In
Neo York Dominion. Allen’s home.
Sunlight
pierced through Allen’s window. He got up from his bed and cracked
his window open. Early morning breeze. He picked a photo frame. Him,
his mentor Zen and another person with blonde hair. A smile went
across his face. His eyes were sad as he picked another with him and
his dad in it.
His
mom, Evelyn, just finished making breakfast. Nia, his younger
sister, rushed down the stairs to the kitchen.
‘You’re
fast! Where’s your brother?’
Nia
started with her food. ‘In his room, slow as usual.’
Evelyn
went up the stairs. ‘Allen! Hurry up! Your sister’s almost done.’
Allen
dashed down the stairs. In uniform. His bag on his shoulders. He
rushed to the dining room to have his breakfast. The smell of scrambled
eggs drifted upstairs.
Evelyn
leaned against the door frame. Her phone dinged. She checked it.
Work. She hurried.
‘You
guys! Hurry up, I’m leaving early today.’
‘Nia!’
She
turned to her mom.
‘Don’t
forget we’re going out after school.’ Evelyn echoed as she left
to get dressed.
****
Later,
Neo York City High.
Evelyn
dropped them off at school. Nia went along with her friends. Allen’s
all by himself. He entered the crowded hall.
Allen
kept his head down in the crowded hallway.
The
bell rang. First class was Biology Class.
Mr
Steven stepped forward. ‘Can anyone remind us of our last topic?’
He scanned the class. ‘Circulatory System.’
As
the students answered, Allen was busy sketching in his book.
Basketball strategies.
After
class. As Allen left for his locker, he clashed into some friends from
the junior basketball team.
‘Don’t
forget practice is in five, Allen!’
They
exchanged handshakes.
‘I
won’t.’ Allen’s headed to return some books.
At
the Basketball Court.
Allen
and his friends. The Junior Basketball team. They practised some
moves for the upcoming basketball season. Allen’s busy testing some
shots at the basket.
The
atmosphere changed when the senior barged in. One of them caught the
ball before it reached the basket. The juniors retreated as the
seniors took hold of the court. Allen didn’t move. A ball in his
grasp.
Mark
stepped forward. ‘Hand me that ball!’
Allen
changed his stance on the book. Unmoved.
He
reached forward. Veins across his neck. ‘Hand me that ball!’
‘Why
should I?’ Allen took a step forward.
Mark
laughed. He glanced at his mates. They also laughed. The students on
seat stopped leaving.
‘I
just want practice, kid. That’s all’ Mark moved closer.
His
hand stretched forward. Allen tossed the ball at him. Turned away and
started to leave. Mark threw the ball back at Allen.
Allen
paused as the ball hit him on the head.
‘What’s
the matter, kid?’ Mark chuckled. ‘You too want practice?’
He
laughed. Followed his friends. Their laughter echoed around the court.
Other students were quiet.
Allen
looked at them. They shook their heads.
Allen’s
fists clenched, then a smile covered his face. He faced Mark.
Mark
stopped laughing as he walked towards Allen.
‘Well
then, you and me. First to score twenty gets the court.’ Mark’s
eyes didn’t leave Allen.
‘Fine
by me.’ Allen backed up another two feet.
Mark
took the first draw. He scored. Point after point. As Allen took
hold of the ball, right on the spot, he scored a three-pointer. The
crowd cheered. Mark laughed.
‘Better
keep up, kid!’
As
Mark drove past him, Allen took hold of the ball. He started to catch
up with Mark. Two of Mark’s teammates joined in.
‘Let
your team in. As if they’ll be of any use, Mark exchanged
handshakes with his team.
Allen’s
team stepped back.
“ Just
back out, Allen,” one whispered.
Allen
turned back to the court and charged forward.
Allen
held his own against three seniors for ten minutes. Score tied.
Mark’s frustration built with every point Allen scored. The crowd
was loving it - junior holding off the seniors.
Mark
couldn’t let that stand. He drove towards the basket. Allen jumped
to block. Mark’s full weight came down on Allen’s knee.
Allen
heard it before he felt it. A wet pop. Then his leg bent sideways.
The ground rushed up. Pain exploded white - hot through his knee, up
his thigh, into his spine.
He
couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t scream. Just lay there, vision
tunnelling.
The
referee’s face appeared above him. Mouth moving. Allen couldn’t
hear over the ringing in his ears.
Someone
lifted him. His leg swung loose. That’s when he screamed.
The
School Clinic.
The
nurse clipped the X-ray to the lightbox. Even Allen could see it was
bad. The fracture line ran clean through.
“Three
weeks minimum. You’ll need crutches and follow-up at Central
Hospital.”
Allen
stared at the break in his bone.
At
home.
Allen
struggled to reach the stairs. He gritted his teeth. The pain kept
ringing in his knee. He pushed forward with the crutches as support.
His
hand was on the railing. One step at a time. His broken leg barely
touched the stairs. Halfway up, his phone buzzed.
He
flinched - missed a step. His crutch slipped. The fall was slow. His
knee slammed into the stair edge.
“Argh!”
For
a second, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling. Seventeen years old, and he couldn’t climb his own stairs.
His
hand banged against the wall. His broken knee hit the edge of a step.
White-hot pain shot through him again. He bit down hard to keep
himself from screaming. He checked his phone.
Mom
and I went out to get some stuff. Dinner’s in the fridge. Bye!
- From Nia.
He
sighed. His eyes were on the ceiling.
Good thing they’re not
here.
He
picked up his crutches. Next step.
Later
that night. Allen’s room.
Allen
woke to pain radiating from his knee. He reached for the brace - the
pain stopped.
He
sat up, heart hammering. Pulled off the brace with shaking hands. The
swelling was gone. He flexed his toes. Nothing. Bent his knee.
Nothing.
He
stood. Put his weight on it.
Nothing.
He
looked down at his leg in the moonlight. The skin was smooth. No
bruising. No swelling.
His
hands were shaking. Not from pain. From something else. Something
crawling under his skin, in his bones.
A
pulse of golden energy.
What
the hell is wrong with me?
He
grabbed the crutches and shoved them in his closet. Hid the brace
under his bed. Locked his door.
The next morning at school.
Allen
walked into school as if nothing had happened.
Mark
saw him from across the quad. Froze mid-step. Kevin and Brayden
noticed too.
‘No
fucking way,’ Kevin muttered.
Mark’s
jaw tightened. He’d remembered Allen’s knee giving under his
weight. Heard the pop. Seen the kid move on crutches.
And
now he was walking like it never happened.
‘That’s
not possible,’ Brayden said.
Mark
didn’t answer. Just watched Allen disappear into the building, mind
racing.
Something
right with that kid.
In
the Hallway.
Allen’s
at his locker.
‘What
are you without your crutches?’ Eugene rushed at Allen.
Allen
held him back. ‘Calm down!’
‘Calm
down? I heard your knee broke in clean half’ he complained.
Oh
my God. Why is he yelling?
‘It
was at the Central Hospital. They helped me put some support on it.
Eugene
sighed. Relieved. ‘I really thought you were never going to walk
again.’
Allen
raised an eyebrow.
‘But
it’s good to see you’re okay, Eugene turned around. ‘See you
after class’
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Allen’s
chest relaxed. He returned to his locker.
That
was close...
Allen
forced a smile.
He
looked at the calendar in his locker. His
eyes widened.
I
almost forgot. Today’s dojo class is at 4.
****
At
the Dojo.
Allen
stepped into the ring. His opponent's GI had a level 5 patch—one
above Allen's. The guy was older.
They
bowed. Circled.
His
opponent moved first — a blur of motion. Fist slammed into Allen's
ribs. The impact rang through his torso. Pain exploded sharply. Allen
stumbled back, hand pressed to his side, gasping.
His
opponent grinned. Came again.
Allen
blocked twice, missed the third. Another hit to the ribs—same spot.
He should've gone down, but the pain was... less.
He
pushed off the ropes, breathing hard. His opponent closed in. Same
combination. Rib shot, then a kick to his chest.
Allen
caught his foot.
The
pain was barely there. Just pressure.
His
opponent's grin faded. Confusion flickered across his face.
Allen
twisted, yanked him forward, threw a punch—
"That's
enough!" The master's voice cut through the ring.
Allen
froze. Released his opponent's leg. Bowed.
His
master stared at him. He taught Allen for three years. Knew his
limits. Knew his tells. Now he was staring at Allen as he’d never
seen him before.
"How
are you doing that?"
Allen's
chest shrank. He looked down at his ribs, where three full-power hits
should've cracked bone.
Nothing.
"I...
I don't know."
The
master stepped closer. Allen's pulse spiked. He grabbed his bag.
"I
have to go. Sorry, Master."
He
didn't wait for a response. Just turned and left.
Outside,
Allen stopped in the alley behind the dojo. Lifted his shirt. Ran his
fingers over his ribs where the hits had landed.
Smooth
and unmarked.
His
hands were shaking.
****
At
home.
Allen was in his room, in front of the mirror. He walked in circles.
This is
getting crazy. First, my knee. Second, my ribs.
He
stepped closer. Rubbed his fingers down his chest.
Even
master knew that something was wrong. I have to...
Nia
opened his door. Allen paused. Eyes shifted. Nia’s eyes shrank.
Words lost in her mind.
Allen
reached for his shirt. ‘Need anything?’
‘No,
not really. Just dinner’s ready’ she smiled. ‘Are you sure
you’re okay. You just froze like you’re hiding something.’
‘Me?
No. I just.. finished a workout session.’
‘With
what? I don’t see any gym equipment in here.’
Allen
lost hold of words.
‘You’ve
been acting weird for a while now. Quiet. Jumpy,’ she studied him.
‘Are you in trouble?’
Allen’s
throat tightened. ‘No. I’m fine. Just.. tired.’
She
didn’t believe him. He could see it.
“Anyways - Dinner’s ready.” She left, glancing back once more.
He
wore his shirt. “Give me a minute.”
“Okay,”
she closed the door.
His
shoulders dropped. He exhaled. “That was close.”
****
The
Next Day at school.
Allen’s
at his locker. As he closed it, beside him were Mark and his friends.
“Boo!”
Allen
flinched. He turned. It’s Mark. He slammed Allen against the
locker. Metal poked into Allen’s spine. Mark’s breath was hot,
angry, and smelled like energy drinks.
“What
do you want? Mark.” Allen glared.
The
crowded hallway became silent.
“That’s
my
question,
Allen”
Allen
opened his locker. Mark slammed it shut.
“What
happened to your crutches?”
Allen
forced a laugh. “Got treatment at Central Hospital. Faster than
they thought”
Allen
turned around. Mark rushed at him by the collar. Pinned him against a
locker.
“First,
the basketball court and now my leg. Pick a struggle, Mark”
“It’s
true. Mark broke his leg at first - why is he bothering him again?”
the horde of students whispered.
Mark
turned to the crowd.
“But
where are his crutches - He could’ve got some kind of treatment
outside the school clinic, you know.” The crowd murmured.
The
bell rang. Everyone dispersed. Next class. Mark released Allen and
left with his friends.
At
the Cafeteria.
Allen
is at a table with Nia.
“Cold!”
Mark’s voice tore through the Cafeteria.
Nia
flinched. “Who are those?”
Allen
kept his focus on his food. ‘Ignore them.’
He
stared at Mark at the entrance. Beside him were Kevin and Brayden. He
marched towards Allen’s table.
‘Allen,
what’s going on?’ Nia muttered. Her spoon’s shaking in her
hands.
‘Just
keep eating, Nia.’
Mark
and his friends reached Allen’s table. The whole cafeteria goes
silent, and attention moved to their table. Allen didn’t flinch and
kept eating his food.
Nia
can’t eat. Her heartbeat peaked as her spoon vibrated in her hand.
Mark
noticed.‘Who is this little chick over here?’ He turned to Nia.
Her
pupils shrank.
‘Could
be his girlfriend,’ Kevin hinted. Brayden laughed.
‘You
know what, Allen. I always wanted a girlfriend. Maybe I’ll take
yours, Marked faced to Allen.
Allen’s
fork bent in his hands. His chest burned. Mark took Nia by the arm.
His grip almost crushed her arm. Her gaze shifted to Allen.
“Allen!
Please…” she whispered.
Allen
stood up.
‘Not
today, Mark. She’s my sister. Let her go.’
‘Does
he even know who Mark is - Mark could kill him!’ The crowd
murmured.
Mark
smirked. ‘What stops her from being my girlfriend? I’ll be gentle on
her.. except at night when..’
A
powerful hit to the chest threw Mark backwards. He staggered. Kevin
and Brayden turned, shocked.
This
kid really wants death. Mark thought.
Allen
stroked Nia’s hair briefly. Tears filled her eyes. He clenched his
fists.
Marked
roared. ‘Get him’
Kevin
and Brayden rushed at Allen. Kevin swung his fist. Allen redirected
it and drove his knee into Kevin’s face. Brayden lunged - Allen
cracked the metal tray across his jaw. Both went down.
Mark
exploded forward. He reached for Allen’s neck. Lifted him and
slammed him on the table.
Nia
tried to get Mark off, Allen. He slammed his hand into her. She flew
backwards into the crowd.
He
picked up the table knife on the table and went for Allen’s face.
Allen
stopped him. Mark pushed harder. Allen gritted his teeth.
He
tried to push Mark off him, but couldn’t. Brayden pulled Allen from
under the table. Brayden and Kevin picked him up. Allen
struggled, but they overpowered him.
Mark
turned to Allen. He reached for his back pocket. His dagger shone.
Nia
watched from the crowd, held back by Allen’s friend, Eugene.
‘Leave him alone! Let him go!’
Mark
laughed. “You think you're special? That bullshit won't save you
from a knife between the ribs."
A
wicked grin filled his face. He drove his dagger into Allen’s chest
and twisted it. The crowd went silent.
‘He
killed him? I can’t believe he stabbed him.’ The crowd muttered.
Brayden
and Kevin released Allen. Their expressions could freeze lava.
Nia
fell to her knees, crying. Fear spread through the crowd like wildfire.
Allen
staggered backwards. He fell on one knee. Looked at his chest. The
pain was there - sharp. The crowd blurred before him.
A-Am..
I'm losing.. blood.
As
his finger reached the wound, the pain vanished. A golden pulse moved
through his chest. He looked down. The wound was closing. Flesh
threading itself back together with golden light pulsing beneath.
Brayden
and Kevin noticed. They stepped back, hearts racing.
Mark’s
fingers trembled.
Allen
looked up at the seniors. His eyes were glowing faint gold. The Cafeteria
goes silent.
‘What
the fuck is he?’ someone whispered.
Allen
looked up at the seniors. His eyes were glowing faint gold. The Cafeteria
went silent. He turned right. Left. Phones recording. The crowd
retreated as Allen stepped back. He turned to Nia. Her pupils
dilated.
As
Allen came closer, Eugene pulled her back.
“I
can’t-” Allen stuttered.
Allen
stepped back.
...
He
looked at himself. Golden energy pulsed across his skin.
“He’s
a monster. His eyes are glowing. Is he going to kill us?” they
murmured.
****
At
C.I.N.T.R.A (Central Intelligence & Neural Threat Response
Agency).
In
the surveillance room. Their systems caught the live video.
The
worker’s hand froze on her keyboard. “Sir.. his blood signature.
It’s gold.”
He
leaned forward, eyes locked on the screen. The glowing veins. The
instant healing.
“Impossible,”
he whispered. “There hasn’t been a golden vein in -”
“Twenty
years, sir?”
His
jaw tightened. He grabbed the comm device. ‘All nearby units,
priority alpha. Golden vein confirmed at Neo York High School. I want
him alive.’
At
Armoury.
Agents
rushed into their vehicles with their weapons.
“And
remember, I want him alive”, his voice crackled into the air.
****
At
Neo York Dominion. In the Cafeteria
Their
murmurs echoed in his ears. Heartbeats peaked. Not his. Theirs. He
could hear them. He turned to Nia once more. Her breath came in short
gasps.
My
hearing? How can I
Mark
swung his dagger at Allen. Behind. He put his arm forward. The dagger
shattered on impact as it connected with Allen’s skin. Mark
retreated as the pieces fell to the floor. His teeth gritted.
Golden
energy pulsed beneath his skin. Allen stared at his arm. Not even a
scratch. The blade has broken like glass against his skin.
What
am I becoming?
A
camera caught his face. He hid it under his arm as he rushed out of
the Cafeteria. The crowd shifted as he moved.
“I
got the whole video. That fight was crazy. Crazy? Or that kid’s a
freak,” the crowd murmured.
Nia
got up. She paused in the midst of the students. Lost for words.
Allen's glowing eyes flashed in her mind— terrifying, but still
her brother. Her legs felt stiff. Her fists clenched.
I
can’t just leave him like this. I have to call mom.
She
ran out with her bag. She manoeuvred through the crowded hallway as
she headed for the exit. She pulled out her phone.
****
At
Eco-Nex Hospital.
Evelyn
just finished with a patient. As she wrote in the file, her phone
rang. She picked.
“Mom!”
“Oh, hi Darling! What’s the matter? I thought...“
“It’s
Allen.”
“Allen?”
she stood up.
“There
was this fight. He got stabbed...”
“Stabbed?
What happened...” Evelyn asked.
“Mom
Please! Just come over!”
Evelyn
rushed out of the ward. Took out her keys as she headed out. She
entered her car. Started it and drove off.
Her
vision blurred as she swerved through traffic. Her hands were shaking
on the wheel.
****
Allen
ran from school. He manoeuvred through the crowded walkway.
C.I.N.T.R.A Agents came in their vehicle. They’re on his tail. He
noticed and increased the pace. He ran into a nearby park.
A
turret rose from the van’s roof. Bullets tore through the air.
Allen
threw his arms up instinctively. The first shot punched through his
palm - white-hot pain exploded up his arm. He screamed.
The
people scattered as they ran towards safety.
The
second hit his shoulder. Pain - then nothing. The wound closed. More
bullets. Each one hurt less. By the fifth shot, they were bouncing
off his skin like pebbles.
His
hands were glowing gold. Unmarked.
What
the hell?
He
kept running. As he reached the other side of the park, their van
came in that way. He stepped back.
Who
are these people? What do they want with me?
Other
vans came from behind him. He’s surrounded. His phone rang. He
answered.
“Mom!
Where are you? I don’t...”
“Allen!
Just stay out of sight! I’m coming.”
They
came out of their vehicles. Armed and ready. Allen stumbled back. His
breath caught. Cold spread through his stomach. His hands shook.
I
have to stay out of sight.
Allen
watched them close in on him. He spun around. He saw his mum's car
heading towards the park. He advanced towards her. She saw Allen
surrounded. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
His
mum's car appeared at the park entrance. Relief flooded through him.
“Mom!”
She
saw him. Saw agents closing in. Her face went white.
“Allen!”
“No,”
Allen whispered. “No, don’t...”
But
she was already out of the car, running toward him.
The
agents shot at Allen. The net him him before she reached him.
Electricity exploded through every nerve. His muscles locked. His jaw
clenched so hard he tasted blood. He looked at his mom. His vision
went white.
He
tried to scream. Nothing came out. Just the smell of burning cloth
and the feeling of his body tearing itself apart from the inside. His
hearing faded to muffles.
“Mom!”
Then
- darkness.
Evelyn’s
eyes widen. She ran toward him. Two agents caught her, yanked her
back. She thrashed against their grip.
“You
have to stay calm, Ma’am!”
“He’s
just a kid. You can’t...”
“These
are safety protocols, ma’am. For your benefit...“
“I
don’t need your protection! I need
my
son!”
She
watched them load Allen’s unconscious body into the van. Watched
the doors slam shut. Watched it drive away.
“Allen!”
Evelyn’s hand shot forward.
The
agents released her. She collapsed to her knees. Tears fell from her
eyes. Pain exploded through her chest.
After
Evelyn falls to her knees, an agent approaches:
“Ma’am,
we need you to come with us. Your daughter is waiting at the school.
We’ll escort you both home.”
Evelyn
didn’t move. Just stared at where the van had disappeared.
