The Nexus.

The following day, I set out to understand my abilities better. Most schools across the nation had been shut down due to the recent chaos, but a few remained open, offering a semblance of normalcy to distract students from the turmoil. My mom, however, hadn't shown herself since the day before. Though I hadn't seen her, I could sense her emotions from where I sat in my room—her worry was palpable, yet it was mixed with an undercurrent of anger. I chose to give her space, not wanting to interrupt whatever thoughts she was grappling with.

Sitting in my room, I focused on my powers, hoping to uncover more about them. So far, I had determined that I could read minds, transform my surroundings, sense and absorb energy, and likely manipulate it. If I had to describe my gift, I'd say it was energy-based, though I wasn't entirely sure.

I slipped off the grounding bands I wore and studied my palms, trying to summon energy to them. Despite my focus, nothing happened. Frustrated but determined, I realized I might need to absorb energy from a source first. Turning to my desk lamp, I extended my hand toward it, and the bulb flickered out, leaving the room slightly dimmer. Looking at my palms again, I concentrated on making something, anything, happen. Yet the process felt like trying to lift a weight far beyond my strength.

The memory of transforming my room surfaced—it had seemed effortless then, driven purely by instinct. But this was different. I wanted to succeed, but nothing came. After thirty minutes of trial and error, the only result was an embarrassing burp. Disheartened but not ready to give up, I decided to look online for guidance.

I stumbled upon a forum titled The Secret to Superpowers. Intrigued, I dove in. The forum began with an account of how metahuman powers originated. It explained that a century ago, a covert organization conducted experiments on children on Mars. This hidden lab operated in secrecy for nearly a decade, and the lead scientist, whose name remained unknown, eventually made a groundbreaking discovery.

The turning point came during a test known as Operation Ultra-Nova. The organization detected a surge of energy from a distant galaxy and managed to contain a portion of it. After multiple failures, one child, referred to only as "One," was exposed to a tiny amount of the contained energy. What followed was an explosion so powerful that it seemed the test had failed catastrophically. But from the wreckage, the child emerged unscathed.

This child, One, exhibited powers that defied comprehension—telekinesis, space and reality manipulation, empathy, and even the ability to bestow powers on others. The scientist behind the experiments had sinister intentions: to develop a disease capable of altering human DNA. One, upon learning of this, tried to stop him but failed. In the aftermath, a toxic gas, still in its experimental stage, leaked into Earth's atmosphere. Millions perished, while others were unaffected. Some, however, experienced a genetic transformation, becoming the first metahumans.

The forum chronicled One's rise as the first superhero and his eventual demise in a mysterious crater. What struck me most were the accounts of the first generation of metahumans. Many claimed their powers came to them naturally, requiring little effort to use. For others, however, unlocking their abilities was a struggle, each case unique to the individual.

Scrolling down, I found a section of videos showcasing early metahuman tests. The first, titled Test One, featured a man named Martin Reign, who could channel electricity. In the video, he faced a trailer-mounted generator, extended his hand, and released a surge of electricity. The generator overloaded and burst into flames before the video cut off.

The next video, far more disturbing, showed two men testing their powers—one could emit fire, and the other could eject bones from his body. What began as target practice quickly escalated into tragedy. The man with the bone ability launched a projectile that struck his friend in the head, killing him instantly. Panicked, he fled the scene, and the video ended abruptly.

The final video, titled Training, was brief but unsettling. It featured a woman whose ability was pain infliction. She demonstrated her power on a rat, causing it to squeal in agony before it ultimately exploded. Watching the video left me shaken but resolute.

After the videos, the forum provided tips for discovering one's abilities. Meditation was emphasized as the safest and most effective method, while trial and error was presented as riskier but sometimes necessary. An author's note at the end caught my attention:

"Those with any ability that pertains to manipulation will face significant challenges in mastering their gift."

With that thought in mind, I closed the forum and prepared to start my training.

I returned to my lamp, determined to make progress. Extending my hand, I absorbed its energy again, feeling the now-familiar tingling rush through me. My palms buzzed faintly as I focused harder, willing the energy to manifest into something tangible. Minutes passed, and then, ever so faintly, a tiny spark appeared in my hand before fizzling out. Encouraged by even this small success, I continued.

This time, I tried to channel the energy outward. Closing my eyes, I pictured the transformation I wanted—a flicker of light, a ripple in the air. I opened my eyes to see the room shimmer slightly as if reality itself had wavered. Though the change was fleeting, it was enough to prove to mmethat I could control my gift with more practice.

I meditated briefly, as the forum suggested, and focused on the energy coursing through me. This time, instead of trying to force the energy outward, I let it flow naturally. The results were immediate—my surroundings began to blur and shift subtly, like an artist's sketch coming to life.

The lamp, now devoid of energy, became my next target. I absorbed what little power remained in its circuitry, combining it with my own. With the added energy, I managed to summon a faint but steady glow in my hand. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though I held a small star in my palm.

Though exhausted, I felt a newfound sense of hope. My gift, though challenging to control, was taking shape. I realized that patience and persistence would be my greatest allies in mastering it.

As the day ended, I reflected on what I had learned. My abilities were raw and untamed, but the potential was undeniable. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, and with them, more opportunities to grow. For now, I would rest, knowing I had taken the first step on a long journey.