The morning felt strange.
Not quiet, not peaceful. Something was different, something heavy in the air that Aarav could not explain.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands for a long time. They looked completely normal. No glow, no energy, nothing unusual.
"Last night… it wasn't real, right?" he whispered to himself.
Slowly, he lifted his hand and focused. He tried to repeat what had happened the night before.
Nothing.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"See? Just a dream…"
Suddenly, a sharp blue spark burst out from his fingertips.
The smile disappeared instantly.
"…Okay. Not a dream."
His heartbeat increased. Fear returned, but this time, it was mixed with something else. Curiosity.
He stood up and walked toward the mirror. For a moment, he hesitated, then finally looked at his reflection.
He froze.
His eyes were glowing. A faint blue light was moving inside them like electricity.
"What… am I?"
He stepped back slowly, breathing faster now.
At that moment, the television turned on by itself.
Aarav jumped in shock.
Breaking news filled the screen.
Reports of people developing strange abilities were coming from all over the city. Videos showed a man throwing fire from his hands, a girl floating in the air without control, and a street completely destroyed by an unknown force.
Aarav stared at the screen.
"This is happening everywhere…"
His mind started connecting everything.
"That energy last night… it changed us."
He could not stay inside anymore. He needed answers.
As he stepped outside, the world no longer felt normal. People were gathered in groups, whispering in fear. Some looked excited, others terrified.
Nearby, a small child was floating a few inches above the ground while his mother tried to pull him down, crying.
Aarav felt uneasy.
"This isn't just power… this is a problem."
A loud siren echoed through the street.
Police vehicles rushed ahead.
A man was running, looking completely out of control. His eyes were glowing red.
"Stop right there!" a police officer shouted.
The man suddenly turned and raised his hand. Fire burst out and spread toward the police.
People screamed and ran in all directions.
Aarav stepped back, fear rising inside him.
"If I lose control like that…"
Before he could think further, a black SUV stopped right in front of him.
The door opened.
Three men stepped out. They were dressed in black, their expressions serious and controlled.
One of them spoke.
"Aarav."
Everything went silent for him.
"How do you know my name?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.
The man walked closer.
"Because we've been watching you for a long time."
A chill ran through Aarav's body.
"What do you want?"
The man looked directly into his eyes.
"You are not normal. You never were."
Aarav felt something inside him shake.
"What does that mean?"
The man paused for a moment, then spoke clearly.
"You are part of Project Astra."
The words hit him like a shock.
"Project… what?"
Suddenly, something triggered inside his mind.
Broken memories started appearing.
Bright lights. A cold room. People talking. Machines. And a child crying.
Aarav held his head tightly.
"No… this isn't real… stop…"
The man continued calmly.
"If you want answers, come with us."
Aarav looked at them, then at his trembling hands.
"What if I don't?"
The man's expression became colder.
"Then they will find you. And when they do, you won't survive."
At that exact moment, the sky flashed again.
Aarav looked up.
On top of a tall building, someone was standing.
Still. Watching.
A dark figure.
His coat moved slightly with the wind.
Aarav's heart started beating faster.
"…It's him."
The man's face changed. For the first time, he looked afraid.
"No… he's here…"
The figure stepped forward and slowly rose into the air, as if gravity did not exist for him.
And then, in an instant, he disappeared.
Silence spread across the area.
Aarav stood frozen.
Between two choices.
The people who knew his past.
And something that seemed to know his future.