Story on how I became a catalyst
The sun hung low over the sprawling metropolis, casting a warm, golden glow across the skyline. Below, the city buzzed with life, oblivious to the celestial event unfolding above. On a rooftop overlooking the city, Demian stood transfixed by the solar eclipse, his striking semi-long black curly hair catching the light. The air was charged with electric energy.
Demian's eyes widened as the eclipse reached its peak, a surge of energy coursing through him. His surroundings seemed to blur momentarily.
"What just happened..." he whispered to himself, uneasy.
Wind began to swirl around Demian, lifting loose papers and leaves into the air. His expression shifted from confusion to wonder and a hint of fear. Down on the bustling streets below, people started to notice the unusual wind patterns, pointing and murmuring in surprise.
In a shadowy alleyway not far from the rooftop, a group of mercenaries in sleek black suits and shades moved with purpose, scanning the crowded streets with focused intensity.
"There! That's the one. He's showing signs," the mercenary leader commanded in a low, stern tone.
The mercenaries quickly moved to surround the building where Demian stood, confused and unaware of the danger. His senses tingled with a foreboding feeling.
"Something's not right," he murmured to himself, alarmed.
The mercenaries ascended the rooftop, their weapons drawn and expressions hardened. The leader stepped forward, his voice stern.
"You're coming with us, Catalyst," he demanded.
Startled and unsure, Demian backed away cautiously, the wind swirling more erratically around him.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" he stammered defensively.
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be!" the leader shouted, advancing.
Before the mercenaries could close in, a blur of movement caught their attention. Anahit, with short black hair and an athletic build, landed gracefully on the rooftop, an aura of kinetic energy flickering around her.
"This is a pain in the ass," she said assertively.
With swift, precise movements, Anahit dispatched the mercenaries, using bursts of kinetic force to knock them off balance and disarm them.
"Get her! Now!" the leader grunted, struggling to regroup.
The remaining mercenaries attempted to rally, but Anahit's agility and control over kinetic energy gave her the upper hand.
"Come on, newbie, we need to go," she commanded, grabbing Demian's arm.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Demian retorted, but he reluctantly took her hand.
"Trust me. They'll keep coming," Anahit urged.
Demian looked into Anahit's determined eyes and followed her, leaping off the rooftop and disappearing into the labyrinthine streets below. They navigated the crowded streets, blending into the bustling urban landscape as they moved swiftly, keeping to the shadows. They passed by cafes, shops, and busy intersections, the city alive with its own rhythm.
"We need to lay low for now. They won't give up that easily," Anahit said, glancing back.
"But who were they? And why me?" Demian asked, still confused.
"I've seen them before. They're hired by corporations looking for Catalysts," Anahit explained grimly.
"Catalysts?" Demian asked, bewildered.
"People like us. We have abilities... powers that others want to control or exploit," Anahit said, her tone serious.
"Abilities? Are you joking?" Demian asked incredulously.
"Are you surprised? Don't you feel different?" Anahit asked.
"Now that you mention it…" Demian began.
"Enough. We need to find out what they want with you and why they're so desperate," Anahit interrupted.
They turned a corner into a quieter, more residential part of the city, heading towards an abandoned warehouse.
"We'll be safe here for a while. It's off the grid," Anahit assured him.
"And then what?" Demian asked, looking around warily.
"Then we figure out what makes you so special," Anahit grinned.
They entered the darkened warehouse, its walls covered in graffiti and dust dancing in the faint moonlight filtering through broken windows.
"Welcome to our hideout," Anahit said, switching on a flashlight.
They made their way deeper into the warehouse, finding a corner where a makeshift campsite had been set up with blankets and supplies.
"This sucks," Demian muttered, sitting down heavily.
"Get used to it. It's our reality now," Anahit said, sitting across from him.
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the day's events sinking in.
"You handled yourself well back there, for a newbie," Anahit said softly.
"Don't call me a newbie. And I didn't ask for any of this. I just want things to go back to normal," Demian replied, frowning.
"Normal's overrated, trust me," Anahit sighed.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water, offering it to him.
"But if it helps, we're in this together now," she continued.
"Names Demian, by the way," Demian said, taking the water.
"Mine's Anahit," she replied.
Demian nodded in acknowledgment, taking a sip of water.
Later That Night
Demian sat alone in the dimly lit warehouse, staring at his hands as he contemplated the events of the day. The wind faintly rustled through broken windows.
"Thinking about running away again?" Anahit's voice came from the doorway.
Demian looked up to see Anahit leaning casually against the doorway, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"I wasn't running…" Demian said, slightly defensive.
"Sure looked like it up there," Anahit raised an eyebrow.
She walked over and sat down next to him, the distance between them filled with unspoken tension.
"You're scared. It's okay. We all were at first," Anahit said, softening.
"I'm not scared. I'm confused," Demian said quietly.
"So was I at first. But I got used to it," Anahit sighed.
"You're not new to this?" Demian asked, looking at her with a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes.
"I've been like this for a year now," Anahit replied.
"A year?" Demian asked, astonished.
"Yeah, when I first discovered I was a Catalyst, I was still in school," Anahit said.
"Did the mercenaries find you?" Demian asked.
"They did," Anahit said softly.
"What?" Demian asked, concerned.
"Let's resume this later. Get some sleep," Anahit said, changing the subject.
"How do I know if I can trust you?" Demian asked.
"You don't. But I'm the only one you've got right now. Your home is under watch. Trust me, and all your friends' houses and their phones are bugged. You'll be putting them in danger too," Anahit said firmly.
"This whole situation is so messed up," Demian muttered.
"It is. Get some sleep, and we'll talk tomorrow," Anahit replied.
City - Night
Meanwhile, in a luxurious high-rise overlooking the city, a shadowy figure watched the chaos unfold through binoculars. This figure, only seen in silhouette, spoke into a secure phone.
"He's activated. Send in the extraction team. We need him alive," the shadowy figure said intensely.
The figure hung up and turned away from the window, disappearing into the darkness of the opulent penthouse.