Chapter 9: This Is A Nightmare
———————————————————
"It was bad enough having nightmares every night, but I never imagined living one."
— Amelia
---
In the Hero Headquarters...
Noah and Amelia are still seated on a bench in the courtyard after she learns the truth.
Amelia:
"Wow, this is a lot to take in.... But I still have so many questions. Like… how do you know that I'm number ten?"
Noah:
"You were born on the same day Number Ten passed away—August 7, 1998. At first, when Luca told me about your powers, I was confused… and excited."
"You controlled someone, both a superhuman and a human—with your words and mind. That's something only the Genesis could do. But then we realized that we were wrong. What you were showcasing was not the Genesis's power but instead the power of Number Ten—the Echo Eleven.
The Echo Eleven can copy any superhuman's power, but only at a minor scale and only for a limited time. Usually, it's just a fragment of the original ability, and only once. Like an echo… faint, brief, and fading.
Let's say you copied a fire user who could unleash a massive inferno—what you'd get would be a single, smaller surge. And with each use, it weakens further. That's what you did, Amelia. You echoed the Genesis's power."
Amelia (amused):
"So… I can actually do that? That's... insane." She looks at her palm in amusement.
"So the government have been lying to us for almost a century now, heroes still exist—in secret but they left a legacy to the public as villains, and I'm supposed to be one of them... Wow." Her face drops into her hands, in conflict.
"This is a lot, too much to know at once. You've told me a lot today sir, but I still have some questions before I know what do. It's too life changing... I just want a normal life, to be an average teenage girl, participate in school activities, join after school clubs, go to parties. But I can't, because of work and my family. And now my life is supposed to get even more occupied.
Noah:
"I understand you Amelia." He takes her hand, a warm, understanding smile on his face.
"And I'm ready to answer all of your questions. But I want you to know that there's no pressure. I know this is a lot to throw at you at once, so take your time.
Go back to school. Luca will stay in touch."
Amelia rises from her seat.
Amelia:
"Alright, sir. I'm sorry—I will think about it."
Noah:
"Take your time, Amelia." He smiles gently as she walks away. She waves over her shoulder.
—
Outside the headquarters, only Luca is there—sitting lazily on the stairs, tapping away on his phone.
Amelia:
"Let's go, Luca."
Luca:
"Yo. Done with your lecture? Lol." He doesn't even glance up.
Amelia:
"Yeah. I really need to get going, though."
Luca:
"Shit!" He shouts, suddenly tapping more aggressively. The sound of gunfire, explosions, and virtual chaos blares from his phone.
"Oh—you're ready? Hold on a sec."
Amelia rolls her eyes, impatient. Luca, still glued to his screen, lazily flicks his hand—and a portal shimmers into existence.
Luca:
"Can't come with you though, so don't miss me too much."
Amelia:
"Don't need you to." She turns and steps through the portal.
Luca:
"Byeeeee." The portal seals behind her.
He pauses.
"…Wait a minute, where did I open the portal to?" He finally looks up. His eyes widen in realization.
"Uh-oh."
—
Meanwhile…
Amelia stands on the porch of her house, panting in frustration. The portal had taken her home—not back to the school rooftop.
Amelia:
"Lucaaaaaa!" she screams.
Mrs. Brown (from inside the house):
"Who's there!?"
Amelia zips away instantly at the sound of her mother's voice. No way she was getting caught now. She bolts through the streets, searching for a taxi—but there's none in sight. She has no time to wait for a bus so she keeps on running.
And to her surprise… she doesn't get tired. She's faster than she's ever been—faster than she ever thought she could even be run.
She realizes—this must be part of her powers. People gape as she races past, stunned by her speed. A small grin creeps onto her face.
But it fades as she nears her school.
A thick, black cloud of smoke coils into the sky. Loud, sirens and panicked voices echo in the distance.
BOOM!
Her heart stops.
Amelia:
"What the—" Her legs move faster on instinct.
She arrives at her school and—she sees it.
The school… in ruins.
One side of the building collapsed. The other engulfed in flames.
And at the center of it all: a colossal, brown gorilla-like beast, at least three stories tall—roaring, rampaging, and destroying everything in its path.
Screams fill the smoky air. Students flee in every direction. Some crawl, bloodied and broken. Firefighters, police and medics swarm the area, helping survivors—but they don't dare go in. They're helpless.
Police officers hold back hysterical parents, some trying to break through the yellow tape and barricade, desperate to find their children. The officers are waiting for backup from the Superhuman Subjugation Service (SSS).
RAAAAARGH!
The beast snarls as it seizes a student in its massive fist, lifting him high into the air.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" The student screams, flailing, trying to escape.
The crowd gasps in horror.
The policemen open fire on the beast, trying to make it drop the boy—but every bullet bounces off its thick, armor-like skin.
"That's my son! That's my son! GIL! GIL! NOOOOO!"
His mother shrieks, just a few feet from Amelia. Firefighters restrain her as she fights to go through the barricade to reach him.
"PLEASE! PLEASE! NOOOOO! GOD, SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
The boy weeps.
"Mama! I don't want to die!"
Tears pour from his face. His eyes lock onto his mother's.
Amelia stares, frozen.
(Amelia's thoughts):
"God… no, no—what is this!?"
People scream. Others turn away, unable to look.
(Amelia's thoughts):
"I have to do something..." She hesitates, her whole body trembling.
"What do I do?!"
"MUMMY!" the boy cries, louder. His chest heaves and his eyes begin to bulge as the beast's grip tightens.
"GIL! NOOOOO! MY SOOOOOOOON!"
And then—
BURST!
Blood sprays across the sky. Screams erupt from the crowd. People recoil, covering their eyes.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" His mother collapses, howling in despair.
Amelia watches her break.
She clenches her fists and drops her head. Her eyes shut tight and her knees trembled.
She wanted to scream, to cry—but she couldn't. She
Amelia:
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!... this is a nightmare."
And then—her eyes snap open.
She remembers her best friends.
Amelia:
"Martin! Sarah!"
Without hesitation, she bursts through the barricade. The police try to stop her—but they were distracted by the mother of the son who just died and Amelia is too fast. Too strong.
She dashes towards the school, into the rubble and chaos.
(Amelia's thoughts):
"Sarah. Martin. Please be okay!"
---
To be continued...
———————————————————
Chapter 10 Preview:
Amelia races through blood-streaked hallways filled with broken bodies—some barely clinging to life, some already gone. She searches desperately for her best friends. Will she find them… and what will be left of them if she does?
Don't miss tomorrow's agonizing chapter:
"Why?"