Footsteps pound concrete floors in a large mall parking lot; heartbeats thunder. Buh-boom. Buh-boom. Buh-boom. Tension rises. Sunset reflects off an old skyscraper as it peeps through the rustic trees. Jessica Chung, an Asian goddess with athletic and swift superhuman speed, carries a bag of stolen drugs while passing passersby and parkour-style hopping fences. Behind her, a swarm of police cars screams. She sets off car alarms by running faster than the typical person. Time is slowing down. However, as the officers get closer, the young woman cranks up the pace. She dashes down an alley and leaps high, hooking her hand on a fire escape ladder while juggling the stolen medicines and her side bag and anchoring herself to the stairwell.

The authorities corner Jessie in the alleyway; she looks defeated as the cops circle her. Jessie weighs her options, glancing to her left at an empty dumpster sitting by a ball of trash and filth. She plots her grand escape; breathing deeply, she lunges for the wall on the opposite side, walking around on mere air, and the police draw their guns, focused on her chest. Jessie tumbles across the trash can, dodging bullets at an alarming rate, and darts past police officers as she takes off around the corner on foot.

Samuel Gage, a blonde-haired and blue-eyed hottie with an addiction to selling drugs for cash, sits in a nearby getaway car. Jessie hops into the vehicle and pulls her side bag over her chest, falling back against the seat. Sam stares at her through the rearview mirror and pushes the pedal, taking off fast, speeding past red lights while leading a police pursuit.

"Did you get the stuff?" Sam asks. Jessie nods in silence and digs through her bag for the drugs. She holds the small pouch to eye level.

"Very good." Sam grins this time. He hits the brakes hard, and the police crash into the back of Sam's brand-new Toyota Corolla, guns pointed at them as the officers take refuge behind their vehicle doors.

"Get out," Sam demands, pointing to the door. Jessie looks confused and angered.

"What the hell, Sam?" she growls.

"I said, get the fuck out!" He yells again.

Sam pulls a gun off of the dash and points it at Jessie. Jessie puts her hands up, sliding out of the back seat with her bag, leaving the drugs on the middle console. Sam focuses on the bag, and the drugs float to him mid-air. The cops surround Jessie, and Sam drives off, tires screeching down the road before she can even close the door. Officer Andrew Chung, young Jessie's older brother, slides his gun into his holster and walks forward.

"On your knees, Jessie!" He demands. Jessie resists for a moment, ready to run off again.

"Now, Jessie. I know you don't want trouble." Andrew pushes closer, telling his team to lower their weapons. Jessie bows to her knees, and Andrew pulls Jessie's hands to her back. Handcuffs tighten against her wrists.

He tugs her to her feet. Jessie groans. "Ouch, Andrew. Calm down; you'll break my arms with your super strength."

Andrew shoves his sister forward. "Not if you cooperate—What the hell were you doing, Jessie?" He yanks her to her feet and walks behind her.

"I was trying to help." Jessie attempts. Andrew thrusts Jessie against the police cruiser.

"Oh, so stealing drugs is helping now? Hm, I didn't know." He tightens the cuffs further on her wrists. Jessie grimaces.

"I'm sorry, Andrew." Andrew opens the back door of the cop car and puts his sister in the back, helping her with the seat belt.

"Just another mess, Dad and I have to clean up; It's always something, Jessie." he moans, slamming the door, and walks to the driver's side. He slides into the driver's seat and turns on the car before taking off to the station.

∆∆∆

The superpower-resistant jail gates beep, showing a radioactive microchip deactivating nearby. Jessie's chip glows in her arm for a moment, and the cell door slams close; She sits down at the backbench. Andrew watches his sister's gaze from a short distance outside the jail cell. He shifts closer under a bright light dangling from the ceiling.

"You should have told me, Jessie." He says. Jessie lifts her head to face her brother.

"It's none of your business, Andrew. Besides, you and Dad are cops. I don't want to get you two into trouble."

"Are you kidding me?" He growls. "It's our job," Andrew roars back at his sister.

"You can't just play a hero every time. I can take care of myself."

There's a brief silence and Andrew huffs. "I have to get back to work. Just let my buddy Jared know if you want to talk again." Jared Holmes, a tall, buffed cop in his early '30s, walks into the room's corner. Andrew pats Jared's shoulder and walks out. Jared waves and takes a seat in a rolling chair in the corner. There's complete silence besides the whistling tunes from Jared, sitting in the room's corner for a while. Jessie rolls her eyes and sets her head in her hands.

"Could you maybe, like, stop whistling?" She growls at Jared. Jared huffs, halting his whistling, and there's silence for a moment.

"Your father is the Chief, right?" he's all smiles, his accent sounding British; she throws a dirty glance his way.

"Why? Do you want an autograph or some shit like that?" Jared frowns, adjusting his spine in his seat. "Nope. Just curious." Jared proceeds with his whistling.

"So, what's your superpower?" Jessie seems desperate to get him to stop whistling again. Jared grins, sitting up straight in his seat.

"Are you that interested?" His eyebrows furrow together, and he pushes his chest forward.

Jessie snarls, rolling her eyes. "Would I ask if I wasn't curious?"

Jared purses his lips. "Super Strength and speed, of course."

Jessie chuckles to herself. "It makes sense. You're all buff. I don't quite get my brother, however. I don't see it." Jared chuckles too.

"You know, not everyone fits the image of their powers."

"Eh—"

Just then, the jail doors screech open, and Andrew enters, hauling Sam into the room. "You're free to go, Jessie. I'll meet you at home." He says. Sam glares at Jessie across the room as she walks over.

"You bitch!" Sam yells, spitting at her. Andrew shoves him to the ground, slamming the jail gate. Jessie hugs her brother.

"Thank you, Andrew. I love you." The brief, silent embrace lasts for a minute or two. Andrew scoffs.

"It wasn't me. It was Dad."

Jessie smiles, pulling out of the hug. "I still love you." Jessie walks into a long hallway; cops glance her way and wave. She walks to the front desk and slams her hands.

"My stuff, please?" She growls at Rocky. Rocky looks up at her and smiles.

"Nice to see you too, Ms. Chang." Rocky reaches under his desk and pulls out her bag.

"Thank you, " she smiles, grabbing her stuff—Mason Sloan, sitting at the desk next to Rocky, smiles and waves.

"Have a nice day, Ms. Chang. Don't get into any more trouble," Mason smiles wider.

Jessie looks Mason deep in the eyes, and as if whispering in his ear, her voice appears in his mind. "Bye, Mason." His heart thumps in his chest, and he grins. Buh-boom. Buh-boom. Buh-boom. Mason blushes.

"Bye, Jessie." She smirks, walking off, hips swaying, out of the police station.

∆∆∆

Jessie leans against the long oak wood table, her elbow resting on a cloth napkin, as she stares down at the shrimp Pad Tai. White walls clash with the marble tile floors. Across the table, Andrew twirls his noodles against his fork and shoves them into his mouth.

Their father, Mr. Chang, with a salt and pepper hairline and a broad smile, takes a sip of white wine from his glass and clears his throat.

"Tell me again, Jessie, " Mr. Chang clanks his glass against his plate and picks up his fork, twirling Pad Tai and a bite of shrimp. "Why were you arrested this evening?" He stuffs a morsel into his mouth and places his fork on the table. Jessie huffs, throwing herself against the chair.

"It was nothing, Dad," she answers him.

Andrew scoffs, scooping in another bite before speaking. "It wasn't nothing, Jessie. We could have killed you." Jessie avoids eye contact and her food, even though her stomach rumbles. There's silence in the room. Mr. Chang slams his fists on the table and growls.

"Jenjang, jesi," Mr. Chang boasts. "Watashi wa anata ni keimusho ni itte hoshikunai. Anata wa kashikoi ne. Son'na ko to shitteru." Jessie sits in her seat, pulling her food back in front of her. She stares at a piece of shrimp hanging halfway off her plate, and her fork stabs her Pad Tai.

"Papa, I'm not a kid. I can take care of things like this." Andrew bawls his fists, the fork bending and melting in his palms.

"Jessie," Andrew shouts, pushing out of his chair. "Yes, you're not a kid, but you don't fucking understand. Dad and I are cops. The more you cause trouble like this, the more you put our jobs at risk." Jessie twirls her fork in her food, glaring at her brother. Andrew drops the misshapen silverware to the table and gathers himself.

"I have to get back to work. I'll talk to you later, Jess. Be good." He grabs his plate and fork and walks off to the kitchen. Mr. Chang sighs, shaking his head in silence.

"I'm going to my room, " Jessie grunts, pushing out of her seat and walking off.

∆∆∆

Jessie sits on the roof, curled against her window, staring out at the starry night sky in the dark. She checks her phone, and a glowing 12:34 am on the screen illuminates the darkened atmosphere. A text from Andrew from an hour ago reads:

"Are you home? You're not causing any problems, are you?" Jessica sighs and pulls her legs out from under her.

"Ugh." Jessie's phone dings and another text pops up on her screen; She rechecks her phone. She seems angry yet relieved.

"I'm sorry about earlier, Jessie. I was high as a fucking kite and frustrated. My father tried to get me into rehab again. Anyway, can I meet you somewhere?" Jessie raises the phone in the air, debating whether to chuck it down below. Her fists curl around the phone, but she pulls it back down.

"You're lucky I don't delete this phone number from my phone, Jerk." She mumbles to herself.

"I know," a voice booms behind her. Out from the shadows, Sam takes the seat next to Jessie.

"I'm sorry, you know. It was the only thing I could think of doing." He pouts, attempting puppy dog eyes. She laughs and shoves his shoulder.

"Yeah, you dork. You left me in a standoff with over a dozen cops, including my brother. How did you get out?" Sam pulls a cigar and a lighter from his pocket. "Your brother released me on a deal. Next time, I'll try to help you." He lights the cigar with a puff of smoke and grins widely.

"Next time? Help?" She questions him.

He blows smoke from his lungs and sighs. "Of course, if you want me to."

"You dumb-ass. Don't forget to use your powers next time." His grin drops.

"I know."

"And never draw a gun on me again." She punches his bicep.

He scoffs. "Noted... Want a puff." he tips the cigar her way. She shakes her head.

"Not today. My brother should be home soon, and my dad is still here, so I prefer not to get into more trouble."

He sighs.

"More for me. " He takes another puff and exhales smoke. Sam coils his arm around Jessie's neck and smiles. "Where would I be without you?"

"You would still be in jail," Jessie concedes. Sam grimaces. "True. True."

Sam pulls Jessie against his warm body, and she lies on his chest. "To superpowers, " he says.

Jessie chuckles. "Of course, to superpowers."