(During the cloudy afternoon, Hollow is flying off in the air, leaving a neon red trail of energy behind. He’s rather calm and collected as he cuts through the air, with the Catalyst firmly placed in his pocket, and he reminisces about Infinity’s exact orders back at the tower.)
Hollow (flashback): (glancing at Ethan’s picture through the monitor) That’s the Ice Surge. We didn’t go after him for a while now. I thought you had no interest in him.
Infinity (flashback): Circumstances have changed. Going after him is no longer unnecessary. In fact, it’s now the key to furthering our plans.
Hollow (flashback): And my mission is to capture him?
Infinity (flashback): Not quite. If he developed the Ice Surge without proper interaction with Aegis or the Sparks mercenary group, then he is definitely a Surge Beacon. His power will come in handy in more ways than one. The point isn’t to capture him. With the Catalyst at the palm of your hand… I need you to bring out his other side.
(Hollow recalls this conversation and clenches his fists with determination. He finds Ethan’s camp ahead of him, with the residents cluelessly going about their ordinary business, and the neon red sign on his mask glows with energy. He dives into the middle of the camp, charging up his body with an electric neon red aura, and he lands on the ground, taking the residents by surprise and causing a massive energy shockwave all across the camp. Even Shay, Ethan, and his parents hear that giant thud outside, and the energy shockwave causes the entire room to start shaking.)
Ethan: (looking around) What is that?!
(They all get off their seats and start looking around the room, their cups shaking from the intensity of the energy shockwave. The rumbling eventually stops, and they leave the cups on the table then head out of the house to examine the situation outside. They see none other than Hollow in the middle of the camp, having just landed, and he stands upright, the neon red sign of his mask glowing with energy. He pays no heed to all the residents glancing at him with disbelief and horror, glaring right at Ethan, his sole target, whose lips are parted in shock.)
Hollow: I’ve come for you… Ice Surge.
(The residents remain horrified by Hollow’s sudden arrival, and they quickly get out of his way in panic. Shay clenches his jaw and stands in front of Ethan to shield him, but the latter gets past him, trying to stand firm but unable to hide the fear in his voice and expression.)
Ethan: (a slight crack in his voice) Who are you?
Hollow: It matters not. You know what I’m here for.
Ethan: And why are you after me?
Hollow: That’s a reasonable question. I could clear up the confusion if you want to. How about we have a chat somewhere? I need to speak to you first, Ice Surge.
Ethan: (grimacing) What makes you think I’ll agree to that?
(Hollow remains silent for a while, the glow of the neon red sign on his mask returning, and with a mere snap of his fingers, a battalion of Infinity’s masked shadow soldiers appears and surrounds the entire camp, adding to the palpable tension. Ethan and Shay look around through gritted teeth, while the former’s parents remain frozen in shock, and then Hollow speaks up.)
Hollow: (icily) How about now?
(Ethan bows his head through clenched fists and gritted teeth, and Hollow patiently waits for a response. He does get that response when Ethan looks up at him and nods with a grim expression, agreeing to his demands, much to the disbelief of both Shay and Ethan’s parents.)
Hollow: (firmly) A wise choice, Ice Surge. You bought those innocent residents some more time. Now follow me. Alone.
Ethan’s Father: (gritting his teeth in anger) Hey, where do you think you’re taking my son?!
Hollow: (sternly) You’re in no position to speak out so fiercely.
Shay: (sharply) Let me tag along. I’m in on it as well.
Hollow: (turning to Shay) Hmm?
Shay: I know all ‘bout Flare an’ Focus. I know what they’re here fer. An’ I know who yer workin’ fer too. (narrowing his eyes) Yer one o’ them, ain’t ye?
(The neon red sign on Hollow’s mask narrows, as if in surprise at Shay’s sheer audacity, and he eventually turns around, signaling both Ethan and Shay to follow him. The duo nod at each other, but before they head off, Ethan turns to his visibly nervous parents.)
Ethan’s Mother: (kneeling down to place her hands on Ethan’s shoulders, anxiously) Are you sure of this, sweetie? What if he — ?
Ethan: (firmly) It’s okay, Mom. If he tries to hurt any of you, he’ll regret it.
Ethan’s Father: (to Shay, worriedly) He’s my son. I should be the one to protect him. You didn’t have to do this.
Shay: But I did, an’ there’s no turnin’ back now. I’ll make sure he doesn’t lay a finger on the wee one. Even if it kills me.
(Ethan gives one last nod to his nervous parents, then he and Shay head off, following Hollow with grim expressions. The masked shadow soldiers, however, stay stationed outside the camp, drawing their weapons from range and ready to attack the moment Hollow gives the order. Hollow calmly walks outside of the camp and into its borders, with Shay and Ethan right behind him, and then he stops at a snowy area, standing still for a while and letting the tension sink in before turning to face the duo.)
Hollow: Looks like we’re out of earshot.
Ethan: (evenly) Now we talk.
Hollow: Indeed. (to Shay) Stay out of this, old man. I have nothing to say to you.
Shay: (measured) I’m just here t’look after the wee lad.
Hollow: With no true strength to show for it? Amusing, I must say, how the weak muster the audacity to fight back with mere speech, mistaking it for power. No matter. That’s far from my point. (turning to Ethan specifically) Now tell me, Ice Surge, what exactly do you fight for?
Ethan: (taken aback) What do you mean?
Hollow: I meant what I said. Now answer me.
Ethan: In that case, I… I want to help others. That’s all.
Hollow: (the neon red sign on his mask narrowing) You help others for the mere sake of it, huh? Master told me all about this sort of superficial conviction, a desperate attempt to belong disguised as purpose. You’re feeding yourself that perception hoping that it can one day be the truth, but you know it as well as I do… those people out there… they fear your power. They fear you. And you fear yourself. I hate to say it, but sadly, this is the reality of Surges.
Ethan: (grimacing) What’re you talking about?
Hollow: This world has failed miserably to adapt to the phenomenon of Surges, and as a result, all those who wield that power are shunned, isolated, crushed under the weight of society’s ignorance. You try to unsee it, but deep inside, you know that you never belong. Is that fair for you? Is that fair for any of us all? To be crushed underfoot just because we’re ahead of the curve? It’s distressing. Sometimes you feel like you want to freeze the world to death with your bare hands... and relieve yourself. That’s the other side of you, the one you so desperately want to let go of. Go on, Ice Surge. Tell me if I’m right.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
(Ethan takes a step back, his pupils narrowing and vibrating in disbelief. He glances at his trembling hands, his lips parted in horror at Hollow’s words, who keeps standing there, motionless. His glare never wavers. He doesn’t even tilt his head. He doesn’t make a sound at this moment, but then he approaches Ethan and extends his hand, with Shay instinctively shielding the latter.)
Hollow: (extending his hand) My master taught me to crush the opposition without a second thought, but he also taught me that none of you are enemies until you see the full picture. I offer you this chance, Ice Surge, to join us, to see the truth with your own eyes and drive forward the process of change. You don’t need to adapt to the world. None of us need to. It’s the world that needs to finally adapt to the inescapable, inevitable reality of Surges, and by force if needed. This is our single true purpose.
Shay: (fiercely, shielding Ethan) Leave him be!
Hollow: (ignoring Shay, putting all of his focus into Ethan) Take your place by my master’s side and see his vision made manifest. You won’t have to conceal your true self. You won’t have to carry the burden of the irredeemable masses. All it takes… is your will. With your will… you will see the light. We will see the light.
(Shay refuses to step aside, standing between Ethan and Hollow, the latter keeping his hand extended out for the former to take. The tension only amplifies further when silence takes over once again, Shay’s clenched jaw meeting Hollow’s unmoved, eerily calm demeanor, but then Ethan gently pushes Shay aside and confronts Hollow himself, his head bowed with a determined scowl.)
Ethan: (quietly, with a scowl) What do you take me for?
Hollow: Say what?
Ethan: (looking up at him, his scowl unwavering) This camp is my home. Those people are my people. They’re my family, and no grand purpose will ever change that. I don’t feel obliged to help people. I do so because I want to, and I don’t want anything to do with you or your master or that cause of yours. (ice forming on his fist in anticipation) Now leave.
(Hollow remains still and silent for a moment, clenching his fists. Shay is momentarily surprised by Ethan’s firm response but quickly stands by his side, the two of them glancing at Hollow with scowls and letting the tension reach its peak. Suddenly, Hollow unleashes an energy shockwave that knocks Ethan off balance, and then he lunges at him. Ethan, however, doesn’t receive that blow and gets pushed out of the way. Instead, it’s Shay, who receives an energized punch right in his chest.)
Ethan: Mr. Shay!
(Shay gets sent crashing into a bare tree and then falls into the ground, and Ethan immediately runs over to Shay. He checks on him and finds him unconscious, his pulse weak yet stable, and he then glances up at Hollow, his previous firmness quickly replaced with horror. Hollow slowly approaches Ethan and envelops himself in his electric neon red aura, the neon red symbol on his mask glowing with energy once again.)
Hollow: (briskly, in an intimidating manner) The attachment to what feels familiar is inherently associated with an unwillingness to ever think outside of it. Such a response is to be expected. In that case… I’ll have to take away all that you know. To help you see the truth… to bring out your full potential… I need to strip you of all that weighs you down… right in front of your very eyes.
(Hollow raises his palm up and snaps his fingers. The moment he does so, the masked shadow soldiers surrounding the camp immediately open fire and initiate the attack, firing at the small houses ahead of them as well as the residents. Panic spreads, and the residents flee in terror, scrambling to get out of the soldiers’ range. The soldiers tear down homes and wreak havoc upon the camp, even shooting down some residents and leaving their unconscious bodies on the floor. One of the soldiers sees a man crawling in a desperate attempt to escape, and it immediately fires a blast at the back of his head, dealing the finishing blow. Ethan’s parents attempt to hide from the masked shadow soldiers, panic written all over their faces.)
Ethan’s Mother: (horrified) Where’s Ethan?!
(Ethan’s father can only glance at her with an equally horrified expression, unable to reassure her with any sort of words amid the chaos. Meanwhile, Ethan gets to watch the attack from where he’s standing, his pupils narrowing in shock, and then he turns to Hollow.)
Ethan: (horrified) What’re you doing?!
Hollow: (sternly) What needs to be done. Only through pain and strife can one achieve true clarity, and to that end… to bring out that other side of you… I won’t hold back.
(Ethan clenches his fists and grits his teeth as his anger starts to boil, a faint icy hue enveloping him. He momentarily glances at the unconscious Shay then opens up his fists and charges up his fists with light blue energy, ready to take on Hollow, who energizes his fist in anticipation.)
Ethan: (gritting his teeth) I won’t let you hurt my family! You hear me?!
(Ethan unleashes a pillar of ice from the ground at Hollow, but he easily pierces through the ice and lands a punch at Ethan’s gut, launching him through the air. He quickly sets foot on the ground once again and quickly slides out of the way, dodging Hollow’s next blow by smoothly gliding on the snow, and then he circles around him and launches several ice crystals right at him. Hollow destroys the ice crystals launched at him with ease, but the fragments of ice scattered around are launched at him again, this time exploding upon contact and knocking him off balance. Ethan makes use of that and unleashes another rapid pillar of ice from the ground, striking Hollow in the gut and pushing him back. Ethan is shocked to see that Hollow still managed to destroy the ice pillar, barely fazed by any of the earlier attacks.)
Hollow: (roughly) Your techniques aren’t nearly strong enough. Is this how you wish to protect your ‘people’?
(Ethan grimaces and tries to hold Hollow still by freezing his legs in place, but the latter is too powerful to be held still, and he lunges at Ethan regardless. Ethan attempts to shield himself by pulling a barrier of ice out of the ground, but it does little to stop Ethan, who connects his energized fist to Ethan’s chest and sends him flying. Ethan regains his balance, only for the relentless Hollow to close in for another blow. He uses the snow under his feet to propel himself upwards and away from Hollow’s punch, then he launches an ice pillar at him from above. As Hollow starts piercing through it, he’s shocked when the pillar explodes, knocking him off balance.)
Hollow: (shocked) Huh?
(Ethan then lands a kick at his chest, sending him plummeting back into the ground. However, as Ethan attempts to pull an ice pillar out of the ground underneath Hollow, the latter slams the ground with his feet and destroys the pillar, then he wastes no time propelling himself at Ethan — who has just landed on his feet — and landing a blast at his gut, hurling him clear off his feet. He then launches an energy tether and wraps it around Ethan’s foot, slamming him into the ground, and he then throws him upwards. Immediately afterwards, Hollow jumps upwards, charging up a barrage of blasts.)
Hollow: Stop resisting, Ice Surge.
(Hollow lands this barrage of blasts at Ethan, launching him through the air all the way back into the camp. As Ethan falls on the ground and then gets back up with a groan, he gets to see the masked shadow soldiers attacking the camp, going as far as even finishing off the civilians on the ground, and upon seeing a woman trapped under the rubble getting finished off by a single blast from a soldier, Ethan loses it.)
Ethan: (internally, horrified) Why are they — ?!
(His eyes start to well up, and he grits his teeth in immense fury, his blue pupils starting to glow. With a tearful yell, he lunges at the soldier and strikes him with an ice spear, causing him to dissipate, and then he takes out another shadow soldier who was just about to finish off one more resident. He uses his ice to lift the rubble off the man, allowing him to escape.)
Ethan: (urgently) It’s not safe around here! Find somewhere to hide!
(The man looks up at him, seeing his tearful expression and gritted teeth, and he nods fearfully, to Ethan’s shock. He immediately recognizes the fear in the man’s eyes upon looking at him, and the man quickly gets up and runs away, fearfully avoiding contact with Ethan’s ice while doing so. It’s then that Ethan realizes with parted lips the reason behind the man’s fear.)
Ethan: (internally, his hands trembling) The fear in his eyes… it wasn’t when he looked at the soldiers. He… he looked at me… and feared me.
(Ethan gets to see some more residents around him get up off the rubble and fearfully run away upon looking at him, with only a select few standing for a while and glancing at the 13-year old in horror before running off as well. Ethan remains frozen in shock, his body trembling as the realization sets in, and it’s in this exact moment that Ethan’s parents finally manage to find him.)
Ethan’s Mother: Ethan!
(His parents rush over to him, but they’re knocked back by a single neon red blast that strikes the ground, pushing them back. It’s none other than Hollow who shows up, enveloped in his electric neon red aura, the neon red symbol on his mask glowing with energy once again. He walks slowly towards the frightened Ethan, who panickedly steps back.)
Hollow: You saw it yourself. They fear you no less than they fear us. That shows you all you need to know about the cold truth of the world.
Ethan: (whimpering) You — !
Hollow: In the world my master plans to create, Surges will become the new norm. All of us will prosper under his command. Take your place by his side, Ice Surge. There’s no use clinging to the ephemeral, fleeting comforts of the status quo. Resistance is futile.
(Ethan grits his teeth fiercely and envelopes himself with an icy hue, his fearful eyes betraying his outward ferocity, and his parents are left to watch in horror as their son comes face to face with Hollow. The attack keeps going, and the masked shadow soldiers continue their merciless onslaught, but despite everything, Ethan won’t yield to Hollow. Or will he?)
