VOLUME 1 - CHAPTER 5

“Containment breach confirmed,” Hydros said, his voice steady and cold like a rushing tide.

A spear of swirling water formed in his hand.

He aimed it directly at me.

“The subject’s power is corrupted.”

The water spear sharpened.

“She must be neutralized.”

My blood ran cold.

“N—Neutralized?!”

what does he mean by that…!?

Before Hydros could move—

Storm stepped in front of me.

Her arms spread wide, shielding me.

“Wait, Hydros!” she shouted. “She’s just a kid! Maybe we can contain this power without killing her!”

Hydros didn’t even blink.

“Look at her.”

His gaze remained fixed on me.

“The Core has fused with her biology.”

Water churned violently around his arm.

“Her powers have just awakened and they’re unstable.”

“If she leaves this facility…”

“…this city burns.”

I shook my head frantically, tears streaming down my face.

“I—I didn’t mean to! I didn’t know—!”

My flames burst outward again.

The floor beneath my feet glowed red-hot.

Hydros’ expression hardened.

“You see?” he said quietly.

“She’s already losing control.”

“One more surge…”

“…and she could vaporize this entire building.”

He raised the spear.

“NO!”

Storm swung her arm.

A violent gust exploded outward.

WHOOOOSH!!

The wind slammed into Hydros’ spear and knocked it aside, the water blast crashing into a distant wall instead.

“There’s always another way!” she shouted.

Hydros straightened slowly.

“There isn’t.”

“ Now move, Storm.”

Water gathered around him like a rising tide.

“Or I’ll put you down too if you continue protecting that monster.”

My chest twisted painfully.

“Stop… please stop…”

No… Storm… don’t…

Hydros lunged.

The water around him surged forward like a collapsing ocean.

Storm moved instantly.

She grabbed my arm and spun.

A violent gust erupted beneath us.

BOOOOM!!

The torrent of water slammed into the chamber wall where I had been laying seconds earlier.

Steam exploded as water collided with my lingering flames.

Storm landed hard in front of me, sliding across the floor.

Her body still shielding mine.

She glanced back.

“Kid… what’s your name?”

My fingers clutched her uniform desperately.

“E—Ellie…!”

My voice broke.

“I don’t want to die—!”

“You won’t, Ellie.”

Storm’s voice was calm, Warm and  Almost gentle.

“Everything’s going to be okay.”

“You’re going to live.”

“And I’m going to help you control your power.”

She smiled faintly.

“I promise.”

Hydros advanced slowly.

Water spiraled around him like a living storm.

“You’re letting sentiment cloud your judgment.”

“Maybe,” Storm replied.

Wind swirled around her boots.

“But that’s what makes us human.”

Hydros’ eyes narrowed.

“My job as the Number One Hero is to eliminate all threats to this city.”

The water storm around him intensified.

“Including those who protect that threat.”

He thrust his spear forward.

Storm moved.

The chamber exploded into motion.

Wind and water collided like two natural disasters clashing in a cage.

Hydros’ spear shot forward like a bullet.

Storm twisted sideways, wind propelling her across the floor as the spear shattered the metal restraints behind her.

She kicked off the wall and launched herself forward.

A blade of compressed air sliced toward Hydros.

SHRAAAK!!

He raised his arm.

Water surged upward into a shield.

The wind blade split the water apart—but Hydros stepped through the spray.

He struck again.

Water crashed down like a falling waterfall.

Storm spun mid-air, a tornado gust bursting beneath her feet.

She darted around the attack and slammed a spinning kick toward Hydros’ side.

He blocked.

Water wrapped around his arm like armor.

The impact echoed like steel colliding.

Hydros retaliated instantly.

The floor beneath Storm erupted.

A pillar of water blasted upward and threw her across the room.

SLAMM!

She crashed into the chamber wall.

Concrete shattered.

Storm staggered forward again, coughing.

But she still stood between Hydros and me.

There was a blur of movement.

A flash of steel-blue water.

A spray of crimson aimed at me.

A gasp ripped from my throat.

“NO!!”

But Hydros’ spear had pierced straight through Storm’s chest.

Blood spilled across the floor.

Storm’s body trembled—but she didn’t fall.

She grabbed the shaft of the spear.

Refusing to let it move further.

“It's my fault…!” I cried. “I’m sorry!!”

Hydros pulled the spear back.

Storm staggered.

But before she could recover—

Hydros moved again.

The water spear reformed instantly.

He struck a second time.

The blade of water ripped across her shoulder.

Her arm tore free.

Storm collapsed to one knee.

Blood poured onto the floor.

But even then—

She dragged herself forward.

Still placing her body between me and Hydros.

“STOOORM!!” I screamed.

My tears burned against my skin.

Storm coughed blood.

Her breathing ragged.

But she still smiled faintly.

I quickly ran towards her and clung to her uniform desperately.

Flames flickering weakly around me.

“Run,” she whispered.

“No… don’t…”

“It’s my fault…”

“I can’t let you die because of me…”

Her trembling hand rose slowly.

She pressed it gently against my cheek.

“You’re not a monster, Ellie.”

Her voice was barely a whisper now.

“Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

She swallowed weakly.

“And I won’t die here…”

“…not yet.”

Her eyes softened.

“Not until I get you to safety.”

“You have to live.”

My tears burned against her fingers.

“Please…”

“Please don’t…”

A sudden sound cut through the chamber.

SHUNK.

The water spear pierced through her body.

Storm’s body froze.

Then slowly went limp.

Her eyes dimmed.

But even as she collapsed—

She smiled at me.

Storm.

My hero.

My hope.

My dream.

My first love.

Collapsed into my arms.

“AGHHH... AGH... AGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!”

Something inside me broke.

My flames turned blue.

They exploded outward in a violent inferno.

The entire chamber erupted into fire.

Scientists screamed.

Alarms shrieked.

Walls cracked under the heat.

Hydros prepared another attack, narrowing his eyes against the blazing storm.

My sobs turned into screams.

“You killed her!”

“You fucking killed her!!”

Fire wrapped around my body like armor.

Wings of blue flame burst from my back.

The chamber burned like a collapsing sun.

Then—

A sharp sting struck my neck.

I gasped.

A technician in a containment suit had rushed behind me.

A syringe emptied into my bloodstream.

My vision blurred.

The flames weakened.

The firestorm collapsed.

My body gave out.

As darkness swallowed my vision—

I saw Director Hargrove speaking to Hydros across the chamber.

Their voices distant.

Cold.

Then everything went black.

I woke to silence.

Not the comforting kind.

Not like mornings at home, where Naomi hummed in the kitchen or the television played another Storm advertisement.

This silence was sterile.

Suffocating.

Cold.

My eyelids felt heavy.

My throat was dry.

When I tried to move—

Metal bit into my wrists and ankles.

Chains.

I was strapped into a reclined chair.

Across the room, mirrored glass reflected my image back at me.

My reflection.

“…Is that me…?”

I looked different.

Flames flickered faintly across my skin.

Like my body couldn’t decide whether to burn or rest.

My eyes glowed faintly amber.

Veins beneath my skin shimmered like threads of fire.

Even my breath steamed in the cold air.

My stomach twisted painfully.

Am so hungry…? It’s like am hungry too eat something hot....

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