บท 25: Nightmares and Comfort
James found himself in darkness, a suffocating void that pulled at him. Suddenly, the scene shifted, and he was thrust back into the Mirror Dimension. He faced Elias Kain, who was enveloped in a sinister glow. The Heart of Typhon pulsated within Kain, its power distorting his body, causing him to shimmer and vibrate as if on the verge of exploding.
"You think you can stop me, Shazam?" Kain taunted, his voice echoing like a distorted whisper in the vast emptiness.
Bright lights erupted from Kain's form, blinding James momentarily. He shielded his eyes, the brightness intensifying until it consumed everything.
As the light dimmed, a familiar voice filled his mind—Elaria. She appeared, ethereal and resolute. "The Sanctuary holds the key, James. You must understand your destiny—"
But before he could grasp her words, the vision shifted again, plunging him back into the chaos of his first battle with Kain in the city. Debris rained down like a storm, and he could hear the terrified screams of bystanders. The memory was vivid, the fear palpable.
"Get out of here!" he yelled, desperately trying to save those around him. He lunged at Kain, but the villain retaliated, sending him crashing into a nearby building.
Then, in a blink, he saw Rebecca fighting to reach him. She struggled against Kain's grip, her eyes filled with determination and terror. "James! Hold on!"
But in an instant, Kain backhanded her, sending her sprawling against the wall. The impact echoed in James's mind, the image of her pain seared into his memory.
Next, he found himself transformed into Shazam, standing over a city laid to waste, the skyline marred by destruction. Smoke curled in the air, and the once-vibrant streets were reduced to ruins. Why? he thought. Why is this happening?
The answer hit him like a blow: he had lost control. This was his fault.
Wake Up
James shot upright in bed, gasping for air, heart racing. He glanced around his dimly lit apartment, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to his mind like a fog.
As he turned, he noticed someone beside him on the bed. Rebecca lay there, the sheets partially covering them both. The memories of the previous night flooded back—the talk, the fire, and their shared fears.
"What…?" he murmured, still disoriented.
"James?" she stirred awake, blinking sleep from her eyes. The moment she saw his expression, her concern deepened. "What happened?" She reached out, cupping his cheek gently, her touch grounding him.
He struggled to find the words, the weight of the nightmare pressing down on him. "It's nothing," he finally managed, but it felt inadequate.
Rebecca didn't push; instead, she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace. "It's all right. I'm here with you," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm against the chaos in his mind.
James closed his eyes, leaning into her warmth. But beneath that warmth, a chilling thought crept in—what if he couldn't control it next time? What if he became the very monster he feared?
---
Chapter: The Storm Before the Storm
The New Mexico desert sprawled beneath a twilight sky, a vast expanse punctuated by scattered cacti and the occasional tumbleweed. Inside a weather-beaten van, Jane Foster, a determined physicist, flipped through her research notes, her brow furrowed in concentration. Beside her, Erik Selvig, her mentor and fellow scientist, focused on the dashboard controls, squinting at the readings that flickered across the screen like erratic lightning.
In the back, Darcy Lewis, their enthusiastic intern, was glued to her laptop. "Guys, check this out! That Shazam guy is all over the news again. He just rescued a kid from a burning building! I can't wait to hear what Jameson has to say about this one."
Jane glanced up, annoyance flickering in her eyes. "Are you still on that? We're supposed to be working, Darcy."
Darcy smirked, her gaze unwavering from the screen. "What we're doing is basically a snooze fest. I'd take a muscular guy in spandex over data collection any day."
As they bantered, the wind outside began to howl, whipping through the desert like a wild spirit. Dark clouds gathered ominously on the horizon, and a crack of lightning split the sky.
"Uh, Jane?" Erik's voice snapped her back to attention. "We need to get closer to that storm. The energy readings are off the charts."
"What? Let me see." Jane walked over to Erik, adrenaline surging as she noted the data. It pulsed with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Without wasting time, she revved the engine, steering the van toward the brewing tempest, where swirling winds and electric energy merged into a chaotic dance.
Suddenly, as if the very sky had come alive, a figure hurtled out of the storm—a man with long, flowing hair, dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans, his form illuminated by the flashing lightning. Before they could react, the van collided with him, a bone-rattling impact that sent their hearts racing.
"Did we just hit someone?" Darcy gasped, her wide eyes reflecting a mix of shock and excitement.
"Stay in the van!" Erik barked, but Jane was already outside, instinctively rushing toward the man sprawled on the ground.
He groaned, trying to rise, confusion etched across his ruggedly handsome features. "Where... am I?" he murmured, his voice laced with a foreign accent. He shook his head, as if trying to clear it. "What... What realm is this?"
"Uh, New Mexico?" Jane replied, her voice steady despite the surreal situation. "You were caught in that storm. We're scientists—"
Before she could explain further, he surged to his feet, eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. "Heimdall! Open the gates! I know you can hear me!"
Darcy exchanged a glance with Jane. "I think you broke this one."
"Where is my hammer?!" Thor demanded, taking a step closer, his presence both imposing and bewildering.
"Wait, what?" Erik stammered, stepping back slightly. "Easy there, big guy. We have no idea what you're talking about."
Thor's gaze fixed on them, determination etched into his chiseled features. "My hammer... Where is it?" He demanded again, his voice rising in intensity.
"Yeah, dude. We can see you're hammered," Darcy commented, feeling a bit nervous around this unpredictable man. The moment he turned toward her, she instinctively pulled out the taser gun.
"You dare... use that puny weapon against the mighty Thor?" His voice boomed, and Jane could feel the tension thickening in the air. Before she could intervene, Darcy had already acted.
The zap of electricity lit up the night, and Thor crumpled to the ground, his unconscious form thudding against the dusty earth.
"Did you just tase him?" Erik exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and reluctant admiration on his face.
"Hey, he looked like he was about to start swinging!" Darcy shrugged, unfazed. "Can you imagine the headlines?"
Jane shook her head in awe and exasperation, glancing around to ensure they were truly alone in the vast desert. "We can't just leave him here. He might be hurt—"
With urgency, they maneuvered Thor into the back of the van, carefully avoiding their research equipment as they worked together to load him in. As they secured the doors, Jane's mind raced with questions. Who was he? What did he mean by "hammer"?
"What do you think will happen when he wakes up?" she asked, her heart pounding with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"Probably sober up," Darcy quipped, unable to hide her grin.
---
The apartment was filled with the warm scent of sizzling vegetables and garlic as James Carter stood at the stove, stirring a pan. The soft hum of city life buzzed outside the window, muffled by the drawn curtains. Today, he had decided to take a break from it all—Tech Haven, work, everything.
The nightmare from last night lingered in the back of his mind, but with Rebecca's help, he was able to push it aside. She had made him breakfast this morning before heading to work, and their relationship had taken an exciting turn the night before. Surprisingly, he felt good.
(For those who can guess why he is feeling so good, you get a cookie)
Marcus lounged on the couch, a laptop perched on his knees, scrolling through job postings while absentmindedly snacking on a bag of chips. His best friend had no idea what was going through James's head and seemed oblivious to the weight of the world that had recently settled on his shoulders. His dream was crystal clear: land an internship at Stark Industries and escape the paycheck-to-paycheck grind.
"I swear, once I get in with Stark, my life's gonna be set," Marcus said, tapping furiously at his laptop.
"Isn't that what you said last year? And the year before that?" James called over from the kitchen, flipping the vegetables with practiced ease.
"This time, it's different." Marcus flashed a grin, his eyes still glued to the screen. "They've got openings, man. If I can impress the right people, I'm golden."
James chuckled softly, grabbing a plate and starting to serve dinner. "You mean if you can scam your way into meeting Tony Stark?"
Marcus leaned back, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Exactly."
After a moment of contemplation, he twirled a Dorito between his fingers. "Hey," Marcus said suddenly, his tone shifting to curiosity. "You ever wonder how Stark's suit works? Like, for real?"
James, carrying plates to the table, paused mid-step. "The Iron Man suit?" he repeated, intrigued.
"Yeah, and the Arc Reactor," Marcus said, sitting up straighter. "I mean, we both know some of this stuff, but Stark is on another level. How do you think it all fits together?"
Setting the plates down, James leaned against the counter, folding his arms. "Well," he began slowly, "the Arc Reactor is probably some kind of controlled fusion reactor. Something like a miniaturized tokamak."
"Like the plasma containment reactors we read about in that engineering magazine?" Marcus asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Exactly," James said, enjoying the discussion. "But instead of just generating heat like our reactors, Stark's must convert that energy into electrical power instantly and efficiently. Think superconductors routing the flow to the servos in the suit."
Marcus whistled low. "Superconductors… yeah, that makes sense. Zero resistance means no energy loss, even with the crazy movements he pulls mid-air."
James nodded, excited by the technical talk. "He'd need that to prevent overheating, especially with how quickly the suit reacts to his movements." He tapped the side of his head thoughtfully. "And if I had to guess, he probably uses phase-locked loops to sync the stabilizers. Otherwise, the suit would spin out of control at high speeds."
Marcus grinned, sitting cross-legged on the couch. "You're telling me he figured out not just how to fly, but how to stay balanced while doing it?"
"Exactly." James smiled, marveling at Stark's genius. "The guy built a personal jet that fits around his body and powers it all with something as small as the Arc Reactor. That's next-level thinking."
They sat in silence for a moment, both impressed. "Man," Marcus said, shaking his head, "I'd kill to meet him just to pick his brain."
James chuckled. "Yeah, you and me both. The guy isn't just a genius; he's practically rewriting the laws of physics."
Shifting gears, Marcus asked, "So, have you thought about applying for that internship at Stark Industries?"
James raised an eyebrow, bringing his own plate to the couch. "Yeah," he said after a pause. "For a change, I actually have."
Marcus's jaw dropped in mock surprise. "No way. The great James Carter, considering an internship? What changed your mind?"
James shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Rebecca, mostly."
"Ahhh, I see." Marcus grinned knowingly. "Trying to step up your game, huh? Don't want the Daily Bugle star reporter dating a nobody."
James rolled his eyes, though he knew there was truth to Marcus's words. "Something like that. I just… I don't want her to feel like people are looking down on her because of me."
Marcus smirked. "Dude, if she's with you, she doesn't care about what anyone thinks. But if it makes you feel better, you landing that internship would be a flex."
James chuckled, stabbing a forkful of food. "It would, wouldn't it?"
"Yep. Then you and me? Stark Industries all the way."
The two friends shared a laugh, the weight of their dreams momentarily lifted, finding comfort in the familiarity of their banter.
---
Chapter end...
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