《Cold》


 Chapter One

    The school was surrounded by black vehicles with authoritative prints in white paint that claimed it to be government property. More accurately¡ªgovernment facility. There were about five or six black containment vans which windows were screen blockades with thick glass before it. Men in black uniforms with special heavy guns crowded at specific locations surrounding the perimeters of the school¡ªfrom inside the grounds to yards away outside the screen fence.


    The school principal¡ªa man in his late forties¡ªalong with the entire teaching staff stationed at the entrance of the main building where the government ¡®authorities¡¯ tried to infiltrate. The principal refused to permit entrance without the presentation of a search warrant or at the very least an explanation to why government agents dispatched themselves at such an untimely hour. Classes were going to be dismissed an hour later. Surely, they could have waited. Their presence could set the students into panic.


    ¡°For the nth time, officer,¡± the principal groaned. ¡°I will not have you search my school without a warrant. You are not even policemen for all I could tell. And¡ª¡±


    ¡°Our business is confidential and legal, that I can assure you.¡± There interjected a man in the background. He was in the same uniform as the man the principal talked with. He was fully vested in black with multiple pockets that the principal could only guess contained bullets or bombs. His thick, heavy boots stomped on the cement platform in the sound of a muffled pattern as he approached. And as he did, the agent the principal talked with stepped aside and saluted before walking out.


    The principal gave out a curious glower to whom he guessed was the leader of the dispatched officials. Still, he wasn¡¯t about to open his doors for the sake of the students.


    ¡°You being the head of authority, I expect you comply with legal procedures,¡± the principal said.


    The vested man placed his arm around the principal, pulling him close as if they were old friends. ¡°Principal¡ª¡± he gestured a circling motion of the hand for the principal to give his name.


    ¡°Adler,¡±


    ¡°Principal Adler,¡± the man continued. He walked toward the entrance of the main building, pulling Principal Adler with him. And Adler, without knowing it, was walking with the man¡¯s direction. ¡°Just call me Rhodes. My men and I wouldn¡¯t be here in an instant if there wasn¡¯t a life-threatening situation.¡±


    They entered the main building and turned at the first corner. The hall was empty. The students were obedient to stay inside their classrooms despite the panic-inducing situation. It pulled out a remark from Rhodes, praising Principal Adler¡¯s discipline for the students. The doors however were cracked open and from that slit of an opening were curious eyes determined to find answers on the situation.


    ¡°Life-threatening situation?¡± the principal repeated. They kept on walking and stopped midway before arriving at the stairs. They were in the senior high school area.


    Rhodes pulled out a complicated tool that was strapped on his holster and wore it around his eyes. Principal Adler was clueless to everything that was happening. Following Rhodes, he thought, would give him some answers on the situation but it just seemed like he was a leashed dog getting a walk.


    Rhodes smiled as he wore the device around his head. It covered half of his face as if it was a sliced motorcycle helmet. He pointed at it and looked at Principal Adler with a mocking grin. ¡°Neat goggles eh, Adler?¡± he chuckled and patted the principal on the back.


    Principal Adler opened his mouth for questions he wanted to ask¡ªstatements he wanted to say but Rhodes had Adler on his palm. Before he could say anything, Rhodes had his arm around Adler¡¯s shoulder and they were headed straight to the second floor.


    ¡°Now let¡¯s begin the investigation, shall we, Adler?¡± Rhodes said as though he and the principal were actual partners. ¡°Upstairs is the senior high school department, if I remember correctly. Ah, my Alma mater.¡±


    Ivan stayed on his seat. While his classmates were all crowding on the windows, peeking and wondering what the cool men in black vests came for, he idly sat. His hands were tucked inside his underarms, in an attempt to warm it up. He was already covered in layers of clothes and a black hooded jacket but he wasn¡¯t getting any warmer. He was cold but he wasn¡¯t cold. His body was cold but he wasn¡¯t bothered by it.


    ¡°Yo, Ice-van,¡± Jericho called. Ivan earned that nickname in middle school. Mostly, people called him Iceboy because of his cold hands. Jericho gave birth to the Ice-van nickname. As a child, Ivan was pale but not dead-pale. It was more of a blueish undertone and was emphasized by his dark chocolate hair. Everything about Ivan suggested his cold nature¡ªeven more so his eyes that were ocean blue in dim lights.


    ¡°Sup?¡± Ivan nodded to Jericho.


    Jericho pulled out a nearby chair and seated beside Ivan. Jericho was a slim man no taller than Ivan. He stood about five foot nine. Close to Ivan¡¯s six feet flat but somehow, he gets above Ivan through his clever puns. It was his compensation for their difference. Ivan and Jericho had been friends since the Ice-van nickname. Their friendship somehow worked because of Jericho¡¯s enthusiastic humor and Ivan¡¯s docility. No matter the joke, Ivan would always take it coolly and Jericho liked that about Ivan. Jericho was smug as if every conversation had a punchline. He kept this expectant smile as if he was going to reveal a big joke but that was just how he usually looked.


    ¡°Why do you think those men are out there?¡± Jericho asked.


    Ivan shrugged and tilted his head to the window where most of his classmates were. Just recently, they were instructed to stay inside their classrooms when the principal called for every school personnel available or not. And it had been half an hour since then.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s have a bet. Me first,¡± Jericho coughed to adjust his voice. He stroked his chin as if he had an invisible pointed beard dangling from there and his eyes were narrow slits as he tried to think of a possible explanation. His eyes widened as he thought he figured it out. ¡°I bet they were dispatched by the government but got sent the wrong address. What¡¯s yours?¡±


    Ivan raised a brow. He stood to disagree with Jericho. ¡°They look like Special Forces reserved for serious situations,¡± Ivan said, dismissing Jericho¡¯s guess. ¡°I doubt they¡¯d make a mistake like that.¡±


    ¡°Boo,¡± Jericho inverted a thumbs-up. ¡°Mistakes happen besides¡ª¡± Jericho was cut short on his explanation. His mouth was open and his eyes were locked to something behind Ivan. Ivan expectantly waited for Jericho¡¯s continuation but found that the smug teenager was looking at something behind him. He followed Jericho¡¯s eyes and tilted his body to where his friend was looking.


    ¡°H-hi, Ivan¡­¡± an unfamiliar voice greeted.


    Ivan turned behind him and he was surprised at the redheaded girl behind him. It was Melissa, the transferee. Not much was known about her except that she¡¯s the quiet and antisocial one in the class. Many students tried to befriend her but all were repelled by her awkward vibe.


    Melissa was beautiful. It was the only reason some boys tried to put up with her awkwardness. She had long red hair that reached her hips. She had a rosy complexion that was only revealed through her light freckled face and the rest of her was always covered by her light pink turtleneck sweater which sleeves overlapped her wrists. She had big round goggle-like glasses but despite that, had a beauty that was restrained by her introverted look. It was the first time she¡¯s actually shown interaction with anyone out of school activities.


    Ivan straightened his posture as he completely turned his body toward Melissa. He thought he might have done something wrong for Melissa to approach him and he was recalling what that certain thing he did was but nothing came to mind. Coughing, Ivan asked, ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    The timid Melissa adjusted her large glasses and swayed her body after Ivan¡¯s question. She held her wrist with her other hand as her mouth mumbled words that weren¡¯t accompanied by her voice. She went deep into her mannerisms before dismissing herself from Ivan without another word. Certainly, it was the most awkward interaction Ivan encountered. When he turned back to Jericho, there was a clowning grin on Jericho¡¯s face.


    ¡°I think you and I both know what that means.¡± Jericho chortled.


    Ivan¡¯s eyes followed Melissa as she dashed swiftly back to her seat. Her hair flailed behind her rapid movement like a waving flag before she settled on the chair at the front right of the classroom¡ªnearest to the door. And just like that, all Ivan could see of Melissa was her back facing him. The red curtain of her hair, concealing.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°You can¡¯t assume the whole from a single piece,¡± Ivan replied to Jericho¡¯s statement without taking his eyes off the girl. And when Jericho was about to reply back, the door of the classroom slammed open and there entered Principal Adler with an armored man in peculiar goggles. The students¡¯ attention all turned to the principal and the man.


    ¡°Children,¡± the goggled man had his arms spread wide open as though to embrace. ¡°Please, get back to your seats and we can begin with the briefing.¡±


    ¡°Briefing?¡± Principal Adler quietly whispered, ¡°But I haven¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Alright, hurry up boys and girls, to your seats now,¡± the goggled man paid no mind to the principal. The students scrambled back to their places like confused but obedient ants, afraid to defy authority. Once every student was seated, the man introduced himself. ¡°Boys and girls, you can all call me Rhodes,¡± he smiled widely. ¡°Me and my team are just gonna be here for a while¡ª¡±


    Rhodes was interrupted when a student keenly raised her hand. It was Melissa. And Rhodes turned his head to the girl.


    ¡°Questions would be answered afterwards, my dear girl.¡± Rhodes smiled and walked closer to Melissa¡¯s seat.


    ¡°I-I have to use the bathroom, sir¡­if I may,¡± Melissa said.


    ¡°You could go after¡ª¡±


    ¡°I really have to use it, sir¡­¡± Melissa insisted, ¡°You see¡­I have¡ª¡± she went out of her seat and bent up to whisper her excuse to Rhodes.


    All eyes were on her.


    After stating her excuse, Rhodes pressed a button on his goggles and looked at Melissa from head to toe. Thereafter, he pressed the button again and allowed her to go out.


    Ivan watched closely and he wasn¡¯t aware that his heart was beating like crazy inside him. He didn¡¯t like Rhodes¡¯s vibe. Combined with the speculations on the sudden arrival of the government team, he wasn¡¯t expecting any good news to come out of Rhodes.


    Ivan pulled a breath through his mouth and when he exhaled, it came out as a frosty mist. Rhodes¡¯s eyes turned to Ivan.


    ¡°Did you just smoke, boy?¡± Rhodes¡¯s trademark smile suddenly vanished. The smile didn¡¯t look good on Rhodes in the first place. It was too forced that it just looked disturbing. Seeing Rhodes¡¯s face now, anyone could tell that it wasn¡¯t his nature to smile. He was an authoritarian¡ªa tyrannical one at the worst.


    Ivan leaned back as if Rhodes¡¯s concealed stare was enough to push him back. He looked behind him, hoping that Rhodes wasn¡¯t referring to him. He¡¯s seen his foggy breath though and he was just as surprised as Rhodes. It never happened before.


    ¡°No, sir¡­¡± Ivan swallowed.


    Rhodes approached in ominous steps. The thud of his heavy boots instilled silence and attracted attention to Ivan. When Rhodes arrived, he leaned down on Ivan, placing his hand on Ivan¡¯s desk.


    ¡°You could smoke if you want to, boy,¡± Rhodes¡¯s voice was raspy, ¡°Just not within school premises.¡± He smiled again and patted Ivan on the shoulder.


    Ivan held his breath the whole time and when Rhodes went back in front, he was able to breathe. His breath didn¡¯t come out as an icy fog this time. Perhaps it was just the trick of the eye but somehow it wasn¡¯t seeing as Rhodes witnessed it as well.


    Jericho threw a crumpled paper at Ivan and when Ivan turned, Jericho mouthed the word ¡®What¡¯ which Ivan replied with a shrug.


    Rhodes explained their business. ¡°Alright, kids. Our purpose here is to search for potential helpers.¡± Rhodes explained as if he was talking to children. Either he belittled the students or he tried too hard to keep his matter confidential. ¡°This goggles I have here could immediately scan a person to see if he¡¯s healthy enough for the task or not. Students that will pass the scan get to skip school and ride a government vehicle, isn¡¯t that wonderful?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re taking the children without their consent?¡± Principal Adler interjected which Rhodes barely paid attention to.


    ¡°You will be taken back to your homes so that we may ask your parents for permission,¡± Rhodes said, ¡°and of course, after we ask your parents, we will also ask you if you would want to be part of this big secret plan. Isn¡¯t that exciting?¡±


    Ivan grimaced at the way Rhodes spoke. It was insulting and terrifying at the same time. He wasn¡¯t buying that excuse. If their purpose is solely to search, they wouldn¡¯t bring arms to the school. There was definitely something more than what he just said. Heck, his entire statement could be a lie.


    ¡°Well, then, shall we begin?¡± Rhodes pressed the button on his goggles again. He started at the first row of students. The scanning process wasn¡¯t very long. Rhodes would just focus on one student for about five seconds and proceed to another when he didn¡¯t have what he was looking for.


    Closer and closer, Rhodes approached Ivan and for some reason, Ivan felt terribly guilty¡ªas if he did something wrong he couldn¡¯t recall. He was afraid that Rhodes would stop at him and he would be a potential ¡®helper¡¯. No, from the students¡¯ faces, they¡¯re all thinking that Rhodes would stop at them. Ivan couldn¡¯t be any different. He was just like everybody else.


    After scanning the student beside Ivan, it was Ivan¡¯s turn. Rhodes stood in front of Ivan¡¯s desk, focusing on him for five seconds.


    Thereafter, he spoke, ¡°Stand up, boy. What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked.


    Ivan swallowed. ¡°Ivan.¡±


    ¡°Ivan.¡± Rhodes kept his smile but his voice was disturbingly solemn. ¡°Line up in front, please.¡±


    Reluctantly, Ivan followed and he stood in front of the class beside Principal Adler as Rhodes scanned the remaining students. After finishing on Jericho, Rhodes returned to the front.


    ¡°Ivan,¡± Rhodes said as if he was a clown that found a volunteer for a magic trick, ¡°Let¡¯s get you a ride home.¡±


    Before Ivan could do or say anything else, Rhodes had his hands behind Ivan¡¯s back, pushing him with enough force to make him walk. Ivan looked at his classmates as he went out. They were clueless and so was he. He looked at Jericho who, for the first time, wasn¡¯t smiling.


    The hall was swarming with vested men wearing the same goggles Rhodes wore. They entered one classroom after another and proceeded from floor to floor.


    Rhodes talked in the radio, ¡°Found one. Taking him down. Over.¡±


    Ivan wanted to ask but he didn¡¯t have the guts. He just followed whatever Rhodes told him just to stay on the safe side. They passed the hall and down the stairs. They came by the curve of the wall that turned to the Boys and Girls bathroom across each other.


    Melissa peeked from the wall. Rhodes was busy on his radio so he didn¡¯t notice Melissa in his peripheral vision but Ivan did. It was impossible to dismiss her orangey red hair even if just by the corner of the eye. Or perhaps Melissa wanted Ivan to see her.


    She was mouthing a word to Ivan¡ªa message she wanted Ivan to know. Her lips curled inward and opened, stretching the corner of her mouth side to side. It curled the letter ¡®P¡¯. Ivan scrunched his brows and kept repeating the letter in his mind and the silent repetition on his mouth. P, p, p and then it hit him.


    ¡°Ugh, sir, Rhodes, I have to pee,¡± Ivan said.


    Rhodes withdrew from the radio. ¡°Can¡¯t it wait?¡± he asked.


    Ivan nodded to disagree and with a curt nod, Rhodes allowed him to the bathroom with his accompaniment. Rhodes didn¡¯t enter the bathroom though. He stayed outside and continued to talk in the radio.


    Once Ivan entered the boys¡¯ bathroom, Melissa was there waiting for him. She locked the door behind Ivan and it was just the two of them in the foul stench of dried urine.


    ¡°Why did you call? Do you know what¡¯s happening?¡± Ivan asked but Melissa only made a hush signal with a finger on her mouth.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be alright if you follow me,¡± Melissa whispered.


    She headed towards a stepping pile. She had prepared it since she left the classroom as if she knew exactly what was going to happen. To Ivan¡¯s future surprise, he was just about to find out. The pile led to the high window of the boys¡¯ bathroom. Melissa stepped up and climbed out on one of the shattered windows.


    Ivan was idle. He didn¡¯t know what was happening and why the antisocial girl just climbed out of the window in the boys¡¯ bathroom. He was startled when Melissa called him.


    ¡°Ivan, climb out, now!¡± she yelled in a whisper. She peeked outside the window, stepping on a platform outside while waving her hand for Ivan to follow.


    Ivan was reluctant. He wasn¡¯t sure of following Rhodes or Melissa. Both were strangers to him. Rhodes has authority while Melissa hasn¡¯t. If Ivan defies Rhodes, he¡¯s going to get in a lot of trouble. Ivan thought of turning back and his stiff body started to move toward the door but he was stopped when Rhodes called.


    ¡°You done there, boy? What the¡ªwhy is the door locked?¡± Rhodes didn¡¯t sound very pleased and his gruff voice and forced twisting on the knob struck a memory Ivan didn¡¯t want to recall. Ivan was scared. He back tracked in little steps until his back reached the wall. There, Melissa¡¯s hand hit him on the head.


    ¡°Hurry!¡± Melissa reached out her hand to Ivan.


    Out of panic in Rhodes¡¯s sudden outburst, Ivan jumped on the pile and grabbed Melissa¡¯s hand. The redheaded girl grimaced upon Ivan¡¯s contact but used all of her strength to pull him up. Surprisingly, it was an easy task for her. The only challenge was bearing Ivan¡¯s ice-cold hand clasping her wrist.


    They stand on stacks of wooden boxes at the top of the school¡¯s garbage pile. Melissa jumped down and crouched to scan the surroundings. Dark clouds loomed from the mountains, already enveloping the school as flashes of lightning and faint thunder hurdled by.


    ¡°Melissa, what¡¯s going on?¡± Ivan asked which the girl dismissed with a hush signal.


    They were at the back of the school where beyond the fence was a forest. Ivan looked around and there was a trail of unconscious bodies lying on the grass. Those were Rhodes¡¯s men, Ivan thought. He recognized the vests and uniforms. Did Melissa kill them?


    ¡°Ivan,¡± Melissa snapped Ivan out of his thoughts. ¡°We¡¯re gonna climb the fence and head straight for the woods.¡±


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Ivan said. ¡°I am not moving here without getting an explanation.¡± His mind was an outburst of confusion. The transition was so fast he wasn¡¯t able to keep up. Just minutes ago, he was walking down the hall and now he¡¯s at the school¡¯s backyard with multiple bodies he didn¡¯t even know were dead or not. He started doubting if ditching Rhodes really was the right choice.


    Melissa straightened her posture and walked toward Ivan. She pulled Ivan on the collar and levelled him down so she could look him in the eye. ¡°There¡¯s no time,¡± Melissa whispered, ¡°If I explain it to you here, we¡¯ll get captured and you don¡¯t want to end up with them.¡±


    Ivan swallowed. Just moments ago, Melissa seemed so timid. She wasn¡¯t the shy girl now. It was a completely different person.


    ¡°There!¡± an armored man shouted.


    ¡°Run!¡± Melissa sprinted toward the fence.


    Out of reflex, Ivan followed. They skipped over the unconscious bodies and climbed the fence as fast as they could. Rhodes¡¯s men were catching up.


    ¡°How well could you control your powers?¡± Melissa asked as they climbed.


    Ivan was racing like crazy. ¡°I have powers?!¡±


    Melissa groaned. Once they reached the top, they jumped down and didn¡¯t stop running toward the curtain of trees.

 Chapter Two

    It was dark and thunder drummed in the background. Ivan was tucked at the corner of his room, watching the string of light under his door. There were two shadows outside¡ªone for his mother and another for his father. The shadows were motionless for a while until it started moving.


    Ivan tucked himself tighter as the faint sound of glass breaking and his mother yelling sung in the background. He was afraid¡­so afraid. And then the shadows were motionless again. Gone goes the first one and the other¡ªstill there.


    The shadow grew larger and larger accompanied by heavy stomps against wood.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± his father yelled, his voice, gruff. He twisted on the knob violently shaking the door, almost breaking it. And then¡­


    ¡°Ivan,¡± a feminine voice called. ¡°Ivan¡­¡± it called again.


    Ivan snapped back to reality, his heart a prancing beat. Melissa was a few paces in front of him, down a dried river. She was drenched in rainwater. Both of them were soaked. It had been raining for an hour now. And for an hour now, they¡¯ve been traversing the forest. For all Ivan knew, they were lost.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Melissa asked.


    Ivan swallowed and tucked his lips. He opened his hands and lifted his foot to show Melissa that it was dripping with mud and rainwater.


    ¡°Am I alright?¡± he sarcastically repeated. ¡°Melissa. I am not alright, okay?¡± Ivan ran his hand down his face. ¡°We¡¯re soaking wet, we¡¯re lost and I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m following you.¡± He was panicking and failing at it miserably. Melissa seemed calm despite their situation. After all, she was the one who got them in it.


    Lightning flashed and thunder roared not long after. The storm was directly above them. Ivan staggered as the sky growled. He didn¡¯t have a pleasant memory of storms especially thunder. It triggered a memory he wanted to forget.


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain once we find shelter, okay?¡± Melissa said, ¡°For now, just try to stay calm.¡±


    Ivan got to thinking. ¡°No¡­¡± he said, ¡°I think I¡¯m going to find a road so I could get a ride home and forget that this ever happened. If Rhodes finds me, I could just tell him I¡¯ve no interest in whatever they¡¯re doing... Hell, I should have done that in the first place!¡± Ivan turned away and was headed back.


    ¡°They¡¯ll take you away,¡± Melissa shouted. She climbed back up the muddy slope and blocked Ivan¡¯s way.


    Ivan eyed her suspiciously. ¡°You¡¯re taking me away,¡± he said.


    ¡°To safety,¡± Melissa added. ¡°I know Rhodes and his men. I was assigned to get you before they did.¡±


    Ivan pushed back his hair. ¡°Bullshit.¡± Ivan faced the sky to let the rain land on his face. That ought to refresh him. ¡°How could you possibly know this much stuff? We¡¯re the same age.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. I¡¯m two years older than you,¡± Melissa pointed a hand.


    ¡°How does that make any difference?¡± Ivan was frantic, ¡°and how did you know my age? What else do you know?¡±


    ¡°Everything that is essential about you.¡± Melissa sighed. ¡°Look, Ivan, I know this is difficult to accept but you¡¯re gonna have to get used to a few changes. I¡¯ll explain everything once we¡¯re safe. Just keep in mind that you won¡¯t be safe with Rhodes.¡±


    It was suspicious. Melissa was leaning too forward on Ivan¡¯s side almost as if she was desperate. And desperate means dangerous. ¡°And I¡¯m safe with you?¡± Ivan returned.


    Melissa understood Ivan¡¯s doubt. She failed to establish trust with Ivan. She focused too much on getting out of Rhodes¡¯s scope since she knew that he was watching Ivan. She wanted to be untraceable but somehow, that wasn¡¯t even possible anymore as one of Rhodes¡¯s men already saw her fleeing with Ivan.


    ¡°You cannot choose two sides of one coin,¡± Melissa grabbed Ivan¡¯s hand. It was almost as cold as ice but still tolerable and Melissa bore it, ¡°and the coin has already been tossed when you followed me.¡± Melissa smiled and placed her other hand on top of Ivan¡¯s. ¡°You really are a Kryo.¡±


    Ivan didn¡¯t have the slightest idea what Melissa meant but he was sure it had something to do with his coldness. He was too distracted by Melissa¡¯s smile to even ask about what she meant about Ivan being a Kryo. Melissa was warm¡ªat least, the Melissa right now and not the one who couldn¡¯t even talk to him back at the school. Her aura was calming.


    Melissa walked aside and headed down for the slope again. Ivan turned to follow when a loud gunshot exploded from the distance. Ivan was rooted on his spot as he saw crimson liquid splash out of Melissa¡¯s left leg, accompanied by her high pitched, cry.


    The redheaded girl fell down the slope, her blood washing through the soil with the rain. Ivan was too surprised to move. In that small instance, he saw the bullet go through Melissa¡¯s leg. Another gunshot fired and it targeted Ivan but hit a tree instead. That was enough to get Ivan off his feet. He jumped down the slope and went to Melissa.


    She was coiled on the mud, streaks of her red hair messily stuck all across her face. She was biting the pain off, squeezing her bleeding leg. Crimson blood stained her pants and was washed away by the rain. Melissa groaned, enduring the excruciating pain.


    Ivan, not knowing what to do, tore a piece of his clothing and tied it above the wound. He tightened the knot. Thereafter, he tore another piece of his clothing and crumpled it to a ball. He pressed it against the wound to stop the bleeding and was surprised at how quickly his white cloth turned red.


    ¡°You need to¡ª¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t run. I¡¯m not leaving you,¡± Ivan said before Melissa could even finish.


    Melissa swallowed the pain. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to run.¡± Every word was told with great effort. Watching Melissa suffer shared a small amount of pain to Ivan. The wound wasn¡¯t ordinary. The bullet went through her leg. Ivan could only hope it didn¡¯t hit her bones. ¡°You¡¯re a Kryo, Ivan, that¡¯s why they¡¯re after you. You need to defend us.¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know how!¡± Ivan stammered, ¡°I don¡¯t even know what a Kryo is.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the only chance we have,¡± Melissa said. It wasn¡¯t apparent on her face because of her constant effort to bite the pain back but Melissa was afraid too even more than she was in pain. ¡°If Rhodes captures us, he¡¯s going to kill us both. Luckily for you, you¡¯re a Kryo. You get to die instantly¡­as for me,¡± Melissa adjusted her position to elevate her back on Ivan¡¯s arms. She didn¡¯t continue.


    ¡°What would Rhodes do to you?¡± Ivan asked when Melissa didn¡¯t continue. ¡°What are you?¡±


    Melissa breathed exhaustedly. Her tongue clicked out her turning-pale lips as she kept her eyes on Ivan, begging him to do all that he can in his power.


    ¡°Just human¡­¡± Melissa said, ¡°With intelligence on the location of the Kryos. Rhodes will torture me unless in a miraculous event he knows that I wouldn¡¯t speak no matter what. That¡¯s my only miracle of getting an instant death.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Ivan pushed his face back as he thought of what to do. He didn¡¯t even know that he was a Kryo¡ªwhatever that was. He only looked at his coldness as a rare abnormality albeit other cases weren¡¯t exactly the same as him.


    ¡°Cold.¡± Melissa¡¯s eyes were but slits fighting to stay open. ¡°The drops of rain that came from you are¡­ cold.¡±


    Ivan couldn¡¯t feel it.


    ¡°The Kryo has been found. Over.¡± An envoy spoke behind them to the radio. Moments after, they were surrounded by Rhodes¡¯s men that looked identical because of their black vests and helmets. They outnumbered Ivan and Melissa plus they were all armed. What could two high school students do against them?Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°Kryo subject, Ivan, put your hands in the air,¡± one of the armed men said as he approached cautiously.


    Ivan was quiet¡­devastated at Melissa fainting inside his arms. ¡°We¡¯re not armed¡­we¡¯re just kids¡­¡± he said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Put your hands in the air now,¡± the soldier commanded.


    Ivan didn¡¯t want to get into further trouble so he complied. He lifted his hands in the air. Out of fear, out of compliance¡­whatever he had to do to stay alive. The rainwater that ran down his hands stopped and froze. Ivan felt his hand stiffen but no less cold.


    The armored man aimed his gun at Ivan. ¡°Don¡¯t even try of using your powers.¡±


    He was afraid of Ivan just as much as Ivan was afraid of him but the cold boy wasn¡¯t using his powers¡­not that he¡¯s aware of. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­I don¡¯t know how¡­¡±


    ¡°Put your hands behind your head,¡± he commanded which Ivan followed obediently.


    The armored man took cuffs from his holster and walked behind Ivan but before he could reach it, he was tripped by the unconscious girl who wasn¡¯t unconscious at all. Melissa had anticipated the scenario to happen and waited it out. The vested man fell on the mud face first and Melissa, enduring the immense pain, pushed herself up to land on the stumbled man¡¯s body. She grabbed the pistol from the man¡¯s holster and loaded the gun.


    Three soldiers stationed on top of the slope¡ªall busy talking in the radio to actually notice one of their comrades fell. Melissa took that moment to shoot the nearest one. In one shot, she was able to hit the armored man in the neck, killing him. He stumbled on the slope and that was when the two other soldiers were alerted. The second nearest one aimed his gun but before he could take a shot, Melissa got him. The third one was about to open fire but didn¡¯t.


    It surprised Melissa that the soldiers were hesitant. Could it be because of Ivan? No, Melissa thought. Kryos were only captured to be slaughtered in a closed facility. Why were they being careful? She took the opportunity and blasted on the third soldier simultaneously, emptying the pistol she held. The bullets rained on the vest¡ªMelissa was too worn down by her wound to aim as well as she did previously. It was desperation and adrenaline that forced her to endure her wound and got up. Once she lessened the threat, the drive resided. The last soldier fell with the others in the slope and Melissa dropped the gun beside her. She lied on the armored man she tripped and realized that he wasn¡¯t dead or even unconscious.


    Melissa reached in for the pistol but it was out of bullets. The man wriggled, squelching on the mud as he got up. He pushed Melissa aside and aimed his gun at her.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a Kryo,¡± the man focused on Melissa with those goggles Rhodes possessed. ¡°And even if you were, you¡¯d be killed anyway. Killing you now doesn¡¯t make any difference.¡±


    Melissa panted. She was covered in mud and smeared with blood from her wound that got unbound when she acted. She was facing up as she looked at the man and then she turned behind her¡ªtoward Ivan.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Melissa apologized. It was sincere and it was true. The guilt and sorrow in Melissa¡¯s face almost seemed like a mother¡¯s that failed to protect her child. Under those smears of blood, Ivan was able to look through and see a face that actually cared about him. Melissa cared despite not knowing him¡­despite her efforts being only a part of her mission.


    Melissa was seconds from meeting her death and more of Rhodes¡¯s men showed themselves on the high ground. They were surrounded again and with more men this time.


    ¡°Contain the Kryo,¡± the one aiming the gun at Melissa said. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this one.¡±


    The armored man grabbed Melissa by the arm and dragged her up on the slope. Ivan was guarded by two men, pushing him to walk but made sure to have a safe distance from him. Ivan could only watch as Melissa was dragged by the arm and when she resisted, the soldier pulled her hair instead. They forced her to kneel at the edge of the slope while one of the men handed his pistol to their pseudo-leader. Ivan knew well he should look away. There was no more hope and watching Melissa die would only register inside his mind, haunting him but¡­he couldn¡¯t look away. Even as one of the soldiers pushed his face to look forward, Ivan kept on tilting his head.


    Melissa, all covered in mud and drenched in rainwater, looked at Ivan for the last time before closing her eyes. She was the one that didn¡¯t want to acknowledge their fate even when they were surrounded by four armored men. Ivan had given up long before they were cornered. He had already given up even as they ran away from Rhodes¡¯s men. And now, it was clear to Melissa. She had accepted her fate but Ivan didn¡¯t.


    The two men that guarded Ivan kept their distance from him. Out of impulse, Ivan turned back in a swift dash, slipping on the mud but regaining his composure nonetheless. He couldn¡¯t just watch Melissa get killed. He couldn¡¯t just watch anyone get killed. He didn¡¯t even know what he was going to do once he arrives at the scene. Perhaps he just wanted to extend the inevitable¡ªalter what was going to be written inside his mind¡ªthat at least he tried to do something.


    Ivan tackled the man holding the pistol but little had it done to even make them budge. He only looked like a kid grappling a grown man by the waist. He was a kid though and that was what¡¯s happening now. Melissa, surprised, turned behind her to what was happening.


    The soldier squirmed but Ivan¡¯s lock on him was too strong even if he wasn¡¯t moved from their position. The other men idly stood by¡ªguns at aim but none were shooting. Melissa found that very suspicious. Normally they would have just shot a Kryo already but for some reason they were holding back. They wanted a Kryo alive.


    The man, tired of Ivan¡¯s vain attempt, used the base of his pistol to knock the boy on the ground. Ivan fell instantly, his face splashed on the mud. He tried getting up but the man kicked him on the ribs with his heavy boot, sending Ivan back on the ground. Still, Ivan tried.


    ¡°You want to die that bad, Kryo?¡± he spoke to Ivan as if Ivan wasn¡¯t human. ¡°Too bad we can¡¯t kill you just yet,¡± he said, ¡°Oh well, at least watch your girl die.¡± The armored man motioned on his comrades and two of them picked Ivan from the ground, holding his hands and shoulders.


    The previous man knelt down and grabbed Ivan¡¯s hair so he could look Ivan in the eyes.


    ¡°This one doesn¡¯t know how to use his powers,¡± he chuckled. He was able to tell because of the rain water that had been freezing on Ivan¡¯s body.


    Melissa put up a last fight, clawing on the man but she was easily shoved by his elbow and the redheaded girl fell on the mud.


    ¡°Alright. Enough time¡¯s wasted,¡± said the man.


    She picked Melissa up by the hair and made her kneel once more.


    ¡°No!¡± Ivan yelled and tried jerking his arms from the two soldiers.


    All of them¡ªthe government agents or so they claim themselves to be¡ªwere laughing at a helpless girl that was about to get killed. It was beyond cruelty.


    ¡°No!¡± Ivan yelled again.


    The man positioned his pistol directly behind Melissa¡¯s head. Ivan squirmed harder and harder, his eyes locking on the pistol, begging for it to have no bullets.


    Seconds later, no shot came. The man dropped the pistol on the ground and embraced his hand as if he had been shot albeit there was none. Melissa¡¯ wasn¡¯t armed. Ivan wasn¡¯t warmed.


    ¡°Argh!¡± the man groaned painfully. He took off the glove from his aching hand and revealed that it was a pale blue. His hand had frozen and kept on freezing. The undertone darkened until it was a mixture of grey and blue. The color of his nails faded and the outside of his skin had little coats of ice spreading.


    The man fell on the ground curled up and shivering. The rainwater that soaked him froze and then¡­ he wasn¡¯t moving. The soldiers that held Ivan in the hands met the same fate. They fell on the ground shivering for moments before suddenly stopping.


    What¡¯s left of the remaining soldiers that tried to approach them was killed in the same process as their previous comrades. Ivan wasn¡¯t moving. He was idle all the while everything happened. The mud underneath him had frozen and so was the rainwater that soaked him.


    Melissa looked around to the bodies of curled-up soldiers and then she forced herself up.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡± Melissa limped carefully.


    Ivan clocked his head toward Melissa. The pupil of his eyes were white. And then it returned to normal.


    ¡°The men¡­¡± Ivan said. ¡°They started dying¡­¡± he swallowed. He tried moving from his spot but he was rooted in the frozen mud.


    Melissa bent down and placed Ivan¡¯s arm around her neck. She helped him up, breaking the ice of mud.


    ¡°Well done, Kryo,¡± Melissa praised with a smile. ¡°You saved us.¡±


    Ivan was in disbelief. ¡°N-no¡­¡± he denied, ¡°I didn¡¯t do any of this¡­¡±


    ¡°Then you expect that I did?¡± Melissa chortled. ¡°You were really cool earlier¡­literally.¡±


    Ivan wasn¡¯t catching up. For all he knew, these men were dead. He killed them and yet Melissa talks about it as if it were some great thing. She praised Ivan as if they just won a tournament.


    ¡°No, Melissa¡­don¡¯t you get it?¡± Ivan covered his mouth with a hand. ¡°They¡¯re dead! Why do you talk about it like it¡¯s just nothing?¡±


    Melissa understood. She remembered that Ivan wasn¡¯t like her. Ivan was just a student. Although Ivan was a Kryo, he had more humanity than Melissa.


    ¡°Ivan, if you hadn¡¯t done it, we would have died,¡± Melissa delivered her point. Killing was wrong no matter the situation but she tried shining some light into it.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even know I was doing it¡­¡± Ivan¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°I was just hoping for a miracle that he wouldn¡¯t pull the trigger and¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡± Melissa interjected calmly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I had to put you through that. I promise I won¡¯t let it happen again, okay? Just try and forget that this happened. You¡¯re getting cold¡­colder.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Ivan looked down and caught sight of Melissa¡¯s leg. ¡°Your leg,¡± Ivan reversed the situation. Melissa had been assisting him to stand up when it was her needing of assistance. Immediately, Ivan wrapped one of Melissa¡¯s arms around his neck and helped her sit by a tree.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡± Melissa said, ¡°It went numb earlier.¡±


    ¡°We need to get you to a hospital,¡± Ivan said.


    ¡°Sure, sure but first,¡± Melissa adjusted her back lying on the trunk. ¡°You need to discharge your cold. I could feel it emanating from you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how¡­¡± Ivan said.


    Melissa looked around and pointed to a nearby tree. ¡°Just touch that tree over there and think real hard. You may not get the gist of it the first time but accidentally, you¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Ivan went to the tree and touched his hand. Thinking real hard, he tried to discharge his cold but nothing happened until he recalled how the men died. In an instant, he felt something surge out of him but nothing seemed to happen to the tree until its barks suddenly grew coats of ice.


    The tree was frozen inside. Kryo huh, Ivan thought. Just like he¡¯d frozen the tree from the inside, he thought about the men that had the same fate. Freezing their blood, their bones and their guts¡­ it was the cruelest thing he did. And he didn¡¯t want to do it again.

 Chapter Three

    They were in the hospital. After Ivan discharged his cold, they went on with their journey. Ivan assisted Melissa to walk until they found a road where they waited for a kind stranger to drive them to the hospital. It didn¡¯t take long. Two kids covered in mud, one with an injured leg, even a neutral citizen would help them out. And one did.


    Ivan sat on the lounge, staring at his hands dried with blood and mud. The nurses handed him a towel which helped little in cleaning him up. Nevertheless he used it to wipe himself dry. The scenario was fresh inside his mind. His eyes were open yet the images of armored men curling on the ground were vivid like daydreams.


    They had been frozen from the inside, Ivan thought. Their skins were bluish grey and looked rotten¡­curled up on the ground as if they were shriveled. What is to become of him now? Is Rhodes gonna put his face on the screen? No¡­Rhodes doesn¡¯t have any evidences. Even if there were, the rain would have washed it away. He didn¡¯t remember doing anything. He was just sitting as the men died¡­perhaps it wasn¡¯t his fault but then again, who was it Melissa and those men called a Kryo? Whatever that meant could be the only explanation how those men died.


    ¡°Calling Ivan Greene, please proceed to the nurse station on the first floor,¡± the speaker announced.


    Ivan sighed, pushing his face back with both hands. He refreshed himself a bit before getting up and walking to the nurse station which wasn¡¯t so far from the lounge.


    A slender woman in her forties¡¯ waited for him there. She had eyes and dark hair of the same palette as Ivan¡¯s only that her eyes were shadowed making her look perpetually stressed but everything else about her was well kept.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± she ran toward Ivan.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡± there was something that blocked Ivan¡¯s throat¡ªa poking feeling that made him want to cry but he held back. He didn¡¯t want his mother to see him cry.


    ¡°What have you gotten yourself into?¡± she embraced Ivan and cupped his face. She grimaced but didn¡¯t keep her hands off. Thereafter, she hugged Ivan again, careless of her son¡¯s filth. She was just glad that Ivan was alright. ¡°When the hospital called, I didn¡¯t know what to do¡­¡± she sniffled. ¡°I thought something bad happened to you. You¡¯re alright though, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, mom,¡± Ivan held his mother by the shoulders and gently pushed her off. ¡°I¡¯m cold¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll warm you up¡ª¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m cold and I don¡¯t want you to be cold either,¡± Ivan said lowly.


    Although his mother knew, she didn¡¯t let that hinder her from hugging her son. There were times when Ivan would get too cold as a child whenever he felt sad and lonely. His mother would always embrace him to sleep. She would wake up the morning after with a cold. Ivan knew which is why he denied physical affection from his mother as much as possible.


    His mother had him checked at different hospitals after the incident with his father. They went to every clinic and hospital in town but no doctor could explain Ivan¡¯s condition. There wasn¡¯t an anomaly in Ivan¡¯s physiology, according to the doctors although there obviously was. Anyone could tell from touching Ivan that his temperature wasn¡¯t natural anymore.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡± Ivan said after a while. He still wasn¡¯t sure if he should tell his mother about everything that happened¡­about what he did. ¡°My friend¡­she¡­¡±


    ¡°Melissa?¡± his mother¡¯s response startled him.


    Ivan was surprised. Not once he told his mother about Melissa. She wasn¡¯t so important to Ivan until just recently and he didn¡¯t recall his mother ever seeing Melissa before.


    ¡°How did you¡­?¡± Ivan trailed off, eyes wide open.


    ¡°Come¡­let¡¯s visit her,¡± Ivan¡¯s mother turned away, ¡°It¡¯s time I give you an explanation.


    Melissa was in the public ward. Her leg was wrapped in bandages without a cast so that could only mean her bone wasn¡¯t damaged. She still wore her light pink sweater which had dried with stains of crisping mud. Her lips were still pale from the blood loss, almost blending in with the tone of her once rosy face.


    Ivan and his mother approached and the moment they saw her, Ivan¡¯s mother acted in haste to embrace the redheaded girl as if they already knew each other.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°Mrs. Eva Greene,¡± Melissa said, placing a hand around Eva¡¯s back.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Melissa,¡± Eva apologized as if she was involved in the incident. Ivan could only watch as he waited for the promised explanation his mother mentioned earlier.


    Melissa chortled just to lighten up the mood. ¡°Occupational hazard in my line of work¡­it couldn¡¯t be helped,¡± she said.


    Eva munched her lips and nodded her head as if unsure whether to agree or not. Line of work, she thought¡­ poor girl. She masked a smile and pulled out a wheeled stool where she sat. Melissa patted an area beside her bed where Ivan could sit but the Kryo refused to settle while his mind had lots bothering it.


    ¡°You owe me an explanation,¡± she looked at Melissa and then to his mom. It was his nonverbal way of saying that his mother owed him just as much. He couldn¡¯t handle the transition of events that happened so far. He left school this morning thinking it was just another boring day¡ªthat it was just gonna end same old until graduation but now¡­he wasn¡¯t even sure if graduating was possible.


    People died. He killed them out of his own awareness. That wasn¡¯t part of his expectations when he ate breakfast or dozed off in history class. And as much as he knew, he was some sort of inhuman called a Kryo which Rhodes wanted kidnap. There was a powerful man after him and with what Melissa told him so far, the man¡¯s intention is to kill Ivan and others like him.


    Melissa fiddled her fingers as her eyes went from Ivan to Eva alternatively as though asking if she should be the one to explain. She opened her mouth to speak but found a hand¡ªEva¡¯s hand¡ªresting on her forearm.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to a safe place, Ivan,¡± Eva said, ¡°I¡¯m sure Melissa already told you.¡±


    ¡°She told me alright,¡± Ivan¡¯s tone was sarcastic, ¡°She told me we¡¯re going somewhere safe just like you telling me now but where is that place? And what is it like? Mom, do I have to go to this place? Did you even ask me¡ªwhy do you know this and didn¡¯t say anything about it before?¡± Ivan was frantic but mostly he was just scared. He was scared not just because some man was after him¡­he was scared of what he was. He didn¡¯t want to accept the reality that he was different. Just until this morning, he was just a kid that bade his mother farewell and suddenly he becomes this¡­this¡­Kryo. To hell with that, Ivan thought.


    Eva went out of her seat and walked toward Ivan. She held her son by the shoulders and guided him to sit at the foot of Melissa¡¯s bed. She hugged Ivan but the stubborn boy tried to get away, afraid of freezing his mother.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, my big boy,¡± his mother¡¯s voice was shaky. She wasn¡¯t cold¡­she just tried to keep her voice in control at the verge of weeping.


    Ivan sniffled, embarrassed by his mother¡¯s affection especially in front of Melissa. He tried moving away but his mother kept her arms taut around him. And he just surrendered to his mother¡¯s hug. At this point, it was obvious that he was going away with Melissa. There was no guarantee that he¡¯s going to see his mother again so he stopped pushing his her away.


    ¡°If you want to cry, just cry,¡± Eva said, rubbing the back of her son but Ivan didn¡¯t cry. He just couldn¡¯t¡­not in front of somebody.


    Eva began explaining. ¡°Eight years ago, I came across Dr. Loftis. He¡¯s the head of a quasigovernmental facility that housed special people like you. When he heard about my descriptions, he told me to bring you there immediately,¡± she paused to swallow a heavy lump inside her throat and placed a hand on Ivan¡¯s cheek as though recalling the memory brought back those bitter feelings. She continued, ¡°He briefed me of course¡­told me about a government rogue that kidnapped special people but I couldn¡¯t let go of my only child. I told Dr. Loftis I¡¯d send you there when you were eighteen. Melissa was no coincidence¡­I was merely extending the time I had left with you but¡­ Rhodes happened and I can¡¯t let him happen again. You need to go with Melissa, do you hear me?¡±


    Ivan took a moment to absorb it all in. He didn¡¯t like what he was much less accept it but he did wanted to know more about himself and to gain control of his ability for the sole purpose of getting rid of it. If he knew how to control his power, he could control it so as it doesn¡¯t manifest itself and he could live a normal life.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡± Ivan¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°Won¡¯t I ever see you again?¡± In the end, he was still a boy. He was still the boy that relied on his mother. He was still the boy that hid behind her whenever his abusive father would come home drunk and destructive. Even though his father died ten years ago, the mark of his abuse haunted Ivan as he grew up. There were nights he would still see his father and he would always shout his mother¡¯s name and then everything would be alright. Without his mother¡­he wouldn¡¯t be able to survive those nights.


    Eva didn¡¯t reply and it only meant that they might never see each other again but she did tell Ivan that they would¡ªa lie or a foresight preferably. There were things Dr. Loftis told Eva that were heartbreaking however that was eight years ago. Things might have changed since then. Perhaps their research progressed.


    ¡°If I wanted to see you again¡­¡± Ivan trailed off, ¡°and they won¡¯t let me, then aren¡¯t they just the same as Rhodes?¡±


    Eva smiled despite the tears that were forming in her eyes. ¡°Even after all these years, you still sound like my little boy,¡± she held her cry but failed and it went out as weeping gasps. ¡°You need to grow out of me. I won¡¯t always be there for you but I will always be with you.¡±


    Hearing that, Ivan¡¯s arms enclosed her mother and he embraced her for the longest time knowing it would be their last. Thereafter, he broke away and looked at Melissa.


    ¡°What would they do to me there?¡± he asked.


    Melissa smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll keep you safe.¡±


    Ivan opened his mouth to say something but stopped. He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck as he weighed the options inside his mind whether to do it or not but finally, he reached out a hand to Melissa.


    ¡°Promise?¡± he couldn¡¯t look Melissa¡¯s direction as if he was embarrassed by what he was doing.


    Melissa looked at Ivan¡¯s hand¡ªscraped and dirty. She recalled how Ivan saved her despite him knowing so little about the situation. She grabbed it, feeling the coldness transfer to her and shook it once. ¡°I promise,¡± she said.