Hayze (Naratting): Often, we like to describe our days down to just a single word, typically good or bad. We obviously hope every day is a good day, but we need to have bad days to have good days. It’s the double-edged sword of life. One day could be the best of your life but on the opposite end of the spectrum… there has to be the worst day of your life…
Inside Hayze’s house, a young Hayze is watching cartoons on the couch next to his Grandma, who looks very concerned. Hayze’s Grandma looks towards the kitchen, where Hayze’s Grandpa is on the phone. He looks stern.
Grandma: (I hope everything is alright… I still can’t believe there was an A-rank villain prison break… Nashville has to be in chaos right now… I want to see the news, but…)
Hayze’s Grandma looks down at Hayze.
Hayze: What’s wrong, Grandma?
Grandma: Oh, nothing, sweetie, just keep watching your show!
Hayze is a little confused, his Grandma usually is cheery, but at this moment, she’s tense.
Hayze: Okay…
Hayze goes back to watching TV.
Grandma: So what show is this?
Hayze: It’s Justice Squad! They’re a group of heroes that beat up all the bad guys!
Hayze’s Grandma smiles at him.
Grandma: Do you want to be a hero someday, Adam?
Hayze hesitates.
Grandma: Is something wrong?
Hayze: I just… I don’t know if I’d be any good at it… besides, my mom and dad are already the best heroes around. There’s no way I could beat them.
Hayze’s Grandma bites her tongue.
Hayze: Huh?
Hayze’s Grandpa hangs up the phone and walks over to Hayze and his Grandmother, who shields Hayze’s ears.
Grandma: *whispering* Did they pick up?
Grandpa: *whispering* No… neither of them…
They both look distraught, confusing Hayze.
Grandpa: I’ll try again when-
There is a knock on the door. Neither of Hayze’s grandparents moves a muscle.
Hayze: Um… there’s someone at the door.
Grandma: Yes, Adam…
Grandpa: We know…
Hayze’s Grandpa walks over to the door; he reaches his hand out for the knob but hesitates. He stares at it for a few moments.
Hayze: Uh… Grandma, is something wrong with Grandpa?
Grandma: No, dear…
Hayze’s Grandpa finally grabs the knob, turns it, and opens the door. The lion hero, Lionel, is standing there.
Lionel: Is this the Hayze household?
Hayze’s Grandma stands up and joins them at the door.
Grandma: Yes, yes it is.
Lionel takes off his hat.
Lionel: You might want to sit down…
Hayze’s Grandma covers her mouth as tears roll down her face; his Grandpa’s facial expression stays stern.
Grandma: Oh no… no… no… no…
Lionel: I’m sorry…
A single tear falls down Hayze’s Grandpa’s face. Hayze’s Grandma is in tears. Lionel has to catch her from falling over.
Hayze: Grandma… Grandpa… What's going on?
Lionel sees Hayze, who looks scared.
Lionel: (Their son…)
Lionel looks back at Hayze’s Grandpa, who is in shock and hasn’t moved a muscle. Lionel helps Hayze’s Grandma sit at the kitchen table and pours her a glass of water. He then walks over to Hayze.
Lionel: What’s your name, son?
Hayze: My name is Adam…
Lionel crouches down and looks Hayze in the eye.
Lionel: My name is Lionel.
Lionel holds out his hand.
Lionel: It’s nice to meet you, Adam.
Hayze shakes Lionel’s hand.
Hayze: Why are my grandma and grandpa crying? I’ve never seen them do that before!
Lionel takes a deep breath.
Lionel: I…
Lionel looks away from Hayze, collects himself, and turns back to him.
Lionel: Adam… your parents… they’re gone.
Hayze: Gone? Gone where!
Lionel: Adam… they’re dead.
Those words hit Hayze like a shockwave. Tears instantly start rolling down his face.
Lionel: I’m sorry.
Lionel hugs Hayze.
Hayze: No… they can’t be… they can’t be dead!
Lionel: I’m so sorry, but they are.
Hayze pushes Lionel off of himself.
Hayze: They’re heroes! Heroes don’t die!
Lionel: Unfortunately, that’s only in the cartoons, Adam, this is real life, and in real life, heroes can die.
Hayze: No! They don’t! I want my mommy…
Lionel: I’m sorry, but she’s not coming… but just know… you’re parents, they saved a lot of people today, 3,000 in fact, they died heroes, and I want you to know that…
Hayze: Of course, they saved a lot of people! They were the best at that! They were the best at that! Why couldn’t you save them!
Lionel is silent for a moment.
Lionel: Kid, the hardest part about this job is that you can’t save everybody.
Hayze: Says who!
Lionel is shocked by this response.
Hayze: When I get my quirk, I will become a hero and save everybody! Just like my parents did, just like you should have! Nobody will die anymore once I’m a hero!
Hayze (Naratting): Those were the brave ambitions of a boy who didn’t understand the world is cruel. My quirk did develop... and it was the ultimate slap in the face. A boy who wants to save everyone can only save himself. My healing quirk embodied my failure to live up to the vow I told that hero on the worst day of my life. My parents' legacy was erased because of lousy genetics...
Hayze leans Jake against the wall of the cave. He sleeps soundly as Hayze wipes the blood and teeth fragments off his face.
Hayze: He seems alright.
Eve: Well, that’s good.
Hayze walks over to Eve and stares out in the forest with her. The rain is still pounding down.
Hayze: I guess this is the end of day two.
Eve: I guess it is.
Hayze looks down at Eve, who is not even trying to make eye contact.
Hayze: So… you had respect for me?
Eve: It’s gone now.
Hayze: But it was there in the first place, right? I’ll take it.
Eve scoffs. Hayze doesn’t know how to continue the conversation.
Hayze: I’m sorry that I… that I fucked up… I told you to trust me, and I broke that trust. I want to make it up to you, though.
Eve: Pfft, how?
Hayze thinks for a moment.
Hayze: Ask me anything. I’ll tell you the truth.
Eve looks at Hayze with a skeptical look on her face.
Hayze: Your trust means a lot to me, Eve, and I’m willing to do anything to get it back.
Eve thinks for a moment.
Eve: Why don’t you go by your first name? Nobody in the class knows, not even Saige, I’ve asked.
Hayze sits down next to Eve.
Hayze: My parents died when I was seven… they saved hundreds of people during a massive villain attack in Nashville… they were great heroes, some of the best. They chose my name, Adam, and after they died, it grated my ears to hear it… because I didn’t think I deserved to be named by them, they were everything, and I was nothing.
Eve stares at Hayze.
Eve: Wow… that’s not what I was expecting.
Hayze: What were you expecting?
Eve: Not… that. So… will you ever go by Adam again?
Hayze: Maybe… I haven’t really thought about that.
Eve looks away from Hayze, taking in what he said.
Hayze: I’ll give you two more questions, but after that, you have to trust me again… Deal?
Hayze holds out his hand, and Eve thinks for a moment.
Eve: Deal.
Eve shakes Hayze’s hand.
Eve: Deal.
Hayze: So what else do you want to know?
Eve: Hm… (Might as well do my girl a solid.) Can I change one of my questions into a request?
Hayze: What do you mean?
Eve: Instead of a question, I ask you to do something. You do want me to trust you, right? I will need to know that I can trust your words and your actions.
Hayze: Alright…
Eve: Walk up to Blair and say, “Blair, I like your tits.”
Hayze goes pale.
Hayze: She’s going to kill me…
Eve: No… she won’t.
Hayze: How? Blair would castrate me for saying that…
Eve: Oh, trust me, she won’t. You did say you trust me, right?
Hayze: Yeah… alright, I’ll do it…
Eve thinks for a long time.
Eve: Tell me… your darkest secret.
Hayze gets a little nervous.
Eve: Come on, out with it. You said you’d tell the truth.
Hayze sits up.
Hayze: I…
Eve: Say it.
Hayze: That girl, Ivy, the one that attacked us in the forest and the mall.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Eve: Yeah… what about her?
Hayze: I don’t think she’s evil.
Eve stares at Hayze blankly.
Eve: She killed Mr. EMD in front of all of us. What about that isn’t evil?
Hayze: I think she did it because she was told to, not because she wanted to.
Eve: It’s not about the motive; it’s about the fact that she KILLED a hero; you think that isn’t evil?
Hayze: No… I think there’s good in her… and I can help her.
Eve looks away.
Eve: Your darkest secret is you have a crush on a psychopathic chick who tried murdering you in cold blood? Yeah… I believe you.
Hayze: It’s not a crush! I think she just needs someone to help her, someone to-
Eve: Save her?
Hayze hesitates.
Hayze: Yes.
Eve: I can tell based on your childhood you have an obsession with saving people. I’ll try to be nice because I know you mean well, but not everyone can be saved, Hayze.
Hayze clenches his fist.
Hayze: That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try…
Eve is surprised by Hayze’s response and slightly impressed.
Eve: Well, let’s go to bed.
Hayze: Hm? All of us?
Eve: Nobody will be hunting in this rain, and even if they find us and loot our bag, we have no orb for them to take.
Hayze: Oh yeah… you’re right.
Eve walks further into the cave.
Eve: And Hayze.
Hayze: Huh?
Eve: I trust you… for now.
Hayze smiles.
Hayze: That’s good enough for me.
That night as Hayze is sleeping, his vivid “dreams” return.
“ Khaos: Hayze has had a lot to hate in his life, which is why I’m so powerful. So powerful, in fact, that just invoking my quirk automatically gives me control over his body. “
“ Khaos: I want to be in control 24/7, I want to be the host of this body, I will have it my way, someway, somehow… someday. “
“ Khaos plunges his blade into Adonis’ heart, killing him instantly. “ - Chapter 48
Hayze wakes up, but not in the cave. Instead, he’s in an empty and endless white space. He gets to his feet and frantically looks around.
Hayze: Hello?
The only response is the echo of his own voice.
Khaos: Hello, Hayze.
Hayze is startled. Khaos has appeared behind him, wielding his executioner’s blade.
Hayze: You must be Khaos.
Khaos: Pfft, it’s pathetic that you think this is the first time we’ve met.
“ Wrath: (Ah, I forgot they erased your memories… let me show you mine instead.) “ - Chapter 54
Hayze: Again, with this? Wrath already tried this, you know. I won’t let you trick me.
Khaos points his blade at Hayze’s neck.
Khaos: Why would I try to trick you? You’ve already let that slut girl and the fool do it.
Hayze: Yeah… right.
Khaos: You’re naive.
Khaos retracts his sword.
Hayze: What do you want?
Khaos: You already know what I want. I just showed you.
Hayze realizes what Khaos is talking about.
Hayze: Yeah… Saige told me you could manipulate my dreams.
Khaos: That was no dream. It’s reality; I showed you my memories because they erased yours.
Hayze: You really think I’ll believe you over Saige?
Khaos: No, but that’s because you’re a moron.
Hayze: Then why are you even telling me this?
Khaos: I’m showing you that they’re making decisions for you, trying to choose what’s best for you without your consent, and I know you hate that.
Hayze grinds his teeth.
Hayze: Because you’re my hatred, right?
Khaos: Yes, and I hate seeing them lie and make choices on your behalf. It sickens me to my core.
Hayze: But I thought you hated me too?
Khaos: Don’t remind me…
Hayze: Then why would you want to help me?
Khaos snaps his fingers.
“ Khaos: I want to purge this world of everything I hate, but unfortunately, that binds me to only being able to kill things that Hayze hates. That’s why you’re still standing. “ - Chapter 48
Hayze falls to his knees, holding his head.
Hayze: What the hell was that?
Khaos: Another memory. Or are you going to continue pretending moments this vivid are dreams?
Hayze slowly stands back up.
Hayze: So you’re telling me… that big guy… Adonis… I- I-
Khaos: I killed him. You didn’t do shit.
Hayze: You killed him using my body, you bastard!
Khaos smiles, and Hayze looks afraid.
Khaos: It looks like you’re starting to believe me, or at that very least, you’re questioning those other imbeciles. Which is good progress.
Hayze clenches his fists.
Hayze: Did I really kill him…
Hayze is confused.
Hayze: Did I just say that out loud?
Khaos: First of all, I killed him. How many times do I need to say that? Second, I can hear your thoughts, so of course.
Hayze: *frustrated grunt*
Khaos: Don’t get mad. I don’t need that other asshole showing up…
Hayze: I don’t know who you think you are…
Khaos: Huh?
Hayze: But this is my body, and you will obey my rules!
Khaos bursts out laughing.
Hayze: Did I say a joke?
Khaos: It’s “your body” for now, but don’t worry, soon it will be mine, permanently.
Hayze: Like hell, it will!
Hayze points his palm at Khaos and tries to activate his quirk, but his eyes stay normal.
Hayze: What?
Khaos: You sure are stupid for someone who claims to be smart. You can’t use your auxiliary quirk here. You’re stuck with your original garbage quirk.
Hayze looks at his hand.
Hayze: My original quirk…
Khaos: But I do like the idea of illustrating to you the difference in our power...
Khaos raises his sword.
Khaos: Let’s see what you can do against me.
Hayze charges at Khaos.
Khaos: Fool…
Khaos points his palm towards Hayze.
Khaos: Dark Force!
Khaos’ shadow leaps off the ground and forms into a wave that slams into Hayze, knocking him back.
Khaos: You’re pathetic. You don’t deserve control of this vessel.
Hayze: You’re not even the original! What makes you think you deserve control!
Khaos: If this battle was real, I’d kill you instantly, that’s why.
Hayze grinds his teeth.
Hayze: I’ll show you! I-
Hayze cannot move.
Hayze: What the?
Khaos’ shadow has extended in a line to connect with Hayze’s.
Khaos: My shadow paralysis, you’d know about it if it weren’t for your so-called “mentor.”
Khaos walks up to Hayze and gets right in his face.
Khaos: I can see the fear in your eye. You can see your world crumbling, everything you’ve worked for crashing down.
Khaos grabs Hayze’s arm and breaks it.
Hayze: AHHHHHH!
Khaos: You put so much effort into improving your capabilities with your quirk, you thought you were making genuine progress, but all the while, you were carrying around a monster inside you… Hayze, I will kill you, and then after that, I will kill everyone and everything you love.
Khaos winds back his sword and slashes at Hayze, but just as the blade is about to decapitate Hayze, he wakes up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily, fear covering his face.
Hayze: (What… what was that?)
Hayze stands up and wanders into the rain. His head is spinning; he can barely think straight.
Hayze: (I… I… I…)
Hayze falls to his knees, holding his head as the rain pounds down upon him.
Hayze: (Calm down! Calm down! Calm-)
Unbeknownst to Hayze, gills emerge on the sides of his neck, and his eyes change to blue.
Hayze: (Just… take a deep breath, use what Saige taught you.)
Hayze starts taking slow deep breaths.
Hayze: (Just breathe… clear your mind… do what Saige taught you.)
Hayze kneels down and meditates, calming his racing mind.
Hayze: (Everything is fine…)
Voice: (Saige’s technique seems to work very well.)
Hayze: (Yeah, you can say that aga-)
Hayze’s eyes shoot open.
Hayze: FUCK!
Hayze looks afraid.
Hayze: (I thought you guys could only appear when my quirk was active!)
Voice: (It is active, feel your neck.)
Hayze feels his gills.
Hayze: (My quirk activated, and I didn’t even notice… Khaos was right… I am losing control…)
Voice: (You shouldn’t listen to what Khaos says.)
Hayze: (Wh- what do you mean? Why are you saying that?)
Voice: (Khaos has one goal, to become the dominant personality of your body, you shouldn’t listen to someone who is out to get you, even if you believe they speak the truth.)
Hayze is confused.
Hayze: (Okay… but what are you then? I thought all of you were out to get control…)
Voice: (While the idea of being in control of the body sounds interesting, I do not see a reason to try and fight you for it.)
Hayze: (Huh?)
Voice: (I believe that you should be the one in control of your body.)
Hayze is taken aback.
Hayze: (Who are you?)
Voice: (I am the embodiment of the emotion tied to your water quirk, Calm.)
Hayze: (Is that what you want me to call you?)
Calm: (Well, now that you mention it, I guess so. It’s practical.)
Hayze: (Okay then... Calm, what’s your goal here? You’re just… content... with being just a part of me? Nothing more?)
Calm: (Maybe not, but there’s not much I can do about it. You are too mighty for me.)
Hayze: (Huh? Did you not just see me get my ass handed to me by Khaos? I’m pathetic… I’ve been burrowing your quirks… I’m still as weak as I always was.)
Calm: (Khaos is the exception, not the rule. You see, I am the incarnate of your intelligence, strategic acumen, and analytic capabilities, outside of that, I am emotionless.)
Hayze: (That would explain the monotone demeanor you have…)
Calm: (You notice how Khaos could easily take over your body the first time you used his quirk? Yet Wrath needed to fight you for control?)
Hayze: (Well… yeah…)
Calm: (You are more powerful than Wrath and me; therefore, we cannot easily take control of your body as Khaos can.)
Hayze: (But… I couldn’t take Wrath in a fight… especially not with my quirk…)
Calm: (How are you so sure? You’ve defeated far more powerful opponents using our quirks.)
Hayze hangs his head.
Hayze: (Those weren’t exactly the most sound of fights, without Silver’s arrogance and Tara’s ingenuity, I never would have won…)
Calm: (Why are you discounting yourself?)
Hayze: (What- what do you mean?)
Calm: (Do you remember what Femme Fatal said to you long ago?)
“ Fatal: Also, always remember one thing: It’s not about the quirk; it’s about the person who wields the quirk. “ - Chapter 3
Hayze: (I’ll never forget.)
Calm: (Just because those things aided you does not mean they should lessen your victory, you leveraged those advantages to heighten your potential to win the match. That’s what you’ve always been about, Hayze.)
Hayze stands up, using a tree to keep his balance.
Hayze: (But without this quirk… I’m nothing.)
Calm: (You really are the fool Khaos claims you to be if you believe that.)
Hayze’s fingernails dig into the tree bark.
Calm: (Hayze, you don’t rely on your quirk like others in your class. Your quirk is an extension of who you are. Although you lack training and mastery compared to Silver, you still had him on the ropes for most of your match. That wasn’t just luck.)
Hayze leans back against the tree.
Hayze: (You’re right… I did.)
Calm: (You weren’t given a chance to fulfill your dream of being a hero. But that wasn’t because you lacked the ability. It was because nobody believed in you. That is why Dr. Moore gave you this quirk, gave you this chance you needed, and you’re making the most of it. There’s no doubt in my mind you’d be on track to becoming a hero without our elemental quirks if someone allowed you to do so.)
Hayze clenches his fist.
Hayze: (That’s right… that’s how I got this far… by never giving up...)
Hayze flashes back to his training with Adrian during his internship.
Hayze: (There will be roadblocks...)
“ Hayze: But I’ve come too far to go home empty-handed! “
Hayze: I have a goal. I dream of continuing my parents' legacy and saving people just as well as they did. They died because they wanted to save everybody… and they couldn’t, but me? I will complete that philosophy!
The rain dies down.
Hayze: My name is Adam Hayze, and I will save all who need me!
The clouds clear, revealing a full moon shining down upon Hayze.
Hayze: (Khaos… I may not be stronger than you… but I don’t need to be, I’ll show you that I can still find good even in a heart filled with hate.)
Calm: (So you think you can convert Khaos to a similar way of thinking as myself?)
Hayze: (Well… you were pretty helpful… imagine if I got all of you to work with me, it could turn this “issue” into a blessing in disguise.)
A tear falls from Hayze’s eye.
Hayze: (Thank you, Calm.)
Calm: (Why are you thanking me?)
Hayze: (Because of what you said… it made me realize that although the obstacle has changed, my ideology should not.)
Calm: (But Hayze, you already knew all of this, you just allowed your emotions to cloud your mind.)
Hayze smiles.
Hayze: (I guess you are my logical side after all…)
Calm: (Yes, and as your logic, I should tell you that the way you internalize your emotions is unhealthy. You don’t have as strong relationships with your classmates because of your distant nature.)
Hayze: (All of my life, I’ve kept what I felt inside, I guess it only makes sense that my emotions would be strong enough to form into five separate beings.)
Calm: (If you want to turn Khaos, Wrath, and the others, you will have to stop doing that.)
Hayze: (You think so?)
Calm: (Healthier bonds will lead you to a healthier mental state, and in a battle for control of your mind, you will need that.)
Hayze smiles.
Hayze: (I guess you’re right… but Calm… can I ask you one last question?)
Calm: (Yes.)
Hayze: (Did I kill Adonis?)
Calm: (I refuse to answer that.)
Hayze: (Why?)
Calm: (You have an exam to finish, that answer will distract you, wait until this is over and talk to Adrian.)
Hayze thinks for a moment.
Hayze: (Alright… you’re probably right.)
Hayze’s quirk powers down, and he starts walking toward the cave.
Hayze: (Although not all of my concerns have been cleared… I can’t stray away from my goal, no matter what!)