I did it. Kayden thought to himself, carrying Stacy's unconscious body in his arms. Itwas hard, but I actually did it.
Though the transformation left his clothes mostly torn, he didn't care. These weren't like the special clothes he was given in the underground fighting joint that stretched with his werewolf form. They were regular, cheap clothes, now turned into rags dragging down his body.
It didn't take long for Kayden to make it back home. Running at full speed, he swerved past busy neighborhoods, heavy traffic, and other obstacles in his way. Within minutes, Kayden found himself standing in front of their home, Stacy in hand.
It didn't take long for John to emerge from their abode, his eyes welling in tears at the sight of his unconscious daughter.
"Stacy…!" He placed a gentle hand on her face. "I'm glad you're back safely…" his gaze then turned to Kayden. "Thank you, Kayden. Thank you for rescuing her. For keeping your promise."
Kayden didn't say anything. He simply nodded, though his face remained void of emotions.
What I did back there… Kayden said internally. …should not be exposed to thepublic. Although Brimstone was a town filled with corruption, word of a crazed Ability User massacring several people would definitely cause him more trouble than he was willing to handle.
Kidnapping of a single teenage girl was one thing. Mass murder was something completely different.
The police had their priorities, and Kayden's opinions did nothing to change that.
"We should head inside," Kayden suggested, already carrying Stacy into the house. "She needs to rest. After everything she's been through, she needs it."
"R-Right," John stammered, trailing behind him.
Once they were inside, Kayden took Stacy to her bedroom, and placed her gently on top of her bed before covering her with the blanket.
Rest easy now.Your struggle is over. He muttered, stepping out of her room right after.
Kayden didn't waste much time after that. He knew what needed to come next. The much awaited discussion between himself and his uncle.
"You've been keeping secrets from me, Kayden," John started off, his tone drained but laced with distrust. "Tell me everything. Everything you haven't already told me. No more secrets."
"Okay, Uncle John. And I'm sorry if my actions hurt you. It was the only way I could see to keep Stacy safe," Kayden replied. "Well then, in that case, let me start from the beginning…"
________
Two weeks earlier…
The school bell rang, signalling the end of classes for the day. It didn't take long for students to flood the hallways, chatting happily with each other as they headed for the outer gates. From there, they scattered, all heading to their various destinations after a long day of classes.
It was the same for Kayden and Stacy. Both were on their way back home, moving past the littered streets of their town.
"I really don't like this," Kayden suddenly said, breaking the silence between them. "This town, it's not safe."
Stacy turned to face him, her gaze filled with disinterest. "And how is that my business? As long as I graduate with flying colours, I'm getting that scholarship and getting outta this town. Don't know about you, though. You never were good with books," she said flatly, her attention returning to the road right after.
"I'm trying, at least," Kayden snapped back.
Stacy laughed. "Yeah, like trying's gonna get you the same opportunities I have. Just face it, Kayden, I'm better than you, and there's nothing you can do to change that."
Idiot. Kayden muttered under his breath
"I'd be surprised if you even know what that word means. Bet you can't even spell it."
Veins materialized on Kayden's temple.
If only you were a guy…
They both took a turn down the street, their journey leading them beside a dark alley littered with trash.
Suddenly, a hand reached out, pulling Stacy away from the light.
She screamed, and instantly, Kayden's head snapped to the right.
Deep with the alley, voices could be heard, all of them snickering.
Kayden's body shook.
His previous anger vanished, replaced by a newer, more gripping emotion.
Fear.
He stumbled, falling on his butt as he glanced warily into the darkness.
Seconds later, footsteps echoed. Men in black stepped into the light, faces covered to mask their identities in public.
"Well, well. Look who we have here," the man with a blind eye said, his voice oozing with avarice. "Today must be our lucky day," he crouched low to meet the boy's gaze at eye level. Then, he reached into his pocket, and pulled out a knife. "Don't try any funny business with me, kid." he threatened, pointing the blade at the Kayden's temple. "One wrong move, and it's over."
Shit. Shit! Shit! Kayden screamed internally. What's going on? Where did these people come from? Where's Stacy?!
Muffled cries suddenly registered in his hearing. Though he couldn't see her, he knew Stacy was still there, somewhere in the shadows of the alley.
"Eh, eh, eh. Eyes on me, else this blade meets your Adams apple," the scarred man stated, pressing the blade lightly against his neck. "Give me your contact, so I can call you when I want. We can talk business over the phone once we're outta here."
Kayden felt the blade prickle his skin, blood flowing down the metal like water droplets. This is getting out of hand. I need to do something!
"Alright, I will. Just please, pull that knife away," Kayden conceited.
"No can do. Details first. Then we'll release you later," the man said, shaking his head. "Can't have you pulling a fast one on us."
Seeing as he had no other options left, Kayden relented, and gave the man his phone number. Surprisingly, the man was true to his words, and in one, dominant motion, he hoisted Kayden up by the scruff of his shirt, then chucked him across the dirt like discarded waste.
"Two weeks," the man declared. "If you can't give us $50,000 before then, then your cousin suffers."
He rushed into the shadows, hoping he could give them a piece of mind. To rescue his cousin before it was too late.
But in the end, the kidnappers were faster. Within minutes of them appearing, they left without a trace.
His attempts at fighting back were all futile.
He was stabbed and hurled across the concrete like a ragdoll. That one simple action already displayed the vast difference in strength between him and their boss. A full-on brawl would have been suicidal.
How do I explain this to Uncle John? He'll kill me if he finds out what happened to Stacy! Kayden screamed internally, sweat covering his face as he breathed unevenly. It's not like he earns much in the first place. He barely makes $100 dollars a month with his job. Unless a miracle happens… only God knows what'll happen to Stacy.
Plus, I'm just a student. I don't even have an ability. How the heck am I supposed to make that sort of money in such a short time?
Eventually, Kayden gathered whatever remnants of resolve he had left and continued the trek back home. I need to think of something. A side hustle. Heck, maybe even a robbery. Anything that'll make me earn that kinda money in a short time. No matter what, I can't let anything bad happen to her!
In the midst of his inner turmoil, Kayden passed by a different alley. One teeming with discarded waste and vile pests. However, this particular alley was devoid of people, to his deep relief. Unlike the previous, this alley lacked the deep shadows that shrowed the interior like the latter.
Situated somewhere within a pile of decomposing garbage there, laid something that gave off a faint orange glow.
His eyes slowly turned, catcing the faint light in his irises. Then, his eyes widened. Isthat… he didn't hesitate. He rushed into the alley, uncaring for whether or not he was being watched.
Pushing through the garbage, he felt his hands grab onto something solid. Something jagged. It really is… he thought. …an Ability Crystal. Kayden pressed his hand against the crystal, feeling the energy swirling within it. If I absorb the power within it, I'll obtain an ability. I can't believe this! How the heck is there an Ability Crystal just lying around in a place like this? And why hasn't anyone claimed it yet?
Could this be a trap? A trick, perhaps?
Or maybe… destiny?
Why so sudden?
Kayden had so many questions, but in the midst of his current dilemma, he immediately decided that all those questions were secondary.
He closed his eyes and concentrated. He had read a lot about Ability Crystals in the past. Their origins. Structure. And how to absorb the powers they carried.
Human beings were never designed to possess more one ability at a time. Kayden thought, eying the crystal in his grasp greedily. It was always believed that if a human tried to absorb the power from two different crystals, that their body would be destroyed from the inside out. Still, I'm not too sure of how true this statement is, since I haven't seen or heard of any of this happening on any reliable news outlet. Only thing I was able to find online were shady websites spreading these bizarre claims about the Crystals.
Seconds later, and Kayden felt the power of the crystal coursing into his body.
Right there and then, something profound about him began to change.
His senses improved. His skin and bones seemed to harden with the rush of power. And his overall physical capabilities received a boost in that moment.
Kayden didn't need to run any tests to confirm this. He could already feel the difference within himself.
This is amazing. He said internally. I feel so much more powerful than before. I could seriously get used to this.