of Privilege was built in 1876 to give privilege to mutant to live among everyone without hiding."
"..."
"But over the years, human started treating mutants bad and now they have to hide among humans."
"..."
"Do you get it? I don't see you as a bad person, I'm still alive ain't I?"
"But you could die if you get close to. I'm poisonous"
"And I didn't. You even warned me. So, you're a good kid"
Scott said to the kid and she looked down contemplating his words. Scott had a realisation of something and looked at the kid.
"My name is Scott. What's your name kid?"
"Sarah. Sarah Williams."
"Sarah? You name sounds familiar. Where did I hear it?"
"..."
"Okay. You said your power is poisonous, right?"
"(Nods)"
"So you exude Polonium, Mercury, Thallium, Fluorine and other toxic elements inside a human anatomy."
"..."
"What I'm saying is Thallium can disrupt the cells In a body which would explain you hoarse voice and your abominable appearance. "
"..."
"Mercury is slowly killing you inside which would explain your bleeding in your nose."
"..."
"Polonium is holding every poison in your body together which would explain your clay-like look that's cracking"
"..."
"Fluorine is a gas that's coming from you so no one would be able to get near you."
".."
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I don't understand you"
"What I'm saying is your electrons are fight with your atoms that means your molecules are not formed properly. Do you get it?"
"No I don't"
"Your poison is damaging your body"
"I know that"
"You don't get it. Your poison is damaging your body except you"
"Huh!"
"Have you watched a movie were someone poison the other person?"
"Yes I have"
"What happened when the other person drinks the poison?"
"They fall asleep or die."
"Exactly my point. You're not dead or asleep, which means they're only affecting your body and not you which is confusing. I'm guessing the mutant element in you is protecting you somehow.
"I guess"
Suddenly Scott has an idea and talked to Sarah about it
"Ok. Imagine yourself healing. Afterall, Medicine is Poison."
Scott said to Sarah and Sarah tries to give it a try. She tries so hard but nothing happens. Scott tries to coach her about all those potassium, chromium and some other stuffs but she doesn't understand anything.
Scott talked about magical girls about transforming that they become powerful and she should imagine herself as a magical girl.
The girl tried for 1 hour but nothing changed. Scott finally realised that it's a psychological thing that's hindering her and she probably doesn't trust him.
Scott did a dumb thing no one should do, she approached the girl while the poison was affecting him, he kept getting near the girl and he just simply hugged her.
"I won't hurt you"
Scott said to her and she began crying. Her skin was rapidly healing right infront of the naked eye and the poison stopped affecting him.
He looked at Sarah and saw her healing. It seems she doesn't realise it yet but she has a fair skin now. She's still releasing that aura but it's no longer poisonous.
"You see Sarah, you didn't want to hurt me and you healed yourself."
Scott said to her and she pulled away from Scott's embraced to look at her hand. She saw that she was fine and began to reminisce about the past.
She thought about the past for couple of minutes before she started crying.
Scott just looked at her and said nothing.
Meanwhile, Somewhere around Staten Island, in an old Community Centre.
One was seating in chair staring at the other doing shadow boxing.
The one who was seating down was wearing blue jeans and jacket hoodie. He was wearing blue-gray t-shirt and had some glasses on. He's a Korean man with the height of 5'10 foot tall.
The one who was doing shadow boxing was wearing black hoodie and black jeans. He looks very muscular and is an American man with the height of 6'1 foot tall.
Both of them appear to be in they're 20s.
"This is boring" the muscular man said as he stopped doing shadow boxing
"Seo, aren't you tired of staying here?" he walked towards the other man by the name of Seo.
[IPA: Seo= C(See)~O(oh)]
"I am but we have to wait for the slip up. He sent us to impossible and useless mission, probably dangerous too. Damn!" Seo said to the muscular man with frustration.
"Can you feel that?" The muscular man said to Seo as he looked at the ceiling.
"Feel what? There's nothing interesting here." Seo said to him
"It's quiet."
"Yeah it's quiet"
"Nah, not like that but something is strange."
"This mission is strange"
"Check the target."
"..."
"Do it."
"She's talking to someone and she's crying. What's strange about that?"
"You can read her mind?"
"Ahh. YES! I CAN. We should check her out" SEO said as a smile form across his face and began to stand.
"Yes let's go to our target and LEAVE!" The muscle man said as he and Seo began to leave the community centre.
Back to Scott.
Scott kept staring Sarah until she came to him. She thanked Scott and told him she's not getting hurt by her powers anymore. She told him she could probably control them but don't know how.
She asked Scott if she could return her to her family. Scott told her he won't return her to her family because she doesn't have control over her powers yet.
She became sad when she heard him, while they were talking, two guys came from the woods.
Did I forgot to mention that the hut is away from town and it's abandoned? It's in the woods of Shelterview.
None of them notice them until one of them spoke.
"Well well, didn't know you got other friends?" The muscle man said to Scott and Sarah. Scott stood up fast and steps back to get a clear view on them.
"You look tough. Let's brawl" the muscle man said to Scott as he took off the hoodie and Scott looked at them. He sees them oozing with aura, a powerful aura.
The Korean one doesn't look like a fighter but his aura is no joke and probably knows the basic of fight.
The muscle man is a fighter, anyone can tell with first glance and he powerful. Scott see 8 circles of aura on the muscle man's torso.
'What are those circles?' Scott thought to himself and started to ask them questions.
"Do we know you?" Scott said to them and the Korean began to realise they didn't introduce themselves
"Oh, you don't but she does." Korean man said to Scott as he pointed to Sarah and Scott began to hide her behind his back.
"They're the bad guys who's trying to hurt me" Sarah said to Scott
"No, we aren't the bad guy. We are trying to help you to control your power but it seems he did that."
Scott looked at them but mostly the muscle man and said nothing.
"I'm Drift and this here is Nerf." Drift(Seo) said to Scott as he waited for Scott to introduce himself.
'Codenames? And' Scott thought to himself.
"Nerf, The Man who Holds Back" Scott blurted out without him realising and everyone look at him with surprised look.
"I like him. Knew you look tough kid." Nerf said to him with a wide smile.
"I'm Scott. Scott Sullivan." Scott said to them and Nerf is preparing to fight.
"Okay Scott, it looks like you're still hurt. How about you give us the girl?" Drift said to Scott he looked at Scott.
"What are you talking about?" Nerf asked Drift a question as he looked at him
"I can feel he's hurt but I can't read his memory"
'Telepath?' Scott thought.
"He's getting interesting by the minute. Now I really wanna fight him" Nerf said
"You're telepath but you can't read my mind?" Scott said to Drift
"Yes, I don't know why. Can you tell how you got hurt?" Drift said to Scott
"I got shot in a chest," Scott said to Drift and thought of something
"You are telling the truth" Drift was surprised by Scott
'Oh, he can tell lies.' Scott thought to himself
"I got shot and stabbed. Got shot 4 times in a front and stabbed 3 times in the back'
"You're telling the truth"
"They thought I was 'difficult', so they gang upped on me"
"You must be strong then. Tell us more before we fight"
"You aren't lying"
"They drowned me after that for like 6 hours straight"
"You're strong and smart too"
'Did he realises what I'm trying to do?' Scott thought to himself as he looked at Nerf to what he said
"You never lied once but your name is not Scott Sullivan" Drift said to Scott as he walk away from Nerf.
Sarah move away from Scott as Scott prepares a fighting stance
Scott stood in the clearing, sweat slicking his back and face. His stance was tense, fingers curled, ready. Every breath was measured. Controlled. But his eyes—he looked afraid
Across from him, Nerf cracked his neck and stepped forward, the earth seeming to groan under his boots. He wore no uniform. Just jeans and the casual arrogance of a man who'd never needed technique to win a fight. His fists were like sledgehammers. His shoulders, built for smashing through walls—and people.
"Lets see what's you got, kid?" Nerf asked, voice like gravel soaked in whiskey. "Did you learn to fight from a game?"
Scott didn't answer. He just dropped into a low guard, knees bent, weight centered.
Nerf chuckled. "Alright then."
He moved first—no feints, no buildup, just a straight-up charge and brawling. Scott sidestepped, barely. Nerf's fist grazed his chest like a passing train, the air pressure alone knocking Scott off-balance and his wounds began to open up.
He's fast, Scott thought. And stronger than I imagined.
'And he still holds back.' Scott thought to himself
He recovered, shifted to a Karate stance, and countered with a snap kick—clean, technical. Nerf didn't even block. He took it, grunted, and grinned.
"My turn."
A forceful blow came from nowhere, and Scott ducked just in time—but not far enough. The follow-up hook clipped his head and sent him rolling through the underbrush.
Leaves exploded. Dirt flew.
"Don't kill him. He's not part of this" Drift said to Nerf.
"I know. Let me enjoy this" Nerf said and Sarah was scared of what he was seeing
Scott's vision swam, ears ringing. He got up on instinct, shaking it off. Stay calm. Stay centered.
He closed the distance with Wing Chun footwork, tried to trap Nerf's arms—tight, efficient strikes. A palm to the chin. A low elbow to the ribs.
Nerf stumbled, just for a second. Long enough for Scott to see the doubt flicker in his eyes.
"You actually hit me…" Nerf muttered, more surprised than angry.
Scott didn't wait. He dove in with a series of fast, snapping strikes—aiming for joints, nerves, soft spots. It was a textbook combination. It should've worked.
But Nerf caught his arm mid-punch and threw him. Not like a judo throw. More like someone tossing a bag of flour.
Scott landed hard, coughing up air, body screaming. But he stood. Bloody. Bruised. Focused.
Nerf was already walking toward him, fists clenched.
"Not too bad for a guy who learn fighting in the virtual game. Look at you, fighting like a professional."
Scott wiped blood from his lip. His torso is bleeding bleeding and his back too. He exhaled through his nose, and whispered:
"Now you see why you can't beat me."
[TO-BE-CONTINUE]