Glasses and bottles behind the bar shone behind Vito as he poured Jerry's Manhattan.
He took it with a nod and knocked it back. Its sweetness and bitterness didn't cover a feeling rising up inside his gut.
Above the bar were pictures of regulars who became mayflies. One day people woke up and many discovered when they met a certain person, they manifested superpowers. Just like COVID, people kept their distance. Especially after some of the more serious property damage. 1/x
#wss366
Just like COVID, a vaccine was found lickety-split after one gal decided she was entitled to kill the President.
Just like the namesake of mayflies, she died in twenty four hours, crumbling to a cinder. No one was able to identify her in life or death.
Jerry was vaccinated. A few times after getting boosted he'd feel a welling of power but he never manifested. Just glances were exchanged as both parties put distance between each other.
Once manifested, common sense wasn't so common. 2/x
#wss366
As he picked at his onion rings, Jerry scanned The Pug for any new faces. He already knew his nemeses, some were good people, but the prospect of devastating a town and murdering normies sat well with no one.
One guy in a trucker hat and five o'clock shadow kept staring at him.
A new face.
Jerry flashed his vax card to warn the guy, but trucker came close.
He #dreaded the burning feeling growing in his gut.
The ache in his bones.
His sore muscles. 3/x
#wss366
From the top of his lungs, "MAYFLY" caught everyone's attention. Jerry pointed at trucker whose clothes were now burning off his body.
Panic erupted.
Jerry didn't know his strengths, just they were waiting to manifest someday.
Trucker was a foot away before every part of Jerry swelled with agony.
With the last shreds of sanity, he found The Pug was empty and succumbed to the monster within.
He prayed it'd be quick. 4/4
#wss366