Chapter 12: Facing the Changes
(Actually I had forgotten about his physical changes, and when I was rereading this yesterday. It came to my attention that I haven't written about it yet, so I had to take a break to add this into the story)
The familiar ticking of the clock echoed through the quiet house as Mark glanced at his watch—6:00 AM. The warmth of his parents' home enveloped him, bringing a sense of comfort that had become increasingly rare in recent months. It had been almost two months since the accident, though it felt like a lifetime. Two months of relentless work, distractions, and avoiding the unsettling truth that had been gnawing at him ever since.
Deep down, he knew something was wrong. He had noticed the changes in himself, both subtle and stark, but he had chosen to ignore them. Whether out of fear or sheer stubbornness, he had thrown himself into work, burying his unease under endless hours of coding, business planning, and dealing with Atlas. But now, as he lay in his childhood bed, the familiar surroundings offering a false sense of security, he could no longer push it aside.
That strange buzzing energy under his skin was still there—always there—simmering just out of reach like a live wire, waiting to be tapped. It was as though something inside him was different, something fundamental had shifted, but he had been too afraid to face it.
Mark stared at the ceiling, his mind racing. He couldn't ignore it anymore. Today, he had completed all the tasks he had lined up for the company, finished the plans with Jessica, and reassured his parents about the venture. There were no more excuses. It was time to confront whatever was happening to him.
He threw off the covers and sat up, rubbing his face, trying to shake off the lingering fatigue. He needed a plan—needed to get through the day and then figure out what the hell was going on with him. But first, breakfast.
After freshening up, he made his way downstairs, where the smell of bacon and eggs greeted him. His parents were already at the table, chatting quietly, their voices breaking the stillness of the house.
"Morning, Mark," his mother, Ellen, said with a smile, setting a plate of food in front of him.
"Morning," he replied, trying to keep his voice light despite the growing tension bubbling under the surface.
David, his father, looked up from his newspaper. "So, what's on the agenda today? You're heading back to the dorm?"
Mark nodded, taking a bite of his food. "Yeah. I've got some updates to take care of. The app's doing well, but we need to ramp up server capacity. Plus, there's a lot of groundwork to lay for the company."
His mother, ever the thorough lawyer, cut in. "Have you sent me the documents yet? I want to go over everything—investments, contracts, legal structure. You're moving fast, and I don't want any loose ends."
Mark gave her a reassuring smile. "I've got it covered, Mom. I'll send everything over this week. Nothing's finalized yet; just getting things in order."
Ellen nodded but gave him a look that said she wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily. "Just make sure you do. I don't want to find out later that something slipped through the cracks."
"I will, I promise," Mark said, trying to ease her worries. She was right—he needed everything airtight—but, in truth, the legal documents felt like the least of his concerns at the moment.
As breakfast wound down, Mark reassured his parents once more about his plans before saying his goodbyes and heading back to his dorm. The cold December air hit him as he walked, the bite of the wind helping to clear his mind. His time at home had been comforting, but he couldn't shake the gnawing unease that had taken root since the accident.
As soon as he stepped inside his dorm room, he closed the door behind him and pulled out his phone, opening the laptop that connected him to Atlas. His AI assistant had been managing the app's backend, but there were other pressing matters now.
"Atlas," Mark called out, his voice steady but urgent. "What's the status?"
Atlas's response was instantaneous, its tone calm and efficient. "Occupancy rate has reached 95%. We are nearing capacity on current servers."
Mark frowned. He had anticipated this, but not so soon. The app had taken off faster than expected, and they were nearing critical overload. It was time to expand their infrastructure.
"Start looking for potential server storage locations," Mark instructed, his mind already racing with possible solutions. "We need to set up a base of operations for the company. Somewhere secure, but also scalable."
"Understood," Atlas responded. "Would you like to prioritize any specific locations?"
"Look for something on the West Coast for now. It'll be easier to manage logistically." Mark paused, thinking for a moment. "Also, order more servers. Use up to $3 million. I need enough to handle at least 100 million users simultaneously."
Atlas paused briefly, processing the command. "Orders placed. Server capacity will be upgraded accordingly. Estimated completion: four to six weeks."
Mark exhaled slowly, feeling a sense of relief that at least the technical side was being handled. That was something he could control, something tangible. But his thoughts kept circling back to the one thing he had been ignoring for weeks—his body. Something had changed in him after the accident, and it was time to face it.
He couldn't keep running. He couldn't keep pretending everything was normal.
Mark left his dorm room, determination settling in as he walked down the street. His pace quickened as he headed toward the gym, his mind buzzing with the possibilities of what he might discover. Over the past couple of months, there had been moments—small flashes—when he noticed things that weren't quite right. His reflexes were faster. His stamina had increased. He could run longer, lift heavier weights without tiring.
He had tried to brush it off as a result of stress, adrenaline, or even his relentless work ethic. But now, it was undeniable. Something had happened, and it was time to figure out what.
He arrived at the gym and stepped inside, the familiar sound of weights clanging and machines whirring filling the air. He made his way to a corner, away from the crowd, and began his usual workout routine—only this time, he pushed himself harder.
He started with a run, his feet pounding on the treadmill, faster and faster. At first, everything felt normal, his muscles working as they always had. But then, as he increased the speed, something shifted. His body wasn't tiring. His legs kept moving effortlessly, even as the treadmill reached speeds he had never attempted before.
Mark stared at the numbers on the screen, his heart pounding in his chest—not from exertion, but from the realization that he wasn't slowing down. He wasn't even close to his limit.
He stopped the treadmill abruptly, stepping off as his breath came in slow, controlled breaths. His body was barely breaking a sweat.
He moved on to the weights, loading the barbell with more weight than he had ever lifted before. He gripped the bar tightly, his mind racing. This was it—his test. Slowly, deliberately, he lifted the bar, expecting strain, expecting resistance. But instead, it felt light. Too light.
Mark's heart raced as he racked the weights, stepping back in disbelief. It was as though his body had been completely rewired—stronger, faster, more efficient.
Whatever had happened to him, it wasn't normal. And as he stood there, staring at the equipment in the gym, the truth finally hit him: this was no ordinary change. The accident had done something to him, something he couldn't explain. Something that was still evolving.
Mark grabbed his jacket and left the gym, his mind swirling with questions. What was this energy he had been feeling? What had changed in him? And most importantly, how far would it go?
As the cold night air wrapped around him, he realized that this was just the beginning. Whatever was happening inside of him, it was bigger than he had anticipated. There was no telling where it would lead.
The streetlights flickered on as Mark made his way back to his dorm, each step feeling both heavier and lighter at the same time.
Tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow, he would start finding answers.
For now, though, all he could do was face the changes—and brace himself for whatever came next.
...
23 December 2023
The next morning, Mark was up at six o'clock sharp. The city outside his dorm room was still cloaked in the early morning quiet, and a thin layer of frost covered the windows. The cool air seemed to amplify the buzzing energy in his body. After the strange discoveries in the gym yesterday, his curiosity had only grown. There was something more happening inside of him, something he needed to understand.
Without much thought, Mark threw on his running gear and slipped outside. His legs felt restless, as though they were itching to move. He didn't have a specific destination in mind; he just needed to test his limits.
He started at a slow jog, warming up, but quickly shifted into a full sprint. The chilly air rushed past him as his feet pounded the pavement. His strides were long and powerful, each one propelling him faster than before.
Yet, as the minutes ticked by, something strange happened—he didn't tire. Normally, after a few minutes at this pace, his lungs would burn, his legs would ache, but instead, they felt fresh, as though they hadn't even started working yet. He had noticed this strange endurance while working out yesterday, but now it was even more apparent. His body was operating at a completely different level.
The sun began to rise as he pushed further, his breath steady, his muscles fluid. He ran aimlessly, letting the city blur around him, until he found himself at Griffith Park. It was a massive urban park that offered a mix of trails, hills, and secluded areas. Perfect, he thought. He could run here without worrying about being seen.
One hour passed, and Mark finally began to feel the first signs of fatigue. He slowed down to a jog, then came to a stop, panting slightly but still amazed at his stamina. The realization hit him—he had been running at full speed for an entire hour without really slowing down.
His body finally started to protest, and he decided to sit on a bench to rest. As he caught his breath, he couldn't help but think about how far he had come. Pulling out his phone, he used the GPS to track his location. He was about 15 kilometers, or 9.4 miles, from his dorm. That wasn't even the full picture—he'd run almost 30 kilometers, or around 20 miles, in total over the past hour. That meant he had been moving at a speed comparable to a well-trained athlete, but with one key difference—his stamina was practically superhuman.
It only took about five minutes of resting before he felt his strength returning, and within 20 minutes, he was fully recovered. His breathing was back to normal, and his muscles felt as if they hadn't been pushed to their limits at all. The excitement swelled inside him. He couldn't help but smile. **This is amazing**, he thought. **I should have tested this sooner.**
Mark stood up, eager to push his limits even further. The park was still mostly empty, with only a few early morning joggers scattered on distant trails. He found a more secluded area, shaded by trees, where he could test what his body was truly capable of without drawing any attention.
First, he tried lifting some heavy rocks and branches scattered nearby. His strength, although not as extreme as his stamina, was still impressive. Mark picked up a rock that he estimated to be over 200 kilograms. It was heavy, but he could lift it off the ground with relative ease. His muscles flexed, but there was no strain. He estimated his strength was at the peak of what a human could achieve naturally—stronger than most, but not superhuman in the way he had hoped.
Next, Mark focused on something he had only briefly noticed during the accident—the faint sensation of telekinesis. He took a deep breath, concentrating on a nearby rock, trying to feel the same buzzing sensation beneath his skin. The air seemed to hum faintly around him, and slowly, the rock lifted off the ground, hovering a few feet in the air. He smiled, a bit in disbelief, as he realized he could control its movement with just his mind.
He moved it back and forth, testing his control, but he quickly discovered there were limits. He could only lift objects weighing less than 100 kilograms, and he needed to be within a couple of meters to maintain control. The rock dropped abruptly as his focus wavered, and he let out a frustrated breath. **Minor telekinesis**, he thought. It wasn't as powerful as he'd hoped, but it was something.
Mark then shifted his attention to the strange electrical charge he had noticed after the accident. Holding out his hand, he tried to recreate the sensation. At first, nothing happened, but after a few moments, tiny sparks of static electricity flickered between his fingers. It was like a weak current, no more dangerous than the static shocks you get from dragging your feet on a carpet.
The sparks fizzled out quickly, leaving him feeling somewhat disappointed. **So much for shooting lightning from my fingertips**, he mused. This ability seemed more like an after-effect of the accident than anything particularly useful.
Despite his minor disappointment with the electricity, the thrill of discovery outweighed everything else. He might not have gotten superhuman strength or the ability to fly, but he had something. **Superhuman stamina**, peak human strength, **minor telekinesis**, and **electrical discharge**—a strange combination, but better than nothing.
As Mark sat down on a rock, reflecting on everything he had learned, he couldn't help but feel a growing excitement. These powers, though not exactly what he had imagined, were still extraordinary. He had to figure out how far they could take him.
**I should have done this sooner**, he thought again, his mind racing with possibilities. What more could he do if he trained? What other abilities might emerge over time?
After a while, Mark decided to head back. He felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as he walked through the park, retracing his steps. His body still buzzed with energy, but it was time to rest and think about the next steps.
The journey back to his dorm was quicker this time, as he jogged at a steady pace. The sun was fully up now, and the city was beginning to stir with life. As Mark approached his dorm, the reality of his new abilities began to sink in. He wasn't invincible, but he was more than ordinary, and that fact alone was thrilling.
When he finally reached his room, Mark flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling with a grin. There was still so much to figure out, but for the first time in months, he felt more in control of his life. The accident had changed him, but maybe that wasn't such a bad thing after all.
For now, though, he was content to let the excitement carry him through the rest of the day.
Whatever came next, he was ready.
...
(Word count - 2570)
Increased the word count due to lack of chapter yesterday.
Do comment if the story till now is to your liking and if you have any suggestions.