Rory sat upright on the narrow bed, thumbnail worrying at his lip, a faint tingle still skittering under his skin. The room was low-lit and orderly, monitors ticking, tubing coiled neat, Alex moving with the unhurried precision of someone who knew what mattered and what didn't. Ethan sat on the spare bed beside him; Will claimed the single chair, knee bouncing, gaze unreadable.
Rory kept his eyes on his shoes and tried to quiet the tide, confusion rising, nausea close behind. None of this felt like it belonged to his life.
Alex clipped a sensor to his wrist and checked the readout. "How are you feeling?" she asked, voice gentled at the edges.
"Fine," he said, flat. The lie didn't even bother to dress itself.
Alex watched him for a moment, her gaze softening. "I'm not just a doctor," she said quietly. "I'm an empath."
Rory's brow creased. "A what?"
"It means I can feel what you're feeling," she explained, her voice calm, almost apologetic.
The muscles in his shoulders went rigid. He dropped his hand from his mouth, meeting her eyes with a flash of annoyance. "Then why ask?"
Will's mouth twitched. Alex shot him a look and went back to the screen. "Despite how you feel, you're holding steady," she said. "But your onboarding is dragging."
"Onboarding?" Rory echoed.
"It's what we call the adjustment period when someone undergoes an enhancement. The serum and the implant are designed to work together, he serum triggers the change; the chip regulates it, keeping your system from overloading. It's a syncing process, and for some reason, yours is... taking its time."
Rory scrunched up his face confused. "So what does that mean?"
"It means you should stay while I monitor you," she said simply. "Make sure the systems settle." She met his gaze. "It's the safest option."
Rory's stomach twisted uneasily. "For how long?"
"A couple of hours. Maybe longer."
She hesitated, then, spoke softer, "Can we call someone for you? Maybe a parent, let them know what's happening-"
"No!" Rory shot upright, hands raised before he even knew why. His pulse spiked, chest tightening. Alex caught it instantly, the sharp flare of panic rolling off him like static.
Ethan frowned, the sudden shift impossible to miss. He didn't need an empath to see it. The mention of calling home had hit a nerve.
"You don't want them to know?" he asked, keeping his tone even.
Rory's answer came too fast. "No."
The word cracked on release. Whatever bravado he'd been clinging to slipped, leaving something raw and frightened underneath.
Ethan studied him in silence for a moment, then gave a small, deliberate nod. "Alright," he said quietly. "We'll hold off."
Rory blinked, caught off guard. A thin thread of relief loosened in his chest, unfamiliar but real. For the first time since this started, it felt like someone wasn't trying to push him...just listen.
Ethan's gaze softened. "What time do you need to be home?"
"Four," Rory murmured automatically.
"Then we'll get you back by four," Ethan said. No flourish. Just a promise.
Some of the tension drained from Rory's shoulders. He still didn't trust them, not completely, but something about the quiet certainty in Ethan's voice made him want to.
"That gives us two hours," Alex said, checking the wall clock. "Plenty to keep you stable and get baselines."
Ethan glanced over. "You up for a few questions? Then I'll drive you home so you can sleep."
Rory didn't want questions. But there was no pressure in Ethan's voice, only room to breathe. After a moment, he nodded.
Ethan's expression eased. "Good. Alex, do you mind sticking around for this?"
She raised an eyebrow at the request but nodded. "Of course."
"Alright," Ethan said, shifting slightly on the edge of the bed. "Let's start simple. How old are you?"
"Fifteen," Rory answered.
Ethan nodded. "And before today, you'd never heard of neuroserum augmentation?"
Rory frowned, shaking his head. Ethan glanced at Alex, who met his eyes and nodded once.
"He's telling the truth," she confirmed.
Rory stiffened. It took him a second to realise what they were doing, using Alex as some kind of human lie detector. The realisation made his stomach tighten.
Ethan kept his tone calm. "Do you remember ever getting an implant?"
Rory thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Any surgeries that could explain it?"
"No."
Ethan's brow furrowed slightly. If Rory truly had no memory of receiving the implant, then it had been placed when he was very young, something both illegal and deeply unethical.
"Have you ever heard of Bultenas or Liredts?" he asked, voice still level but edged with curiosity.
Rory frowned, the names meaning nothing to him. "No."
Alex gave another small nod to confirm it.
Ethan's next question came carefully. "And your parents? Do they know anything about neuroserum augmentation, or those names I just mentioned?"
Rory almost laughed. "Absolutely not." For the first time since sitting down, his reaction was genuine.
Ethan exhaled slowly, gaze dropping for a moment before continuing. "What about your brother, how old is he?"
"Twenty."
That complicated things. If the implant had been in Rory for years, Nick would've been too young to be responsible. Ethan's mind turned over possibilities, none of them good.
"Any other siblings?"
Rory nodded.
"And they're not involved in anything like this?"
"I wouldn't know," Rory said. "They left years ago." His tone was flat but carried a note of something heavier, resentment, maybe loss.
The pause stretched before he asked quietly, "Why are you asking about my family?"
Ethan drew a slow breath, choosing his words. "Because someone put that implant in you, Rory. You don't remember it, and you've never had surgery. That means it was done when you were very young, and whoever did it had access to you. The most likely suspect would be someone close." He hesitated. "Your brother may have given you the serum, but he didn't implant the chip. He would've been too young."
Rory's pulse quickened. If Nick hadn't done it... then who had?
"Nick knew about it," Ethan went on, thinking aloud. "Which means someone else in your family must've known too. Do you have any relatives...an aunt, uncle, grandparent...who might have had the chance?"
He stopped when Alex turned sharply toward Rory, her focus narrowing. Following her gaze, Ethan saw the change, Rory had gone completely still, his eyes distant, lost somewhere deep in thought.
"You thought of someone," Ethan said.
Rory didn't respond. His mind was racing through half-formed memories, pieces that suddenly fit together too neatly.
"Rory?" Ethan said again, softer this time.
Rory blinked, the spell breaking. Ethan leaned forward slightly. "Did someone come to mind? Someone who might've done this?"
Rory's throat tightened. He didn't answer right away. Ethan sighed quietly, resting his elbows on his knees. "If you want answers, we have to work together. Talk to me."
Rory finally looked up. His voice came out low, almost reluctant. "My parents."
Ethan's brows drew together, processing. Before he could speak, Will frowned. "You just said no to them a minute ago."
Rory shook his head. "Not them. My real parents."
The words landed heavily, pulling the room into silence.
Ethan straightened a little. "Real parents?"
Rory nodded slowly. "My dad died when I was five. My mum left when I was eight." His voice softened, carrying a quiet shame that didn't belong to him.
Silence settled over the room. Ethan exchanged a look with Alex, part sympathy, part quiet understanding. Whatever this kid had been through, it was already more than most people his age could bear.
Ethan spoke again, carefully. "Do you know anything about them? About what they did?"
He hesitated, searching for the right words. "She didn't really do anything, I don't think. He was... I think he was some kind of systems engineer."
Silence followed, Ethan's lingered on Rory, thoughtful. The title alone, systems engineer, was enough to raise questions none of them wanted to voice yet.
Rory shifted under the weight of their silence. "That's all I know," His eyes flicked between them, something tightening in his chest. "Do you think they did it?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and fragile all at once. Alex looked up sharply, the pulse of unease rolling off him hitting her like a physical wave. His anxiety, his confusion, the sharp sting of betrayal, all of it was right there, raw and unshielded.
She took a careful step closer. "We don't know," she said gently. "But it seems like a good place to start looking."
Rory's jaw tensed, his gaze dropping to his hands.
"And if they did," Alex added softly, "we don't know the reasons behind it yet."
That didn't seem to comfort him. He stayed quiet, his gaze fixed on his hands as his thumb worried at the edge of his nail. His face gave nothing away, but the tightness in his shoulders said more than enough.
After a moment, Alex spoke again, her tone careful. "Can you tell us their names?"
Rory hesitated, then nodded faintly. "Robert and Lyela."
Alex straightened, moving to the counter. She grabbed a notepad and pen, flipping it open as she jotted the names down. "Last name?" she asked without looking up.
"Atwood."
The reaction was instant. Alex's pen stalled mid-stroke. Will's head snapped toward Ethan. Ethan didn't move; his expression hardened.
"...Atwood?" he said, voice suddenly sharper.
Rory blinked, startled by their sudden shift in tone. "Yeah," he said cautiously.
Will frowned. "I thought your last name was Landers."
Rory frowned back, confused. "How did you-?"
"It was written in your school hoodie," Will explained before he could finish.
"Oh." Rory rubbed the back of his neck. "That's my stepdad's name. He enrolled me in school under it."
Ethan's gaze stayed fixed on him. "Your dad was Robert Atwood?"
Rory hesitated. "You... you knew him?"
The three adults exchanged looks, brief but loaded. Something unspoken passed between them, a recognition that made Rory's stomach twist.
Alex was the first to speak, her voice quieter than before. "Yeah," she said carefully.
The three adults exchanged quick glances, an unspoken understanding flickering between them.
"...We've heard of him," Ethan said carefully, choosing each word.
Rory's pulse quickened. "Does that mean he-"
"No. We don't know anything for sure yet." Ethan interrupted, lifting a steadying hand.
His voice stayed calm, deliberate. The last thing Rory needed was another hit of uncertainty. Ethan leaned back slightly, assessing him.
Ethan pushed off the spare bed, his tone shifting back to something steady and practical. "Alright," he said. "We'll let you rest for a bit before I drive you home. Alex can keep an eye on you, make sure everything's stable."
Rory blinked, confused. "That's it?" he asked. "You're just... stopping?"
The frustration in his voice caught even him off guard. After everything they'd pulled out of him, the questions, the implications, it didn't feel like enough.
Alex stepped in quickly, her tone gentler than Ethan's. "I told him he could only grill you for a little while," she said with a small, reassuring smile. "You're still onboarding, and your system needs to stabilise before we push it any further."
"But what about-" Rory started, sitting up a little straighter.
"We don't know anything yet," Ethan cut in firmly but not unkindly. "You've already given us more than enough to start with."
Rory's jaw tightened. He hated the feeling of being left in the dark, of everyone around him knowing more than they were saying.
Will pushed off the wall, his tone rough but not unkind. "Just rest, kid. You need it."
"I'm fine," Rory muttered automatically, but none of them called him on it. He stayed sitting upright, eyes fixed on the floor, refusing to let himself look tired.
Ethan gave Rory one last measured look before nodding to the others. "We'll be right outside," he said quietly.
The door clicked softly behind them as they stepped into the hallway.
"That's Rory Atwood," Will said first, disbelief in his voice. "How the hell didn't we figure that out sooner?"
"Because we thought he was a Landers," Ethan murmured, still piecing it together.
Alex crossed her arms. "Well, we definitely know who gave him the implant now."
Ethan's jaw tightened, but his expression stayed unreadable.
"I always thought that was just a rumour," Will said, shaking his head. "Atwood's chip...the prototype that was supposed to merge human and Bultena systems? Everyone said it never made it out of testing."
Ethan nodded slightly. "So did I."
Alex hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the closed door. "Then if Robert Atwood really implanted his own son..."
A heavy silence hung between them, the weight of that idea settling in.
Will broke it first, voice low. "No father would do that to a kid."
Alex didn't answer right away. When she finally spoke, her voice was thoughtful, almost reluctant. "Maybe it wasn't meant to be an enhancement at all."
Ethan glanced at her. "What do you mean?"
She folded her arms tighter, searching for the right words. "You heard me before, that implant doesn't behave like anything we've ever seen. It's too integrated...almost organic. If those scans are right, two distinct genomes in one system, then the implant may not enhance so much as stabilise..."
Will frowned. "Stabilise how?"
"By keeping his DNA in balance," Alex said quietly. "If his biology really is that mixed, then without regulation his system would probably collapse. The implant might be the only thing holding him together."
Will's disbelief softened into something closer to unease. "So it's a life support system."
"Maybe," Alex said. "Or both. Depends on what Atwood was trying to achieve."
Ethan exhaled slowly, the implications sinking in. "Then we'd better figure this out."
Will let out a frustrated sigh. "And what about the militants that raided the clinic? We're just not picking at that thread?"
"One thing at a time," Ethan said, his tone calm but firm. His eyes lingered on the door one last time. "Right now, the kid comes first."
***
By 3:45, Ethan came to collect Rory from the infirmary. Ethan tapped the doorframe. 'Told you, back by four."
Alex had finally given him the all-clear, though it was clear she'd only done so because she couldn't convince him to stay any longer. He was pale, unsteady on his feet, and still looked nauseous, but the glare he'd given her when she suggested another hour of observation had made her sigh and relent.
She handed Ethan a short list of instructions and gave Rory one last warning. "You're still onboarding. You'll probably feel off for a few days, lightheaded maybe feverish. Drink water, rest, and if anything feels wrong or starts getting worse, call me. I mean it."
Rory gave a vague nod that didn't inspire much confidence. Ethan murmured his thanks before steering him gently toward the exit.
They stepped into the underground parking garage. The air was cooler there, the echo of their footsteps sharp against the concrete. Rory adjusted the strap of his school bag on his shoulder, eyes darting between the rows of parked cars.
After a few seconds, he broke the silence. "So... does this mean I'm going to get enhanced?"
Ethan glanced over. "You already are. The serum triggered it. Now your body's just catching up...but yeah, you'll get stronger, faster. All that."
Rory nodded slowly, his mind turning over the words. Enhanced. It sounded surreal, like something that happened to other people, people in classified facilities or underground labs, not some kid from a public school who'd just wanted to get through his week. It should have felt exciting, but all he could feel was the weight of it, like a gift he didn't deserve, or a mistake he couldn't take back.
He absently scratched his cheek, mind still catching up. "So Alex is one of you too, then?"
Ethan pressed the car fob. A soft beep echoed through the space. "Yeah. Empath. She reads emotions, sometimes even influences them if she needs to. Helps with her work, though I'm guessing you didn't find it all that comfortable."
Rory huffed. "Not really."
"She didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Ethan said. "You're just... loud emotionally. Comes with the territory right now."
Rory frowned, not sure if that was supposed to be a compliment. "And your disappearing thing," he asked, "that's part of it too?"
Ethan hesitated briefly, then gave a small shrug. "Yeah." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.
Rory let it go, still thinking. "What about Will?"
"Force fields," Ethan said. "That invisible wall you ran into earlier? That was him."
"Oh." Rory blinked, remembering the jarring impact. "Right."
They walked between rows of parked cars, the dim yellow lights flickering overhead. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly in the concrete space.
"So... am I gonna get something like that?" Rory asked after a moment, glancing up at Ethan.
Ethan shook his head. "Not exactly. You've already got the standard package, strength, speed, endurance. All the baseline stuff. What we've got are considered add-ons."
Rory frowned. "Add-ons?"
"Yeah," Ethan said easily. "You can apply for them once you're stable. Takes paperwork, clearance, money, and even then, it's not guaranteed."
Rory blinked. "People pay for them?"
"Oh yeah," Ethan said, a smug edge to his smile. "Enhancement's a billion-dollar industry. Half the people who can't get or earn power just buy it instead."
Rory gave him a skeptical look. "So what, you guys rich or something?"
Ethan let out a short laugh. "Not even close."
Rory went quiet for a moment, processing. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his posture tightening as the last of the nausea rolled through him. "Well, I couldn't afford one anyway," he muttered, a hint of bitterness bleeding through before he forced a crooked grin. "Not that I'd want one. Yours all seem kinda lame, no offence."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Lame?"
Without breaking stride, he lifted his hand. Dark smoke coiled from his palm, twisting and condensing until it shaped into a solid black blade. The air around it vibrated faintly, the edge catching the weak light as he spun it once before letting it dissolve into nothing.
Rory froze mid-step, staring. "Whoa."
Ethan gave a satisfied smirk. "Yeah. That's what I thought." He hit the unlock button, the car beeping in the distance. "Come on, kid. Get in."
***
Ethan pulled up outside Rory's house. The place was small and unremarkable, paint peeling, the lawn uneven, a fence leaning just slightly off its post. It looked lived in, but not cared for.He shifted the car into park and glanced at Rory. "You gonna be alright?"
Rory nodded, already reaching for the door handle. "Yeah. I'm just gonna crash."
Before he could open the door, Ethan held out a hand. "Phone."
Rory frowned. "Why?"
Ethan didn't answer, just waited.
With a quiet sigh, Rory dug into his pocket and passed it over. Ethan entered his number, saved it, and handed it back. "If anything feels off, call or message, doesn't matter when."
Rory looked down at the screen, then back up at him. "That's it?"
Ethan shook his head. "No. We'll be in touch. Alex will check in too, she'll want to see how you're handling the onboarding."
Rory's expression gave nothing away, but he nodded. "Right."
"Go get some rest," Ethan said, his tone gentler this time.
Rory climbed out, closing the door behind him. Ethan watched him walk up the path, shoulders slightly hunched, fumbling with his keys. The door opened, a sliver of light spilling out before it shut again.
For a long moment, Ethan stayed where he was, engine idling quietly. Then he exhaled, shifted gears, and rolled down the street, only to slow again halfway down the block.
He pulled into a spot beneath a broken streetlight, far enough not to be noticed but close enough to see the house through the trees.
He told himself it wasn't about surveillance. It was caution. The kid had been through hell in less than twenty-four hours. Ethan just wanted to make sure he made it through the night.
***
Rory woke to someone nudging his shoulder. His eyelids fluttered open, vision still hazy, and he blinked up at Abbey standing over him.
"You're home," she said, sounding surprised.
Rory groaned and sat up, scrubbing a hand over his face. His body ached like he'd run a marathon. His head throbbed, his stomach rolled, and the dull heaviness in his limbs hadn't faded since yesterday. He hadn't meant to crash on the couch, hadn't even realised he'd fallen asleep. And it couldn't have been for long if Abbey was just getting home.
"Course I am," he muttered. His voice came out rough. "Have I ever missed taking you to class?"
Abbey smiled faintly, but it didn't last. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. "You sure you're okay? You still look kinda awful."
Rory managed a crooked smirk. "Gee, thanks."
"Rory," she said softly, her tone shifting from teasing to concern.
"I'm fine," he replied, though the lie came out weak and thin.
Abbey didn't seem convinced. "You sure you're up for taking me? Sarah's mum just dropped me home, I could ask her to-"
"Abs, no." He straightened, forcing a stretch into his stiff shoulders before giving her a tired but lopsided grin. "I've got this. When have I ever let you down?"
She exhaled, the tension leaving her face. "Okay," she said. "I'll go get ready."
As she disappeared down the hall, Rory let out a long breath and leaned back against the couch.
He grabbed his phone from the charger on the floor beside the couch and unlocked it. A string of unread messages from Dan filled the screen
You good?
You make it home?
Dude, seriously, text me.
Rory stared at them for a moment, the events of the day pressing down on him again. There wasn't a single part of it he could explain.
He typed back: Made it home. Just sleeping.
Simple. Vague. Enough to stop Dan from worrying.
***
From his parked car down the street, Ethan saw the front door open. Rory stepped out with a younger girl Ethan figured was his stepsister, the two of them heading down the sidewalk together. They were talking easily, Abbey animated and bright, while Rory looked pale and sluggish beneath it all, his exhaustion still etched into every movement.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Ethan drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, frowning. The kid was supposed to be resting. He'd said he would rest. Instead, here he was, taking off.
Instead of driving off like he'd promised himself he would, Ethan started the car and followed at a distance. He kept far enough back to avoid notice, watching as Rory and his sister reached a bus stop. Abbey was talking a mile a minute, her hands moving as she spoke, while Rory just nodded along, pale but patient.
A few minutes later, a bus hissed to a stop, and the two climbed aboard. Ethan followed its route through a few quiet streets until it stopped again near a row of small businesses. When Rory and Abbey stepped off, his irritation eased a little as he saw where they were headed, a dance studio, bright posters plastered across the windows.
So that was it. The kid had dragged himself out of bed just to take his little sister to class.
Ethan leaned back in his seat, watching as Rory walked Abbey to the door. Just before they went inside, Rory pulled out his phone and lifted it to his ear, pretending to take a call. He gestured for her to go in without him. She hesitated but eventually nodded and disappeared through the door.
Ethan's brow creased as Rory pocketed his phone and stepped around the side of the building. A moment later, Ethan saw him bend forward suddenly, bracing a hand against the wall as he threw up.
"Damn," Ethan muttered under his breath.
Rory wiped his mouth on his sleeve, breathing hard before straightening again. For a second, he just stood there, shoulders heaving, then dragged a hand through his hair, forcing himself to steady. A beat later, he pushed off the wall and walked inside as if nothing had happened.
Ethan exhaled, shaking his head. For all the kid's stubbornness and rough edges, there it was, the truth underneath. Sick, exhausted, probably still half-spinning from the serum, and he'd still dragged himself out just to make sure his little sister got to dance class.
Tough kid, Ethan thought. But mostly, just a good one.
***
Morning light spilled through the thin curtains, cutting across Rory's face. He stirred with a quiet groan, rolling onto his back. For a second, he braced himself for the same dull ache and nausea that had haunted him for days, but it didn't come. His head was clear. His stomach steady. Even the soreness in his limbs had evaporated.
He blinked up at the ceiling, confused. It didn't feel normal...just... better. Like his body had finally stopped fighting itself.
Before he could dwell on it, a voice cut through the quiet.
"Rory! You're late!" Liz's shout carried up the hall. "Abbey has to be at school in twenty minutes!"
"Shit," he muttered, jerking upright. The clock on his nightstand confirmed it, 8:10. He had overslept.
He scrambled out of bed, yanking on jeans, his school shirt and hoodie from the floor. There was no time for a shower. He grabbed his bag and the small metal-and-plastic sheet from the bedside table, popping out a pill and swallowing it dry. When he flipped the sheet over he saw only two doses remained.
"Great," he muttered under his breath. "Add that to the list."
He tossed the sheet back onto his bedside table and bolted down the narrow stairs, nearly colliding with Abbey at the bottom. She was halfway to the kitchen, finishing a piece of toast with her water bottle in hand. Liz spotted it immediately. With a sharp sigh, she set her coffee down on the bench, snatched the bottle from Abbey, and moved to fill it herself. She was already dressed for work, every detail immaculate, but her expression was tight, irritation already set for the day.
"Nice of you to join us," she said dryly. Then, softer, "You're looking better, though. Feeling alright?"
Rory slowed, caught off guard. "Yeah. I think so," he said, and realised he meant it.
Abbey smiled, her eyes bright. "You look way better than yesterday."
From the couch, Pete finally looked up from his phone. "You were sick?" His tone made it sound more like an inconvenience than concern.
Rory's jaw tightened. Of course. Either Pete hadn't noticed, or he didn't care enough to pretend he had. He just forced a shrug. "Guess I'm not anymore."
He grabbed his bag from the floor and slung it over his shoulder. "You ready, Abs?"
Abbey nodded, swallowing the last bite of toast. "Yep."
"Let's go, then," he said, motioning toward the door.
Abbey grabbed her water bottle as she followed him into the hall. Rory bent to pick up her school bag, holding it steady while she tucked the bottle into the side pocket. Then he gave her a gentle nudge toward the door, opening it for her and guiding her out.
The morning air met him cool and clean, carrying that faint crispness that came just before spring. Rory paused on the step, glancing around as sunlight filtered through the trees, bright and warm in a way it hadn't been for days. Everything looked sharper, more defined. It wasn't just that he felt better; the world itself looked... refined, like someone had turned up the focus.
He drew in a slow breath, the freshness settling through him. Whatever had been happening inside him these past few days, whatever strange shift his body had been fighting through, it finally felt like it had evened out.
They had only made it a few houses down when Rory spotted them. Ethan, Will, and Alex were leaning against a car at the end of the street, waiting.
His stomach sank. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath.
Abbey noticed the change in his stride and followed his gaze. "Who are they? Is everything okay?"
"It's fine," Rory said quickly, though his shoulders had tensed.
"You know them?"
"Yeah," he sighed, sounding annoyed.
Abbey gave him a doubtful look but didn't push.
As they got closer, Will pushed himself o? the car, his usual smirk in place, while Ethan greeted him with an easy smile.
Rory stopped a few steps short and turned to Abbey. "Hang back for a sec, okay?"
She hesitated, glancing between him and the three strangers, but eventually nodded and stayed put.
Rory stepped forward, hands shoved into his pockets. "What are you doing here?"
Ethan grinned. "Told you we'd check in."
Alex stepped forward slightly, her gaze sharp but not unkind. "How are you feeling?"
Rory shrugged. "Fine."
Will gave a low whistle. "Fine? You look better than fine. Even those bruises you had yesterday are practically gone."
Alex nodded, crossing her arms. "Looks like you made it through the onboarding."
Rory frowned. "So is that it? Are we done?"
Ethan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Nope. Not yet." His tone shifted, more serious now. "We just need to make sure you're not about to do anything stupid with your new enhancement."
Rory scowled, caught between confusion and offence. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Ethan said evenly, "I want you to come by where we work. We'll run a few checks, make sure everything's stable."
Rory folded his arms. "I can't. I've got school."
Will's lips quirked. "Pretty sure you ditched yesterday."
"Yeah," Rory shot back, "which is exactly why I can't skip again."
Ethan raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "Alright. What about this afternoon?"
Rory kicked a stick at his feet, still uncertain. "I feel fine," he said finally. "And I don't feel like I've got any superpowers or whatever, so it kinda seems like I'd just be wasting your time."
Ethan's tone stayed even. "You won't be wasting our time. Part of our job is making sure newly enhanced individuals aren't a danger, to themselves or anyone else."
That made Rory pause. He caught the weight in Ethan's voice, the word danger landing harder than the rest.
Rory caught the phrasing and frowned. "So what you're really saying is you need to make sure I'm not a threat."
None of them answered right away. The silence was enough.
"So I don't have a choice," he asked, jaw tightening.
"You do," Ethan replied, patient but firm. "You can choose when."
Rory let out a sharp scoff. "Then I choose six months from now."
Will grinned, amused. "Kid's got you there."
Ethan gave him a look before turning back to Rory. "How about sometime this week instead?"
Rory crossed his arms. "Or what?"
Will's grin widened, his tone light but carrying weight. "Or it becomes our job to escalate it through channels."
Rory's expression darkened. He wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but the edge in Will's voice told him it wasn't something he wanted to find out. His stomach tightened, the old instinct to defy warring with the smarter one to back down.
He sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Fine," he muttered. "After school."
Ethan's smile returned, small but genuine. "Good choice."
Alex just nodded approvingly, though Rory could feel her reading the frustration and unease still rolling off him.
"Need a lift to school?" Ethan asked.
Rory shook his head. "I've gotta take my little sister."
Will glanced past him toward Abbey. "Thought you said all your siblings took off."
"She's my stepsister," Rory said, flat, irritated at the careless remark.
Ethan shrugged. "We can drop her off first."
Rory glanced back at Abbey, still waiting a few paces behind, then shook his head. "Nah, you're right. It's not far."
Ethan studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Suit yourself. We'll see you after school."
Rory gave a short, noncommittal nod in return before turning back toward Abbey. "Come on," he said quietly, his tone clipped but steady as they started walking again.
***
Rory moved through the corridor, his bag slung over one shoulder, the noise of his fellow students echoing loudly off the walls. He was halfway to his first class when a hand landed on his bag, the weight familiar.
"Hey," Dan said, grinning as he fell into step beside him. "Feeling better?"
"Loads better," Rory said, a small smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah, you look it. You looked like shit yesterday," Dan teased, reaching out to push Rory's head. Rory shoved him off, still wearing that crooked grin.
"So, what happened with those guys?" Dan asked, curiosity creeping into his tone.
Rory hesitated, the memory flickering through his mind. He didn't know how to explain it, hell, he barely understood it himself. He gave a loose shrug. "Outran them. Got away."
Dan's eyebrows rose. "Seriously? You could barely stand yesterday. How'd you pull that off?"
"Adrenaline," Rory said, amusement tugging at his mouth. "Maybe that Gatorade I grabbed helped too."
Dan laughed, shaking his head. "Right. That's what did it." His grin softened a little. "You made it home okay, though?"
"Yeah," Rory said, glancing at him. "You?"
"All good," Dan said. "So, you catch the race last night?"
Rory grinned, shaking his head. "Nah. Crashed as soon as I got home."
Dan stopped, staring at him like he'd confessed a crime. "You missed it? Dude, it was insane." He launched into an animated retelling as they walked toward class, hands flying as he described every overtake and crash. Rory let out a low breath of amusement, half-listening, half somewhere else. The world still looked sharper this morning, brighter somehow, but the memory of yesterday still lingered, bizarre, loaded and hard to shake.
By the time Rory reached his next class, his mind was still turning over everything that had happened the day before. Yet beneath the noise of routine, something else stirred, an odd awareness that made the world feel slightly different. It wasn't discomfort exactly, just a quiet sense that something inside him had shifted.
In chemistry, they were handling beakers and burners, the usual controlled chaos of a group experiment. Rory was copying notes when someone at his table reached too far and clipped a glass beaker off the edge. Without thinking, Rory's hand shot out, catching it cleanly before it hit the floor.
The sound of scraping chairs and sharp laughter filled the room, but Rory barely noticed. His pulse jumped. He hadn't even registered moving, his body had acted before his mind caught up. For a second he just stared at the beaker in his hand, startled by how natural it had felt. A day ago, he would have fumbled or hesitated. Now, it was as though instinct had taken control.
Later, in gym, the beep test was waiting. Rory had always dreaded it. He started expecting the same ache and breathlessness that usually came by level six, but it never arrived. His strides lengthened, his pace steady, his lungs pulling air like it was nothing. Each time the tone sounded, he reached the line easily, his movements graceful, effortless. One by one, his classmates began to fall behind, collapsing onto the floor, while he kept going without breaking rhythm.
"Alright, Rory, level fourteen, that's plenty," the teacher finally called, disbelief cutting through his usual tone.
Rory slowed to a stop, breathing hard but not winded. Level fourteen. He'd never come close before. His muscles thrummed with energy, not fatigue. It felt like he could have kept running for hours.
"Man, you're a machine," said Michael, one of the sportier kids, his laugh edged with disbelief and a flicker of unease.
Rory gave a small, uncertain nod, pretending it didn't bother him. But when he caught the teacher's lingering stare, curiosity flickering behind it, he felt something else tighten in his chest.
Dan strolled up beside him, completely fine after having tapped out early. He gave Rory a long look, then raised an eyebrow.
"What the fuck was that?"
Rory had no answer. He just looked ahead, swallowing the question before it could form.
By English, the strangeness hadn't faded, it had deepened. The words on the page seemed to connect faster, the meaning landing before he'd finished reading. His thoughts were sharper, his focus almost surgical. It wasn't just strength. Or speed. Everything about him was waking up.
By lunchtime, the unease had evolved into something quieter but more noticeable. Rory couldn't explain it, his body just felt... tuned. Every motion seemed more coordinated, every sound clearer, every breath steadier.
He sat at his desk, idly spinning a pen between his fingers. It spun faster than he intended, tracing perfect circles until he caught it in mid-air without even trying. He stared at it, puzzled. And then tried again, slower this time, but the pen moved almost on its own, his reflexes anticipating each shift before he could think. He caught it neatly, and for a moment, just stared at it.
Maybe it was adrenaline still lingering. Maybe he'd just finally slept well for once.
Still, it didn't feel normal.
Maybe this was what Ethan and the others had meant, the enhancement taking effect. The idea was both exciting and strange. He wasn't sure how to feel about it. Part of him thought it was incredible, part of him felt the weight of it pressing in, quiet but undeniable.
As the day went on, his awareness sharpened. He caught details he would've missed before, specific parts of conversations mingled in a sea of conversations, the shifting light through the blinds, the quick rhythm of a pencil tapping behind him. Nothing felt overwhelming, just... heightened.
When the lunch bell rang, he followed Dan out to the courtyard. The sun sat high, heat pooling on the concrete. Dan tossed him a can from the vending machine, and Rory caught it without looking. The motion was smooth, almost instinctive.
Dan laughed. "Nice catch. You've got reflexes today."
"Guess so," Rory said, forcing a grin as he popped the tab. But inside, his mind was still turning.
He watched a leaf tumble from a nearby tree, following its slow spin through the air. The way it moved seemed almost mathematical, predictable in a way he shouldn't have been able to perceive. His body didn't just feel stronger; it felt aligned, like everything was running exactly as it was meant to.
Maybe this was what being enhanced was supposed to feel like.
But if that was true... what did that make him now?
He watched a leaf tumble from a nearby tree, following its slow spin through the air. The way it moved seemed almost mathematical, predictable in a way he shouldn't have been able to perceive. His body didn't just feel stronger; it felt aligned, like everything was running exactly as it was meant to.
Maybe this was what being enhanced was supposed to feel like.
But if that was true... what did that make him now?
Everything felt cleaner, sharper. The colours, the air, even the sound of students talking seemed layered in a way he could separate if he wanted to. He didn't feel like a superhero, he just felt awake. And under the flicker of pride came something quieter. A question he didn't know how to answer.
***
As the final bell rang, Rory slung his bag over his shoulder and joined the stream of students flooding toward the exits. The noise and movement felt distant, his mind still turning over the strangeness of the day. He barely had time to take a breath of fresh air before spotting Ethan leaning casually against his car outside the gates, arms folded as if he'd been waiting for hours.
Dan noticed Rory's sudden change in pace. "Who's that?" he asked, following his line of sight.
"No one," Rory said quickly. "I'll catch you later, yeah?"
Dan frowned, ready to let it drop, but then his eyes widened. "Wait...he's one of those guys from yesterday, right? The ones chasing us?"
Rory gave a half-shrug and an almost amused smile before walking away. He could feel Dan's stare at his back, but he didn't turn around. He climbed into the car, shutting the door with a muted thud.
Ethan didn't say anything at first. He slid into the driver's seat, started the engine, and eased the car away from the curb. The silence lingered for a few seconds before he glanced over with a crooked smile. "So, sweetie, how was school?"
Rory breathed out a quiet laugh, resting his arm against the door. "Actually pretty good"
"Yeah?" Ethan said, eyes still on the road. "What made it so good?"
Rory hesitated, fingers drumming lightly against his knee. "I think this enhancement thing's kicking in."
That caught Ethan's attention. "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. We did the beep test in PE. I hit level fourteen. Only stopped because class ended." Rory tried to sound casual, but his voice carried quiet disbelief.
Ethan let out a low whistle. "Level fourteen? That's impressive."
Rory glanced at him, watching his reaction. "Yeah?"
Ethan grinned. "Yeah. Not bad for a kid who looked like he got hit by a truck yesterday."
Rory leaned back in his seat, watching the passing streets through the window. "So... where do you actually work?"
Ethan smirked. "You'll see soon enough."
Rory turned his head to look at him. "Okay, but what do you actually do for work?"
Ethan paused just long enough to make Rory suspicious, then gave a casual shrug. "This and that."
Rory narrowed his eyes. "That's vague."
Ethan's grin widened. "You stick around long enough, you might find out."
"You really think I'm sticking around?" Rory asked, shooting him a sideways look.
Ethan arched a brow. "Didn't say that."
"I figured this was just gonna be a lecture," Rory said. "You'd give me the talk, tell me not to mess up, and send me on my way."
"Maybe," Ethan said, his tone light. "If that's what you want."
Rory studied him. "So I get to choose?"
Ethan smiled faintly. "You always have a choice."
Rory let out a dry laugh. "Right."
Ethan glanced at him. "What, you don't believe that?"
"I've got an implant in my head that I never agreed to," Rory said, his voice edged with sarcasm as he turned back to the window. "Go on then, tell me again how I always have a choice."
Ethan's smile lingered, but his eyes said something else. "Fair point," he said quietly, then turned the wheel as the car descended into an underground parking garage.
The drive wound down into a secured underground level beneath a sprawling complex. Ethan parked in a designated bay and stepped out, motioning for Rory to follow. They entered a lift, the doors sliding open onto a sleek, sunlit lobby that looked nothing like what Rory had imagined. Polished floors, clean architectural lines, and towering glass panels flooded the space with light. It felt more like the headquarters of a high-end tech corporation than whatever kind of operation this really was.
A woman at the front desk looked up as they approached.
"Hey, Stephanie," Ethan greeted casually.
"Hey, Ethan," she replied, her gaze flicking to Rory with quiet curiosity.
"This one's with me," Ethan said, before gesturing for Rory to keep up as they passed through a second set of doors.
Beyond them, the view opened up into a vast campus, green lawns and winding walkways connecting several modern buildings. The sheer scale of it was staggering. People moved about purposefully: some in uniform, some dressed casually, a few training in small groups.
Ethan pointed things out as they walked. "Training block. Medical. Main offices. Living quarters. You'll get the hang of the layout soon enough."
Rory frowned. "Living quarters?"
Ethan just gave a faint smile, offering no explanation, and led him into one of the nearby buildings. Inside, they climbed a short flight of stairs to a smaller, enclosed training room.
Alex was already waiting, leaning casually against a table. She looked up and smiled. "Good to see you again, Rory."
He eyed her warily. "Yeah... you too, I guess." His gaze swept the room. "So what exactly am I doing here?"
Alex straightened slightly. "We need to test your enhancement."
Rory frowned. "Test it?"
She nodded. "Every case reacts differently...depends on the individual, the implant, the serum, and how they sync. Some people end up stronger, others faster. We just need to see where you fall."
Rory crossed his arms. "Does that actually matter?"
Ethan exchanged a glance with Alex before answering. "Yeah, it does. We need to understand what we're dealing with, especially if you decide not to stick around." His tone was steady, though there was a quiet warning under the calm.
Rory tilted his head, a small smirk tugging at his mouth. "You think I might be dangerous?"
Ethan laughed. "You? Doubt it." He clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Still, we've got procedures."
Rory exhaled through his nose. "Alright. What kind of tests are we talking about?"
Alex smiled, her tone easy but unreadable. "You'll see."
Ethan gave Rory a once-over, grinning. "But first, you might want to change."
Rory looked down at his uniform and raised an eyebrow. "Into what? This is all I've got."
Ethan tilted his head. "Didn't you say you had PE today?"
Rory gave him a flat look. "No."
Ethan chuckled, already heading for the door. "Fine. I'll find you something."
Rory sighed, muttering under his breath as Ethan disappeared down the hall. Whatever this was, he already knew he wasn't going to like it.
***
What are you most curious/chaotically excited about after this chapter?
