ã€ŠThe Greensdale Projectã€‹


 Chapter One

    I awoke with a start, my heart pounding in my chest, my body sprawled over the sheets in an awkward position. I lie there dazed, wondering why I woke up so early, was it a nightmare? No, I don¡¯t remember having a nightmare, would I know If I was even If I were having one? Why was I sleeping like this, I don¡¯t sleep on my back? Do I? This is confusing, calming myself down by sitting up and gulping down water greedily from the cup on my nightstand. I lie back down but something felt off, my heart was beating erratically, and a sweat began to collect on my back, which was odd because it was freezing in here.

    Throwing the pillow from underneath me down, I climbed out of bed and stood there looking around to figure out what was wrong, and why I was freaking out. My breaths began coming in and out erratically as my heart crawled into my throat, drawers from my desk were strewn on the ground with the insides unloaded on the desk, the door was ajar, and I began to make out muffled noises coming from below. Turning around as fear began to take control of my thoughts on what could¡¯ve happened, a kidnapping? Murder?

    That didn¡¯t make sense though, wouldn¡¯t I have woken up if it was one of those? Turning around to my desk I realized why it was so cold, the window was open. Something was wrong, it¡¯s always closed, always bolted shut, it¡¯s never been opened. Maybe I¡¯m overreacting, Dad probably was looking for the stapler or something, and maybe he opened the window because it was getting too hot? Or maybe I was trying to convince myself, but I had to look. Shuffling to the window I could tell it wasn¡¯t my dad who¡¯d opened it, the window was in shambles barely being held together by its own wood. I leaned forward and out the window and forced myself to look down. Nothing, no ladder, no craters in the side of the house, no tree to climb on, nothing.

    A crash resonated through the house, bringing vibrations like a small earthquake. Pulling away from the window, panic pulsed through me forcing me towards the open door than froze. I needed a weapon, looking around frantically while the voices rose higher below. I grasped the shaft of a lamp, the only weapon like object around me and spun to the door. Instantly I slammed the floor falling with a dull thud, brought down by the lamp. Instantly all went quiet, which amplified the fear more, my breath seemed louder than before with each inhale and exhale it felt like I could wake up the city. Holding my breath as the tense seconds went by I waited, waited to be caught, my bladder screamed to be released, but I held it all in.

    It felt like an eternity before the commotion fortunately continued, I slowly got up and crept past the door into the hallway that led to the stairs, lamp brandished like a baseball bat, I hurried past the stairs to Andre¡¯s room. His door left open like mine, I pushed it open my eyes wide with hope. His room mirrored my own, everything was trashed, but unlike mine, he wasn¡¯t in here.

    Anger spurred on by adrenaline and fear I bounded down to the bottom of the stairs, not caring about all the sound I was making and burst into the foot of the bright living room. My parents and little brother cowered to the opposite wall and a masked man stood between them and I. Stunned with indecision on, I focused on my brother, when he spotted me his eyes widened so much that even his long sandy hair couldn¡¯t hide the fear.

    ¡°Now, I¡¯m going to ask only one more time, and I hope you¡¯ll be kind enough to¡­ reciprocate¡± The intruder''s voice dripped with sarcastic politeness.

    ¡°Look the safe is under the sink, just take it and leave,¡± My father choked out, pleading, the first time I¡¯ve ever heard him beg.

    Silence hung in the air, nobody moved, I held my breath and summoned my courage, I was going to save my family and what we own, inhaling deeply I heaved the lamp as hard as I could on a crash course directly towards the intruder¡¯s head.

    ¡°I may not be able to read minds, but I can still sense ¡®em.¡±

    The masked man half turned lazily to eye me and the lamp, the lamp floated uselessly in midair, frozen in suspension by an invisible force.

    ¡°Chase? How¡¯d you-¡° My dad called out from the other side his voice cracking from panic.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± The man¡¯s arrogant voice turned annoyed as with a single flick of his finger my dad was silenced.

    Glancing over at him in fear he was oddly scratching at his throat, like¡­ like he was choking. Taking a step towards the masked man I shouted: ¡°Stop, hurtin¡­¡±

    ¡°Shh,¡± He shushed as an invisible force began constricting my throat taking my ability to breathe.

    Then, any and all air was vacuumed out due to the invisible force pushing on my diaphragm. I couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t speak, and started to not be able to form coherent thoughts from the lack of oxygen.

    ¡°Get over there,¡± He commanded with a flick of the wrist as he turned toward the sink in the kitchen.

    I could only choke in response as my body was still under his control, my vision began flickering with black spots as my lungs struggled to inhale. He glanced back at me with a frown before he chuckled to himself.

    ¡°Oh yeah, sorry,¡± He said, not sounding too apologetic.

    I was swept off my feet and flung toward my family, slamming into the wall, the drywall slightly caved in before the force. Thankfully as I made contact I was released from the constriction and could finally breathe. I gasped for air, the sweet beautiful air, you didn¡¯t realize how good air was until you couldn¡¯t get any more of it.

    When the black spots in my vision finally subsided I turned my head to face my parents, my mom was slumped awkwardly on the wall leaning on Dad, who was glaring at the masked man with ire, and Andre was facing me his face wet from tears.

    ¡°Thought I¡¯d put a strong enough sleep spell on you Chase, guess I gotta be more careful next house,¡± The masked man called out from the kitchen.

    My eyes widened from the recognition of my name, it sounded rotten coming from his mouth.

    ¡°How the hell do you know my kid!? What kinda creep are you?¡± I dad yelled out his voice scratchy.

    My dad¡¯s muscles bulged and flexed with strain against the invisible bonds that held us but to no avail, he kept struggling even when the masked man walked in with the petite safe.

    ¡°That¡¯s what you focus on?¡± He put down the safe and faced Dad.

    ¡°I break into your house, trash it looking for valuables, steal your wife¡¯s jewelry, and about to steal what¡¯s left of your savings, maybe this will teach you to trust the bank and not leave all your eggs in one basket. I even put your wife to sleep, although you did look particularly murderous than, maybe I should leave her like that indefinitely?¡± He taunted with what I could assume was an ugly smile underneath that ski mask.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you mothe-¡° My father stopped right when he started.

    The ski-masked man turned around with a wave of his hand and went back to the safe, ¡°Yadda yadda, you¡¯ll rue the day you miss with the Millers blah blah, in a few minutes I¡¯ll be long gone and all I¡¯ll be is a stain on your memory.¡±

    I was still shocked into stillness, I couldn¡¯t move, or speak, not due to the telekinetic force holding me down, but from my own fear. Helpless, a pathetic boy unable to help himself, much less others. The masked man traced the corners of the door of the safe and suddenly, without warning, it tore off. The screeching of metal piercing the night.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hurt the missus anyways, too much energy to maintain that long of a sleep spell, and as the gentlemen I am, I prefer not to hurt women,¡± He said with a chuckle, now he emptied the contents of the safe, and from what I could see cash and what looked like printed paper with typed words on it fell into a sack that I didn¡¯t notice before on the ground.

    He checked his silver watch for a moment before turning to face us, my father was red in the face and veins bulged across his neck, risking a hernia.

    ¡°The police are gonna be here for a couple more minutes so calm down before you hurt yourself,¡± The masked man commanded with a roll of his eyes.

    Dad¡¯s face morphed into a picture of hope as the sound of the police sounded something short of a miracle. If God was even watching, although I wasn¡¯t too hopeful after how it was going down so far.

    ¡°You don¡¯t spend a week casing a house without figuring out the police reaction times, plus your neighbor¡¯s brain waves aren¡¯t slow enough for them to be sleeping so they probably heard something and called.¡± He grabbed the bag and threw it over his shoulder before sauntering toward us.

    He leaned in close to Andre and I and eyed us before focusing on Andre.

    ¡°How old are you Andre?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say a word!¡± My Dad shouted out his voice now sounded like gravel.

    ¡°Eh don¡¯t really care anyway,¡± with a snap both of Andre¡¯s wrists snapped back with an ugly crunch, I squirmed away hoping to shield myself to what was happening.

    An inhuman scream erupted from Andre before his jaw clenched shut uncontrollably, tears cascaded down his cheeks as the masked man leaned in closer, causing Andre to squeeze his eyes shut. The masked man laid his right hand on his forehead.

    The screaming stopped, the squirming stopped, and Andre went limp, but perhaps much worse he began tremoring.

    Without moving the masked man announced, ¡°Ahh it¡¯s been a while, a child¡¯s dreams are much more innocent, more energetic, more powerful than adults, I guess maybe that¡¯s why I target families.¡±

    All I could do was watch, the scenes burning into my brain.

    ¡°S-stop! Please¡­¡± I begged as I stared in horror at my broken little brother.

    The man paused, and so did Andre¡¯s body, and he turned towards me.

    ¡°Yes, the little hero, a child who¡¯s brave and stupid enough to attack me with a lamp speaks again after being silent for so long, dreams to nightmares is that really what you want?¡± The masked man with an undisguisable emotion in his voice.

    I glanced back at my brother his eyes were half closed and dazed, his wrists turning at odd angles, but I made a promise to him years ago that I would be there for him, and if I don¡¯t stand up for him now than I¡¯ve failed myself as well as him.

    I filled my childlike voice with as much courage as I could muster and looked him dead in the eyes ¡°Do it t-to me instead!¡±

    He blinked.

    ¡°Ha-ha! You really surprise me kid, don¡¯t see too many of that nowadays, just pleading, and begging blah blah, you really brightened up my day. I would take you up on your offer, but your brother is surprisingly fruitful¡­¡± His cheerful voice juxtapositioned the situation in such a way that it all just felt wrong.

    ¡°W-what?¡±

    Before he could respond, the kitchen door was smashed inward, falling to the ground with a crash, and four officers dressed in navy blue rushed in firearms drawn.

    ¡°Phoenix Police! On the floor now!¡± The lead officer commanded gruffly.

    Instantly the masked man sprung into action, sweeping his arm across the kitchen a wave of force rippled from his arm. Vases shattered, picture frames fell, and bullets veered off target. Just as chaos broke out I shut my eyes, shielded myself from the danger, gunshots rang out, shouts shouted, and footsteps bounded past me. After a tense minute everything, except the ringing in my ears, died down and I slowly peeled my eyes open.

    There was a massive body-sized hole in the wall behind the dining room table, bullet holes littering the walls, and my pajamas pants felt drenched. I gazed at Andre, his arms and legs were at odd angles, his chest was caved in and his eyes¡­ His eyes weren¡¯t dazed, confused, or anything that of what other people said your eyes would look, they were animalistic, no sadness, fear, happiness, pain, just an off-putting edge to them that reflected what was going on behind them. And they were staring right at me.

    -------------------------------

    I fell off my bed and hit the ground with a thud. My throbbing heart was slowly calming down as I took in my surrounding. A sheen of sweat slicked my back as I lied there staring at the ceiling letting the memories flow through my mind.

    ¡°Stupid.¡± I sighed to myself.

    It¡¯s been six years and I¡¯m still reliving that day, but that¡¯s what happens when you never forgive and forget, and this was one of the worse nights. Getting up, I checked the alarm and deduced it was a little over five, no point in going back to sleep now. I sauntered out of the room to the bathroom, I may not have wet the bed, but I still had to relieve myself after a night of sleep. After using the toilet, I splashed some water on my face and stared at myself in the mirror, tan skin, dark hair, black pupils, people said I look like my dad, while Andre used to look more like my mom.

    There wasn¡¯t even an autopsy, wasn¡¯t needed they said, they had all the information the doctors said. When the paramedics finally arrived at the scene, they did try to use a portable re-fibrillatory, but to no avail, they called the time of death right there and then. Later the doctor informed us of what he dealt with before dying, broken arms, wrists, legs, ribs, shattered collarbone, caved chest, internal bleeding, and he didn¡¯t even go into the neurological damage. The cops were useless as well, they didn¡¯t find him, they didn¡¯t know who he was, and after a couple months, the search for him was concluded. It wasn''t important enough to keep wasting time and resources on since there was no new information. The familiar anger in me built up and in a fit of fury, I backhanded the glass that held the toothbrushes.

    I barely even heard the crash or felt the shards of glass hit my leg, ignoring it I rubbed my face slowly trying to calm myself down. I need to get back into control, deep breaths, deep breaths. In another life, I would be an officer or soldier, but in this life that wasn¡¯t good enough. Not effective enough, not strong enough, I needed to be something else, something Super. As I calmed down I swung open the mirror in front of me to reveal the bathroom supplies. The familiar urge took hold of me as I grabbed the dusty pill bottle and stared at it. Back at the start my parents scrounged up whatever money they had and got me a good psychiatrist, she obviously prescribed me some anti-depressants and diagnosed me with PTSD or survivors guilt or whatever.

    I grabbed the bottle¡¯s cap and was about to squeeze and turn when my mind wandered to a few hours from now, the interview. I applied for the Greensdale Project a few months ago and they cleared me for an interview with one of them. The Project could make me something more, something that I couldn¡¯t become by my own, a Super, someone who had abilities, superhuman ones. Just like the masked man. If I was going to protect the helpless I would need to be part of the strong. If I could hold out for half a decade on drugs I could hold back another half, I just can¡¯t bring my self to lose myself in meds and drugs. Losing myself, drowning my self in misery trying to escape what happened. No, I needed to keep going, I¡¯d be spitting on his memory If I lose myself to self-pity.

    Never again.

    Letting go of my grip on the pill bottle cap with the unbroken seal I replaced it to behind the mirror, it¡¯s jail cell, locking it away from my life. I glanced down at the mess I made, the glass shards littered the ground, the shards twinkled like small stars. Instantly I felt guilty, my mom had enough problems to deal with, and cleaning up my mess will not be one of them. I headed to the closet and grabbed the broom and swept everything up. If this Super thing didn¡¯t work out at least as a side job I could be a butler cleaning the house, God knows how many things I¡¯ve broken over the years.

    Not that anyone knew of these¡­ mood swings, not my friends, not my psychiatrist, not even my family, I couldn¡¯t do that too them. After a year my psychiatrist pronounced me cured, stating that the symptoms had cleared up from proper counseling and prescribed drugs. She was wrong though; the symptoms weren¡¯t gone.

    I just learned to hide them better.

 Chapter Two

    I stood in front of the marble steps that led to the towering building. This is it, I wore my best button-down shirt which was tucked into my dress pants and my father¡¯s dark shoes that he normally wore to funerals. Wiping my sweaty palms on my pants I strutted forward. Glancing down at my watch, I noticed it was ten minutes till my appointment.

    I hurriedly made my way across the marble and past the clear glass doors that led into the building. Several things popped from the norm. At one desk, files flew into desks, papers seemingly re-organizing themselves into different color-coordinated folders. My eyes focused on the source, a secretary who commanded them with flicks of her fingers and wrists.

    I stared in amazement since most Supers you see are on the news. Not behind a desk.

    A colossal man with a stocky frame sauntered past me while balancing an old-school bulky television in each hand like a waiter holding plates of food. Stacked upon the left television was a multitude of books and a toolbox that rested on the right television.

    I figured this must¡¯ve been normal for the government to hire low-level supers as employees, but I never thought about it before. I shook this out of mind as I needed to be focused on the interview. Stepping out in front of one of the desks that didn¡¯t have a large line in front of it (and no flying office accessories either) I addressed the young woman with a blue tooth attached to her ear behind it.

    ¡°I¡¯m Chase Millers, and uh- I have an appointment with-¡° My mind blanked as I fumbled to remember and say his name. With a sigh, I took out the folded application forms from my pocket while the young women behind the desk waited impatiently.

    ¡°Mr. Dikeman¡± I finished, relieved I didn¡¯t need to keep the woman waiting as the name was at the top.

    Without saying a word, she typed something into her computer. While I waited my mind floated over to this building, the origin of the Project, of what I¡¯ll hopefully succumb myself too.

    A scientist, some decades ago aspired to become a super himself, after science failed him he turned toGod,since back than powers were believed to come from the divine. But after scouring the Earth, hopping from church, monastery, totemplehe gave up, on the brink of losing his sanity to wasting his life over his life ambition. He eventually settling in Los Angeles, where he would soon witness of what he called the metamorphosis of a Super. After a raging fire began to burn down the building he saw a man, burning to a crisp, until in a moment he stood up and would simply walk out.

    The scientist inspiring of what he¡¯d witnessed theorized how trauma could bringuponpower, and he believed since he escaped that fateful day as well God had given him a second chance. An odd ideology for a scientist but some psychologists believed the time traveling through cultures influenced him. Through this, he would soon begin to introduce fear and pain into a ¡°patient¡± to try to activate that person''s abilities through trauma. Eventually, the government caught and shut him down after finding out about the horrors he¡¯d inflicted on people, and what was left of them, but from what I read online apparently the government never actually caught him, and from this people tried to figure out where he went and what he did, and if he ever achieved his dream, just like I was trying to achieve mine.

    The government took his research and tried to replicate it which they were unsuccessful. Until a few years ago when they attempted some experiments with different conditions (and much more humane practices). The patients for the project had a high chance to come out with Abilities and be classified as a Super after a few months. Well, the ones that survived anyway. I wanted to be one of them. A super, not dead.

    Just hopefully without the maiming.

    ¡°Excuse me, excuse me, did you hear me?¡± The secretary¡¯s voice jolted me back to reality.

    ¡°Oh,uhno¡­ Can you repeat that?¡± I replied slightly confused.

    With a heavy sigh and with a somewhat sterner voice she went on.

    ¡°Please go to the second floor-third door to the right where Mr. Dikeman will meet with you after he is done with his earlier appointment¡± she instructed with a somewhat forced smile.

    ¡°Okay, thanks¡± I replied as I stuffed the forms into my pants and smiled back before I headed to the stairs and up to the second floor.

    It''s betterexerciseof course, plus I could check out the rest of the building as I walked.

    I finally reached what I thought was his door, it was a slightly narrow hallway with several people shuffling by while they did whatever jobs they do. Huh, maybe I got the wrong door? I awkwardly stood by the door trying to look inconspicuous and like I belonged. A few men in suits and another secretary gave me odd looks, probably thinking I was a young hooligan going starting some trouble but before they could say anything the door opened.

    Good timing.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Another guy my age walked out. He had a medium build and wore a suit and tie with slicked-back black hair. His shoulders were set back in a self-induced confidence that implored cockiness.

    ¡°Good luck,¡± his tone somehow sounded like he pitied me, since probably just knew he got in and was feeling sorry for the rest of us chumps.

    ¡°You too,¡± I replied on reflex.

    This guy looked like another applicant, too bad I was going to get it, not him. Eh, false bravado is always important.

    ¡°Next¡± Came a gruff shout from the room. I looked around until I came to the realization that it was probably me he was referring to.

    Of course, he was referring to me, who else is there to call out too? Before he started to think I was daft, I stepped inside the cluttered office and closed the mahogany door behind me.

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    A young man in a button-down shirt with muscles slightly bulging across his body. The kind that sprinters had, and a deep tan that revealed the time he spent outside. He had a powerful posture that reflected his confident attitude, shoes two sizes too big, and a worn-down watch on his left wrist.

    I shook his hand, feeling his firm grip and motioned for him to sit down.

    This was my last appointment of the day and- I glanced down at the form- Chase Millers would be the last applicant to go through. I gestured for the kid to sit down. I glanced down to start reading through the application, both as a way to show the kid his place by not saying a word to him, as well as learn some things about him that I can¡¯t without time from my talent. The kid was sixteen went through multiple sports that included swimming, soccer, boxing, grappling (wrestling), track, long jump, etc. From the recommendations, he got from notable coaches and a fewhigher-upsfrom Academies, Chase seemed to excel in all sports. But what was usual was that Coaches put in that he trained profusely with discipline, not just coasting on talent, a recurring theme that seemed to be ingrained in this generation. To sweeten the pot, he was astraight-Astudent and had mostly good behavior although with a rebellious streak that started some years ago after what the school stated ¡°a tragic accident¡±.

    I glanced back at Chase who fidgeted with the tip of his button-down shirt, my Empathy kicked in and his emotions seemed to pour out of him, and from what I could tell he was anxious but also confident of his placing.

    I exhaled slowly to gather my thoughts and let the power flow through me that labeled me as an Empath. I began to probe his mind for any of the obvious psychological signs that may have resulted from that ¡°tragic accident¡±,if he did have any he would be whitelisted from this program due to what could happen if a psychopath acquired powers suddenly.

    God knows we don¡¯t need another mass murderer on our hands.

    Overall, he seemed to be in decent mental condition, and if he wasn¡¯t, it was buried so deeply that without more¡­invasive techniques, I wouldn¡¯t be able to figure out if there was anything.

    Hmm but there seemed to be something in the back of his mind, almost like. - instantly I hit a wall, a mental one. Grunting in surprise I take a look at Chase who was looking around the room confused¡­ He shouldn¡¯t be able to sense me at a level to block me out, even as weak as the mind wall was it was impressive he had the state of mind to conjure one up at all¡­ It was true that people that live through traumatic things come out different, some break down, some become tough, some gain powers.

    ¡°So, Chase,¡± I began for the first time since he entered my office.

    Chase visibly perked up, his excitement able to be felt without even peeringinhis mind.

    ¡°You mind telling me about what happened some years ago? Your file mentions a tragic accident,¡± I questioned with a practiced smile that would hopefully allow him to trust me and more importantly, open up.

    Instantly I could feel anger rush to the top of his emotional pile, his face twisted as he struggled to wrangle in his emotions, ¡°No accident, a guy he uh, broke into our house, and¡­¡± I waited patiently for him to continue.

    ¡°I lost someone.¡± His face was solemn as the anger was overcome by an even deeper emotion that perhaps he didn''t want to recognize himself.

    Loneliness.

    I said nothing as I waited for Chase to compose himself, to his credit he didn¡¯t start bawling in my office, that would be a mess and just get on my nerves. But I could sympathize with him, he had a heart and was wanted to make a change in the world like I used to back in the day. I would still be out there but after the incident¡­ There was a reason I work in an office now.

    ¡°You know what the Greensdale Project is, and what they do to patients correct?¡±

    He nodded as the subject changed.

    ¡°Obviously you aren¡¯t a Super since you are applying here so you¡¯ve lucked out on the becoming a Super genetically. The Project puts people under intense physical, emotional, and psychological pressure for their abilities to come out. Soldiers come out of the program so broken that they can never be re-entered in society, what makes you any different to succeed?¡± I asked as I tilted my head waiting for the answer.

    ¡°I¡¯m hardworking, I know how to manage my time, and I¡¯ve trained in many different sports, so I know¡­ like, how to deal with challenges and¡­¡± He trailed off as he looked up to see me impassive as I listened to the obviously rehearsed speech.

    ¡°Well if that¡¯s why, then I think our session ends here,¡± I said blankly as I snapped his file closed with a huff and stared back at him to witness his panic flood his face.

    ¡°But- Ineedthis, to be a... Super,¡± Chase choked out desperately.

    ¡°I can¡¯t be sitting here helpless while the world goes into ruins, people¡¯s lives lost, I just can¡¯t go through that living weak.¡± He added on, passion swelling up encasing the room, so emotional that I could feel it through my empathy without focusing.

    ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to hear Chase, thank you for coming by, and just between you and me¡­¡± I leaned in closer, ¡°I think you got a good shot at being accepted.¡± I said with a genuine smile.

    I meant it, he was a good kid with a good heart, a person that we want on our sides.

    ¡°Thanks, Mr. Dike!¡± he exclaimed, grinning ear to ear.

    My left eye twitched as I heard that, an old insult that kids used to yell when I was a kid, Dikeman,its Dikeman.

    Shaking this off I addressed Chase.

    ¡°Take care of yourself, Chase,¡± I said watching him as he walked out, there weren¡¯t many kids out there that still hadideals, dreams, or maybe they did, and it was just my jaded view of life.

    Still, it was kind of refreshing, perhaps it was time to get out there again, talk to some old friends.

    It¡¯s getting kind ofstuffyin this office, to be honest.

 Chapter Three

    I¡¯m drifting. Feeling, not thinking as the cotton-cloud feathery softness that was my sheets hugged me. I was in paradise, the feeling of bliss that overcomes your body as you slowly come to consciousness. The cool fabric against my warm skin, the beating heart that played the rhythm behind the melody of my soft breathing.

    I¡¯m drifting. But not to sleep. EARGHH EARGHH EARGHH. The blaring of my alarm shook me out of my bliss. The stress of everything hung back upon my shoulders, you¡¯d think that after waking up every day since the day I was born you would get used to it.

    "God damn it," I grumbled to myself. I threw my left hand out to hit the alarm button on my phone when I hit something that felt slightly different than the smooth surface of my phone. The familiar tinkle of water dripping off the nightstand and pooling on the ground reminded me of what today was, and what I was waking up too.

    Now slightly less annoyed, I finally hit the alarm button on my phone that lay on my desk next to my bed. It sat there seemingly laughing at my discomfort. I mopped up the water with my shirt and I just laid there for a minute hoping to recast the feeling but alas it was gone. Checking the time, I realized it was only eight, I really got to get into the schedule again for waking up early. Summer had made me soft, like a little-stuffed bunny.

    Chase: The Bunny Rabbit.

    Chuckling to myself I started my routine warmup for the day, I kept hitting pushups until my arms wobbled and collapsed under me. With my heart racing, the stiffness and grogginess were lifted expeditiously and I felt ready to tackle the day.

    ¡°Honey, get up! You''re leaving in an hour!¡± My mom yelled from the kitchen.

    ¡°Yeah yeah, I''m up,¡± I yelled back.

    I quickly took a shower, dressed, and headed down to the kitchen where my mom was setting up breakfast. My dad was always gone before I got up as he had to work at six, and my mom didn¡¯t each much anyway, so I usually had breakfast to myself. The sweet smell of buttery pancakes combined with the spicy tang of the sausages wafted from the dining table as I hunkered down in front of it.

    ¡°Hey baby, I made your favorite for your big day,¡± She said with a smile, she beamed at me as I grinned back. She was so bright nowadays, always so optimistic about the future. She wasn¡¯t always like that after Andre died she was really broken down. What most broke her was that she wasn¡¯t there to see it, but perhaps that was the greatest miracle of all since I don¡¯t think she¡¯d be able to handle It all if she did. Although I still wonder if that shining smile was a mask for what lay beneath. Maybe the apple really didn¡¯t fall far from the tree.

    ¡°Mmm smells great!¡± I said as I inhaled the delicious smell of breakfast and changed the topic to breakfast in my mind.

    I grabbed my fork and knife and got started. I closed my eyes, feeling my taste buds dance as Ichewed. When I opened them, I saw my mom sitting next to me, staring at me intently. I swallowed quickly and raised my eyebrows inquisitively.

    She paused, her eyes darting across the table.

    ¡°I want you to be safe over there,¡± She said softly still staring intently at me.

    ¡°Aside from the whole torture aspect everything is perfectly A-Okay over there,¡± I replied jokingly.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    She blinked.

    I knew what she was thinking about, I was now her only child. She¡¯s worried about me like any parent would be. My dad knew what I was going through and gave me his support, he said I needed to become a man and this was one way to do it.

    ¡°Whatever happens, I want you to know I¡¯m proud of you and what you are.¡± She said slowly.

    ¡°I know,¡± I answered honestly. She loved me and I her, I wasn¡¯t going to let her or Andre down.

    I bit into the sausage, getting back on track on the food since it was too early for heavy thinking.

    She stared at me, analyzing my face as if I was going to disappear forever in just a few minutes. ¡°I¡¯m gonna get dressed and in twenty mins get into the car.¡± She instructed as she got up and went to her room.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± I answered as I took the last bite of the pancakes.

    I wasn¡¯t worried, I was excited. I¡¯ve dreamed of this day for a while.

    I quickly finished eating, got into a presentable button-down shirt (short sleeved) with khakis for my first day. I wanted to look good. Ya know, for the ladies. Fifteen minutes later I headed out to the car since at one I needed to be at the facilities, and I didn¡¯t want to be late on my first day.

    Three and a half hours. That¡¯s how long it took from my house to the facilities where I''ll be receiving ¡°treatment¡±. Three and a half hours in a stuffy car where my knees were killing me and nothing to do except listen to my dad''s best hits from the 80''s.

    ¡°K, we¡¯re here honey¡± I heard my mother exclaimed as I sighed in relief.

    ¡°The GPS says it¡¯s on the right somewhere¡± She continued. I stayed silent, vigilant, a small part of me wondered if this was all some sort of joke or prank.

    But the rational side of me won over, this couldn¡¯t possibly be a prank.

    Although it did seem pretty baron out here.

    We were in a scorched desert-like area, with no wild life in sight, or any kind of life for that matter. But as we passed a large cluster of boulders, a bundle of buildings lay before me. They had a large three to four-story main building that connected to a multitude of others. There were also watch towers at each corner with men on top carrying large semi-automatics. A few men though wore a different attire. Instead of the regular military uniform, they wore a tight fighting costume, that revealed nothing and everything at the same time. Nothing as in what pointed to what they could do, Super-wise, and everything that pointed that they at least were a Super.

    We approached the gate which had a small building on each side manned by two gruff looking guards with again, semi-automatics, we gave our information to one of the guards and they let us through. Afterward, we were quickly guided to a garage where we unloaded my suitcase in the cargo bay. The garage like the rest of the building, high tech equipment and what seemed like the rest of the candidate''s cars. Our parking space was the last one available in the space which was odd because we were right on time, maybe we read the time wrong?

    The entire garage was crowded, the cars ranged from shiny vintage, convertibles, to even a few super cars that were in no way related to Supers, other than maybe being built by one. Our old, paint-chipped minivan felt out of place, something akin to a bumblebee in a soda can.

    A man (a scientist as it appeared) approached us. He wore a white lab coat as you saw in movies and was ancient. Wrinkles were like crevices in his face, chunks of his nose were missing and one of the eyes seemed to be dimmer than the other. ¡°Mr. Millers will you please come with me, your mother will be escorted to a different room to receive forms as will you with the rest of the candidates¡± he ordered in his scratchy voice.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    I glanced at my Mom who nodded to me and went with two others. One with the shifters outfit that was navy blue and another in a suit (the kind politicians wear). I glanced back the old scientist and scampered to catch up as he already left.

    While walking I had a few questions on my mind that I wanted to voice to the now silent man. ¡°So, are we gonna do anything else other than sign forms today?¡± I questioned him as we walked down a dimly lit hallway with doors on each side.

    A beat passed.

    ¡°There will be an orientation after everything is filled out- you¡¯ll be informed of what we¡¯ll be doing to you and the others and what the¡­ effects are.¡±

    I nodded then was about to ask what those effects were, but I was cut off when we approached another door.

    ¡°Right this way please¡± he signaled toward the door.

    ¡°Thanks, Mr¡­¡±

    ¡°Richards¡± He signaled toward the door again more insistently this time.

    Not much for small talk this guy I thought as I entered the room filled with the others leaving the dim hallway behind me.

 Chapter Four

    The door closed behind me as I strutted inside, it was around the size of the classrooms at school, it had wooden tables accompanied by four other guys (and a girl) around them, sitting in wooden chairs. There was also a podium in front of the tables and another door behind that. From what I could see less than half wore expensive clothing, the kind you would have to be upper class to wear. That made sense as if you had enough money or influence you could get your child into the program.

    It was silent, just the scribbling of pencils could be heard.

    Ahemsomeone coughed behind me. I turned around to face a large black man with an expensive suit and a gold Rolex watch. ¡°You may sit down and begin reading and filling out the forms¡± his baritone voice seemed to echo in the small room.

    The realization that I was just standing there for like two minutes struck me as I listened to him. I turned and looked back to the tables, nearly everyone was staring at me. Clenching my jaw, I walked to the only open chair at a normal pace, hoping to look nonchalant as this was my first day. I didn¡¯t want to look any more of a dumbass than I actually am.

    I glanced around my table, there were two guys both wearing clothes with what I could tell was from a designer brand. To my left, there was a pretty blond girl with a sweater and jeans on. The kind of girl who would make other girls jealous just by walking down the hall. I looked back down to the forms in front of me, it seemed to be pretty thick, and not in the good way either. Sighing audibly I got to work.

    I started out reading through it and signing as I went along but quickly that evolved into skimming. Shortly after signing the twenty odd forms I set the pen down (which they provided). Looking around I noticed that everyone had finished going through the forms and I was the last one done, making me feel like that guy who spent the entire time on a test.

    The room was still quiet, I began to wonder if we weren¡¯t supposed to talk or everyone¡¯s just anti-social, when the same door I came through, creaked opened. Two men strutted through, one was in his thirties with slicked-back hair, flashing a pearl white smile as his eyes swept across the room over us. The other was in what I could tell in his late fifties, much more fit than others I see his age and- and hardened look over his eyes, seemingly as he¡¯s seen too much for one man to bear. Something was familiar about the older gentlemen but I couldn¡¯t put my finger on it.

    Both men walked past the tables to the front of the room and the younger man in the suit stepped in front of the podium. We all were paying attention now, the man paused once more his eyes looking at us.

    He smiled ¡°I¡¯d like to officially welcome you to the Greensdale Project¡± pausing as he waited, perhaps for some sort of applause but the room stayed silent. He went on ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Calahan, I¡¯ll be explaining the process which you¡¯ll be going through, among other things. An interesting fact about me is that I was one of the first to... experience that is the project¡± He grimaced slightly as if remembering his past.

    ¡°I received the gift of pyromancy, it may not be powerful enough to graduate from the academy but it helps when starting a campfire!¡± He chuckled slightly to himself, I smiled despite myself there was positive atmosphere about him that was infectious.

    ¡°Any who, the schedule is as follows Monday through Friday you will arrive at the breakfast hall with the rest of the patients, from there you will go to the prep room where you''re- he paused as if searching for the right word- treatment will begin. Afterword¡¯s you¡¯ll go through a report of what you feel. Once that is over you have the rest of the day to yourself.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Any questions so far?¡± He asked inquisitively looking at us.

    Nobody spoke up, it was like a funeral gone wrong.

    ¡°Good, now the process of the project was a rocky one. At first, we had to deal with the problem of expectation. Patients who had undergone the tests who had the expectation of receiving abilities and the knowledge of not being maimed or permanently capacities when undergoing distress caused an involuntary effect. Subconsciously you know you¡¯ll be fine so any real fear would be dulled and nothing would happen except pain and some¡­ psychological problems.¡±

    He continued ¡°So with government funding and some of the greatest biochemists of our time they went out to solve this problem. They spent months going through labs and experiments when they created the Timor Dei. Or the fear of God, it¡¯s a drug that they inject into the base of your neck where it floods the amygdala with high doses of different chemicals and heightens the nerves sensitivity. It was made to cause the body to react violently with any sort of threat. It overloads the brain, causing extreme sensitivity to pain, high pulses of adrenalin and quite literally the fear of God in you.¡±

    I listened carefully, this was interesting knowledge that was good to have stored away somewhere if ever needed. This type of drug seemed powerful, powerful enough to be used to bring out the potential of others. But possibly if used in a different way, as a weapon it could be fatal.

    ¡°The early stages of the Timor Dei had some symptoms such as psychotic breaks, comatose, brain death, hemorrhaging, catatonic state, and death.¡± At that, I looked around at some of the shocked, horrified faces that stared at Mr.Calahan.

    ¡°Nowadays those symptoms have been mostly fixed, so you probably don¡¯t have anything to worry about.¡± He smiled reassuringly as if that helped anything.

    It didn¡¯t.

    An idea sprung into thought as I slowly raised my hand to signal Mr.Calahan.

    ¡°Yes?¡± He questioned.

    ¡°How do you know if someone gains powers, and what if the power they do get is so powerful it¡¯ll go supernova and take down the building?¡± I inquisitional as I slowly lowered my hand, aware of the entire room¡¯s eyes on me.

    ¡°Good question, for your first question we have some Sensors here at the facilities.¡± Seeing the others and my confused looks he clarified. ¡°Sensors are a not a well-known super as they are usually used in stakeouts and infiltration as they can sense if people are either a super or a normal person. They can sense your- for lack of a better word- aurous and the better ones can pinpoint whether it¡¯s an energy-based, physical based, mind based ability and other.¡±

    ¡°For your second question, it¡¯ll bring me to introduce my friend here Edwin.¡± He gestured to the old man behind him who I forgot even existed until now. Again the guys in front of me and others wore confused faces.

    ¡°Edwin (who not stepped up next to Mr.Calahan) is an older super who you may know as Equinox¡± People gasped as recognition struck me as I remembered. Equinox was a legend among supers and normal alike. One of the strongest supers in the past, with a power that was unprecedented at the time.

    Looking at the old man in a new light I listened to Mr.Calahan as he went on. ¡°The cells wear you¡¯ll be going to is made with powerful compact alloy which will withstand the attacks of even some of the supers today. Though in the case of one of you going ¡°supernova¡± that¡¯s when Edwin comes in. In case of an emergency, he is alerted and a force field will encase the subject and protect the lives of the people in this building as well as protect the subject him or herself.¡±

    That was a relief as at least I won¡¯t be murdered by another by the time summer is over.

    ¡°Great question¡± He checked his watch as he took a breath to start again ¡°That¡¯ll be the time right now, tomorrow be at the breakfast hall at eight where you need to be dressed in the clothes we provided, you¡¯ll be given the papers with info that you¡¯ll need for this summer and please be sure to-¡°

    His voice was being drowned by the buzz of the other guys around me, the girl was now talking with the guy in front of me. Oh well, I¡¯ll talk to her later. I gathered the finished forms and headed to the woman in now near the podium giving out papers.

    This was going to be interesting.

 Chapter Five

    Surprisingly enough, most of the building was underground, the floor level was comprised mostly of the mess hall, visitation, and the dorms. Or at least that¡¯s what we were told, the underground area where our tour guide (Marc, with a c I asked) took us was much more complex. After exiting the elevator, we went through the prep rooms, which lead to the control rooms (as they called it) where the ¡°treatment¡± would begin. He then led us down another dimly lit hallway that was surrounded by concrete on all sides except the ground which was tile. A minute later of walking he led us through some steel-enforced cells much like the control rooms earlier and stopped in one.

    ¡°These rooms are what you¡¯ll be spending most of your time after you receive your abilities. They¡¯re what we call the Classrooms. Here is where you¡¯ll be trained in controlling your abilities and what they may include.¡± He paused for a moment then went on.

    ¡°You may be grouped together with others with the same or similar abilities since you can compare what worked and didn¡¯t work with others. An example of grouping would be if we had two strong men and a shifter with properties of high density and strength. They would be paired together in the more general control classrooms, but they would have different specialized classes for their unique needs.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯ll all be explained more thoroughly later¡± he added as he saw some of the blank faces of the idiots in the crowd.

    With a dramatic flourish of his arm, he marched forward to the next designation of our tour.

    While we walked I struck up a conversation with the guy next to me. He was much shorter than I was but broad-chested, with combed to the side hair and a simple shirt and jeans he looked friendly enough.

    ¡°I¡¯m Chase¡± I struck out my hand to him. Which he accepted

    ¡°Julian¡± he responded nonchalantly.

    ¡°So, Julian, are you gonna enroll into Greensdale after this?¡± I questioned as we rounded another corner.¡±

    ¡°Well I gotta get through the program first, but yeah that¡¯s what I¡¯m thinking. You?¡± He glanced inquisitively at me.

    ¡°Basically, the same here, I¡¯m just hoping if I get an ability it isn¡¯t something useless.¡± I paused.

    ¡°Like turning fresh food rotten.¡± I joked.

    My voice echoed throughout the crowded hallway, my voice apparently carries much more than I anticipated. A few girls in front of me looked back at me like I just insulted their mother.

    I glanced back to Julian who was now chuckling at my expense.

    Oh well.

    Near the end of our tour, we reached the labs, Marc specifically told us not to go near or touch any of the things in the lab as they were extremely dangerous. Even though it was bolted shut, the way he looked at us as if we were mastermind terrorists. As if he didn¡¯t trust a group of sixteen-year old¡¯s with explosives or bio-weapons.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    After the labs, he stopped in front of another batch of elevators. We all crowded around him, the perfume of the girls around me crept up to me. Suffocating me, trying not to gag as I tried to listen to Marc.

    ¡°And that concludes our tour¡± Marc exclaimed as he flashed a smile at us as if we were the most beautiful things in the world. He checked his watch.

    ¡°Head over to the elevators than to the mess hall where you¡¯ll eat, then await further instruction¡± He commanded to our group which mumbled in reply.

    ¡°Then farewell mere mortals!¡± he yelled dramatically while raising his arm to the ceiling.

    ¡°For I am gone¡± he concluded in a dramatic tone while flourishing his hands upwards than down. Suddenly, in a shimmer of light, he was gone.

    A beat passed.

    ¡°Damn¡± My voice rung out once again.

    This time, no one really cared.

    Later

    After dinner, all of us headed down to our dorms where we¡¯ll be staying for the rest of the summer. The dorms were split into two wings the left were the girls and the right were the boys, which were separated by a sort of large commons area. The commons area had couches chairs and a flat screen mounted on the wall which I thought was pretty luxurious. A few girls hung around in the commons but I went straight to my dorm.

    The dorm was basically two rooms with bunk beds on each side, with a bathroom to one side. I headed to my room and stepped inside. And behold, coincidentally Julian sat on the lower bunk unpacking his things.

    ¡°Whats up bro¡± I greeted him as I dropped my bag on my floor.

    He grunted in response as he rifled through his suitcase looking for something.

    As I unzipped my suitcase I started to think about tomorrow. I probably didn¡¯t understand what was coming the next day. What I¡¯d experience, could, in fact, kill me. Physically or mentally, really to me, it didn¡¯t matter. Anything short of death wouldn¡¯t stop me, I owed it to Andre, to myself. I glanced back at Julian who was still rummaging through his bag.

    I quickly threw my bag to the unoccupied top bunk and grabbed my clothes and toothbrush and headed to the bathroom, which was thankfully open. I had to be ready for whatever they threw my way.

    As the saying went.

    No pain no gain.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, in a dark, damp, and dire place.

    It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had hope. Or any kind of emotion for that matter, other than anger. There are two types of anger. Hot anger and cold anger. One type lashes out at others around you, quick as a whip, faster than shattered glass. Anger that comes and goes in an instant, it¡¯s powerful but short-lived.

    Then there¡¯s cold anger. One that slowly fills up inside of you, feeding from itself and thriving under pain. A snake slowly coiling itself waiting to strike, it¡¯s venom becoming exponentially more powerful as time goes on, no. As the pain goes on, festering in me. Waiting. To strike.

    He used to watch the discovery channel, how animals fought for control of their territory. How they fought to survive for themselves and their family. He thought he understood what those animals were doing. Their savagery was something born with, something that was instinct. He used to watch the news, how serial killers murdered one after the other. He felt sick, how could someone do that to others. He thought those were just the few that were sick because humans went like that. They didn¡¯t have the savagery that animals possessed. He knew better now, all humans had it that instinct. Buried deep inside ready to be released.

    He was ready to be released, both from his physical, and metaphysical prison.

    He could remember when he felt untouchable. Nothing in the world could affect him. That was a false ideology. Though now, now he felt different. Not quite as¡­ Innocent you could say. Something in him had snapped. He no longer struggled, he enjoyed it. He experienced. the way he felt his body pulse and tense. Throbbing pain writhing throughout, he used to hate pain. To fear it. What it could bring, what it can destroy. And what can be born from its ashes.

    His mind, no his soul you could say, was touched. Touched not by what he used to believe was God. No, he stopped believing long ago. What he believed, knew, what he was given. Something sharp. Something powerful. Something to be feared. Something cold.

    As the saying went.

    No pain, no gain.

 Chapter Six

    ¡°Bathroom¡¯s open¡± Julian announced as he sauntered into the room.

    There was a point during the night where I just couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Julian was the loudest snorer I¡¯ve ever heard, no less I''ve ever endured. The noises that came out of him were so unbelievable that at first, I thought he was having a stroke. After some trial and error, I discovered that if I hit him softly with the pillow it would silence his snores for a minute or so. Although after a while instead of hitting him with the pillow, I contemplated snuffing him out with the pillow.

    ¡°Alright, thanks¡± I mumbled groggily.

    I grabbed the one-piece suit and my phone that lay next to me and hopped off of my messed-up bed. The suit was made of a sleek black material with a zipper that went down the front. Some of the facilities maids apparently delivered the ¡°uniform¡± in the morning for the sessions today before I woke up.

    I maneuvered around Julian and headed down the hall to the bathroom. On my way there, the other room connecting to the hallway was slightly ajar. While wondering whether I was going to meet my dorm-mates today I reached the bathroom door and pushed it open. I was still tired from last night as per my usual routine, I always listen to music in the shower to energize me for the day.

    After the shower, I returned back to my room feeling refreshed, albeit still tired.

    ¡°Wanna head over for breakfast?¡± Julian questioned me as I entered the room. He was wearing the same suit that I was wearing, he wrung his wrists and his eyes darted to the door occasionally.

    I checked my watch it was fifteen minutes till eight. My heart started beating a little harder in my chest as anxiousness built up from the wait.

    ¡°Yeah just give me a sec,¡± I quickly grabbed my shoes which lay just before the door and slipped them on.

    ¡°Let''s go,¡± We strode off together toward the mess hall, the other roommates must¡¯ve left early since I still didn¡¯t see them.

    After a minute of slightly awkward silence, Julian spoke up what I guess had been on his mind since this morning.

    ¡°Are you nervous?¡± He stuttered.

    I glanced at him, slight beads of sweat glistened off his forehead. he anxiously fidgeted with the front of his suit all while looking at me.

    ¡°Eh not really, mostly excited¡± His face fell slightly as if hoping I¡¯d feel the same.

    Oops.

    ¡°But that what makes us human. Without fear, we would be decimated by enemies and by each other.¡± Now I was just quoting from random books and hoping it would make sense. I went on ¡°We¡¯ll be fine¡­ Well as much as we¡¯ll ever be in this program¡±

    Julian seemed to brighten up a bit after we talked, but we finally reached the mess hall. We arrived with a few other people that wore identical suits to what we were wearing. When I first put on the suit I was worried that it was a bit too snug around my body. But after seeing some of the girls wearing it¡­ I think I¡¯ll tolerate them for now.

    Since I was in front of the group I held out the door to let them pass through before entering myself. Julian and I sat together in muted silence as we took the time to gather our wits before we started.

    Just like last night, the food was alright, they didn¡¯t serve any dairy products so no cereal (for obvious reasons) but today I didn¡¯t seem to have much of an appetite. Dull conversations were whispered around, the air thick with tension.

    My mind wandered to when I was younger, when I read about the stories of heroes saving cities from crooks and thugs. They were the embodiment of power, of a savior. Would I ever be like them? There had to be something more to a super than just having superpowers.

    I fiddled with his ham sandwich until a woman with a microphone spoke.

    ¡°Hello everyone, I am Ms.Daladona.¡± she paused smiling brightly at the crowd. She wore a long flowing dress with her hair tied up in a bun.

    ¡°Please finish up eating and head over to the elevators for further instruction¡± and with that, she left.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Everyone stood up in unison, I swallowed the last of my sandwich and hurried over to the already crowded trash can. With everyone in their black suits, it looked like we were some type of yoga fitness trainers. Wincing slightly at the memory of my failures at flexibility I threw my stuff away.

    Everyone quickly filed through the doors and toward the elevators. Through the hustle and bustle, I lost Julian pretty quickly.

    Oh well.

    When we finally made it to the elevator hallway my heart was beating with anticipation. I wiped my now slightly moist palms on my thighs and looked up to the Ms.Daladona who stood in front of the elevators but now without the microphone.

    ¡°We will now call out your names and your prep room number. From now on the prep room number, you¡¯ll get is the same one you¡¯ll use for the rest of your time here.¡±

    ¡°Any questions?¡± She inquired looking beyond the crowd, her silky voice washing over us. She then raised a clipboard that I didn¡¯t notice until now and started calling off names.

    ¡±Craig Applebarry A1, Frasier, Bejon A2,¡å She went on listing off names, the crowd started to thin out as peoples names were called. Until finally, ¡°Chase Millers C2¡±.

    ¡°Good luck man,¡± A deep voice went from behind me.

    I turned to slightly to face him. He was black with a muscular body and a sharp buzz cut hair. I had no idea who it was but his good will to a stranger was nice.

    ¡°You too,¡± I then squeezed through the crowd to the elevator that was labeled ¡°C¡± and stepped inside alongside two others I didn¡¯t recognize. We stood facing the elevator door in silence, waiting for the doors to slide open. We soon parted ways to our respective rooms and I stepped inside.

    The room was a bit bigger than my dorm room, with a chair similar to that you¡¯ fine at a dentist with a tray of cotton balls, needles, and other amenities. There was a sink, a desk with a high-tech computer that sat upon it and a painting of an ocean on the wall. For whatever reason, a painting was in the prep room. The room was vacant so I opted to lay on the chair for the time being.

    Just as I sat down the door that I entered opened once again. A woman, clad in a white nurse¡¯s attire walked in.

    ¡°How are you today Chase?¡± she asked in a cheerful voice while she slipped on some latex gloves.

    ¡°Good,¡± I mumbled in reply still eyeing the needles next to me.

    She rummaged through the drawers of the sink until she grabbed a small vial of a clear liquid. She then selected one of the larger needles on the tray next to me and started to fill it up with the liquid in the vial.

    ¡°After being injected with the serum the effects will start to appear in approximately one minute. Before it starts you¡¯ll enter the control chamber.¡± She instructed as she held the needle to the light.

    ¡°Where are you going to stick that into?¡± I asked, the needle itself was an inch but an inch is an inch.

    ¡°There is a small vein on the back of your neck which leads throughout the body and most importantly the brain. I¡¯m going to need you to be still for this¡± She instructed while dipping a cotton ball into alcohol (to sterilize the area which I already knew).

    ¡°Any questions before I start?¡± She questioned.

    ¡°Actually ye-¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± that¡¯s when the needle plunged into my neck.

    The pain was sharp but dulled to a non-existent pain after a few seconds. After a few seconds, the needle exited my body.

    ¡°You know that wasn¡¯t that bad,¡± I commented getting up stretching my limbs a bit.

    ¡°Into the control chamber,¡± She commanded guiding me to the door and slightly pushing me in. I turned to face the now slammed door behind me. A small click reverberated throughout the room, which I assumed meant she locked it.

    ¡°That escalated quickly,¡± I sighed to myself.

    I exhaled softly, letting the darkness shadow me until something started to shift. My eyesight sharpened, my heart started to pump faster. My sensors started to overload with senses, I could hear the minute breathing of someone else in the room hidden in the shadows. Fear started to build up on me. I knew it was the drug but it didn¡¯t matter if it was nonrational.

    The darkness surrounded me, suffocating me. The shadows danced around, each shadow a monster, a fog seemed to fall onto my mind, now my heart was beating in my throat. Picture the worst nightmare you ever had, no picture it ten times more vivid.

    Suddenly, a kick hit the back of my knees dropping me to the ground like I was praying. The pain spiked through my body, I only had time to take in another breath when a fist connected squarely with my stomach. Again pain erupted throughout my body, my breaths came heavy, barely being able to breathe as my diaphragm felt paralyzed.

    After being pummeled while boxing I thought I understood what it meant to feel pain. If these two strikes brought me to my knees, did I really belong here? Through the pain and my instincts screaming at me to run, to fight, to do something!

    Screaming I scrambled to my feet, I whipped my body around trying to discern what was happening. This time I saw it coming, maybe it was the fear, adrenaline, or the drug that did it but I saw it. A large man¡¯s right fist curling toward my jaw, instincts kicked in and I threw my arms up in a defensive position to block my head and upper torso. What I then felt hurt more than anything in my life, his knuckles were stone. The impact of his fist decimated my left forearms bone. The second strike hit my right shoulder, dislocating it.

    I cried out, the speed was too much, the pain too much. My body¡¯s nerves were on fire, each pump of the blood spiked the pain throughout my body. Once again I fell to the ground landing on my shattered elbow. My silent torturer said nothing, stood there watching my misery. The masked man then kicked me even harder in the stomach. My instincts screamed at me to get away. But all I could do was take it, blood liquid started to fill my mouth and throat, choking me.

    He then pulled me up to him, face to face. I stared dazedly into his eyes, abyssal black eyes stared back without mercy. With his right hand lifting me up he swung with his left, hitting me straight in the jaw. At that point, I didn¡¯t fall unconscious.

    I wished I did.

 Chapter Seven

    ¡°Jesus Christ¡± I whispered to myself.

    My frown deepened as I read more and more of Chase¡¯s chart.

    ¡°Three broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, broken jaw, multiple contusions, massive concussion, fourteen other broken bones, internal bleeding, and that¡¯s just half of what''s wrong with him¡± I exclaimed in surprise.

    ¡°He¡¯s got a hell of a chin I¡¯ll tell you that¡± Mr.Richards added in his gruff voice. He seemingly reappeared out of nowhere behind me. For someone so old he could sneak like a trained, and untrained ninja.

    I nodded absentmindedly, the beating he took was tremendous. Mr.Richards even ordered a healer to fix him up, because even with the high tech that some super-geniuses cooked up couldn¡¯ t cope with the number of injuries Chase possessed.

    I glanced back up to Chase while simultaneously handing Mr.Richards the med chart. He was under some Temazepam to help him sleep. Chase was the only one left in the infirmary as he was the only one injured enough to deserve treatment. Currently, Chase was heavily bandaged but in a few hours, he should be fine physically. Well mostly.

    ¡°This kid got some iron balls,¡± Mr.Richards commented, now moving to the bedside.

    ¡°He actually tried to fight back,¡± He pointed to the defensive wounds on the forearms and the bruising on his knuckles that had begun to form.

    ¡°Who dealt the beating on Chase?¡± I asked Mr.Richards as I went to the other side of the bed.

    ¡°Uh-¡± Mr.Richards checked the chart.

    ¡°Dammit it was Jeff,¡± he grumbled.

    I blinked.

    ¡°Who¡¯s,¡± I started again.

    ¡°He shows no mercy, he used to be a hero but retired recently. Even though he won''t admit it Jeff''s a bit messed up from his time as a Hero, so don''t mention it to him, ''though he is a tough love kind of guy. But in a way, I guess it¡¯s a good match for Chase.¡±

    Mr.Richards continued to inspect chase like one of his experiments. A few questions started to nag him. Since he this was his first year working for the project he was still foggy on some answers. Just as Mr.Richards began to poke at Chase¡¯s toes I spoke up.

    ¡°How come he didn¡¯t gain abilities but the other girl did? She didn¡¯t get nearly as pummeled as Chase.¡± I questioned him, curiosity getting the better of me.

    From the entire group of patients, only one became a super after the first one. A girl named Ashley is now classified as a crafted energy manipulator. Midway through the ¡°treatment¡±, she developed multiple energy tendrils that wrapped themselves around the woman who gave the beating. Fortunately, the woman quickly knocked her out to release her from the tendrils. Her preliminary testing began tonight but so far she had the potential to become a high tier super.

    This time Mr.Richards stopped completely and turned to face me. He paused, his wrinkled skin around his eyes creased as he squinted in thought. Seconds ticked by, the only sound in the room was the beeping of the heart monitor.

    Finally, as what felt like an eternity the old man spoke up.

    ¡°Since I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re talking about Ashley, there are some theories on why this happens but there¡¯s one that stands out. We¡¯ve found that as much as the power is genetic how it comes out is different for each person.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    He was becoming more invigorated now, speaking with strong gestures of his hands.

    ¡°When a baby is born it¡¯s a blank slate, throughout its life the baby will develop different tolerances physically, mentally, and emotionally. From what we¡¯ve learned every person has the possibility to develop abilities. Their body and mind will tolerate whatever it can to whatever limit without becoming stronger. This tolerance level differs from person to person based on their experiences as well. Ashley¡¯s tolerance level was easily challenged by the combination of the fear and pain, which pushed her to a whole new level to deal with the adversity. While Chase took everything and wasn¡¯t pushed to and past his limit until he eventually passed out.¡±

    Mr.Richards took a breath, obviously very passionate about what he was talking about and I could see why. This was fascinating to say the very least, how behavioral and the physical sciences could clash in such a way was astounding.

    ¡°This is also the reason why statistically girls have a twenty percent higher chance to develop powers than a boy. Some scientists believe since the testosterone in the male¡¯s body is so much higher than females, it pushes them to a higher tolerance level, since in ancient times they were made as the protector or aggressor. Which is most likely why they were given a higher tolerance by mother nature.¡±

    ¡°But that-¡± I was about to argue with what he said until he cut me off with another swipe of his hand.

    The cutoffs were starting to grind my gears.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t account nowadays as abilities mostly eliminated this issue in supers. Since it doesn¡¯t matter the gender if you can tank a missile and walk away unscathed. Though some people still argue about women being a hero they quickly get shut up when they save their sorry asses from terrorist attacks.¡± He finished gravelly.

    Nodding in agreement it made sense what he said. One of the most powerful beings in the world was Tempest, a woman hero who had the ability to generate high category hurricanes.

    ¡°Now even if Chase ever achieves his goal of becoming a super he could develop a seemingly weak power. But it¡¯s not so much the power as it is the person who wields it¡±

    Mr.Richards finished with a wink.

    ¡°Now refill the iv fluids bag we got some testing on Ashley to do¡± He ordered as he walked off.

    I glanced back at Chase, his chest rising and falling with each steady breath. I hoped he made it through, if he shows the same results in the next few days they were going to have to dial it up a notch.

    And no one wants that.

    <hr>

    I didn¡¯t know what to do. I would¡¯ve probably sat with Chase again for lunch but he was nowhere to be found. The small seed of worry began to blossom in his chest as he looked around the mess hall for a place to sit and eat.

    He didn¡¯t want to be the loser who sat by himself so he had to man up and pick a seat. He scanned the tables, there was a seat open next to some of the dudes and a table open with only a girl sitting by herself looking lonely. From those two options, it should¡¯ve been obvious, sit with the guys and have some friends to sit with. Or make a fool of himself in front of a cute girl.

    He marched forward with confidence and sat down. in front of the girl. You¡¯re smooth Julian, you¡¯re smooth and confident. I thought to myself as I introduced my self.

    ¡°I¡¯m uh...¡± I started. I started to panic¡­

    She glanced up obviously waiting for me to finish.

    ¡°Julian¡± I finished with a sigh. I mentally slapped myself on the forehead at my stupid-ness.

    ¡°Ashley¡± She looked up at me flashing me a bright smile. She had blond hair that almost seemed pure gold, she had a tan with an athletic build. But most of all her eyes. They had a kaleidoscope of colors. Amber brown, with a bright gold that seemed to glow as I stared at them. I blinked realizing I was staring, I quickly looked down to hide the blush that was creeping up on my face.

    She pierced some of her salad on her fork and started to eat. I looked down at my burger, I knew I should¡¯ve sat with the guys. Oh well, maybe she heard about Chase?

    ¡°So Ashley do you know where my friend Chase is? He didn¡¯t show up after the-¡± I grimaced as I remembered my own beating, I was still sore, and my back screamed in agony whenever I bent down.

    ¡°The beating¡± I finished as I took a bite out of my burger.

    It took a few strained seconds for her to swallow her food. I silently chastised myself for not waiting longer before asking.

    Finally, she answered¡±I heard there was a guy who¡¯s still in the infirmary maybe that¡¯s Chase¡±

    ¡°Oh¡±

    Worry spread throughout me once more, I hadn¡¯t known him for long but he was nice to me. That was nice for a change.

    A couple minutes passed in awkward silence as I thought of another conversation starter until I came up with the absolutely golden starter.

    ¡°Anything new with you?¡± I questioned with confidence.

    She smirked slightly at this like she just heard a joke that only she knew. That smirk though made his heart flutter slightly.

    ¡°Well, there is this one thing¡­¡±

 Chapter Eight

    The first thing I noticed was the steady electronic beeping. I slowly opened my eyes to the brightly lit room that I slowly recognized as the infirmary. From what I could see tubes that carried a glass-clear liquid connected from my forearm to a high-tech machine with bright blue lights and an array of buttons and levers. I ripped the oxygen tube that was stuck into each of my nostrils. Pain rippled through my shoulder and down to my knuckles. Anger coursed next as I attempted to sit fully up, this time my entire upper torso tensed up with the strained agony. I plopped softly back onto the bed¡¯s uncomfortable mattress as the memories came flooding back.

    ¡°Aw damn¡± I mumbled to no one in particular as began to fully become aware of the state I was in.

    ¡°Good to see you¡¯re awake Chase¡± A familiar cheerful voice came as the door opened to the opposite of my bed (which was near a desk filled with knick-knacks and forms).

    The same nurse that injected me with the serum now stood next to my bed checking a chart this time though I noticed her name tag which read Ms. Terise.

    ¡°Terrible¡± I answered with distaste as I tried flexing my arm without any discomfort but to no avail as what felt like knives digging into my muscles and bones.

    ¡°Looks like you got hurt pretty bad out there¡± She commented as she put down the chart and started to check my pulse. Not knowing how to respond I just nodded my head in agreement and sat there in silence.

    Several minutes ticked by as Ms.Terise went through different tests onto me, she shined a light onto my eyes, checked my breathing with a stethoscope, checked my blood pressure, until I broke the unnerving silence.

    ¡°What¡¯s the time¡± I questioned as I looked around the infirmary looking for a clock which ended unsuccessfully. Like why isn¡¯t there a clock in here?

    After checking her watch she answered, ¡°almost four¡±.

    A few realizations hit me at that moment as I considered what that meant. First, it meant that I missed my first class today (which started at two and ended now). I¡¯m normally ecstatic when I miss a class but this was different, this was something I needed to be at if I wanted to learn more about being a super and what it entails. Second, it meant that I was in the infirmary for several hours as I was comatose since the beating around nine. Which was a long time, especially since I was the only one in here. Which worried me.

    ¡°But what about my class? It ends like, now¡± I exclaimed to Ms.Terise who was now poking my toes with a small needle. She looked up momentarily and around as if searching for something.

    She then pointed to a stack of folders on the small table next to me (Which the heart monitor also lay on).

    ¡°Everything gone over in the class is in the folders where you can review them.¡± She answered as she seemingly finished with her tests.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± She questioned sincerely.

    ¡°Does that mean that everyone else in the program was fine after the uh- time in the control rooms?¡± I asked with some hesitation.

    ¡°Yes, the rest of the members received minimal healing afterward and were able to continue through the day.¡± She answered once again, her eyes seemed to twinkle in pity as she looked at me.

    The seed of doubt that was buried deep within started to sprout as I contemplated what that meant. Does this mean everyone else was strong enough to go through what I did and walked it off? Were they more resistant to the drug, or could they take it better than me? Does this mean that everyone was just stronger than me, or just that I was so weak that I was the only one that needed intensive healing?

    She clasped her hands together with a new smile plastered on her face ¡°It¡¯s ok for you to go now since you¡¯ve been healed of your more intensive injuries there may be some slight symptoms so be careful¡± She exclaimed, now back into her cheerful voice.

    I grabbed the desk onto my left pushing myself into the up position, my body tensed up a new wave of pain pulsed through my sore body. By the time I was in the sitting position I was panting heavily.

    ¡°Oh sorry! I forgot they prohibited the use of painkillers for treatment¡± She said.

    ¡°huh¡± I glanced at her in confusion as she facepalmed herself.

    ¡°The painkillers and the serum we give you could have a chemical reaction which induces-¡° She stopped herself ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter, her let me help¡± She walked around the bed to my side and grabbed my hand. Even more confused now I watched her as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

    After a few moments, I noticed it, from her shoulder a small glow appeared that intensified as it traveled down her arm and into her hand. The light showed there for a moment until to my surprise it traveled into me and throughout my body. Instantly my body started to relax, muscles unclenched, and the pain resided to a dull throbbing.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°Woah, thanks!¡± I said as I stretched my arms grinning as I had more or less full usage of my extremities. Which I was very thankful for.

    ¡°Your clothes are in the bathroom so you can change out of your robe¡±

    I glanced down for the first time noticing the robe that wasn¡¯t covering my body too much. I quickly grabbed the folders and headed to the bathroom on the other side of the infirmary. I used the bathroom and changed quickly but I used a few minutes to center myself. I splashed some water onto my face and got ready to meet Julian and some other people.

    As I walked out of the infirmary I decided to head to the commons. While I walked I started to skim through the files. From what I could tell the start of it was just covering what they¡¯ll go through but there were some interesting articles included about supers that I¡¯ll be definitely reading later. After a short trek through the grounds, I finally made it to the commons.

    I closed the files that I was reading and tucked them under my arm as I opened the door to reveal the common room. More than a dozen others milled around the room, some watched the tv while others were talking animatedly.

    My eyes swept across the room until I found my target. Julian was sitting with surprisingly a girl, and coincidentally Julian noticed me. I closed the still open door behind me and started walking forward to meet Julian who has already stood up.

    When he got there Julian spoke up first ¡°Hey, where were you? You missed lunch and our first Class!¡±

    ¡°I was in the infirmary after I got beat up but I¡¯m fine¡± I answered jokingly, there was no reason not to look strong. Especially not in front of a girl. I glanced back at the girl that Julian was recently talking too. And hot damn, she was beautiful.

    ¡°Ok cool¡± Julian visibly relaxed.

    ¡°Are you going to introduce me to your friend?¡± I asked Julian with a smirk. He fiddled with the bottom of his shirt as he looked back at Ashely.

    ¡°Oh yeah, this is Ashley. Ashley meet Chase. Chase, Ashely¡± He gestured to her than me.

    I stook my hand out and she shook it ¡°Nice to meet you Chase¡± She said with a smile.

    A silence stretched out as I dropped myself into a chair to the opposite of Ashely and Julian as well as putting my folders down next to me.

    ¡°So how¡¯d you guys fare in our delightful torturing,¡± I asked jokingly to both Ashely and Julian.

    Both Julian and Ashely glanced at each other like they were sharing an inside joke. I raised an eye quizzically at Julian.

    ¡°Well nothing special happened to me but Ashely on the other hand¡­¡± He trailed off.

    Could she be¡­

    She blushed scarlet red, something I found immensely cute.

    ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t going to say anything but yeah. I¡¯m now technically a Super¡± She beamed with pride.

    ¡°Can you describe what happened?¡± I asked while leaning in as I got interested.

    ¡°Sure.  I was a few minutes though as I was told after but to me, it felt like forever. I was¡­ I was hurting pretty bad in my stomach as I was kicked a few times by a masked woman.¡± She grimaced at the thought but kept going on. ¡°I was getting desperate, the woman then grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me into the wall. That was the moment I felt something just click like a missing puzzle piece was finally being reunited with the rest of the puzzle. And what I call my tentacles just came out!¡±

    I blinked wondering if I heard right.

    ¡°Your tentacles?¡± I asked tentatively.

    ¡°Yeah want to see?¡± She grinned mischievously.

    As I nodded she stood up and raised her arms to shoulder length like she was about to conduct an orchestra. A few seconds passed by as me and Julian waited. Then ever so suddenly two tendrils snaked up from her torso, around her arms, and passed through her hands elongating until it was at least four feet in front of her floating in the air. The tendrils or tentacles I should say was beautiful in its own way. They were colored like molten gold, shining like the sun above us.

    ¡°Woah, so you¡¯re an energy manipulator?¡± Julian questioned in awe. Apparently, he knew she was a Super but didn¡¯t ask to clarify what kind of Super she was. A group started crowding around us watching the spectacle.

    ¡°Yeah, when I was tested they found I can use them like whips or used to wrap around someone. Kinda like a boa constrictor wrapping around its prey!¡± She explained cheerfully.

    ¡°But I¡¯m also having trouble with more than two right now.¡± She added.

    One of the guys behind me spoke up ¡°Do something with it¡±

    ¡°Okay¡± She grinned obviously enjoying the attention. She looked around a little bit until she looked down at me and my chair.

    ¡°Wait what¡¯re you gonna-¡° I started but it was too late.

    The tentacles elongated as she focused on the chair. They grew longer and thicker, stretching forward towards my chair. I quickly lifted my legs up to avoid being wrapped, they twisted and twirled around my chair until suddenly I achieved liftoff. It was slow at first, but slowly and surely I rose until I was a couple feet off the ground. I wobbled slightly but I was indeed floating. Light applause rung through the roam as we were all suitably impressed.

    But then shit got real.

    One of the legs of the chair snapped beneath me, Ashely now panicking started to try to release me. Something must¡¯ve gone wrong in the unraveling or something because the rest of the legs splintered than broke off to the center where gravity took hold of the chair once again.

    The crash of the chair shattered beneath my weight startled everyone.

    Most of all me. The pain that I felt when I woke up earlier came back, now even more intensified. Anger flashed through me as the pain fed it. My back spasmed slightly as the pain throbbed with each beat of my heart.

    Everyone crowded around and over me.

    ¡°That was a doozy¡± I mumbled elongating the oo sound.

    ¡°Are you okay? I¡¯m really sorry I don¡¯t have that much control and I got carried away and now you¡¯re hurt and its all my fault and-¡° She was speaking rapidly now, obviously panicking over what she¡¯d done.

    In any different situation, I would¡¯ve been touched by her care. But the other intense feelings I was experiencing shut out that out.

    ¡°Everyone step back give him some space¡± An adult voice commanded.

    I looked up seeing a massive guy saunter forward and through the crowd to look over me. Something was oddly familiar about him.

    ¡° Do we need to bring you to the infirmary¡± Thankfully he neglected to add the silent ¡°again¡± at the end sparing me the humiliation.

    I rolled over to one side ¡°No I¡¯m fine just help me up¡± I asked as I raised a hand up. He quickly grabbed it and raised me up.

    ¡°You sure?¡±

    ¡°Yup. Peachy¡± I answered as I hobbled next to Ashely.

    I put a hand on her shoulder ¡°Its okay I¡¯m fine¡± and then without waiting for an answer I limped back to my room to get some much-needed rest. As well as some ice.

    Lots of ice.

 Chapter Nine

    I used to think that you could accomplish anything if you put the work in. Whenever I started any sort of sport or activity that involved competition I was never the best. There was always someone was was more experienced, more talented, more fit that bested me. But I put the effort in, I did what they wouldn¡¯t do. I trained an hour longer, I rested less, I put in more effort. That¡¯s what made me push and claw to beat them.

    But when no matter how hard you work, how much you sweat you can¡¯t beat something that isn¡¯t up to you. All Ashley had to do was get kicked around a bit and bam she becomes something special, while I go through hell and all I get is sore. There¡¯s no point to be pointing fingers and saying it isn¡¯t fair. From what I learned so far life isn¡¯t fair and I¡¯ve got to deal with that.

    But maybe I¡¯m over-reacting as its only the morning of the second day. As per usual I grabbed my stuff and headed over to the bathroom. I took a shower, brushed my teeth, got dressed, and opened my door to greet two guys. One wore a disgusted sneer as he looked at me, the way he held himself reminded me of all the bullies who thought they were superior to others. Instantly I disliked him, the other was familiar as I met him yesterday before I went into the prep room.

    ¡°Finnally, if you¡¯re done primping yourself asshole I can take my shower,¡± he said intentionally hitting my shoulder as he pushed past me into the bathroom. Irritation pulsed through me as I clenched my fist. It took a few seconds to get back into control, in times of stress I develop a slight temper that I have to control. I knew I only took ten minutes for everything

    ¡°I¡¯m going to have to apologize for my roommate Mack, he can be quite a jerk at times,¡± the black guy said as he stook his hand out which I shook.

    ¡°I¡¯m Jayden by the way¡± he went on.

    ¡°Chase, so you guys are my roommates?¡± I moved away from the door now as the shower could be heard being turned on behind me in the bathroom.

    ¡°Yes, we didn¡¯t get to introduce ourselves yesterday due to us leaving at a different time¡± he said.I nodded as I heard Julian calling from our room to ask why I was taking so long. ¡°Ok man see you later¡±

    ¡°Ok man see you later,¡± I said as I shifted to leave to my room.

    ¡°Yeah, you too¡± he replied as the door opened behind me to reveal the sneering face of Mack.

    ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± He questioned in such a way like he was accusing me of a crime when in reality I was just standing there chatting. I felt that moment where I wanted to punch him straight in the face and gloat in his defeat. But really I just walked back to my room with an impassive look on my face.

    Julian and I went for lunch until we parted ways to our respective control rooms. Just like yesterday, the room was empty, I sat down into the reclinable chair waiting once again. I fiddled with my suit feeling the smooth texture until I heard the door open.

    ¡°Good morning Chase! Glad to see you still here¡± She said brightly as she walked over to the tray of needles that lay beside me.

    ¡°Good morning¡± I replied as I frowned, it sounded like she thought I¡¯d quit or be in a hospitable somewhere licking my wounds.

    ¡°Why did you think I wouldn¡¯t be here?¡± I asked as she filled a needle with the serum.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant silly,¡± She said chuckling nervously.

    But before I said anything else she plunged the needle into my neck, a little bit more forcefully than yesterday I felt. She led me to the door and pushed me in once again. I was starting to feel like she was hiding something. Or maybe she just really didn¡¯t like questions.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    Once again it took some time for the drug to kick in but this time it hit me harder than I remembered. It was silent, but suddenly massive hands grabbed my arms forcing them behind me rooting me in place. I struggled with all my might but against the unmoving figure and his iron lock resistance seemed futile.

    As silent as a cat in the shadows in the night, a soft glow appeared in front of me. It burned brighter and brighter till Its shine allowed me to see what was happening. A person (a woman I presume) stood before me, with an outstretched hand that held a flame.

    A deep blue at its core and bright orange around that, the flame grew larger, now encompassing her entire hand. Shadows danced around me as the flame grew larger until finally, it sprung forward towards me.

    The flames licked my body as the staggering heat burned my skin. The heat left my mouth dry, and my hair singed. Eventually, the screams were drowned out by the crackling of flames now an inferno. What made it worse is as my vision started to darken they the flames withdrew to allow me to stay conscious. In a way, it was a blessing and a curse, as it gave me time to breathe fresh air not thick with soot or ash. But it kept me awake to deal with the agony of the flames merciless grip on the strings of my person.

    I had to do something, to snuff out the fire that burned. But as much as I pushed the wall that separated me from the endowment of power it never wavered.

    <

    >

    Again I lay in the infirmary, but now with curtains drawn around me. I tested my body slightly moving it in different directions to get a feel for my body. The raw pink skin slightly hurt when I moved but the pain wasn¡¯t as bad as yesterday. I quickly ripped off the tubing on me and sat up. This time there was my clothes and my phone already on the desk next to me.

    I quickly got changed and checked the time. Surprisingly I could still make it Class, even though I missed lunch I headed over to the Classroom. I knew I should be feeling proud of making it through the second day but I couldn¡¯t help but feel disapointment for nothing happening. It took a few minutes since I took the stairs but eventually I got there five minutes before the specified arrival time.

    I entered the Classroom and was immediately face to face with Mack. His face twisted into a grimace as he noticed me.

    ¡°Why¡¯re you so red? Spend too much time in the sun?¡± He asked sarcasm all but dripping from his voice. I didn¡¯t know what his problem was with me but he was really starting to grind my gears. But before I could respond I heard a familiar voice call out from the murmuring of conversations floating around the room.

    ¡°Hey Chase over here¡± Julian¡¯s voice called out as he waving towards him and Jayden. Without even looking at Mach I walked past him toward Julian. The way the classroom was set up was different from a school classroom. Instead of desks and chairs, benches lining the walls the center bare. I sat next to Julian and Jayden who were glad that I was able to attend a class.

    ¡°Why are you so red?¡± Julian asked nervously as he scratched the back of his head.

    ¡°Because of the fire. I¡¯m surprised you guys aren¡¯t sporting the same¡± I answered as I looked at both of them more closely. Aside from a few bruises here and there they seemed fine.

    ¡°What fire?¡± Jayden asked obviously confused. But before I could elaborate on what I meant an authoritative voice spoke up.

    ¡°Everyone quiet down we are about to begin¡± I turned my head to face the man talking in the middle, to my surprise it was the same man I saw on my first day here. It was Mr.Richards. Instantly the room grew quiet which was an impressive feat given that we were a bunch of teenagers.

    ¡°Yesterday we talked about what we¡¯ll be going over during your time here. Today is special since we normally don¡¯t get to this point until later but this is as good a time as any¡± Mr.Richards said as he glanced around the room. Most of the people here sported confused faces as we didn¡¯t really know what was going on.

    ¡°Today you¡¯ll witness how the testing of your power goes. Hopefully, each and every one of you will experience it, It¡¯s indubitably important for you to understand your limits.¡± He paused briefly before going on.

    ¡°Most people here aspire to be heroes, protecting the innocent from the villainous doings of people out there. To be a hero means many things, but most of all it means understanding yourself and your limits. I¡¯ve seen many a hero fall due to cockiness of their own strength and power.¡±

    His gravelly voice carried on as we listened ¡°Being a superhero isn¡¯t about how rare or flashy it is. A tool is only as powerful as the wielder and being a Super is no different. It¡¯s a matter of life and death, to yourself as well as to others¡± Mr. Richards explained.

    ¡°Now off to the viewing room¡± he commanded as he stomped out of the room, obviously expected for us to follow.

 Chapter Ten

    It was food for thought, Mr.Richards made some good points but it was stuff to ponder later. For now, my interest was piqued for the testing process. I¡¯ve been setting my expectations at not even getting powers so if or when I don¡¯t receive them I won¡¯t be as crushed. But I let myself wonder what it would be like, and what the testing would be like.

    ¡°The process of testing will certainly be informative as well as entertaining,¡± Jayden said calmly.

    ¡°I wonder how they do the testing though, do they change it per power or is it more general?¡± I questioned him as we followed the crowd down the hall.

    ¡°Most likely it will vary per since an Elementalist will have different strengths and weaknesses than say someone who can influence time.¡± I nodded in agreement since he had a good point.

    ¡°Maybe he¡¯ll have super speed!¡± Julian quipped.

    ¡°Or maybe she will have telekinesis,¡± A familiar voice said from behind us emphasizing on the word she.

    Julian face turned a slight red at hearing this ¡°Yeah that too¡­¡±. Ashley moved from behind us and to

    Ashley moved from behind us and to our side as we turned another corner. ¡°Chase are you okay? Yesterday you seemed kinda outta whack¡± She asked. When she looked at me I saw a flicker in her face as she noticed the redness in my skin, but unlike Julian, she had the courtesy not to comment on it as she probably figured I knew.

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry about it¡± I waved her off with a smile. I lapsed into silence while Ashely and Jayden talked about what they thought what the testing would be like. After another minute we finally made it to the metal viewing room door. We all stopped and crowded around Mr.Richard who typed in a code into the lock pad next to the door and swung the door open.

    We quickly entered the room and filtered around. The room was was spacious with a massive window in front of us which allowed us to see beyond into what I assumed was the dark testing area. Everyone had just enough space so we could stand side by side and a small desk. Mr.Richards stood and waited while the rest of the group¡¯s conversations died down.

    ¡°Since this project is all in all an experiment we like to keep the variables the same throughout our patients during testing as possible. That¡¯s why the young man now getting ready to start will not be able to hear or see you during his tests. The walls are soundproof and the glass you see is one-sided.¡±

    We all looked back to the testing area where the lights were turned on and a guy now stood in the center stretching. He was tall around 6¡¯4 with a tan massive frame with not unimpressive muscles that the suit did little of hiding. I don¡¯t know how I missed him before, but by the way some of the girls were giggling I¡¯m sure they noticed.

    ¡°Arnold here is a presumed classic strongman. Can anyone tell me what areas are going to be tested on him?¡± Mr.Richards questioned.

    I glanced around the group, I had an inkling of what some of those may be but since it was my first day I may have missed something from yesterday. After a few more seconds of silence, someone spoke up.

    ¡°I would assume you would test most physical areas of any human such as strength, speed, endurance, and durability but would also test for any advanced form of healing as some strongmen tend to have an enhanced healing factor¡±

    Without missing a beat Mr.Richards continued ¡°And how would you test these areas?¡±

    ¡°For strength, I would obviously test how much his maximum lift is, for speed I would use a sprint, for endurance I would test him in a very long run or run him through some exercises nonstop, for durability and healing would fairly the same hit him harder and harder and record the results.¡± Jayden finished as though he already thought this through the night before. Though the way he was I¡¯m just going to assume he¡¯s just an intellectual. Or the rest of us are stupid, either way the same outcome would happen.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Good answer, at least someone here half-competent¡± he complimented. Mr.Richards turned to the desk next to him and grabbed a tablet. He looked through it for a few seconds than addressed us once again ¡°We test strength first as we like the patient to be well rested, we use the deadlift to measure overall strength. The deadlift involves all of the major muscle groups but enough of me chatting let¡¯s begin.¡±

    He grabbed a walkie-talkie from his belt and spoke a few words into it and gestured back to the window where we all turned to face. Arnold was done stretching and now was facing the barbell and a plate on either side. That was weird, he expected ten plates on either side or something, not a hundred and thirty-five pounds, that was lightweight for a deadlift.

    But before I spoke up I heard the smug voice of Mack call out ¡°Ha only one plate on each side? Even my sister could lift that¡±.

    The gruff voice of Mr.Richards responded instantly with a scowl on his face ¡°The barbell is one hundred pounds, and each plate is composed of a highly-dense material resulting in each being a hundred pounds. Don¡¯t talk about what you don¡¯t know boy¡±

    Low ¡°oooh¡±s rung throughout the room causing Mack to turn slightly red, a vein was popping out on his forehead. I grinned at his displeasure, that¡¯s what he gets for being a jerk. Then Arnold got into the form to deadlift and started easily he brought up the bar and down. By my highly intense calculations that were three hundred. I could tell by his technique just like he had worked out for years. Mr.Richards typed the results into his tablet while two other men in protective gear put on another plate on each side which he then lifted albeit not as fast.

    They kept going at this several more times until his final lift was nine plates on each side, I watched him approach the bar and grab it. Each lift beforehand got a little slower on the way up, though I was confident he could pull this off. And ever so slowly the bar raised, veins bulged all across his body as his body shuddered under the weight. Finally, he brought it all the way straitening his back as his face turned dark red from the effort.

    ¡°That was approximately half the weight of the average car for those wondering. Now to bring up a few topics while Arnold is taking a break. Some of you may be thinking that since he is a common super that can lift a couple thousand pounds is alright but nothing too exciting. He may not be shooting lasers out of his eyes or spewing lava out of his ass, but he is useful.¡± His eyes narrowed in on Mach who was glaring back.

    ¡°This is only the start for him as well, like any muscle in the body most powers grow with use, adapting to new hardships. Imagine Arnold in a year or decade of training, not just a couple hours since he got his. Most of you want to be a hero, and the gritty reality of that is being useful, because of the second you aren¡¯t you¡¯ll fall straight on your ass. But the few who think he¡¯s just a boring strongman look back to the testing area now.¡±

    He murmured a few words into his walkie-talkie and hit a button on his tablet. We glanced back at Arnold who was nodding to one of the workers there and started walking toward a wall slightly lighter than the rest. When we arrived we watched closely wondering what he was going to do.

    Arnold took a few steps back and rushed forward, his steps cracking the concrete below him as he drew closer to the wall. Since it appeared that the sound was turned on I heard the slight booms of his feet, then his barbaric yell as he swung his fist forward driving his momentum through his body and fist and into the wall. The blast was deafening even with the filtered sound through the speakers. Arnold¡¯s fist was buried deep into the wall chunks of rock exploded outward from around his fist as it entered.

    He ripped his arm out of the hole he created and swung again and again, he hit the wall in various ways, adding to the chunks of concrete around him. He then stopped suddenly noticing a boulder the size of him that broke off in the destruction. Grabbing the lower part of the boulder on each side like he was hugging it he clutched it, digging his fingers into the stone. His feet sunk into the floor creating slight depressions where his feet were creating perfect footprints. In another yell, he raised it over his head like Atlas holding up the world.

    After a few seconds, he swung the boulder like chunk into the last undestroyed part of the wall. I felt the vibrations all the way in the viewing room, the entire wall was rubble both the boulder of concrete and the wall were demolished leaving a panting Arnold standing in the mist of the ruined wall. Which was now just a crater, any doubts I may have had towards the strongman type was immediately dismissed at that moment as well as others.

    ¡°Now I hope you have a different understanding of what it means to be a super and what it means not to underestimate. Though I¡¯m sure some of you are thinking some different thoughts right now¡± He said amused as he stared at the cluster of girls gawking unabashedly at Arnold who waded his way through the concrete. From what I could see his hands were bleeding as well as bruised.

    A person, no an animal to be respected.

    One that if, no when he had the chance he would test himself against him.

 Chapter Eleven

    Julian and I left the viewing room afterward with the rest of the group. Just as we walked outside I noticed Arnold walking toward the elevators just like the rest of us. He looked good as new, if fatigued. Instantly he was flocked by a group of girls like moths to light. I normally wasn¡¯t jealous but even I felt a twinge of envy.  Since we had free time from now till we go to sleep, I decided to do something productive with my time.

    ¡°Julian wanna go work out at the gym?¡±

    I glanced at him as we walked back to the elevators. He squinted in thought for a few seconds before answering.

    ¡°Sure, but¡­ But I don¡¯t usually work out so I¡¯d probably just slow you down¡± He responded nervously.

    During my high school years the guys I spent time with usually enjoyed training and exercising so this was surprising to me.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, you want to back to our dorms and change first?¡± We reached the elevators first and I hit the up button to the floor with the gym. While I waited with Julian I saw Mack and some large burly guys following him eyeing me. I stared back, my face an iron mask. I don¡¯t back down to a challenge like that. After a few seconds of wordless staring, the ding of the elevator rung out.

    Julian looked at himself before answering ¡°It¡¯s ok, I came with some good clothes that I could exercise with. He was wearing shorts and a tee just like me so I agreed.

    While I waited with Julian I saw Mack and some large burly guys following him eyeing me. I stared back, my face an iron mask. I don¡¯t back down to a challenge like that. After a few seconds of wordless staring, the ding of the elevator rung out. I broke it off and stepped inside.

    ¡°What were you staring at?¡± Julian asked as the elevator slowly rose.

    ¡°Just thought I saw something interesting, turns out it was nothing¡± I answered with a small smile. After a few more dings the door of the elevator slid open revealing a small room and several hallways all leading off to different directions.

    ¡°Uh- you know where to go right?¡± Julian asked, rotating in place looking at all the different hallways.

    ¡°Of course just follow me,¡± I said as I bit my tongue to hide the lie that tried to creep into my face. Then I picked a hallway at random and walked forward.

    Twenty-five minutes later we arrived at the door of the gym.

    ¡°Told you I knew the way¡± I said.

    ¡°No, you just walked around for twenty minutes in circles until I asked someone the directions¡± Julain sighed irratably as he pushed the door open.

    ¡°You say tomato, I say tomato,¡± I said changing the pronunciation of the word tomato as I  grinned at my own cleverness.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just get started¡± he grumbled.

    I stepped inside and marveled at what lay before me. The gyms at my school weren¡¯t one-tenth of what was here. From what I could see the gym was split into two, it was bigger than the mess hall which was about the size of our school¡¯s cafeteria. The bigger portion of the gym was filled with machines, some cardio equipment, a massive stack of dumbells and racks where you can either pull out the bench and squat/deadlift or push it in a bench press.

    The other side was different, it only had barbells and dumbells (with the same racks as the other side) but with weights that I recognized as the dense kind from the earlier demonstrations with Arnold. People milled around doing different exercises as well.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± I paused for dramatic effect. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I said as I fake wiped a tear.

    ¡°Yeah yeah, don¡¯t too excited there are people watching,¡± Julian said as walked in front of me closing the door behind us.

    ¡°What do you want to do first?¡± He questioned me.

    ¡°Lets bench, its pretty fun to do. Plus we can spot each other so we can go heavy.¡± I answered as I walked towards one of the empty racks. I quickly threw on a plate (forty-five lbs) and lay down on the bench. It felt good to be back at where I felt most at home, I gripped the barbells grueling feeling the rough surface against my calloused hands.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    It was stressful here at the Greensdale facilities, the pain from whatever torture they cook up, and the irritability of being the only one needing long-term healing in the infirmary. But here is where I can release all of that negative energy, or that¡¯s the idea.

    I quickly did the eight reps and racked the bar, and stood up noticing a prickling on the back of my neck like someone was watching me. I quickly shook this feeling off and let Julian take his turn.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can lift this¡± Julian mumbled nervously as he tried to copy my body position when I went.

    ¡°If it¡¯s too heavy we can go lower so you can hit more reps,¡± I said. I quickly took my position behind the bar ready to spot him, you know just in case. He pulled the bar out in front of him and went down, it looked hopeful at first on his way back up but the first warning sign was his arms shaking like he was being shocked. I hurriedly grabbed the bar before it his chest and heaved it back up onto the safeties.

    I heard some snickering to my left than ¡°Ha look at the fatty, he can¡¯t even bench one plate¡±. More laughter. I turned to the laughter to see about ten yards away Mack and two large guys behind him high-fiving.

    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to get some water¡± Julian stammered and sauntered off to the water fountain.

    I clenched my jaw, I¡¯ve seen this happen too many times at school to not know what was going on. Bullies are like a cancer, you have to squash it early, and hard so it doesn¡¯t reform.

    I started walking after Julian who just filled his little paper cone of water and was just about to take a sip when Mack got there. He walked up and ¡°accidentally¡± hit Julian so all the water from the cup would spill onto himself.

    ¡°Watch it!¡± Mack said as he walked back to his friends who were now fist-bumping each other. Julian reddened as he tried to dry off his shirt by rubbing the wet areas. Mack and his goons were a few feet away from me as I turned to face them.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you apologize to Julian,¡± I asked, fake sincerity dripping from my voice.

    ¡°His fatass needs to cool down after struggling on that lift,¡± Mack said confidently while dumbass number one and number two slapped him on the back.

    ¡°Whats your problem anyways, I barely even know you,¡± I asked calmly as the anger started to claw up from inside me.

    ¡°Cause wimp, I knew your not gonna do nothing about it¡± He sneered at me as if fully knowing that he was right. But at that moment all the bottled up stress broke free. Instantly I lunged forward and in a split second I crossed the few feet and slugged Mark across the nose.  I felt the satisfying and sickening crunch of the nose breaking as my fist connected.

    He stumbled and fell backward as I grinned, glad to let loose on someone. ¡°I dunno man you fell pretty hard there,¡± I taunted as I took a few steps back and got hold of my surroundings. There was a wall to my right and open space to my other sides. Good, fewer sides to hit me I could use that.

    Just than dumbass number 1 and 2 shook the shock from themselves and both charged at me. It was easy to see they hadn¡¯t had any real fighting experience, they probably spent their whole life using their size to their advantage. The bigger they are the bigger they fall. I quickly dodged the first punch that I could see from a thousand miles away and countered with a quick jab to the area right below where the ribs connected in the middle of the chest.

    My boxing coach instructed me on how to win fights in time, but during real fights, I learned how to end them. I learned if you hit in just the right spot on the chest it could paralyze your opponent and leave them breathless for a few minutes.

    Dumbass number 1cumpled hitting the ground wheezing while clutching his chest. I quickly dodged dumbass number 2 and moved behind him using his momentum against him. I hit the back of his knees where he stumbled forward close to where Julian used to be but now watched a little bit away.

    There is a quote saying not to hit a man when he¡¯s down. That it isn¡¯t honorable, but I have to make them remember how it felt. I reared my leg down and hit the still wheezing guy on the ground in his jaw instantly knocking him down.I turned to face dumbass number 2 who even when he saw me take out his friend still came at me.

    At least they¡¯re consistent, dumbass number 2 moved at an angle pinning me to the wall.  Again he ran at me while yelling, his body moved in slow motion as the adrenaline pushed my reaction speeds higher. Just like in boxing there are times to get hit for a hit, and to dodge.

    With the wall at my back, I had an inspiration, I waited tensed up while the fist came in an arc directly towards my face. Right, when it was about to hit I pivoted to the right just in time to see dumbass number 2¡¯s face change from triumph to horror as his fist collided with the concrete wall behind me at full force.

    I heard the crunch of bones as the hand and wrist collapsed in on itself, dumbass number 2 howled a blood-curdling scream as I seized the moment and open-palmed him in the torso sending him sprawling to ground. He clutched his hand whimpering, any other would¡¯ve felt bad, and I should of too. But all I felt was the satisfaction as again I raised my foot and stomped with all my might onto the decimated hand taking him out of the fight permanently.

    After I turned to face the horrified Mack who stood a few feet away from me, blood poured from his nose down to his mouth staining his teeth red. But something seemed different, maybe it was the fear or the horror, or maybe it happened earlier today. Mack¡¯s posture shifted, his body tensed as just like earlier today flames sprung from his fists spreading down his arms.

    The flames were dark, and unlike earlier they were uncontrolled. They fluttered and grew hungrily around his fist and forearms as the heat radiating from it grew stronger. Mack sneered as he cocked his head to the side slightly, his eyes squinted in rage.

    Holy shit.

 Chapter Twelve

    It was me and him, it was all that mattered. Nothing else mattered, not Ashley, not the program, not Julian, not even my bloodied knuckles. The smart ones would have diffused the situation or called for help, the cowards would¡¯ve run away and the stupid would have stayed.

    I swept my leg forward to around his ankle hoping to catch Mack off guard. Mack easily stepped back the flames now spreading higher up his arms to his shoulder. The heat radiating from his body was climbing exponentially with seemingly no limit. Mack backed off once more, obviously staying on the defensive to catch me off guard. When I was little

    When I was little just like any boy my age I used to move my finger quickly through a candle¡¯s flame and marvel at how I was unharmed. In theory, it could work but in reality, I would be hardpressed to achieve the same effect. From what I know about the human anatomy extreme heat would lead to dizziness and confusion. I would also have to move fast enough to connect my punches or kicks and move away so the flames wouldn¡¯t burn. And that wasn¡¯t all that possible considering the surface area of the flames.

    That is if I stay conscious enough to actually hurt the flaming bastard who was now slowly circling to my left towards his friends. Something felt off, why isn¡¯t he trying to attack?

    I surged forward, ignoring the sweat that dripped into my eyes and my heart beating erratically in my chest. My right leg swung to the side of his knees, aiming for the back of his knees so I could follow up with an uppercut with my knee.

    But with incredible reflexes he caught my forearm, a second passed as my leg started to burn. It wasn¡¯t the searing pain that emanated from my calf, but the smell. The smell of my flesh burning filled my nostrils. Instantly my body jerked reflexively backward breaking free of his blazing grip.

    I wasn¡¯t feeling well, my body was already slick with sweat. My eyes drooped as I stared back at Mack who sneered at my discomfort. He started to yell something, something I couldn¡¯t hear over the pounding of blood in my ears. He was taunting me, gloating.

    The dark flames crackled and sizzled as his body started to glow red. The heat already unbearably hot, but with every passing second, something inside me started to grow. A wall that started to mold and bend as the pushing force pounded behind it, begging to be freed.

    I stared back at Mack, again he didn¡¯t press his chance. Instead, he now stood in front of his friends shouting again. Anger flooded through my body as I glared at him, there he stood all high and mighty. I groped around myself feeling the ground for something, anything. Until finally my left hand gripped the handle of a dumbbell that some jerk left on the ground.

    Silent prayers went to the jerks all around the world who left their stuff on the ground as new strength surged throughout me as I charged the few feet towards Mack. I had to stop this, this monster. The pounding grew stronger, banging harder and harder until micro-cracks began to form on its exterior.

    In only a second I reached him, I swung the weight with such a ferocity that I never knew I had. The world slowed down as I swung, the weight on a crash course directly for his skull. Mack leaned backward in such a way that he dodged the dumbbell by millimeters and simulations clocked me on the right side of my jaw sending me sprawling into the wall.

    That¡¯s when the pounding stopped inside me and the dark mask that shrouded my vision lifted to see what was happening around me clearly. I could finally hear what Mack was shouting.

    ¡°Stop! Please just stay away from them. I don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡± He pleaded.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    I was wrong, It wasn¡¯t he who was the monster.

    It was I.

    It was I who tried to kill him if the dumbbell had connected there was enough weight and force that It would¡¯ve bludgeoned him. My eyes wandered to his friends that he was protecting, one was unconscious on the ground blood seeping from his mouth into a small pool on the floor. The other whimpering while he held his mangled hand.

    It was I who did that, and why? I believed I was above them, that I was right. What right did I deserve as a hero if I wreak havoc on others for my own agenda? Worse off instead of feeling ashamed I felt proud. Proud of the pain I caused.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t- I didn¡¯t mean too¡­¡± My voice drowned out as I began to understand.

    I did mean to, I wanted to do it. I wanted to hurt them, to watch them suffer as I did all those years. I saw Julian hiding behind a rack staring horrified at me. Rightfully so. Becuase it wasn¡¯t just him that I let down. It was myself.

    That fire burned deeper than any flesh wounds.

    <hr>

    Why did Chase go off like that? He has no history of violence outside of any sports.¡± I asked Mr.Richards as we watched chase get carried off by some of Mr.Richards employees.

    ¡°From what I can tell there are a few reasons that I can deduce from the events that just unfolded before us,¡± Mr.Richards answered signaling me to sit down in the chair next to him. I sat down and motioned for him to continue.

    ¡°Since this is your first year here Craig let me outline how the drug actually works. For the drug to activate fully the brain already needs to be under a similar drug. These drugs create a chemical reaction whenever adrenaline is pumped throughout the body and into the brain creating the effects.¡±

    ¡°But how do you get them under this other drug beforehand since you give them one shot?¡±

    ¡°Simple, the drug doesn¡¯t need to be injected. Therefore we can distribute it to the kids without them knowing, and the drug itself doesn¡¯t necessarily need to let itself be known to them as it adds a layer to their experiment. The reason we allowed this fight to go on is because it¡¯s entirely possible that with just the pre-drug he could develop superpowers.¡±

    This made me pause for a second before asking ¡°How do you get the pre-drug into their system if they don¡¯t know about it? Do you spike their water or something?¡± I asked slightly worried about the answer.

    He chuckled ¡°Of course we don¡¯t spike the water, we spike the bread¡±.

    Taken aback I tentatively asked my next question ¡°Isn¡¯t that unethical?¡±

    He turned serious for a moment. His shoulders slumped forward as he began to talk ¡°Do you know the story of Frankenstein?¡±

    ¡°Of course I heard it when I was a kid¡± I answered wondering where this was going.

    ¡°Most believe it was just a myth but it was based on a real event that happened in the 1800¡¯s. The Doctor in the story was actually a super, he could re-animate the dead. Permanently. He was a serial killer with sixty-two murders and those were the only ones that were confirmed. He then took his victims body parts and sewn them together to create a being of massive proportions. After re-animating the being it killed both himself and terrorized a town for years before one of the early supers took him down.¡± Mr.Richards said as he shook his head in disgust.

    ¡°There are certain risks we have to take that may be considered unethical, but forever batch of kids that becomes a super some of those become a hero. A hero that will one day save countless lives.¡±

    ¡°But onto what I was saying,¡± He said with revigorated energy.

    ¡°The pre-drug has the unfortunate side effects of addling the user¡¯s mental state. It¡­ It alters the user¡¯s state by altering their perspective of what they see and feel. Chase has obviously dealt with adversity before and has taken this belief of surviving and applied it to this situation. When we see some simple teenage teasing he sees something else, and he reacted according to it.¡±

    ¡°So it isn¡¯t his fault?¡± I asked still confused.

    ¡°That is the question isn¡¯t it?¡± he said.

    I paused thinking about what he said. I have only started this year on the program and this was good information to have. But there was something else nagging at the back of my mind since I saw Chase in the infirmary.¡±So what are we going to do?¡± I asked him.

    ¡°So what are we going to do?¡± I asked him.

    ¡°Since Chase is already through the fire phase which is usually done in the second week out of the four week testing period if by the time this week is over and there still is no change we will enact the Phase ISO.¡±

    I opened my ask to ask what the Phase ISO was but he cut me off. Once again, I bit my tongue not to let loose any annoyance onto my face.

    ¡°Pray we never get to that point, there are precious few who enter that phase and come out not all that well put together,¡± Mr.Richards said in a grave tone.

 Chapter Thirteen

    I lay in bed as I went through the day before¡¯s events. After being carried to the infirmary with the other two guys I was inspected by Ms.Terise. Her aura of cheerfulness seemed diminished as she kept glancing back at the two guys who I hurt and back to me. She didn¡¯t say anything about it but I could tell by the look in her eyes she felt disappointed. Whether it was in me or them I don¡¯t know.

    And I don¡¯t care. Or at least that¡¯s what I try to convince my self. I rolled over savoring the comfy bed. I woke up before my alarm clock so I was milking this time for what it was worth. But in what felt like no time at all the clock blared its usual blare.

    Groaning I hit the alarm clock shutting it off, rolled off of my bed and hit the switch to the lights. Unlike the previous two days, Julian wasn¡¯t there, all of his stuff was still here but his suit was gone. I hadn¡¯t seen him yesterday since- since they carried me off to the infirmary.

    Something to worry about later, I grabbed my suit quickly and went to the bathroom which was fortunately empty. Mack was nowhere to be seen which I didn¡¯t know was either a blessing or curse. After a refreshing shower, I quickly brushed my teeth and got suited up. I stopped in front of the mirror, looking into the face that glared back.

    Time to man up and face the music, I didn¡¯t know exactly what was going to greet me at the mess hall. But what the hell, whats the worse that could happen? I left with a hip in my hop as I headed over to the mess hall for breakfast.

    In just a couple of minutes, I reached the double doors. I pushed them open and stepped inside to meet the scene. People were either sitting at tables eating with their friends or milling about gathering pre-determined food from the tables. In record time the conversations dimmed as whispers writhed throughout the room.

    The polite ones merely whispered inconspicuously to their friends while casting quick glances at me. The less-inconspicuous people just stared at me while I walked to get a plate. Who knew I was so popular? Or maybe they never saw someone add food onto their plate like I did. It was either my impressive choice of food or my ¡°confrontation¡± the other day.

    After getting my apple juice filled up in a red cup I scanned the room ignoring the stares and whispers until my eyes rested on Julian who was also whispering with Ashley. I smiled slightly, which I buried further down as I walked over to the table and sat down a solid foot away from Julian. Not so close as I was still dipping my toe into the water on what our friendship was at but not so far as too seem far.

    I didn¡¯t say anything for a minute, neither did Ashley and Julian. Until finally Ashley broke the silence.

    ¡°So I heard some things Chase¡± She commented slyly as she glanced up from me from her bagel with cheese.

    ¡°Did you now?¡± I questioned with fake interest as if I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

    ¡°You know one of the guys left, the other is rumored to be going under therapy after what you did to them¡± Julian spoke up. His voice barely above a whisper as he kept his eyes trained on his cereal.

    ¡°Oh¡­oops,¡± I said while clenching my jaw not too look disturbed by the news.

    We eat for a while in silence after that until I felt a light tap on my hand. I glanced up and it was Ashley, now if I had any skills with the ladies I would smile and act normal. What really happened was that I was so surprised that I knocked over my apple juice all over my bagel.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    If I thought the torture was bad this was worse, but at least it broke the ice as it was at least thirty seconds of Ashley cracking up at my expense. Just then a stranger plopped down opposite of me next to Ashley. He was tan with black hair and black eyes to go with it and was tall and gangly. He smiled at Ashley which for some reason irked me a little bit.

    He stook out his hand ¡°I¡¯m Stephan with a ph¡± he said with a crooked smile.

    I shook his hand and responded like any normal person would if they were in my situation ¡°Congratulations,  I¡¯m Chase with an S its a pleasure to meet you¡±

    I thought it was clever, Ashley laughed which made me measurably happier and even Julian smiled from his deep stupor. Stephans¡¯ face darkened for a moment before he changed back into his cheerful demeanor.

    ¡°So I heard you beat the shit out of some guys yesterday at the gym,¡± He said a smile never leaving his face, but there was something about the way he said it unnerved me.

    ¡°Okay¡± I responded not entirely sure what to say to that. I took another bite out of my apple juice¡¯d bagel.

    ¡°So why¡¯d you do it? From what I¡¯ve been told you just snapped from the pressure and took it out on some guys.¡± He said. If I was more observant I might¡¯ve noticed how Julian¡¯ s fist clenched at this.

    Thankfully I was saved by my watch going off signaling me to leave for the prep room. Without answering I muttered a quick ¡°see ya later¡± to Ashley and Julian who was still staring at his food not even looking anywhere near my direction.

    As I walked ignored the whispers that rose up again. I threw away my remaining food in the trash bin and turned around to bump into another guy. Before I could say anything in an over-dramatized voice he stepped back with his hands up like he was surrendering ¡°You gonna punch me?¡± he said his voice filled with fake fear.

    Looking around I realized everyone was watching, I took the smart move and just turned around and marched out of the mess hall. I quickly made my way down to the prep room as I tried to calm myself. There was no use to get worked up over something small lest I have another ¡°episode¡±.

    I finally made it to the prep room and reset my self to its usual calm state before entering. Unlike the first two days, there were two people in the room this time. Mr.Richards and Ms.Terise talking hurriedly and pointing at the tray of needles. But quickly after seeing me, they stopped talking.

    ¡°Just remember what I said,¡± Mr.Richards said as he shook her hand.

    He pushed past me and out the door without even a single glance as Ms.Terise motioned for me to sit down.

    ¡°How are you feeling Chase,¡± She said her normal cheer back even if it was slightly tempered by¡­ something.

    ¡°Peachy,¡± I said with a nod as I lay down on the chair in the correct position ready to be injected once again.

    Like normal she chose the needle but when she put the drug into the needle it seemed like there was a higher concentration of it. I shook this out of my mind as it was just probably my mind playing tricks on me.

    After the alcohol cotton swab, she penetrated the skin once again with her needle and pushed the drug into my system. Unlike the other two days, I felt it immediately. I felt a shift in my eyes as the room swam in and out of focus. My focus seemed to sharpen tenfold as I shakily grabbed the armrest and hauled my self up. There was a convenient mirror to my side which I grabbed and looked into. I seemed kinda the same except for my eyes, my eyes were straight black, not the dark brown that people like Stephan had but the jet black of your pupils.

    They had enlarged, like the heroin users you saw on television. I was quickly ushered to the control room, something wasn¡¯t right. Was it like this the first two times? I felt the pounding inside me once again, vague but still there in the empty abyss that is my soul.

    A fist materialized seemingly from thin air as I was knocked to the ground. The feeling was immense it was as I could feel every nerve firing off, every speck of my body was amplified sending off signals of what it was feeling.

    You think you know how most things feel, It felt like I was in a state of such hyper-awareness that I couldn¡¯t comprehend what was happening around me. Powerful arms held me in place as a pair of feet hit my knees pushing them past the locked out point. After I was let go I crumbled to the floor, I tried to stand up but My knees couldn¡¯t support myself anymore.

    Maybe it was a message, that I wasn¡¯t going anywhere for what was coming. Whatever it was he wasn¡¯t going to forget what came after.

 Chapter Fourteen

    I didn¡¯t know what to feel. I wasn¡¯t angry at what he did, I was disturbed. Chase seemed like a nice guy and still did. He was the only one who even bothered to talk to me, other than Ashley who I went up to first.

    But the look on his face when hurting those guys was another person altogether. It wasn¡¯t a person of good will protecting a friend. Whatever motivated him to do what he did was something more. He looked cold, not angry at least not a first but almost like he enjoyed it.

    Or maybe he was high.

    Whatever it was I couldn¡¯t shake it from my head, even Ashley didn¡¯t seem as affected by what he did. But in fairness, she didn¡¯t see it. I did.

    After Chase walked off I picked at my food some more but my appetite was as non-existent as my apparent friends. Ashley already wandered off to talk with some girls after Chase left before they eventually walked off together.

    I shouldn¡¯t judge too early though but I couldn¡¯t shake this nagging feeling that something was off. Maybe it just me overanalyzing everything but there was something that he couldn¡¯t place his finger on.

    These past couple days were difficult as well, my back hurt, my arms hurt, I hurt. It wasn¡¯t like this in Chess club, but then again my mom did say it will be a tad bit more difficult here. I came here for a change but all I was doing was reverting back into my lonely self. I looked back at my food considering whether I should eat the rest. I decided to just throw out the rest and start heading over to the prep room.

    I didn¡¯t want to throw up all over the guy beating me up again. Or maybe I could use it as a defense mechanism next time. I shook that thought out of my head. That¡¯s weird, even for me.

    <hr>

    Once again arms grabbed my arms forcing them behind my back and me onto my knees. Something felt different though, my masked torturer had gloves on. Thick ones. Instead of thinking further I struggled against the iron like grip.

    In wrestling, there was always a way to get lose of a hold, either by pure strength, flexibility, or both. I flexed my forearms twisted and squirming all the while using my legs as leverage.

    ¡°Stop¡± the deep voice was neither angry nor happy. It was simply a command void of any emotion.

    Faster than a viper striking its prey the pressure of the grip increased tenfold. The bones of my forearm and wrists didn¡¯t just snap, they shattered underneath the pressure.

    ¡°Shit now you talk¡± I muttered as I bit my tongue not to let a whimper come out. It¡¯s one thing to get the shit kicked out of you and one thing letting them now you got the shit kicked out of you.

    As much as what he did was physical it was just as much psychological. I didn¡¯t want to fight back anymore when your main method of defense is so easily torn down. There isn¡¯t that will to push back.

    As I tried to push my self back up into the standing position the pain in my arms throbbed with each heartbeat as I realized the attempts were fruitless. Then in a flash as every inch of my body exploded into searing fire. I fell back down, raising my arms in front of my two catch my descent on instinct.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Which was just one more layer of my cake that is my misery.

    My heart beat erratically, thumping from multiple beats per second to none the next. Looking up I saw another figure, a thin man from what I could tell. His hands crackled with electricity as he sauntered towards me lazily as if he had something better to do later.

    Which he probably did because electrocuting teenagers was such a bore. He started to come closer, I tried to push away but the gloved hands held me in place. At least now I knew what they were used for. The man finally came to a stop before me before kneeling down to my hight.

    ¡°Now I could just electrocute you for the next hour or so before you pass out,¡± He said slowly, and dryly as if contemplating whether to order a salad or a cheeseburger from the menu.

    ¡°But what I¡¯ve found from¡­experience that there are much better ways to push people beyond what they can handle¡±

    And just like anyone he already knows he¡¯s going to pick the cheeseburger. I opened my mouth to try to say something, anything but all that came out was a slight squeak and some blood dripping from my cut tongue and lip.

    ¡°There is a certain part of the brain, the Amygdala that controls your flight or fight response. Now theoretically the body can handle so much before failing, now what if I could change the brain¡¯s chemistry to an incomprehensible scale to where we really don¡¯t know what happens¡± He stood up now only his hands down to a dim white glow, not as flashy but something about it was more intimidating.

    ¡°When the brain evolves to a superior makeup the body has nothing else but to adapt to it, becoming something even possible of biblical proportions or something¡­¡± The air tensed up around me as the smell of rubber melting.

    I glanced up to the man standing above me, eyes pulsing white. ¡°Unhinged¡±.

    Fear crept up further and further up my thought as understanding came upon me. Or at least as much as I could understand before his right index finger touched my temple. The world warped in and out, I started to feel different emotions moving so fast over and over. I started to spasm, the muscles in my body flexing to a point where I was in a cage of my own body.

    Then It stopped, or it just became so incomprehensible that It didn¡¯t even register.

    Whatever ¡°It¡± was.

    <hr>

    ¡°I looked over the files, no one has ever gone through Phase ISO functional, much less being able to go into The Academy afterward,¡± I told Mr.Richards as we watched Chase through the monitor.

    ¡°He could be the one who does¡± He answered eyes never leaving the screen.

    ¡°Every single patient who has gone through this phase, this first step has either gone brain dead, died right out, or spent the rest of their life unable to re-enter society because of their mental state¡± I went on.

    ¡°I want results, every patient who¡¯s gone under Ignition¡¯s treatment have been given different intoxications of the drug. The government has been under pressure from different terrorist groups who have been trying to duplicate what we are doing here. What if they develop a different way to pump out Supers? They aren¡¯t burdened by ethics or constrictions by the government.¡± He said.

    ¡°So you don¡¯t even care about Chase. He¡¯s a teenager with a life and friends-¡±

    He cut me off ¡°He made a choice about all of that when he entered. Chase has shown the best chance of going through this treatment alive and I¡¯m going to have to insist to see it through¡±

    ¡°You can be a real hard-ass you know?

    ¡°Only in the name of science,¡± He said with a chuckle.

    ¡°And how long until the end of Phase ISO¡±

    ¡°Well we have three and a half weeks left, and since we haven¡¯t ever gone past this Phase we don¡¯t know what to expect. Anyways he¡¯s doing great already¡± he answered as he pointed to the monitor.

    ¡°He is spasming, heart rate is over two hundred, and only God knows whats going up in his brain right now.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but he isn¡¯t dead,¡± Mr.Ricahrds said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so¡± I muttered to myself as I clasped my hands behind my back to not betray the worry that threatened to creep into my face.

 Chapter Fifteen

    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s in the gym¡± Ashley questioned.

    She chewed her bottom lift as she checked her watch for what must¡¯ve been for the umpteenth time. We were resting in the commons since class just finished up. It has been hours and he was gone longer than even the first day here.

    ¡°You checked the gym twenty minutes ago¡± I sighed as I changed the channel on the television once again. But apparently, the torture continued even after our time in the control rooms since the only thing on was baseball and weird cartoon about a monkey tramping around town with a man in a spectacular suit. You had to either watch the soul-sucking, mind-numbing, idiotic channel that is irrelevant to anyone my age or a cartoon.

    ¡°Well he has to be somewhere, you can¡¯t just go on and disappear from a high-security lab in the middle of a desert.¡± She responded as she twirled her hair with her finger.

    ¡°Well it¡¯s quite possible he could¡¯ve manifested the ability to teleport out to a different location and they don¡¯t know where he is. He could¡¯ve also suffered a fatal injury an-¡± Jayden jumped in from my left with an array of information that was not helping the situation at hand.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± She mumbled visibly upset.

    I may not have the most information on how the inner mechanisms of the female brain works but even I knew that was the wrong thing to say in this situation. So naturally, like the critical thinker I am, I came up with a solution.

    ¡°Or maybe he just took a nap¡­ In a place other than his bed. And hasn¡¯t woken up yet¡­ For five hours.¡± I said with a voice that I felt was reassured as I shot Jayden a look who just shrugged absentmindedly.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we go over to the sparring room and check out the rest of the guys who have powers¡± I offered hopefully.

    After a few silent seconds where only the screeching of the monkey from the television could be heard until finally, she spoke up.

    ¡°Okay, I wanted to see the others anyways¡±

    Jayden and I followed her out leaving the commons room. During today¡¯s eventful torturing they added some interesting tools to injure me with. Along with the now standard thrown elbows and fists, they added what I think was a baton with a wicked hook on its end. And it hurt. A lot. When we find Chase again I¡¯m going to have to ask him how his sessions are going.

    I was brought back from my stupor when we arrived at the elevators.

    ¡°From that point onwards I was the one to talk to if you had a beaver problem,¡± Jayden said.

    I had this feeling like I was missing some key points of this conversation.

    ¡°You do seem to have a damn problem with beavers,¡± Ashley said with a chuckle.

    ¡°They do inspire a ferocity in me that has traumatized many a child,¡± Said Jayden solemnly not aware of Ashley¡¯s ironic word choice.

    We entered the elevator and reached the sparring rooms. The sparring rooms were meant for some friendly jousting between either individual with abilities or regular people. But as we walked in what we saw told a slightly different story.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    In reality, the sparring rooms were split into two large facilities, one for the ones who knew what they were doing and didn¡¯t need assistance and the rest. The rest was more or less the rest of the people with powers and the ones who wanted to see whats what.

    We walked over to the rest of us who were crowding around a large man who I recognized was the same as I saw Ashley¡¯s abilities for the first time. Thankfully it seemed like whatever was happening it was starting soon.

    ¡°Sparring is a highly effective tool to begin to understand your ability, while some of you may think it is an unnecessary risk to fight other students with your powers but I assure you this hasn¡¯t resulted in too many deaths in the past,¡± The man said.

    Slight chuckles rang through the group that died quickly as we couldn¡¯t tell if he was being serious or not.

    ¡°Those of you that are Supers please step forward¡± he commanded.

    I glanced at Ashley who shrugged and walked forward with several others and lined up to his left facing us. In total there were three boys and four girls, I noticed Arnold and thankfully Marc who didn¡¯t even glance in my direction. If that was intentional or if he even knew who I was I didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°Those of you who don¡¯t want to fight you can step back into the group and watch if you want.¡± He said again now looking at the seven lined up next to him.

    The guys stood stoically in their stance while two of the girls hesitated. They glanced at each other before quickly stepping away from the rest. If the man was disappointed in any way he didn¡¯t show it as he went forward.

    ¡°We split the girls and boys into different training regimes, the boys will train amongst themselves and the girls will train under a different regime together as well until we feel you are adequate enough at fighting so you don¡¯t accidentally fatally injure your partners on accident. Anyone is free to watch of course but please be mindful of yourself and respect their training. Anyone who wants regular training can, of course, do so but will be separate if and when you get your own powers.¡± He said with a huff.

    I was never an athletic person but it¡¯s never too late to start. Even if all I got out of this Program was traumatic experiences It would benefit me in the future if I ever got into a fight and needed to defend myself from whatever evils the world will through at my very cushiony body.

    Everyone than dispersed around me either to talk with their friends, leave, or talk to the large man. I walked over to Ashley and the girl next to her who was talking animatedly. As I approached It took a few seconds for me to be noticed and introduced to the girl. She was shorter than me with dirty blond hair and freckles that frolicked over her cheeks and nose.

    ¡°This is Ana, Ana meet Julian,¡± Ashley said introducing me to her.

    I took out my hand and she shook it vigorously.

    ¡°So what can you do?¡± I asked Ana.

    Normally you wouldn¡¯t really ask someone if they were a Super but in this case, everyone here kinda wanted to talk about it since they achieved what for most of us was a dream come true.

    ¡°You sure it¡¯s okay,¡± She asked me widening her eyes at me like a puppy begging for food would. To be Frank, I thought it was kinda cute, but I couldn¡¯t let my face betray this so I responded with a simple ¡°Sure¡±.

    ¡°Okay¡± She scrunched up her face, her freckles crinkled together for a few seconds before a dazzling array of colors shown from her hands into the air between us. Imagine the brightest rainbow you¡¯ve ever seen. Now picture it all around you, each color burning with intensity. A shining red, the dark smooth purple, the overly happy and optimistic yellow.

    ¡°You can make¡­ rainbows?¡± I asked her while staring in awe at the show like everyone else in the room.

    ¡°Well, yeah! Right now they don¡¯t do much except being really pretty. But I¡¯ve been learning about weaving the colors together or making one shine brighter than the rest!¡± She giggled as she twirled her fingers in the air, the colors bending to her will.

    The rainbow twisted together, each and every color of each and every shade colliding into a serpent of brilliance slithering in and about of everyone into finally dimming out of existence. I blinked a couple of times the shadow of brightness still burned into my pupils. Looking around the world seemed darker, not as full of life as before the show.

    ¡°Hue are pretty cool,¡± Ashley said all the while keeping in giggles from escaping.

    Ana blushed, embarrassed by the attention and maybe partly because of what an excellent color pun was made. All thoughts of Chase has been packed into the corners of my mind as we headed over to the man (whose name was still undetermined) to talk about our training.

 Chapter Sixteen

    A very wise person once said, ¡°what doesn¡¯t kill you makes you stronger¡±. After waking up I realized that was bullshit. It hurt, everything did. And not in the good way either, it stung deep, from the tips to my toes to the slightly charred bits of my hair. I felt weak, brittle, a cracked and fractured window a touch away from breaking away into nothingness.

    I had a splitting headache, every breathe elicited a sharp pain behind my eyes like a knife was being stabbed into my brain and every movement was the twist in my head. My body felt sweaty and feverish, it almost wanted me to cut open my head and pour cold water directly on my brain just for some quick relief from the grasp of whatever fresh hell that was coming.

    Or maybe I was dead? My eyelids flickered open greeting darkness before me, but something was off. Just like when you press on your eyes lightly, colors seemed to dance before me. Not bright colors but mixed in with the darkness like the crashing waves of an ocean of washed out colors.

    I wiggled my body to get a feel for my surroundings which sprung forth a whole new wave of sensations. The bad kind too, If I was dead this sucked. At least through death, you get free or that¡¯s the prevailing idea. I seemed to be in some sort of wooden chair with straps on my ankles, wrists and one around my forehead keeping me locked in. Like how you see people getting tortured in movies.

    A few minutes went by as I waited for my pupils to adapt to the dark lighting but it was still dark as hell. I was beginning to wonder if I was drugged or something as my eyelids were feeling heavy until I got the ever so bright idea to call out.

    I tried to say ¡°anyone there?¡± but what really came out was ¡°uhughh?¡±. My tongue felt like a lump of puddy for how much it was working as well as my mouth was dry. Definitely drugged, not that I would know how that felt of course.

    I grunted louder this time hoping for something to happen until I heard a spinning of an axle and the clicking of locks being unlocked. That was different, the door never had any sort of locking mechanism beforehand. Or at least he didn¡¯t think so since he had more pressing things in his mind before.

    The heavy door creaked open slowly, or at least that¡¯s what he thought since oddly he still couldn¡¯t see the door but instead he just went off the sounds that came from the door. Probably just whatever drugs that were still lingering in my system.

    The heavy shoes echoed throughout the cell until it seemed to stop before me. I grunted again, but this time it almost seemed coherent.

    ¡°Here drink some water Chase,¡± an unfamiliar man¡¯s voice commanded.

    A glass touched my lips and I gulped down the water greedily. Feeling marginally better I tried to talk non-gibberish.

    ¡°Why am I in a chair?¡±

    ¡°You have reached the second phase, how do you feel?¡±

    It took a few more seconds before I could respond because of my slow processing of his words.

    ¡°Peachy¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t look peachy you¡¯ve been unconscious for four days¡± He commented while opening my eyelids further open.

    ¡°Huh¡± I didn¡¯t know much about human anatomy but that didn¡¯t sound healthy.

    Something must¡¯ve been wrong since he cursed and opened them again. He mumbled something under his mouth and walked out the room and closing the door. When the final clicks of the locks have been re-locked I was left back in silence.

    Like honestly what was I going to do? I was strapped to this god-awful chair, I feel like absolute shit and I could barely talk much less endanger them. Or maybe it was to keep whatever was going to happen to me inside and not out? I just sat there, after that. Not coming up with an elaborate escape plan, or figuring out what the hell was going on but just sitting there thinking about absolutely nothing.

    In a way, it was kinda nice.

    After what could¡¯ve been either five minutes or thirty the heavy door slowly creaked forward. This time I could hear two pairs of feet walk towards me albeit more hesitantly. There was something wrong and I had an inkling of what.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°Turn on the lights¡± I mumbled still slurring my words.

    A beat passed before someone answered who I realized was Mr.Richards ¡°Chase¡­ The lights are on¡±

    Silence, as I processed what was up.

    ¡°Does that mean I¡¯m¡­ blind?¡±

    Even though I was scared of not asking I was more afraid of the actual answer itself.

    There was a long sigh ¡°You should be lucky to be alive, not many people can still talk after going through what you did¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d stick that luck up your ass if you head wasn¡¯t already lodged up it.

    Maybe I should feel grateful, but I really didn¡¯t feel that way. The feeling was inexplicable, being vulnerable to who or whatever wished ill upon me. And I hated it. For the last few years, I spent the time trying not to feel so helpless. And all I¡¯ve achieved is going back to step one and taking free dive down the cliff of taking steps backward.

    I started to strain into the fabric keeping me in place. My muscles straining, if I could see my arms I would see the veins popping from my body. Every nuance of effort was being pushed outwards trying with all my might to break through. But all I achieved was cutting some of the skin around the fabric and enhancing my splitting headache and into a full-blown chronic headache.

    ¡°Feeling better?¡± Mr.Richards questioned.

    I stayed silent withholding any words like my silence would make a difference. How much more would I have to endure from this? It wasn¡¯t like there was anything worth taking anymore.

    ¡°Good, let¡¯s change that¡±

    <hr>

    I buttoned the remaining button and stared at myself in the sleek mirror mounted on the wall. It was important to dress to impress to every occasion. I sleeked back my black hair with a small black comb that I always had on hand. After one last look in the mirror, I started to make my way towards the warehouse.

    I walked as if death himself wouldn¡¯t dare associate him with me. Eyes always hidden behind a pair of dark aviators, darting at every person, calculating every threat, every exit. Reading people¡¯s body languages, anticipating what they are feeling and what they will feel.

    Some may say it was paranoid but I found it rather necessary for my line of work. One must take pride in what they did. I finally reached the warehouse, to the outside world it was a rundown building with not a single speck of sentient life in it. But those who could pick apart every detail, every nuance of data is was childs play really.

    After punching in the double-digit code the steel door clicked and I walked through. Down each hallway and room I walked, coworkers milled about taking stock of weapons and other¡­ projects. Until finally I reached my destination, a simple oak door with a slightly rusted handle. I gently grasped the handle and turned it slowly listening for any sort of click that would resemble a door-knob-bomb.

    Thankfully there was none and I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. Before me was a plain room with no windows and no other doors leaving the one method of exit behind me. A woman sat in a chair across a table where she was being yelled at by a short balding man named Mr. Jenkings. Tears stained her cheeks, her hair resembled a rat¡¯s den and her jacket was in shambles.

    What a mess to be introduced to me in such a miserable state. He would have to make it up to her somehow.

    ¡®That will be enough Mr. Jenkings I will take it from here¡± I said, my silky voice slithering to Mr.Jenkings and the woman.

    Quick in a flash, he jumped up tucking in his button-down shirt hastily and made way for the door ¡°Of course sir¡±.

    After he left I stood in place looking at the sad excuse for a woman.

    ¡°After I heard who was going to testify against us I was surprised. I didn¡¯t know who had the balls to go that far.¡±

    The woman sat shaking fearfully looking up to me.

    ¡°Now I tried to be nice, I cleaned up the situation and I even made sure to warn you what would happen if you tried to be the hero. Have I not?¡± I glared at her through my shades, reading her body language.

    Silence.

    ¡°Now, I tried to understand your intentions. I did. You wanted to be like one of the televised superheroes in the news you see. Saving lives with their colorful capes and their idealistic smiles¡­ Even if you went to court nothing would happen, our influence reaches far more than you can even fathom.¡± My smooth voice as even as ever.

    She was shaking now. Her body convulsing as her tears started to gather in her gag.

    ¡°Now I have to do something that hurts me more than it hurts you. You¡¯ve done this to yourself really.¡±

    I casually unhooked the holster that held my pistol and drew it. Loading a bullet in it as I talked.

    ¡°Though I guess I am some to blame¡­ I¡¯m not arrogant enough not to assume at least some of the fault. Maybe I¡¯ve been too soft on you? I questioned her watching her shake her head quickly while she quacked with fear her eyes never leaving the pistol. I cocked the pistol, testing its weight in my hand and feeling the grip.

    ¡°I gave you wealth beyond what you could imagine, a safe place to stay, care for all your needs and you turned your back on me.¡±

    Stepping for the first time closer to her until I was a foot¡¯s length away.

    ¡°And for that, I am truly sorry,¡± I said putting emphasis on the truth.

    Her cries muffled by the gag were a nuisance, she tried to move away but all she was doing was stalling the inevitable.

    Quick as a whip, I bought the gun to her temple and pulled the trigger. I sighed staring at the gory mess before me. For those with it a heart it may have been broken by now. But for me, I just felt disappointed in myself for dating a woman so vile. I straightened my tie holstered my pistol and walked out the door as casual as ever. Mr. Jenkings stood waiting outside the door sweating slightly around the temple.

    ¡°It has been taken care of, let us take care of the more pressing matter at hand,¡± I said as I walked off to my office with Mr. Jenkings nipping at my heels.

 Chapter Seventeen

    From what I could tell Mr.Richards injected the serum into me again but unlike the other times it felt somehow stronger. It felt as if I was in a nightmare, my thoughts were clouded by the more primitive parts of me, the fight or flight response choking any logical thought.

    Methodically the straps were unhooked from my body as the drug infested and buried deeper into my subconscious. I fell forward, Mr.Richards not bothering to catch me as I fell into a lump on the ground. Footsteps, then the clicking of the locks and the slamming of the door followed.

    ¡°Shit¡­¡± I mumbled to myself as I began to drag my self up to at least the upright position, my tendons popped and creaked until finally, I was up.

    ¡°A bit of electricity will do you good, builds character ya know,¡± someone said sarcastically.

    Before I could register what he said searing pain erupted from my right thigh, the muscles clenching uncontrollably. If I saw the bolt I would¡¯ve probably been temporarily blinded by the flash if I could see. I thought I was alone but I was actually stuck with this asshole again.

    ¡°Some may even say the results are shocking,¡± he said chuckling to himself at his own wit.

    I saw pictures in the past of people getting struck by lightning, their body horrifically burned, people going into comas, death. I only hoped whatever this guy was wielding was nowhere as potent.

    ¡°As you can hopefully see I¡¯m only here to help, but the first step to getting help is to get hurt a bit¡± I could hear some light footsteps approaching. ¡°Well no reason to stall let¡¯s get on with it, shall we?¡±

    There was really no point in responding so I did what any responsible young adult in my position would do. With all the strength I could muster in my injury-riddled body I swung my fist in front of me in a wide arc, hoping by some blind draw of the cards I would at least inflict some damage onto my shock-inducing torturer. My fist whistled in the air hitting nothing but the remains of my dignity.

    Well shit.

    ¡°Good try, now my turn¡±

    His hands grasped my skull this time, for whatever reason he used both of them I didn¡¯t really care. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists as I braced for what was to inevitably come. But this time It started softer, it was as if my brain was soup. Emotions began spiking in me in such a magnitude that I have never fathomed before. My body churned in response, muscles seized up and relaxed.

    My eyes twitched uncontrollably, vertigo was seemingly induced as well. Just like on a roller coaster my body felt as I was being pushed and pulled in different directions. My stomach flipped and flopped but unfortunately without the sweet release of vomiting. Ancient memories began to flash before my eyes, which was weird since I couldn¡¯t see. Old ones and new ones clashed together in a blast of sounds and sights that I have experienced before.

    That¡¯s how it went for a long time, after a while I couldn¡¯t really feel his hands grasping my skull. He might¡¯ve left, leaving me in a stunned state experiencing the lasting effects of whatever wujo he enacted up me. I cursed the shit out of him, if my mom was here she would wash my mouth with soap, and not bar soap. Liquid hand soap.

    It could¡¯ve been every hour, thirty minutes or ten but routinely I would get another injection of the serum. Each one felt stronger than the last but it might¡¯ve just been my imagination.

    The only time I felt even remotely this bad (out of the program) was when I had the bright idea as a child to play with a rabid squirrel. Back when I was five I didn¡¯t know what foaming at the mouth was. I just thought he was thirsty or something, well after getting bitten multiple times, I was brought to the doctor to get multiple rabies shots among other shots for infections with stitches.

    This was a whole different slice of the metaphorical pie though.  It wasn¡¯t so much physically arduous as it was emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually draining. I wasn¡¯t that much invested in the ¡°feelings¡± but right now it was definitely hitting me in the feels.

    This went on many times until I started to fell it. Whatever it was. Like a bottle filling up to its brim, or a damn about to break. A pounding, every strike becoming more and more powerful as time went on. Again I heard the spinning of the axel and the door squeaking open as I have begun to fear.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time for me to up my game. I admit I have been a little rusty. But that is the problem with all the patients undergoing certain¡­ problems.¡± He said slyly.

    I couldn¡¯t crawl away from him even if I wanted too I just lazily lied there. In a helpless lump of what was left of Chase Millers. The gruff hands grasped my skull once again, this time unlike the others It felt like I was being thrown into the icy cold lake instead of slowly wading into it.

    Along with the psychological experiences, my senses began to erratically fluctuate. My hearing heightened to degrees higher than I have ever experienced. I even heard past the sound-proof walls (if that was even possible) to a worried man pleading with another ¡°At least let him rest longer between he¡¯s gonna-¡± than my hearing dimmed to where everything felt like a slight buzz.

    I heard in the past that wolves could smell fear, I never really believed that until now. My sense of smell climaxed like someone flipped the switch for smelling a lot better than I usually could. Or maybe I was just being delusional. I could smell the ashy scent of the man in front of me, his sweat that poured over his body. I could even smell myself the unnatural tinge of whatever my body was releasing.

    Even my sight, color flooded my mind as the colors sprung to life. The man in front of me had a mask covering his face but his hair draped over the top of it slightly. Different colors tinged with intensity. Everything would turn slight red or dark blue until again my eyesight seemed to dim out into nothingness.

    The pounding inside me grew intense, pushing harder and harder. The pressure increasing inside me as my entire body shook. Wheather because of the guy shocking me or because I was melting into a puddle of patheticness it didn¡¯t matter.

    The intensity increased until I could no longer bear it. Finally, the pressure was released, something inside me broke. Like a glass of water splintering and cracking apart to let¡­ something loose inside me. It was like I was underwater my whole life, having that feeling of suffocation until finally, I broke the surface to take a breath of fresh, juicy air.

    My sight flickered in just in time for me to see all hell break loose. Black pillars shot outwards from me, each varying in size from the width of my arm to the width of a tree. Interlocking and expanding from me. Breaking into one another and splintering off into different directions.  The pillars had the complexion of jet black obsidian and the texture of rock, smooth yet rough at the same time.

    Behind me the wall cracked and crumbled under the constant pressure, pillars shot upwards and against the wall shattering it and pushing through it into whatever was above it. Loud booms and rubble began to pour around me. One particularly large pillar erupted from in front of me towards the obviously startled man, puncturing his stomach and slamming him into the opposite wall with a sickening thud releasing me from his grip.

    It was pure ecstasy, being able to fight back after feeling so goddamned helpless and shitty. The smell of rotten eggs also began to arise, the acrid influx of smell seemed to infuse into my sinuses. The man let out an inhuman like yell, white-hot electricity sparked and radiated off of him into the surrounding pillars chipping away at some, obliterating others.

    Each bolt of electricity than seemed to catch onto something in mid-air, exploding into a firey storm of lightning and fire. Out of the blue than came a glowing green barrier around myself, the very combustible man, and the walls around us. The pull in my chest that I hadn¡¯t noticed before grew intense as more pillars rose from the ground like avenging angels into the green energy only to stop abruptly.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ dddaaainddyyyyy¡± I slurred, slipping slowly towards unconsciousness.

    Everything began to blur together, the metal door was thrown open and many people rushed in all cloaked in that weird green energy that seemed oddly familiar.  The pillars dug into my sides, drawing blood. Some explosions were still going on some reached me before the energy appeared searing into the left side of my hip.

    ¡°Grab the kid and the guy they needs immediate attention! I don¡¯t care how you¡¯re feeling get your ass in there and grab him!¡± With every word, the man¡¯s voice got higher and higher until it was like he was singing soprano.

    As quick as a whip a man appeared in front of me and picked me up Shaggy and Scooby-doo style and in an instant, I was in on a stretcher of some sorts. Still wonky, maybe because of the pain, or the drugs, I looked up to an old man muttering to himself.

    ¡°Odd, why would the electricity explode like that? It doesn¡¯t make sense combined with-¡±

    I reached up almost to touch his face ¡°heehee you have a lot of wrinkkkllleesss. Almost like a-a-an elephant. Or a rug. Can I feel your face rug man?¡± I cooed looking up dizzily at the old man with a crazy grin on my face.

    ¡°Take him to the infirmary and put him under the standard prescriptions but double the dosage.¡± The same man with the high voice said before.

    ¡°I know it isn¡¯t protocol but if we don¡¯t do something he¡¯s gonna go into shock and die.¡±

    I barely heard any of this but just as I got there I started to wheel quickly through the halls. What was even more of a blessing was that I wasn¡¯t feeling anything anymore. No pain pulsed through me, maybe it was because my nerves were overloaded, or dulled to a point where I couldn¡¯t feel it. Whatever broke inside me began to soften its edges, and even being on the brink of death I have never felt more alive.

 Chapter Eighteen

    ¡°I¡¯m not taking off my sock¡± I heard a familiar voice say.

    ¡°Do you want to help him or not?¡± A girl replied.

    ¡°Than why don¡¯t you take off your sock?¡±

    ¡°Cause mine didn¡¯t cause the maid to stop cleaning my room!¡±

    ¡°I knew I shouldn¡¯t have told you about that¡± The grumbling voice had finally come to clarity and I realized it was Julian.

    From what I could feel and hear around me I concluded that I was indeed again in the infirmary. It was almost like I was waking up in here every day with some sort of injury. The memories of what happened before started to roll in like a boulder down a mountain. Happiness swelled in me like a water balloon from a thrift shop, but just as quickly it was punctured and the water that was my happiness leaked out as I thought about what happened to my body. Something felt wrong but I couldn¡¯t quite put my finger on it.

    I contemplated pretending to still be unconscious so I could evade the inevitable return back to reality. But I was no coward, I slowly peeled my eyes open, each eyelid felt as if it was being held together by monkey glue, gorilla glue, and every other glue that animals made.

    ¡°Shut up, he seems to be awakening¡±

    I glanced around the infirmary noticing a few key details. Ashley, Julian, and Jayden were crowded around my bed. The world around me seemed more crisp, more vibrant, more bright. Also, I felt lighter, I moved my arms and shoulders stretching them around. For the first time since arriving, I didn¡¯t feel that much.

    As well as something inside me had lifted. It was indescribable, it was as if a hot rod had been pressed against my brain, or my soul if I believed in that kind of stuff, had been lifted. I glanced at everyone around me and I decided since I didn¡¯t know when the opportunity would come up again I had to seize this glorious opportunity.

    ¡°Who¡­ are you people?¡± I questioned them slowly not betraying the prank just yet but a smile was threatening to push onto my lips.

    I waited, sporting a confused look on my face as I gauged their reactions. All of them stood there stunned for a second before I saw Julian take action.

    ¡°That¡¯s it I¡¯m taking off my sock, maybe I can jolt in out of his shock¡± Julian mumbled as he bent over to take off his shoe.

    Even though it was a harsh joke even I didn¡¯t deserve whatever fresh hell lay wrapped around Julian¡¯s foot.

    ¡°No, no, no¡­ I¡¯m just pulling your leg guys¡± I chuckled nervously eyeing Julian.

    An awkward silence ensued.

    ¡°So did you guys hear what happened?¡± I questioned them.

    ¡°Hear? We felt it¡± Ashley replied.

    I cocked my head at this wondering if she was thinking about the same thing as me.

    ¡°Last week we were going to class doing this meditating stuff and we felt like a small earthquake or rumbling. No one really knows anything and our teachers are saying squat so we were kinda hoping you would tell us¡± She flashed that brilliant smile obviously hoping he would spill the beans.

    ¡°Well I was put in this chamber, and strapped to a chair with this weird guy who did some mumbo-jumbo to my brain and things escalated from there,¡± I said thinking about what happened.

    Again I got more excited, I finally was something worth a damn! I could make those rock pillar things and I was already beginning to think of the possibilities.

    ¡°And?¡± Julian stretched out the word to emphasize his want for the information.

    ¡°Well I¡¯ll show you¡± I swung my legs over the side to where Jayden was and ripped off all the electrodes and tubes that went into my body since I felt perfectly fine. The monitor beside me flatlined for some reason as I stood up stretching my body.

    ¡°Why is it-¡± Jayden cut me off.

    ¡°Becuase the machine that was monitoring your vitals can¡¯t detect a heartbeat since you tore off its reader¡±

    I looked at it for a second before a brilliant solution popped into my head.

    ¡°Can we just turn it off?¡±

    Just as we started feeling the machine¡¯s buttons someone popped into the room in a rush.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Oh thank God, I thought it was happening again,¡± Ms.Terise said as she subtly clicked off her pager.

    ¡°What was happening again?¡±

    She sighed looking obviously uncomfortable.

    ¡°Your heart stopped multiple times during the several days after passing out.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know what to think about that. I didn¡¯t feel like I had died, but on the bright side, I could use it to get sympathy from the ladies. Although on the dark side there could be something still wrong with me. Or I could be dead right now, I glanced around at the slightly sweaty Julian. Well if this was heaven I want my refund.

    ¡°What do you mean several days?¡± I asked her as I slowly walked past Jayden towards her.

    ¡°Well it¡¯s the following week on Saturday, didn¡¯t your friends tell you?¡±

    I glanced at them, each and every one of them shrugged as if they forgot to bring in the mail.

    ¡°Let me take some tests¡± Ms.Terise commanded even though many would mistake the command for a request if read on paper.

    Then for the next twelve minutes according to the ticking clock on the wall, I endured blood pressure tests, eyesight tests, hearing tests, temperature tests, heartbeat tests, and even solved a puzzle to make sure I wasn¡¯t missing any brain cells. Although that could be a real problem, a lot of shit went on up in the old coconut and I don¡¯t know if anything was all put together like the puzzle of a puppy before me. I considered asking her but eh, what isn¡¯t life without a little surprise.

    Finally, someone interrupted Ms.Terise before she was going to whip out the multiplication flashcards.

    ¡°Ah Mr.Millers good to see you up Ms.Terise may we talk in private?¡± Mr.Richards asked earnestly.

    Ms.Terise ushered my friends out and followed them out the door, oddly enough we could talk in private since I never saw another patient in here with me. He motioned me to sit in a wooden chair to his side that I didn¡¯t notice before and moved a chair opposite of it and sat down.

    He clasped his hands in front of him as he gazed deeply into my eyes. It was kinda weird, to be honest. I didn¡¯t say anything because I didn¡¯t know where this was going and since I couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking I didn¡¯t know what to feel too.

    ¡°So how do you feel Chase?¡± He questioned me in that same gruff voice.

    ¡°Well considering that I died¡­ multiple times I don¡¯t know what I should be feeling right now¡±

    ¡°Do you remember anything after you died several times?¡± He asked once again obviously his scientific curiosity peaked.

    I thought back but that only came up was the time before going unconscious but after that just nothingness. No dreams, no nightmares, nothing. ¡°No¡± I replied.

    ¡°What about right now and during Phase II?¡±

    I stuffed my hands into the small pockets of the infirmary gown hoping he wouldn¡¯t notice the tremors. I noticed something when I woke up and when I was going through the tests I put my finger on the problem. My hands seemed to be shaking slightly, like old men with arthritis. It wasn¡¯t the tremors itself per say, it was more the principle that came with it. If there is one problem there are bound to be more.

    ¡°I feel fine now, better since I got here actually,¡± I said.

    ¡°Mhm,¡± he seemed unconvinced.

    ¡°And during Phase II?¡±

    ¡°I remember it like I was drunk and now the next day I have sobered up.¡± Catching his look I added ¡°Not that I would know what it felt to be drunk of course¡±

    He waited for me to continue.

    ¡°I felt like I was going through hell, and I begged and pleaded it to stop but it never did. Although I have to thank you in the end though.¡±

    He smiled a strange sight.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Super now aren¡¯t you?¡± Feining forgetfulness ¡°How does it feel?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t tested it out yet actually¡± I admitted.

    ¡°Before I spill the beans on what you can do I¡¯d like for you to give it a go,¡± He said leaning forward.

    The excitement began to bubble up inside me. I haven¡¯t felt this way since I was younger, eagerly waiting to go outside and play. I pulled my hands out of my pocket

    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± I asked him excitedly as I wiggled my fingers around feeling for that tug I felt before.

    ¡°Anything¡±

    I closed my eyes feeling around inside me, putting myself in the same shoes as it first happened. I imagined the pain I felt, I took that seed of pain and I let it envelop me. I felt that tug as before I grabbed it and I pulled that shit. A small black pebble tumbled from my outstretched hand and hit the ground.

    ¡°Huh, I got to say I expected mor-¡±

    Mr.Richards was cut off sentence as I made another motion with my arm as I was getting a better hand on the metaphorical rope. A collum of rough black stone erupted from the floor towards the ceiling all while making the pebble go flying into the clock with a crash. Poor clock, it will never tick again.

    ¡°WOO, let¡¯s go!¡± I laughed out loud and pumped my fist in the air until I realized I was being watched by Mr.Richards.

    Oh well.

    ¡°Interesting, can you make anything other than a pillar?¡± He asked me as he inspected the collum.

    With a grin that would make many teachers at my school nervous, I shrugged my shoulders a little bit to get lose and was about to start when he grabbed my arm.

    ¡°Maybe not here though, I think Ms.Terise will have an aneurysm when she sees this.¡± He said with a chuckle.

    ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡± I said biting my tongue to block any signs of me not being especially sorry.

    I¡¯ve already begun to hate this place due to all the times I¡¯ve been waking up in here harmed.

    ¡°We will test you more thoroughly later but for now let me explain what categorization of Super you are¡±

    I smiled at that, I was officially a Super and I couldn¡¯t get enough of it.

    ¡°From what I could tell you are a low to mid-level Creationist,¡± He said.

    ¡°Low to mid? But-¡± I motioned at the pillar exasperated.

    ¡°What just because you skewered a guy who was concentrated on a feat that changed the chemistry of your brain? In a real fight he would take you out so quickly you wouldn¡¯t even be able to say thunder.¡±

    That is okay, I never really started at the top I guess I just gotta work harder from now on to be stronger. Better. But if I was low to mid I couldn¡¯t begin to fathom what the powerful ones could do.

    ¡°Now, a Creationist can usually control natural elements on the periodic table. They are called Creationists because the elements create everything around you. Also because of Genesis in the Bible and such.¡± He touched the pillar motioning me to look at it.

    ¡°You can create Carbon, although unfortunately not in its pressurized state. Nothing to sneeze at though.¡±

    ¡°Huh does that mean-¡± Before I could finish my question a very high pitched scream pierced the room like a hot knife on crayons.

    ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± Ms.Terise yelled as she stared open-mouthed at the pillar than the clock.

    May it rest in peace.

 Chapter Nineteen

    I was about to escorted out of the infirmary by Mr.Richards when the double doors burst open. A white and yellow stretcher on wheels rolled through pushed by a doctor and a nurse by its side.

    ¡°Heart rate over 200, blood pressure rising, body temp at 104.4, someone calls a healer!¡± The doctor spat out commands at both Ms.Terise and the nurse.

    Just as the stretcher was about to ram into my pillar of carbon the wheels of the stretcher squeaked to an abrupt stop. Even though I started to sweat slightly due to the anxiety of being the source of the problem here I couldn¡¯t help but get a good look at the person on the stretcher. It was a guy that was thankfully unfamiliar, not of course that he didn¡¯t matter but just not as much as someone that I was friends with.

    From what I could see the problem didn¡¯t seem to be a body injury. He had pale skin which amplified the bruises and slight burns that spotted his arms and torso and I assumed his legs as well. His eyes were rolled back, and extremely bloodshot as well as blood pouring from the nose like a waterfall cascading off the cliff that is his face.

    ¡°What the hell is this Jack?¡± The doctor practically yelled while staring wide-eyed at Mr.Richards.

    Huh, I assumed his name would be Charles the Second or something. I shook this thought out of my head as I furrowed my brows in thought as I tried to come up with a way to help. I mean I have super powers now what can¡¯t I do?

    Mr.Richards quickly turned around with more agility than I would¡¯ve thought he would have and placed both hands on my shoulders and shook them vigorously while he spoke. It was quite a jarring experience honestly.

    ¡°Chase we need you to destroy it if he is going to get help¡± He tried to sound calm as to not scare me perhaps but I could tell even he was a little worried.

    But no worries he could count on me to fix the problem. Well, the problem I created anyways. I pushed the increasingly loud yelling out of my mind and reached out with my right palm to touch the thick pillar of carbon in front of me thinking physical touch may help in the endeavor.

    Apart from the rough surface of what I could touch with my fingertips, I felt something else. I couldn¡¯t quite a vibration or even a shimmer, but it somehow felt ancient, something so complex that I couldn¡¯t put my finger on exactly what it was. Or maybe I was just too stupid to even fathom to perceive what it was.

    I began to realize I didn¡¯t know how long I¡¯d been not trying to eradicate the carbon. Re-focusing on the task at hand I began to try. At first, I just tried to make it just disappear by thinking destroy over and over in my head but after a solid ten seconds of it not working I decided to alter my technique. I began to visualize the collum to eat away at itself, to collapse onto each and every particle and crumple together into nothingness.

    After a few seconds, I felt my work complete. Opening my eyes I stood proudly in front of my work, other than a couple small craters on the floor and ceiling there were no signs that there had been anything there.

    But oddly it was silent in the room except for the heavy breathing of Ms.Terise who stood over the guy with her hand on his chest that was slightly glowing. The doctor¡¯s expression melted away from fuming to a more solemn face.

    ¡°Time of death-¡± The doctor abruptly stopped as he looked at the smashed clock on the wall.

    ¡°Anyone got the time?¡±

    At this point I was processing what was happening, I was too late. Even though he might¡¯ve died anyway I felt it was at least partly my fault. That was two known deaths that the blame lay under my belt. Might as well prosecute me as a murderer and lock me up in a max prison for what I¡¯ve done.

    Mr.Richards layed a hand on my shoulder and led me out silently, I couldn¡¯t read his face but I could practically feel the waves of disappointment radiating off of him. Ashley, Julian, and Jayden stared at me in confusion as I was led next to them.

    ¡°You guys should head off to class, it should be starting soon and It will be interesting¡± He commanded before turning and walking back into the infirmary without glancing at me.

    ¡°Fourth one this week¡± I heard him mumble to himself as Mr.Richards passed through the double doors.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°So what¡¯s up with that?¡± Ashley questioned me while still looking at the infirmary.

    ¡°Who knows I left before I found out what happened to him¡±

    I wasn¡¯t exactly lying as I felt I was just not telling the whole truth. I knew that he died but I didn¡¯t know what they would do with his body, I guess that was kind of insensitive but it was the only way I could twist myself out of thinking I lied.

    We started to head out towards the classroom as I pondered what just had happened. Thankfully I was shaken out of my stupor as Jayden posed a question to me.

    ¡°So you never told us what you can do?¡±

    It a second for me to understand what he was asking me before I answered.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to ruin the surprise!¡± I paused thoughtfully before going on ¡°Although I think I have to be tested before I can start experimenting¡± I answered.

    ¡°Ah makes sense, I myself dislike surprises but I assume that even Julian would enjoy a good surprise¡±

    I glanced at Julian who quickly opened his mouth to comment ¡°Ye-yeah I sometimes like surprises¡­ Even I have one to show but, not right now¡± He said slowly as if each word poisoned him to say.

    That was weird, something seemed to be ruffling Julian¡¯s feathers. But that was for another time as we had arrived to the bumbling classroom filled abuzz with chitter chatter.

    We walked in and again found the chairs lined up along the walls. Although what was different was a middle-aged man that I remembered from the day we arrived. Equinox, the legend, a man of Godly proportions among mere mortal men. A man that was laying in the supine position in the middle of the floor with his eyes closed.

    ¡°Is he¡­ dead?¡± Julian asked slowly as he eyed the balding man in front of his like the rest of the people in the class.

    ¡°I dunno go shake him gently with your shoe,¡± I said unhelpfully.

    To our utter surprise though Equinox said something ¡°Even though I may be out of my prime my hearing is still quite pristine¡±

    He stood up from the door and dusted himself off and motioned us to sit down. He stood in the center, even in his aging body he was just like I saw in the pictures. Shoulders back, chest puffed up naturually, jaw set. Very quickly everyone in the room quieted down and sat down in their respected seats.

    I thought people would make a fuss about me due to what has been happening but that had apparently long passed and all attention was on Equinox. After a few moments, he began.

    ¡°I would like to know any rumors or anything you would like to add to what you think I did as a hero, anyone may speak up but please raise your hand¡±

    One after another he called on different people. Each person sprouting out facts about his achievements, his power, his fights throughout his lifetime. Finally, he called on Jayden who sat next to me.

    ¡°You fought and killed the leader of the terrorist group called The Last Steps¡±

    Equinox went quite for a second before starting ¡°Yes Darkside. Leader of The Last Steps a most unfortunate sounding self-made name. Now, most of you should know my power is a tool, a shield to be more precise. I protect, that is my role to the innocent, my team, and my country. Darkside was a sword, a bloody one that slew the people by the tens of thousands.¡±

    He paused for a second to apparently collect his thoughts before continuing ¡°Darkside had an ability that the world had never seen before, one that led to the psychotic debilitation and nightmares of many. When Darkside made a power play to seize hold of the armory of a military base in a major city I was, of course, sent with my team to stop him by any means necessary. Nobody even knows what his ability actually was since anyone who witnessed it never really survived long enough to write down any observations. Some though saw it and spread rumors, but those were mostly discounted by scientists as they had gone clinically insane.¡±

    ¡°Due to me being a shield I never thought myself the one to kill him, I was to support the team they said. Let the heavy hitters take him out they said. But when my team was slaughtered by Darkside I had to face him myself. He has shrowd with shadows, the literal entity of seeming darkness. I guess that¡¯s why he calls himself Darkside. I always thought my self to be a shield but at that moment I had to be something different. Something more. And so I did¡±

    Equinox lifted his arm in front of his palm outwards, unsure of what he was doing I leaned in with the rest of the people around me possessed with curiosity. A green wall of translucent green energy materialized in front of him.

    ¡°My energy is malleable by thought, I can make it expend or twist around corners. So in a stroke of genius or accident, I surrounded Darkside with it and¡­ compressed. Due to the ethereal being of Darkside, it was, well difficult to say the least but even he had some human in him. I compressed the energy, and even though I was on the verge of collapsing due to the absolute monstrosity of something that pushed against it I ended up winning the tug of war and ended his reign of killing.¡±

    He shook his head as if to make the memories disappear and his face lightened up fractionally as he started onwards again. ¡°This leads me to my point, what your power does is not so forward. I think we have a pyromancer in this room and if you can stand up please I would appreciate it¡±

    All eyes moved to Marc as he stood up, small flashbacks of my fight emerised my brain. I ought to talk to him later about what happened. Marc stood up.

    ¡°Now his ability of fire may be seen only as a destructive force, something to burn, to hurt, to kill. But what if he could use it to support not to destroy. He could use it to burn down buildings, or he could use it to warm freezing children in the tundras of Alaska. In that moment against Darkside, I couldn¡¯t be a shield, I had to be something else. What I am saying is to be creative with what you do, don¡¯t be black and white.¡±

    ¡°Be grey¡±

 Chapter Twenty

    Quite an interesting story. One that seemed to ring some bells in the ole noggin but not one that was instantly recognizable. Maybe I didn¡¯t know it due to it being old news. Did they even have the internet or even electricity back then? The reason it was familiar was that it was probably talked about in my History class. That gosh darn useless History.

    I noticed that Julian was looking uncomfortable again, I knew this due to an odd feeling in my chest that something was amiss. I just couldn¡¯t put my tongue on it. I glanced back at Equinox who was rambling on about something. I should probably start paying attention or I¡¯ll miss something semi-important.

    ¡°Most of you will probably be pretty skeptical of my power. And if I were in your position I would be too, since it¡¯s been two weeks I propose a challenge.¡± He said with a glorious flourish of his arm across the room.

    It didn¡¯t feel like two weeks, it seemed like just yesterday I arrived in the room writing paperwork and making a fool out of myself. Although Ashley did tell me I was unconscious for most of that time. What a waste, I could¡¯ve been using that time for more important things, like working out. Or the ladies.

    ¡°Everyone who has any sort of tangible ability please step forward. The rest of you just observe and learn what you may become.¡±

    I proudly stepped forward with my chest slightly puffed out along with Ashley on my left. I counted the rest of the people who stepped forward, about ten girls to eight boys including me. That surprised me, that was like more than half. It seemed that everyone stepped forward when one final person stepped forward.

    I raised an eyebrow at Julian who just shrugged. If Ashley was bothered by this she didn¡¯t show and when I glanced at Jayden his face as stoic as a smooth stone roughed down to a pebble by the crashing waves that is life. But I guess he always looked like that.

    ¡°Ah good turnout this year, happy to see such happy, breathing faces¡± Equnoix chuckled slightly at his joke along with absolutely no one in the room.

    He coughed slightly, stifling his laughter ¡°Here is the challenge, whoever can break through my energy field through any means will get the bragging rights and an extra slice of pie for dessert tonight¡±

    I do enjoy myself a good slice of pie, as well as bragging rights which last me a lifetime. My fire that is my competing spirit is kindled by the spark that is the challenge.

    ¡°I will be shielding the rest of you guys just in case of any backlash, does everyone understand the perimeters?¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± I said all the while stretching out the word yeah and my shoulders. The other guys and gals murmured in agreement.

    Equinox held up his wrinkled hand outwards palm facing upwards and summoned a wall of green energy about an inch thick from the floor to the ceiling. Ooos and ahhs reverberated around the room. I was much less astounded as I¡¯d already seen it. During my hellish time with that electric dude, I was protected along with him during my little temper tantrum.

    ¡°Now which brave soul would like to start us off?¡± He questioned while eyeing each and every one of us.

    Being the man I am I was about to step forward and show what I can do but I was, unfortunately, beat to the punch. The imposing guy that was Arnold sauntered up toward the wall of energy looking confident. Not even batting an eye towards the girls unabashedly gazing moon-eyed at him. Lucky him.

    Unlike the action movies, I had seen before Arnold did not crack his knuckles but instead he just shook out his entire body and positioned himself into an attacking stance. I recognized it as a boxing stance and I could appreciate his form. He readied himself and threw a punch that could level a very small shop in maybe Panama.

    Nothing happened. Arnold frowned as he began to throw punches, kicks, elbows and even tried to headbutt the wall. Maybe if I used my imagination I could see the barest ripple throughout the field of force. After a few minutes of many grunts, Arnold finally off in defeat.

    Everyone looked a little less confident unlike me who I was as proud as ever.

    ¡°We will now go counterclockwise from Arnold so this young lady will go next and so on,¡± Equinox said.

    The girl walked up and I must say she is kinda hot, she had nice hazel curly hair, pale skin, and a couple flashy rings on her right hand.

    ¡°Here we go!¡± She said with an unsurprisingly high pitched voice.

    She raised her hands in the air like she just doesn¡¯t care and twirled her fingers. Little sparks exploded out of her fingers like fireworks but instead of firing like a rocket toward the wall they fell to the ground slowly at her toes. They crackled and popped and did absolutely nothing special.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Can you umm, like move your energy shield?¡± She asked Equinox who was looking slightly amused.

    ¡°Sure thing,¡± He said while without even twitching his finger the shield moved forward and stopped right at her waist like a table. Again she twirled her fingers in the air and again the sparkles dropped like a feather onto the force field doing nothing. She walked off to her friends who congratulated her loudly.

    To my left, a guy whispered to Julian ¡°Ill twinkle and spark her and her friends if you catch my drift¡±

    Julian glanced at me with a horrified look on his face as I just chuckled slightly into my elbow. Again and again, people walked up and each person walked off to no avail. Next, after twinkletoes was a girl who could shapeshift into a small tabby house cat. After uselessly scratching the wall of energy she changed back into human form. After her, an Asian guy walked up with shoulders set back and chest puffed up.

    He reared back his punch as far back as he could go all the while looking a bit silly and through his punch at the base of the wall of green energy. While the fist traveled it grew to the size of a watermelon than a large wheel untill it hit. The barest of a sliver of a ripple was released from the force of the punch. The fist hit the ground with a mighty crack as it seemed to be too heavy for the guy to lift.

    Jaydev leaned over to me from my right and whispered to me ¡°He can manipulate the size and presumably his mass of his body parts if you¡¯re wondering.¡±

    I nodded in appreciation as I watched with renewing interest. That could put him on par with Arnold depending on how big he can make himself. He rubbed his slightly grown beard for a moment before apparently getting a bright idea. He walked over to the other side of the room and motioned the other kids to move to the side. His whole body tensed as he started running toward the wall.

    Like a human bowling ball, his body began to enlargen, each and every extremity blew up like a balloon, but only his head stayed the same size making him look clownish at worst. This all happened in midair as he had football tackled the wall creating a small ripple into the wall. Thankfully he was caught with another forcefield and was set lightly on the ground.

    ¡°Dang¡± I muttered no one in particular as I gauged my chances by comparing what I could do to what the others were doing and my confidence was slightly diminishing. Several people went at it with almost none effect, one had an icy touch that accomplished making the girls next to him shiver. Another turned his skin into solid wood.

    Wood, not stone, metal, or even bricks. He could be more useful as a chair for all he did when he punched the shield his fist actually splintered. He was unfortunately led to the infirmary. He seemed like a nice guy though, I¡¯d have to ask him what type of tree wood he can turn into. My favorite wood is mahogany but his color was more of a light tan.

    Eventually, a short girl walked up with a bright smile and a flutter in her step.

    ¡°Good luck Ana¡± Ashley yelled out in encouragement.

    Ana smiled back as she furrowed her brows in concentration. I made a mental note to ask Ashley to introduce me to her little friend. She raised her hands and two rainbows arced from her palms, and two my utter surprise they phased through the shield and landed onto the pot of gold that was the slightly bulging belly of Equinox.

    ¡°Ha I there is always one!¡±He said as the rainbows flickered off.

    ¡°My shield can filter out poisons in the air but not light itself. If it could then I would be shrouded in eternal darkness if I kept it as a full body shield. The light was not harmful in itself but this leads me to the point that I want to teach you today. be creative with your power. You were gifted with something that few get to experience, take many if not every moment experimenting and thinking of new ways to use it. A rainbow at first glance might not seem as much but it was the only thing that passed through the seemingly impenetrable wall of my energy¡± he signaled for the next person to go which coincidentally was Ashley.

    Just like the others, her tentacles were useless. Even with each crack of the whip, her tentacles bounced harmlessly off. Ashley asked him to change the wall into a cylinder which he complied.She even tried wrapping them around the now and squeezing with what I assumed was all her might. She walked next to me in defeat untill I realized it was my turn.

    Time to win this challenge. I sauntered up to the center all the while aware of the eyeballs glued to me. Maybe it was because of some of the rumors floating around about my time during Phase II, or maybe it was because of my rugged looks. Whatever it was pressure is what I excelled in. Equinox eyed me while I walked up to the wall until it was only an inch away. Instead of aimlessly pounding away at it I observed what the others did and came up with a plan.

    Everything has a weakness, even a wall of energy that shouldn¡¯t theoretically exist. Whenever I help my dad in the garage nailing things to the wall the nail always penetrated the wood. Maybe the same thing applied here. I pressed my palm against the wall of green energy, it felt weird. Like an invisible smooth stainless steel wall.

    I clenched both of my fists together, ignoring the sweat accumulating on my palms I visualized a very thin layer of carbon coat the forcefield. If I could touch it that should mean it¡¯s physical enough for matter to accumulate on it. Right? My bet paid off as the carbon grew from the center and outwards to surround it. Next, I had to create the nail. I imagined a ¡°nail¡± build upon itself from the center and toward me as I took a step back as it grew.

    Next, I needed the hammer, I always felt like my body was a weapon, a tool. Well, now I am. Carbon began to coat around my skin and up my forearm untill stopping at my elbow. But it was loose.

    I frowned as I tried to fuse it onto me, to make it a part of me. The carbon slowly began to ingrain itself into my skin and muscle as I watched it. Like the veins in a leaf, the dark material took root into me. I grunted slightly in pain and concentration as I flexed and tested it out. Moving it up and about.

    ¡°Pretty cool huh?¡± I said to Julian who like the rest of the kids around me sported a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and another unreadable expression.

    He gave me an encouraging thumbs up in response. If this works maybe it¡¯ll even impress the girls around me, especially Ashley who I knew was watching me intently. I took a deep breath before rearing back with my now a fifty-pound arm and swung it with all my might at the nail all the while envisioning growing more carbon at the other side of the makeshift carbon nail.

 Chapter Twenty one

    My fist soared through the air like a hawk pursuing its prey. An animal that will stop at nothing to achieve its goal. But unfortunately, my fist, like the rest of me, was not a predatory bird that chowed down on smaller mammals. But a concoction of bones, muscles, and tissue that is easily broken.

    My clenched fist hit the base of the carbon nail with every nuance of force that I could muster. My knuckles collapsed into the palm, the force that was intended to drive through the carbon nail instead of the kinetic energy reverberated through my hand and my forearm. The shockwaves blasted chunks of carbon off my arm, the crunching of the knuckles in my hand could be heard even through the crumbling of the carbon falling to the ground.

    I¡¯ve been dealing with physical pain for the last few years of my life. Inwards and out, it drug me down. An everlasting anchor that hung from my soul, tethering me to the outside the world lest I lose myself in the fantasies.

    The obsidian black rock dissipated into dust as the green energy that I failed to even falter dimmed into nothingness. I stared at my arm dim-wittingly while I tried to comprehend what happened. My hand was in shambles, my fingers stood crooked like an old man enduring the injuries of a lifetime. The skin, or lack thereof on my arm where there was no carbon anymore was grotesque.

    But most of all, I felt nothing¡­ Not the searing pain that flared through my arm with each heartbeat. Not the sickening ache that pulsed through my body as my brain reacted to what happened. Nada. It was like I was just standing there enjoying the slight humidity that arose from the continued efforts of trying to break an unbreakable wall.

    I clenched and unclenched my hand feeling the bones move. Albeit slowly like I just stuck my hand in freezing water for a couple minutes. I swung my arm about watching with fascination as I enjoyed the sensation of dullness. The dark red blood that dripped from the skinless portions of my arm snapped me out of my morbid fascination of my own extremity and back to reality.

    ¡°Holy sweet mother of Jesus¡± Equinox whispered. His eyes were wide as he scoured my face waiting for my inevitable cries of anguish.

    Small screams and gasps could be heard from around me but I ignored them. Wusses. It¡¯s just a little blood. I looked at the growing puddle of sticky blood pooling on the ground. Well, maybe a little more than a little.

    Looking closer at my mangled piece of flesh that I could call an arm I noticed that I really didn¡¯t fuse the carbon into me as well as I thought. Instead of it being rooted deep in my arm like the roots of a tree they only stuck to the skin like glue on paper. I mean this should hurt right? It felt like when you squeeze the skin on your elbow and you feel nothing or when the dentist anesthetizes your mouth and no matter how hard you bite on your cheek all you feel is a dull rubber-like flesh.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there a young lady in here who can heal?¡± Equinox called out frantically.

    I walked over to my friends who were watching with quite different expressions on their faces. Julian was green with nausea, Ashley looked close to crying, and Jayden merely furrowed his brows in thought. The unsympathetic bastard, If I was in actual pain that wouldn¡¯t make me feel any better.

    The girls and guys who quickly cleared the area before I arrived next to my friends. They probably couldn¡¯t handle the sweetness I was bringing.

    ¡°That went better in my head¡± I declared easily as I waved my injured arm towards Equinox.

    Julian¡¯s eyes never left my mangled appendage as I swung it up and about while I talked.

    ¡°How aren¡¯t you crying? You¡¯re like bleeding and your hand¡¯s all mashed up and-¡± Ashley said tremoring.

    ¡°Men never fear pain! We embrace it.¡± I said with a confident smile.

    Ashley stared at me incredulously.

    ¡°Right Julian?¡± I asked as I took a step forward next to him and swung my bloody arm around his shoulder before he could answer.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    The way my arm was positioned I could see my bone jut out of my forearm, a groundhog coming out of the hole that is my arm. That¡¯s when Julian lost his lunch. The acrid smell of bile rose from the vomit that was spewed all over the ground in front of us. Maybe I took this a little too far. I quickly took my arm off as Julian scrambled away all the while shooting me a dirty look.

    ¡°D-don¡¯t do that!¡± He stammered as he left the room as fast as he could.

    ¡°I was just joking,¡± I said pleadingly with Jayden who just shrugged in indifference.

    ¡°No one else is freaking out about his bleeding arm?!¡± Ashley cried out.

    Before I could run after Julian a light tap on shoulder alerted me that there were other people in the room watching. I turned around to face a cute brunette girl. She was fair skinned, toned, and had ice blue eyes that would make me drown in them if I ever could swim in them.

    Hot damn.

    ¡°I was told you needed some healing,¡± She said in complete seriousness.

    ¡°A little may be nice, yeah,¡± I said while gesturing at the small pool of blood that was beginning to pile up on the floor.

    The girl winced slightly as she was about to touch the skinless region before thankfully changing her mind and grasping the area just above my elbow that was full of skin. She closed her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows in apparent concentration. Tingles pulsed through my body with every caress of her fingertips and not just because of the healing. Tearing my eyes away from her I looked back at my arm.

    ¡°This may hurt a little,¡± She said with absolutely no remorse.

    No worries, she doesn¡¯t know that I¡¯m not feeling anything. She¡¯ll hopefully think I¡¯m just pushing the pain out of my mind. The already slowing dripping of deep red stopped to a standstill, the white marrow of bone pushed under the muscle. Skin grew from the where she was touching me up towards my fist like a snake slithering toward its hole that it calls home. The bones in my hand regenerated and straightened out. As soon as it started it stopped.

    ¡°You owe me one,¡± She said in that silky smooth voice of hers.

    Before I could respond she turned around abrubtly and sashayed off to her friends who were watching like the rest of the room, well the guys weren¡¯t really watching me per say. Or the healing really. I flapped my arm a bit to get feel for it and I had better motor functions. Or at least I hope so, I couldn¡¯t really feel a difference.

    Again just before I could go after Julian Equinox caught my eye. Instead of worry or empathy for my hardships, all I saw was calculations and suspicions. He held me stare for a few more seconds before walking out of the room.

    ¡°Class dismissed,¡± He said gravelly before walking out.

    Murmers arouse again, great all I need now is more attention. I turned around back to Ashley and Jayden.  Ashley had unreadably expression plastered on her face as she stared back at the girl who healed me. She looked back at me before leaving in a huff to join rainbow girl. Now, what did I do?

    <hr>

    Of course, this was how is now. I rubbed my wrists together as I turned another corner not caring where I would end up. I finally became someone, a Super for Christ¡¯s sake, and Chase turns all the attention to him again. I didn¡¯t tell anyone because I knew this would happen anyways with all the rumors surrounding him.

    And even now even after he spectacularly failed he smiled and joked with a mangled arm. How could I compete with that? Ashley couldn¡¯t give two shits about short, chubby Julian who throws up and is too scared to even talk about an achievement that he dreamed ever since he was a kid. It was supposed to get better here but now I¡¯m even more lonely due to the inevitably overshadowing of others.  Ever since I- no- I shouldn¡¯t be stuck in the past. But oh how it pulls me toward it like a vacuum sucking me into its grasp.

    I turned another corner I briskly walked down the increasingly dimming hallways. I was up next, even if I had no chance to even scratch the legendary forcefield that doesn¡¯t mean I couldn¡¯t show everybody that I wasn¡¯t worthless. Maybe even impress Ashley to the point that she would pry her eyes from Chase.

    I finally stopped walking to stretch out my shoulders and back. Unfortunately, after I got my powers I haven¡¯t been quite able to hide what happened and stay comfortable. And I thought the major changes of puberty were behind me. I leaned against a metallic door as I enjoyed the silence of being alone and without any blood dripping all over me.

    The clip-clops of steps reverberated through the hallway as I stood there pondering the miserable state I¡¯m in.

    ¡°There you are!¡± Chase said cheerfully.

    ¡°How did you find me?¡± I asked without thinking how rude that sounded.

    Without missing a beat he just gestured behind him and said: ¡°Oh someone pointed me to where you went and I eventually caught up.¡±

    ¡°Yay¡­¡±I said weakly.

    ¡°So I-uh- wanted to say sorry for what I did back there. I¡¯ve been a little shaken up because of everything and-¡± He paused. He seemed like he was about to say something but changed his mind. ¡°I might¡¯ve taken it too far¡± He continued and from what I could tell he meant it.

    ¡°Yeah, no problem I don¡¯t even care that much,¡± I said as I bit my tongue to not let the lie be too obvious.

    Thankfully he was oblivious. We then stood there awkwardly as silence ensued, the seconds ticked by slower than my mile time. I was about to try to rub off some of his blood off my shoulder until Chase perked up as he looked behind me.

    ¡°Hey isn¡¯t that the door to the lab that we were specifically told not to go in,¡± He said with a mischievous grin that would make any teacher in the vicinity to instantly suspicious.

 Chapter Twenty two

    What a coincidence, for Julian and I to arrive at the laboratory that contained a multitude of mysteries was incredible. More so than maybe my ability to create one of the building blocks of life out of thin air. But if I wasn¡¯t a man to seize an opportunity than Antartica is a conspiracy made up by the government.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really think this is a good idea¡­¡± Julian warned as he stepped in between me and the door.

    ¡°Bah, what could possibly go wrong?¡± I said as I pushed my way past him to inspect the door.

    I started to knock on different parts of the door, like how I saw movie stars do when trying to break through something. Or were they trying to search for booby traps? Then a brilliant idea flashed through my mind. Like a bulb that has never been turned on and all the energy surges through it all at once. I should try the doorknob.

    Turning my head to face Julian with a smug smile plastered on my face, I grasped the knob and twisted counter-clockwise. The smile that sat so beautifully on my face melted off like my dreams of fun as it seemed the knob refused to budge.

    ¡°See you can¡¯t even open it, let¡¯s leave before someone finds us,¡± Julian whispered before glancing back down the hallway I came from in obvious worry.

    Turning back to the knob I stared at it in thought, the metallic shine of the doorknob mocked me as once again an epiphany struck me. Maybe it was just stuck? I took a few steps back from the metal and inhaled a deep breath of fresh oxygen. I surged forward and tensed up my entire body, ready to crash through the barrier that will never stop unstoppable beast that is I. My body hit the ground after the door did indeed stop me.

    ¡°I¡¯m just gonna go before we get caught¡± Julian stammered before briskly walking off.

    He didn¡¯t even check if I was okay! I mean I don¡¯t really feel anything but it¡¯s the principle of it. Speaking of not feeling anything, isn¡¯t that like not supposed to happen? Maybe I should conduct my own experiments on the extent of it¡­

    ¡°Hey what are you doing!¡± A man yelled.

    Panicking I sprinted down the hall, turning corners and past confused people until I reached the elevators. Looking around to my delight I was not caught.

    Phew.

    Guess I can be officially be called a bad boy now. I took a few deep breathes before clicking the elevator button so I can go back to my dorm. Escaping from the fuzz really changes you. The elevator dinged and I stepped inside, I needed some time to think.

    The next few days of days went by slower than a tortoise sludging through my grandma¡¯s famous maple syrup. During these days I was limited in my options, I got a memo on my bed to not use my powers before getting tested so I had to refrain myself to my room. I mean after so many hours of creating and dissipating various shapes and obstacles I grew quickly frustrated.

    Since I wasn¡¯t being tortured every day or being unconscious I had a lot more time on my hands. Between working out, going to classes, and experimenting ever so slightly with my power I wanted to step out and do something productive. I wanted to truly test my self, not make a carbon throne for me to laze about in. Which was cool but still.

    On the forefront of my mind though was my health. Things have been changing¡­ and not just my body. This is what lead me to pace back in forth in my empty dorm room all the while thinking what to do next. I wanted to get a second opinion about my pain-less gift since I didn¡¯t want to test it myself.

    Cutting myself in the bathtub might send the wrong message. But after four days of the uncanny feeling of the absence of something that plagued me all my life I was going a little stir-crazy. A stress that even lifting weights couldn¡¯t relieve. I needed to talk to someone who wouldn¡¯t freak out. Mr.Richards was no where to be found, Ashley seemed to be avoiding me for whatever reason, even Julian was off training whatever ability he got. That left one person to talk to that may be able to help me. I quickly walked out of the dorm to the other dorm that we shared the flat with.

    I hesitantly knocked on the door, fearful that the other guy was going to be in there. We weren¡¯t necessarily at our throats but we had a less than cordial relationship. As much as I was itching for a rematch I came he for one reason and for one reason only.

    ¡°Come in¡± Came the ever stalwart voice of Jayden.

    I stepped in to meet Jayden laying in his bed reading a thick novel. Surprisingly enough he had reading glasses, he never mentioned he had prescriptions. His clothes were neatly stacked up on top of each of other to the side of his bed, even his shoes were neatly put in the corner with a floral knot of his shoelaces.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°So what¡¯re you reading,¡± I said trying to make small talk before coming up with my dilemma.

    It¡¯s only polite.

    ¡°Just catching up on the latest developments quantum mechanics, nothing special,¡± He said nonchalantly as he placed the book on his nightstand with a thump.

    ¡°So what do you want.¡± He stated as he closed his book and set it aside with a thump.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    That was a little creepy, even considering his monotonous personality. Maybe in the last few days, he got the ability to read minds. Wicked, even if a bit forward.

    ¡°Well since ripping the skin off your hand I knew you¡¯d come for advice after not being able to find Mr.Richards¡±

    I frowned at this ¡°How did you know I couldn¡¯t find him?¡± I questioned.

    His right eyelid twitched ever so slightly ¡°I don¡¯t¡±

    Odd, before I could further question me he continued.

    ¡°I know that you didn¡¯t even twitch when mangling your arm, even having the high-tolerance of pain that would¡¯ve at least elicited some reaction. And being the prideful person you are, you waited days trying to figure out what was happening before coming for advice.¡±

    Annoyance crawled up my throat as I retorted ¡°I¡¯m not pridef-¡±

    He raised his eyebrow slightly with a small smile as he confirmed his words.

    I stopped myself as regretfully his words rang slightly true. I needed to calm down if I wanted some help and Jayden has been nothing but a friend ever since I met him. And I should try to keep that lest I drive him away like the rest of the people during high school. I need to stop pushing people away and start accepting people. Or at least that¡¯s what the self-help books said.

    Swallowing my pride I said, ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what to do.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to help for the time being. There are some very limited studies of people who have congenital insensitivity to pain, which is basically not feeling pain. But unlike you, they are born with it. Maybe it is part of your power set?¡± His back straightened out and he was talking more animated now inspired by the thirst for knowledge.

    Thinking back to my little talk with Mr.Richards about my powers I didn¡¯t think it was.

    ¡°He said I was a Creationist, but I don¡¯t know if you know anything about that,¡± I said already knowing the answer.

    ¡°Well for a matter of fact I do, I¡¯m guessing your main element is Carbon?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, how¡¯d you know?¡± I asked.

    ¡°The composition, texture, color. Insensitivity to pain is in no way part of that power set but who knows every powerset is different.¡± He waved his hand as if it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°But we¡¯re getting off hand here. The ability to feel pain is the most important part of our survival, how will the caveman know not to swim in lava if he can¡¯t feel the stifling heat? Just like how you didn¡¯t notice your dislocated shoulder.¡± He said.

    I winced as I remembered the last time I dislocated my shoulder. I was in a wrestling match against our rivaling school. I was grappling with a guy two years my senior and ten my skill level. After a humiliating first takedown, he pinned me once again. Unable to take the loss I tried ripping myself out of his grip resulting in the dislocated shoulder.  How Jayden could spot an injury that I couldn¡¯t even feel much less detect was astounding. And kind of creepy of how closely he analyzed me like a butcher picking a cow to chop up.

    ¡°Huh, I have been noticing a weakness on the right side when bench pressing¡± I commented while shrugging the offending shoulder.

    ¡°My advice to you is to go to some professionals here and talk to them, it¡¯s their job to help and this needs to be recorded for any side effects to their drug. Which is probably why you¡¯ve changed.¡± He said as he stood up and walked to his clothes and picked out the jet-black suit that we are required to use.

    ¡°You don¡¯t mind if we keep this conversation to ourselves?¡± I questioned.

    ¡°Your secret is safe with me.¡±

    I twiddled my thumbs as I felt awkward still standing during our entire conversation. Why weren¡¯t there any chairs in here that I could sit in? Looking for any other thread of conversation from the blanket that is socializing I went with something that has been bugging me.

    ¡°How are you reading about quantum mechanics when you are only in high school? I¡¯m struggling with basic calculus.¡± I said sheepishly.

    ¡°I graduated High school a long time ago, as well as college¡± Only he could say that so nonchalantly not even a hint of bragging plagued his tone.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you like curing cancer or something then? I asked as he began to take off his shirt and pants to put on his suit.

    I averted my eyes away from him to stare at his collection of books that I didn¡¯t notice before that was stacked next to the nightstand. Even though we are bros. I¡¯m not homophobic or anything but you know. No homo.

    ¡°Well I considered it but with the world filled with genius Supers that would make Einstien look like a toddler playing with blocks, there was no point in pursuing a profession where I would be obsolete. Might as well become something unique that I can use my intellect as a tool to aid me in my endeavors.¡±

    Well, I guess it made sense, I never had the problem of having the world at my fingertips but instead taking the harder path through life. I mean he probably missed all the great parties in college. And more importantly the girls.

    Now fully changed he walked up to me and put his hand on my shoulder.

    ¡°Want to come with me to the martial lessons that both Supers and normal people can go to spar?¡± He asked.

    Already sold on ¡°martial lessons¡± he sweetened the pot by adding ¡°I think Ashley will be there too¡±

    Oh shit, what did he know? Again creepy, but I guess he is just being looking out for me and my desires. But I¡¯ve been itching to see the difference in fighting and how this newfound gift could aid me.

    ¡°Sure, lemme go change¡± I answered giddily.

    Right before I could turn as quick as a whip his other hand grabbed my elbow and popped back my shoulder back into place with a satisfying crack.

    ¡°Can¡¯t have you injured, now can we?¡± He said before walking out.

    I practically skipped back to my room, already my heart beat quicker excited by the prospect of violence.

    Like any normal teenage boy.

 Chapter Twenty three

    ¡°How many have we gathered?¡± I questioned Mr. Jenkings who sat before me quivering.

    We were in my office, my fortress of solitude if you so wished to call it that. The room was reinforced to a point where it hinged on paranoia. The primary defenses were the mercenaries that milled around the facilities and the alloy re-enforced walls that costed an arm and a leg. Well not my arm and leg per se, that poor chap was living in Puerto Rico right now. Even if anyone or anything capable enough to get past those and the defense protocols they had to deal with yours truly. And no one lived long enough to boast about that.

    ¡°Just a moment sir¡± Mr.Jenkings stammered as he dropped the files containing the pertinent information.

    I picked a stray hair off the hem of my suit as I waited, there was no reason not to be productive while he wasted my time. And time meant money. But if anything I was a patient man, one of the few virtues that he possessed. Although he made up for the small number for all the sins he held in his heart.

    Mr. Jenkings finally got his shit together ¡°Taking account of all the survivors, than the ones that went insane, the ones that committed suicide and the few who went comatose we have acquired a few dozen,¡±  He rattled off.

    Looking impassive I sighed inwardly in relief. It had taken a magnitude of resources and time to acquire Supers powerful enough and loyal enough to the cause to serve before me. Subterfuge was not the lucrative business many thought it was.

    ¡°And do you believe that to be satisfactory numbers?¡± I asked with a subtle drop in my voice.

    I was pleased with his work, I was. Planning and execution of both finding and convincing capable Supers was an extraordinary task. But, I had to bust his balls a little bit. Nothing motivates you to do your best work like the threat of dismemberment.

    ¡°No sir, I guarantee the next batch will be nothing less than a small army¡± Mr.Jenkings stuttered obviously afraid of what will undergo if unsuccessful in appeasing me.

    I raised an eyebrow at him, a trick that took many months of arduous training to obtain.

    ¡°A large army sir¡± He stammered now staring at the bobbling bobblehead at the forefront of my desk.

    ¡°Good, widen the Sensor¡¯s perimeter for more chances of finding anyone else later on¡± I ordered as I stood up from my leather bound chair on wheels.

    ¡°Right away sir,¡± He said while dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief.

    It was time to personally meet the recruits, I, of course, had to intervene to¡­ persuade some of the more reluctant Supers to join. Finally, the time had arrived. I wiped my palms on my silky smooth pantaloons before opening the door and walking through it. As expected Mr.Jenkings followed like the tool he was, if only he took initiative more often¡­ But a wrench is a wrench no matter the nail.

    ¡°Are all the recruits in the Armory?¡±

    The armory was a room the size of a school¡¯s cafeteria and was one of the few places as well guarded as my office. It was so deftly guarded due to the stockpile of resources, battle suits, and weapons that could take out a large town if needed. Or wanted to, it¡¯s been a while since I destroyed a small town. A man has needs.

    We quickly moved past the kitchen the aromas of freshly spiced pizza¡¯s wafting through the door. Past the grunts and the forever sweat-stained smelling mats of the training room. Past the storage room holding wealth that would make even Kings albeit small ones to blush, to finally great the first line of defense to the Armory.

    ¡°Hey Karen, how¡¯s the kids,¡± I said with a charming smile.

    She sat behind what many would think is a reception desk, and they would be right. Except she was not a standard receptionist.

    ¡°They¡¯re growing up so fast! Little Timmy is already showing signs of his power manifesting¡± She said proudly.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Karen was one of the first people to partner up with me, a poor daughter of a deadbeat farmer she really was a rag to riches story in the flesh. I knew her then, and of the influence, she possessed, even if she didn¡¯t know it. Back then I sort of understood her, my dad was never around and when he was he wasn¡¯t the most loving fathers. But he did shape me into what I am today, for I am thankful as well as the world will be.

    When the unexpected death of her dad arose I sprung to the opportunity like my dad always taught to. She was a Super with a silver tongue, and I was always careful in how I twisted my way into her life. Making it seem like I was the one who was in control, I was the one to be trusted.

    ¡°He¡¯s gonna be a real powerhouse like his mother!¡± I said while I contorted my face in a veil of cheerfulness.

    ¡°Mind if we come to gather up the new recruits?¡± I asked her.

    That was also a little trick, make them think they are being useful by doing things that would¡¯ve happened if I hadn¡¯t asked. Makes them feel important.

    ¡°Anything for you¡± She answered with a chuckle.

    It¡¯s like taking baby¡¯s from a candy store.

    Tapping the desk twice in acknowledgment, after hitting some invisible code onto her computer the alloy-reinforced door slid into the wall and we strutted inside to a smaller room. The second layer the ever delicious and expense cake of defense.

    After the finger scan, the retinal scan, and the hidden ear scan both Mr. Jenkings and I passed through without the gas chambers releasing poison into the room dooming them to their deaths. Well, Mr. Jenkings at least.

    ¡°Stop shaking so much, if they think you¡¯re gonna piss your pants they¡¯re going to eat you alive,¡± I commented before opening the door to the Armory.

    ¡°Sorry Sir¡± he apologized.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry, just correct yourself from now on¡±

    A concoction of people greeted me, men of varying ages milled about getting ready in their own fashion. I surveyed the room, none of them noticing our presence a mistake that I will have to ingrain in them.

    A large group of strongmen and presumably other physical based Supers stretched on one side of the room. A few men were grabbing rifles and ammunition stocking up on as much firepower as they could possibly handle, like children in a toy store. A very violent toy store.

    The other half were quite the opposite. Most were cackling with energy, crafted or natural. Stretching their metaphorical muscle as they warmed themselves up, others were doing odd chanting or creating a suit of armor or weapons for themselves using their own elements. Others were simply sitting down and talking amongst each other like it was some kind of slumber party.

    The room was filled to the brim with explosive and nervous energy, if even one person made the wrong move all hell would break loose. A prideful man will never back down from a fight and in these close quarters, tension could quickly rise.

    Time to show them who¡¯s boss ¡°Line up¡± I commended neither yelling nor whispering letting my words flow throughout the room.

    Instantly those who I¡­ worked with sprung to the front if ever so shaking. The rest apparently thought themselves too good to obey commands so quickly. Too powerful. Oho, they haven¡¯t felt real power yet.

    My aura sprung from within, an invisible to only select few who could notice such a thing. All my greatest terrors, my nightmares, radiated off of me to each man instilling them with such a pronounced sense of misery that those subjected over a period of time crumbled into madness. Or that¡¯s what they tell me, as I¡¯m not personally affected.

    Charcoal waves crashed and rippled away from me, a storm of shade reflecting the nature of my most inner emotions. All but locked away untill called upon. Even the most willful of men couldn¡¯t stand against the raging torrent. In only a few more seconds the rest fell into place.

    The sound of flesh hitting floor awoke me from my stupor as I noticed Mr. Jenkings was a sniffling mess on the floor. Rolling my eyes I lessened my aura to a manageable level to let him recover. How embarrassing for a grown man a decade my senior whimpering on the ground.

    Ignoring him I strode to the front of the men, only two feet away I slowly began to walk past them inspecting them. These were the men that would help me achieve the heavens, perhaps a champagne bottle was needed for tonight.

    ¡°Each and every one of you from now on is a soldier. And I am your general, when I speak you listen, when I attack you support, when I lead¡­ you follow¡± As I spoke I made note of each and every facial and body expression.

    Each and every one of them had to sacrifice something to be here today, some lost their integrity when accepted a bribe, some lost their innocence when they had to watch a loved one die, some lost everything. The men who lost everything were the most prideful, and the most dominant of the group. They thought they could prevail where others faltered.

    After their hands were soaked in the blood of their loved ones with nothing to lose and everything to gain they like the others were tempted. And those who are tempted by the devil may never receive forgiveness.

    ¡°From now on you will work together, together we will write history, separated we are but a mere ant to be stepped on by the giant that is the Heroes. If by tonight we are successful you will all be rewarded¡± I went on.

    Their faces all brightened at the possibility of a reward, everyone needs an incentive and sometimes the satisfaction of an honest days work isn¡¯t enough for some people.

    ¡°Stand tall, look sharp, for what we are on the outsides reflects our insides. We leave soon, suit up!¡± After that command, I reeled in the aura back inside me locking it up, for I do not need to be too fiery.

    I need to be cold.

 Chapter Twenty four

    After zipping up the skin-tight suit over my body, I deftly left with Jayden towards the training center. We conversed for a few minutes on the classes he used to take and some of the sports I played. While he studied the possible values of the angular momentum vector in the non-inertial body frame for a free asymmetric top, I was squeezing another guy into submission by Half-Nelson. Both equally impressive in my opinion.

    "Do I need to sign up to train with you guys or..." I said letting the question hang.

    "From all the sessions I''ve been to it''s been a walk-in type of training where you can show up and participate. Although it isn''t preferable for you since he already has us on training schedules and sparring partners." He answered quickly as if he the information was on the tip of his tongue ready to be spit out at any given moment.

    Shoot that was one of the best things when having a coach, the personalized instructions tailored to my specific needs to grow. We talked for a bit more until we reached the training center. Already the grunts of effort, the thumping of flesh upon flesh, and the stank of body odor reminded me of the hours upon hours I spent within these very conditions. But now things were different, physically and metaphysically, this was my time to shine.

    Jayden''s walking speed was moderate, each step purposeful yet reluctant, due to his sluggish pace when we were a mere ten feet away, I easily overtook him. Practically skipping with giddiness I threw open the door to reveal Heaven on Earth. You know, minus all the pit and blood stains.

    In front of me was a clearance that led to the center of the facility. Behind that, large platforms each at least twice the size of a standard MMA ring lined the wall. To my left were the standardly sized platforms each methodically placed only a few yards apart to allow for walking. To my right were a wide variety of training tools, from jump ropes to punching bags. All in all the facility was the size of small warehouses that companies use to store various wares and such, definitely larger than the one back at school.

    Various people were sparring throughout the training center though no one was even near the larger ones in the back for whatever reason. On one platform to my left, a pair of men sparring caught my eye. Both were familiar though one was seared into my mind, his body structure, face, and the voltage that was besieged upon me. A lean body, but speedy, his body a blur as he evaded each blow. Ducking and throwing his own against the larger more powerful opponent. Due to my experience in fighting though I could see a wound was slowing down. Sorry, not sorry.

    His opponent was a few inches taller than but at least twice as large, and not of fat but of pure, unadulterated muscle. A man I recognized as the one who helped me up a couple weeks ago when Ashley and her tentacles threw out my back. But something else was bugging me, I knew I saw him somewhere else.

    A tap on the shoulder rose me from my stupor "Chase you''ve been standing there for like two minutes" Jayden said.

    "Look at those guys" I nodded toward the defiant duo not letting the energy drop.

    He glanced at them in mild interest before responding "Both Supers, the one on the left is using an altered form of Aikido to try to deal with his much heavier and stronger opponent who is holding back due to being a Strongman."

    Staring at him in shock I asked: "How''d you know that."

    "Well the one on the left''s agility is much higher than even the peak athletes of our generation can manage, the opposite man''s girth and stature are already impressive but if you look closely his every step is deliberate, careful like if he took the wrong step he could break the concrete. Also, he is holding back his punches," He commented.

    "See how his fist and elbow are loose when he makes impact?"

    "Yeah..." I said in awe of his unworldly observational skills.

    Maybe Jayden was who Conan Doyle modeled after when writing Sherlock Holmes.

    "Let us head over to Ashley and the others before more we catch more attention" Jayden commented.

    Damn, what a guy. But he was right, standing at the door watching was drawing a few odd looks our way. I''ll talk to them later. I followed Jayden past the central area where people milled about either watching spars, talking amongst themselves, or talking about the spars that were being conducted. As we approached the group I noticed that the training equipment was also split into two areas. Towards the back end equipment was all significantly darker than those near the front. The metal holding up punching bags, the cloth that wrapped the presuming sand in the bag, even the jump ropes themselves were made of a darker material, a material that seemed more firm.

    "Hey guys," I announced to the group of people when I arrived.

    The whole gang was here, Ashley was pounding away at the punching bag, I could see some blatant errors in her form and execution but hey who am I to correct. I''ll just casually mention it later on without seeming too much of a personal trainer. I hated those type of people at the gym and I don''t want to become one. Ashley, had both tentacles out striking in tandem with each strike, either slicing through the air to hit the bag as a whip or wrapping around the bag to allow for a follow up with a kick or elbow on the opposite side.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Surprisingly Julian was also here, albeit he was just stretching but I noticed a noticeable difference about him. He lost some weight around the midsection and through the suit, I could see some tight muscles throughout his body. Either he went through some P90X these past few days or it has something to do with him being a Super. He also kept wiggling his back like he had an itch or something.

    "Hi" Julian said with an amiable nod as he stood up.

    But there was a girl I didn''t notice yet, a full head and a half shorter than me was a girl that I recognized from a few days ago as the rainbow girl. With freckles and a button for a nose, she was cute, but not cute enough to distract me from my training.  But it would be rude not to introduce myself.

    I walked up to her leaving Jayden behind to talk with Julian "I didn''t get to introduce my self earlier I''m Chase" I said with a little smile that I believed would make any girl in the vicinity swoon.

    "I''m Ana! Ashley told me about you earlier!" She squeaked out with an excited smile as a rainbow of color pulsed through a lock of her dirty blonde hair.

    Raising my eyebrow at Ashley who just joined the conversation. With hair messily tied in a ponytail and with a sheen of sweat that glazed her body like a donut. Pretty sexy if you ask me, a girl who wasn''t afraid to get dirty was hotter than a princess who didn''t. But I would take the princess if I had the chance anyway. She flushed at Ana''s words for some reason, as if mentioning me in the passing was something to be embarrassed about.

    "Hey, First time seeing you here, I''d thought I''d see you here every day since your in the gym twenty-four seven," She said curiously.

    "Well, I haven''t heard of this place till Jayden mentioned it to me. You guys must''ve had a meeting about this place beforehand, anyways I''m here now better to make up the time I lost huh?" I answered.

    She nodded along with Ana before Jayden spoke up "If you''re going to use the punching bags I would advise to use the ones near the front as these are much too heavy to do anything on them if you''re not a Super that can properly use them." The rest of the girls and Julian nodded in agreement.

    Huh, I guess that explains the different coloring. Wait, then why is Julian over here? Eh whatever but who are they to think I''m too weak? I''m going to use whatever equipment I want, enhanced body or not I''ll make it work.

    Walking away from the conversation I went through my early stretches and warm up that included static stretches of all the major muscle areas, the groin, back, shoulders, chest, abs, glutes, quads, and arms. Following up I did some quick bodyweight pushups, two sets of fifty and squats the same set and repetitions. After feeling thoroughly warmed up I moved to the corner of the gym away from most of the people to a dark punching bag.

    After warming up I noticed a large group that I didn''t notice before crowded around Equinox on a platform. Equinox was from where I could see showing how to do a simple combo and talking through the movement. From what I could see most of the other kids were watching him. Am I the only one who didn''t get the memo?

    My body was ready, itching really to get back into the swing of things. Getting into the proper stance I started things off with a quick combo, left jab, right hook, duck, repeat. Everything was off though, first off, each punch didn''t even make the bag move a gosh darn nanometer. I also couldn''t feel the sting of the rough skin of the bad make contact. Nothing, just the feeling of pressure. It was odd, something that I''m going to have to work with If I want the sensation of dullness not to impair my training but to aid it. If I couldn''t feel the pain I could work even harder, even longer than I could even dream of.

    After a few more punches leading to no result of the movement, I moved on to the regular bags all the while burning with shame. The shame of not being strong enough to work with the enhanced bags and of being proven wrong by my friends. But there is no point of ego training, or training with weights or equipment that I wasn''t good or strong enough to use. Even I understood that training stupid will only result in stupid gains. And not the good ones either.

    After getting set up again I started the combo again. Left jab, right hook, duck repeat. With the punching bag moving due to the force I became more confident in my punches. Each strike hitting quicker and faster, my body moved like a machine, each movement precise. Adding a leg thrust in I kept on going, enjoying the sweat that began to pour off my body.

    I switched things up, I imagined an opponent in front of me. As if in a match with quick footwork I moved in circles around the bag, striking and dodging as if I was in a fight. The now familiar pull of my power tempted me as I struck the bag, each punch, elbow, and kick making the bag move further and further back as strength was increased methodically. Letting my power surge through me as it pleases I kept at it, finally with every nuance of strength I could muster my foot flew through the air and made contact with the meat of the bag.

    Surprisingly the punching back flew off its now broken hinges and landed a few feet away with a thump. Holy shit, I always considered my self as strong compared to my classmates but nothing compared to this. As I stared at the bag in wonder I pondered how, I mean this isn''t normal right? Looking around to find only a few curious glances being thrown my way before minding their own business. Maybe it was.

    The cogs in my brain began to chug, the best thing I knew about was myself. Maybe due to me not feeling the fallback of pain from my strikes led me to hit harder than usual? If so hell yeah. Feeling like a badass I began to inspect my body looking for clues to my new found vigor. What I found was crazy, at least to me it was. My knuckles were a dark grey, twirling my fingers around I found it moved with them like a second skin. I brushed my fingers against my knuckles, it was grainy like my skin but rough like the carbon.

    Feeling the rest of my body I found that I had similar changes to my elbows, knees, and presumingly my foot. All places that I use to strike, sauntering over to grab the punching back I hoisted it up and materialized some carbon on the chain that carried it. I don''t want to be fined for something like this. I should really contemplate on what just really happened or ask Jayden, or Mr.Richards if or rather when I found him again.

    I felt it before I heard it. A rumbling in the ground like an earthquake, shaking the very foundation of the building, a testament to whatever was happening due to it being underground. The booming of explosions began to crash all around me, the sound repeatedly pounding on the facility like death knocking on my door. More vibrations rocked the ground causing me to almost lose my footing.

    Screams rang out, coupled with the blaring alarm it was madness.

    Madness I tell you.

 Chapter Twenty five

    Maybe it was a drill? But as the ground shook like God was playing with blocks, and we were the one which was toppling off I had a gut feeling that it wasn''t. I secured my footing on the edge of a platform as I watched the doors hoping I could tell what was happening. But I pulled the short stick apparently as there wasn''t anything of interest out there other than the scrambling of other people, but I had to get a closer look.

    Fainty I could hear the commanding of Equinox shouting "Everyone stay calm, panic is the worst thing we can do right now."

    Ignoring the wailing of the alarm and Equinox, I nimbly made my way closer to one of the doors about twenty yards to my front but walking while your feet were being jostled by an impalpable and unpredictable opponent was practically impossible. But even if something was almost impossible was still possible. After stumbling a no less than eight times I finally reached one of the three entrances to the training facilities.

    I took a deep breath to brace my self for whatever came next and swung open the door. Nobody was there, While bracing my self on the door frame I stook my head through and looked left and right. The hallway was empty, I exhaled shakily as I almost laughed, I was safe for the time being. I glanced back at my friends now crowding around Equinox and the adults.

    But I still couldn''t shake the feeling of something was wrong, and not just the ever-growing nausea in my stomach. Even if there was an earthquake why would the alarm be going off? Due to my curiosity, I let the door hang open lest it locked when it closed and I would be stuck out here and slowly made my way to my left. Hugging the wall I snuck my way towards the hallway that cut to the right, thankfully the shaking was beginning to dim and I can kind of make my way easier.

    Before I could even make it to the turn I heard the panting of a...dog? That''s weird, I haven''t seen a single animal in my short time in being here. But as whatever it was got closer I began to hear more details of the beast, what I assumed to be its claws clinked against the tiled floor. The musty smell of a feral mutt wafted my nose as I stood there in shock, in fear. The clinking stopped, a few tense seconds passed until a deep growl radiated from the throat of the thing now just behind the corner. My heart was in my throat, I should''ve been ready to fight for my life, or running, but somehow I doubted that would help.

    Before I could begin to pray God for salvation or whatever you''re supposed to pray for, the thing burst into view. I got a brief glimpse of the furry thing before raising my hands in front of me to create a carbon shield that extended up and down and curved slightly around me like a riot shield. A paltry defense for what I saw, from the brief glance it was a gigantic wolf, only a head shorter than me, a mighty feat since I was over six feet tall. With claws the size of my thumb and a snout as thick as my thigh.

    Bracing my self for whatever came I waited, but nothing came. After a few more tense seconds I peeled my eyes open one by one and peered around my four-inch thick shield. Instead of a snarling beast, a sniffling man stood before me.

    "It''s okay, you can come out I won''t harm you, I''m one of the guards here," The man said.

    He was wearing the same silvery shifters uniform that I saw when I first arrived here, guess that explained how he was a wolf a second than a man. Unless he was a werewolf...no those don''t exist.

    "Sorry for the scare you can never be too sure of who''s who right now and you smell...different" A boom and some faint yelling could be heard from the hallway.

    I mean I don''t smell the best right now because I was sweating pretty hard. I mean I''m a growing boy I''m allowed to smell, but what made the sweating worse was the anxiety now coursing through my veins as I heard the disturbance.

    He quickly moved towards me in now apparent hurriedness "Quick, is the rest of adults in the training facility?" he questioned.

    "Uh, I think so..." I answered unsurely.

    "Okay go in there and tell them we have a code black, don''t follow me, go in there and tell them okay?" He asked his dark eyes shifting frantically.

    I nodded acceptably.

    "Initiate lockdown protocol A3," He said as he touched his earlobe.

    "GO!" He commanded after turning.

    Instead of instantly jumping to obey his command I watched him as he began to shift. His body began to mold, both muscles and bones moved under his skin like tumors growing and shrinking. His shoulders narrowed, the same color hair of his head began to sprout across his body, the silver suit shrank under the growth and soon it disappeared into nothingness, or too small that I couldn''t see it. his legs shortened a tail sprouted from just above his ass.

    Mans best friend bounded around the corner, although he told me not to follow how could I not? After a few silent steps, I cautiously peered around the corner. Shock struck me as I stared, the hallway was in tatters. The floor was littered with rubble, presumingly from the various craters in the hallway and ceiling. There were three people and a dog running in there, two wore suits, not unlike ours but grey. One was outfitted firing two massive cannon-like firearms and strapped to various parts of his suit and ammo bags like Rambo. He was firing at a woman fighting another, but the bullets were stopping in mid-air around the women as if stuck in puddy.

    The other guy had bronze skin, he was fighting against the woman on our side. Each of the man''s steps caused cracks to appear beneath him, he was wildly throwing punches at the women who scrambled back. A fist thrown by the man was on a crash course towards the women''s face but at the last moment it was apparently deflected by some invisible force and smashed into the wall to her right.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    The wolf-shifter finally reached near Rambo, the wolves muscled grew taunt before leaping towards the man''s face like a predator pouncing its prey. For Rambo, man''s best friend was man''s worst enemy, the furry beast''s incisors sank into the man''s shoulder, causing him to drop one of the firearms. The paws scratched at the chest attempting to further maim the gun-slinging madman. But as always, man beat beast, with his free arm he emptied a clip into the shifter.

    Right as I was going to jump into the fight the wolf, fell to the ground with a whimper like someone stepped on his tail. At that exact moment, the woman''s concentration faltered as she saw her fallen comrade, a dense fist slammed into her skull crushing it. Unable to look I way, I stared in horror at the gory mess.

    "Hey!" Rambo caught me watching.

    Just as he raised his firearm to spray death at me his friend leaped with a boom at me leaving a crater where he left. Just as I was turning to avoid anything a bullet clipped my left trap muscle, out of desperation I created a wall of carbon right at the corner just as the strongman was about to arrive. A hole crashed through the center of the wall but it held, I then began to fill in the hallway with carbon from top to bottom. Anything to slow them down, as I scrambled back and filled the room with the coal-colored rock I noticed a slamming sound behind me.

    A metallic wall slid into place just in front of the door as if it was never there, thankfully started on the opposite side of the facility, I quickly added a bit more carbon to the now half filled hallway and scrambled into the training center right before the last wall slid into place locking them out and us in. I slid down the wall while letting out a long breath counting my lucky stars that I was alive. I touched my trap muscle just next to my left, there was a small gash there but it looked like the bullet just went straight through, I took my hand away looking at the blood that stained my hands.

    I started laughing quietly to myself, I was alive and even though I got shot I didn''t even feel it! After a bit more self-chuckling I stood up and got serious, I had a job to do, right? I wasn''t going to not honor the last words the shifter spoke. The shaking of the ground has dimmed to almost nothing but as I walked every once and a while I would feel a shudder beneath me. The alarms stopped blaring and apparently Equinox got everyone to calm down.

    As quickly as I could and as quietly I made my way to the center where everyone stood talking amongst themselves, ignorance is bliss. I doubt if they saw the horrors outside they wouldn''t be so calm. I walked past my friends who like the others were talking in a circle. Ashley''s eyes went wide when she saw me and pointed at me and said something to the group.

    I mouthed for them to wait before heading over to the group of adults in the center, there stood Equinox, the two men I saw sparring, and some other adults I didn''t recognize. After standing there a second pondering how I would approach this I went with the good ole excuse me.

    "Uh, Excuse me?"

    They all turned around with annoyance flittering there faces, just another kid interrupting an adult conversation they probably thought.

    "Yes?" Equinox said.

    I quickly told them what just happened outside with as much detail as possible, from the shifter, to the fight that I heroically fended them off and putting a massive barrier to shield us for a little while. There was no need not to embellish a little.

    "He also said for me to tell you it was a code black" I finished.

    Throughout the story, their eyes widened a bit with each detail and they all exchanged somber looks when I explained their deaths but this elicited the biggest reaction out of the entire story. They stared at each other before turning their backs on me whispering furiously amongst themselves all the while leaving me standing around like a dumbass.

    "What does code black mean?" I asked them.

    One of the adults (a woman)turned around to face me "Don''t worry about it, thank you for telling us and don''t worry everything is going to be fine" she said before again turning around.

    Of course, they wouldn''t tell me in their eyes I''m just a mere child, probably scared as shit and just as useful too. I left them to go to my friends, people who actually care. I sauntered toward them slightly frustrated at the adults and the stares I''ve been getting.

    "Where were you Chase? We thought you left during the earthquake, and why were you talking to Equinox? And your bleeding!" Ashley said worryingly.

    "Look there was no earthquake, or at least not a natural one, and don''t worry about it, it''s just clipped me," I said, and honestly I was fine.

    At least I thought so, before I could start my story she continued "What clipped you?"

    I sighed "The bullet"

    "What bullet?" She went on.

    "From Rambo"

    "What?" She said exasperatedly at the name of the movie character.

    "Let me explain," I said with a smile, it was sweet that she was so worried about me.

    My heart now warmed by the display of friendship, I started my story beginning with the shaking. After ending with my ever heroic stalling of the defiant enemies, Ana spoke up.

    "What if...you died?" She said.

    I subconsciously grabbed my bleeding trap as if even if my body couldn''t feel the would it still perceive the damage. No false bravado this time, I mean what if I died? How many other people would mourn my death, other than my family? Would I just be a speck in the history of the world? Meaningless after achieving my dream after so many years?

    "I mean that''s the point right? Of being a Super I mean, what''s the point of having all these powers and do nothing with it? If I didn''t do anything I might as well be the bullet that kills someone due to my doing nothing to try and stop the person from pulling the trigger" I said with complete honesty.

    "Well he''s right about it not being an earthquake, the shaking was too inconsistent. It was probably a Super making the shaking, or making explosions." Jayden chimed in after being silent the entire conversation.

    "Are we going to be safe?" Julian said voicing all of our thoughts in a sentence with a slight tremor in his voice.

    They all looked at me as if I knew the answer, well with the exception of Jayden who was staring at the locked doors in thought. I looked back at them, their eyes wide with worry, for themselves and others.

    Might as well repeat what the lady said even if I didn''t believe it, "One of the women said we''re going to be safe and with Equinox here we should be protected from harm"

    Relief seemed to flood into their faces as they glanced back at Equinox and the adults who were still talking rapidly.

    "And we have Ashley here to protect us with her kung fu moves!" I said jokingly trying to make light of the situation.

    She glanced embarrassed at the ground before speaking "I never fought anyone before in my life, I don''t think I would be that useful against Supers"

    "Aw come on you train in martial arts and you''ve never been in a fight with someone? I retorted.

    She shook her head, at this Jayden spoke up "But you trained in karate, they require spars in their learning regime."

    "Not at the one I went too, the only reason I took karate was because I hated other sports, I mean I hated to get dirty and it took me years to be even comfortable sweating this much. I also joined because my dad wanted me to learn some self-defense in case...you know In case I ever had to defend myself against anyone" She said seemingly.

    That made sense, most fathers feared their daughters would be attacked at night and...defiled, I never had the fear of walking at night or outside by myself due to my confidence in my skills but I could understand where she was coming from.

    Before anyone could respond a resounding boom radiated from the walls where the entrances were.

 Chapter Twenty six

    The training facility was as quiet as a cynic at a cemetery. Everyone, including my friends and I, and especially the adults were straining to hear any more sounds from the entrances. Finally, to what felt like an eternity, unlike before a screeching noise came from behind the entrance doors. The sound of nails scratching chalkboard grinded our ears making me wince at the horrific noise.

    "Everyone get behind us" Equinox again commanded as he took control of the group once again.

    Ashley glanced at me wide-eyed before following everyone''s lead and walked behind him, we almost touched the platforms that stood at the back-end of the center circle where we stood. I should be scared, but I''m excited. I mean we''re going to be safe with the superheroes protecting us, and with my friends, we may get some real-life action ourselves. But then the bloody memory of the revolting remains of the woman''s head and the whimper of defeat that the shifter gave me pause.

    More screeching, louder this time like they were close to breaking through whatever barrier that stood between us and them. Who were they? What did they want? Were there more secrets that were buried here in the facilities? It began to struck me how little I knew of the things that went around here, I mean sure they tell us what was happening to us. But how much do they not tell us mere children in their eyes the things that were conducted unbeknownst to us?

    Whatever the reason I had to focus on the situation at hand, also thinking too hard about topics I don''t know was going to give me a headache. Well If I got those anymore, the screeching increased from irritating to mild agony. I squinted my eyes at the entrance doors, scouring anything for details onto what was happening.

    Suddenly, there was something. Cracks began to appear around the central door, with each second that passed the cracks grew larger, dust began to haze the air in front of it like when someone dropped an ancient spellbook in the movies as well. The entire began to creep back as if the distance between us mattered in the big picture.

    As if all was needed was one big puff of wind from the big bad wolf, the door alongside the wall around it shattered as if a wrecking ball crashed into it at full force. Instantly a luminous green shield appeared, it stretched from wall to wall, ceiling to floor, instantly dividing us and the unknown. Whispering began to spring up around me, while the older guys were deathly quite the kids around me were not quite as brave.

    A familiar crackling caught my attention to my right, the older Supers were obviously getting ready. One man was creating one rapidly enlarging ball of blood red electricity, one had white spikes beginning to form over his fists, skull, and coated his skin, the only woman had snowflakes circling her gracefully like a satellite orbiting Earth.

    "Everyone capable enough to help get ready but stay back and out of the way. You will do more harm than good in intervening." Equinox said, his voice barely above a whisper but everyone understood.

    Before I could even think of what I could do to get ready a figure, a step away from being able to be distinguished began to make its way out of the dust that shrowded the person. Why was the person just standing there? Equinox nodded almost indistinguishable to the lanky man, the ball of electricity was now larger than a basketball, sparks were flying off of the orb or energy. I could almost feel it''s power from several yards away.

    He cupped both hands together and extended them forward quickly right as the shield of energy opened up a small hole for him. With a crack, the orb flew through the opening like a cannonball being shot from a... well cannon, although it soared through the air erratically like it was being pulled at all sides as if barely being kept together.

    Closing my eyes subconsciously as I''ve been on the other side of that power, although maybe not as potent. The boom, like a lightning strike hitting a tree, and the force that followed made up for my blocked sight, was unlike anything I''ve felt before. Like before the ground shook beneath the force, I could hear the cracking of concrete and rubble falling from the ceiling. If the invisible fallback of the catastrophic orb of thunder was even a fraction of how potent it was then whoever stood before it will surely fall.

    "Woah" Julian whispered to himself in awe.

    Smoke, ash, and soot was now the primary reason to not being able to see clearly to what we were dealing with, but fortunately, with a whistle coming from the smog it all dissipated instantly to reveal a group of men who were unfortunately not as injured as I hoped. At the forefront was a short, stocky guy on one knee A bubble of white energy much like Equinox''s surrounded the group. The front of the bubble was a dark red unlike the rest of it, it was the darkest at its center and grew lighter to the outsides like a paintball splattering against the pavement. This time it was my turn to go woah, the man shakily stood up but was still alive and intact like his bubble.

    I glanced back to my friends, each and every one, and yes even Jayden were sporting an expression of shock and awe with me.

    I quickly counted and what I could see there were six men all in all and from them, I could only recognize the bronze dude. One who was powerful enough to sustain an attack that shook the very foundations of an underground room, who knows how capable the others were. From behind him a man in a tuxedo stepped forward, a movement that signaled bubble guy to drop his shield. Even from my limited views on human body language, the group as a whole seemed to cower before him almost...afriad.

    Even aside from the fact that unlike his crew who wore different attires (gray suits) and he wasn''t shadows shrowded his face even though nothing physical was creating them.

    Even from the heavy breathing of all the people on our side of the green energy shield I could here Equinox whisper frightened "That''s not possible."

    "What isn''t possible?" I whispered to Jayden who before could respond the man in the suit spoke.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Well, this is certainly a pleasant surprise!" His voice was garbled, like it went through a modulator of some kind making it distorted. "Guess this kills two birds with one stone, now since I''m in a good mood I''m going to be polite only once. Where is it" He said all the while I strolled almost causally towards the shield, making direct eye contact with Equinox.

    Equinox still in shock at...something took a second before answering in complete innocence "Where is what?"

    Instantly the room darkened, both physically and metaphysically, I took an involuntary step back sensing danger, like the red sunrise before the storm.

    "Tsk, here I am asking politely after you fire a ball of death our way" he sighed seemingly sorry.

    "You attacked our facility!" Equinox retorted as he clenched his fist.

    Instantly, before anyone on our side or theirs, green energy encased the man in the black suit. But... something was wrong, after a few seconds of nothing happening a seed of blackness appeared in the shield. Like a virus it grew,  corrupting the pure energy with its insidious power. It''s disconsolate tendrils grew until it encased the shield, just as fast as it happened it dissolved like a food rotting, leaving the man without even a smudge on his sleek tuxedo.

    Silence ensued, this was unprecedented. We were supposed to feel safe, to feel protected by an unbreakable legend. But that legend had blood now dripping from his nose like he had a nose bleed, and from his mouth like he''d been stabbed in the stomach.

    "That little trick won''t work against me, nor will you ever be able to harm me. For unlike you I am not a shield, I am a sword. And now you''ve spoiled my good mood." He said slowly as if he was upset.

    Instantly a shadow, moving at light speeds to connect with the shield, but unlike before it didn''t slowly decay, it shattered like a porcelain glass pot being hit with a baseball bat. An unhuman like scream came from Equinox, now broken. He crumbled to the ground, blood began to fall from his blood-shot eyes as well, the whole ensemble.

    "Now now, think about the mere children around you. They did nothing wrong yet here they are in the middle of all this monkey madness." He said slowly as he approached the fallen hero.

    His entire body was a shadow, it was difficult to even get a lockdown on his body. It was as if there was an entire absence of color, it wasn''t even black it was a void drinking of all color. I knew I should be doing something, but after a display of power like that, I don''t even think I could even annoy him with my petty sticks and stones.

    "It''d be a shame if one by one...they were torn away from their family, and so full of hope too..." He almost sounded remorseful, if not for the tendril appearing at every one of our throats.

    Groans rang out, a soft stifled sob from behind was sharper than any knife, shadow or not. A sob of sadness, of fear, of remorse. Julian was shaking to my right, while Jayden was as still as a stone while I was... I don''t know.

    A fellow teenager to my right fell with a shriek of pain, without moving my head in the corner of my eye I saw him, blood was gushing out of his throat as he lay spasming. Bile rose in my throat but if I leaned over now to throw up it may be the last of me. And I''m not going to die vomiting my chicken parm so I quickly swallowed it down.

    "One by one they are going to fall until you tell me where the lab is that holds that very special serum," He said while with every second another kid fell.

    I gritted my teeth, again I was helpless, after becoming a Super I thought I was finally going to be able to do something. But yet after all those years of being something less than a Super I''m being pulled around like a puppet on strings by an aberration of God who would mindlessly kill children.

    "O-okay fine! The lab is down another floor to the right, down the hallway until you reach the second door on the left. Just please let the children go" Equinox muttered, his words hollow.

    No more people fell, it was still for a moment before the man went on "And the code?"

    Equinox sighed apparently hoping to pull one over him "It''s four, six, two, two, three, eight, nine" He said defeated.

    A shadowed hand made a signal behind him and two men left the room. It stood there for a moment, with a shadowy head cocked to the right.

    "You better hope you are telling the truth, for if you are not...Well, there are worse things than death for some people..." The man in shadows said.

    That''s when the tensest minutes of my life passed, each second ticked by slowly. Sweat dripped from my brow, down my nose and dripped down to my feet. The only sounds were the stifled sobs, the heavy breathing, and the gurgling of the shadowed man''s victims on the ground.

    My throat began to tighten, a sign of crying. But no, I had to be strong, I don''t want to die. But I don''t want to live in the shame of bearing weakness in the face of it either. This was not how I will live, I will not wallow in fear, in weakness. I will be a construct of strength. I will be an anchor for those in need. I will be Super. But I''ll be none of those if I don''t stay still and survive, I mean I have to think of the ladies of course as well.

    The shadowed man put a hand to his ear and cocked his head to the side as if he was listening to an earpiece.

    "Guess you were telling the truth, it warms my heart to see such bravery." He said without emotion.

    In a blink his shadowed hand plunged deep into the kneeling man''s chest, skewering his heart, killing him instantly.

    "That was for my father,"

    Before the barest of a spark of electricity was formed in the lanky man''s hands tendrils of darkness did the same to each of the adults that stood there, killing several Supers in less time than it took to say bangarang.

    "And that was for me," He said before even the largest man, presumably a strongman that took hits that would make the great wall of china shudder fell dead.

    It was Anarchy, screams rung out as the shadow at everyone''s throat dissipated, freeing us from its cage. The intellectuals ran to the back behind the massive platforms to hide, the cowards stood in shock, and one idiot charged the man shrouded in an abyss.

    Those kids were like me, they had dreams, they had principals, ideals, family, and even crushes. And this, this monster killed them without a thought, so I came at him without a thought. Maybe not my smartest choice but it was a hell of a way to go out, with a growl I flung myself at him with carbon pillars following me and propelling me for a crash course for the man.

    In a flash, blades of shadow made ribbons of my pillars turning them into dust. Tendrils of impalpable darkness grabbed me mid-flight and threw me past him into the ground. my body thudded as I hit the ground, and bounced once before hitting the base of the platform. Before I would be incapacitated by the pain, but I was not nearly as gifted as I am now. I slowly crawled myself to a standing position, ready to go at it again.

    The man stood there a second before laughing, a cold hollow laugh but one of what he thought was good nature, "I like you boy, you got spunk."

    He chuckled to himself, "You seem like a good kid, with a bright future in front of you, but as bright and as fast light moves, darkness will always be there to greet it." He said cryptically.

    He raised his hand, opening it a small black like snake which was somehow darker than himself slithered off of his hand to the ground and towards me.

    "Be grateful kid, many would kill for a gift like this," He said as the snake slithered its way towards me.

    Before I could squash the thing, well if you could squash a snake made out of the absence of light, it jumped forwards straight up my nose.

 Chapter Twenty seven

    I dropped my backpack at the door and grabbed a banana from the kitchen counter since it was another hour until my parents could come home and feed me. Sure, I ate on the bus ride home, but two sandwiches don¡¯t really fill me up like they used to. I peeled the banana as I walked to my room to grab some clothes before I went in the shower, it was almost the end of six grade but school still sucked. But before I could even get to my room I passed Andre¡¯s room, and I could hear dull, sniffling sobs from behind the door.

    I stood there unsure how to proceed, I don¡¯t want to deal with him crying today, I want a nice shower and a sandwich. Awkward seconds ticked by as the crying ensued, I glanced longingly at the bathroom door only a few yards away. But my dad told me a man helped people in need, and right now Andre was in need of me.

    Without knocking I twisted the knob and pushed the door open and flicked on the light to see Andre bawling his eyes out all the while sitting on his bed with his arms tucking his knees to his body. My first instinct was to tease him of crying like a little baby but I buried that down. Since Andre was in the fourth grade and I in the seventh he got home earlier than I did by a whole hour even though we went to the same school (elementary, middle, and high school are all located on the same campus.) It meant it wasn¡¯t time for me to make fun of him, if it¡¯s been an hour and he¡¯s still in his room bawling his eyes out it was serious.

    ¡°G-go away¡± He stammered as rolled over to show me his back and hide his face.

    I stood there torn between leaving and staying, Andre was still wearing his school clothes which meant he hadn¡¯t changed out of it. Usually, he was scrambling to come and play with me when I got home, for some reason none of his friends ever came home to play with him.

    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± I said slowly.

    This was a rare sight, I almost never see him crying nor does he see me, for that was a lesson our Dad taught us about early on, about not showing your heart on your sleeve for others would tear it out. But Andre was the opposite of me, an open-book, expressing his feelings as if he was merely clear glass portraying his emotions.

    I moved closer to the bedside and said the only thing I could think of for him to talk ¡°Andre, stop and tell me what¡¯s up or I¡¯m gonna eat the last of the candy in the fridge.¡±

    That got his attention, he slowly let go of his legs and turned around slowly still sniffling to face me. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy, and tears streaked his face like the Nile river in Africa. His face was a little paler than I, as well with a lighter shade of brown eyes.

    He wiped his eyes and nose with his hand and wrist before speaking ¡°Th-they t-took my watch!¡± He said, almost bringing him to tears again.

    I shuffled my feet nervously as I asked ¡°Daddy¡¯s?¡±

    Daddy gave Andre a watch a few days ago for his birthday, but when I brought up that I didn¡¯t get a family heirloom he just smiled. Daddy told me I would get something when I became a man. Then I was confused, how would he know I was a man much less how I would I know?

    ¡°Ye-yeah, I w-was showing them to my friends on the playground and some old guys t-took it!¡± He stuttered, now tears were again falling down his cheeks.

    ¡°Daddy told you not to show it off!¡± I said incredulously as I sat down next to him on the bed in silent support.

    I don¡¯t bring anything of value to school, mostly because I didn¡¯t have anything of value but I knew that one time a kid took my sandwich. I never trusted anyone at school again with my stuff after that betrayal.

    ¡°B-but I wanted to show it to someone! And now this guy and his friend took my watch he¡¯s gonna get mad at me!¡± He stammered in retort.

    Still rooted to the spot an idea started to formulate in my head, what If I went and got it back for him?

    ¡°Who took the watch from you?¡± I asked him.

    Andre looked at me hopefully before responding ¡°Some guy called Donny and his friend.¡±

    I furrowed my brows at this, Donny was a head taller than me and much stronger with big muscles in his arms! But I already made up my mind and I¡¯m gonna help my little brother. He always was there for me and wanted to cheer me up and play when I was down and I¡¯m going to be here for him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get it back Andre, don¡¯t worry,¡± I said already worrying on quite how I was gonna do that.

    ¡°Really?¡± After nodded he jumped up with a smile that reached from ear to ear, ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you¡± He repeated as he started to jump up and down on the bed in happiness.

    ¡°Go get me another banana before I change my mind¡± I teased.

    He zoomed out of the room like a rocket while only falling once to the kitchen as I peeled my first banana to eat before I get the second.

    The next day at school went slowly as I was waiting for P.E at the end of school, and of course, as all things are when you are waiting for something time moves all the slower. But finally as math class finished up and I turned in my multiplication sheet I anxiously made my way out the door and towards the yard. Normally we would be doing certain exercises but today was a free day and we could do whatever we wanted on the field.

    The sun was blazing, already after only a minute of being in the heat a sheen of sweat coated my body. After a few moments of scanning the yard I targeted my¡­.well target, Donny was throwing a football with his friend on the field. The glint of my dad¡¯s battered silver watch caught my eye as Donny threw the football back. Andre¡¯s watch, the one they stole, he wore on his wrist like a trophy for the world to see.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    With my palms getting moist from not the Sun¡¯s radiation, but of my own anxiousness I made my way towards him. I went on the outskirts of the yard though as I was still nervous to talk to him and was stalling for time. But as the minutes ticked on I steeled my nerves and walked up to him and tapped on his shoulder before his friend can throw back the football.

    He turned around and glanced down at me, he really was big. Donny was at least a head taller than me and almost fifty percent wider. With wavy hair, a shining smile, and a sly tongue he was one of the most popular kids. Even all of the teachers loved him because of his talent in sports and how he put himself in positions where he looked like the good guy.

    ¡°What do ya want,¡± He said down to me and not just in physically as if I was someone less then him.

    I stared back, another lesson from my Dad, letting people walk over you was the first step in losing yourself.

    ¡°You took my brothers watch and I want it back,¡± My voice much more confident that how I felt.

    He chuckled to himself as he nodded for his friend to come over ¡°Who says this is your friends watch? This is my watch, it¡¯s nice right Joe?¡± He asked his friend sarcastically.

    ¡°Oh yeah, I remember when you first got that as a gift from your grandma last year,¡± Joe went on with it.

    I clenched my jaw, drawing in my frustration and anger, ¡°No it doesn¡¯t.¡±

    He smiled again coldly, ¡°Yeah, but who¡¯s gonna believe you? By the time you tell a teacher the watch would be long gone and you¡¯ll never see it again. But hey,¡± He shrugged. ¡°Good thing it isn¡¯t yours huh.¡±

    I glanced back at the PE coach who was lazily sitting on his foldable chair ¡°supervising¡± us while he scrolled aimlessly on his phone. I had a choice here to make, I could either let my brother and myself down or I can do something.

    Both of them grinned at me as they sensed what I was thinking, but all that did was bring out the anger and frustration before. Gripping hand into a fist, making my knuckles go white with tension and I swung at Donny¡¯s smug face like I saw in the movies, ready to knock the bully out and claim victory.

    What really happened was he dodged the punch and deftly grabbed my wrist as if he knew I was going to try and punch him in the first time. A fist crashed into my stomach, making me double over gasping for air as Donny let go of my wrist. I couldn¡¯t catch a breath, every time I inhaled not enough air went into my lungs causing me to cough. A vicious cycle, but I didn¡¯t fall.

    ¡°Look what you did now, tried to attack me huh? Isn¡¯t that against the rules?¡± He sarcastically asked Joe who just nodded and laughed with him.

    Both of them grabbed me and led me behind some trees, well half-dragged as I was fruitlessly attempting to get free each second. As I caught my breath I glanced around at my surroundings, the field was surrounded by trees. You could hide anywhere here and not be caught unless they started looking. And no one was looking for me.

    ¡°See, some people think I¡¯m a bully. But really I just want people to know they stand, and where I stand above them.¡± Donny said his words strangely excited as he and Joe moved closer to me.

    I gritted my teeth to prepare for what was to come, there were rumors of Donny. But that¡¯s all they were. Rumors, by people who heard it from their friends who heard it from people who didn¡¯t even see what happened. But rumors, that made my heart flutter. Donny motioned for Joe to leave who although hesitantly did so.

    ¡°There is this one thing that not many people know about me though, not my so-called friends, not teachers, not even my family. Although my family will learn when the time is right, and this thing I have it needs practice. And since you aren¡¯t going to say anything about it, since if you will no one will believe you.¡± He said casually as he moved closer to me now only a few feet away.

    I stood still, my hands slightly shook as cortisol pumped through my body sensing danger.

    ¡°So don¡¯t scream, or something much worse than a stolen watch will happen to your brother,¡± he said before coming only a foot away from me.

    I stared at his eyes, his face, something was off. It was as if the mask of sporty Donny fell away to reveal something beneath, something quite not on its mark. Something, deranged. A gleam in his eye and a twitch of his mouth he began.

    Nothing happened for a moment, but then I began to experience it, a tingle in the base of my skull, an indescribable feeling. But it began to morph, to change, like a drill it began to push its way into me. Not through bone and sinew but through my mind, a carnivorous beast pushing its way inside me. My knee¡¯s beneath me gave out and I crumpled to the ground. Only the growl in my throat escaped me, not a scream. Not one.

    The drill was like having a nightmare come alive in your mind, it didn¡¯t just occupy what I felt in my mind but my body. My body thought there was a parasite in its body began to attack its self, white blood cells attacked regular blood cells as if it was a virus. Then when I couldn¡¯t take it no more something began to shake inside me, like something that lay dormant was waking.

    ¡°What is this¡­¡± Donny murmured, his words devoid of sympathy but that of curiosity, not of a persons.

    The metaphorical spike inside me struck this shuddering¡­thing till it was silenced back into it¡¯s dormant state.

    ¡°Interesting¡± he muttered before moving closer to inspect me.

    The spike in me stopped, as did the pain. My body went back into equilibrium as if nothing ever happened, I glanced back up at Donny horrified and terrified.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t remember a single thing soon.¡± He said the spike began to release its grip. Like an anvil crushing my throat being lifted slowly off.

    ¡°That¡¯s for being such a good sport,¡± He said before taking off Andre¡¯s watch and throwing it on my chest, then he sauntering off like he just came to take a piss on a tree.

    I could feel whatever he did to me, the spike that drilled into my psyche, didn¡¯t fully leave, nor did the changes it made.

    The next hour or so flew by, I didn¡¯t dare say a word to anyone what happened, nor could I. I kept my head down, and just went over and over the scene in my head as I clenched the watch in my fist the whole time. When I got home I went up to Andre¡¯s room, to give it to him.

    ¡°Hey Andre, look what I got here,¡± I said as I opened the door to show him the watch.

    He looked at me, then the watch in surprise, ¡°Chase! Thank you so much!¡± He asked innocently as he gave me a big hug.

    I hugged back feeling his warmth, like I¡¯ve never felt it before, warming up a now cold spot in me.

    ¡°Anything for you,¡± I said.

    Already the memory, no the nightmare of what happened was fading. Like a scream of fear the wind, it withered away. But what it left behind wasn¡¯t what it carried, but what it left behind.

    Sensing my discomfort Andre slipped out of the hug and frowned at me ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    I smiled confused onto why he was asking me, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine! Why don¡¯t I take a shower and we can go outside and play?¡±

    At that, all thoughts of my well-being vanished, ¡°Yeah!¡± before sprinting out the door.

    Crazy kid, why didn¡¯t he think I was fine? It was just like any other day, chuckling under my breath I walked to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror, noticing the dirt smudge on my face I quickly washed it off. Where did I get that?

    <hr>

    My eyes flew open, the memory a bubble coming to the surface to pop after being kept under for so long. Tears welled up in my eyes as stared straightforward at the ceiling, ignoring all the commotion around me. I grasped the battered silver watch on my left wrist and let the buried emotions come forth.

 Chapter Twenty eight

    Through the occasional tremors that plagued the foundations of the ground, the screaming, the firing of guns, and powers going off I could still feel the ticking of the battered watch in my hand. With each tick that marked the passing of a second, it was a second that would go by with Andre buried six feet under.

    But I wasn''t going to lay down like a lil'' bitch and cry, at least not right now, blinking away the tears in my eyes I slowly pulled my self up to a kneeling position. My body moved slower than before, like I just bathed myself in an ice-cold bath for an hour. As I looked up, adrenaline began to course through my body as I became aware of my surroundings and what just happened.

    The man in the suit and tie that was shrouded in darkness was nowhere to be found, what lay in his wake though was still terrible. Four men, the Barrier Super from before, the man coated in bronze, and two others I didn''t recognize were beginning to advance toward me and the others. The benefit from laying on the floor presumably dead is that the bad guys won''t focus you. The bronze guy took notice of me personally and eyed me for a second before readying into a stance that was similar to the one earlier when he leaped toward me.

    Knowing full well I had only a few seconds before I''d have my hands full, as fast as I could I spared a glance behind me as I stood up fully. Body''s were strewn awry,  blood stained the concrete around them, behind the horrific display of corpses were the rest of us, many were scrambling to the back looking for an exit while a few brave and/or stupid guys stepped forward.

    In an instant, everything slowed down, through the years of fighting my instincts were honed to a point where my subconscious picked up clues of imminent danger, or just a punch or kick in the groin heading my way.

    I spun on my heels to my left as the giant mass of bronze mass flew by me, although not before clipping me in the shoulder with his shoulder. The bronze man landed with a crash to my left as I stumbled back clenching my shoulder. I began to expect the soul-crushing pain that came from a hit like that, but I remembered my no-pain thing. Gripping my fists in new-found vigor I positioned my body to face him, his bronze legs created small divots into the concrete below as he stood up, not a single dent in his body.

    Well shit, if he could land into concrete and not break himself but a substance that foundations were built on what could I do to him? Flexing my muscles from head to toe, I dived inwardly to grasp the power that flowed through me, oddly enough it was harder to do this time. Bronzie sauntered toward me in obvious cockiness, a look that I learned to read as I''ve been faced many a look such as that one in the last few years.

    "Good dodge kid, I''m sorry I have to do this," He grunted, his actual metallic sounding voice sounded almost sorry.

    He sounded sympathetic as if he''d rather be anywhere but here, only more than a few yards away he dashed towards me.

    "Me too," I muttered.

    In a single half a second calculation sprung into my head, not the mathematical ones but the practical kind that came with years of fighting experience. From the speed of his body, his limbs, how much he weighed, his distance away from me, my body''s position in relation to him, how fast I could react and move to dodge, reflect, or counter and what I knew about his style led me to my decision. For those exceedingly bigger and stronger they become cocky, believing they can power through with strength and take any hit their opponent could dish out leading them to expect their opponent to dodge.

    With only a couple of yards between us, the noise dimmed around me till all my focus was centered on one unwavering foe. I lunged forward to meet him head-on, all the while pulling upon my power to materialize pillars into Bronzy''s torso. But just as my feet shifted forward they got locked into position like they were handcuffed together which lead Bronzie to slam into my abdomen forcefully football style, as if I''d collided with a semi, and not in a good way either.

    I must''ve lost consciousness for a few seconds because when I came too I was being held in the air like a trophy for the world to see, a humiliating scene. His bloody fist, still smeared with the gore of the women from before that held me up by the suit trembled ever so slightly. His bated breath that he slowly exhaled seemed to catch in his throat as his other hand gripped my throat.

    I stared him the eyes, I may be broken and bloodied but my last sight of life won''t be of the crumbling ceiling, it would be of the one who took it. His eyes were straight bronze, no pupil, just a metallic sheet of copper that somehow conveyed sadness despite being devoid of emotion. His grip began to tighten as the pressure increased, there was no pain but that only made me feel more hollow, as if I was cheating by not really feeling Death''s everlasting grip on my throat.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    People always speculated what you would see before you die, the scientists said it would be peaceful because of the endorphins flooding into your brain, the priests said you will see Jesus welcoming you to heaven, and grandparents said they will see their children and loved ones.

    I saw myself ripping this man''s heart out, I saw myself watching him bleed, I saw him begging for mercy as I crushed his throat as he did I. Black spots began to spot my vision as I grabbed hold of my power once again, when I would look back at this moment I would try to convince myself it was once last huzzah to at least make it easier for my friends to escape, one last stand for my brother.

    The power that surged through me was different, like the jagged edges of a broken beer bottle. It was like a tree that struggled for sunlight only to be stunted growth by a parasite feeding off it and a dark poison being splashed at its roots. Fresh pain rocked my mind, an almost euphoric feeling amidst the dull throbbing as my fingertips brushed the touch the spot just above his heart.

    My fingertips trembled not from the de-oxidation of my body, or from the fear of intentionally ending a human life, but from the eagerness. The power poured into my hand, and through my fingertips as I planted the seed. Even though I couldn''t breathe new vitality began to flow into me, my eyes never wavered from his eyes as they changed from confidence to fear. Faint whispers in my head urged me on. The seed began to grow, almost translucent but still foggy crystal-like roots began to spread from my fingertip, deeper they ingrained as they spread out from the point of origin. The pressure against my neck lessened as my heart beat like a drum in my chest.

    But before I could finish off what I was doing something out of the peripheral of my eyes flew to my side and grabbed me from the now weak grasp of Bronzie. No, no, no, nonononono I was so close! I stared in disbelief and frusteration at Bronzie who was now on his knees began to shrink as I carried in the air away. I turned my head to the side to glance at the person who was carrying me and again to my utter surprise it was Julian. He had milky wings, with frosted white tips in contrast with the light gray wings, each flap of his wings that had a wingspan longer than Julian was tall carried us to the back with the rest of the Greensdale participants in the back.

    As we landed I struggled out of his steel-like grip and stared daggers at him before yelling "What the hell Julian? I had him right there!"

    His face twisted into confusion before answering "He had his hand around your             th-throat for a bit and you weren''t even moving,"

    I took a step forward, ignoring the people pushing past me into exit in the back of the wall, my eyesight began to turn red as I stepped forward. Voices inside me whispered me on, pushing me to do it, for revenge for Julian stopping me. Julian stepped back, his new-found wings folded upon itself slightly in fear. Before I could act I caught Ashley''s eyes to the right in my peripherals. They were wide, her dark pupils in her ice-blue eyes dilated in fear, in fear of me.

    The realization struck me harder than any blow, glancing at my right hand in shame I saw my fingertips crystalized with whatever mineral I created fined to a point like claws. The whispering inside me ceased as I stepped back and said "I''m... I''m sorry, I-" But I stopped my stuttering as I saw Ashley look away and scamper out the door.

    Julian stepped forward and put a hand on shoulder in acceptance of my apology "It''s okay, you can apologize after,"

    Sweat, or tears, or a combination of the two poured down my face, I reached up and dried it with the back of my hand. I stared at it in shock for a few seconds as I understood why my vision was red. It was not because of anger but because of blood. Before I could contemplate the implications a weird fact struck me.

    I nodded than hesitated as I noticed the lack of present danger near us, "Wait, why aren''t we like, running for our lives?"

    He turned me around and pointed at the scene going on "While, you were... fighting that brown metal guy, a uh... hero appeared and started teleporting around." Julian said in awe.

    Indeed it was, other than Bronzie who was still on his knees staring blankly in front of him two other Supers were attacking a man clad in a jet-black costume who was simultaneously kicking their asses. It seemed like with every nanosecond the hero in black would appear in behind, to the side, or in front of an attacker hit them and disappear, only to do it again a second later.

    One of the Supers seemed to be a strongman based on the cracks that formed whenever he stepped and the other was alight with flames that didn''t seem to burn anything around him. I watched in shock as again and again, the two Supers began to crumble beneath the strength of the teleporter.

    Jayden''s voice behind us withdrew us from our stupor "We should head out soon, there are more dangerous men out there that can attack us at any time, not mentioning whether the building will collapse upon us," Jayden cautioned.

    I tore my eyes from the scene as I laid them on Jayden, he had a cut on his cheek but other than that he seemed as calm and calculating as ever.

    "O-" his eyes widened and locked onto something behind me before I could respond, Jayden let out an inhuman scream as a translucent blue blade buried itself in his chest.

 Chapter Twenty nine

    The now sizzling energy dagger plunged into Jayden''s chest, all the way to the hilt before it stopped. There was no slow motion, no catching him in midair, just him crumpling to the ground like a doll. Stupid action movies.

    A myriad of emotions flooded my consciousness, first fear, not for Jayden''s life, but my own. The whispering inside me began to tempt me, to finish the job. To swing the killing blow, but as I hesitated, shame pulsed throughout me. Shame for even thinking such thoughts. Finally, the alpha of all emotions gripped me, fury.

    As if I was a puppet on strings my body moved on its own accord to an action that will plague many ponderous nights. Instead of moving back as a shield to protect any new onslaught, I turned to take a step toward where the projectile blade came from. I ignored the flapping of wings and the shifting of wind as my eyes scanned the room until it locked onto my target. My victim, the whispers were taunting me, seducing me to walk off the cliff into the dark abyss that is cold-blooded anger.

    A stout man, clad in the same grey uniform as the others as before, had six blades hovering around him with three on each side of him poised for action. He was sprinting to the side to get a better angle for another throw. The blades bobbed with him as he ducked and ran through and past gym equipment and platforms.

    Again without thinking my arms pumped upwards like I was celebrating a goal in soccer, but really it was a motion to bring carbon pillars to skewer him. But as I grasped upon my power and tugged what I received in return was less than pleasant. The stabbing pain that exploded behind my eyes and in the base of my skull felt like getting kicked in the nuts but in my head. Twice.

    What the hell is wrong with me? Emotions that were previously foreign to me were now common, and my power unlike before which acted as smooth as butter was like stepping on glass. My perceived eyesight was blood-red, a canvas of color that was painted upon my eyeballs. Goddamn, how the tables have turned on my life. I slowly peeled my eyes open, because apparently, I had closed them in tension.

    A cold liquid dripped down my cheeks from my eyes, slid from my nostrils and filled my mouth. I spit out a gob of blood mixed with my spit as I then realized I was on the floor, slowly I got into a sitting position. My extremities felt like frozen turkey that''s been thawed out from a microwave then put in the freezer once more.

    The adrenaline that was pumping through my veins slowed to a stop as the ache in my head lessened ever so slightly. I kicked some rubble from under my feet and stood up slowly as I took in my surroundings. The man with the blades was surprisingly sprawled out on the floor as if he''d been knocked out by an invisible attacker, or a teleporting one for instance.

    Tearing my eyes away from the man I made my way past Julian''s massive wingspan to lay eyes on Jayden. His body was slack, but his jaw was tense. Either post-Morten rigor or he was still alive, a somewhat small, but important detail in this chapter of horror in my life.

    "H-help!" Julian yelled out as he spun looking for aid that would not appear.

    Everyone else had already evacuated, even the yelling of fights all around the facilities had begun to cease. It was just Jayden, Julian, and I, and the corpses that surrounded us as we stared at the blood that began pooling around Jayden. Reality slapped me in the face like an ex-girlfriend on a sitcom as I sprung into action. Vague memories of health class clouded my mind as I kneeled next to him and began to apply pressure to the gaping wound in his torso.

    "C''mon bro," My voice was barely above a whisper as I hoped beyond hope that he would survive.

    Another death on my conscious was something was something that I may not ever recover from like I would recover from the travesties of today. Julian began to gag beside me as the Jaydens sticky blood seeped between the spacing of my knuckles and onto my hand.

    "Stay with me, think of all the ladies you''re gonna miss out if you die," I pleaded as his jaw began to relax.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    He was giving up, and what''s the point of saving someone who isn''t fighting to survive? I should''ve been ready, I should''ve known, and I shouldn''t have been such a dick to be out for blood. I removed my palms and stood up and unlike Julian who was struggling not to empty his lunch onto the ground and had his back turned, I watched Jayden. For only a coward would turn his back on a death that rested on your own shoulders. No offense Julian.

    But it must''ve been a Christmas miracle, in July. Jayden''s entire body tensed as hard as a rock before his blood began to flow back into his body like watching a video in reverse. I stared in awe as with each second the pool thinned around him as it re-entered his circulation.

    "Julian," I called out in awe.

    "N-no, I don''t want to see," he responded.

    Most of the blood was gone now, white bone marrow began to interlock where the bone used to be in his chest.

    "Julian!" I yelled as I awkwardly grabbed his wing and tugged for his attention.

    "What!" He yelled as Julian this silky soft wing brushed my face as he turned.

    Skin began to form over the wound until the last bits of evidence of there ever being a wound there was erased.

    "Woah," Julian whispered.

    Even the uniform began to re-stitch its self. Like what the hell? I''ve never heard of that happening, or maybe that was just because I''m not that informed of all types of powers. In my defense, I had other things on my mind, like lifting weights and getting dates.

    "What the shit dude!" I yelled out as Jayden''s eyelids flew open.

    He stared at me then Julian with his eyes wide open, he did not utter a single syllable. Jayden slowly stood up shakily as if every movement cost him something. Julian and I glanced at each other before looking back at Jayden who was as pale as a ghost. Wait, what if he is a ghost back from the dead? I slowly walked up to him and poked his shoulder. My index finger hit the fabric of the suit and his flesh, fortunately.

    "Huh," Jayden mumbled as he touched his chest like if you were looking for your keys and couldn''t find them.

    Before I could respond, Julian pushed passed me and hugged Jayden with more gusto then I would''ve thought he could muster. Huh, I didn''t think they were that close, maybe they became better friends from the time I was unconscious, or maybe it was just the nerves. Whatever it was, it must''ve been awkward to hug back with those monstrous wings still flapping about excitedly.

    "W-wha, there was so much blood..., how did you-" Julian stammer.

    Jayden looked down at his body as if seeing it for the first time, there was something different about the way he held himself now. His back was straighter, his shoulders were set back as if he could take on the world. Maybe he could, who knows?

    "I don''t know, but I feel... different. Like something inside me has changed," He answered.

    Well if Jayden doesn''t know then how will I? Instead of going in for my own hug I let Julian and Jayden talk I took in my surroundings. Rubble littered the ground, from pebbles do boulders they have strewn around as if a tornado surged through here. But perhaps most disturbing of all were the bodies. The ground was slick with still wet blood, adults and children alike. It was sickening, again bile rose in my throat and I let it all out.

    After I was finished I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and avoided eye-contact with...them. It wasn''t the time to think about them, not yet, not with people watching. Stepping away from my now smelly vomit I was just about to tell Jayden and Julian to get outta here with me until the hero from before blinked into existence.

    I got a better look at him from up close, like a ninja black skin-tight cloth covered his entire body with the only opening was where his eyes were. We stared at each other for a few awkward seconds before the hero broke the silence.

    "What did he want" His voice sounded like it got dragged through gravel then ground into bits and blended together, maybe he covered himself because his body was a reflection of his voice and if so I thank him.

    Well, we''re fine asshole, thanks for asking, but I guess he did save us sooo I guess we''re cool. But what does he mean who? I had an inkling of who he was referring to, but if he was playing the pronoun game I wasn''t going to know exactly who he was talking about. I didn''t want to look like an idiot any more than I really was.

    "Who?" I asked tentatively.

    I could practically see his eyebrows furrow in annoyance behind the cloth before answering "A man covered in shadows, or if you saw him wearing a tuxedo."

    Oh, why didn''t he just say that in the first place? Now Julian and Jayden have noticed our conversation and scooted behind me to listen.

    "He said something about the serum here and... and I think he found it," I answered slowly.

    He grumbled something under his breath before turning around.

    "Hey do you mind teleporting us up-" I began before he blinked out of existence.

    "To the surface," I finished to nobody in particular.

    I took one final glance around me, I would burn this image in my mind. For this is what will happen over and over if I''m not good enough. I had a lot to think about, and a lot of training ahead of me. If I''m going to be a hero I need to work. For my friends, for my family, and for the ladies.

    "Let''s get outta here," I murmured as I turned and stomped out, not bothering to see if they would follow.

 Chapter Thirty

    "I''ve gotta disinfect the wounds, bite down on this, it''s going to hurt," The paramedic gave me a damp rag, which I promptly stuck in my mouth.

    Apparently, I had sustained multiple injuries throughout the whole ordeal that would have been fatal with time. I still did not feel any physical pain in my body whats so ever, which countered my splitting headache.

    The paramedic began to pour a cold liquid (that I assume is a sort of rubbing alcohol) over the cuts that plastered my body. After a few seconds of not a single grunt being uttered the paramedic (a man with a tag that said Dave) glanced at me surprised at my silence. I ignored him as I blankly stared forward, although I had already decided that I wanted to keep a bunch of things to myself and act normal I couldn''t be bothered to keep up the act right now.

    After a while, my trap and a bit of my neck were bandaged along with parts of my legs, my ribs, torso, back, and arms. I kinda looked like a mummy, but not the cool ones from those mystery show on television, but from a low-budget film with a romantic love triangle with a mummy, vampire, and a red puppet that helps kids learn to count.

    Dave the paramedic slapped my shoulder approvingly before commenting "You''re a champ, stay here until someone comes to pick you up, do you want to call your parents?"

    I nodded slowly before taking the damp rag out of my mouth and placing it on the ground next to the chair that I was sitting on. Dave the paramedic murmured something before placing a cell-phone in my hand and a towel over my shoulders before leaving to talk with another paramedic several yards away. Without making a move to dial a number I just sat there drinking everything in.

    I caught a few words such as "in shock", "therapy", and "delirious" as they were glancing at me every so often before heading off. After climbing up the stairs and reaching the surface with Julian and Jayden, the rest of the day had gone by in a daze. The facilities that I lived at for the last couple of weeks were in ruin, buildings were in ruins, rubble littered the ground, and I heard rumors that the underground had collapsed upon itself.

    There was so much going on, so many things that cluttered my mind, it was madness. Heroes alongside ambulances and men in suits arrived shortly after making it to the surface. I was taken to the side hurridly as I must''ve looked like a victim from a horror film with all the gore that stained me, while Jayden and Julian were escorted to off to God knows where to leave me here to like a toddler to think about my actions.

    Which was fine with me, there was enough crazy shit going on without me dealing with rehashing the story over again, although I would probably have to at some point I was content with just sitting here and thinking. My euphoria from surviving quickly crashed as the implications of what really happened hit me harder than any punch. People were dead, people who had families, lives, people who were corpses. To what did they matter, to what did I matter? It could''ve been just as easily been me who could be buried underneath tons of rock right now never to see the day of light again.

    What terrified me the most was not suited man shrouded in darkness, (although he was definitely top three), but myself. So many questions, to not so many answers. After the guy in the suit shot that black snake thing up my nose there was something...altered about me. After taking a few cursory glances around me to make sure no one was looking I started to feel the outside of my nose (I avoided the inside for now because we were in public) to see if that snake thing was still up there hibernating in the cave that is my nose.

    Unfortunately, I could feel nothing of a difference other than my nose seemed to be pointing slighter more to the left then I remembered. A thought flashed through my mind as I returned my hands to my lap where the phone still lay. Doesn''t the holes in my nose lead to the brain? And if so what if it''s in my brain? And what did it do to me? Things were much simpler when the most I had to worry about was whether or not I would get varsity.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    "Gah," I grunted as I shook out the existential questions out of my mind, there are other things to think about.

    I need to think about the bright side of things, like some of the cute girls here. Well, if they made it out. Hopefully.

    If they didn''t...

    Well, I''td would have made this like the worst day ever.

    I could worry about that stuff later, as well as the problems with my power and how it changed. I glanced back down at my lap and picked up the cell phone, it was an old-school phone that people used back in the early 2000''s. I brought up the call screen on it and considered briefly what number to call before punching in my dads. It ringed three times before he picked up.

    "Hey Chase, we haven''t heard from you in two weeks your mother was worried! Was it because of a cute girl?" My dad exclaimed over the phone.

    I winced slightly at hearing this before answering, I completely forgot about calling in to check in.

    "Sorry, a lot has happened over here, and...maybe a cute girl or two have caught my attention," I said with a small grin.

    Understatement of the year if I ever spoke one.

    "Atta boy!" he congratulated.

    I decided to start off with the good news.

    "So, uh, I got my powers and now I''m a Super,"

    I could practically see his smile from through the phone line.

    "That''s great! What can you do?" He questioned.

    I pondered this for a few seconds, I mean I knew what the classification of it was but now it was a tad bit more complicated.

    "I can make carbon out of nothing and shoot like pillars and stuff" I answered.

    A few beats passed.

    "So you can make rocks."

    I blinked.

    "Well, yeah."

    When you put it like that it didn''t sound as badass as I thought it was.

    "You sound shaky, is everything all right over there?"

    I drunk in my surroundings, no everything was not alright and I''d stalled enough.

    "Well, there was like a terrorist attack or something, and uh- people died, I''m fine, and I''m probably gonna be coming home soon." I spout out as I watched a couple guys in suits talk to one of the kids that I saw here and there in the last couple of weeks.

    My dad was silent for a few moments before answering "Well, I''m glad your fine but we''re gonna be there stat so hang tight,"

    He was surprisingly less freaked out than I thought he would be but I haven''t talked to the hurricane that was my mother yet.

    "Alright, see you in like an hour, love you," he said.

    "Bye."

    I hung up the phone and dropped it next to me on the rag, maybe not the most polite thing to do with someone''s phone but hey, I''m feeling selfish. Shrugging off the towel and letting it drop I stood up from the creaky chair. Immediately Dave the paramedic hurried over and began to retort but I waved him away. He kept insisting so I brought out the big guns and imagined myself being propelled away from Dave the paramedic by a rising platform.

    What really happened is my headache increased ten-fold and I tripped over myself. What was even more humiliating was that he actually caught me, helpful bastard. I was forcibly escorted back to my chair. This is stupid, I don''t even feel anything on my body, I want to go find Ashley, or Julian, or even Mr.Richards. If he''s still alive that is.

    Another ten minutes passed under close eye I finally managed to hobble away, but not towards the area where the rest of the kids were being "interrogated" but to the side where the road ended. I wanted to get a good look at the rubble, and away from the redonkulus commotion. That ninja teleporter hero kept popping in and out of the rubble with equipment, valuable items, and ever so often a person. Sometimes alive. Others not.

    Kinda put things in perspective, I mean just like two hours ago I was content with a satisfied tummy from my chicken alfredo. Now I was literally watching stone turn to dust, and not even in the fun way too. At least hopefully I''ll have some scars that I can score some sympathy with the ladies.

    A couple more minutes went by as I went over the last few events in my mind and their implications. Especially the resurfaced memory of Donny, from that my privacy invaded, well I guess it''s always had been when living in a world where telepaths were alive. But still, it''s weird.

    As I stood lost in my thoughts the teleporter appeared once again with a body, hope pulsed through me as he appeared. That hope was quenched as the person''s entire body was limp, limp like a steamed stalk of broccoli. Instantly paramedics and suits alike surged forward when they saw the person. The lifeless husk of Mr.Richards was caressed into a stretcher and carried to one of the ambulances as more suits started to take out their phones and dial numbers.

    Now it really is the worst day ever.

 Chapter Thirty One

    After a few more moments of standing in bewildered silence, I took action, or as much action I could in my broken-down state. Shuffling back down towards the commotion I staggered to one of the suits who just got off the phone.

    "Excuse me but uh, what will happen to Mr. Richards?" I questioned boldly.

    He glanced at me in confusion, his attention split from talking on the phone and me.

    "Eh? Scaddadle kid, go talk with one of the guys over there for instructions on what to do," he pointed to my right and scoffed as he turned and sauntered over to another suit who was on the phone as well.

    I crinkled my nose in annoyance, of course, he wouldn''t tell me anything, all I am in his eyes is a child. Although I guess I am, but that''s not the point, it''s the principle of not being rude. Shifting to face where he pointed a noticed a small group of people in similar black suits and ties, talking with the other kids who made it out.

    After a quick sweep of the group I thankfully picked out Ashley, Julian, Jayden, Ana, and even Mack. Most of them looked relatively fine on physically, (outside of some small cuts) although each and every one of them had their shoulders hunched over. As if they were carrying a burden that threatened to flatten them out on the ground if they weren''t strong enough to keep standing. With a small smile plastered on my face, I ambled towards the edge of the small group.

    "What''s poppin?" I asked softly, trying to bring up the mood.

    But to no avail as when Ashley turned to face me her eyes were bloodshot and her cheeks were shining. Julian turned as well, his wings seemed to be tucked into his back which explains how I didn''t notice it earlier. Although he wasn''t crying he still carried a haunted expression, something I didn''t judge for a second due to what they just endured.

    "These guys are talking to everyone who was inside, you should be called up soon as everyone is almost finished up," he answered softly.

    I slowly nodded as I turned my attention to one of the men who was talking delicately with a sniffling dark-haired girl that I recognized to be the girl who could sparkle. A Super with a power that would seem relatively useless in real life (other than impressing people at parties) survived an ordeal that a world-renowned legend did not. Ah fate, thou art a heartless bitch, well if I believed in fate anywho.

    "How''s everyone holding up?" I murmured to Julian who was staring at Ashley being consoled by Ana.

    It took a few moments for the question to get through to Julian before he responded.

    "Well, as you can tell everyone is pretty down right now, how about you?" He responded.

    I didn''t want to tell him how I really felt because I really didn''t know. I mean, I''ve already regarded the same people who escaped, who cried, who sat with fear struck in their hearts, as "they." As if I wasn''t in the same boat with them, or rather I was, but I was on the poop deck while they were under the brig. I just really wasn''t feeling it, maybe after a cold shower, I would.

    "Peachy." I uttered back.

    We stood like that for a while, Ana tried amalgamating Ashley streaks of rainbows that danced off her fingertips, but each color was muted, dulled, like seeing it in through dark sunglasses. Or maybe it was fine and it was just me who was seeing everything a little bit of a bleak tint.

    "Is there anyone else who hasn''t spoken?" One of the suits up front called out.

    Everyone turned heads to see if there was anyone who hadn''t, after a few seconds of contemplation I decided to go up. I mean, they were gonna find out that I was in there anyway, might as well rip off the band-aid now. I was curious as well and wanted to ask some questions of my own.

    After catching his eyes he gestured for me to sit down in and asked, "And you are?"

    "Chase Millers" I responded while I plopped myself into the seat.

    I fidgeted with a bandage on my forearm while the man checked a clipboard that I didn''t notice before. What was the point of calling out if there was anyone else if he had a list of names? If the list had our names on them anyway, after a few more tense seconds of waiting he finally looked up from his clipboard.

    "So why don''t you walk me through what happened Chase." His deep voice annunciated.

    I took one more look at Ashley before steeling myself, if she could go through this so could I.

    "Okay, it started when I walked into the training room to workout," I started.

    I explained everything that happened in as accurate as possible, a tip that I took from watching cop shows, every detail matters to apprehend whatever criminal did whatever heinous deed. Although I may have embellished slightly on some accounts it was it was the same account really, I was just painted in a bit of a light shine. For I think if I thoroughly explained what I felt they might commission a therapist. Oddly enough I didn''t stutter, I didn''t cry, I didn''t even blink when going over the deathly bits. Something told me I should''ve felt something, but all I felt was anxious.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Throughout my whole spiel, the man (who did not give me his name) made some small notes on his clipboard and nodded faintly during some key parts of my recollection of events. All in all, it was much as I expected really.

    "That''s when I got to the surface" I ended with an anti-climactic flourish.

    He said nothing as he reviewed his notes on his clipboard. For some reason, my heart was beating a little faster than normal as I waited.

    "Is that the bronze guy that you mentioned earlier?" He said as he pointed behind me.

    I followed his gaze until my eyes rested upon Bronzie, he was in worse shape than the last time I saw him, which was an achievement in itself. There were dents and intrusions n his metallic skin that countered my masterpiece in his chest. The clear crystal seemed to be much more ingrained than I had previously thought. Like veins, the crystal-like mineral spider-webbed from the core area of his heart. Maybe a small part of me should''ve felt horrified by what I''ve done but all I felt was pure satisfaction.

    "And you admit to doing that to him?" He questioned further.

    "Yeah," I said hesitantly.

    Maybe I should''ve pleaded the fifth or some crap like that, but it wasn''t like I didn''t do anything wrong. It was self-defense, but as I looked back at the man who seemed to be still alive due to all the paramedics around him it may look like I was the problem. Even if I put him on his deathbed, he was part of an attack on a government facility. I don''t think he''d get any mercy. I hope he wouldn''t at least.

    He made some more notes on his stupid clipboard for a few seconds before looking at me once more.

    "Okay, since you became a Super in the Greensdale Project I''m assuming you want to continue your journey to become a Hero?" He questioned once again.

    I nodded in reply before he continued.

    "Due to being part of the project you get to be automatically entered into the admission stage for the Academy, although how you do on that and if you succeed or flunk out is entirely up to you, as they will give you no special treatment." he went on in a practiced speech.

    This time he leaned forward and said more sincerely "I hope you do well and succeed, there aren''t many people who would fight back the way you did. Personally, I would give you a medal, but don''t get a big head now okay?"

    "Yeah okay, thank you," I answered sincerely.

    He nodded once before turning his head to face the group that seemed to be dwindling slowly as parents arrived, "Anyone else?"

    Taking my cue to leave I walked over to where Ashley, Julian, Ana, and Jayden were standing and talking amongst themselves. Their faint words faded away as I joined them, I didn''t know if that was either a good sign or a bad one.

    "What''s sloshin around the bucket?" I jokingly asked hoping once again to no avail that I can bring up the mood.

    I got various expression replies to this, Julian rolled his eyes, Ashley and Ana simply looked at the floor and Jayden. Jayden repeatedly dropped a rock from his hand and watched it fall to the floor as if it would share the secrets of the universe.

    I tried again, "Uh, I just wanted to say I''m sorry for... before, ya know down there. I was just a little, high strung."

    Julian patted me on the back with forgiveness (which I appreciated), Ana gave me a small supporting smile even though she didn''t even see it, and Jayden kept playing with his rocks. The main reason I apologized had her eyes glued to the ground. Oh well, I''ll talk to her in private.

    Hopefully.

    <hr>

    I hated long lines, especially ones where everyone is anxious to leave.

    "Uhm, just give me a minute, I know I have coin-purse in here somewhere" The women in front of me apologized while she rummaged in the goliath of a bag that hung around her shoulder.

    After another minute of her rambling, I just couldn''t take it anymore, "Here I got it," I said as I handed the five to pay for the two coffees that she ordered.

    I could practically touch the relief that flooded through everyone in the line and the cashier as I handed him the five.

    "Thank you so much," She said with a smile as she took her two coffees and left the building.

    At least have your money ready to play with while you wait in a five-minute line, it''s common courtesy. I glanced back at my partner who was sitting with a pained expression on his face, ugh another one? It''s already five and I don''t get paid by the hour, I quickly ordered my own double-coffee and paid the cashier. After collecting our coffees I sauntered over to join my partner at the table.

    "Find anyone new?" I questioned hoping upon hope he would say no.

    Since he didn''t respond I started to blow on my coffee to cool it down as I waited. Due to the increase of the circle we have been finding more and more Supers for the Boss''s plans, all thanks due to Alex. A powerful Sensor who could tell if someone was a Super in a radius of around five miles, and could store different auras and recognize old ones.

    After what felt like an eternity he answered with "Yes, it''s faint but powerful at the same time."

    I sighed heavily as I stared longingly at my coffee that I would not be enjoying in peace.

    "How far Alex?"

    His eye twitched slightly before answering, "Maybe ten minutes? It''s close."

    He grabbed his cup before I lead the way to our sleek, black convertible, a car that seemed redundant to Alex but a luxury that I enjoyed, no needed, due to the Arizona heat.

    It took actually twenty minutes to arrive at the location due to Alex''s habitual way of not being able to tell directions. One point he was sure it was straight east, the next he is swearing up and down its north.

    "You sure this''s the place?" I asked slowly.

    Although Alex has never been wrong this has been a first for both of us, and I wasn''t dying to enter this place.

    "Of course, I''m zeroing in now, just give me a minute," Alex answered as he led me into the cemetery.

    We walked seemingly aimlessly around the graves and tombs for a few minutes, although it wasn''t aimless to Alex. I wasn''t here to help track potential Supers, I was here as the muscle. In case of any problems arrive that I need to... deal with.

    "So how powerful would you say," I asked casually.

    Without missing a beat of his incoherent walking he replied "I was hesitant at first to comment on it but as I come closer it''s becoming more clear, this person, whoever he or she is, is powerful. Possibly an upper Class Two."

    My jaw practically hit the ground at this news, an upper Class Two was as strong as it was rare, which is to say stupidly powerful. I was only a Class Four and I''m pretty influential around the community, the boss himself was a Class One which shows the strength of this individual. After a few more minutes he stopped in front of a tombstone, not a gardener or something that was working on the tombs.

    "Uh, are you sure?" I asked as I stared at the tomb.

    "Positive, better call for backup and for some shovels we''re digging up a casket," Alex responded with no remorse as we both read the words on the stone.

    Here lies Andre Millers

    A boy with a smile that could light up the world.

 End of Arc one

    Woo, with chapter thirty-one posted that marks the end of Arc one, officially ending the beginning of the story. Or at least the setup, It only took like 55k+ words but eh it felt good to write. I''d like to thank anyone who bared with me and read along, I appreciate every single one of you! I can''t wait to get to writing about the Academy and other juicy things in the future that I am looking forward to be adding.

    A side note but an important one, this is my first (is novel the right word?) I''ve ever written so please feel free to give any thoughts/criticisms that you may have about my story, utterly destroy me if you have to but hey how am I gonna get better and write a more enjoyable story if I don''t know what I can be doing better? So yeah, review, comment, what ever your heart desires, anything helps! I''m super excited for future chapters and I''m maybe thinking of posting more than one chapter a week (time management is important right?)If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    PS: Eagles win Superbowl woo.

 Chapter Thirty Two (Arc 2 Beginning)

    I kept going over my memories as I started out the window at the trees flying by. Recreating them, going what could happen if I did something differently, the what if''s were plaguing me like a toe fungus that wouldn''t be going anywhere anytime soon.

    We''d been driving home for the last hour, both my parents came with a myriad of emotions strewn on their faces. After multiple variations of "are you okay?" I finally convinced her I was (mostly) by having the paramedic check me off. After carefully repeating the story where left out some parts that would surely make my mom try to end my career as a Hero before it even started. After that whole escapade, she went to talk to the men in the suits for the boss of the facilities (much to me and my dad''s annoyance.) She was subsequently not given a straight answer which spurred her to ask for their manager which was when she was promptly ignored.

    Due to the strained silence, and the long car ride, even counting how many blue cars that drove by couldn''t hold my interest for long. It started as curiosity, I wonder if I could use my power through windows? I mean maybe it was a stupid thought but a window is like solid, but maybe my power couldn''t work through solids. My first try resulted in the crystal-carbon to form on the window (which I dissolved.)

    Realizing my mistake, I focused on the edge of a license plate on one of the cars that drove next to ours and grasped onto my power. Ignoring the twinge in my head I visualized the growth of the crystal-carbon and materialized it. Due to their being nothing on the window it should be a success! Grinning I looked for my work on the car... which I couldn''t see, which was weird because I could feel it being there, something that I never noticed before...

    Now frowning, I leaned in closer to the window, the feeling was akin to being able to close your eyes and being able to touch with your finger any part of your body without looking. I knew the carbon was the size to about a grain of sand was there even if I couldn''t see it, a sixth sense of sorts. Hmm, that also means I could feel what the crystal-carbon was on, at least to an extent. It also meant a few other things as well, first it meant that to create it accurately I needed my sight, but afterward, I could create more and cover a person without being able to see them. Something I''d have to play with over the summer before the Academy.

    Then it ended up into a game, for every car that came into sight I "tagged" it with my grain of carbon. Now many people may think this would be boring after a few minutes but not me. Since I could feel what the carbon was attached I could actually track where the car is and it''s movement (to an extent) and after a half an hour I had almost eighty cars tagged. There was a humungous influx of information that stimulated my mind to a degree that I''d never achieved before. But I wanted more, so I began to individually pick out grains and alter them. At first, I started out small, picking one out of the tens of options and enlarging/reducing its size, then I picked out more and simultaneously did the same untill I had almost ten changing under my control.

    Oddly enough with each one that I began altering the pain in my head increased till I couldn''t go any further in fear of passing out. Which understandably may have caused some panic in the car (if I slumped forward since I had my eyes closed for a while.)

    "It''s because we love you and want you to be safe" My mom interrupted, causing me to lose hold of the grains.

    The feeling faded away to a dull feeling in the back of my mind as I wondered how much of the conversation I missed.Stolen story; please report.

    "Uh... what?"

    My dad turned around to glance at me in surprise "Were you not listening we''ve been talking for ten minutes. Well I guess your mother has been talking for ten minutes"

    I blinked.

    "Oh, I was just... daydreaming..." I finished lamely.

    "Like I was saying, your father and I think you shouldn''t go to the academy and instead pursue some more of the safer choices in life, like becoming a doctor, or lawyer."

    My fists clenched and my face twisted into anger, I couldn''t believe I was hearing this. After these past few years of training, dreaming, talking about it to them, being encouraged, then dropping the ball on me like this was cruel.

    Like, abusing a dog cruel.

    "Now Maggie, let''s think about this I wasn''t much older than Chase when I joined the army, It''s his choice if he wants to do this, he''s becoming a young man now and he''s more independent." My father pleaded for me as he changed lanes.

    "He almost died! He''s lucky he didn''t lose an arm! It''s not safe and I''m losing another son!" her voice cracked which lead me to believe she wasn''t far from crying.

    As much as I didn''t want her to cry, I wanted to go to the Academy more.

    "No! This is all I''ve been working for, this is why I entered on the project to become a hero, this is who I am now. I just can''t stop and file papers, that''s like pissing on the graves of all the kids who came with a dream just like mine-" I could barely speak out of anger and frustration.

    I don''t want to be coddled, I don''t want a boring life, and I don''t want something as stupid as this to stop me from doing what I''ve already begun to love.

    "Listen to me, you aren''t going. When your older and have kids you''ll look back and thank me." She replied with a final tone.

    "No, you listen to me. For the last three years, I''ve done everything you''ve asked me. I didn''t go to any friends houses, parties, I never left the house without making absolutely sure you were okay with it. And I dealt with it, cause like you I felt like shit since Andre''s death, but it''s time for you to get over it and move on." I snapped, all my pent up frustration coming out.

    But instantly I felt guilty. Even my dad, a man who''s fought in two wars with and against men with the power of gods, looked thoroughly astonished at my outburst. Silence enveloped in the car once again, the silence was way louder when it''s awkward. I tried to get back into my game that I was into before the loud conversation.

    Inexplicably, I could feel only a fraction of the carbon tags that I put on the cars. Maybe I have to keep "control" of the carbon to keep it from dissolving? No that didn''t make sense lots of times I stopped concentrating  (slept) and the carbon stayed so it''s something else. After few seconds of highly intense thinking, a lightbulb appeared above my head. Maybe since we were driving they took an exit and started driving away, combining that with our driving maybe I have a range to where I can "feel" my carbon? A thought-provoking revelation from something not from seeing but feeling. First time for everything, wait... the second time.

    We finally arrived home, already my body was itching for a hot twenty-minute shower. But when we grinded to a halt in our driveway my dad didn''t unlock the doors from the driver''sivers seat. I sat in confusion, oblivious to the situation at hand. My mom turned around in her seat to face me, her eyes bloodshot, which made the guilt strike harder to my home base.

    "Your father is right," She began which elicited a shocked expression from my dad.

    She never admits when he''s right.

    Has the world gone mad?

    Or have I?

    "Maybe it''s time for you to go out in the world and experience life, and... maybe it''s time for me to let you go, but if your butt gets''s hurt, your butt is coming right back home you got it?" She asked sternly although a smile small threatened to crack onto her lips.

    I grinned, the panic and frustration scrambled back into my subconscious as relief flooded my... conscious one.

    "Thanks!"

    "Do me proud kid," My dad added on as he unlocked the door to sweet, sweet freedom.

    As much as the relief felt good.

    A shower felt better.

    But after.

    Aho.

    I had some training to do.

 Chapter Thirty three

    I wiped away the sweat from my forehead as I proudly stared at my work. This last month or so had been one of the happiest summers I''d ever had. It was the first month of playing with myself, or I should say with my newfound powers. Sure I messed around at the facilities but I wasn''t given any free reign or space to explore what I could do, and after a month of experimenting I was beginning to understand my power better.

    After making the finalizing touches on my project I took a step closer to analyze it. It took hours of work but It was at long last done! I created a chair! Now many may be thinking this was a waste of time but creating objects through my power and making them satisfactory and/or usable was a task much harder than it sounded.

    Staving off the urges to see how much power, and size, I could make something I wanted to test out my fine, artistic touch, due to hearing control is pretty important in a hero. And anything that I made to fast or too big caused a splintering headache that made training a bitch. So I naturally chose a chair for my first project. After multiple failed attempts at even creating a passable framework for one I scrapped the project for the time being and started small. With a simple sphere, which took me only a day but that day included four hours of creating and dissolving my work (amorphous lumps at first) which naturally led to a blistering headache.

    From the sphere, I went on to the cube, the pyramid, and eventually, after around a week, an idea struck me. I could create gym equipment, or at least the free weights, a revelation that blew my socks off.

    I slumped into the chair and relaxed my arms on the armrests. The back of the of the chair was perfectly balanced and curved to my specific back letting my spine align at just the right angle, a perfect balance with my butt indentation on the seat which was custom made after an hour of experimenting with my butt. I glanced at the clear-crystal like gym ensemble in the corner of the garage (or my training guru as I liked to call it.)

    To the outside eye, it looked like every dumbell, barbell, and plate was made of glass. Which I was pretty sure it wasn''t, I mean come to think of it I don''t really know what the element was anymore, it was carbon to start off now it was a hard, clear, crystal solid. I added it to the mental list that consisted of all things I''d do/ask at the Academy. Since my sphere making skills were already pretty good the dumbells weren''t that hard to make, and the weights were even adjustable (I could add or decrease how much of the crystal-carbon on the sides to add or decrease weight) so it saved space. I even figured out to add little grains on the handle to make it rough so the weight wouldn''t just slip out of my hands.

    I should open my own gym.

    After a week of training my dad came up with the brilliant idea to research more about Creationists, but I had to go to the library because of me leaving my phone underneath literal tons of rock.

    Stupid terrorists.

    After checking out no more than three, four-inch volumes about powers I read them from cover to cover in only two days. I could read it so quickly due to me actually being interested in the material, unlike the books they made us read at school.

    I learned loads about people like me, the first was that Creationists could be split up into three groups (well four if you counted metalloids which I didn''t). The ones who could control gases, and the ones who could metals, and the ones who could control man-made elements. Although the Creationists who could control man-made elements had to come in contact with them at some point, which was why elements like plutonium were so rare. To be crazy enough to take the time to touch an ultra-radioactive element such as that one was... well suicidal.

    I obviously fell into the metals group which led me to research deeper about my power. Turns out there actually wasn''t much known about us (scientifically), but there was still a bunch of interesting things to learn. But the biggest rule about powers was that every single one was different. For example, two people who could run at super-sonic speeds had look-alike powers but one could simply be slowing down time and running normally while the other could move their body parts at well... supersonic speeds.

    But even due to these differences they may have different training regimes and uses. The one who could move their limbs quicker would have an acceleration period before reaching optimal speeds while the time-slower would be able to go instantly top "speed". But flip-flop it, while the time-slower would be able to hit their top speed instantly the one who could move their limbs quicker could have a higher potential due to not having time-constraints on how slow there could slow down time (until stopping it which no-one has ever reached, or at least no-known person.)Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    There was also tidbit in one of the chapters that alluded to Creationists being able to control different elements but couldn''t due to the belief that they could only control one, leading to a sub-conscious psychological block on them forever. That''s when I stopped reading and started solo, I wanted to experiment with my own ideas. It would make me think about my power more creatively and could make breakthroughs without any sort of bias on it (or at least as little bias as possible.) So I dropped the books and went back to the garage, which was nice, cause reading is for nerds, and continued my own self-experimentation.

    I snuggled more into my rock-hard chair that was surprisingly much more comfortable than even some of the puffier chairs I sat in before and enjoyed delicious ache of the soreness in my muscles. Spying my first completed sphere that was no larger than a baseball on a shelf I had an idea. Without moving I narrowed my eyes at the sphere and concentrated, a slide of crystal began to grow out of the edge of the shelf (just in front of the sphere). I created little inch thick pillars to support it as the slide grew inch by inch toward my chair until approximately twelve feet of slide remained. The slide was a semi-circle that resembled a slide at a water park (with sides so the people/sphere wouldn''t fly off.) I created another small pillar behind the sphere and guided it to the edge.

    Slowly the sphere rolled down until it plopped gently into my hand, I''m a genius! Or maybe just a lazy bum, but still I just created a slide smooth enough that it could support itself and a crystal ball (another future item production maybe?) The bridge/slide was familiar though, I through the sphere up and down as I thought until it hit me. It looked like the aqueducts the Romans had to transport water, great minds do truly think alike. Or maybe I just copied the structure from a memory on accident.

    The reason I made this slide though was because of four reasons. One, I didn''t want to get up. Two, I wanted to play with the sphere. Three, it was actually good practice. The fourth reason was the most important, and the most key. I couldn''t create anything in thin air, no matter how hard I concentrated, visualized, and pushed nothing came out (not that way.) It turned out I could only make the crystal-carbon build off another solid, an interesting limitation that I needed to work around.

    I guess I wouldn''t be dropping boulders of clear carbon-carbon. Who know''s maybe I could make a catapult and throw those boulders, what a sight that would be. Wait, I looked closer at the sphere. It wasn''t clear but it was a shade of baby blue with insides that had a milky fog that I didn''t notice before, a fog that made it so I couldn''t see through it.

    Weird.

    A knock from the door of the garage disrupted my deep interest in my ball.

    My dad walked in with a glass of water, "Hey, still playing with your balls I see."

    I smiled slightly on the play on words.

    "You haven''t drunk anything for two hours, drink some," He prodded as he handed me the glass.

    Coincidentally enough it was one of the glasses I made.

    "Thanks,"

    I accepted the glass and drank deeply from it. After I dropped a glass carelessly and shattered one another one of my brilliant ideas of making one with my power. The cylindrical glasses were easy enough to create but champagne glasses were a class above what I could make. Another product to add to the list, since glasses were meant to be well... glass and... clear, my crystal-carbon gave it an intriguing and expensive look. I also hadn''t been able to create small designs on them yet but it was on my bucket list. And since hero''s were paid on a government salary (since they worked for the government of course) most weren''t making that much. Other than the more popular ones who got merch deals and paid by companies.

    This was a good thing too because I don''t know anyone who would buy a crystal chair, other than me of course.

    Style points.

    After draining the cup I handed it back to him and trailed my fingers on my chair''s armrest.

    "So are ya excited for tomorrow?" My dad questioned as he moved closer to inspect my bridge/slide.

    "Tommorrow?" My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I racked my brain for what could possibly be tomorrow.

    "It''s your first day at your academy!" He exclaimed with a laugh.

    "I can''t believe you forgot!"

    Neither could I, had the day really come so close? I stood up excitedly at the thought of tomorrow, now I could barely wait for th4e next day to come quicker.

    "Hmph, I was wondering why you were wearing yourself out before the first day," He commented as he poked on the slides pillars (which didn''t even budge).

    "Shoot," I grumbled as I dissolved the bridge to my dad''s surprise and returned the sphere to its rightful spot on the shelf where my other knick-knacks and shapes lied.

    "Do you know what I''m gonna do there tomorrow?" I inquisitioned.

    My dad rubbed his scraggly beard for a moment before answering, "Well the letter we got said to bring your stuff to move in. Oh and something about a good attitude cause you''re gonna be evaluated or something."

    That really got me going, I loved getting testing and seeing how I stacked up against my peers. But hopefully, I wouldn''t be too worn out tomorrow if I got a good nights rest and a big dinner.

    My dad walked over to my chair and picked up the glass and examined it before asking "So how strong is this "carbon" anyways?"

    This threw me for a loop, I mean I never saw it break before... Maybe I should add that to the list and test how much it can withstand at the Academy, they probably had things or Supers to break other things. I mean what professional Academy wouldn''t have such a staple benefit?

    "I dunno."

    "Well, it''s steak night tonight so take a shower. You stink." He commanded with a chuckle before walking out.

    I sniffed my armpits tentatively, and phew, did I stink.

    I stunk more than a gopher in August.

    And that''s saying something.

 Chapter Thirty four

    The car screeched to a halt as my father turned to look at me.

    "Are ya sure you don''t want me to come in with you? It''s really no big deal I already took off the day from work."  He raised an eyebrow inquisitively as I stared out of the window to my right.

    Unlike the facilities during the summer that was hidden on the outskirts of nowhere, the Acadamy was actually located smack dab in the middle of the city of Pheonix, Arizona. Maybe it was due to my ignorance of common knowledge, but wasn''t it better for a school dedicated to training Supers that could cause earthquakes, explosions, vaporizing energy, and super strength be somewhere else other than a highly populated city?

    "It''s fine, the papers didn''t say anything about any parents to attend." My eyes skimmed the letter for confirmation.

    "Yeah, nothing," I added.

    A couple weeks after leaving the facilities I''d received a letter in the mail. It was quite a meaty package since more than half of the papers that lied inside were the legal ones. Basically, they said if I got maimed or died they weren''t liable and whatnot. These papers didn''t help make my mom feel better about my leaving but hey I''m going to fine.

    Probably.

    The rest was info about what I would expect at the Academy (if I got accepted after a "testing"), and what would happen if I got accepted. Although not a whole lot of information on what I was going to expect, maybe it was because of security issues, or maybe they don''t want to scare us away too soon.

    "Alright, if there''s anything call me. Call me or your mother if you need anything." He kissed my forehead as I gathered my backpack and opened the door.

    "Oh, and kick some ass!" He yelled out behind which elicited a smile from me.

    Mom doesn''t really encourage cursing but eh.

    I''m gonna kick some ass alright.

    After saying goodbye, I popped the trunk and retrieved my suitcase (which held clothes and other utilities) and rolled my way across the street. The entire Academy was actually quite marvelous, like many regular universities it wasn''t just one gigantic building, but more of a community.

    Or at least that''s what the letter said.

    As I sauntered on the concrete path that led to the entrance I turned in every direction with wide eyes at the sight. Bordering the path were massive lawns, where other students milled about, read books, and conversed with others. Which thinking about it was weird, since the first "real day" for regular students was tomorrow.

    To my front was a wide set of steps that led to three pairs of double doors, which opened into what I guessed was where I was supposed to be. Maybe I should ask someone... Nah ill figure it out. The path finally diverged into three, in front of me was the beginning concrete steps to the doors, while to my left and right they led to the sides of the building to where I assumed was another clearing.

    After bumping my suitcase multiple times on the steps I threw open the door and sauntered in.

    Woah.

    The room was larger than expected, a fortunate luxury due to the unholy amount of people that were packed inside. There must''ve been at least a couple hundred people in here, students and parents alike. They must be here for the same reason as I, I know its like orientation day or something but still like they''re suffocating me with how close we were packed. Like Sardines. I could literally take a step in any direction and bump into someone.

    As I scooted my way towards one of the four lines that led to a desk (that held four receptionists) I glanced at around at everybody. You''d think that Supers would be easy to pick out (I assumed that all of them were), but not really. About eighty percent of the people who waited around talking looked like regular joes, except for small differences in them, like a change in eye color, sharpened nails, or an unnatural voice. But the other twenty percent where outlandishly different, some had mottled grey fur, some were at least over seven feet tall, a girl even had a falcon perched on her shoulder obediently.

    Maybe Julian could talk to birds.

    Speaking about Julian where was he and everyone else? Just as I was about to leave the line a voice spoke up.

    "If everyone would quiet down please," A soft voice whistled in my ears like I was wearing headphones.

    Everyone began turning in confusion to locate the voice.

    "If you would please look to the front near the double doors." The soothing voice commanded.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Like a puppet on strings mostly everyone ceased talking and turned to the front where, indeed, a man stood.

    "Now, for those who haven''t already signed in do so, the rest of you come with me to the auditorium. Parents, unfortunately for you this is the farthest you can come with your child today," he commanded once again before turning and going through the double doors behind him.

    Half of the crowd in here followed him out (the bigger ones went last since they could barely fit through the door), a problem that seems like it would happen a lot at an Academy for Supers.

    I waited in the line and gave the women at the desk my name, which she then promptly gave me a sticker with my name on it. Which I proudly stuck on my shirt, and walked into the loud auditorium.

    I surveyed the scene and again I couldn''t find the rest of my friends so I just sat down in an empty seat in the back and whipped out my phone and flipped it open. Now since I "lost" my last phone and I didn''t have insurance I was blessed with a flip phone. As it was supposed to teach me some "character", or since I was broke it was all we could really afford.

    I shot Julian (we''ve been texting over the summer) a text asking where he was, it took a minute since I had to click a button multiple times to get the letter I wanted.

    Pure torture.

    "Excuse me" I jumped slightly at hearing this.

    I still haven''t really recovered from the "incident" over the summer and was still a bit jumpy and paranoid.  I mean that''s why I was sitting on the edge seat in the row, it''s easier to get ready.

    "Scared much?" She chuckled with a smile.

    As I stood up and moved to the side I eyed the falcon on her shoulder, it had a white underbelly, dark grey wings, and dark beady eyes that was seemingly locked onto mine. Something about the bird gave me the chills, but I just couldn''t put my tongue what.

    "Just nerves," I bit my tongue sightly as I lied.

    A technique that I used to pass off a lie, as the slight painful expression would appear on my face, not the lie. Maybe it was my imagination, or my mind playing tricks on me, but the look that the falcon was giving me seemed much more intelligent than any other look that a bird gave me. Could this girl talk to animals or something? Her tree-bark brown hair swished past me, I even caught sight of one of her hair clip things that girls wore, it was green and leaf-shaped.

    Maybe she was a tree hugger.

    She sat down with a plop one seat over and glanced at me with a playful smile. One that made something in my chest go aflutter. Weird, although thankfully the bird was on her other shoulder (right one) so It couldn''t stare at me anymore. I was just about to ask what the deal was with that bird when something caught my eye.

    Since I was one of the last aspiring students to arrive only a few more people entered and sat down in the auditorium before a man walked up on the stage in the front. The whispering that plagued the auditorium fell silent on its own as the man tapped the microphone.

    "One, two, three, testing... okay do I have y''alls attention?" The man had a stomach that bulged through his button-down plaid shirt that was tucked into his shirt, and a strong southern accent that cut through the air like a knife through cheese.

    The girl next to me giggled slightly as he spoke, not really in a malicious way though.

    "Each and every one of you here is a Super, a person with abilities that awes science, and threatens religion. Due to probably having lived life easy due to your status you may think the Academy will be much the same. It won''t, half of you here today will never get the opportunity to even attend the Greensdale Academy for Supers. For those who do y''all will be taught how to harness your unique abilities, and be pushed to and through your limitations." He paused for a moment to glance at the crowd as if he was picking a turkey to eat for Thanksgiving.

    I shuddered slightly, though not from nervousness or fear, but from anticipation. This is what I''ve been waiting for and I''d be damned if I let this opportunity slip through my fingers.

    "Enough dilly dally, the first test will be your easiest, but also the hardest. After your evaluation for those who aren''t immediately cut you will be ranked by your performance, this rank will be your lifeline at the Academy. More information will be available and rewarded to you if you manage to stay in. You will be evaluated by your performance on one on one single elimination matches," Everyone was on the edge of their seats as they hung on to each and every word, including me.

    "We use the evaluations that you have either conducted here or elsewhere and use that information so y''all be pitted against an evenly skilled or powered Super, there are two outcomes to a match, win or lose. If you do not meet our requirements for acceptance you''ll be eradicated from the group, we only accept the strong. More information will be given before the matches start, leave any luggage you may have brought here, they will be cared for and listen for your name and go to the group that was specified. Good luck, and I hope to see all faces after the rankings. To those who will be attending the Acadamy I''m Dean Link." And with that, he left the podium.

    Everyone was in stunned silence, and everyone was thinking the same thing. We were going to fight each other? Instantly the air turned hostile as people began to identify everyone else as enemies, again including me. I also didn''t do any evaluation, but probably Mr. Richards (RIP) did something, or one of the other men in suits did something for me.

    While others may be nervous at the prospect of fighting I was ecstatic. This was exactly the kind of test I was hoping for, I wouldn''t have the experience or fine touch with my power as others would have (as they probably had their powers for many years longer than I.) Even if I''d been training my subtle touch with my power it still was many years away until I would consider it a strength. And if it''s not a strength...

    "Good luck! I''m Nikki by the way" The girl to my side sad wildly.

    Something about her wasn''t quite right either, weird bird girl.

    "Chase," I retorted as I moved out of her way as she sashayed her way to one of the groups that began to form on the sides of the gym (a group surrounded a person that stood on a small platform.) The same soft voice whispered in my ear guiding me to own group in the far right corner.

    I checked my phone one last time for any texts (I got their numbers before I left) and headed towards the oddly receding groups. Almost as if they were disappearing. Shaking that thought out of my heard I started to get my head in the game.

    It''s time.

    And not time to buy a watch.

    Time to kick some ass.

 Chapter Thirty five

    I joined the group just in time to see the reason the groups seemed to be getting smaller. There was a man surrounded by the rest of the soon to be students, he calls out two names and the two guys approached him. The authoritative man in the middle promptly grasped each of their forearms and they blinked out of existence then blink back in a moment after to call another duo.

    Officially the second teleporter I saw in action.

    Someone tapped on my shoulder "Hey Chase looks like we''re the same group," a familiar voice went.

    "Whats up Julian, I didn''t know where you were you didn''t answer your phone," I said with a grin as I kept one ear out for my name being called.

    Julian was looking a bit different then when I saw him at the facilities, his hair was brushed to one side and he seemed to stand a little straighter, maybe something happened when we left. Or maybe it was because of what happened that made us leave early.

    "Oh, that''s... weird I didn''t get anything," Julian stammered sullenly as he patted his pants on his phone.

    "Chase Millers, and Ethan Sharpino," A firm voice commanded from the center.

    I glanced back as I recognized my name before responding to Julian "Good luck man, do your best!"

    "Y-yeah I will, you too," Julian called back while wringing his wrists, the first sign of his now-obvious nervousness.

    Unlike Julian I was not nervous, rather the opposite. I was anxious to get this party rocking. What was there to be nervous about? Everything is entirely up to you, whether or not you will succeed is based on how hard you push yourself.

    I physically and metaphorically shook this thought out of my head as I saw the guy they called Ethan, who which I assumed would be my first opponent. The first out of many, I mean sure this was an evaluation or whatever but it was also a contest. A contest that I intend to win.

    We both reached the teleporter at the same time, just as the man grabbed our own wrists like the others before us Ethan and I locked eyes, my coal-black pupils to his similarly dark, void-less pupils, officially solidating each other as enemies.

    The world twisted out of my vision and into nothingness then back into reality faster than you could say badonkadonk. Which is to say quite fast. It took a few seconds to catch my bearings, my eyes were rolling around in my skull as dizziness took its hold on me. But it must''ve been purely psychological due to it going away as fast as it started.

    A stray thought popped into my mind as I took hold of my surroundings. That instant where everything went dark what was that? If teleporting was just moving at light-speeds shouldn''t it be white as the colors clashed together? Black was the absence of color so maybe we weren''t moving at all, and if we weren''t moving how did we arrive at this parking lot? Why couldn''t powers be rooted in physics? Or maybe it is but it''s so difficult to understand due to our level of technology.

    But that was for nights where I wondered about life''s imponderables.

    Now I had to get my head in the game and figure out what was what. Ethan and I were left in what seemed to be an empty parking lot that of all places. Instead of empty desert around us there, trees were scattered around the lot, and it was nighttime. Which was odd considering we were teleported in the morning? You know When it where it was daytime. There was even a black minivan parked at one of the parking spots near one of the light poles that illuminated the dim parking lot.

    That''s when I noticed the two people that were staring at me oddly. One was a tall woman in a short skirt and button down shirt that I figured was some sort of referee or something and the other was a less pleasant sight. He was staring at me with a crooked, taunting smile that wanted me to punch him in the face. He had one of those douche-pretty boy faces that looked very punchable.

    "What?" I asked innocently.

    "I said good luck," he answered slowly as if I was retarded.

    I was just checking out my surroundings.

    "Whoops, you too," I said with a grin that I hoped would irritate him.

    He murmured something under his breath that sounded like "idiot."

    I took a deep breath to calm myself down a bit, anger is a good tool in the right amounts and too much could cloud my technique and style. Plus, I had plenty of time to release my emotions in a few minutes.

    A few seconds of awkward silence ensued until the women broke it, "Well now that your introductions are in place before I start are there any questions?"

    "Yeah I got a few," Ethan roled his eyes as if I was the idiot.

    Hey, He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.

    So really he''s the fool.

    "Why is it nighttime?" I questioned as I stared at the twinkling stars up above in the sky.

    "Cause, the sun''s on the other side of the earth dumbass," Ethan replied sarcastically to a question that wasn''t intended for him to answer.

    My right eyelid twitched.

    She glanced at Ethan before answering "We have training areas all throughout the world to emulate different conditions for our training exercises and yes, matches between students. We simply were brought to one in the middle east perhaps."

    She must''ve been teleported as well I guess.

    "Anything else?"

    Ethan glanced at me before I shook my head no.

    "I''ll start with the match rules and such, both of you are able to use whatever abilities you may possess and whatever materials around the parking lot to win the match. The ways you can win are simple, you can either force the other into submission for a minute which shows total control.  You can force the other to surrender rendering you the winner by forfeit. Put the other in a state of unconscious, or a state that renders the opponent not able to do anything."

    I nodded in understanding while Ethan responded with a dismissive wave of the hand.

    "While anything could happen, intentionally trying to fatally harm the other will lead to the automatic disqualification and consequences that may follow. If you are fatally injured, the match will be stopped and you will be treated to healing, whatever you have done in the match or matches before will be evaluated for admission. You will not be healed of any injuries between matches if you win so conserve your energy wisely."

    That could work to my advantage, with the whole not feeling pain shebang I could maybe take more hits than the average joe. Another thing was conserving my energy, I still get tired and I should be careful, but if I don''t work hard enough I could lose. So the smartest thing really was to go all out.

    "Now before we start is there any questions?"

    Nothing came to mind so I just stayed silent.

    "Bring it on," Ethan''s face twisted into a sneer as he taunted confidentially.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Almost.

    My knuckles itched with temptation.

    "I''ll be ready to intervene on the sidelines good luck to the both of you." She stated as she sauntered to the edge of the lot.

    "Get ready," She yelled from the outer edge.

    Instantly I grasped onto my power and switched into an offensive stance, my heart was in my throat as information swirled in my mind. While my body was tense, he stood there lazily, his hands rested on his thighs and a cocky smile was plastered on his face as he saw me shift. Something about it was wrong, my instincts were in direct conflict with my brain as I waited for the go signal.

    "Begin"

    Opting for the safe choice to start, I visualized small root-like carbon-crystal to emerge and interlock around the ankles to trip Ethan up and pushed that visualization into existence. As quickly as my power surged through me it was ripped away, like water flowing out of a hose for it to freeze immediately in the air.

    I tried again, I pushed and pushed, my neck straining with tension as my power kept pushing against something for it to be crumpled. My vision started to go red, something that hadn''t happened for a month, something fitting for an occasion like this.

    "Having trouble?" Ethan remarked in feigned sympathy.

    I glanced back at him, who hadn''t moved a muscle. Whatever this cocky bastard was doing it negated my power and that was the gasoline being thrown into the smoldering fire.

    "N-no," I stammered, the words getting stuck in the back of my throat.

    "Strip someone of their powers that they''ve been relying on and everything goes to shit." He said with a shrug as I struggled.

    "Not only can I make it so your powers don''t work I can take them away, so even if you somehow beat me you won''t use them in the next fight. I''m thoughtful like that" He chuckled as he made his first move towards me.

    A single step and I felt it. A tugging feeling caught hold of me one that my instincts screamed at, clenching my body I started to pull against it, a vicious superpower tug war. I''ll be damned if that was going to happen.

    His expression shifted slightly as I took hold of that power in me and through gritted teeth and a guttural roar I shredded the metaphorical rope that tethered him to me.

    "Not today bro." I wheezed as a spike of pain, not unlike the one when I used my power pushed against my head.

    "How?" Ethan''s shocked expression was nothing short of pleasurable to see.

    Powers or not I hadn''t trained for years to lose to this self-centered asshole. Since I had him  Lunging forward with as much speed I could muster I went for a simple knee grab, a tactical decision as I could offset his balance and topple him, but really I just wanted to feel the bones of his knee shatter.

    Quickly clearing the few yards between us, I went low and went in for a tackle on his legs to a grip. As quick as a whip Ethan disappeared from view and a kick hit my stomach with a dull thump and I literally flew a couple feet before skidding on the pavement shredding the skin on my forearm to nothingness.

    I bounced to my feet quickly before barely stammering "What?"

    "I also have enhanced strength, speed, and endurance. Enough chit-chat though, I want to get on to someone who poses a challenge." Ethan said before for the first time this match switching into an offensive stance and advanced.

    Ethan didn''t rush in, his body was relaxed but coiled, he was sure he was going to win so he was going to conserve his energy.

    Smart but stupid.

    Ignoring the warm blood now dripping off my arm I moved in to try to set the tone for the fight, If I could get him to come down to my speed I could overcome him. But as quick as I got near him a flurry of punches pushed me back. Left right left right, I could barely get my arms up to block each hit before another one came.

    "How''s it feel to be so outclassed? Did you really think you could make it in the Academy?" he taunted as he effortlessly carried on.

    As much as I didn''t want to admit it he was faster, and stronger, had a counter to my ability, and probably had more training than me. But the tricks that I had hidden up my pants were my one of my strengths.

    So I''m going to play to them.

    The key to a feint was to make it believable, and if I didn''t know what I was doing, how would he? So I started throwing myself in different directions, I dodged another kick to my side and started to wildly throw different moves together in such a way that didn''t make sense.

    It didn''t have to be showy, or effective for that matter, I was just soaking up hits as I got a feel for him and his patterns. Everyone had patterns I just had to find it. I went bananas, throwing punches in different directions while kicking and turning, jumping over invisible kicks and ducking non-existant punches, to be met with very real punches to my body. The hits began to pile up as I moved left and right to see an opening or weakness to him.

    But when there is no weakness, you have to make one.

    So I did.

    Dropping my erratic behavior in an instant, letting a fist sink into my shoulder I knew the one-two punch to my head was coming so instead of dodging the punch I met it head on, literally.

    His knuckles collided with my skull as I headbutted as hard as I could, a 50/50 that could prove extremely risky on my side. A crack that could be audibly heard came from either my skull or his fist sounded. It felt as if my brain hit the back of my skull and snapped back as his fist crumpled underneath my skull full force.

    "What was that!?" Ethan howled in pain for the first time.

    I staggered backward as the force had me seeing stars, but I stayed on my feet, falling would be as suicidal as literally closing my eyes. Although I paid for it I could see Ethan''s pain plastered on his face as he clenched his right fist. I blinked the dizziness away as his body slowly came into clarity.

    I could literally see the white bone sticking through the back of his knuckles and the odd way his fingers twisted. And it felt hella good. I stepped forward to push the initiative when a wave of nausea rolled through me.

    Okay, it didn''t feel that good.

    "I took two to get one in," I mumbled as I spit out a glob of blood.

    Well more like twenty to get one in.

    Worth.

    "You crazy?" This time Ethan was staring behind me to the women who had yet to intervene.

    "My dad always said I was hard-headed," I grunted.

    The adrenaline was pulsing through my body causing me to shake slightly. I didn''t know what to do, I was out of options, I couldn''t keep on going like this or I would get knocked out before taking him out. I couldn''t use my power- wait, could I? Ethan made it seem like it was useless but the way it felt when I tried to use it was that it felt ripped away when I made something outside my body.

    Sparing a few precious seconds as Ethan began to look murderous I looked at my knuckles... yes! The crystal-carbon seemed to be infused in my skin like a callous on my palms. Maybe when I headbutted, sub-consciously there was a growth of the crystal-carbon on my forehead allowing me to hit with equal force.

    If so I probably looked pretty weird.

    "I''m done playing around!" There was a murderous glint in Ethan''s eyes as he advanced with a ferocity not found in him before.

    With as much speed as I could manage I met him in the middle, taking advantage of his shattered left fist I stayed on his left. Playing to his weaknesses and to my strengths was how I was going to win this. He was quicker than me but now that I felt his patterns and with my experience in fights It didn''t matter how fast he could move if I knew where he would be.

    Stepping over a parking block I started to push us towards the car, any blockade would be beneficial to me. As fast as he was moving, the way I was weaving around his hits and returning some of my own was turning the tables. While I moved I started to push the carbon into my skin, but it felt like I was moving through syrup with it. So instead of both fists, I focused on the bony parts of the knuckles on my right.

    "How''er you not feeling this!?" Ethan screamed as his fist connected with my jaw again.

    Ignoring the buzzing in my teeth I returned one with my right that was so solid it caused his head to snap back and his whole body to stumble back the car (which was only a few yards away). His dazed eyes couldn''t focus on me as he tripped over a parking block. Seizing the opportunity I surged forward and half-carried half-tackled him into the minivan''s window headfirst.

    Glass fragments cut me as Ethan crashed into the door, causing a human-sized dent into a not so human-sized door. The force sent me stumbling back as black spots began to appear in my decision.

    Maybe it shouldn''t have, but the contact felt so good.

    Whispers in the back of my mind that came not from me urged me on the finish it. Ethan moaned as he slowly peeled himself from the car. His perfectly styled black hair was matted with blood, and his face was stained with mine. He stared at me in dazed horror as I don''t think I looked much better.

    "It''s not possible. You can''t use your powers," he mumbled as he shakily walked back with his eyes glued on me.

    "I didn''t, every Super has a weakness. I just found yours," I taunted as I moved forward.

    I just got lucky, but he didn''t need to know that.

    Pushing my urges down, I really didn''t want to hurt him too badly, I mean we both had the same goal, to be a Hero.

    "Quit and you can get healing, I don''t have to do this," I pleaded as took a step closer.

    Doubt flashed on his mind before it dissolved to resolve "No."

    And with that I sprinted forward, he stumbled away slightly and managed a weak punch that hit my torso before I grabbed his knee and slammed him down on the pavement.

    "Give up," I commanded.

    He spat in my face in response.

    "Shove it up your-"

    I hyperextended his knee and exponentially increased pressure till I felt the snap and held it there while I counted to sixty seconds in my head.

    His whimpers made me lose count once or twice.

    "Let go you win Chase." A dangerously stern voice commanded from behind me.

    I obediently let go and took a few steps back, the women said something on her radio before turning to me.

    "Congrationizations you made it past your first fight, you will have five minutes until your next match." She said coldly.

    "Is he gonna be okay?" I asked weakly.

    "With healing, he should be fine."

    I nodded in response, we both played the game and I won.

    And it felt good.

    The same teleporter from before blinked in to touch Ethan and blinked out. I took off my shirt and started wiping the grime, sweat, and blood from my body as I waited.

    I might as well stretch too.

 Rewriting

    Hey guys, I know I''ve been kinda AWOL for a while now but I was going through some stuff and have returned... I''m rewriting and going over some stuff from the first arc to spice it up a bit and correct typos and such. The first chapter has been rewritten and will be posted, most of the stuff isn''t going to be too different but the first and second chapter may be switched after I write everything, if anyone wants to go back to the first chapter and tell me if there is a positive difference I''d appreciate it, and I''m sorry I''ve been gone for so long! Some stuff one the rewrite is going to be different but overall the storyline will be the same except for some changes, some minor some major, but hopefully, these changes add to the story.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Thanks again!