Bipolar

Luke was born into greatness. He was powerful. He could do anything if he put effort into it. People call him the Greatest, for he was the hero of Chicago, born and raised in the city. He was employed by the government, given everything he could possibly want. But one day he snapped and it all changed.

Luke no longer wanted to be the perfect, happy, good hero. He wanted to be Luke, someone he chooses to be. No one to control him, or tell him what to do or how to do it. Just to be normal. So he decided to take control. No longer was he goody goody or pure, but balanced. That was what he calls himself now, the Balancer, not the Greatest.

***

Time moves on. Now Luke is no longer a top employee and has been removed from the public's interest. He still has the determination and power of a superhero, but is lost. The government has been keeping an eye on him ever since his decline. Along with his social well-being his mental health has been deteriorating. Nothing has been done to help him, so he remains unstable and stuck in the city that he once was part of.

***

People forget about their young hero, but Luke does not forget anything. He grows crazier each passing minute. He had kept everything bottled up, afraid of the choices he made. But maybe one day he will show them the potential they missed, and that day will come soon.

Luke had been planning a comeback ever since the people turned against him. They could not accept or even understand why their perfect hero could not stay pristine and flawless. He sat in his apartment alone weighing his options. Serial killer? No, too messy. Cyber stuff? No, too much effort. Villain? No, I am not villain, but a superhero. Gang? No, too social. He combed his hair with his fingers not knowing what to do. All he knew was that he had been sitting in self-pity for too long.

Luke left his apartment the next morning for the last time.

***

Three days later, Luke sat at the counter of a small diner watching the news. "Psychopath chooses another victim, the girlfriend and future wife of..." babbles the television.

"Please shut it off," commands Luke as he takes a sip of his drink.

"Why you afraid or just bothered by this-this evil? Good thing our families are safe," the bartender says softly.

"What makes you think I have a family? And could you shut it off!"

"You do not have to be rude. Do you have a problem?"

"Yes."

Luke walks out without another word. He needs a safe place to stay tonight. The wind sends a chill through his body. Walking down an alley he hears his footsteps echoing in the dark lonesome place. A man walks out of the shadows.

"I know who you are."

"Well then I guess I have to kill you." Luke draws a thin blade from his coat pocket. Quickly and efficiently he slits his opponent's throat. He moves on his way after tossing the corpse. A smile makes his face extremely attractive in a slightly crazy and unstable way. Luke moves on, silently stalking his prey, pouncing when least expected. He always knows what to expect.

He is a superhero.