"Party tonight, Kelvin! It'll be wild, and Sarah will be there!" George, Kelvin's high school buddy, announced with a grin, shoving aside the books scattered across George's desk at his home.
Sarah was Kelvin's secret crush. Smart, beautiful, and popular with everyone, even some of the teachers. Her perfect grades made him admire her even more. But Sarah wasn't known for hanging out with guys who weren't well-off, and that worried Kelvin about the party.
"Ugh, parties aren't my thing," Kelvin mumbled, his voice laced with doubt.
Despite George's enthusiasm, Kelvin remained unconvinced. He slumped back in his chair, the weight of upcoming exams pressing down on him. Parties meant loud music, flashing lights, and way too many people everything Kelvin disliked.
"Come on, Kelvin, you can't miss this!" George pressed, leaning closer. "Trust me, it'll be epic. You'll thank me later."
"Fine, I'll consider it," Kelvin finally accepted, gathering his books. He followed George, a knot of nervousness tightening in his stomach. "Hopefully, it goes well. I don't want the rich kids to make fun of me, especially not Sarah," he confided to George.
***
The party was everything Kelvin worried it would be. Fancy cars lined the driveway, and clusters of people milled around, their laughter echoing through the night. Kelvin felt even more out of place here than he had imagined. Everywhere he looked, people were dressed in designer clothes, their voices filled with an easy confidence he didn't possess.
As Kelvin and George made their way through the throng, a young woman with cascading blonde hair suddenly whisked George away to the dance floor.
"Hey, George! Are you just gonna leave me here? All alone?" Kelvin called out, feeling a pang of abandonment.
"I'll be back, bro!" George shouted back, disappearing into the crowd.
Left on his own, Kelvin's shyness morphed into a cold dread. He scanned the room for a quiet corner.
As he retreated to a secluded spot near a curtained window, a strange tingling sensation spread through his fingertips. He looked down in surprise to see his hands sparkling faintly with an otherworldly light. Panic flooded him, cold and raw. His breath hitched in his throat, and a whimper escaped his lips.
"What's... what's happening to me?" Kelvin muttered to himself, his vision flickering with strange lights. Fear, primal and instinctive, coursed through him.
Fueled by a sudden surge of energy, Kelvin rose to his feet. His movements felt alien, jerky, and powerful at the same time. He stumbled towards the back of the building, a strange pull guiding his steps.
****
For five months, Sarah and Mark were inseparable. They shared lunches, secrets, and movie nights in the library. Sarah, outgoing and friendly, treated everyone kindly, even Mark, who was quiet and shy. But Mark had a huge crush on Sarah, admiring her infectious laugh and warmth.
He showed his feelings through gifts, a silver bracelet, a special book, and a painted picture frame. Sarah appreciated his generosity, though she thought he might be too generous for just friends.
At the school fundraiser, Mark planned to tell Sarah how he felt. He had a special table and a beautiful necklace. But when he saw Sarah smiling at someone else, jealousy hit him hard. He tried to confess his love, but Sarah gently turned him down, saying they were good friends.
Mark couldn't handle it. Months of unspoken love turned into anger. He accused Sarah of leading him on, his voice sharp and dangerous. Sarah tried to calm him, but he pushed her away. As he drew out a gun from his pocket and commanded her to get on her knees.
Kelvin's heart raced as he encountered the dangerous scene unfolding before him. The strange-looking guy held a gun, threatening Sarah, who knelt before him with defiance in her eyes.
"After all I did for you, Sarah," he spat, his voice laced with a bitterness that sent shivers down her spine. "Movie tickets, endless pizza nights, even that limited edition unicorn plushie you begged for! I spent my time, my money, my meals on you!"
He shoved a crumpled photo in her trembling hand. It was a picture of them at the fair, Sarah's face plastered with a fake smile as he won a giant, lopsided Garfield plush. The memory tasted sour on her tongue. "I told everyone about us," he continued, his voice dropping to a low growl, "about how much you meant to me."
Sarah swallowed, a lump forming in her throat. She had tried to be gentle, to let him down slowly, but his possessiveness had escalated into something menacing. "There's nothing between us, Mark," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Nothing?" He scoffed, a manic glint in his eyes. "Don't lie to me, Sarah! You can't just throw away months of my friendship like yesterday's garbage." He took a menacing step closer, the gun in his hand catching the dim light with an ominous gleam. "You're making a fool out of me, aren't you?"
Tears streamed down Sarah's face, blurring the image of the gun pointed at her. "Please, Mark. I'm sorry. I'll do whatever you want," she choked out, a desperate plea for reason.
A cruel smile twisted Mark's lips. "Too late, Sarah! You had your chance, and now you're gonna pay." He leveled the gun at her, his finger tightening on the trigger. "You'll see me in hell!"
A sudden, primal growl ripped through the silence. Before Mark could take caution, a figure materialized from the shadows behind Mark. Kelvin, his eyes blazing with a power he didn't yet understand, moved with an unnatural speed.
He slammed his fist into Mark's back, sending him sprawling into a nearby stack of rusty paint cans. The metallic clang echoed in the space as Mark scrambled to his feet, clutching his gun.
Panic flickered in his eyes for a brief moment before rage took over. He lunged at Kelvin, the gun swinging wildly in his grasp. Kelvin, fueled by a strange strength, easily sidestepped the attack, gripping Mark's wrist in a vice-like hold.
A gasp escaped Mark's lips as the gun clattered to the ground. Kelvin, with a single, swift motion, disarmed him, sending the weapon clattering across the grimy floor. He then used the same hand to slam the butt of his palm onto Mark's jaw.
The sickening thud of bone against bone resonated through the night. Mark crumpled like a rag doll, unconscious before he hit the concrete.
Kelvin stood there for a moment, chest heaving, heart pounding. He looked down at his hand, half-expecting it to be signed by some unseen force. But there was nothing, just his skin, slightly grazed from the fight.
He turned to Sarah, relief washing over him as he saw the terrified look replaced with gratitude. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse.