Chapter 1 – The Dream That Haunts Me
Darkness. Silence. Then—screams.
Flashes of fire. A woman's voice, desperate, calling his name. A shadowed figure loomed above her, its eyes glowing like molten gold. She reached out for him, but he couldn't move. Chains wrapped around his body, pulling him into the abyss.
Then, a whisper. Cold, menacing.
"Wake up, Metro."
Metro's eyes shot open.
He gasped, sitting up in his bed, sweat dripping down his forehead. His breath came in short, uneven bursts as he looked around his dimly lit room. The same nightmare. Every single night for the past year.
His body trembled as he ran a hand through his messy black hair. What did it mean? Who was that woman? Why did it feel so... real?
Shaking his head, he pushed off the bed, his feet touching the cold floor. The walls of his small apartment felt suffocating. He needed air.
Dragging himself to the bathroom, Metro turned on the sink and splashed water onto his face. As he lifted his head, he caught his reflection in the cracked mirror. His tired, deep-blue eyes stared back at him, filled with questions he had no answers to.
Then, a thought came to him. Her.
The only person he remembered from his past—the woman in his dreams. His mother.
She was the only memory he had before waking up in Neo City years ago. No father, no family—just her fading image in his mind. He gritted his teeth. Why can't I remember more?
Neo City: The City of Chaos
The sun barely pierced through the thick, grey clouds hanging over Neo City. The towering skyscrapers stretched high, casting long shadows over the streets below. Holographic billboards flashed with advertisements, and crowds moved like a restless ocean.
Metro dressed quickly, throwing on his school uniform—a black blazer, white shirt, and dark pants. With his bag slung over one shoulder, he stepped onto the noisy streets, blending into the crowd.
But even as he walked, his mind wasn't at peace.
Whispers. Echoes.
"Why is he always alone?"
"I heard he never talks to anyone."
"Creepy."
Their voices seeped into his head like a leaking faucet. Metro gritted his teeth, gripping the strap of his bag tighter. His powers were acting up again.
He could hear thoughts—fragments of people's minds. A power he never understood, a curse he could never turn off.
The noise grew louder. More voices. More emotions.
Too much.
His hands clenched, sparks flickering around his fingertips. The energy inside him stirred, threatening to break loose. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. Not here. Not now.
Spotting the bus stop ahead, Metro ran. The sound of the city faded as he reached the high-graded school bus, quickly stepping inside.
Students filled the seats, their conversations buzzing around him. But as soon as he sat down—the whispers returned.
"That's Metro… the weirdo."
"He's always so quiet. Freak."
"I bet he doesn't even have friends."
Metro closed his eyes, shutting them out. They were right. He had no friends.
The Mysterious Man
The school hallways were noisy as students moved between classes. Metro didn't care. He kept his head down, avoiding eye contact, walking alone like he always did.
But then—a voice stopped him.
"You're not controlling your powers well."
Metro turned sharply. A man stood in front of his locker—someone he had never seen before. He was tall, dressed in a black suit with silver patterns, his sharp golden eyes locked onto Metro.
Something about him felt… off.
Metro frowned. "Who are you?"
The man smirked. "So, you don't remember me? No surprise. Your mind was wiped, after all."
Metro's heart pounded. What did he just say?
"You've been dreaming, haven't you?" the man continued. "Seeing things you don't understand? Hearing voices? You think it's just your power… but it's more than that."
Metro's hands clenched into fists. "What the hell are you talking about?"
The man chuckled. "Still stubborn, just like your father."
Father?
Metro's energy flared—electric blue sparks crackling around his hands.
The man's smirk widened. "Still can't control it, huh? Pathetic."
Metro took a step forward, his breath heavy. "Who are you?"
The man tilted his head. "You'll know soon enough." Then, before Metro could react, the man walked past him, disappearing into the crowd.
Metro stood frozen, his mind racing. Who was that? How did he know about my dreams? About my father?
His heart pounded as frustration built inside him. What was happening to him?
The Universe Within
The next thing Metro knew—he was somewhere else.
A vast, dark expanse stretched infinitely around him, filled with swirling stars and galaxies. He wasn't in the school anymore.
He was in the Void.
And in front of him… was himself.
Or rather, something inside him.
A shadowy figure, glowing with the same electric-blue energy, floated before him. Its voice was deep, yet familiar. "You're too lonely."
Metro's jaw tightened. "I don't need anyone."
The figure chuckled. "Liar."
Metro narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"
"To train you. To prepare you. The ones who are coming won't hold back."
Metro scoffed. "I don't need training."
The figure's glow pulsed. "We'll see about that."
Before Metro could speak again, a voice cut through the darkness.
"Metro!"
His eyes snapped open.
He was back in class. His teacher stood over him, arms crossed. The entire class stared at him.
"Are you sleeping in my lesson?" the teacher demanded.
Metro swallowed hard. His hands trembled slightly as he realized—that wasn't just a dream.
Something inside him had awakened.
And soon, the real nightmare would begin.
— End of Chapter 1