"As you know, Alex, the radiant light appeared eight days ago, and along with it, mysterious phenomena began appearing one after another. Many theories have been proposed, ranging from scientific to religious viewpoints," Mr. Reyes explained, his voice steady and calm.
Here I am, still inside the facility. We are gathered for an explanation about the phenomena emerging worldwide. There are five people here, including me, aside from Mr. Reyes.
The room is dimly lit, with a sterile, clinical atmosphere. The walls are adorned with various charts and screens displaying data, making it feel like we are in a high-tech lab.
"And I know you're wondering why you are being held here, but don't be afraid. We don't mean any harm; instead, we are here to help all of you," Mr. Reyes reassured us, his eyes scanning the room, meeting each of our gazes in turn.
"The world is rapidly changing beyond human understanding. As you've seen in the news, on the internet, and elsewhere, what's happening in our world right now is unexplainable. For us, too, it wasn't easy to accept, but we had to. There was no choice but to. Even we don't fully understand what's happening, but we already have a gist of it," he said, his voice carrying a weight of responsibility and urgency.
I looked around. Some of the people here are nervous, their hands trembling slightly or their eyes darting around the room. Others seem calm, their faces a mask of determination or curiosity. As for me, I don't know what to feel—fear, curiosity, confusion, maybe a mix of all three.
"Excuse me, sir," a girl raised her hand, her voice tentative.
"Yes, Ms. Mira? Do you have a question?" Mr. Reyes called on her, his tone encouraging.
"Uh—are we being invaded by aliens?" she asked, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity.
"You're half right. Well, to a certain point of view. I know all of you had already encountered the creatures that emerged from nowhere. Since they're not originally from our place, we could consider them alien to an extent," Mr. Reyes responded.
The room fell silent as we absorbed this information. The idea of being invaded by aliens, or something akin to aliens, was both terrifying and surreal.
"Now, let me explain what we know so far about these creatures and the phenomenon surrounding them," Mr. Reyes continued. "Our current theory is that these creatures are emerging through what we can only describe as 'gates.' These gates appear to be rifts or portals connecting our world to another dimension or reality. We believe that the radiant light somehow triggered the opening of these gates, allowing these beings to cross over into our world."
He paused, letting this information sink in before continuing. "We have observed that these gates are not random. They seem to appear in specific locations with high concentrations of a particular type of energy. We call this energy 'cosmic ethereal energy.' This energy is not something we fully understand yet, but it appears to have both physical and metaphysical properties. It can affect both matter and consciousness, which might explain why some of you have experienced unusual symptoms like body heating up and glowing eyes and veins."
One of the other people in the room, a young man with a skeptical look on his face, raised his hand. "So, you're saying this energy is responsible for everything that's been happening? How does that work exactly?"
Mr. Reyes nodded, acknowledging the question. "Yes, that's correct. The cosmic ethereal energy seems to have integrated into the human body's genetic makeup. Our studies have shown that those who experience the symptoms you mentioned have had their brain capacity usage increased drastically by about 40%. This increase in brain activity seems to unlock latent abilities within individuals, which can manifest as what we might call 'superpowers.'"
He continued, "The increase in brain capacity usage allows the brain to access parts of itself that are usually dormant. This heightened brain activity can result in enhanced physical abilities, heightened senses, and even the ability to manipulate the environment or energy around you. However, this comes with side effects, such as the glowing eyes and veins, which are visible signs of the energy coursing through your body."
I could see the room's occupants exchanging glances, a mix of awe and disbelief on their faces. The idea that we could have powers, that our brains could be unlocking new potential, was both exciting and terrifying.
"Another significant change we've observed is in the healing rate of 'special' people—those who have experienced these symptoms. These individuals recover from injuries and illnesses at a rate significantly faster than normal humans. Our theory is that the cosmic ethereal energy enhances the body's natural healing processes. It accelerates cell regeneration and repair, allowing wounds to heal quickly and efficiently."
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "This rapid healing is not without its limits, though. While it can heal physical injuries quickly, it doesn't necessarily make one invincible. Severe injuries or extensive damage still pose a significant risk, and the healing process can be taxing on the body, requiring a lot of energy and resources."
The girl from earlier, Mira, raised her hand again. "But why us? Why are we experiencing these changes? What makes us special?"
Mr. Reyes looked at her thoughtfully before answering. "That's a question we are still trying to answer. Our current theory is that certain individuals have a genetic predisposition to absorb and utilize the cosmic ethereal energy more effectively. It's possible that your genetic makeup allows you to harness this energy in ways that others cannot. This could be due to a variety of factors, including ancestry, unique genetic mutations, or even environmental influences."
He looked around the room, meeting each of our eyes again. "We are still in the early stages of understanding these phenomena. Our goal here is to study these changes, to learn more about the cosmic ethereal energy and its effects on humans, and to help those who are affected by it. We want to ensure that you are safe, that you understand what's happening to you, and that you can learn to control and harness your new abilities."
I felt a mix of emotions—fear, curiosity, and a glimmer of hope. The world was changing in ways we couldn't have imagined, and I was caught in the middle of it. The thought of having powers, of being able to heal quickly, was both exciting and daunting. But I couldn't help but worry about my mom, still unconscious and affected by this mysterious energy.
"Now, I understand that this is a lot to take in," Mr. Reyes said, his tone gentle. "But we are here to support you. We have resources, training programs, and medical facilities to help you adjust to these changes. We want to ensure that you can live safely and use your abilities responsibly."
Another person, a young man with a serious expression, spoke up. "What about the creatures? How do we protect ourselves from them?"
Mr. Reyes nodded. "That's a very important question. These creatures are dangerous, and we are working on ways to defend against them. We have teams studying their behavior, their weaknesses, and ways to combat them effectively. We are also developing weapons and technologies that can help neutralize these threats. It's a continuous effort, and we are making progress."
He paused, looking around the room. "I know this is overwhelming, but you are not alone. We are all in this together, and we will do everything we can to ensure your safety and to help you understand and control your new abilities."
I took a deep breath, trying to process everything I had just heard. The world was changing, and I was changing with it. But with the support of Mr. Reyes and the others, maybe I could learn to navigate this new reality.
Mr. Reyes glanced at his watch. "We will be conducting individual assessments and training sessions to better understand your unique abilities and how to help you control them. For now, please take some time to rest and get to know each other. We will be starting the assessments tomorrow."
As the meeting concluded, I couldn't help but feel a mix of fear and anticipation. The future was uncertain, but at least I wasn't facing it alone. I looked around at the other people in the room, wondering what abilities they might have and how we would all fit into this new, rapidly changing world.
As we left the room, I found myself walking next to Mira. "This is all so surreal, isn't it?" she said, her voice tinged with nervous excitement.
"Yeah, it's a lot to take in," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "But I guess we have to make the best of it."
She nodded, her eyes thoughtful. "I wonder what kind of powers we'll have. It's kind of exciting, in a way."
I couldn't help but smile at her optimism. "Yeah, it is. I just hope we can learn to control them."
We walked together in silence for a while, each lost in our thoughts. The facility was vast, with corridors and rooms filled with advanced technology and equipment. It felt like we were in a science fiction movie, and yet it was all real.
As I settled into my assigned room, I couldn't stop thinking about everything Mr. Reyes had said. The world was changing, and so was I. But with the support of the facility and the others, maybe I could find a way to navigate this new reality and protect the people I cared about.
I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of fear and determination. Whatever lay ahead, I was ready to face it. For my mom, for myself, and for the future of humanity.