Chapter 14: Into the Shadows
Ryan had never felt so alone. Days had passed since Pod stopped showing up at school, and in his absence, a strange emptiness had settled over everything. The weight of isolation pressed down on him as he walked the back alleys of Shigatsu, his mind filled with envy and bitterness.
Why should Pod be the one with all the power? Why did he get to leave everything behind, while Ryan was stuck here, powerless and forgotten?
His footsteps echoed in the narrow alley, a constant reminder of how far he'd fallen. He had heard whispers of a way to gain Choujin abilities—rumors passed around by desperate kids and outcasts. It wasn't official. It wasn't safe. But it was a way.
Ryan's pulse quickened as he approached a rundown building at the edge of the city, hidden from the eyes of the authorities. The Black Market. Here, Choujin abilities could be bought—for the right price. The people inside were fugitives, outcasts, and criminals, all seeking the same thing: power.
The building loomed in front of him, its windows dark and foreboding. He hesitated at the door, feeling a shiver of fear creep up his spine. But the image of Pod—powerful, free—drove him forward. Ryan pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The air inside was thick with tension, the smell of sweat and desperation lingering in every corner. Men and women whispered in hushed tones, their faces obscured by shadows. Ryan made his way through the crowd, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know who to trust, but he didn't have a choice. He needed this.
A man with sharp eyes and a scar across his cheek noticed him, his gaze predatory. "Looking for something, kid?"
Ryan swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet the man's gaze. "I need... the injection."
The man chuckled darkly, his grin unsettling. "You sure about that? It's not something you can take back once you've done it."
Ryan's fingers twitched nervously, but his resolve hardened. "I'm sure."
The man's smile widened, and he nodded toward a door at the back of the room. "Through there. But it's gonna cost you."
Ryan nodded and made his way toward the door, his steps slow and cautious. He didn't have much money, but he had been saving whatever he could. It would have to be enough.
Inside the room, he found a small group of people, all waiting for the same thing. There was an unsettling silence as the dealer—a gaunt figure with cold eyes—handed out small vials of the injection. The atmosphere was tense, filled with the weight of dangerous choices.
Ryan's eyes scanned the room, his nerves on edge. He wasn't sure what to expect, but his determination outweighed his fear. Finally, his turn came. The dealer extended his hand, holding out a vial filled with a dark, swirling liquid.
"Once you take this," the dealer said, his voice low and gravelly, "there's no going back."
Ryan's hand shook as he reached for the vial, but he stopped suddenly when the door behind him burst open.
Chaos erupted.
Morgan's crew had arrived, their presence dominating the room. Ryan recognized them immediately—Choujins from the Midnight Sun, tasked with keeping the illegal spread of powers in check. Their leader, Morgan, stood at the center, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
The dealer cursed under his breath and made a break for it, but Morgan's men were faster. They tore through the room, subduing the fugitives with brutal efficiency. Ryan froze, his mind racing. He had to get out of here before they caught him.
He was about to slip out the back when he saw something that stopped him cold.
In the middle of the chaos, Pod was there—fighting alongside Morgan's men, his body moving with a lethal grace that Ryan had never seen before. He watched in awe and disbelief as Pod dispatched several fugitives with ease, his enhanced senses allowing him to anticipate their every move. It was like watching a predator toying with its prey.
Ryan's heart sank. Pod was... with them? He had sided with Morgan, with the very people who hunted down those seeking power. And now, here Ryan was, holding an illegal injection in his hand, ready to become one of the very people Pod was fighting against.
His breath caught in his throat as Pod's eyes flicked toward him. For a split second, their gazes locked, and Ryan felt a wave of panic wash over him.
Without thinking, he clenched the vial in his hand. He had come too far to turn back now. If Pod had power, then so would he. No matter the cost.
Ryan jabbed the needle into his arm, feeling the cold liquid course through his veins. His vision blurred, his senses heightened as the injection took hold, sending a surge of energy through his body. Pain shot through him, but he welcomed it—embraced it.
And then, the world around him began to change.