The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Kane stirred first, slowly opening his eyes, feeling the familiar comfort of his bed. He sat up and stretched, his gaze landing on Leo, sprawled out on his bed like a starfish. His wild hair stuck out in all directions, and he snored loudly, his mouth wide open. Kane stifled a laugh; Leo looked like he was wrestling an invisible bear in his sleep.
"Honestly, how does he not wake himself up with all that noise?" Kane muttered under his breath, shaking his head in amusement.
From the other side of the room, a quiet voice responded. "I've been wondering the same thing for years." Liam, already awake and sitting on the edge of his bed, smirked as he slipped on his socks. "Good morning, Kane."
Kane grinned. "Morning, Liam. Leo's still dead to the world, I see."
Before Liam could respond, Leo let out an especially loud snore, followed by a snort, then silence. For a moment, it seemed like peace had finally returned to the room, until Leo's eyes fluttered open. "Wha—what's going on?" he mumbled groggily, wiping his face as he sat up, blinking at Kane and Liam.
"Good of you to join us, Sleeping Beauty," Kane teased, tossing a pillow at him.
Leo swatted it away, yawning. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. You guys are just jealous of my beauty sleep."
"Well, while you were busy being a human foghorn, we were thinking about breakfast and of course, the map we found yesterday. But first… dibs on the bathroom!" Kane announced, springing to his feet and making a dash for the door.
"Oh, no you don't!" Leo yelled, suddenly wide awake, leaping out of bed and nearly tripping over his own feet. Liam, already ahead of the game, casually sauntered toward the bathroom door with a sly smile.
"Too slow, boys," Liam said, slipping inside just before they reached him and locking the door with a soft click.
"Liam, you traitor!" Leo groaned, banging on the door dramatically. Kane stood beside him, shaking his head.
"We should've known," Kane muttered, crossing his arms.
Leo shot him a sideways glance. "Hey, at least you have the luxury of not smelling like I wrestled a pig last night."
Kane smirked. "Considering how you were snoring, it wouldn't surprise me if you actually did."
The bickering continued, punctuated by occasional banging on the door until, finally, Liam emerged looking fresh, calm, and entirely unbothered. "Bathroom's all yours, boys."
"Thank God," Leo muttered, racing inside before Kane could get a word in. Kane, resigned to waiting, rolled his eyes and flopped back onto his bed, already imagining the chaos of their day ahead.
A short while later, all three of them were clean, dressed, and ready to go. They'd all opted for their usual laid-back style—hoodies, jeans, and sneakers. Their outfits were so similar they could've been mistaken for a team, each boy rocking a different shade of hoodie: Kane in navy blue, Leo in vibrant red, and Liam in black. They had the kind of effortless coordination that only close friends could pull off.
Once dressed, they grabbed their skateboards, their trusty companions for the weekend. Kane's skateboard had a sleek black design with white stripes running down the middle, giving it a classic, minimalist look. Leo's board, true to his personality, was loud and flashy, covered in bright graffiti-style designs and neon accents. Liam's skateboard was the most low-key, painted matte grey with a simple, understated logo on the bottom.
Kane gave his board a once-over, running his fingers along the wheels. "Alright, boys, we ready for today's adventure?"
Leo grinned, flipping his skateboard in his hands. "Ready? I've been waiting my whole life for this treasure hunt!"
Liam chuckled, adjusting his hoodie. "Let's just survive breakfast first."
As if on cue, the smell of freshly made pancakes wafted up from the kitchen, making their stomachs growl in unison. "That's our cue," Kane said with a grin.
They grabbed their boards and headed for the door, ready to tackle breakfast before the real adventure began.
***
The boys bounded down the stairs like a pack of wild animals, skateboards in hand. Mrs. Eldridge barely had time to greet them before they dove into the breakfast spread like it was their last meal. Pancakes disappeared, bacon was inhaled, and syrup dripped down their chins as they hurriedly stuffed their faces, excitement bubbling in their veins.
"Boys, at least—" Mrs. Eldridge tried to say, but they were already halfway through the meal. Within minutes, the table was cleared, and the boys stood up, looking ready to take on the world.
Kane grinned, giving Mrs. Eldridge a thumbs-up. "Best breakfast ever, Mrs. E! We'll see you later!"
Just before they left, Leo spotted Sophie sitting at a nearby table. Without thinking, he flashed her a wink. Sophie's face instantly turned pink, her friends bursting into giggles.
Kane nudged Leo. "Smooth."
"Very," Liam added, his deadpan delivery making Kane snicker as they headed outside.
—
The boys continued down the stairs, stomachs grumbling in anticipation. Mrs. Eldridge, their housekeeper, had set the table with an impressive spread—pancakes, bacon, eggs, and more. But before they could dive in, Leo's eyes caught something. Or rather, someone.
"Is that Sophie?" Leo whispered to Kane, barely containing his excitement. She was seated at a nearby table, chatting with her friends.
Kane glanced over, rolling his eyes. "Oh no, here we go."
Leo puffed out his chest, smoothing his hair and sauntering over like he was walking the red carpet. Kane and Liam watched, trying—and failing—not to laugh.
"Morning, ladies," Leo said, leaning casually against the chair, which immediately slipped, causing him to stumble. He quickly caught himself and grinned, as if the near fall had been part of the plan. "Sophie, good to see you."
Sophie looked up, her cheeks flushing pink. Her friends burst into giggles, but not the kind Leo was hoping for.
Kane shook his head. "Smooth."
"Very," Liam deadpanned, stuffing another piece of bacon in his mouth.
Leo made his way back, pretending not to notice the laughter still ringing behind him. "You see that? Nailed it."
"Yeah," Kane smirked, "like a wrecking ball."
Once they finally finished eating—Leo still pretending his moment with Sophie hadn't been a disaster—they grabbed their skateboards and headed out the door, ready for whatever lay ahead.
---
Outside, the city of Veridan buzzed with futuristic energy. Hovercars zoomed overhead, and holographic billboards flickered with neon lights. The boys kicked off on their skateboards, weaving through the bustling streets with ease, their movements fluid and precise.
Kane was first, launching off the sidewalk and flipping his board mid-air. He landed perfectly, barely breaking stride. Leo followed, zipping through a narrow alley, his board spinning beneath him before touching down with a sharp skid. Not to be outdone, Liam slid effortlessly along a steel railing, balancing with one foot as if gravity was just a suggestion.
People turned to watch them, impressed by the boys' seemingly otherworldly skills, but this wasn't out of the ordinary in Veridan. The city was a blend of the incredible and the impossible, where people with unique abilities roamed the streets, thanks to the Essence stone.
Decades ago, explorers discovered the Essence stone in a galaxy far beyond Earth. A mysterious gem that radiated an unknown energy, it transformed science forever. Researchers figured out how to harness the stone's power, developing power hubs that could grant abilities—super speed, telekinesis, even elemental control. But, as with everything valuable, these hubs came with a price tag. Only the wealthy could afford them, leaving people like Kane, Leo, and Liam on the outside looking in.
Still, the streets of Veridan were a sight to behold. Civilians used their abilities casually—one person levitated their shopping bags alongside them, another used a gust of wind to push their hoverboard faster. Everywhere they turned, there were flashes of power. The boys had grown up seeing it, and though they couldn't access those abilities themselves, their skateboarding skills had almost become their way of defying the odds.
"Wish we had a power hub," Kane muttered, kicking off the pavement and flipping over a nearby bench. "We'd be unstoppable."
Leo laughed, spinning on his board. "Who needs a hub when you've got style?"
As they turned the corner, the atmosphere shifted. The tall, gleaming skyscrapers of the city faded away, replaced by older, grittier buildings. They reached their destination—a massive, abandoned warehouse. Its rusted exterior and broken windows stood in stark contrast to the high-tech world around it.
Kane pulled to a stop, staring up at the building. "This is the place."
Leo gave a low whistle. "Looks like something out of a horror movie."
Liam, as usual, was calm, eyeing the warehouse with a sense of curiosity. "Well, the map led us here. Let's see what's inside."
As they stood before the old building, a strange feeling washed over them—a mixture of excitement and unease. Whatever was waiting for them inside, they were ready. Or at least, they thought they were.
---
And so, they stood on the threshold, the rusted door creaking as Kane reached out to push it open. What lay beyond? Answers, danger, or maybe something that would change their lives forever.