Written & Created By: Eddie Yagami
*Readers Discretion Is Advised*
The sun streamed through the windows of Mac's temporary room at Santera Medical HQ, bathing the space in warm morning light. Mac blinked groggily as he sat up, stretching his limbs after a good night's rest.
A memory flickered through his mind—a memory from about a week ago, when he had first fully heard Alpha's voice in his mind, as he was taken by surprise.
He had been lying on a hospital bed, barely conscious after the intense battle with The Creature of The Darkness. Crispin, Samantha, and Mr. Lou had been nearby, speaking in low, concerned voices. That's when it happened—like a surge of energy breaking through his muddled thoughts.
Mac winced, clutching his head as a voice suddenly rang clear inside his mind, deep and unfamiliar yet oddly soothing. "Easy there, Chandler. I know this is overwhelming, but I need you to listen." Mac's eyes widened, darting around the room, expecting to see someone new. But the others didn't react; they continued their hushed conversation, oblivious to the voice that reverberated through his mind.
"What... who said that?" Mac had whispered hoarsely, but all he got in response was a concerned look from his parents. Crispin stepped closer, placing a hand on Mac's shoulder. "It's okay, son, just rest. We're here."
But Mac's focus was entirely on the voice that spoke again, clearer this time. "Relax. They can't hear me, only you can. Focus on my voice, Chandler. You're not alone anymore."
Mac laid back down and quickly fell asleep once again, his parents and Mr. Lou watching over him as he continues to recover, but inside his mind, there's a completely different scenario taking place.
Mac awakens again, but this time his surroundings are different as it seems that he's laying in an endless puddle of water. Mac slowly gets up and scans his surroundings, wondering.... "What is this place?"
Then a voice calls out from behind him and Mac instinctively reacts by turning around and throwing a punch, but much to his surprise.... It's blocked, or rather, his fist is caught by a hand. At first, he doesn't see who the hand belongs to, but after focusing a bit, he sees a familiar face.... It's JR, although something was a bit different cause his eyes were like a bright gold color, "James? Is that you?"
Mac was confused, but then JR, or whoever the copy of JR was, spoke.... "Hello Chandler, let me introduce myself....", but before he could finish, Mac chimed in. "Let me guess, you're Alpha," Mac said, the clone of JR stood there, not surprised by how quickly Mac was able to figure out who he was.
"What gave me away?" Alpha was curious, seeing as they have never met face to face until now. "Easy, James can't block for shit," Alpha starred at Mac for a moment, then began to laugh. That was the very first interaction they both had with each other and somehow, they knew that they would get along very easily.
The memory faded as Mac returned to the present, now fully aware that the voice he had heard belonged to Alpha. It had been the beginning of their strange and constant connection—one that no one else could share, not even Mr. Lou with all his wisdom.
Now, Alpha's voice was a daily part of his life, offering guidance, making sarcastic remarks, and helping him navigate the power that had awakened within him.
Mac dressed quickly, putting on his training clothes before heading downstairs where Mr. Lou waited in the large, empty training hall. Mr. Lou stood with his arms crossed, his expression as stoic as ever, but there was a subtle glint in his eye that Mac had come to recognize as approval.
"You're late, Chandler," Mr. Lou said, though there was no real edge to his voice. Mac shrugged. "You know me, always making an entrance." Mr. Lou just shook his head, gesturing for Mac to join him in the center of the room.
"Today, we focus on controlling your energy flow. You've made progress, but you're still fighting against the current. You need to let it guide you, not the other way around."
Mac mirrored the stance, his muscles tensing in preparation. He focused on the flow of energy that Alpha had been guiding him to harness. He could feel it now—pulsing just beneath his skin, like a second heartbeat.
Alpha's voice cut in with a wry comment, "Remember, Chandler, he's not going to go easy on you just because you're his student. Keep up, or you'll be eating the floor."
Mac smirked at the mental remark. "Yeah, yeah, I got this." And then, without warning, Mr. Lou lunged forward, his movements precise and blindingly fast. Mac barely had time to react, deflecting a series of rapid strikes with his forearms. He twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding a sweeping kick aimed at his legs.
The clash of their sparring echoed through the hall, each impact reverberating off the walls. Nearby, Crispin and Samantha were in Crispin's office as they were talking about company profits, when all the noise from the sparring match distracted them for a moment, "Those two are at it again," Crispin sighed. "I just hope that Chandler is doing alright," said Crispin.
Mac fought to keep up, channeling the energy through his limbs as Alpha had taught him. For a moment, it was like everything clicked into place—the power flowed seamlessly, guiding his movements with an almost unnatural grace.
He parried Mr. Lou's next strike and retaliated with a swift kick that nearly connected, forcing Mr. Lou to step back. "Better, Chandler," Mr. Lou remarked, his eyes narrowing as he assessed Mac's form. "You're not hesitating as much. But don't rely on the power alone. Use your instincts."
Mac gritted his teeth, focusing even harder. He could feel the energy thrumming through his veins, almost singing in response to his will. He advanced on Mr. Lou, unleashing a series of strikes that blended his martial arts training with the newfound power coursing through him. Each movement came with a sharp precision, a speed that was just slightly beyond what he had been capable of before.
But as the sparring continued, Mr. Lou's expression shifted from focused to something more curious. He paused mid-strike, stepping back, his gaze fixed on Mac's face. "Chandler, your eyes..."
Mac faltered, confused by the interruption, and in that split second, Mr. Lou swept his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the mat. Mac landed with a grunt, but he barely registered the impact. "What about my eyes?" he muttered, pushing himself back up.
Mr. Lou's expression remained unreadable, but his voice was softer, almost contemplative. "When you're channeling that energy... your eyes, they change. It's subtle, but I can see it. The silver shifts to a gold-like hue."
Mac blinked, feeling his heartbeat quicken as he processed the words. "Gold? What does that mean?" Alpha chimes in, "It means that we're starting to become compatible and that your body and mind are no longer in danger. Once you're able to control some aspects of my power, then your eyes will glow gold." Mac was both in disbelief and amazed, he couldn't wait until he had better control of Alpha.
Unaware that Alpha had already given Mac an answer, Mr. Lou didn't say anything immediately, but his gaze was lingering on Mac's face as if searching for something.
"It means you're becoming more attuned to Alpha's power. It's a sign of your connection deepening between you and Alpha, which is good."
Mr. Lou stood there thinking to himself, "He's progressing much faster than I anticipated. He might end up having full control of Alpha's power in a matter of months."
Mac swallowed hard, glancing down at his hands. He concentrated, willing the energy to flow once more, and for a moment, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the polished floor—his eyes glowing faintly with that golden hue, like embers burning just beneath the surface. It sent a shiver down his spine, a reminder of how much had changed.
But there was no time to dwell on it. Mr. Lou dropped back into his stance, his expression hardening once more. "Now, Chandler, show me that you can control it. Let's go again."
Mac nodded, steeling himself as he prepared for the next round. He could feel Alpha's presence urging him on, a silent confidence that pushed him to his feet. And as he squared off against Mr. Lou once more, he felt a surge of determination. This power was his—he just had to prove he could wield it.
While Mac's world was filled with training and newfound strength, life at Santera Private High School continued as usual for JR and Lucky.
They kept up the pretense that everything was normal, though the absence of their best friend weighed heavily on both of them. During lunch one day, JR leaned back in his chair, poking at his food with a bored expression as Lucky scribbled in her notebook.
"You know," JR said, glancing around the cafeteria, "it's weird not having Chandler here to stir things up. Feels... quiet." Lucky looked up, her brow furrowing slightly as she nodded.
"Yeah, I miss having him around. I can't believe he's been sick for the last 2 weeks, must be really bad." JR was thinking in the back of his mind, "If only you knew the truth."
"Have you heard from him or his parents?" Lucky asked, concern in her voice. JR had been keeping her in the dark about what was actually going on with Mac, only to protect her from the potential dangers, but it was weighing heavily on his mind.
"Yeah, I called his mom the other day and she told me that he's getting better, but he should be back soon," Lucky was relieved to hear that, but she still felt that something was off.... Mac hardly ever got sick and when he did, it never lasted this long.
As they were just about to finish their lunch, JR noticed Stephanie Connors, the student council president, making her way toward them with her usual confident stride.
He groaned, leaning closer to Lucky. "Oh no, here comes trouble. Bet she's going to ask about Chandler again." Lucky turned around, saw who it was and let out a dissatisfied sigh.
Stephanie stopped in front of their table, crossing her arms as she eyed the two of them with her bright red gaze. "James, Lucille, do either of you know where Chandler has been? He's missed an entire 2 weeks of school, and that's not like him, even if he does have a habit of leaving classes early to avoid his... fan club."
Her tone held a hint of irritation, as if she was well aware of Mac's attempts to slip away from the attention. JR flashed a wide, mischievous grin, leaning back in his chair. "Relax, Prez. Chandler's just on a... spiritual journey. You know, finding his inner peace and all that Zen stuff."
Stephanie's brow arched in a way that made it clear she wasn't buying his explanation. "Zen? Seriously, James?" Lucky jumped in, trying to smooth things over. "He's just been out sick, Stephanie. It's nothing to worry about. He'll be back soon, don't listen to James and his antics."
Stephanie studied them both for a moment, as if weighing their words. After a beat, she sighed, her expression softening slightly. "Just... let him know that if he needs anything, he can talk to me, okay?"
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving JR to let out a relieved breath. "Phew, close one. She's like a bloodhound when it comes to school stuff."
Lucky looked at JR, she was not happy to say the least, "Whoa! Easy Lucille, I was just trying to lighten the mood." Lucky just shook her head in disappointment. Then, soon after, the school bell rang and it was time for their next classes. They each said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
Elsewhere in the school, Stephanie had returned to the student council room to relax, it was her study hall period although she normally used it to catch up on student council duties. She had a concerned look on her face, her inner thoughts were racing as she let out a heavy sigh, "Oh, Chandler.... I miss you, but I guess I can't help that you're sick."
Stephanie extended her hand into the air as she imagined Mac's face. What is her connection to Mac and what is her fascination with him that she's this interested in Mac's well-being.
As the week comes to an end, we see Mac in his room at Santera Medical HQ resting and reflecting on everything he's learned from the past week. Alpha noticed how deep in thought Mac was, "What's on your mind Chandler?", asked Alpha
Mac shook his head. "I'm just thinking of the future, I guess. Besides having to deal with The Order and The Darkness, now I have to deal with living my everyday life with you in my head."
Alpha chuckled for a moment, "That's what you're worried about?" Mac wasn't amused that Alpha found that funny, "What are you laughing at? It's not like I'll be able to talk to you when I'm surrounded by people," then Alpha came up with a devious idea that he would save for a later time.
"Listen Chandler, in the 2 weeks that we've known each other, there's one trait that you have, that I can say for certain, you're good at," Mac was intrigued, "It's adaptability," said Alpha.
With that, Mac's confidence was reinvigorated and the worry quickly wore off as he now looked to a future without any doubts. As Mac prepared to go back to school, he wondered what's in store for him and his friends and family, especially now that he has Alpha, what dangers will he encounter next.
Across the state, in a city that's a few hundred miles away from our hero, in a shadowed office filled with relics, ancient maps, and the scent of old paper, Kassandra de Santo Domingo sat behind her large oak desk.
The room was lit by a warm, golden glow from antique lamps that highlighted the intricate carvings on the bookshelves, casting long shadows across the space. Despite the elegance of her surroundings, there was a chill in the air that spoke of secrecy and power with a hint of evil.
Kassandra leaned back in her leather chair, her dark hair pulled into a sleek twist that revealed the sharp lines of her face. Her eyes, keen and calculating, flickered with a dangerous intensity as she studied a map laid out on the desk before her.
A map of the city of Austin was marked with various symbols and notes, but her focus lingered on a new addition, a pinpointed area where the pillar of light had cut through the night sky 3 weeks ago.
She traced a finger along the map, her thoughts filled with possibilities and plans. "So, my brother's mysterious power has finally awakened..." she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper in the quiet room.
The power that radiated from that pillar was unmistakable, and she knew it was connected to her brother, The Alchemist, who she had been hunting for centuries. Unaware of its potential, she needed more information to understand what this newfound power was before making her next move.
A sharp knock at the door interrupted her musings. Kassandra straightened, smoothing the front of her tailored dark dress before calling out, "Enter." The door creaked open, revealing a tall figure clad in a dark, finely tailored coat.
He stepped into the warm light, his pale skin and sharp features casting a stark contrast against the shadows. A silver ring glinted on his gloved hand, inscribed with The Order's emblem. This was Lorenzo de Navarra, known to everyone as The Ashen Reaper of Death, one of Kassandra's most trusted and deadly generals.
Lorenzo's eyes held a cold, calculating gaze as he inclined his head respectfully. "Mistress Kassandra, you summoned me?"
Kassandra's lips curled into a small, enigmatic smile as she looked up at him, her expression unreadable. "Yes, Lorenzo. It seems that the time has come for us to act. The light we witnessed—its power is not to be underestimated. I want you to gather information on its source. Find out everything you can about those involved, use any means necessary, but keep it discreet. We cannot afford any surprises."
Lorenzo's smile mirrored hers, but it lacked any warmth. His voice was smooth, almost soothing in its dangerous edge. "As you wish, Mistress. I will leave no stone unturned. If there is a secret to be uncovered, it will be in my hands soon enough."
He paused, his gaze shifting to the map on the desk. The pinpointed location seemed to draw his attention as it was very familiar to him, and for a moment, the shadow of something like curiosity crossed his face. "Do you believe this is the awakening we have been waiting for all these years?"
Kassandra's eyes gleamed with a predatory intensity as she rose from her chair, turning her back to Lorenzo to gaze out of the tall windows that overlooked the city. "It is more than just an awakening, Lorenzo. It is a potential threat... but also an opportunity. An opportunity we cannot afford to let slip away. We have been patient for centuries, but my brother has hidden this power for far too long now. It's our time now and I must take what is rightfully mine."
Her voice hardened, carrying an unspoken command as she continued. "Do not underestimate my brother's mysterious power. This could be the power that can tip the balance in ways we cannot yet foresee. Bring me what you find. We must be prepared for every eventuality."
Lorenzo nodded, turning on his heel with a fluid grace, his dark coat sweeping behind him as he moved back into the shadows. "I will not fail you, Mistress. The Alchemist's power and his secrets will soon be within our grasp." He slipped through the doorway, leaving Kassandra alone once more with her thoughts.
She returned to her desk, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood, a habit that revealed her simmering anticipation. "I have waited a long time for this. Let's see what you are truly capable of, if my brother's notes are true," she whispered to the empty room.
The golden light from the lamps flickered, casting strange shadows on the walls, as if the darkness itself was bending to her will. Kassandra's smile grew sharper, her mind already spinning with possibilities and contingencies.
The night deepened outside the windows, but in the quiet of her office, only the shadows dared to move—shadows that would soon stretch across the city, reaching for the secrets buried in the void that was left by The Alchemist all those years ago.
To Be Continued….