Helena, Montana.
BIRSHA
Malacoda's orders echo in my mind as we step onto Earth: announce his arrival. The moment our feet touch the ground, chaos erupts. Humans scatter, some screaming, some frozen in place, their fear palpable. But a few brave souls—clad in black Kevlar vests, utility belts weighed down with sidearms, batons, and radios—step forward, guns aimed, determination in their eyes.
"Freeze!" one of them barks, his voice steady despite the trembling in his hands. "Hands up! Behind your head, and get on your knees!"
I glance around, the Earth beneath us, the sky above. "So, this is the infamous Earth," I muse, my voice laced with disdain. "A planet defined by its churning core of molten iron, the engine of its magnetic field. A world constantly reshaped by the slow grind of tectonic plates, forming and destroying the surface on which these humans live."
Another officer, voice tight with authority, starts reciting rights. "You have the right to remain silent! Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law..."
Allatou steps forward, a smirk playing on her lips. "Weapons? They dare to raise weapons against us?"
Aynat, eyes gleaming with dark amusement, answers her, "Of course, they do. But these toys are nothing to us. Their weapons are mere trinkets, useless against our kind."
More police arrive, sirens blaring as they jump out of their vehicles, guns drawn, creating a ring of steel around us.
"Don't move, or we'll open fire! Last warning—hands on your head, on your knees, now!"
Aynat's smile widens, cold and unyielding. "Kneel? Us, bow to you? How absurd. We do not kneel before the weak. You, humans, should be on your knees, bowing to your king."
A moment of silence hangs in the air, broken only by the labored breathing of the officers. "What do you mean, king?" one of them dares to ask, his voice cracking.
I don't need words to answer. With a single thought, I twist their weapons into grotesque shapes, the metal warping as if it has a mind of its own. The officers' eyes widen in terror, some dropping their guns, others rooted to the spot, fear locking their limbs.
"Jesus Christ, what are you?" stammers the first officer, his voice shaking with disbelief.
"I am Aynat, the goddess of ice," she replies, her voice dripping with cold malice. "And now, you shall freeze."
A creeping frost engulfs them, spreading from their feet upwards, encasing them in ice. They stand frozen, silent statues of fear. Allatou steps forward, flames dancing on his fingertips, and with a flick of his wrist, he sends fire spiraling towards the buildings and vehicles nearby, setting them ablaze.
In the chaos, I notice onlookers, their phones raised, capturing this moment. I focus my telekinesis, twisting their cars into monstrous forms, the screech of metal drowning out their screams. Panic spreads like wildfire, the crowd scattering, fleeing from the terror we've unleashed.
I raise my hands, directing the city's cameras towards us, capturing every moment as Aynat steps into view, her voice booming across the city.
"Hear me, humans!" she declares, her voice reverberating through the air. "Malacoda, the true king, shall reign over this world! He who was once dead now lives for eternity, holding the keys to Gavaria and death itself. Those who accept his rule will live under the illusion of freedom, ruling with absolute dominion. But those who defy him will suffer eternal slavery in the bottomless pit! You have fourteen days to choose—kingdom or damnation!"
Allatou turns to Aynat, a cruel grin on his face. "Think they heard you?"
Aynat's eyes flash with dark certainty. "Oh, they heard me."
"And if they didn't?" I ask, my voice low, filled with the promise of what's to come.
"They'll regret it," she says, her voice cold as ice. "Forever."
With that, I look skyward, a dark force field humming to life at my command. It pulses with a sinister energy, drawing us toward a future soaked in terror. The world below us trembles as we rise, leaving only fear in our wake.
Next Day. 6:00 a.m.
New York, USA.
LEONARD
The alarm blares, yanking me out of sleep. I fumble to silence it, my fingers clumsy in the early morning light. The clock is different—new, polished—when did I get that? Shaking off the thought, I glance over at Bonnie, still asleep, her breathing soft and steady. I lean over and plant a gentle kiss on her forehead before sliding out of bed.
The floor is cool under my feet as I drop into a series of push-ups, feeling the burn in my muscles. I follow up with pistol squats, then some sit-ups, and finish off with a quick spider crawl across the room. My body wakes up, the fatigue from sleep fading.
I head to the bathroom, brushing my teeth, the cold water shocking me fully awake. A quick shower later, I'm dressed and in the kitchen, prepping breakfast. As I arrange the food and set out some fruit on the dining table, I hear Bonnie coming down the stairs.
"Good morning, babe," she greets, her voice warm but still carrying that sleepy edge.
"Morning, dear. How'd you sleep?" I ask, glancing up as she approaches.
"Yeah... I slept well. What's all this?" She eyes the spread on the table, surprise flickering across her face when she spots the avocado toast.
"About to have breakfast," I reply casually.
Her eyebrows shoot up, and she breaks into a smile. "Wait... You made all this?"
"Yeah. Something wrong?"
"No, I'm just... impressed. You made my favorite, and I didn't even have to ask."
I chuckle, pulling out a chair. "What, you forget I can cook? Not just any cook, a *great* cook."
"Hmm. Last I checked, you were a scientist, not a chef," she teases, sitting down.
"True, but I didn't tell you my mom taught me how to cook all kinds of stuff—avocado toast, hamburgers, Texas barbecue, sausage, deep-dish pizza, pancakes, the works."
She leans back, eyes wide. "Seriously? Your mom taught you all that?"
I nod, sitting across from her. "Yep. Took four years, but I got it down."
"Wow. Never thought I'd see the day my boyfriend turns out to be a cook," Bonnie says, a hint of admiration in her voice as she picks up the remote and turns on the TV. She flips through the channels before settling on her morning program, but a flash of breaking news cuts in.
"Good morning. This is Jade Wesley reporting for CNN. Tragedy struck in Montana's northwestern region as a devastating explosion and fire claimed the lives of 65 civilians and 25 law enforcement officers. The cause of this horrific incident remains shrouded in mystery, with initial reports suggesting an unprecedented claim: Aliens were purportedly involved, hinting at an impending royal arrival..."
The newscaster falters, her expression turning grim as images of the creatures flash on screen. "What the hell," she mutters under her breath, the shock evident.
"Stay tuned for updates as investigators work to unravel this unprecedented event."
Bonnie's face pales, her gaze fixed on the screen. "Leonard, do aliens really exist?"
"I'm... not sure," I reply, my voice uncertain.
"Watch this."
I turn my attention to the TV, watching the footage in disbelief. The images of destruction and those... things. Bonnie turns off the TV, and we sit there, staring at each other, the room thick with unease.
"I thought aliens were just stories. Never knew they were real," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Me too," Bonnie replies, her face twisted in disgust. "It's awful. Those cops—they just froze, didn't even think to shoot. And all those people... dead. No one came to save them. No one. If you were there, Leo, you could have saved them. You would've made a difference."
"You're right," I say, a heavy sigh escaping me. "But I'm not a hero to the world. I'm just a hero to New York."
"Don't say that, Leonard," she insists, her eyes pleading. "You could be a hero to everyone. A legend. Not just some speedster stuck in one city."
"You know it's not that simple," I say, leaning back in my chair. "Being the fastest man on earth doesn't mean I can be everywhere at once. You know that, Bonnie."
"I do, but you can't just focus on New York and ignore the rest of the world. There are people out there who need you. Think about it, Leo."
She gets up from the table, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Her words hang in the air, and for a moment, I lose my appetite. A few minutes later, I head to the bedroom, gathering everything I need for the interview. As I walk into the living room, tying my tie, Bonnie returns and steps in to help.
"You didn't tie it right. Let me do it."
"Thanks."
"So, why the rush this morning?" she asks, her tone softening.
"You don't know what's on my mind," I say, chuckling lightly.
"Hmm. You seem really excited. Where are you heading?"
"A company. Got an interview today."
"Really? What kind of job?"
"Broadcasting. I'm going to be an anchor," I say with a grin.
Her hands freeze on the tie, shock washing over her face. "Wait... Are you telling me you applied for a job in broadcasting?"
"Yeah! Aren't you excited? I got a call from the company yesterday."
"No, I'm not, Leo!" she snaps, pulling her hands away. "Why would you apply for that when you know nothing about it?"
"Come on, Bonnie. I've done my research. I've read up on it, watched videos, learned the process..."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
She lets out a frustrated sigh. "I just don't understand why you'd go for something like that when there are other important jobs out there."
"Okay, I get it—you're mad. But there's no need for that, Bonnie. I've been job hunting for ages, and this is the first company that's called me back. Please, just support me on this."
Bonnie is quiet for a moment before she finally nods. I lean in, give her a quick kiss, and head out to my car.
CBS News Company
My heart races as I park and step out of the car. This is it—the place I've dreamed of working at since I was a kid. I walk into the building, my nerves buzzing, but I keep a smile on my face as I greet the interviewer. He smiles back and gestures for me to sit, probably because of my suit or how polite I was. After reading my CV, he introduces himself and opens his laptop, ready to start the interview.