I felt energized, more energized than I had ever felt. I just got out of bed and felt like I could bench press an entire house.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoTFCiaEgd
"Wow," I said with a smile as I looked down at my hands, my fingers twitching, unable to stay still. I had never felt this way before, and I honestly hoped it wouldn't end.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny5EcgR5DM
I began to get dressed, picking up whatever I found on my floor. There was only one problem...
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVTMDjcHut
"Shit!" I yelled as my hands tore through my shirt, ripping it apart with ease. "That's my second favorite shirt," I muttered, looking down at my destroyed clothes. I guess having all this energy wasn't such a good thing.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR9YD3o2O0
"Careful, careful," I said to myself as I picked up another shirt, black, with an unrecognizable logo on it. I slowly put my arms through the sleeves, put on some shorts, and walked towards the door.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPXOfJx8ET
I reached down, grabbed the handle, and was about to turn it, but something stopped me. I could feel the metal of the handle bending around my fingers.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j6lhMijwx
"What the hell?" I said as I let go of the handle. "What the hell is happening?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCXd6Op0Aa
I thought about the dream I had last night. I thought about Hazel's warning and the full moon. Could my new strength be related to all of that?
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJYc69nKL9
"No," I said, shaking my head. "That's nonsense. This is all because of that damn vial." I shook my fist in front of my face. "All of these dreams, all this strange stuff happening to me, it's all because of that bastard," I said, thinking about the bearded guy in the lab coat.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ata0adrOs
"I'll be fine," I said as I opened the door and walked out of the room, hoping this day wouldn't be too weird.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWy3Ot4N8P
I walked down the hall, my body tingling with every step. It was like I could feel every strand of the carpet. My nose was also on fire. I could literally smell everything—some sweet, some sour, others not so good. I did my best to ignore it all, hoping I wouldn't go insane.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnurNzYojcI
I walked down the stairs and headed toward the living room, where I found my mom watching TV.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEnojcnXZU
"Morning," I said as I headed for the door and began to put on my shoes.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8bWrfxDzZ
"Hey, hold on, where's the fire?" my mom asked.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNohqycGIk1
"I'm going to meet up with the boys before school," I said.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hvvE4HMQl
"Oh, is that all?" my mom asked, rolling her eyes. "Well, do you think you have a little time to spare for your mom?" she asked, patting the couch cushion next to her.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU6DbHAvBI
I sighed as I walked over and sat down. "Sure, what's up?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yMywt29q6
She turned to face me, her expression softening. "How have you been feeling since you got out of the hospital?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcY0Beb1B2
"I've been fine," I said, trying to sound convincing.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLjd3UAZpu
"Well, the front door that you busted yesterday isn't," she said, nodding toward the door that was now leaning against the wall, unhinged.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgZvV516of
I looked at the door and winced. "Sorry about that."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFkH2mwQ7K
She sighed and shook her head. "I was so worried when you were in the hospital. I don't want you doing something stupid."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMmt40OG73
I laughed. "Then how am I supposed to have fun?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q4MFktqvU
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Just promise me you'll be careful, okay?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZOKuAEiuM
"Yeah, I promise," I said, standing up.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvPBuRdMFN
"Have a good day," she said, giving me a warm smile.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4Xz4jAZ5z
"Thanks, Mom," I said, heading for the door again. This time, I opened it gently and stepped outside and was met with the same breeze against my face and the same loud noises that assaulted my ears all at once, but this time it didn't hurt as much.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFO5xXKcPY
I was really hoping that meant it wasn't going to be a bad day.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT06wSHc3a9
I began to smile as every nerve in my body seemed to scream out in joy. I wanted to run.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tq8hPgI9M
I jumped off the stairs that led to my front door, and as soon as my feet touched the ground, I began to sprint down the street.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChSvZvUUkx
I ran fast, faster than I had ever run in my life. I could feel the wind rushing through my hair as my feet picked up more and more speed.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrfZNjkwRW
My body urged me on, begging me to go faster, and soon everything seemed to fade away, becoming nothing but a blur. Before I knew it, I was at my destination: an old, broken house that stood next to the woods leading up into the mountains.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjh3S75cIZ
I tried to catch my breath, wanting only to run more but restraining myself as I looked up at the torn-down house where my friend Charlie lived.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4LMbEfMWi
I walked toward the door, and before knocking, I heard Charlie and his dad having an argument.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC0XEfIclW
"I told you, I'm not going to quit school!" Charlie yelled.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVeKBXB5TJ
"You're wasting your time there, boy," his dad slurred. "You think you're better than me? Think you can make something of yourself?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGARbbOXdm
"Yeah, maybe I do! At least I'm trying!" Charlie shot back.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiv64QD8jM
"You ungrateful little—" His dad's voice rose, then dropped into a harsh whisper, too low for me to hear.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRAMKlEldO
I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of anger. I never liked Charlie's dad. He was nothing but an alcoholic, always putting Charlie down.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeJrUR4kz7
The door flew open, and Charlie stormed out, slamming it behind him. He stopped short when he saw me.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEjoN0UxKV
"Leyton!" he yelled, his face a mix of surprise and relief.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlrXOip7sz
"Hey, Charlie," I said, trying to smile despite the tension still hanging in the air.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIY5nYxNup
Charlie took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry you had to hear that."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtncK2MsAo
"No problem," I said, waving it off. "I just got here."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9dzb1Tu8z
Charlie nodded, his expression softening a bit. "Thanks for coming, man. I needed to get out of there."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM6800AgwO
"Anytime," I said. "You want to go for a walk or something?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewfoQZEcAS
Charlie glanced back at the house, then back at me. "Yeah, let's get out of here."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ656KEfqX
We started walking away from the house, the sounds of the argument fading behind us. Charlie seemed lost in thought, and I didn't push him to talk. Instead, I focused on the feel of the ground beneath my feet and the sounds of the world around me.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeuAkLtoiL
"So, how have you been?" Charlie asked after a while, breaking the silence.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKembSJKLR
I hesitated, wondering how much to tell him. "Weird, honestly. Ever since I got out of the hospital, things have been... different."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9syOKhAw4A
"Different how?" Charlie asked, looking at me with concern.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM235zaBJS
I looked down at the ground and smiled. "Charlie? There's something I need to tell you."
***
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44NouzUw35
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoR0RxjHWt
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.