Cal moved quickly, lifting the shivering man with ease and carrying him out of the cold room and into the warmer front of the deli. The main area was deserted now, the cashier long gone, leaving an eerie silence hanging in the air. He laid the man gently on the floor, pulling his coat around him to provide some warmth.
The man's teeth chattered as he looked up at Cal, eyes filled with a mix of fear and gratitude. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice weak.
Cal nodded, kneeling beside him. "Why were you locked in there?" he asked, his voice low and urgent. "What did they want from you?"
The man shivered, his body still trembling from the cold. "I-I don't know. I've always been… different," he stammered, his words stumbling over themselves. "They said I was special."
Cal's eyes narrowed. "Special how?"
The man hesitated, his eyes darting around as if looking for the right words. "I've never had to sleep," he finally said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Not once in my life. I can stay awake for days, weeks… it doesn't matter. I never get tired."
Cal blinked, taken aback by the revelation. A superhuman, like him, but with a different kind of ability. "Is that why they put you in the freezer?" he asked, his mind racing. "Because you don't sleep?"
The man shook his head, confusion and fear etched across his face. "I don't know. They… they said something about keeping me fresh. Like I was… food." He swallowed hard, his eyes wide with horror. "I heard them say it. They stuffed me in there and said I needed to be kept fresh."
Cal's stomach twisted with disgust and anger. He clenched his fists, his mind struggling to process what he was hearing. "It doesn't matter," he said, his voice tight with barely suppressed rage. "You need to get out of the city. Find somewhere to lay low until I can take these people down for good. You won't be safe until then."
The man nodded weakly, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I-I don't know where to go."
Cal didn't respond, just turned his attention back to the people huddled together in the refrigerated room. "Let's just get you out of here first," he said firmly, gesturing for them to follow him. They looked at each other, then slowly began to move, clutching each other for support as they stumbled toward the exit.
Cal led them outside, glancing back at the man he had rescued from the freezer. "Go," he urged. "Find somewhere safe. The police will help you."
The man nodded, his movements slow and hesitant as he made his way down the street, disappearing into the darkness. Cal watched him go, his heart heavy with anger and determination.
He turned back to the building, his eyes narrowing as he looked up at the roof. The police were pulling up now, their cars screeching to a halt, officers pouring out and surrounding the building.
"Come down from there!" one of them shouted, his voice carrying over the wail of the sirens. "You're under arrest!"
Cal ignored them, his heart pounding as he leaped onto the side of the building. His fingers dug into the brick as he pulled himself up, scaling the wall with ease. The shouts grew more urgent, but he didn't look back.
He reached the roof, his breath coming in short, angry bursts as he stood up and looked out over the city. He had to get back, had to figure out what was going on. He couldn't do that from a jail cell.
With a final glance down at the scene below, he turned and disappeared into the night, heading back toward his apartment. As he ran, he thought of his own power, how new it still was. He thought of how much has happened since finding them. Cal had now met two others with powers in just a short couple of months, and he couldn't help but feel his chest get tight with anxiety.
What the hell is happening in New York?