Kalin soared through the clouds, a boy lost in daydreams, feeling the soft caress of the wind as he glided effortlessly across the sky. His laughter echoed in the vast expanse above, a melody of freedom and joy. But that blissful flight was abruptly interrupted. "Kalin... Kalin... wake up," a familiar voice sliced through the dreamy haze.
Startled, he blinked awake, realizing he was back in reality, sitting at his desk in the classroom. "Did I sleep through class again?" he asked, panic rising in his voice. "Yeah... calm down! I took some notes. You can copy them," Caitlin replied, her tone reassuring. Kalin let out a dramatic sigh,
"Thank you, Caitlin... you're definitely some kind of angel." They both laughed, a sound that filled the room with warmth as they made their way out of the classroom. Curiosity sparkled in Caitlin's eyes. "What were you dreaming about? You were smiling a lot." "Nothing really, just like any other dream," Kalin said, but as he glanced across the hall, his gaze landed on Lara, and a curious daze washed over his face.
"Careful, Kalin! Keep staring at Lara like that, and I'm gonna spray the hose on you," Caitlin teased, breaking his trance. "So, you gonna talk to her?" she asked, nudging him playfully. "Yes," Kalin replied, confidence wavering as he stepped toward Lara, his heart racing. He was just about to call out her name when he stumbled, tripping over his own feet and crashing to the ground.
Laughter erupted around him, and he winced at the embarrassment. "Are you okay, Kalin?" Lara knelt beside him, her voice filled with concern. "Y... ye... yeah. I think," Kalin stammered, feeling nauseous as he struggled to rise but fell back to one knee.
"Hey, Lara, thanks for the help last night; if I didn't pass, my mom was gonna have a fit," a blonde boy in a football jacket chimed in, joining the scene. "You really need to pay attention in class, Neil," Lara replied, shaking her head gently but smiling. "Hey, Kalin, you okay? You look like you're gonna pass out," Neil asked, genuine concern in his tone.
Kalin nodded, still feeling a bit dizzy. "We should get to class," Neil suggested, glancing at Lara. "Okay, Kalin, make sure you go to the nurse's office," Lara said before walking away with Neil, leaving Kalin feeling like a balloon slowly deflating. "Well, that ended like I thought. Seriously, what is it with you? Somtimes you can't even get six feet close to Lara without turning into a freak show," Caitlin said, helping Kalin to his feet as he regained composure.
"I wish I could give an answer," Kalin replied, resigned as they walked to their next class. Later that day, as they strolled through the halls, a black-haired boy approached Kalin. "Kalin, what are you doing tonight?" "Why?" Kalin asked, suspicious.
"Because Derek here wants us to explore the abandoned underground mining," Caitlin interjected, her eyes glimmering with excitement. Kalin's skepticism sparked. "Yeah, I know ever since the metro shower, it's been unstable. But I studied it like four times. I made sure we'll be safe," Derek insisted earnestly.
"I don't know..." Kalin hesitated, weighing his options. "It sounds like fun! Mind if I tag along?" Lara's voice chimed in, and Kalin's heart raced again. "Sure, if you're not scared," Derek grinned. "I guess I could go; I mean, you may need muscle if something happens," Kalin added, trying to mask his nerves. "Yeah, if like the boogeyman or maybe Bigfoot shows up!" Caitlin joked, eliciting chuckles from the group. "Okay, let's meet in the woods after school," Derek announced.
A few minutes pass as they enter the abandoned underground mine he then saw Lara. The moment he spotted her, a bright smile spread across his face, only to be quickly extinguished by the sight of Neil, his arm casually draped around her neck.
The pang of jealousy twisted in his gut, but he pushed it aside, trying to focus on the adventure ahead. "Okay, now that Kalin is here, let's go," Derek announced, leading the way deeper into the mine. Kalin felt a strange sickness creep into his stomach as he walked closer to Lara, prompting him to lag behind the group.
"Kalin, you okay? Don't tell me you're getting weird again," Caitlin piped up, glancing back at him with concern. "Nope, I'm okay," Kalin replied, forcing a smile though sadness lingered in his eyes. He hadn't expected Neil to join them.
"I didn't know that Neil would be coming. You really have some competition," Caitlin added, her gaze wandering around the eerie surroundings, surprised to see the old lights flickering to life. "Okay, guys, let's go a little further. I want to see where the metro hit," Derek said, pulling out a flashlight.
The beam illuminated the crumbling walls, casting long shadows that danced ominously. "Didn't a group of workers die here?" Neil asked, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "Yeah," Derek replied, his voice low. "They were digging for something—a mineral that was supposed to change everything.
A power source that could run for billions of years. But it was all theoretical. After the metro disaster and all those lives lost, the company never even acknowledged it." As they approached a pile of rubble blocking their path, Kalin felt a chill run down his spine. "Well, it looks like our trip is cut short. We should head back," he suggested, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere.
Suddenly, Derek's eyes widened in panic. "Guys, this wasn't here before!" "I think we should leave," Lara urged, her voice trembling slightly. Everyone nodded in agreement, and they turned to retrace their steps. Just then, the ground shook violently, and dust began to rain down from the ceiling.
"Run!" Kalin shouted, adrenaline surging as he sprinted after his friends. He was just behind when disaster struck—Lara tripped, and the ceiling began to cave in, debris tumbling toward her. Without thinking, Kalin activated his super speed, racing forward.
He caught Lara just in time, shielding her with his body as they hit the ground. "Okay, is everyone okay?" Derek gasped, breathless as they stumbled outside into the daylight. "Where's Kalin and Lara?" Caitlin cried, panic rising in her voice as she turned to look back at the collapsed entrance. "I'm calling the ambulance! You guys try to find them!" Caitlin shouted, pulling out her phone.
Derek and Neil began frantically moving the rocks, but just then, an unexpected presence emerged from the rubble. "Get out of my way, kid," an old man growled, pushing past them with surprising strength. "Hey! What's your problem!" Neil protested, lunging to grab the man, but the old man seized him by the neck, lifting him effortlessly with one hand.
"Put him down!" Derek shouted, but the man swatted him away as if he were a mere annoyance, throwing Neil to the ground. Meanwhile, buried beneath the rubble, Lara slowly regained consciousness, finding herself face to face with Kalin in the darkness.
"G…good…you're okay," she stammered, relief flooding through her. "Kalin, are you okay? I thought I was… but then you…" Lara's voice trailed off as she noticed Kalin struggling to hold up the weight of the fallen rocks above them, his arms trembling. "I could lift this easily but I'm feeling sick when I'm near Lara sometimes," Kalin thought, fighting against the rising nausea.
"Hey, Lara, can you close your eyes for a minute?" he murmured, and she nodded, trusting him. "Okay… Kalin… you can… do this. Just ignore it and push forward," he encouraged himself, mustering every ounce of strength he had. Slowly, rocks began to shift, and a sliver of light broke through the darkness. However, just as hope began to blossom, Kalin's strength waned, and he collapsed, unconscious, atop Lara. "Help!" Lara screamed.
Hours passed away as Kalin sat in the waiting room of the hospital, the sterile smell of antiseptic swirling in the air. Anxiety coiled tightly in his chest as he replayed the events of the day. Suddenly, a familiar voice shattered the haze of his thoughts. "Kalin!" A woman rushed toward him, her face etched with worry. "Are you okay?" Her trembling hands touched his face, searching for any signs of injury.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just worried about Lara," Kalin replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Just then, Mr. Miller, Lara's father, stormed in, his expression a mixture of fury and fear. "What were you thinking going into the mine?" he scolded, his eyes narrowing. "No, it's my fault, Mr. Miller. I shouldn't have brought anyone there," Derek interjected, guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders.
"Yeah, you shouldn't have! Maybe Lara wouldn't be in a hospital if you hadn't!" Neil added, stepping closer, his anger palpable. "Hey, stop! We all made our own decisions to go. We only got ourselves to blame," Kalin shot back, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Yeah, and not only that, but there's a crazy old dude on the loose!" Caitlin piped up, trying to lighten the mood but only adding to the tension.
"You guys said he swatted you around easily?" Kalin asked, concern creeping into his voice. "Yeah, and the guy was at least in his 60s. It was weird. Luckily, he ran off when Caitlin called for help. I thought he was gonna kill us," Neil said, rubbing his neck as if he could still feel the phantom grip of the old man. Just then, a doctor emerged, his face calm yet serious.
"She's gonna be okay. She's not suffering from any injuries. She's very lucky," he said to Lara's parents, relief flooding the room. "Come on, Kalin," his father urged, standing up as they prepared to leave. Back at the farmhouse, the air felt thick with unspoken fears. "Kalin, did anyone see?" Garrett asked, his voice low and measured.
"No, Dad, I was careful. I made sure Lara closed her eyes. But that's not the problem. There's a 60-year-old guy out there who overpowered two high schoolers. How did he survive down there?" Kalin's voice was tense with confusion and fear. "They could have exaggerated a bit. I mean, no one could toss anyone with ease or punch through rocks," his father replied, trying to rationalize the situation.
"Uhh…" Kalin hesitated, the truth gnawing at him. "Besides you, Kalin," his father said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Yeah, which makes me wonder if there are others like me. Maybe I'm not the only freak in Smallville," Kalin mused, staring out of the window, lost in thought. "You're not a freak, Kalin, okay? You're a normal boy," his mother said, her tone reassuring.
"Normal boys don't do the things I do," Kalin replied bitterly before he super sped into his room, leaving his parents in stunned silence. "Garrett," his mother said, worry etched on her face. "Yeah, I'll go talk to him," Garrett replied, heading upstairs. "Kalin, I know it's been rough... Kalin!?" Garrett shouted, but there was only silence. Kalin was gone. Meanwhile, deep in the woods, a ragged old man sat among the trees, an old newspaper crumpled in his hands.
"GenTech Industries! They haven't even mentioned the accident!" he bellowed, his rage boiling over as he punched a nearby tree, splintering the trunk with ease. He picked up a hefty branch and hurled it into the night sky, his eyes wild with confusion. "What happened to me? Martha… Martha!" he cried, the memories of his wife hunted him. Then, with a powerful leap, he soared into the night sky.
Martha stepped out of her car, the brisk morning air tangling with her vibrant red hair as she made her way to the café in town. Her mind was preoccupied with the mundane errands of the day until a familiar voice cut through her thoughts. "Martha…" an elderly man called, striding towards her with an urgency that caught her off guard.
"Who are you?" she replied, her tone laced with worry as she took a step back. "It's… me… Albert," he said, his voice shaky but resolute. As she peered closely at his face, memories flooded back. The warmth of their past intertwined with the chilling present. "My husband died years ago," Martha said, disbelief etched across her features.
Albert's eyes glimmered with a haunting intensity. "You always used to tell me… The stars can't shine without the dark, Albert. Don't forget that." His words hung in the air, stirring emotions she thought were long buried. "Is that really you, Albert? What happened? Why do you look so much older?" She noticed the deep lines etched into his face, the frailty that spoke of lost time.
"I don't know; I just woke up and now I can do weird things. And it's all GenTech Industries' fault. I might not be able to get those years back, but I'm getting revenge," Albert said, his voice thick with bitterness. Concern gripped Martha's heart. She reached for his fist, sensing the turmoil within him.
"You need to get to a hospital now." In a sudden surge of anger, Albert's hand shot up, gripping her neck and lifting her off the ground. "I need them to pay!" he yelled, his eyes wild. "Hey! Put her down!" Kalin shouted, rushing forward to intervene. Grabbing Albert's arm, he pulled him away, causing Albert to release Martha.
"Mind your own business, kid!" Albert swatted Kalin away, sending him crashing into a store window before he leaped into the air, vanishing from sight. Kalin dusted himself off, a mix of confusion and determination swirling in his gut. "Was that the guy?" he pondered aloud.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit factory on the outskirts of Smallville, Albert landed with a force that cracked the concrete beneath him. "What was that?" a man in a suit exclaimed as Albert tore through the door, a furious storm of vengeance brewing within him. "Put your hands up!" shouted the security guards as they raised their weapons, but Albert was far beyond fear.
He hurled a metal door at them, sending guards sprawling and knocking them unconscious. "Albert, stop! This isn't how you're supposed to use your abilities!" Kalin's voice rang out, echoing through the chaos. As Albert swung a fist towards him, Kalin caught it, redirecting his energy and slamming him into a nearby metal pillar.
"I see, so you were affected too, but you're fighting the wrong side," Albert hissed, his anger blinding him. He seized a pillar, charging at Kalin, who narrowly dodged the blow but was still sent crashing through a metal wall. "Now to get my…" Albert's triumph was cut short as a sudden wave of weakness washed over him.
He glanced at the back of his hands, were more wrinkled and aged. "No… not now," he whispered, panic settling in as he caught a glimpse of his reflection—his face marred by the ravages of age, now appearing to be in his seventies. With sheer desperation, Albert jumped out of the factory. Kalin, having regained his composure, super sped back into the factory, only to find Albert gone.
"What is that?" he muttered, discovering pieces of flesh scattered across the ground. Back at home, Kalin returned to a tense atmosphere where his parents awaited his arrival. "Well, I found him, but he got away," he said, attempting to ease the tension. "Where did you go, Kalin?" Garrett asked, his voice stern.
"Like I said, I found the guy," Kalin replied, his frustration bubbling. "You can't just leave in the middle of the night without saying anything!" Garrett reprimanded. "Luckily I did, because I stopped him from killing anyone!" Kalin countered, his voice rising. "That's not the point! You left the house without our permission. You can't just do what you want because you feel like it!" Garrett shot back.
"So I need permission to use my abilities? Why don't you just lock me in my room for the rest of my life." Kalin shouted back. "I just might! You're grounded!" Garrett snapped. In a flash, Kalin used his super speed to dash to his room, leaving Garrett conflicted. Isabel, shot her husband a disapproving look.
"You didn't have to be so hard on him," she said, her voice calm yet firm. "He was the one that snuck out! What was I supposed to do?" Garrett replied defensively. "Yes, but he did it for a good reason," Isabel countered, stepping closer. "He saved lives! Yes we taught him to keep his abilities a secret, but we also taught him that he should help people when he can." Garrett felt a pang of realization at Isabel's words.
Next day the sun streamed through the kitchen window as Kalin ambled downstairs, the smell of pancakes wafting through the air. He plopped down at the table, his fork poised over the fluffy stack. Across from him, Garrett sat in silence, tension thick in the air. The two hadn't spoken since their argument, each nursing their pride while their mother, Isabel, watched with a mix of amusement and frustration.
"Okay, obviously the men in the house have too much pride to apologize to each other," Isabel remarked, breaking the uneasy quiet. "I don't have anything to apologize for, Mom. It's Dad who's being stubborn," Kalin shot back before suddenly bolting out of the house, leaving his mother with an eyebrow raised and a knowing smirk. Garrett sighed, exasperated.
"It's like he's not even listening to what I'm saying." Isabel crossed her arms, her expression playful yet pointed. "I wonder where he gets that from." At school, Kalin navigated the bustling hallways, his mind racing. He spotted a familiar figure through the door of the science lab. There, dressed in a lab coat with her long blonde hair tied up, was Misty, peering intently through a microscope.
Her tired expression hinted at sleepless nights spent chasing elusive breakthroughs. "Who is it... oh, it's you, Kalin," she said, her voice weary but laced with familiarity. "Yo, Misty. You look tired as usual. Had a breakthrough?" Kalin asked, leaning against a lab bench. "Nope. So what is it you want?" she replied, eyes still focused on her work. Kalin rummaged through his backpack, retrieving a small tube containing skin tissue.
"I need you to analyze this." Misty raised an eyebrow, skepticism written all over her face. "Okay…" As she placed the tube under the microscope, her eyes widened. "Whoa. I'm gonna need more time. See me after class." "Uhh, aren't you gonna go to class too?" Kalin teased, but she shot him a look that silenced him. "Yeah, I forgot you're the smartest in the school. Probably in Smallville," he added with a smirk before exiting the room.
Meanwhile, in the heart of town, a man dressed in all black emerged from a sleek limousine, his demeanor commanding. He made his way to a café where another man awaited him at a table, looking anxious. "Well, it's about time," the man at the table said, his voice low. "What happened last night?" "There was this guy. A former employee. His name is Albert Whitmore.
He was in the mines the day the meteor shower hit," the man explained, sliding a folder across the table. "I don't know what happened, but somehow he's able to rip apart a steel door with his bare hands." Suddenly, the café door burst open, and Albert crashed through the window, glass shattering around him. His eyes blazed with fury as he pointed an accusing finger at the man in black. "You! You're the one who was in charge! I found you!" Panic ensued as both men scrambled from their seats, dashing for the exit with Albert hot on their heels.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Kalin stepped out into the bustling hallway. His mind was racing, as he walked back into the science room where he saw Misty, her brow furrowed in concentration as she scribbled complex equations on the chalkboard. "Amazing… but… if," she muttered to herself, deep in thought. "So what did you discover?" Kalin asked, his voice cutting through the silence. Misty spun around, her eyes wide with urgency.
"I discovered that this is impossible. The cellular composition of this tissue is undergoing rapid mitotic division, far exceeding the normal human rate," she explained, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and dread. "But there's a problem—while his cells are replicating at an accelerated pace, the telomeres, which are the protective caps on the ends of DNA strands, are shortening at an alarming rate.
That means every time his cells divide, they degrade exponentially, leading to premature cellular apoptosis." Kalin furrowed his brow, confusion washing over him. "Uhhhh…" "In normal people, cells age slowly because of built-in protections. But his cells are like a machine stuck in overdrive, burning through their lifespan way too fast. He's literally decaying at a cellular level," Misty clarified, her voice steady. Kalin's heart sank.
"If that's the case, then he's dying fast." Without another word, he bolted out of the room. Outside, he spotted Albert chasing a man into a waiting limousine. Kalin raced after them, adrenaline pumping through his veins. As the car began to pull away, Albert leaped onto the back, gripping it tightly as the tires screeched against the pavement. In a moment of raw power, he flipped the vehicle, sending it crashing into a nearby building.
"Time for you to pay!" Albert shouted, his voice laced with fury. Kalin, now at super speed, intercepted them, dragging Albert away to an abandoned factory, a place devoid of witnesses. "Listen, Albert—" "Out of the way!" Albert barked, swinging a fist that sent Kalin crashing into a pile of metal debris.
"Why did you stop me? Can't you see that GenTech is a cancer to this town? It needs to be ripped out!" Albert yelled, his voice echoing in the empty space. As Kalin lift the debris off himself. "Not like this. You need help right now! You're aging at a rapid rate. You need help!" "Ahhhhh!" Albert screamed, launching himself at Kalin. They collided, a shockwave rippling through the factory, shattering windows and sending dust swirling.
Kalin could see the signs of decay on Albert's skin, a stark reminder of the consequences of his reckless pursuit for vengeance. "Albert, stop this! If you continue, you'll die!" Kalin pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. "No! They must pay!" Albert roared, swinging at Kalin again, his rage amplifying as he began to glow a sickly green. The fight raged on, with Kalin dodging Albert's increasingly erratic strikes.
The structure around them groaned in protest, threatening to collapse under the strain of their battle. Kalin's heart raced as he watched Albert age before his eyes, his body withering away into a shadow of its once vibrant self. "Ahhhhh!" Albert screamed again, his body trembling, becoming unstable as his glowing aura flickered. Kalin realized the impending danger. With a surge of speed, he dashed out of the warehouse just as Albert's form erupted in a blinding explosion, the factory crumbling behind him.
"No. Dammit." Kalin stood there, frustration boiling within him as dust settled in the aftermath. Hours later, Kalin returned home, his heart heavy with the day's events. As he stepped inside, he saw Garrett standing in front of him, worry etched on his face. "Look... Dad, Kalin…" they both started to speak at once, before falling into a tight embrace. "Finally," Isabel said, a warm smile on her face.
A/N What power do you want Kalin to unlock first?