Chapter 1: The experiment

The narrow back streets near Westerly High were typically deserted after school hours, making them an ideal haunt for those looking to settle scores away from prying eyes. Today, Leo found himself the unwilling star in a familiar, brutal play—the role of the victim, and his classmates, the aggressors.

"Hey, Null, why so down? Oh right you can't do shit" Derek taunted, his voice echoing off the grimy brick walls. He was a tall, brawny teen with a sneer that seemed permanently etched on his face, his powers of super strength making him one of the powerful ones in school.

Leo's back was against the cold, rough surface of the wall. He clenched his fists, the knuckles whitening. Years of being the target had filled him with a simmering, silent rage, one that was now bubbling dangerously close to the surface.

"Why don't you shut the hell up, Derek!?" Leo shot back, surprising himself with the volume of his own voice.

The group of power-abled teenagers surrounding Derek erupted in laughter. "Ooh, the Null's got some fire today!" one of them jeered, a skinny boy with the ability to manipulate winds, which he now used to blow dust into Leo's eyes.

Rubbing his eyes fiercely, Leo felt a sting not just from the dirt but from the years of accumulated insults and physical assaults. Today felt different, though. Usually he'll just hang his head and do nothing but Today, he felt a spark of something fierce within him. Without another thought, he swung his fist, connecting with Derek's jaw with a satisfying thud.

A shocked silence fell over the group. Derek touched his jaw, disbelief quickly morphing into anger. "Ohh so you think you're the shit huh? yall nulls are gonna learn that y'all don't belong!!" he roared, and the laughter turned into angry shouts as the group closed in around Leo.

As Leo tried to run away derick already grabbed him by the collar and slung him crashing Leo to the ground. The fight was brutal. Derek's punches, empowered by his super strength, felt like being hit by a truck. Leo tried to defend himself, but he was outpowered. With each blow, he felt his consciousness waver, but he also felt a strange clarity. Every kick and punch he received was a reminder of the stark lines drawn by their society—a society where those like him, the Nulls, were considered less than human."Ummm derrick i think he had enough.." one of the boys said . derick pauses for a moment and looks towards his group and back to leo. With one final punch to the face derrick stares coldly at leo…"Remember this. you and your kind dont belong here, you and your kind are nothing!!". Derrick then let leo go letting leo lay there not only leaving him bruises but broken.

As Leo layed on the ground all he can just think about is how his life is. It's already bad enough that he gets bullied every day because he was born as a null, but he always gets discriminated against because of that.

As a little time went by Leo could barely stand up but he managed to stay on his feet and started to slowly make his way home.

Limping home, his body aching from the fight, Leo's thoughts were dark. His internal monologue ran rampant. *No matter what I do, I'm always seen as less—less valuable, less human. But I'm so tired of being helpless.*

Leo's home was a small, cluttered house on the edge of the city, filled with scientific journals and gadgets—a testament to his father's obsession with finding a cure for their 'condition'. Dr. Vincent Hale was a visionary scientist, and more importantly, a loving father who had watched his son come home with bruises far too many times.

"Leo!!?" Dr. Hale said, noticing the fresh bruises as Leo walked in. His voice was filled with panic and concern.

"Leo what happened to you?!!". "Talk to me!!"

"I…It's n..nothing, D..Dad. Just th…the usual welcoming co..committee," Leo tried to joke, but his voice broke halfway through.

Dr. Hale sighed, his face a mask of pain and resolution. "This can't go on, Leo. It's time we did something about it!."

"W..What can w..we do?" Leo question. "even if we go to the sc..school and report it 9 times outta 10 that won't m..make a difference".Dr. Hale then let out another sighed and spoked "Leo follow me. I think it's time to show you what I've been working on for the past 2 years."

Leo looked a tad bit confused but he didn't argue and proceeded to follow his dad towards the basement.

In the dim light of the basement that served as Dr. Hale's private lab, the air was thick with the promise of something radical, something dangerous. The walls were lined with monitors and high-tech equipment, some blinking steadily, others whirring quietly.

"I've been working on something, something that could change everything for you. But it's not without its risks..." Dr. Hale began, his eyes locked on Leo's, searching for fear, hesitation.

Leo, his body still throbbing with pain, felt a surge of hope. "I... I don't care about the risks. I can't live like this anymore."

The decision was made, Dr. Hale nodded solemnly. "Alright. We begin right now. This... this could either give you powers or..."

"Or?" Leo prompted, a knot of fear forming in his stomach.

"Or it could be too much for your body to handle." Dr. Hale's voice was a whisper now, heavy with the weight of what he was about to do to his own son."I DON'T CARE!!" Leo shouted. "All my life nothing ever good happens". "First mom left us because I was born a null!!" "Then I always get bullied because I was born as a null!!" "and we always get discriminated against because I was born as a null!!!" 

"Just relax, Leo. I know that both of us are not living good lives right now but I promise that this will change everything. so please hop on the machine and let it do its work," Dr. Hale instructed, though the tremor in his voice did nothing to ease Leo's nerves.

As Leo slowly hopped on the machine and began to start, Leo at first felt nothing but all of a sudden a rush of energy coursing through his body. It was overwhelming, terrifying, and exhilarating all at once. His vision blurred and then everything went black…

Outside, unbeknownst to both Leo and Dr. Hale, a shadowy figure watched through a hidden camera. The room, filled with its flickering lights and the hum of machinery, was under surveillance. A low voice crackled over a secure line.

"Subject Hale is proceeding with the experiment. Prepare the extraction team,".