Nathan sat on the cold, unyielding floor of his cell, his back pressed against the wall. His body ached from the endless rounds of testing, his spirit bruised and battered. But through the pain, he sensed something shifting within him—a flicker of warmth beyond the crushing, unrelenting heat that seemed determined to eat him alive.
His eyes fluttered shut as he focused inward, feeling the slow, almost rhythmic pulse of the fire. It was buried deep, hiding beneath his skin, ready to ignite at a moment's notice. If I can feel it, maybe I can control it… he thought, letting the idea take root. For the first time, he felt a faint spark of hope, something tangible in the otherwise bleak, sterile containment.
He steadied his breathing, trying to reach past the surface sensations of heat and pain to the core where the fire lived. It took every ounce of concentration, but slowly, he felt his body temperature shift—a barely perceptible increase, yet unmistakable. His skin prickled, warmth spreading through his chest, growing hotter, more intense.
A shiver of excitement broke his focus. His control slipped, and the fire ebbed, leaving him gasping. But he'd done it, if only for a moment. A faint, fragile sense of triumph settled over him. He had influenced the fire, however fleetingly, and that meant this prison didn't have full control over him.
The System's notification glimmered in his mind, breaking through the silence: "Practice, lest the fire consume you."
Nathan's lips quirked into a faint smirk. "Practice, huh?" he muttered. "Guess even this twisted thing thinks I've got potential."
Despite everything, he found himself talking to the System as if it were a presence, something alive with intent. Perhaps it was foolish, but right now, it was the only thing giving him direction. He would practice. He'd become something the GRA couldn't contain, a force they could neither understand nor break.
He closed his eyes again, sinking back into the stillness, focusing on that hidden ember. He coaxed it forward, feeling its heat rise, letting it settle under his skin without burning him out. Time melted away as he repeated the exercise, gradually building his tolerance to the flame.
Sometime later, as he sat in the corner of his cell, his body humming with controlled warmth, a pair of guards entered, followed by a tall figure. It was Agent Kael, whose sharp gaze swept over Nathan, sizing him up with a look that held both suspicion and something else… a glint of interest.
Kael crossed his arms, arching a brow. "You look better than you did a few days ago. Maybe we're not trying hard enough."
Nathan met his gaze, an unspoken defiance sparking between them. "Or maybe you underestimated me."
Kael's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Underestimating an anomaly isn't exactly my style. But you…" He looked him up and down. "You're proving… unpredictable."
"Is that what you call it?" Nathan shot back, straightening. He wanted to show Kael that he was stronger, that despite everything, they hadn't broken him.
Kael's gaze narrowed. "More like an outlier," he said coolly, as if savoring the word. "You think you're special because you're still standing? All I see is a fire we haven't doused yet."
Nathan clenched his jaw, feeling the heat within him flicker in response. He knew better than to let Kael see it, but that spark of control he'd discovered was still there, like a shield he could raise when he needed it. And for once, he felt he had something they couldn't see, a small shred of defiance they hadn't stripped from him.
"Enjoy your delusions, Wilson," Kael continued, turning away. "In the end, they won't save you."
As he left, Nathan's hands clenched into fists, a low growl escaping his throat. He wouldn't be anyone's prisoner, not Kael's and certainly not the GRA's.
The hours in his cell passed slowly. He continued practicing, each time coaxing a little more heat, a little more control. His skin prickled with warmth, the temperature building steadily as he pushed his limits. But he was careful, never letting it reach the tipping point where he lost control. He had to be patient, to cultivate it slowly.
And then, as he concentrated on the fire within, something unexpected happened.
The air around him shimmered, and a faint flicker—a flash of something beyond the cell walls—appeared before him. It was a shadowy vision, but unmistakable: a split-second view of the Primordial Fire Realm, a world engulfed in flames and chaos. Fiery entities swirled within, creatures that seemed both alive and part of the inferno itself.
The vision ended as quickly as it had come, leaving him disoriented, his mind reeling. But there was no mistaking it: his Gate had almost activated. He could feel it pulling him toward that realm, beckoning him to return.
The corrupted System buzzed with new words: "First steps taken. Strength will bring you closer to freedom."
Nathan took a shaky breath, excitement mixing with terror. He was onto something, something that might eventually lead him out of this nightmare. All he had to do was keep pushing, keep growing this ember within him until it blazed.
Later, as Nathan lay on the cold floor, recovering from the strain, he heard the heavy clank of the door opening again. He glanced up, heart pounding, expecting Kael or another guard. But this time, it was a woman he hadn't seen before, with striking green eyes that seemed to pierce right through him.
She studied him with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. "So, this is the anomaly they're all talking about?" she said, as if he were a specimen in a petri dish.
Nathan straightened. "And you are?"
She didn't answer immediately, just crossed her arms, inspecting him. "Let's just say I'm… interested in the rumors." Her gaze lingered on him, studying the faint sheen of sweat on his brow, the heat he could barely contain.
Nathan's jaw tightened. "Is that why you're here? To stare?"
She smirked, tilting her head. "I heard you've been seeing things. Worlds that don't belong here. Thought I'd see if the rumors were true."
He hesitated, unsure of her intentions. "And if they are?"
Her eyes flashed with something dangerous. "Then I'd say you're living on borrowed time, Wilson. The GRA doesn't tolerate anomalies that can breach realms. You're a liability—one they won't let live if you become too much of a threat."
Nathan felt his pulse quicken, but he kept his expression steady. "I'm no threat," he lied.
She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Oh, you will be. And when that time comes, you'll either burn or they'll turn you to ash themselves."
With that, she turned and left, her footsteps echoing down the corridor. As the door closed, Nathan felt the fire within him stir, as if responding to her words, as if daring him to prove her wrong.
Hours passed. Alone in the silence of his cell, he reached inward, feeling the warmth of the fire pulsing beneath his skin. The System's words echoed in his mind: "Practice, lest the fire consume you." The phrase was haunting, almost as if it carried a warning. He knew he had to master this, or it would devour him from within.
He took a deep breath, summoning the heat, letting it rise through him. It wasn't much, just a small increase, but he could feel it thrumming, controlled, directed. It responded to his will, a faint glimmer of power that no one could strip from him.
This fire is mine, he thought, focusing his intent, letting the flames settle. And one day, it'll be strong enough to tear down these walls.
The System's prompt appeared once more, faint but distinct: "Strength will bring you closer to freedom."
Nathan lay back, his chest rising and falling as he absorbed the words. It was a reminder, a silent encouragement. He wasn't just a prisoner here—he was a force waiting to ignite. And when that moment came, the GRA would regret everything they'd done to him.
For now, he would bide his time, nurture the ember. Because with each flicker, each second of control, he was one step closer to his freedom.
And when he finally answered the fire's call, the world would burn.