Mia Doesn't Have Superpowers - Tumblr Posts
Mia's Arrival
The bus lurched to a stop, its brakes hissing as it settled into the station.
Mia Brooks blinked awake, her hand instinctively tightening on the worn backpack in her lap. Gathering her bearings, she massaged a knot in her neck, wincing. Bus sleep was never great, but it beat the alternatives. At least here, she could watch the other passengers.
As people began to stir, Mia remained still, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar cityscape outside. San Padua, Texas - her latest refuge. How many cities had it been now? She'd lost count after the first dozen.
"Just like Tucson," she thought, noting the shimmering heat rising from the pavement. "Or was it Albuquerque?" The cities blurred together after a while.
She waited for the initial rush to pass, her mind already mapping out her next moves: find a place to crash, then walk the Old Quarter. Cash work, no questions asked — the usual drill.
As the aisle cleared, Mia stood, her movements smooth but guarded. The backpack's familiar weight settled on her shoulders - everything she owned and needed to disappear again at a moment's notice.
The wave of humid air that hit her as she stepped off the bus carried the mingled scents of exhaust, street food, and something uniquely Texan. Mia's gaze swept the station, cataloging details most would overlook - the bored security guard by the restrooms, the flickering light above the east exit, and the CCTV camera's blind spot near the lockers.
She made her way to a quiet corner, fishing out a crumpled map. Her finger traced the route to the Old Quarter while she silently mouthed street names, committing them to memory. Nine years on the run had taught her the value of knowing escape routes.
Approaching the station exit, Mia caught her reflection in a window. Dark circles under her eyes, hair in a messy ponytail, clothes rumpled from the journey—she looked tired, worn. For a moment, the weight of her solitary existence threatened to overwhelm her.
"Not now," Mia muttered, squaring her shoulders. She'd survived this long. What was one more city? One more fresh start?
Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto the bustling street. Another face in the crowd, another story untold. As she melded into the flow of pedestrians, a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. Anonymity had become her armor, invisibility her superpower.
San Padua didn't know it yet, but Mia Brooks had arrived. And she intended to stay ahead of her past for as long as it took.