What happens when your entire world shatters in an instant? How do you rebuild a life that no longer feels like your own? Can broken pieces ever truly fit back together? I don't have the answers. I'm not sure anyone does.
My thoughts churned as I walked out of the hospital. Lucy clung to my arm, her grip tighter than usual, her face pale and her eyes heavy with unshed tears. Lucas and Nova had been advised to stay in the hospital for further observation, leaving us alone for now.
"Are you sure you're okay to leave, Lucy?" I asked softly, glancing at my sister.
She gave a small nod, but her voice trembled. "I... I don't know. Everything feels wrong."
I sighed. How am I supposed to fix this? I wanted to reassure her, to tell her everything would be okay—but I couldn't bring myself to lie.
Lucy's friends had offered her a place to stay, but I wasn't comfortable leaving her with them. "Adrian," one of her friends, a tall girl with chestnut hair, had said earlier, "she needs space to heal. We'll take care of her, I promise."
My reply was quick and firm. "No. She's staying with me."
He'd taken the matter to the school authorities. It took hours of pleading, but they eventually agreed to let Lucy stay in the dorms, despite her not being a student. The dorm was built for four occupants, and the school decided to assign Lucas and Nova to live with us once they recovered.
A few days later, Lucas and Nova arrived at the dorm. As I opened the door, a familiar voice greeted me.
"Miss me yet, brainiac?" Lucas said, grinning despite the bandages on his arm.
Nova elbowed him playfully. "As if he'd miss you. Clearly, I'm the favorite."
"Keep dreaming," I said, managing a small smile. "Come in, you two. Lucy's been waiting to see you."
Inside, Lucy stood awkwardly by the couch. "H-Hi, guys," she said, her voice shaky.
Nova knelt to meet Lucy's gaze. "Hey, kiddo. How are you holding up?"
"I... I don't know," Lucy admitted. "It's hard..."
Lucas stepped forward, his usual confidence giving way to gentleness. "We're all in this together. Don't forget that, okay?"
The group settled in, but the air was heavy with grief. Conversations were brief, and laughter felt distant—a sound from a time we could barely remember.
Later that evening, a sharp knock broke the silence. I walked to the door and opened it to find two people in formal black uniforms, their sharp gazes scanning the room. The Power Analytical Organization. My heart sank.
The PAO was everywhere—almost like a government unto itself. It wasn't just an organization; it was a mega franchise spanning the globe. Their mission was threefold: study the mysterious powers that flowed through people's eyes, uncover the origins of the Extraterrestrial Threats (ETTs), and find ways to use these powers for the betterment of humanity.
Sounds noble, right? But let's not forget they're also the reason powers are so strictly regulated. It's hard to trust an organization that keeps so many secrets.
I forced myself to focus as one of the agents addressed me.
"Adrian Clarke?"
"Uh... yes, that's me," I replied cautiously.
"We're agents from the Power Analytical Organization," the woman said, flashing a badge. "May we come in?"
I stepped aside, my heart pounding.
"What's this about?" Lucas asked from the couch, narrowing his eyes.
The male agent replied, "We need to ask you all a few questions regarding the portal incident and subsequent attack."
Nova crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "And where were you guys before everything went to hell? You're supposed to stop this kind of thing, aren't you?"
The female agent winced but maintained her composure. "We acknowledge our failure to detect the portal in time. For that, we deeply apologize."
Lucas scoffed. "Apologies don't bring back our families."
I placed a hand on Lucas's shoulder, silently urging him to calm down.
The agents continued, "We're here to ensure this doesn't happen again. We also want to offer support. The PAO will cover your school and college fees, as well as your living expenses, as compensation for what you've lost."
Nova's expression softened slightly, but her voice remained sharp. "That's the least you can do."
The questioning began. I answered honestly, describing the chaos, the appearance of the mysterious man, and how Lucy's shield eventually failed. But when the agents turned their attention to me, asking about the golden glow in my left eye, I hesitated.
"And you, Adrian?" the male agent asked. "Do you recall anything unusual about yourself during the incident?"
I shook my head quickly. "No. Nothing out of the ordinary."
It was a lie, but I couldn't bring myself to share the truth—the dark void, the voice that called me weak, and the golden eye that now resided within me.
Finally, the agents retrieved a small, crystalline orb from a reinforced case. "This," the woman said, "is the Power Class Classification Orb. We've received reports about your unique left eye."
I stiffened. "My eye?"
"Yes. This orb will determine the class of your power," she explained.
Lucas frowned. "Wait, isn't that the thing that lights up? White for Common, green for Uncommon, red for Rare, blue for Unique?"
"And black for Calamity," Nova added, her voice low. "But that's just a myth, right?"
The male agent exchanged a glance with his partner before replying, "The Calamity Class hasn't been recorded in over a thousand years. Most believe it's a myth."
A myth... right. My chest tightened.
The agent gestured toward the orb. "Please place your hand on it."
I stared at the glowing orb, my mind racing. What will it reveal?
"Adrian?" Lucy whispered, her voice trembling. "Are you okay?"
I forced a smile. "Yeah. I'm fine."
Slowly, I raised my hand and placed it on the orb. The room seemed to hold its breath as the orb began to glow faintly...
To be continued...