Killian sat on his large, car-shaped bed, staring at the countless trophies decorating his room with despair. The symbols of his genius—the best student awards, international math and science quiz titles, and champion inventor medals—mocked him. Despite his brilliance, he felt the weight of his growing anger, especially toward his father. Since ascending to the Mayor's office, his father's ambition had suffocated any semblance of their bond. Communication became sparse, replaced by scolding. Killian, despite his wealth and success, resented his father. He knew the anger burning inside him was making him a worse person and he desperately wanted to change.
"Jarvis, call Maxwell," he commanded. His transparent phone responded with a soft hum, and as the call connected, Killian's heart raced. Apologies weren't his forte, but he knew it was time.
The phone clicked, and Maxwell's skeptical voice rang out, "Hello, who am I speaking with?"
"It's Killian," he replied, his tone uncharacteristically hesitant. Maxwell's irritation was immediate. "Don't tell me you called to lecture me about my ability," Maxwell snapped, cutting Killian off about how Killian had displayed a fit of telekinesis.
Killian's response was soft yet firm. "No, I actually called to apologize… for how things went last time." Silence followed. Killian could feel the tension thickening.
"If you're truly sorry, then I have no grudge," Maxwell said after a pause, his anger easing.
Killian hesitated, then offered, "Would you come over to my place? Adams is coming too."
Maxwell agreed, a hint of curiosity lingering in his voice before he hung up. Killian then called for his butler, Charles, instructing him to ensure the staff stayed out of sight. He wanted everything to be perfect. Lost in thought, Killian stared out through the glass wall of his room at the pool below, the blue water reflecting his inner turmoil.
Meanwhile, Adams was sitting at breakfast with his large family, teasing his younger brother as he dug into his food. "Dad, I'm heading over to Killian's after this," he announced.
His mother smiled warmly. "That's good, dear. Poor boy could use some company."
His father merely grunted in approval.
On the way to Killian's mansion, Maxwell sat in the car, nervously drumming his fingers. "Why are we going to the Mayor's house again?" Charlie, the driver, asked.
"Killian invited me," Maxwell replied, unsure himself of why he was going. Charlie remained silent, sensing Maxwell's unease as they arrived. At the gate, security let them in after a brief check, and Maxwell stepped out, immediately struck by the grandeur of Killian's home. The walls of the mansion gleamed, half made of glass, and four luxury cars sat neatly in the driveway. Before Maxwell could gather his thoughts, Killian opened the door."Welcome," Killian greeted with a surprising warmth.The three boys gathered in the expansive living room. Killian, dressed casually, lounged on the sofa. Adams wasted no time ordering cupcakes, and after some banter, they all fell into easy conversation. The tension melted as they discovered their shared interests, with Killian guiding the discussions with his boundless knowledge.
"Charles, please get us some cupcakes" he ordered. A few moments later a maid sent by Charles the butler, brought in rich and scrumptious cupcakes.
Maxwell stared at her as she dispatched the cakes on the glass table. She was young, clothed in a black and white maids dress. She avoided eye contact. Maxwell sensed her uneasiness as she scurried off hoping she doesn't irritate her hot-tempered young master, who seems to be in an unbelievably good mood today.
"I don't get baffled easily, but am yet to figure out why we are the only people who have this abilities. Your powers are not known publicly because it will freak people out and I think it would be better to keep it that way," said Killian, sagely.
Maxwell and Adams nodded in agreement.
"My parents don't know about my abilities... power...what do I even call it? It's only Charlie and you guys." Maxwell was reserved. He was soft spoken, smiling often. That didn't prevent him from being sly and manipulative. His transparent brown eyes never failed to take note things. They were like sharp knives that cut you from a long distance. He was smart with his words, knowing what to say to have his desired effect.
Adams had eaten most of the cupcakes."Most of the time I've taken notice that when I get emotional, like mad angry, the clouds darken then rain begins to fall heavily. It was taken as a coincidence, rumoring it. Until I met Killian, four years ago." He looked at Killian for approval, which was answered with a nod. "He enlightened me on how I had a mutation that enabled me to control the weather with my emotion and that there could be more to it." He stretched his hand towards the fruit bowl on the glass table, grasping a handful of strawberries to munch on while contributing to the conversation. His dark hair, skin, and eyes that shone amidst the brightly illuminated hall did not fail to go unnoticed by Maxwell who couldn't stop stealing gazes at him.
Adams was used to that; people stared at him because of how dark his skin was, in school, in church and in any public space. He had no problem with it, most people told him it was beautiful anyways. Adams seemed naive and open-minded most of the time. He seems to hide nothing. "My father cheated on his wife with my biological mother and had me, but she died, so I was brought up by Mrs. Juliet, my stepmother.
"Am very sorry for your loss." Maxwell realized there wasn't a trail of sadness or pity in Adams as he spoke. He looked over to Killian, whose face was stoic. He might have probably heard the story already, Maxwell thought.
Charles the butler stood on the corridor above the hall peeking at the boys below from above. He developed a liking for Maxwell's gentleness. Charles was glad to see Killian smile brightly again thanks to his companions.
He rubbed his fingers through his soft grey hair and took his leave, failing to notice the figure that lurked in the corridor above with him, looking on to the boys below throughout their yackety-yak.
"Ok guys, time to show you my secret research lab." Killian straightened his white baggy round-neck cotton shirt that clad his small body. Even though he was the oldest he appeared to be the smallest.
"Are you seriously telling me you have your own lab somewhere in this house? Maxwell asked, skeptically.
Killian shrugged humbly, his mood euphoric.
The two boys followed Killian through a large and quiet long hallway that revealed itself after opening a door located a few steps away from the living room. The hallway had doors running up along it. The rooms the doors enclosed accommodated the maids and servants in the house. A door similar to that of an elevator stood at the end of the hallway. The trio halted in front of the door.
Killian placed his hand on a fingerprint panel camouflaged onto the wall near the door. It beeped and caused the door to slide open, it revealed a small space. Killian stepped into it and urged his friends to hop in. The door closed as the enclosure descended swiftly. Killian could not contain his laughter as Adams and Maxwell staggered with the sudden downward motion.
Maxwell and Adams were in awe after entering the lab. "So it was all real. Wow!" Maxwell's voice echoed through the underground lab. The lab was brightly illuminated with white lights. White tiles were used for the walls and floors.
"It is just like the ones in movies." Adams testified.
"But I guess it not a biological lab, because I can't see any test tubes, and microscope, and.."
" This is more or less like a technological lab." Killian corrected.
***
If only I could get my followers to believe I work at the Mayor's mansion.
Lucy descended the spiral stairs furtively. She trailed toward the door that led to the hallway through which the boys disappeared. Lucy was deep in her thoughts.
I mean, am I not beautiful enough? She removed a small mirror from her maid dress pocket and stared at it admirably. Look at my fair skin, my green eyes-. She returned the mirror into her pocket and opened the door. Peeking at the hallway, she wondered where the trio vanished to. She followed instinctively through the hallway.
I can't even look at his face directly without blushing. Oh I am a fool for love. That Mayor's son, Killian. Yes Killian Smith it is. Even though his fury temper can be terrifying, it makes me crave for him more. I mean just look at him, so handsome. I know, I know he is never going to take a liking for me. Even though we are the same age. I've always admired him ever since I saw him on television and wanted to be close to him. Yet here I am as a maid after desperate measures to be appointed as one. And he has not even looked at me for my beauty, not for once. I mean there are lots of stories where a maid and her master falls in love and make-out. Lucy craned her neck backward to see if anyone was at sight. She blushed from the imaginations in her head, of what seems to be her and Killian making out. Moving forward on the polished ground, she prayed secretly to not meet Charles or any senior maid who would turn her back, for it was not appropriate to be where she was at that time.
I am the youngest maid and the most beautiful, 18 to 19 is young right? Yes it is. Killian is 17 no 18, see, we are perfect match, all he needs to do is open his eyes and look at me. I will always be here for you young master.
She giggled at her thoughts. Now infront of a huge elevator-like door, which she thought to be a dead end designed like a door. But then she wondered where the apparent love of her life disappeared to. She looked closely from top to down. Noticing a strawberry on the ground, she realized it was blocking the dead-end from closing tightly. "Oh its a door," she remarked to herself. "Strange how I never saw this. Was it made like it was part of the wall to keep people from noticing?" Lucy questioned and whispered to herself.
Poking her hand into the small vertical space created by the strawberry blocking the sliding door from closing completely, she slide the door open to the right and stepped in without thinking twice. She pressed the self proclaiming red button after realizing she was inside an elevator.
***
Killian slammed his hand on what appeared to be glass-like table that has a screen surface which worked and displayed like a computer screen or monitor, imperiously to draw his friends attention. Maxwell and Adams who were in awe of the details of the technological lab startled at the sudden disturbance and turned toward Killian. Maxwell stopped smiling.
"Okay, so now that I have your attention, let's get to work. Do you see that space over there?" Killian's stretched hand rove through the lab and stoped at a large space enclosed by hard glass, brightly illuminated and had only table and chair in it.
"One of you will enter at a time, the room as empty as it looks has unseen sensors that are going to record and unveil anything that goes on in your body while you are still in there trying to use your abilities to it unknown limits. I will see every reaction and atomic change in your body and try to figure out what is happening and what we all have in common on my screen."
" You mean your fancy glass table." Maxwell retorted.
" I'd prefer you call it the big screen. So, who is going in first. Trust me it is 99% safe. Just follow my instructions. You will hear my voice through the speakers in the room. Adams, don't touch that." Killian cautioned.
"Just wondering what will happen if I were to tap it?" Adams was standing over the big screen, casting his index finger on an icon that looked like a shower head.
"It will....."
Phewwww, it occurred like a small rain from the top, the ceiling of the lab had small shower heads that sprinkled water immediately Adams tapped the icon whiles Killian was trying to explain.
"Adams!!" Killian and Maxwell yelled, not out of anger but out of disbelief and surprise.
Adams instinctively tapped the icon again, causing the showers of blessing to stop, while apologizing profusely, leaving everyone in the room half wet.
"What were you expecting, did you expect a bathroom to appear after pressing a shower button?" Killian asked sarcastically, keeping his cool.
Maxwell just stood at his formal position, his face wet and his hands stretched wide apart. All he could say was, "Really." His wet smooth face flushing with surprise and amusement.
"I'll go in first." Adams offered himself up like a sacrificial lamb who had no choice.
Maxwell drew closer to Killian to look at the big screen with him, their wet clothes dried by the unnoticeable ventilators in the lab.
"Guys am in, what next?" Adams proclaimed on top of his voice.
"We can hear you loud and clear even if you whisper, so there is no need to shout like you just did." Killian replied through a small microphone in his hand.
"Do you see the the lamp on the table? I want you to light it up by giving it a little electric shock. We all have that core in us, that we reach out to, when we want to use our ability. Reach for it, be angry if that's how you can channel the electricity out of you.
Adams reached out for the electric lamp. He closed his eyes and and followed Killian's instructions. The bulb lit up for seconds and went off almost as if nothing happened.
"Yes you've got this." Killian lectured on like a motivational speaker while Maxwell looked on intensively.
"Now, I want you to forget about every limit you've set for your self. Don't worry about our safety, the glasses enclosing you are as hard as a diamond.
Adams's face flushed with different emotions, he opened his eyes dramatically. The bulb began to get brighter and brighter as sparks protrude from his hand.
" Yes! Give it your all." Killian edged on.
"Are you sure it's ok?" Maxwell asked, a worried look written on his face.
"Don't worry, if we are able to get through this and I have all the data and records necessary there will be no need to come back here. I can easily coach you on how to use and control your powers.
The blue lightning sparks increased with crackling sound, the bulb burst just as a loud thundering sound occured outdoors.
Maxwell looked at the CCTV footage of what was going on outdoors on the top of the big screen, the clouds had darken.
Startled by the noise he had caused, Adams stopped immediately. "I hope that was enough because am hungry as hell."
"Yeah you can come out now. Your turn Max."
Maxwell walked in skeptically. He sat on the chair in the room and faced the table that had deep scratches of Adams's doing while waiting for Killian's instructions.
"Do you see the can Coke on the table, I want you to lift it.."
Maxwell had already lifted up the coke before Killian could finish his statement after stretching his hands towards the coke and making it follow his hand's upward movement.
"Wow, that was very well done. Now I want you to lift it by only looking at it."
Maxwell lifted it up again after spending several seconds staring at the can Coke as if waiting for it to speak to him.
"Looks like someone already mastered his powers." Adams praised cheerfully.
"I want you to lift now, the table before you."
"Are you serious right now? I mean, even if the three of us came together there is no way we could lift it up with our combined strength." Maxwell asked, looking at the two boys staring at him through the glass like a lab rat.
"Yes that's why I need you to lift it."
"Okay I'll try." Maxwell rose from the chair, he stretched out both his arms towards the huge table, he tried the technique he used for the can Coke but the table won't budge. He focused more and yelled as he tried it the second time closing his eyes. The table rose into the air like paper weight as the lights in the lab flickered. The table fell with a loud thud as he release his telekinetic grip of it, breathing slightly heavily. Maxwell stopped all of a sudden as if sensing something odd.
" What is wrong!" Adams and Killian asked simultaneously after noticing the change in his victorious mood.
Maxwell stepped out and paced swiftly to his friends. "I felt the presence of someone other than you two when I was lifting the table."
"Felt.. how?" Adams asked, perplexed by Maxwell's sudden mood change.
"That is impossible, I am the only one that has access to this place, not even my dad can come in. You released lots of energy. This means you might have other abilities that haven't surfaced and maybe you felt someone who was right above us, don't worry."
Just as the tension in the lab was loosening, an audible sound was heard by everyone except that none of them caused it.
"Whoever is in here should make him or her self visible before I find them first." Killian's face was visibly reddish from growing anger after realizing Maxwell was right. He aimed the golden watch on his wrist in the direction of where the noise came from.
A stuttering voice repeated. "Please don't hurt me, I.. I... mean no harm." Lucy popped out from behind the cabinet adjacent to the lab door with both hands up, one raised hand holding a phone that was filming live video of all that had gone on in the lab.
"Were you filming us?" The words escaped Maxwell's lips hopelessly.
Lucy nodded timidly in response.
"How dare you do that without our consent? How much did they pay you? Who sent you?" Killian's voice crescendoed as he snarled with rage and took intimidating steps towards Lucy with the golden watch directed towards her.
Lucy cringed and drew back till there was nowhere to go.
Killian's friend feared for the girl, knowing what Killian was capable of, when angry .
"Killian! she might still be filming," Adams cautioned.
"And I don't give a f**k!" He stared back at Lucy with a look of disdain.
"I.. I..was just trying to get my social media followers to believe I worked in the Mayor's mansion and that I was close to you." Lucy whimpered.
" Don't subterfuge you true intentions with that bullshit excuse after disregarding the 'no phone policy' as a maid and filming us while my friends were using their powers. Who ordered this espionage? How much did they promise to pay you?" Killian snapped, ready to shoot a blast of electricity at her.
"Killian!!" A voice boomed in his head.