The air in Ivory City had grown thick with tension. James Maxwell stood on the rooftop of an abandoned building, his gaze locked on the horizon where the moon hung low, casting an eerie glow over the city below. He was alone, though he didn't feel entirely at peace. The city seemed quieter than usual, like it was holding its breath, waiting for something to break the stillness.
The other members of Alpha Squad were scattered around the city, each one tending to their own mission. James had been given the task of tracking down a series of unusual energy readings that had surfaced in the outskirts of town. The source was uncertain, but the readings were too strong to ignore. Something—or someone—was out there, and it wasn't natural.
His thoughts were interrupted by the crackle of his communicator. A familiar voice buzzed through the static.
"James, do you copy?" Peter Evans' voice was sharp, urgent. "You need to get to the northern district, now."
"What's going on?" James replied, his muscles tensing as he adjusted the strap of his gauntlet, ready for whatever came next.
"It's Alex. He's in trouble," Peter continued, his voice strained. "There's… something wrong with him."
James' stomach twisted. Alex Nolan, his closest friend and fellow Alpha Squad member, was known for his fiery temper—literally. His ability to control fire made him one of the strongest members of the squad, but there were moments when his powers seemed to overwhelm him. James had seen the signs before: Alex's powers growing unstable during moments of high stress, his flames flickering out of control.
"I'm on my way," James said, leaping off the rooftop. He felt the rush of wind as he fell, activating his alchemy abilities to slow his descent. In an instant, he landed softly on the ground, his feet barely making a sound as he sprinted toward the northern district.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the northern district, Alex stood at the center of an open square, surrounded by swirling tendrils of blue fire. It was unlike anything they'd seen before. The flames had always been orange, red, or yellow, but this—this was different. The blue flames burned with an intense cold, their light casting strange shadows on the crumbling buildings around him. His body trembled, sweat beading on his forehead as he struggled to contain the growing storm of energy within him.
"Calm down, Alex," he muttered to himself, his voice shaky. But it was no use. The flames were in control now, not him. The moment he tried to extinguish them, they flared higher, lashing out like a wild beast. The heat was unbearable, and yet, the flames felt frigid. His entire body was wracked with pain as they coursed through him, and he could barely focus enough to keep standing.
"Alex!" Samantha's voice rang out from behind him. He turned, his eyes wild, his vision blurred with sweat and smoke. Samantha Smith, her light powers glowing softly in the darkness, approached cautiously, her hands raised in a peaceful gesture.
"Get back, Sam," Alex grunted, his voice hoarse. "I don't have control. I can't… I don't know what's happening…"
"We're here to help," Samantha said, her voice firm but compassionate. "Let us help you."
The flames around Alex flared again, more violently this time. But before they could spiral out of control, a figure appeared in the distance. It was James.
"Alex!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the wind. "You need to focus! Let me help you contain it."
Alex didn't respond. His eyes flickered toward James, but it was as if he couldn't see him, or if he did, he was too far gone to recognize him. The flames lashed out at the ground, leaving scorch marks on the cracked pavement.
James stepped forward slowly, his gauntlet glowing as he began to channel his alchemy. He focused on the energies around Alex, trying to sense the flow of power and find a way to anchor it. The blue flames were unlike anything he had encountered before—there was something unnatural about them. Something familiar.
"James, be careful!" Samantha shouted, but it was too late.
The moment James made contact with the flames, they surged toward him like a tidal wave, engulfing him in a burst of blue light. His alchemy reacted instinctively, pushing the flames away, but the force of the blast knocked him off his feet. His mind raced as he tried to make sense of what was happening. The flames weren't just destructive—they were changing the very air around them, warping the space in ways that made his abilities unstable.
"Alex, snap out of it!" James cried, struggling to stand. He could feel the weight of the flames, the pressure of them trying to tear him apart. He had to reach his friend before it was too late.
But Alex's eyes—those bright, fiery eyes—were no longer his. They had shifted, a strange, unnatural blue glow taking over. It wasn't just fire. It was something else. Something dark.
"I… I can't stop it…" Alex's voice was barely a whisper as the flames continued to rage around him.
James' heart sank. He knew they had to do something fast. The power inside Alex was growing exponentially, and if they didn't contain it soon, it could destroy the entire district.
"We need help," James said, turning to Samantha. "We need Peter."
To be continued...