September 21, 2024.
It was Saturday in the morning. Matthew had no class, which is a perfect opportunity for him to learn more about his powers. Fortunately, he knew just the right place for that. It was located in Montalban Rizal, at Wawa Dam. He had been there before when he attended a hiking trip that their school sponsored to boost students' mental health.
He told his mother where he would be going and when asked why, he simply answered that there'd be practice for dancing.
He hailed a jeepney that would take him to the transportation hub. The jeepney stopped and he climbed aboard.
As Matthew took his seat in the jeepney, he plugged his earphones into his smartphone, ready to block out the world around him for the duration of the ride. He opened Facebook, mindlessly scrolling through updates, memes, and random posts from friends and acquaintances. Just another routine morning.
But as he scrolled, his eyes caught a breaking news headline.
[BREAKING NEWS: NINE PEOPLE FOUND DEAD NEAR MANILA SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL—INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY]
Matthew froze, his finger hovering over the screen. So they already found the bodies huh? He clicked the link to open the full article.
[Authorities are currently investigating the gruesome deaths of nine individuals whose bodies were found early this morning near the vicinity of Manila South High School. Police have described the scene as 'disturbing' and 'unlike anything they've ever encountered before.' The bodies were discovered scattered throughout an alley behind the school, with some witnesses reporting hearing a loud commotion late last night.
"'We've never seen anything like this,' said Senior Inspector Arnel Santos, the officer in charge of the investigation. 'The extent of the injuries is... unusual, to say the least. We can't release many details at this time, but rest assured, we are treating this as an isolated incident. We are conducting a thorough investigation and encourage anyone with information to come forward."
The identities of the victims have not been released, pending notification of their families. However, police confirmed that the manner in which the victims were killed is highly irregular, fueling speculation among the local community.
"Witnesses from nearby residences reported hearing a series of loud noises, including what sounded like 'fighting' and 'crashes,' late into the night. However, no one was able to clearly identify anyone involved. CCTV footage in the area captured only ten people walking towards the alley before the incident occurred, but none were seen leaving. Authorities are reviewing additional footage and conducting interviews with local residents.]
The article continued, mentioning how the area was now cordoned off, with police officers standing guard while forensics teams worked to collect evidence. The news didn't mention any specific suspects yet, but it was only a matter of time before they dug deeper into the case.
Good thing that the CCTV camera didn't catch something definitive for the police, so the chance for now of the crime leading to him is slim for now.
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, one of the passengers seated across from Matthew darted off, snatching the phone right from his grip.
It was a common occurrence in Manila — snatchers taking advantage of busy public transportation, preying on distracted passengers. Without thinking, the thief bolted toward the exit, hoping to jump out before the jeepney came to a full stop.
But before the snatcher could make his escape, Matthew's hand shot out like lightning, gripping the thief's arm with an iron hold.
"What do you think you're doing? Stealing my phone?" Matthew said calmly.
The snatcher struggled to pull free, panic flashing in his eyes as he realized he couldn't break Matthew's grip. "Get off me!" he shouted, his other hand reaching for something in his pocket.
A glint of metal caught Matthew's eye, and the snatcher pulled out a pocket knife, aiming for Matthew's neck. Before anyone could react, the blade struck Matthew's skin with a sharp click.
But instead of piercing flesh, the blade snapped in half as if it had struck solid steel. The snatcher's eyes widened in horror, his hand trembling as he stared at the broken knife.
"What... what are you?" the snatcher gasped, his voice barely above a whisper.
Matthew knew he couldn't afford to attract any more attention. The other passengers were already watching, some whispering to each other, their eyes darting between him and the snatcher.
"Give me my fucking phone!"
The snatcher was too terrified to resist any further. He dropped the broken knife and reached into his pocket, trembling as he handed the phone back.
The other passengers were already starting to murmur, their eyes glued to the scene unfolding in front of them. Matthew didn't want to make any more of a spectacle. He had already attracted too much attention.
Taking his phone back, he released the snatcher, who stumbled backward, his face pale and drenched in sweat. He bolted out of the jeepney without another word, disappearing into the crowded streets as fast as his legs could carry him.
Matthew sat back, putting his phone in his pocket this time. The passengers continued to glance his way, but no one said anything. He understood their curiosity and confusion.
"It was a fake knife, it didn't hurt," he said to the passengers, misleading them of what truly happened.
"Are you okay?" one of the concerned passengers asked.
"I am okay, thank you."
"Be careful from now on, don't use your phone while in the jeep," they advised.
"I will from now on," Matthew said.
"Cubao!" shouted the driver.
"Para!" Matthew called out, signaling the driver to stop. The jeepney slowed to a halt, and Matthew carefully maneuvered his way out, still feeling the lingering gazes of the passengers on his back.
After a short walk, he arrives at the queue where vans are parked that were bound to Montalban. He took the front seat as there was no one sitting there and it was a premium spot and paid the conductor the fare which cost about 50 pesos or almost one dollar.
The agenda for today was to understand further his power in an isolated place, far from prying eyes. And he had a list of what he should do to achieve his goal for today.