《Split Horizon》 CHAPTER 1: PROVE YOURSELF OR BE FORGOTTEN This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Chapter 2: Midnight Awakening The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Chapter 3: Unexpected Visitor Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Chapter 4: A Door Opens Theo took a step, and the world blurred. His foot barely touched the ground before his body rocketed forward, the surroundings snapping past in an instant. He had no time to react before his momentum sent him hurtling straight toward the wall. His instincts kicked in, and he slammed his foot down, but the force was too much. The ground cracked beneath him as he fought to stop. His body jerked back as if his head had hit an invisible barrier. A shockwave shot through his legs and body, but he barely felt it. A heavy silence filled the air. James and Alyssa stood frozen, eyes wide as they took in the spiderwebbed cracks in the cement flooring. Their expressions shifted from surprise to something more intense, a mix of awe and disbelief. ¡®What the hell was that?¡¯ James finally blurted. ¡®First, you rip a door off the hinges, and now what, you¡¯re also super fast?¡¯ Alyssa¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡®No one has multiple abilities.¡¯¡¯ Theo exhaled sharply, shaking out the lingering tension in his legs. ¡°Yeah? Well, I don¡¯t exactly have a manual for this. Do you have a manual for your power, or some guide, or a voice?¡± James let out a laugh. ¡°No, I wish. No one has anything like that.¡± Theo stood silently, processing the fact that ECHO talking to him was far from normal. James whistled low. ¡°Man, all the factions are going to want you to join them. You¡¯re breaking all the rules with multiple abilities like this.¡± He smirked, but there was an edge to his voice, as if he wasn¡¯t entirely sure what to make of this. Theo sighed, glancing at the floor where his strength had left its mark. ¡°Great. As if walking wasn¡¯t already hard enough.¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°We need to get you out of here before things get more..complicated. You can¡¯t stay here, and we¡¯re not exactly equipped to handle whatever''s going on with you. Let¡¯s go.¡± James stepped closer to Theo, offering a hand to help him stand. ¡°You are coming with us, right? You¡¯re gonna need to learn how to control that mess before it becomes a bigger problem.¡¯ If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Theo nodded, still feeling the weight of the situation. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m coming, but I don¡¯t really know how I''m supposed to walk like this.¡± Alyssa pulled a small cube out her small pack on her hip. ¡°Well It¡¯s a good thing I always carry these with me.¡± Out of the cube a pair of hover boots appeared, ¡°you can borrow them tell we get to the training facility.¡± Theo put them on, this was his first time ever wearing these. They were mainly used by spies and assassins to make them move around silently. ¡°I don''t know how to use these,¡± Theo explained. Alyssa and James stood next to Theo. James looked at Alyssa and then at Theo and jokingly said ¡°Man you can''t do anything on your own, You just need to lean in the direction you want to go but you still need to balance yourself. For the time being just hold onto our shoulders while we walk and you get used to them.¡± The three of them headed towards the exit. As they reached the stairway, Alyssa looked back. Her eyes widened, and she quickly motioned for James to look. James turned just in time to see the floor. The cracks spread out from where Theo had slammed his foot down, the cement splintering and breaking apart, creating a jagged hole. They both stared as the void beneath them became visible, revealing the floor below them they were on the second floor. Alyssa¡¯s voice was tense. ¡°We really need to move, now.¡± They headed down the stairwell, out into the dimly lit streets, They began to head in the direction of their car when they noticed some vehicles heading in their direction, The hover cars themselves flashing red, blue, and white. Alyssa sighed ¡°I was hoping know one would call the Zenith corps enforcers. Hurry head down the alleyway.¡± They hid behind some trash cans as the Corps hurried into the building. James excitedly said ¡°man this is interesting but we need to go.¡± They all headed out of the alleyway down the street, running with Theo holding onto their shoulders, Just before turning the corner the Corps came out of the building. ¡°Hey, you 3, Stop running we need to ask you some questions.¡± They did not stop, they turned the corner, The car was right there. Alyssa beeped the doors open and James shoved Theo into the back seat. ¡°Hey man, it¡¯s all going to be alright¡± James said as he could tell something was on Theo¡¯s mind. ¡±Are you sure about that James? The enforcement team is looking for us now.¡± Theo said nervously. Alyssa turned her head and made eye contact with Theo ¡°They didn''t see us, That apartment complex is in the slums, no one has cameras, and there are no cameras on the streets. They have no way of....¡± James interrupted her ¡°So Theo, How does it feel?¡± Theo had a puzzled look on his face ¡°how does what feel? Being a criminal¡± James turned to him for the front seat. ¡°Having power dumb ass¡± Theo Shrugged ¡°Honestly, I don''t know, I need to learn how to use it properly.¡± Theo looked around at the interior of the hover car, it was sleek and high-tech, with smooth black seats and a dashboard that glowed with holographic displays. He thought about how the transition from parked to driving was seamless¡ªno jolts, no vibrations, just smooth acceleration. Alyssa yelled. ¡°They decided to follow us! Hold on!¡± She slammed the leavers that controlled the hover car. Launching the vehicle forward. Chapter 5: The pursuit. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Chapter 6: Haze of Authority his strength, sharpened his senses, made his reflexes faster. But there was more. He could feel it pulsing beneath the surface, just out of reach. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. He clenched his fists, trying to calm the fluttering anxiety in his chest. He had to be ready. He wasn¡¯t like the others with obvious powers¡ªthis whole ECHO thing was still a mystery, and he couldn¡¯t afford to fail. Chapter 7: Unclassified The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Chapter 8: Fragmented Harmony James straightened, a grin spreading across his face. His eyes gleamed with excitement, his posture shifting into something predatory. ¡°Finally,¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Chapter 9: Breaking Point feint, Theo twisted to dodge, but Jameswas able to anticipate it, driving a vicious knee into Theo¡¯s ribs. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He sidestepped at the last second. The punch barely missed, whistling past his face. The sheer force of it stirred the air, sending a chill down his spine. Chapter 10: Voided dream. The world was hazy, like a fog creeping in from every direction. Theo floated, weightless and adrift, surrounded by nothing but an endless sea of blackmist. Similar but different than when he awakened his power. Right now his body felt alien to him, as if it was detached, like he was still outside himself and yet deep within himself. He couldn¡¯t feel his limbs, couldn¡¯t hear his breath. It was as if he were a phantom, suspended in an empty space with no anchor. A strange, heavy sensation settled in his chest. His head was spinning, his mind struggling to grasp something, anything, to steady him. But there was nothing. Just emptiness. Then, a faint whisper cut through the fog. ¡°Theo¡­¡± His name. Soft, almost a breath, but clear enough to pierce the fog. He tried to move, but his body wouldn¡¯t respond. No matter how hard he willed it, he stayed trapped, a passive observer in his own mind. The voice was familiar, yet distant. It felt like a lifeline¡ªsomething tethering him to reality. But he couldn¡¯t place it. ¡°Theo¡­¡± The voice came again, this time with a tinge of urgency, and Theo felt something in his chest stir. A flicker of recognition. ¡°ECHO?¡± He forced himself to focus, to break through the haze. It was so hard. His mind was like a fog, sluggish and slow. But he tried, reaching for the sound, the voice¡ªanything. As he stretched out mentally, the fog around him began shifting, twisting like smoke. He could feel it now¡ªa pull. It was faint, like a distant current, guiding him forward. He wasn¡¯t sure where it led, but it was the only thing that seemed real. A ripple of frustration surged in him. He needed to move, to follow. But his body wouldn¡¯t obey. His mind was an anchor, pulling him back. Then, a sudden sensation and voice. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Your Bio-Energy is critically low.¡± The voice was clearer now, more defined, but like a warning. It sounded like ECHO, but something was different. He tried to call out, to ask questions. But no words came. He strained to make sense of it. His thoughts felt like they were swimming through mud, every attempt to focus slipping through his fingers. Then, a sudden rush. A sense of deep, empty coldness washed over him. His chest constricted. His power¡ªhis Bio-Energy¡ªhe couldn¡¯t feel it. It was gone. No, not gone. It was there, but so faint, so weak. Like a faucet that had been left slightly open, a trickle of water. Not the roaring river he felt before. He could almost sense it, a thread, a faint pulse, but it was like trying to grasp at the last wisp of smoke. ¡°What happened?¡± His mind was bombarded with the remnants of the fight¡ªthe unbearable weight of exhaustion. His body. The impact. His energy¡­ the strain. ¡°You expended all of your Bio-Energy.¡± The voice, more insistent now, resonated with truth. The current guiding him faltered. He couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. A flood of images rushed through him. Pain. The strike. The crack of the floor. James flying backward. Blood. His own collapse. Then, the sensation of falling. Not physically, but mentally. The ground beneath him was crumbling, dissolving into darkness. The voice¡ªECHO¡ªfaded, distant again. Then, a sharp jolt. Theo gasped, and his eyes snapped open. He was laying on a bed so comfortable, the ceiling had a beautiful painting of ruined city overgrown by plants. Reality swam back into focus, but everything felt¡­ off. Heavy. Distant. His muscles screamed as he tried to move, but his body felt sluggish, unresponsive. Weak. He tried to push himself up, but his limbs barely obeyed. A surge of panic flooded him as his mind cleared. He had to register. The government registration! Did he miss it? ¡°You are at 1/8th of your Bio-Energy capacity. Your current state is critically low.¡± ECHO¡¯s voice was there. Almost like a warning. It hit him like a brick. His breathing quickened. He looked around the room and seen Alyssa sitting there. In a panic he said ¡°the test, I have to register.¡± ¡°You were unconscious for five days Theo. Your registration was processed with the government so don¡¯t worry. They are awaiting for you to physical go there, they want to run their own test and give you the holowatch.¡± Theo¡¯s heart raced as the weight of the situation settled on him. Five days. He¡¯d been out for five days, and still, the world felt distant. His body felt wrong. Was this it? Was this how it was going to be from now on? He tried to move again, but the effort was draining. Every motion felt like wading through quicksand. He was only just beginning to understand the enormity of what had happened. That hit, the sheer force of it¡ªhe hadn¡¯t just used his strength; he¡¯d used it all. He had nothing left. ¡°Alyssa¡­¡± he gasped, voice hoarse. ¡°Where¡¯s James? Is he okay?¡± Chapter 11: The weight of power. Her gaze softened, but there was a flicker of something behind her eyes, a tension that didn¡¯t quite fade. She took a slow breath before speaking, each word carefully chosen. ¡°James is¡­ okay now. He was hurt badly.¡± Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, and she paused, visibly struggling to continue. ¡°He has a broken sternum, every single one of his ribs shattered, his pelvis and shoulder were, idk how to explain it, but like they exploded from the inside. There was massive internal bleeding. Several organs were ruptured.¡± She swallowed hard. ¡°We didn¡¯t know if he was going to make it. It was touch and go for a while¡­¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Chapter 12: Theo’s Journal Entry #1 how close I was to running out, Maybe that will come when I get more harmonized and control over this power? But how do I even do that???? Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. James paid for that. Chapter 13: The Weight of Power part 2. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Chapter 14: Fractured Control Theo pushed himself upright, the lingering ache in his muscles a dull throb beneath his skin. His body still felt drained, but something had shifted. His energy¡ªhis Bio-Energy¡ªwas returning, bit by bit. Maybe around 15%. He could feel it, a faint hum inside him. Sluggish, unsteady, but there. When he stepped forward, his body moved faster than he intended. It wasn¡¯t as fast, not yet¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t normal either. His walking pace matched a runner¡¯s stride, forcing him to correct himself before he overshot his balance. Still too fast. Theo exhaled slowly, adjusting, forcing himself to think before each step. Then, the door hissed open. A familiar figure stepped in¡ªthe woman with the glasses. The one who had tested him before his registration. She hesitated for a moment when she saw him standing. He could tell from the slight widening of her eyes that she hadn¡¯t expected him to be awake, let alone on his feet. Her fingers flicked across the holographic interface of her holowatch before she spoke. ¡°You should still be unconscious.¡± Theo watched her carefully, noting how she kept a neutral expression, though there was an edge of curiosity in her voice. ¡°Guess I didn¡¯t get the memo,¡± he muttered, stretching out his arms. His movements were still sluggish, but he could feel them sharpening, aligning. She adjusted her glasses, clearly analyzing him before speaking again. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Your vitals were¡­ non-existent. No life force detected for over twenty-four hours.¡± Theo felt his chest tighten slightly. He already knew what she was going to say, but hearing it aloud made it real. He met her gaze. ¡°And yet, I¡¯m still here.¡± She pursed her lips, then swiped her fingers across her holowatch, pulling up a holographic display. His vitals. LIFE FORCE LEVEL: 18% Theo¡¯s eyes flicked over the reading. 18%. It was close to what he had felt¡ªmaybe 15% . Which meant their technology was reading his energy. He began to think if his energy power, Bio Energy. Was that his life force? What did it mean, He could feel the energy inside him but he thought it was less then 18%. Was their technology wrong or was his senses and sensing his own power just off. She studied him again, then spoke, slower this time. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. Your energy readings¡ªwhat we assume is life force¡ªit¡¯s growing, but not like a normal recovery. More like¡­ a recharging.¡± Theo clenched his jaw. She was seeing it, too. His fingers curled into a fist. They weren¡¯t reading life force at all. He exhaled sharply, then met her gaze. ¡°And you¡¯re sure it¡¯s life force you¡¯re reading?¡± She paused for the first time. A hesitation. But Theo caught it immediately. She wasn¡¯t sure but before she could answer, Theo shifted his stance¡ªand moved. In an instant, he overshot his step, his body reacting before he fully processed the movement. His foot slammed against the floor harder than intended, his momentum almost carrying him past the bed. He stopped himself at the last second, gripping the bedside rail for balance. His breathing was steady, but his control wasn¡¯t. The analyst took a half-step back, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Your movements¡­¡± she started, adjusting her glasses but Theo ignored her. He had something more important to deal with. ¡°Where¡¯s James?¡± The analyst blinked. ¡°He¡¯s stable, but¡ª¡± Theo didn¡¯t wait for the rest. He pushed past her, his strides longer than expected, his body still moving at a pace faster than he intended. It wasn¡¯t a sprint, but it was close. ¡°Wait,¡± she called after him. ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea.¡± Theo barely heard her as he reached the door and stepped through. His body still felt wrong, like his reactions were a fraction ahead of his thoughts. But he adjusted, controlled it as best he could. He needed answers. And he was going to get them. Theo stopped outside the medical bay, gripping the doorframe as he steadied himself. He looked through the observation window and saw James. James was alive, his body floating in the healing chamber.But he didn¡¯t look the same, his skin was pale, his chest rising and falling steadily, but something about him seemed off. Theo¡¯s heart started pounding, his eyes glossed over. ¡°What the hell happened to you, What did I do to you?¡± Chapter 15: What Have I Done? If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I can¡¯t give you a ride myself, but I¡¯ll call a HoverCab for you. You¡¯ll be fine. And if you change your mind about Horizon, you know where to find us.¡± He looked over at James in the healing chamber, But after a moment, he nodded, and muttering a quiet, ¡°Thanks.¡±