Chapter Six: Discovering A Hidden World 1
Thursday morning arrived with a crisp chill in the air. Daniel sat at the small kitchen table, scrolling through his phone while his grandmother hummed softly in the background, washing the breakfast dishes.
He had barely slept the night before. The encounter with Mark Sūn kept looping in his mind, the faint bruises on Mark's skin, the way he had brushed off Daniel's questions. There's no way he's not cultivating too, Daniel thought. But if Mark was unwilling to talk, then Daniel needed to find answers elsewhere.
He opened a news app, typing keywords into the search bar: *extraordinary strength*, *unexplained resilience*, *miracle recovery*. Most of the results were sensational fluff pieces, but one headline caught his attention:
"Teen Girl Hit by Speeding Car Walks Away with Minor Injuries"
Daniel's heart raced as he clicked the article. According to the report, the girl—whose name was withheld—had been crossing a busy intersection in San Francisco when she was struck by a car going nearly forty miles per hour. Witnesses described her being thrown several feet, only to stand up moments later, bruised but otherwise unharmed. She had limped away before paramedics could arrive.
San Francisco.
Daniel leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen. If she's like me, then maybe... maybe she can tell me why this is happening.
He glanced at his grandmother, still busy with the dishes. She had always been supportive of him, taking him in after his parents left, but he wasn't sure how to explain this to her. How do you tell someone you're looking for people who can survive being hit by cars?
_____
After breakfast, Daniel stood in the doorway of the living room, his backpack slung over one shoulder. "Grandma, I'm not feeling great today. Can you call the school and let them know I'm sick?"
His grandmother turned, concern etched across her face. "You're not feeling well? What's wrong, Daniel? You've been looking tired lately."
"I think it's just a stomach bug," he lied, avoiding her gaze. "Nothing serious. I just need a day to rest."
She hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright. I'll call the school. But you should stay in bed and take it easy, okay?"
"Thanks, Grandma," he said, offering her a faint smile before retreating to his room.
_____
By mid-morning, Daniel was on a bus headed north, watching the suburban landscape give way to the urban sprawl of San Francisco. The city loomed ahead, a sea of towering buildings and rolling hills. The closer they got, the more his anticipation grew.
This was it—a chance to find others like him.
But as he stepped off the bus into the bustling streets of San Francisco, a sinking realization hit him: he had no idea where to start.
_____
Daniel spent hours wandering the city, checking every busy intersection and crowded plaza he came across. He replayed the details of the article in his mind, trying to imagine where the girl might have gone. But it was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
By late afternoon, frustration and desperation were setting in. He found himself standing on the edge of a busy street, watching cars whiz by. A reckless idea formed in his mind.
If I can't find them... maybe I can make them find me.
He took a deep breath, his heart pounding as he stepped closer to the curb. He stared at the oncoming traffic, timing the gaps between the cars. If I jump in front of one and survive, they'll know I'm like them.
His hands clenched into fists. He couldn't believe he was actually considering this, but what other option did he have?
Just as he was about to step into the street, he froze.
A girl was standing across the intersection, staring directly at him.
Her dark hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and she had a sharp, attentive expression that sent a jolt of familiarity through Daniel. He couldn't place her immediately, but something about her felt... known.
She wasn't moving, wasn't saying anything—just watching him intently, as if she knew exactly what he was planning to do.
Daniel's breath caught in his throat. Who is she?
Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them—a recognition, an understanding.
Before Daniel could say or do anything, the girl turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
"Wait!" he called, running after her and trying not to get hit by cars. But by the time he reached the other side of the intersection, she was gone.
Daniel stood there, his chest heaving, his mind racing. He didn't know who she was or why she had been watching him, but one thing was clear: she knew something.