What happens when your entire world shatters in an instant? How do you rebuild a life that no longer feels like your own? Can broken pieces ever truly fit back together?
Adrian's thoughts churned as he walked out of the hospital. Lucy clung to his arm, her grip tighter than usual, her face pale and her eyes heavy with unshed tears. Lucas and Nova had been advised to stay in the hospital for further observation, leaving Adrian and Lucy alone for now.
"Are you sure you're okay to leave, Lucy?" Adrian asked softly, glancing at his sister.
She gave a small nod, but her voice trembled. "I... I don't know. Everything feels wrong."
Adrian sighed. How am I supposed to fix this? He wanted to reassure her, to tell her everything would be okay—but he couldn't bring himself to lie.
Lucy's friends had offered her a place to stay, but Adrian wasn't comfortable leaving her with them. "Adrian," one of her friends, a tall girl with chestnut hair, had said earlier, "she needs space to heal. We'll take care of her, I promise."
Adrian's reply was quick and firm. "No. She's staying with me."
He'd taken the matter to the school authorities. It took hours of pleading, but they eventually agreed to let Lucy stay in the dorms, despite her not being a student.
"Thank you," Adrian had said, the weight on his chest lifting slightly.
The dorm was built for four occupants, and the school decided to assign Lucas and Nova to live with Adrian and Lucy once they recovered.
A few days later, Lucas and Nova arrived at the dorm. As Adrian opened the door, a familiar voice greeted him.
"Miss me yet, brainiac?" Lucas said, grinning despite the bandages on his arm.
Nova elbowed him playfully. "As if he'd miss you. Clearly, I'm the favorite."
"Keep dreaming," Adrian said, managing a small smile. "Come in, you two. Lucy's been waiting to see you."
Inside, Lucy stood awkwardly by the couch. "H-Hi, guys," she said, her voice shaky.
Nova knelt to meet Lucy's gaze. "Hey, kiddo. How are you holding up?"
"I... I don't know," Lucy admitted. "It's hard..."
Lucas stepped forward, his usual confidence giving way to gentleness. "We're all in this together. Don't forget that, okay?"
Lucy nodded, her lips quivering.
The group settled in, but the air was heavy with grief. Conversations were brief, and laughter felt distant—a sound from a time they could barely remember.
Later that evening, a sharp knock broke the silence. Adrian walked to the door and opened it to find two people in formal black uniforms, their sharp gazes scanning the room.
The Power Analytical Organization, Adrian thought, his heart sinking.
The PAO was everywhere—almost like a government unto itself. It wasn't just an organization; it was a mega franchise spanning the globe. Their mission was threefold: study the mysterious powers that flowed through people's eyes, uncover the origins of the Extraterrestrial Threats (ETTs), and find ways to use these powers for the betterment of humanity.
Sounds noble, right? Adrian mused. But let's not forget they're also the reason powers are so strictly regulated. It's hard to trust an organization that keeps so many secrets.
He forced himself to focus as one of the agents addressed him.
"Adrian Clarke?"
"Uh... yes, that's me," Adrian replied cautiously.
"We're agents from the Power Analytical Organization," the woman said, flashing a badge. "May we come in?"
Adrian stepped aside, his heart pounding.
"What's this about?" Lucas asked from the couch, narrowing his eyes.
The male agent replied, "We need to ask you all a few questions regarding the portal incident and subsequent attack."
Nova crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "And where were you guys before everything went to hell? You're supposed to stop this kind of thing, aren't you?"
The female agent winced but maintained her composure. "We acknowledge our failure to detect the portal in time. For that, we deeply apologize."
Lucas scoffed. "Apologies don't bring back our families."
Adrian placed a hand on Lucas's shoulder, silently urging him to calm down.
The agents continued, "We're here to ensure this doesn't happen again. We also want to offer support. The PAO will cover your school and college fees, as well as your living expenses, as compensation for what you've lost."
Nova's expression softened slightly, but her voice remained sharp. "That's the least you can do."
The questioning began. The agents wanted to know everything—what they saw, how the attack unfolded, and if anything unusual occurred. Adrian answered honestly, describing the chaos, the appearance of the mysterious man, and how Lucy's shield eventually failed.
But when the agents turned their attention to him, asking about the golden glow in his left eye, Adrian hesitated.
"And you, Adrian?" the male agent asked. "Do you recall anything unusual about yourself during the incident?"
Adrian shook his head quickly. "No. Nothing out of the ordinary."
It was a lie, but he couldn't bring himself to share the truth—the dark void, the voice that called him weak, and the golden eye that now resided within him.
Finally, the agents retrieved a small, crystalline orb from a reinforced case. The object gleamed faintly in the dim light.
"This," the woman said, "is the Power Class Classification Orb. We've received reports about your unique left eye."
Adrian stiffened. "My eye?"
"Yes. This orb will determine the class of your power," she explained.
Lucas frowned. "Wait, isn't that the thing that lights up? White for Common, green for Uncommon, red for Rare, blue for Unique?"
"And black for Calamity," Nova added, her voice low. "But that's just a myth, right?"
The male agent exchanged a glance with his partner before replying, "The Calamity Class hasn't been recorded in over a thousand years. Most believe it's a myth."
Adrian's chest tightened. A myth... right.
The agent gestured toward the orb. "Please place your hand on it."
Adrian stared at the glowing orb, his mind racing. What will it reveal?
"Adrian?" Lucy whispered, her voice trembling. "Are you okay?"
He forced a smile. "Yeah. I'm fine."
Slowly, he raised his hand and placed it on the orb. The room seemed to hold its breath as the orb began to glow faintly...
And then—
To be continued...