Chapter 7: The Six
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"They told us Superhumans were monsters... but this feels more like a home than anything else."
— Amelia
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On the other side of the portal...
Amelia's eyes widened. They were standing on the roof of a tall building, overlooking a strange landscape—a secret world nestled deep within a forest.
The entire community was arranged in a perfect circle—an enclosed city. Clusters of buildings, some tall, some modest, formed around a central area. The forest surrounded everything, a natural wall isolating the hidden community from the outside world.
The air was still—peaceful—but it thrummed with energy. Below, the soft hum of chatter drifted upward.
Luca:
"Welcome... to The Garden!" He stretches his arms out dramatically.
Amelia (amazed):
"Wow, this is beautiful. Where are we?"
Luca:
"This is the secret society of superhumans and heroes. I bet you had no idea there was a place like this in the woods."
Amelia:
"Wait... This is Pine Hollow? A place like this exists in pine Hollow!?"
Luca:
"Yep, you know the abandoned lab the government shut down almost a century ago? We're in it."
Amelia:
"Huh? What do you mean, how does all this fit in one building, this is a freaking city!"
Luca:
"It's an illusion combined with a machine, it's apparently Kin… uh… kina-ez… kin-eez-the-tic?
He squinted at the word, like it might bite. "Who even made this up?!"
Amelia:
"You mean Kinaesthetic?"
Luca:
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm not the smart one. He'll explain it to you later—we have to go."
He pointed to the center, where the tallest building rose above the rest.
"That's the Hero Headquarters. And that's where we're going."
He grabs her hand and jumps off the building. Amelia screams, but then realizes—they're not falling. They're standing midair, as if on invisible ground. She quickly hugs Luca in panic.
Amelia:
"Oh my God, Oh my God, How are we not falling!? It's like there's an invisible floor!"
Luca (chuckling):
"Looks cool, right? Let's walk."
He starts walking down what feels like invisible stairs. Amelia keeps holding on.
Amelia:
"This is so weird!" She notices Luca smirking at her tightly clinging to him.
Her cheeks flush. She jumps back—then quickly grabs his arm again, just in case.
Luca (grinning):
"You okay, Amelia?"
Amelia:
"Shut up." She punches his arm playfully.
---
Meanwhile...
Sarah and Martin walk out of the cafeteria.
Sarah:
"I can't believe Amelia's a Superhuman. This is my first time knowing one!"
Martin (whispering):
"Keep your voice down. You know being a Superhuman isn't exactly a good thing."
Sarah lowers her voice.
Sarah:
"Yeah... but why does the world treat them like they're all evil? Not everyone with powers is bad."
Martin:
"That wasn't the case in 1914."
Sarah:
"The Super War..."
Martin:
"That was when Superhumans—men, women, even children all turned against humanity. They called themselves the Super Liberation Army, led by The Eleven—the strongest Superhumans and former Superheroes.
It's said the strongest Eleven could control the minds of every Superhuman. He made them follow his will: to wipe out humanity and make Superhumans the dominant species."
"Cities were destroyed. Innocents died. The world fought back. The war lasted months, but eventually humanity won. They got to the strongest Eleven and forced him to rewrite the minds of every Superhuman... and to create a pact: no Superhuman shall ever be born or inherit powers again."
Sarah:
"So that's why they're nearly extinct... But for the past few years, more have been appearing."
Martin:
"Yeah. And nobody knows what the government does to them. That's why we need to keep Amelia's powers secret."
Sarah:
"You really pay attention in history class, huh? That was better than any textbook."
Martin:
"My grandpa was a Superhuman. He told me the real version of the story... before he passed."
Sarah:
"Oh... I'm sorry."
Martin:
"It's okay. It was a long time ago."
---
Back at the Garden...
As they walk, Amelia sees young Superhumans—some with strange or multiple body parts, others with unusual skin tones. It's a peaceful, lively society.
Luca:
"This is where the government brings Superhumans. People the world rejects.
When a child has powers, the government brings them here. They sometimes make deals with parents that their kids will come back home to visit from time to time, like a boarding school.
Apparently, it's safer this way. Powers can get triggered by emotions, and without control, it could lead to dangerous situation, especially in kids. The Garden is a place for them to grow, learn, and maybe—one day—be accepted."
Amelia watches kids running around, playing, laughing. Her expression softens.
Amelia (whispering):
"So there are this many Superhumans..."
They arrive at a large staircase leading to the headquarters gate.
Luca:
"We're here."
They walk up the staircase and the gates open. Five individuals stand waiting. As Amelia steps in, a strange pressure weighs on her—heavy, yet not unbearable.
They walk toward the five. Luca waves.
Luca:
"Heeey guys! Guess who's here!"
Amelia can feel their aura. They're powerful—too powerful. They feel familiar. Not just in appearance, but in a way she couldn't explain.
Luca:
"Yo, my peeps! This is Amelia... Yellow."
Amelia:
"Huh? It's Brown."
Luca:
"Yeah, yeah. Amelia, meet Number Eight—Dr. Elias Mercer, the Mind Eleven."
He gestures to a scruffy man in a lab coat who vanishes in a blink—then suddenly appears right in front of Amelia, sniffing her neck. Before she can react, he's back in place.
Dr. Elias:
"She smells... Familiar." He adjusts his glasses.
Luca:
"Don't mind him. Weird old man—but the smartest of us."
Luca (gesturing):
"Number Five—Kenji Takashi, the ThornEleven."
A silent, sleek—toned man wearing a half-mask bows.
Kenji:
"Konichiwa." His voice deep and harsh.
Luca:
"Number Nine—Salma Amiri, the GraceEleven."
A graceful and beautiful woman smiles warmly at Amelia.
Salma:
"Nice to meet you, Amelia." her voice soft and soothing.
Luca:
"And this little—oomph!"
A small blonde girl punches Luca.
Roxie:
"Who you calling little, idiot!?"
Luca (groaning):
"This hot-headed Chihuahua is Number Six—Roxie Vane, the Fang Eleven."
Roxie:
"Say that again, I dare you!" She growls at Luca.
A very tall and bulky dark-skinned man steps forward, calm and unreadable behind tinted goggles.
Zion:
"Hello Miss Amelia. Nice to meet you."
Luca:
"And this is Number Two—Zion Creed, the Pillar Eleven."
Luca stands in front of them and turns around, spreading his arms arrogantly.
Luca:
"And I am... your number one and only Luca Vandoren, the Prime Eleven! Together, we are... the Eleven!"
He says it dramatically, but awkward silence fills the air as he holds his pose.
Amelia (surprised):
"The Eleven, wow? But there's only six of you."
Roxie:
"Shut up, Curly!" Roxie snaps, mocking her hair.
Man:
"Amelia..."
A calm and bright voice echoes from behind the six of the Eleven. A tall, pale and lean man with pure white eyes stands there, holding a walking stick. The six turn around and place their right hands over their chest—saluting him.
Amelia just stares at the man, who wears a warm, welcoming smile—like he's been waiting for her.
Man:
"Welcome home... Number Ten."
Everyone except Luca turns to her, surprise filling their eyes.
Amelia is more stunned than any of them. She just stands there, staring at the man.
She of all people was being called
... the Number Ten of the Legendary Eleven.
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Elsewhere, far from the forest…
In the heart fo the main city: Central Square, atop a towering building, a tall, mysterious man stood with his hands in his pockets, dressed in a cherry-red three-piece suit. His gaze was fixed on the cityscape.
Footsteps echoed softly behind him. A poised woman with long, silver-white hair, hips swaying side to side as if she were on a runway, approached and joined him—dressed in a dark bodysuit with a skirt attached, folding her arms as she too stared ahead at the cityscape.
Number Three:
"Everything is in order. Shall we proceed?" She says with a small mischievous smirk.
Number Seven:
"Yes. Commence Phase Two—the attack at Stonebridge High School."
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To be continued...
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Chapter 8 Preview:
Amelia learns the true history of Superhumans—and what/who she truly is.
Don't miss this revealing chapter tomorrow: The True Story.