The morning sunlight pours into the room, its rays slipping through the thin gaps in the curtains. Gentle light scatters across the dark interior, landing on Ren's still figure.
Ren is lying on his bed, unmoving, his body a mix of exhaustion and relief.
Slowly, he opens his eyes, blinking at the ceiling, taking in the morning light. His muscles ache, every stretch and strain from last night's chase making itself known.
I'm safe. The thought hits him as he rubs his eyes, though there's a tension lingering in the air.
I am safe.
He sits up, the familiar comfort of the mattress grounding him. The events of last night play back in his mind, vivid and unnerving.
He almost died. Almost got caught...
A chuckle escapes him, though it carries no joy. "Hah… last night was... really dangerous," he murmurs aloud, his voice hollow.
His hand instinctively traces down to his leg, where the bullet had torn through his flesh. The phantom pain still lingers, even though he has healed the wound completely. The memory is fresh, his skin still tingling with the echoes of violence.
I was shot. Bullets rained on me… but I survived. I survived and gained something new.
He leans back slightly, letting that reality sink in, but the weight of the night doesn't leave him. His gaze shifts to the window, the light bright but cold against his thoughts.
Who in the world were they? Government? Police? Some... organization? He furrows his brow, trying to make sense of it all.
They were good., too good actually. They almost had me.
Ren stands up and stretches, his body tense. A long yawn escapes him, his muscles unwinding slowly.
Sigh, If I hadn't awakened the shield... if I couldn't turn invisible... I'd be dead or worse. Caught. And if they caught me...
The image of himself strapped to a lab table flashes through his mind. Needles pricking his skin, scientists hovering over him like vultures, prodding, experimenting, turning him into their plaything.
He grimaces. "Fuck... it hurts to even imagine it."
He catches his reflection in the mirror. His eyes lock onto his own, unblinking.
"But, why are you so calm?" he whispers to the image in front of him.
"You almost died. You should be panicking, losing your mind. But you are... calm. Like last night didn't even happen. Like it was just some nightmare that passed."
Shaking his head, he steps toward the bathroom.
"I should feel something. Fear? Frustration? Anything. But why don't I?"
Ren strips off his clothes and steps into the shower. The warmth of the water cascades over his skin, soothing his aching body. He closes his eyes, letting the heat sink into his muscles.
"Ahhh... this feels good," he mutters under his breath. The tension easing slightly, but his mind doesn't seem to be stopping.
They're after me. I can't make any more mistakes. I need to know who they are before they come again. The thought circles in his mind, pressing in.
I don't want to end up on some lab table... I need to stay ahead of them.
He runs his hands through his wet hair, the water streaming over his face. And then, another thought creeps in, cold and sharp.
The Cameron family... they were caught because of me. His chest tightens.
They're going to be tortured, experimented on... all because I dragged them into this mess. All because I couldn't save them.
Because I'm still too weak.
Cameron was just a pawn, Ren tells himself, trying to shake the guilt. I shouldn't care. But... I do. I feel bad.
The water continues to pour over him, but the warmth doesn't comfort him now.
"They didn't deserve this. I got them involved, and they'll pay for it."
He sinks into the tub, dipping his body in the water, his mind clouded with guilt and regret.
I should have saved them. I should have been faster, stronger. I should have... He closes his eyes, letting the silence of the room press against him.
But I couldn't.
His fingers grip the edge of the tub, knuckles white.
"I'll get them out. Once I master this new power, I'll find them and break them out." But another voice in his head whispers,
Can they even survive that long?
He leans his head back, staring at the ceiling. Another thought strikes him again like a blow to the gut.
"What could I have done differently?" His mind races back to the helicopters, to the bullets that shredded the air around him.
I could have destroyed them. I had the power... I could have blown them out of the sky.
But I didn't. Why? Why didn't I?
His fingers clench into fists. I had the strength. A little telekinetic force, and I could have thrown them off balance. They wouldn't have stood a chance. But still, i hesitated.
"Was it because I didn't want to kill?"
The question lingers in his mind, heavy and uncomfortable. He exhales slowly, feeling the weight of it settle.
I haven't killed anyone yet... Directly. Maybe that's it. I didn't want to cross that line... not yet.
Even with the thugs, he remembers how he healed them after brutally beating them.
I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill.
He takes a deep breath, feeling a small flicker of relief.
It's okay. I don't need to kill. I have power... but I don't have to take lives. I can wound, break bones... but not kill.
The water starts to cool, and Ren pulls himself out of the tub. He wraps a towel around his waist, his thoughts still tangled in the aftermath of the night before.
He dresses quickly, slipping into his usual loose, comfortable clothes.
As he heads to the kitchen, a smile tugs at the corner of his lips.
At least now I have invisibility. It's not exactly in the way I wanted, but it works. It's even better than I imagined. I can shield myself as well... and no one will see me coming.
But those thoughts fade as soon as he steps into the kitchen. Lina is there, her back to him as she washes dishes. He watches her for a moment, the smile on his lips fading into something softer, more reflective.
I'll think about it later. He steps closer to her, his voice soft as he calls out,
"Hey, Lina."
She turns, surprised but smiling. "Hey..." Before she can say anything more, Ren grabs her hand and pulls her close. His lips press against hers, urgent and erratic. She's caught off guard, but a moment later, she leans into him, kissing him back.
It's a long kiss, a slow dance of emotions neither of them fully understands.
When Ren finally pulls back, a thin string of saliva connects their tongues, a bridge of unspoken feelings.
"What's the occasion?" Lina asks, her voice a little breathless, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement.
Ren lets out a sigh, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him again.
"I'm feeling down... I made a mistake."
Lina looks at him, her face softening with concern. "You don't look like you're sad, though."
Ren lets out a small laugh, though it's devoid of humor. "Don't go by my face. It always looks like this. But I did make a mistake... a big one."
Lina's voice turns gentle, her words soothing. "It's okay, Ren. Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is how you fix them."
He meets her gaze, her kindness cutting through the cloud of frustration in his mind.
"You're... comforting," he murmurs, his voice low. Without thinking, he kisses her again, this time softer, slower, as if her presence is the only thing grounding him right now.
As their lips part again, Ren looks at her, thinking to himself, Thank you, Lina. For being with me.