Yeet!

[Donatien920]

People tend to think powers are flashy, attention getting. That capes have to be heroes and villains in spandex, monologuing at each other.

Taylor Hebert knew better. Her power was weak. Some sort of stranger/master combo, where she could trick people's memories. She could create a temporary illusion that wasn't very useful unless she used her power wisely and at the right moment. Like, for instance, someone leaving for work might remember shutting their door, but leaving it wide open for an opportunistic parahuman to slip inside your home undetected.

Or maybe, Emma remembered putting her cell phone in her purse after lunch on Friday. Strangely, nobody knew that Emma had left it behind and Taylor had picked it up. Taylor had learned so much from Emma's unlocked phone. She was even amused that Emma had been sometimes talking in code with Sophia in some messages.

Emma was even helpful enough to use a code system that Taylor had taught her when they were younger. The stupid, arrogant bitch.
Taylor hadn't wanted to believe that Sophia was a cape. But… it was like the final piece of the puzzle that made everything make sense. The real reason they got away with everything. How they were able to steal things easily from her locker. Even the way the managed to fill the locker with absolute filth. Sophia and Emma were important people. Taylor was nothing. Just an inconvenience. A worthless girl that was just supposed to suffer for the amusement of people who were more valuable and connected than her.

But it didn't matter. Taylor was done being abused. Emma would later find her phone in the Lost and Found. But Taylor learned enough about her weekend plans to come up with plans of her own. Emma and her family were going on a weekend trip to the Great Plunge. And old quarry converted into an extreme sports park. Emma was excited to go, but Sophia couldn't make it because of work, despite them having bought a ticket for her.

It took some acting on Taylor's part to get her dad to randomly call Alan Barnes for a chat. Mr. Barnes was apparently aware that his and Danny's daughters were "bickering" and brought up having an extra ticket to the park and that maybe they could bring Taylor and see if the girls could make up whatever problems they had between them.

Riding in the Barnes's minivan while Emma played the perfect princess while quietly torturing and threatening Taylor only strengthened her resolved for what she was planning to do. Emma made it too easy. Telling her parents how she was excited to do the Great Plunge bungee jump and how Taylor was too afraid to do it because she was afraid of heights, so Emma had to be brave for the both of them.

Emma's parents had merely taken Emma's word for it and didn't even seem remotely interested in even asking Taylor how she felt. In a way, it was like old times, when they were best friends. Whenever Emma really wanted something from her parents, she would pretend it was something that Taylor really wanted. Taylor had always silently played along, letting Emma do the talking for both of them, even if she didn't want whatever it was Emma wanted.

Because unlike Emma, Taylor was loyal. She wanted her friend to be happy. After the locker, Taylor had realized that the old Emma was gone for good. Whatever monster inhabited Emma's body would never be Taylor's friend again. Just an evil bitch who lived to torture her along with her sadistic "hero" best friend. Taylor had done her research on the surly vigilante turned hero, Shadow Stalker. She found old posts and private websites that accused her of all sorts of brutality. Knowing Sophia, Taylor wouldn't be surprised if all of it was true.

Taylor accompanied Emma and her family to the top of the quarry and the bungee jump spot. It only slightly annoyed her that Alan and his wife didn't seem to think it strange that Taylor, supposedly afraid of heights, was willing to accompany them there to watch Emma get harnessed and helmeted up. Now, she was all ready to make her jump. Except for one small detail that for someone reason nobody noticed. How when they went to secure the actual bungee cord to Emma's harness, that they didn't actually secure it and let the cord fall to the ground.
Soon, they were leading her to the edge. Other, extreme sports enthusiasts and daredevils at the top were cheering for her as she waved and sent Taylor a smug smile. Emma always loved being the center of attention.

"Alright, young lady. How are you going to take the plunge. Are you going to fall back or do you want to fly?" one of the staff members, and over-tanned, muscular guy with sandy blonde hair asked.
"I want you to make me fly!!" Emma proclaimed boldly, to the cheers and applause of the onlookers.
The staff members led the cheer, letting everyone know that "the girl wants to fly!!!"

Taylor watched nervously. Her power didn't last that long and she was starting to feel the start of the headache from all of the attention of the onlookers on Emma. But nevertheless, nobody seemed to notice or cry out that there was no rope attached as the men worked to hoist Emma up in the air. She spread her arms like a human airplane, two men holding her midair while their own safety lines dangled. Cameras rolled; Emma beamed, ready to prove she wasn't a coward.

The two men then marched her to the edge of the quarry.
Taylor merely watched, her knuckles turning white from her fists being clenched.

The men counted out loud, "one, two, three!" and heaved Emma over the edge.

Only then did Taylor release her power, the pounding in her head getting way less severe as she dropped the minor illusion.
Then the screams and panic began as suddenly everyone was serious and moving around in despair and horror.

"Yeet." Taylor muttered under her breath as she wove a much simpler illusion.
When people looked at her they would see the shell-shocked expression of a girl who just watched her friend thrown off a cliff.

The cruel satisfied smile that she wore on her face was something no one would ever see.