Jake sat in Barry's living room in silence.
After a God knows how long session of awkwardness torturing him, he finally decided to break the silence. He had a problem though.
He didn't know what to say. He totally let Umbra possess him and although he managed to free himself, it was only because a girl looked at him the right way.
A bullshit way to win, but a win nonetheless.
"So...uh that happened. Can I go now?" Jake said, trying to avoid the inevitable scolding.
"You are one stupid idiot my seed! After all my warnings. All my advice, you still let that darkness take you! And now you're trying to leave before I can berate you?! I have lived for more than a thousand of your pathetic E Art years and I am yet to encounter an idiot surpassing you! "
"Uh... I think the pronunciation is earth."
"Stop trying to change the subject my moronic seed!"
"Hey man! I beat her didn't I? That's gotta count for something right?"
Barry looked away in incredible annoyance. How could someone be so stupid?
"You're extremely lucky your muman ability managed to resist her or else who knows what would have happened?! Hell, how your ability came to save you like that is beyond even me!"
"Look, I get it. I made a mistake. So I'm off the hook right? As you said, my power saved me."
"Listen my seed. You just made a dangerously powerful enemy. And you've also awoken something in you I didn't even know existed."
"W..what do you mean?"
"Look behind you."
Jake did as told and saw the a large chained up door at the end of thd bland living room. Something was in there and it was pretty clear that Barry didn't want it let out.
"That, my seed, is the Shadow. A being created from the merging of both you and Umbra. You may have defeated her for now. But there leaves this guy. And he sure as hell doesn't like some idiot running around in his body."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"Nothing reckless. Now look up."
Jake did as told again and saw something that truly shocked him.
Above him wasn't a pitch black ceiling leading to the black nothingness, but a blue ceiling leading to the ocean he had created.
As long as that is intact, not only do you get full access to all your muman ability but now you have access to your shadow ability. Making you the first muman with two abilities.
And what exactly can my shadow ability do? The first time I used them to fight Max, I wasn't fully in control. Hell I barely remember how to use them!"
Hehe..I guess you'll have to figure them out on your own. Good luck my seed."
Before Jake could utter a word, he began flying into the blue ceiling without control and was in his new ocean.
As he flew through the endless stream of blue, he watched it flow and vibrate with different shades of blue at every moment he flew upwards. Whether it was nothing but blue waves of energy or water he didnt know. What he did know was this was his creation and and finally realised what it meant.
It was who he was.
He wasn't some super. He isnt gonna be some hero. Now hes gonna be he always was, a guy who loved helping people. A guy who wanted the world to be safe. A guy who could prove that given the opportunity, anyone could help others at any time.Maybe he could inspire others to do the same as he does.
The shadows had always been symbols of fear and destruction. Of a time where the world banded together to face that fear.
Now he was going to make it a symbol of hope. So no one fears these abilities, but looks at them and realises that even with abilities that were used for pure evil, some good could come out of them if used right.
That is what he is now and that is all he'll ever be.
But as he finally left the confines of his own mind...
Luther held his son close as Mr E laughed hysterically.
"What a sight! What a beautiful sight! I expected this kid to be some experiment but this turned our better than I expected! Who knew he was a shadow alien?! Oh this is amazing!"
Luther watched on as Mr E approached the now unconscious Jake and attempted to grab him. Suddenly, their eyes met.
"Oh yeah! You're still here. Well you're no use to me just sitting there. How about I give you a choice of your own?"
Luther only stared at his imposing figure and quickly realised what this bastard was about to say.
"Let me guess. "Join me or die" right? That's pretty obvious at this point. And im sure you know my answer."
Luther stood up, holding his son in his arms and walked right in Mr E's face. Now at breathing distance, he looked right into Mr E's four eyes.
You may have convinced Flathead and his gang to turn into your army of sick monsters but not me. Do what you want, but I'd rather die than let you do that to me or my son again!" Luther shouted. Mr E coyldnt help but notice the conviction in his voice.
And soon the cold sweat running across his cheek.
"Oh.. if that's how you feel I have no choice but to oblige you." Mr E said as he raised his arm which turned into a giant crustacean claw.
Bringing it closer to Luther, his mask morphed to give a twisted smile. Hoping this was the last thing Luther would see.
But Luther only saw his life flash before his eyes.
How did things end up like this? How did things go from him being a down on his luck man trying to hide his gangster affiliations from his family to being forced by his boss and a mad scientist his boss trusted into using a drug which slowly turned him into a monster.
To finally being kidnapped and later on witnessing his son being used for some evil experiment.
Was it going to end like this?
Suddenly, it didn't look so, because someone stopped Mr E in his tracks.
It was the girl.
She grabbed Mr E's hand with the last of her strength and judging from the little green reptilian scales spread throughout her body, she still had the super strength from her mutation.
And it showed immensely since she was able to hold his claw hand back.
Luther didn't know her but knew she was the other guy's girlfriend. Why did she save them instead of running away? Luther didn't know that to. He also knew she was extremely weak and tired just from looking at her pale almost lifeless face.
Luther realised that this was his chance. He turned to the side and saw something resembling a door at the opposite end of the room and once he saw Mr E was distracted, he started timing his escape.
"Ah! If you're in a hurry to die you should have said so lady. Although it'd be nice to have your boyfriend watching I'll happily oblige you too." Mr E said as his other arm morphed into that of a gorilla and easily slapped her away.
As her head hit the advantagem wall, Ivy tried to regain her senses. Moments ago she was a monster with only the words Kill and Eat being drilled into her head.
How did things come to this.
One moment she was on a date with a wonderful guy who actually liked her for who she was instead of the cold and stoic facade she had during and after high school. The facade she thought only Stella could see through.
Now she was a muman freak about to be killed by the psychopath who did this to her after she tried to save a man and his son who she didn't even know. Why she did it? She didn't know either but now it didn't matter.
She lost everything. Her family's wealth, thanks to her what she did to her brother. Something she kept hidden from Jake during the date.
Her friends as well. How you ask? Soon after she finished high school she was broke and her friends soon realised her nature was a facade. One a weird snake obsessed loser used on them.
And now her life was coming to an end as Mr E drew his clawed hand towards her at insane speed.
She closed her eyes and accepted her fate. Maybe this was cosmic punishment for what she did to her brother so long ago.
In the end it all didn't matter. She was dead anyway.
But then she wasn't.
She realised the attack was taking too long and opened her eyes. Only to see something grabbing Mr E's crab arm.
Something blue.
A strange horned blue figure grabbed Mr E's arm and placed his arm on Mr E's chest. Before Mr E could react, the figure, with just a tap, sent Mr E flying across the room.
Ivy watched the blue figure walk toward Mr E while his horned mask pealed back like a strange blue liquid to reveal someone underneath.
It was Jake.
To be continued...