Shattering Humanity-Chapter 397: From The Ground, All The Way Up

"Household slaves, submit to your masters with all reverence not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel. For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." - 1 Peter 2:18-25

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Doctor’s Voice: "I’m sorry Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, but one of the bullets hit his spine and severed his vertebrae. If he does wake up from this coma, he will never be able to walk again."

[3 Years Before Leviathan’s Invasion]

Rolling down the handicap ramp to a subway tunnel is someone in a wheelchair. They have their sweatshirt hood over their head and a single backpack hanging on the back of the mobility chair.

Turning the corner is a shady man.

He walks passed the handicapped individual rolling by and at the last second the suspicious, abled body person steals the bag off the chair.

Behind the snatcher, the victim, a young man, can be heard yelling for the evil doer to stop, but of course, he doesn’t.

The man sprints away and towards the light of the open exit but as soon as he reaches the light, the thief is immediately clotheslined by an arm, covered in a puffy black coat.

The thief falls on his back and looks up to see a pair of sad pink eyes staring down at him.

The coward of a man gets up and runs away leaving the stolen backpack on the ground.

A younger Jesse James then crouches down and picks up the heavy bookbag.

The heavily breathing, embarrassed theif tries to run passed the same wheelchaired victim he had attempted to rob but the young paraplegic tries to stop him.

Unfortunately, the attempt only knocks the runner off his course, makes him trip, and hits his face on the hand railing.

The failed robber gets back up, holding his hand up to his blood leaking chin and lip, and runs away.

The brave victim, now on the cement ground, looks up with his defeated green eyes.

With the hood now off, his scraggly black/blue hair exposed, the young man takes a deep breath of disappointment in himself.

From behind, the footsteps of the woman responsible for thwarting the robbery can be heard.

Still on the ground, the green eyed man turns to see the frowning, lip scarred, future leader of surviving Vinland, pick up his overturned wheelchair and place it back upright.

Jesse James: "If only that man had stopped, I could have helped him too..."

Keeping her usual stone cold stare, Jesse James holds out her hand for the paralyzed civilian.

Jesse James: "...He’s only robbing people because he’s desperate in this world too.

Are you alright?

I’m Jesse.

Jesse James."

Surprised by the response, it takes a moment for the helping hand to be accepted, but eventually the paralyzed young man takes it.

Pontius: "P-Pontius.

My name is Pontius Hudson...

Th--Thank you, Miss James."

...

Intercom Voice: "B Train now boarded.

Please stay clear from the doors and all standing passengers, please keep a firm grip on a handrail."

Now on the same train together, there are only a few other riders accompanying the newly bonded pair.

In the designated handicap area on the shuttle, Jesse James sits next to the handicapped individual named Pontius.

Jesse James: "So, you’re in that chair for life because of blind hatred..."

Pontius(nods): "When I was in Middle School, there was an active shooter who entered the front doors a few minutes after I had asked to go to the bathroom.

And you can guess how the rest of the story goes..."

Jesse James looks down the shuttle cart at the few other passengers with headphones in their ears, and a dirty homeless man babbling to himself, picking his nose and ear with the same hand.

She closes her eyes, takes a deeeeep inhale, and there is an entire minute before she slowly exhales. As the magical woman opens up her sad, pink eyes, a single tear trickles down her cheek.

Jesse James: "The man who paralyzed you... he had been hurt his entire life."

Pontius: "What?

How do-"

Jesse James: "By his family and by those who had he believed to be his friends.

When he thought the darkness was consuming him, a bright hand reached out, and pulled him to safety.

It was his wife to be."

Pontius swallows his spit. Not really understanding the meaning behind his savior’s ’oracle like’ words, but he stays quiet.

For some reason, believing her words are the absolute truth.

Jesse James: "That woman went on to become the reason that man stayed hopeful and when she became pregnant, the man who would eventually paralyze you, thought he had escaped the darkness once and for all.

Until that day..."

His heart racing, Pontius looks down at his shaking hand resting on his motionless legs.

Anxious to hear the true motivation as to why his attacker did this to him.

Jesse James: "...The man was a 2nd shift, blue collar worker.

On the morning before the shooting, the man who believed to have completely escaped the darkness, found his wife and biological older brother having an affair in his own bed.

Having been forcibly shoved back in, completely consumed by the hate and anger the darkness promotes, that man shot and killed both his brother, as well as the owner to the hand that was once his light."

Pontius: "But...why m-."

Jesse James: "Allowing the darkness to continue leading his thoughts, the murderer started to believe the 12 year old girl he had raised as his own daughter, was not actually his, but his now dead brother’s.

...He would never know that he was right..."

Being a sensible individual, Pontius can already put together the ending to this horrifically tragic and emotional story.

Jesse James: "That man went into her school and not only succeeded in taking out the targeted young girl, but also her class of 22 students, the class’s teacher, 10 other unfortunate faculty in the halls, and leaving ’one student critically injured’ before task forces moved in a shot him to death."

Completely shocked by the backstory and reasoning behind the worst day of his own life, whatever muscles Pontius can move are now visibly shaking.

Pontius: "How do you know this?

That’s...

Listen, I know you helped me and all, but if you’re trying to make up some fake story about the man who ruined my life, then you’re just as bad as everyone else who has attacked or preyed upon me."

Realizing the young man is venting, the future Sheriff stays silent while the man in the wheelchair whisper yells his frustrations.

The confused Pontius calms down after realizing his overreaction, and gives his new acquaintance some exposition of himself.

With his backpack now on his lap, the young student shuffles through.

Pontius: "The entire world used to be controlled by those who had the greatest Navy, but now, whoever can successfully attack from the skies...

Whoever is at the highest elevation, they are to be considered the strongest."

He pulls out a university sized textbook on advanced aerodynamics.

Pontius: "Before I was confined to this damn chair, I wanted to be an Air Force pilot. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

I had always dreamed of helping build the newest designs in technological advancements and to travel the skies at Mach speeds.

To fight against the GForces that would cause any normal human to pass out.

To be considered the ’top of the top’, instead of stuck on the ground where I am."

Suddenly a warm hand covers his cold, shaking left hand.

His widening green eyes meet Jesse James’ sad, tired, tear filled pinks.

Jesse James: "If you’re saying your life has been ruined, due to your unfortunate injury, what would you say if I told you I could heal said injury and restore your ability to walk again?"

The young man who has been victimized his whole life is speechless. Not fully understanding the question.

He checks on the uninterested passengers at the other end of the cart and the crazed homeless man now with all his fingers in his mouth.

Pontius: "Are you really trying to help me, or are you crazy?"

Jesse James(chuckles): "Do you have any folks that would be worried about you if you go missing?"

In reaction to the virtually unsettling question, sweating Pontius leans away from Jesse James and swallows his spit once again.

He now shifts his scared eyes back and forth.

Pontius: "Um...ex...excuse me?"

Jesse James: "What I’m asking is, do you have a place to stay, or are you a dorming college student?

If you want I can get you a nice meal, a shower, and a soft, quiet bed for the night.

I don’t need a missing persons alert going off on everyone’s phones while having the others observe your healing process.

Even I don’t know how to turn those annoying notifications off."

Pontius: "Uhhh?..."