Capítulo 2: Fractured.
The feeling won't leave me, guilt. It clings to me like a second skin, no matter how fast I try to run away from it. I stare down at my hands, still trembling from the adrenaline, but underneath that is something else. The radiation hums just beneath the surface, a reminder of the power that I can't fully control. The mirror in front of me reflects the doubt in my eyes, the fear. I never wanted this... not like this.
Yesterday's mission plays on repeat in my head, every mistake amplified, every scream a piercing echo that I can't shake. The worst of it was that man, the one I hurt. I can't even remember his face, yet the moment plays in my mind in slow motion, while his cries are carved into my memory. I didn't mean to. God, I didn't mean to.
My phone buzzes, and I see Thorne's name flash on the screen. He's calling us in early for training. Part of me doesn't want to go, to face the disappointment that's surely waiting, but I know I have to. I pull on my suit, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. In the mirror, I think I see my skin darkening, like it's absorbing the darkness in the room. Just a trick of the light, I tell myself. It has to be.
…
…
Rhan enters the training hall, and tension hangs so thick it feels like he's breathing water. The morning sun struggled to break through the clouds outside, casting a dim light that did little to lift the mood. His teammates were already there, spaced out across the room like islands in a sea of mistrust. Alex stood off to one side, her arms crossed, energy crackling faintly around her fingers. Mia leaned against the wall, her expression hard and closed off. Jaxon was the only one trying to keep things light, but his jokes fell flat, a sign that even he felt the weight of what had happened.
Then there's Thorne, their mentor, towering over them with his arms crossed, a mask of stony fury. He wastes no time on pleasantries.
"Yesterday, people nearly died because of you," he says, his voice like iron scraping on ice. "We don't get second chances here. We can't afford mistakes."
Rhan shifted uncomfortably under Thorne's gaze. The memory of the man he'd accidentally irradiated was still fresh, a wound that refused to heal. He wasn't the only one who had messed up, but it felt like the blame was all his.
…
The training that followed was brutal. Thorne pushed them harder than ever, forcing them to confront their limits. Alex's telekinesis was wild, objects flying too fast, too hard, nearly hitting Mia, who retaliated with force fields that sent shockwaves back. Jaxon's flames were hotter, more intense, as if his frustration fueled the fire. And Rhan... he was distracted, his thoughts trapped in a loop of what-ifs and could-have-beens.
During one sprint, Rhan lost control. The wind he generated was too strong, knocking over equipment, sending shockwaves through the room. Thorne caught his wrist mid-motion, his grip like iron.
"Get your head out of your ass, Rhan," Thorne snapped, his silver eyes narrowing. "Your powers aren't just a gift; they're a responsibility. If you can't control them, then you're a danger to everyone."
Rhan pulled back, rubbing his wrist, the words hitting harder than any punch. He wanted to argue, to explain, but what could he say? Thorne was right. And that's what scared him the most.
...
I'm standing in the hallway, trying to calm the storm inside me. Thorne's grip still feels like it's wrapped around my wrist, even though I'm miles away from him now. I didn't mean to lose control—hell, I just wanted to be a hero. But what kind of hero melts people alive?
I hear voices down the hall, the recruiters talking. They're the same ones who rushed me into this mess, barely glancing at the injured civilians as they dragged me along. I move closer, pressing myself against the wall, listening.
"...this is bad. We should have waited. He's a liability," one of them says, frustration thick in his voice.
"Too late now," another replies. "We can't back out. But if he loses control again, V8 is going to be in serious trouble."
I back away, my heart pounding in my chest. Liability. Is that all I am to them? A mistake they have to cover up? The anger rises, but I push it down, shove it deep where it can't touch me. Liability... I'm starting to believe it myself.
…
Thorne led the team through the headquarters of V8, exposing them to the full scale of the organization. It was meant to be an eye-opener, a reminder of what they were fighting for. But for Rhan, it felt more like a reminder of how small he was in the grand scheme of things.
They walked through corridors lined with heroes preparing for missions, recovering from injuries, or honing their skills. The scope of the operation was overwhelming. And then there was Titan—the leader of V8's main team. He was an imposing figure, radiating power and authority. The seven members of his team followed, each one as intimidating as the next.
Each of them is like a force of nature, a weapon honed to perfection. They are a league beyond him. Watching them, seeing how effortlessly they work together, I wonder if I'll ever belong here—if I even want to.
…
Despite the tension hanging over them, the team was quickly assigned another task—rescuing hostages from a group of heavily armed criminals. The mission was supposed to be straightforward, a chance to redeem themselves after the disaster. But it wasn't long before things started to unravel.
The criminals were desperate, well-prepared, and willing to do anything to keep their upper hand. The situation was volatile from the start, the air thick with the threat of violence. Rhan was determined to prove himself, but the pressure was immense, and his control over his powers was slipping.
The team's dysfunction became evident as soon as they engaged. Alex's telekinesis was too aggressive, sending debris flying in all directions, nearly crushing a hostage. Mia struggled to keep up, her force fields flickering under the strain. Jaxon's flames, which were supposed to be controlled, raged out of hand, setting parts of the building ablaze, almost collapsing it upon everyone.
Rhan tried to focus, to do his part, but his mind was elsewhere. He was running ahead of the team, trying to evacuate the hostages, when it happened. The radiation that simmered just beneath his skin flared up, lashing out. A man—a civilian—stumbled into his path, too close, too fast. Before Rhan could stop, he was through him, the man's scream cut short as half of his body melted away, leaving nothing but a charred mess. His organs spilled out onto the ground, steaming, the smell of burnt flesh choking Rhan's breath. Oh my goodness, oh no… God please… this can't be real.
He skidded to a stop, horrified, the world spinning around him. The criminals took advantage of the chaos, using the hostages as human shields, making it impossible for the team to strike without risking more lives. Every attempt to regroup was met with failure, their lack of cohesion costing them dearly. Jaxon's flames spread uncontrollably, turning the building into an inferno. In the chaos, Rhan's radiation pulsed again, seeping into the air, poisoning everything it touched.
I'm losing it. I'm losing control. The man... Oh God, what have I done? I can't do this. I'm not cut out for this. I'm just making everything worse.
…
By the time the mission ended, the criminals had escaped, several hostages were injured, some even dead, and the building was in ruins. Back at V8 headquarters, the debriefing was brutal. Thorne's disappointment was a blade to the gut. He didn't hold back, tearing into them for their failures, his voice like ice.
The media was even harsher. The headlines screamed, "Heroes or Monsters?" and the public's fear of heroes grew stronger. The team's bond, already fragile, shattered completely.
After the debriefing, they gathered in the training room, the silence heavy. No one spoke, the weight of their failures too much to bear. Alex was the first to leave, her face pale, eyes downcast. Mia followed, her usual confidence gone. Jaxon lingered for a moment, his usual easygoing attitude replaced by something darker and more sad, before he, too, walked out.
Rhan was left alone, staring at the place where the man had died, his mind replaying the scene over and over. The others were gone, and in that moment, he knew—it was over. The team was done.
I can't do this anymore. I'm not a hero. I'm just... broken. They're better off without me. I'm better off alone, or just not a hero.
…
…
That night, Rhan made his decision. He wouldn't leave V8, but he would quit working with teams. They were better off without him, and he... he was better off on his own. As he walked through the darkened corridors of V8, the only sound was the faint hum of the lights above, a reminder of the path he had chosen.
I actually killed a man, murdered him, yet here I stand, a free man, while his life was taken away from him, by my mistakes, I'm awful, I should be thrown in jail, even executed but just because I am a hero, I stand here. Free.
But is that freedom, or just the curse of being a monster?
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