Chapter Text
Chapter 2: arrival
Light poured in from the room window, solar dragging himself out of bed to close the blinds he had just finished packing for his trip.
not too much but just enough for a short trip of at most five weeks.
It wasn't his first time sneaking off to another state for a trip, just this time he wouldn't be swimming with turtles or enjoying a good movie but instead he would be on the tail of a criminal.
Solar couldn't help but feel nervous without anyone by his side. He couldn't help but think he was painting himself as a huge red target saying "come and get me!!!” but he couldn't let what happened to his sister go unjust so he brushed away the fear and got on his way.
Solar moved down the stairs quite to not wake his dad.
He listens out for his mom who's in the kitchen making breakfast for herself. Solar looks back and the two make eye contact.
Luckily his mom doesn't care just blowing him a kiss goodbye as he leaves out the door. Solar was all on his own now kinda really he was just in the driveway packing his stuff in his car for the long drive making sure he had all his money with him before driving off.
12:30 am
A few hours had passed since solar got on the road he found himself struggling to forget the love of his life so he did what any grieving mutant would do!
Solar stopped at a gas station for some food he hadn't eaten in a while. Despite not feeling hungry he didn't want to think about much anymore so he got a nice sandwich, an ice cream and some water. Thankfully it wasn't as cold outside anymore in fact it was getting warmer. Solar was enjoying the sunlight.
He sat his food in his car and refilled his gas tank. Listening softly to the outside hum of cars passing and birds chirping.
Solar couldn't help but think it was such a nice day he almost forgot about…y'know everything…. Of course nothing good lasts forever. Just as he finishes his tank a loud whistle comes from behind him and it wasn't from a bird.
Some random in his twenties Solar almost immediately disregards him but of course the guy didn't stop there
“Hey you! Bet the government didn’t plan those curves, huh?”
Solar turned back confused because as far as he was concerned he didn't quite come from the government at least not technically i mean mutants were made in labs but-
“Huh” solar stammered out now completely bewildered
“What's your number!” the man shouted
“what!??” solar gasped in utter embarrassment.
The human just facepalmed before hopping back in his car. Laughter could be heard from afar and solar found himself scrambling back to his car
Solar huffed, finishing whatever food he had left before hopping back on the road.
Luckily the next few hours were uneventful so he enjoyed the quiet afternoon ride. Unfortunately in his attempt to forget about his lack of girlfriend and sister that random guy bounced around in his head solar turning up the music in his Honda trying to drown out any more thought.
9:pm
Solar immediately regretted that break he took earlier in the road.
It was dark out as he pulled into the hotel but of course as fate would have it the hotel apparently didn't allow mutants of any kind. He would have to find elsewhere for the night. Solar was lucky enough to get a refund on his room but it was becoming increasingly apparent that the people here didn't take too kindly to him…. He'd definitely be leaving a nasty review.
Solar rubbed at his eyes as another hotel slid past his windshield then another, and another each one earning its place on the growing list of places he wouldn’t stop. The sky above the road had begun to bruise with clouds, thick and slow-moving, but rain didn’t worry him. This was Arizona. Solar finally thought to call it quits looking for hotels and decided to get ready to sleep in his car for the night. Solar drove deeper into Arizona The engine hummed as he drove deeper into the state, farther from the lights, searching for somewhere quiet enough to disappear for the night looking to park in a secluded area or at least somewhere he couldn't be seen.
Tall buildings, shops and businesses almost reminded him of home, Almost. The air felt wrong here: warmer, drier, stripped bare of trees and sound. Like something had already passed through and taken what it wanted. Then he saw it a convenience store, its sign buzzing weakly in the dark open to mutants, he was finally on the right side of town… or at least the side of the town that allowed him to shop
He parked and stepped inside.
The feeling hit him immediately.
The store sold little more than liquor and cigarettes, with a few sad rows of drinks and candy shoved against the wall. That part didn’t surprise him. What did was the silence. No footsteps. No voice behind the counter. Just the low hum of the lights and the faint smell of alcohol in the air.
The countertop was a disaster.
Bottles lay shattered, glass glittering across the floor like broken teeth. Shelves had been ransacked, not looted,thrown. As if whoever had been here hadn’t cared what they took, only that they left nothing untouched. Honestly solar presumed a brawl between employees.
Solar crouched and picked up a shard from a broken wine bottle. It was still sticky. His eyes traced the footprints smeared through the mess. Perhaps not a fight solar thought scratching his chin
The store was too quiet. No music. No hum of a refrigerator motor. Just the lights and his own breathing, suddenly loud in his ears.
He straightened, already halfway convinced he should leave when he heard…it. Voices. Not the ones in your head kind. A real horror was taking place.
Low at first. Arguing. Frantic, overlapping words he couldn’t quite make out. Then a sharp cry cut through the aisles, thin and wet, like it had been pulled from deep in someone’s chest.
Solar froze.
He knew better than this. Anyone knew better than to go straight into what sounded like a pig being taken to slaughter. Especially not with mutants going missing, bodies turning up arranged like someone had taken their fatty parts for barbeque. But solar knew…this is what he was here for.
Not really he just wanted a pillow but this to he guessed.
Solar reached behind the counter and grabbed the first thing with weight to it, a full bottle of vodka. The glass was solid, reassuringly heavy. He tested the grip once, knuckles whitening. If he was going to go in he'd at least be armed.
He moved slowly, each step deliberate, careful not to crunch glass beneath his boots. The closer he got to the back hallway, the colder the air felt. The buzzing lights flickered, once twice and for a moment the store dimmed just enough for his pulse to spike.
The smell hit him next.
Copper. Old alcohol. Something sour beneath it all.
The doorknob to the EMPLOYEES ONLY room was streaked dark, handprints smeared as if someone had tried and failed to wipe them away. Fresh. Still glossy under the lights.
Behind the door, something thudded hard against metal. A body. A struggle.
Solar swallowed and forced himself to breathe. He was shaking of course terrified but he still moved on, gripping the bottle in one hand like a bat ready to swing.
And gently-so gently-Solar cracked the door open and peered inside. First the smell of iron and salt and rotten bacon? It was disgusting but solar found himself able to pull away from the smell hearing wet sounds now. Gasping. A voice begging-then cutting off into a horrible gurgle that made his stomach twist. Solar realized he was moving slowly, lucky to not alert the attacker but in hindsight he'd need to move!
Solar’s breath caught.
The man looming over the second body was huge. Human,unlike him, raw size and muscle stretched tight beneath a filthy jacket. His shoulders rose and fell in slow, almost calm breaths, as if this were work. As if he hadn’t already finished one task and was simply moving on to the next.
Pinned against the table was the remaining employee. The lifeless one already…beaten beyond recognition.
The mutant, a mantis–butterfly hybrid, laid wheezing begging for her life blood pouring from her maw.
Her wings were crushed awkwardly against the metal, scales shedding in dull, trembling flakes. One of her arms twitched uselessly, her other forearm raised in a feeble attempt to shield her face from her attacker. Her compound eyes were wide, in utter fear.
The man inched closer and Solar didn’t have to think.
The bottle left his grip with a sharp whistle and connected with the back of the man’s skull in a brutal crack. Glass exploded. Clear liquid sprayed the walls like rain. He didn't realize he had that nice of a shot until the man was clutching his head in pain, staggered back, almost falling solar taking the opportunity to pick up the broken bottle handle ready to hit again. Solar stepped deeper into the scene and the male looking up at him didn't waste time pulling himself up and springing for the door. Solar almost gave chase but seeing the dying mutant behind him he decided against it.
The woman laid helplessly groaning in pain, tears streaming down her eyes. She had slid to the floor, wings bent at unnatural angles, breathing shallow and fast. Her hands shook as she tried to push herself up and failed.
“Hey- hey,”
Solar said, dropping beside her. His voice sounded too loud, too sharp. He forced it softer. “You’re okay. I don't think you'll die .”
He'd tried to comfort her; it wasn't the best but it was something.
She didn’t seem to hear him at first. Her eyes darted wildly around the room, tracking shadows that weren’t there.
“My family- I have to get back-” solar immediately hushed her
“You probably shouldn't talk…I think?” Solar wasn't sure she was bleeding out her mouth so it was a good call but it's not like he's a nurse or anything.
Carefully, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders, mindful of her wings. She hissed softly in pain but didn’t pull away. Her grip locked onto his sleeve with surprising strength. She was lucky to only have one stab wound and a couple of bruises unlike her partner who was as good as plum juice by now.
“Stay with me,” Solar urged. “Can you move your legs?”
She shook her head weakly. Darn.
Behind them, the dead employee stared on with what was left of their face, silent witness to the aftermath. Somewhere in the store, glass crunched under retreating footsteps. He'd tried covering the mutant's eyes but their eyelids peeled off solar gagging before just turning their head away before looking back at the task at hand.
Getting an ambulance. Solar fumbled his phone out of his pocket with one hand, keeping the other steady on her shoulder so she didn’t try to sit up again. His fingers slipped on the screen twice before he managed to hit the call.
Red and blue light washed through the broken storefront, reflecting off glass and blood sirens loud and repetitive as Paramedics flooded in, efficient, quiet, it was almost unnerving as they assisted as if they had been here a hundred times. Someone gently but firmly moved Solar aside as they slid a stretch under her
“She’s stable,” one of them said, not to Solar specifically, just aloud. “You did good.”
Solar blinked at that. He didn't really know what to make of the “compliment”? It was just common sense to him
They lifted her onto the gurney, careful with her wings, folding them in with practiced movements. She hissed again, eyes fluttering, and Solar found himself walking alongside without really deciding to.
A police officer fell into step on the other side, voice calm, not unkind.
“Ma’am, can you tell me your name?”
“…Lira,” she breathed. “Lira Ven.”
“Okay, Lira. You’re doing good. Can you tell me what happened?”
Her eyes flicked toward Solar for half a second, unfocused but searching. He didn’t nod or shake his head in fact he was more focused on something else unraveling.
More officers came. Then people Solar didn’t recognize dressed properly and cleanly instructed the officers easily as if they were higher up.
He slipped his burner phone out quietly and started recording, holding it low, screen angled toward his leg. The camera caught boots, gloves, the edge of a black bag being zipped closed.
The smell hit him again and he turned his head, focusing on a shelf of shattered glass instead.
“…fifth one this week,” someone said near the truck. “Same pattern.”
“Yeah,” another replied. “Different locations though. Bold.”
Solar’s jaw tightened. Fifth. Maybe this whole thing ran deeper than just hate.
Soon enough the police came back to question him telling him that they were just sending the corpse to be looked at at the morgue as they could get a detective that night and leaving their body was risky…sure.
Solar just nodded and he had gotten completely sidetracked! He needed somewhere to sleep and as much as this changed everything it also changed nothing it was 12:40! And he needed rest but he couldn't leave the scene yet this was also important.
Solar was torn between the two options of sticking around at the crime scene or going to the hospital with lira, so of course he flipped a coin on it heads lira, tails crime scene.
Heads. Solar got back into his car following behind the ambulance pulled out slowly, lights still on but siren mercifully quiet. The streets were mostly empty at this hour. Traffic lights changed for no one, washing the road in red, then green, then red again. Solar followed the ambulance at a respectful distance, careful not to look like he was chasing it. His thoughts drifted in half-formed loops-faces, blood, but that didn't matter; he felt closer than ever to the murder…he saw him!
But just as he felt that high drive through town somewhere between the third red light and the hospital turnoff that the adrenaline was wearing off. His shoulders sagged. His eyes burned. He rolled the window down a crack, letting cold air sting his face just enough to keep him upright.
he muttered,something though there was no one to hear it. He wasn't sure what he said himself.
The hospital loomed up too bright against the dark, all white lights and reflective glass. Solar parked crookedly, didn’t bother fixing it, and followed the gurney inside until a nurse gently but firmly held a hand up.
“That’s as far as you go.”
Solar stopped immediately. “Yeah. Sorry.”
He hovered anyway, lingering just outside the trauma doors, watching until Lira disappeared behind them.The waiting room smelled like disinfectant and old coffee. A TV murmured quietly in the corner, some late-night program no one was watching. Solar sat down in a stiff plastic chair and leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
He checked his phone. No new messages. No missed calls.
Good.
Time stretched in that unpleasant way it only ever did in hospitals-too slow to count, too fast to feel useful. Solar tried to stay upright, tried to stay alert, but the adrenaline that had carried him this far finally gave up. He sat down in the waiting room.
His head tipped back against the wall.Just for a minute, he told himself eyes closing. Just until someone comes out