A Hard Tomorrow Part #3

A PLEASANT HELLO TO YOU! I AM SARAH ACKERMAN. I AM THE AUTHOR OF THIS STORY. THIS IDEA STARTED AS NOTHING MORE THAN A PROMPT. TOM, ONE OF MY CPs, AND I WERE DISCUSSING SUPERHEROES. HE ASKED ME TO WRITE MY OWN SUPERHERO ORIGIN STORY. I’M FEMALE IN A MALE-DOMINATED DISORDER. IT WAS APT TO CREATE A FEMALE SUPERHERO IN A MALE-CENTERED SUBJECT. I PERSONALIZED THIS HERO TO BE WHAT I ASPIRED TO BE. A PIECE OF ME IS IN HERE. THERE IS A HERO IN EVERYONE. WE JUST ONLY NEED TO EMBRACE IT.

HOLLY COULD ONLY CHUCKLE AT THE MOMENT. 

“TOP STUFF FROM A ROOKIE. YOU GOT LOTS OF ROOM TO GROW THOUGH.”

“I JUST TRAVELED THROUGH SPACE. CAN I GET A ‘NICE JOB?’ WOULD IT KILL YOU?”

“THE ONLY WAY YOU’RE GOING TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL IS IF I PUT YOU INTO THE RINGER. IT IS THE ONLY WAY YOUR POWERS WILL GROW.”

“I GOT YOU NATS. BUT I’M ASKING FOR A COMPLIMENT NOT THE LOTTERY NUMBERS. TAKE A BREATH GIRL. WE GOT THIS.” 

OUT IN THE DISTANCE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. 

“WHAT WAS THAT?!” HOLLY SAID.

“I DON’T KNOW. I THINK IT CAME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. LET’S CHECK IT OUT. SHALL WE?”

NATASHA AND HOLLY TRAVELED TO THE SUMMIT. WHEN THEY GOT THERE THEY SAW THEM. THE MEN THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR. THEY WERE TESTING EXPLOSIVES. 

“YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME,” HOLLY SAID.

“EASY HOLL. THESE GUYS ARE TRYING TO LURE US OUT. DON’T TAKE THE BAIT.”

“WHAT DO WE DO THEN?”

“WE WAIT. WE WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE VULNERABLE. THEN WE STRIKE.”

NATASHA AND HOLLY WAITED ALL NIGHT. NOTHING CHANGED. 

“NATASHA, I GOT A PLAN.”

“WE’RE NOT AMBUSHING THEM.”

“WOULD YOU LISTEN TO ME?! I GOT SOMETHING HERE.” 

“LET’S HEAR IT.” 

“SO THEY KNOW WE ARE HERE. THEN THEY’RE EXPECTING US.”

“I’LL PRESUME THIS MEANS ONE OF US IS THE BAIT.”

“THAT IS ME. I CAN TELEPORT. THEY CAN’T TOUCH ME.”

“HOLLY YOU DON’T KNOW THESE GUYS LIKE I DO. THEY KNOW ABOUT US. THEY HAVE WEAPONS MADE TO DESTROY US.” 

“I HAVE THOUGHT THAT OUT. THAT IS WHY I’M GIVING MYSELF UP.” 

“HOLLY THAT IS SUICIDE AND YOU KNOW IT.”

“I DON’T HEAR ANY BETTER IDEAS. THEY’LL HAVE US TIED AND GAGGED BEFORE TOMORROW. WHY NOT GET AHEAD AND HAVE ONE OF US ON THE INSIDE?”

“BECAUSE NO ONE WALKS OUT OF THERE ALIVE. YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS. SO PLEASE LISTEN TO ME.” 

SUDDENLY, HOLLY AND NATASHA FELT SOMETHING COLD AGAINST THEIR TEMPLES. 

“DON’T MOVE” A DEEP VOICE SAID. 

END OF PART 3

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

SARAH ACKERMAN IS AN AUTISTIC WOMAN. FOR MOST OF HER LIFE SHE WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE. THEN IN 2017 SHE LEARNED THE SPELLING TO COMMUNICATE METHOD AT INSIDE VOICE IN SPRINGFIELD PA. SINCE THEN SHE HAS FOUND HER VOICE THROUGH HER STORIES.

SHE HAS A PASSION FOR BOOKS AND BEING IMMERSED IN DISCUSSIONS. MANY OF HER PROJECTS CENTER AROUND EMPOWERING AUTISTICS AND WOMEN. SARAH IS AN ADVOCATE FOR HER FELLOW NON SPEAKERS AS A MEMBER OF THE I-ASC’s SPELLERS AND ALLIES ADVOCACY NETWORK AS WELL AS SEEN (Spellers Empowering Education for Non speakers).