Chapter 25: 024
𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸
Jakub stood in front of the grand entrance to Midtown High School, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The imposing brick facade loomed before him, filled with students bustling about, laughter ringing through the air. It was his first day, and though he had faced monsters and soldiers, the challenge of fitting in with normal kids felt just as daunting.
He took a deep breath, adjusting the straps of his backpack, before stepping inside. The hallway buzzed with life, lockers slamming and voices echoing as students rushed to their classes. Jakub's eyes darted around, searching for the main office. He finally spotted a sign pointing him in the right direction.
As he approached the office, he was hit by a wave of nostalgia, reminiscent of his past life.
"Welcome! You must be the new student," she said, pulling up his registration information. "Jakub Maxwell, right? Here's your schedule and locker assignment." She handed him a folded piece of paper, and Jakub quickly scanned it.
"Thanks!" he replied, flashing a smile. "Where's my locker?"
"Right next to locker 212," she said, pointing down the hall.
Jakub nodded his thanks and headed in the direction of his new locker. As he walked, he felt the weight of eyes on him. He adjusted his backpack, hoping he looked casual rather than nervous. When he reached locker 211, he took a moment to catch his breath before opening it.
As he fiddled with the combination lock, he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Hey, you!"
He turned to see Peter Parker striding up to him, an excited grin plastered on his face. "You're the guy who helped me with those bullies yesterday, right?"
Jakub smiled back. "Yeah, that was me. And you're Peter, right?"
Peter nodded enthusiastically and gestured to the boy beside him, a stocky Asian teen with a shaved head. "This is my best friend, Edward Leeds. Eddie, meet Jakub."
"Hey, man!" Eddie greeted enthusiastically. "So, you're the one who kicked those bullies' butts yesterday. That was badass!" He pulled out his phone and showed Jakub the video he'd taken of the fight, the exhilaration on his face evident. "Seriously, you took them down like it was nothing!"
Jakub laughed, feeling the camaraderie beginning to form. "Yeah, well, they picked the wrong day to mess with me."
Eddie's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he leaned closer. "So, where are you from? And what's with the accent? I've never heard anything like it."
"Oh, my accent? It's Sokovian," Jakub explained, his expression shifting slightly as he noticed the sudden change in Peter and Eddie's faces. They both wore sad looks, knowing the tragic history of his homeland. "I've moved around a lot, and my guardian thought it was time for me to have a normal life. You know, no more running around."
Peter, wanting to shift the mood, picked up the schedule in Jakub's hand. "So, what classes do you have?" he asked, scanning the list. His eyes widened slightly as he noticed they shared a few classes. "Wait, we have first and third periods together! And Eddie does too."
"Nice!" Jakub said, pleased. "What are you guys taking?"
Eddie looked over Peter's shoulder at the schedule, then pointed out the classes. "Dude, you're in college-level classes! AP History, Chemistry, and Calculus? You're a freakin' genius, man!"
Jakub shrugged, feeling a hint of pride swell within him. "Yeah, I guess you could say I'm pretty smart."
𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸
As the bell rang, signaling the start of their first period, Jakub felt a rush of nerves mixed with anticipation. The three of them settled into their seats, and for the next hour, Jakub tried to focus on the lesson, engaging in conversation and getting to know his classmates. He found himself fitting in surprisingly well, enjoying the banter and camaraderie.
After an engaging English class, they moved to AP History, where Jakub quickly realized that his knowledge far exceeded the material being discussed. He answered questions with confidence, earning impressed nods from his peers and a few raised eyebrows from the teacher. For a moment, he felt like he belonged.
However, as the bell rang for third period, Jakub's sense of normalcy began to unravel. Just as they settled into their seats for Chemistry, he felt a sharp pain shoot through his temples, like a bolt of lightning striking him from the inside. He winced, gripping the edge of his desk as he fought to steady his breathing.
Suddenly, his vision blurred, and he was no longer in the classroom. Instead, he soared above the school, seeing everything from an aerial view. Below him, a large van pulled up outside the school, its exterior unremarkable—just an ordinary vehicle. But then he noticed the back doors swing open, and men in plumber outfits emerged, their faces concealed by caps and sunglasses.
"What's going on?" he thought, a feeling of dread washing over him.
As they stepped onto the pavement, Jakub's heart raced. The men pulled out guns, moving in sync like a well-trained unit, and he realized they were approaching the school with purpose. They weren't here for plumbing repairs; they were after something—or someone—and the chill of recognition swept through him as he understood it was him they were looking for.
"Damn it," Jakub muttered to himself, his pulse quickening. He had to get out of here.
His vision returned to normal, and he found himself back in the classroom, but the migraine persisted. "Jakub? You okay?" Peter's voice broke through the haze, filled with concern.
"Yeah, just a headache," he lied, forcing a smile. But deep down, he knew he had to leave.
As the teacher began the lesson, Jakub's instincts kicked in. He couldn't wait around for whatever was coming. Gathering his resolve, he reached out with his telepathy, and allowed himself to be excused form the classroom, by the teacher"
Jakub dashed down the hall, adrenaline propelling him forward. He could feel the tension in the air as he raced toward the exit, dodging students who barely registered his frantic movements. The weight of what was happening settled heavily on his shoulders; he had to escape.
Bursting through the double doors, he was met with the warmth of the sun, but he didn't stop to take a breath. He ran, heart pounding in his chest, but he soon realized he was being followed. The van had parked a short distance away, and he spotted the men in plumber outfits moving with intent toward the school entrance.
𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸
Without thinking, Jakub made a sharp turn down an alleyway beside the school, his instincts screaming at him to find safety. He glanced back just in time to see the men following, their faces twisted with determination. They were getting closer, their footsteps echoing ominously against the pavement.
He had to fight, but he didn't want to hurt them. However, if push came to shove, he would defend himself at all costs.
"Subject Omega! Come back with us peacefully, or we will have to use force!" one of the agents shouted, pulling out a gun as the others followed suit, their expressions set in grim resolve.
Jakub's heart sank; he knew who they were. HYDRA. No one else would have this kind of information about him unless he had told them.
"Either you all leave, and I can live my life, or you'll all regret this," Jakub called back, trying to maintain a confident front.
The man laughed mockingly, raising his weapon. "Your life belongs to HYDRA!" he taunted, his voice dripping with menace.
Before Jakub could react, they opened fire, bullets whizzing past him. With a surge of energy, he focused on the incoming projectiles, stopping them in mid-air with his psionics. He felt the kinetic energy from the bullets coursing through him, fueling his power.
With a wave of his hand, he redirected that energy, sending a shockwave that sent the agents sprawling backward, their weapons clattering to the ground. He seized the opportunity to run again, sprinting toward the sanctuary of the Sanctum.
𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸
Meanwhile, back in the Avengers compound, JARVIS's voice cut through the air, alerting the team. "Sir, we have visual confirmation of Subject Omega engaging with potential threats. Surveillance footage is streaming now."
A screen flickered to life, revealing Jakub in a tense standoff with the HYDRA agents. "This is happening in real-time. I recommend immediate action," JARVIS continued, displaying multiple angles of the confrontation.
"Suit up, team!" Tony Stark commanded, his expression grim. "We can't let him face those agents alone. We need to help him before it escalates."
Natasha and Steve exchanged a glance, a shared understanding of the urgency in Tony's voice. "Let's move," Natasha said, already striding toward the armory.
As they prepared for action, Wanda watched the screen, her heart racing as she saw Jakub fighting against the agents. She felt a strange connection to him, knowing all too well the struggles of being hunted. "We have to get to him," she insisted, determination flooding her voice.
"JARVIS, pinpoint his location," Tony ordered, suiting up in his armor. "And make sure to keep track of those agents. We can't lose him again."
𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸
Back in the alley, Jakub found himself cornered again as he ran, the agents regrouping quickly after the shockwave. He could feel the pressure mounting, the adrenaline surging through his veins as he prepared for another confrontation.
His body was tense, instincts kicking in as he focused on the agents closing in on him. He felt a surge of power welling up inside him—this time, he wouldn't hold back. As the first agent lunged at him, Jakub sidestepped and delivered a swift kick to his midsection, sending him crashing into a nearby wall.
With each strike, Jakub combined hand-to-hand combat with his psionic abilities, using his agility to stay one step ahead of the agents. He ducked and weaved, throwing punches and kicks that connected with surprising force. But he knew he couldn't rely on physical strength alone.
Using his telepathy, he reached into the minds of two agents, flipping their allegiances with a swift mental command. "Attack your teammates," he whispered in their minds, and they turned, weapons drawn, now aiming at their former allies.
The sudden betrayal caused chaos among the agents, confusion, and hesitation allowing Jakub to capitalize on the moment. The two agents fired, and their teammates fell, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
As the last of the agents fell to the ground, Jakub stood amidst the wreckage, breathing heavily, adrenaline pumping through him. He was exhausted but triumphant—until he heard the unmistakable sound of engines revving.
The Avengers pulled up just as he finished dealing with the agents, the sleek Quinjet landing smoothly nearby. Jakub sighed, a mix of relief and frustration washing over him. "God dammit," he muttered under his breath, knowing he wasn't out of the woods yet.
𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈𖥸
Vote, Comment, Follow
" ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED"
— New chapter is coming soon — Write a review
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone