Written & Created By: Eddie Yagami

*Readers Discretion Is Advised*

The quiet hum of medical equipment inside Santera Medical HQ echoed through the halls as Alpha, inhabiting Mac's body, and Mr. Lou arrived, weary from the teleportation. Crispin and Samantha were already waiting for them, their eyes filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

Crispin approached first, his gaze scanning his son's body, now under Alpha's control. "How is he?" Crispin asked, his voice thick with concern.

Alpha, still controlling Mac's body, nodded to reassure him. "He's alive, Crispin. But Chandler's conscious is dormant while his body heals. I'll be maintaining his physical form, keeping it active so his body doesn't deteriorate or stiffen up during the recovery process."

Samantha rushed to Alpha, tears filling her eyes as she touched her son's face, though she knew it wasn't quite him yet. "And how long will this take?"

Alpha gave her a soft smile, but it was clear even he was running low on energy. "It'll take about a week. His body is strong, but the battle took its toll. I need time to restore the balance between his mind, body, and the power within him," said Alpha, reassuring Samantha that Mac will be alright.

Mr. Lou, standing nearby, nodded gravely. "Let him rest, Samantha. Alpha will ensure Chandler's body stays active, but we'll need to be patient. This process can't be rushed."

They carried Mac's body over to the private suite that they had set up earlier and laid him down on the bed. As soon as Alpha was laying down, the exhaustion caught up to him and he passed out.

Samantha wiped her eyes and nodded, sitting next to Mac's bed. Crispin and Mr. Lou exchanged a look before stepping out of the room to discuss the next steps.

The days passed slowly. Alpha moved Mac's body around the room periodically, maintaining his strength and flexibility, but Mac's consciousness remained asleep, deep within a coma. Every now and then, Samantha would watch as Alpha stretched her son's limbs or took him for short walks around the private suite. It was strange to see her son's body active, knowing it wasn't really him.

Crispin remained calm, but the weight of the situation was clearly affecting him. He spent his time managing affairs at the company and staying in close contact with Mr. Lou. They knew that keeping the events surrounding Alpha's awakening secret was of paramount importance. Any word of Mac's newfound power reaching the wrong ears could bring The Order or The Darkness down upon them before they were ready.

Although, talk about the pillar of light had unfortunately already made the news and almost everyone was talking about it, including Lucky. As Mac was recovering during the week, he had to miss school which didn't go unnoticed by any of the students at Santera High, including the likes of Stephanie Connors, the student council president.

Unfortunately for JR, he had to go to school just to keep up appearances, but Lucky started to ask questions that he couldn't answer truthfully, so he had to come up with some made up story. As the school day ended, JR and Lucky met up by the school entrance, "Oh.... James.... ," JR felt uneased, he knew that Lucky was starting to get annoyed that she hadn't heard from Mac in a few days.

JR nervously looked at her, "What's up, Lucille?" There was a slight tremble to his voice. "Let's go visit Chandler today," said Lucky, she was reluctant to go see Mac after hearing that he caught the flu.

Of course, with so much on his mind after the events of that night, it was the best lie that JR could come up with, but he insisted that Mac was fine and had to be isolated with his parents watching over him.

Lucky, of course being skeptical, didn't believe it for a second, but she played along for now, "If you say so," she said. JR knew himself that he couldn't keep this hidden from Lucky for long.

Since he was already planning on visiting Mac with his father, he'd wait to see if it'd be a good idea to bring Lucky in on everything that happened.

"Oh, by the way, have you seen the news lately?" Lucky asked.

"No, why?" JR responded, not prepared for what she was about to say.

"There was this huge pillar of light that shot up into the sky the other day, that's all everyone has been talking about lately," said Lucky, JR froze as the memories of that night came flooding back in, Lucky noticed how pale he became.

"Are you alright? Looks like you've seen a ghost," she said, JR just sat there without so much as a peep. Lucky put her hand on his shoulder to try and get his attention, but as soon as she did, he jumped and swatted her hand away.

It took him a moment to calm down and realize what he had done, "Sorry Lucky, I didn't mean to do that. I'm just a little distracted and tired, so I'm going to head home for now, talk to you later," said JR very coldly.

Lucky couldn't get a word out to JR as he quickly got up and left, but it didn't go unnoticed how he called her by her nickname. "What's going on James? What are you not telling me?" she thought to herself.

By the fourth day of recovery, Mac's body had regained its strength rapidly. Though still in a coma, Alpha had done well in ensuring his muscles didn't atrophy and that his body remained in peak condition. It was on this day that JR and Mark paid a visit to the facility.

JR and Mark arrived at Santera Medical HQ to check in on Mac. JR had been on edge ever since that fateful night in the alley, replaying the events of the fight with The Creature of The Darkness and Mac's death over and over in his head. But now, as he walked into Mac's private suite, the tension weighed on him even more.

Mac laid still, his body recovering under Alpha's control, and JR's heart clenched at the sight. He hesitated in the doorway, his father, Mark, standing behind him, giving him an encouraging nod. "Go ahead, son. Spend some time with him."

Mark stood by the door, arms crossed. His mind wandered about JR and Mac. Despite his composed exterior, the instinct to protect both boys gnawed at him. These were the moments that tested him most-keeping his son and Mac safe in a world of increasing danger.

JR swallowed his nervousness and slowly approached the bed. He sat in the chair next to Mac, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, staring at his best friend. The silence was overwhelming, and JR's mind buzzed with a mix of guilt and helplessness.

"Man, I don't know what to say," JR muttered quietly, shaking his head. "You were out there, fighting that... thing, and I couldn't do anything but sit there. You were always the strong one, you know? I just-"

Suddenly, Mac's body twitched, and his eyes opened wide and he sat straight up on the bed, startling JR so much that he nearly fell out of his chair. Laughter can be heard coming from Mac's mouth.

"Easy James, take a deep breath and relax. It's just me, Alpha. Remember?" a voice came from Mac's mouth, but it wasn't quite his usual tone. It was Alpha, as his voice was much deeper than Mac's.

JR blinked rapidly, clutching his chest in shock. "What the fuck, man?! You can't just wake up like that! I thought you were a zombie or something!", exclaimed JR.

Alpha chuckled from within Mac's body as he took control, amused by JR's reaction. "I couldn't resist. You were getting all emotional and serious over there. Figured I'd lighten the mood."

JR slumped back into the chair, his heart still racing. "You almost gave me a heart attack. What are you even doing awake?"

Alpha smiled through Mac's face. "I've been keeping Chandler's body active while he recovers. Don't worry, he's still resting. But since you're here, I thought we could talk."

JR eyed Alpha suspiciously, but the initial shock was fading. "Alright, talk about what, exactly?" JR questioned.

Alpha turned and sat on the edge of the bed and leaned forward slightly, his expression growing more serious, though there was still a playful glint in his eyes. "About what happened. About The Order, The Darkness, and where Chandler fits into all of this," said Alpha.

JR tensed at the mention of The Order and The Darkness, but Alpha held up a hand to calm him. "Relax. It's a lot to take in, but you deserve to know what's going on. Especially after what you saw in that alley."

"So.... Where do you want to start?", asked Alpha, JR pondered for a moment, what did he want to learn first, but then he remembered something.

"There's one thing we need to straighten out first," JR firmly stated, Alpha thought for a moment and immediately knew what JR wanted. "You want to tell Lucille about this too?", questioned Alpha. JR was stunned, "Can you read my mind or something?", Alpha chuckled. "Not yours, but I do have Chandler's memories and I can see that she's someone important to the both of you."

"Really?! I guess it does make some sense since the two of you share a single body and mind," said JR, who was not thrilled by that fact. "But to answer your question.... Yes. I want to tell her because it's going to be tough keeping her in the dark for much longer because she'll end up figuring it out on her own, eventually," said JR.

Alpha sat there stroking his chin, "She's already suspicious about Chandler because he hasn't been to school and I didn't really come up with a believable story," said JR. Alpha paused, "Wait, what story?"

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

JR explained to Alpha what happened over the last few days at school, how Lucky was wondering where Mac was and that JR told her he came down with the flu. He also told her that Mac had to isolate with his parents, which wasn't too far off.

Alpha laughed, "Wow, you couldn't have come up with something more creative? I can see now why you want to tell her the truth," Alpha teased JR, but he wasn't amused by Alpha's laughter.

JR glanced toward the door, where his father and the other adults were talking in another room. "Actually, shouldn't we wait to hear from them first? Then ask them about Lucille?", asked JR.

"They're having their own conversation about this stuff," Alpha replied casually. "But you're part of this too now. You were there when it all happened, and Chandler's going to need you by his side, just like always." Alpha still noticed the concerned look on his face, "Listen James, for now, let's wait on telling Lucille. At least until we see what Chandler's parents have to say about everything."

JR sighed and nodded, leaning back in the chair. "Okay, fine. So... what's the deal with this 'Order' and 'Darkness' thing? I heard some of it from Mr. Lou, but I still don't get it."

Alpha crossed his arms, his expression growing more thoughtful. "The Order is an ancient organization that's been around for centuries. Their goal is power, control, and domination, but they operate in the shadows and they don't work alone. They've aligned themselves with the Darkness, a malevolent force that seeks to consume and destroy everything in its path."

JR frowned. "So, The Creature of The Darkness... that thing Chandler fought... it was working for the Order?", asked JR.

"Not directly," Alpha explained. "As far as I know, The Creatures are agents of The Darkness that The Order uses to not only achieve their goals, but to also avoid exposing themselves to the world. The Order wants to get their hands on me-on Alpha-because of the power I possess. If they can control me, they can control Chandler, and that would give them a weapon stronger than anything else."

JR's eyes widened as the weight of the situation began to sink in. "So, they're after you and Chandler just so happens to be in the way because of you?", asked JR curiously.

Alpha nodded. "That's right. Chandler's connection to me makes him a target, but it also gives him the power to fight back. The Order doesn't know much about me yet, but they will eventually, and when they do, they'll come for him."

JR shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around everything. "Man, this is insane. And here I thought the scariest thing I'd have to deal with was a pop quiz."

Alpha grinned. "Trust me, JR, there's a lot more at stake than pop quizzes now. But don't worry-we'll handle it. Chandler will be back soon, and when he wakes up, we'll start preparing him for what's coming."

JR's nervousness returned. "And what's coming, exactly?"

Alpha's expression turned serious again. "War. The Order, The Darkness... they won't rest until they've either controlled or destroyed everything in their path. But with Chandler's help-and yours-we have a fighting chance."

JR stared at Mac's face, still hearing Alpha's voice in his mind. It was surreal, like something out of a movie, but it was real. And now he was part of it, whether he liked it or not.

"Okay," JR said after a long pause. "I'm in. Whatever Chandler needs, I'm there."

Alpha smiled warmly. "Good, I'm glad to hear that."

Meanwhile, in a nearby room, the adults gathered for a more private conversation. Mark stood by the door, his arms crossed as he watched Crispin, Samantha, and Mr. Lou exchange glances. The tension in the room was palpable.

Crispin broke the silence. "Mark, I think it's time that we brought you into the fold on everything that's been happening."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "I'd gladly appreciate that. From what I've seen, there's a lot I don't understand. That... thing that attacked Chandler, and then the light-what's going on, Crispin?"

Crispin glanced at Samantha and Mr. Lou before answering. "What you witnessed was the result of a power known as Alpha. It's an ancient force that's been dormant inside Chandler for most of his life. When he was stabbed by The Creature of The Darkness, Alpha awakened to save him," explained Crispin.

"Alpha?" Mark repeated, his brow furrowing. "What exactly is Alpha?"

Mr. Lou stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Alpha is a supernatural entity created long ago that was merged with Chandler. It's not just a source of power-it's a living force. I won't go into too much detail, but I will say is that Alpha was created for the sole purpose of fighting against The Order and The Darkness, and now it's a part of Chandler. It's what brought him back from the dead," explained Mr. Lou.

Mark was silent for a moment, processing the information. "And the thing that attacked him? You called it a Creature of The Darkness?", questioned Mark.

"Yes," Mr. Lou confirmed. "The Creatures are agents of The Darkness, a force that opposes everything in this world that doesn't align with the true goals of The Order. The Darkness, however, are just puppets of the real threat which is The Order, a secretive group that works in the shadows and uses these Creatures from The Darkness to achieve their goals," said Mr. Lou.

"The Order?" Mark asked, his eyes narrowing. "Who are they?"

Crispin sighed. "We don't know much about them. According to Luis, The Order has been operating for centuries. Their motives are power, control and domination, and we know that they'll be after Alpha-and by extension, Chandler. That's why we've been keeping Alpha's existence a secret," said Crispin.

Samantha, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "We don't know who the leader of The Order is, or how far their reach extends. All we know is that if they find out where Alpha is, then they'll come for him and Chandler."

Although, for Mr. Lou, that wasn't exactly the truth. He knew more than he lead everyone to believe, but kept it from them because he needed to make sure that his theory of who was in charge of The Order was accurate. Accurate enough to tell them the whole truth, but he needed to wait a bit longer.

Mark nodded slowly, his expression serious. "And The Darkness?"

Mr. Lou shook his head. "The Darkness is merely a puppet as I said earlier, controlled by The Order. The Creature you saw is a physical manifestations, but the true nature of The Darkness is still a mystery."

Mark exhaled, rubbing his temples. "So, Chandler is at the center of all this, and now he's... what? A target for both The Order and The Darkness?"

"Yes," Crispin said, his tone grim. "That's why we need to be extremely careful. No one outside of this room can know about Alpha, not even those closest to us. If word gets out, it could endanger not just Chandler, but all of us."

Mark met Crispin's gaze, his expression hardening with resolve. "I understand. You can trust me, Crispin. I won't say a word."

Crispin placed a hand on Mark's shoulder. "Thank you, Mark. I knew I could count on you."

Samantha, her voice soft but filled with emotion, added, "We're trusting you with our son's life. Please... be careful."

Mark nodded. "I will."

Though the conversation had made Mark a trusted ally, there was an unspoken tension in the room. Something about the way the events had unfolded left a lingering feeling of uncertainty. Mark was now privy to the deepest secrets of the McCullen family, but even so, there was an unshakable sense that this trust might be tested in the future.

Back in Mac's room, JR let out a long breath. "Okay, Alpha. I get it now. But when Chandler wakes up, he's gonna freak out, isn't he?"

Alpha chuckled. "Probably. But I'll be here to help him through it. And you'll be here too, right?"

JR gave a small smile. "Yeah. I'm not going anywhere."

Just then, the door opened, and Mark stepped in, nodding at JR. "It's time to go, kid."

JR stood, giving one last glance at Alpha. "Alright. See you later, Alpha."

Alpha nodded through Mac's body. "Later, James."

As JR and Mark left, the room grew quiet again. Alpha leaned back slightly, allowing Mac's body to rest once more. In just a few more days, Mac would awaken, and then the real journey would begin.

Outside the room, just before they left, "Hey Dad, I need to talk with Chandler's parents real quick," Mark nodded and they approached Crispin and Samantha, Mr. Lou was still with them too.

"Hey Mr. and Mrs. McCullen, can I ask y'all something?" Crispin and Samantha looked at each other, curious in their expression, "Sure James, what's up?" JR quickly told them everything that he and Alpha talked about and even asked about Lucky.

"Hmm...." Crispin was thinking hard about what JR asked them, and he even looked at Mr. Lou for some guidance. "The decision is up to the two of you, but he should be awake soon, so I think it's best to wait for now," said Mr. Lou. Samantha agreed with Mr. Lou and so, the decision was made, "Keep up with the story for now James, and if it comes to it, then I'll talk with her myself," Crispin told JR, he nodded then shortly left with Mark.

A few days later, Mac's body was nearing the end of its recovery. Alpha's constant presence had ensured that his strength had returned, and now, only his mind needed time to awaken. On the seventh day, as the sun began to set, Alpha felt a shift within Mac's consciousness.

Samantha was sitting by his bedside as usual when Mac's fingers twitched. She sat up, holding her breath. Slowly, his eyes began to flutter open.

"Chandler?" she whispered, leaning in closer.

Mac blinked several times, his gaze unfocused at first, but gradually, clarity returned to his eyes. He stared at the ceiling, his breathing steady but shallow. Then, his gaze shifted to his mother.

"Mom?" His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.

Samantha let out a sob of relief, leaning forward to cup his face gently. "Yes, Chandler, it's me. You're awake."

Crispin, alerted by the sounds of conversation, rushed into the room, followed by Mr. Lou. "Mijo," Crispin said, his voice filled with emotion.

Mac's mind was still foggy, but fragments of memories began to surface. The fight with The Creature of The Darkness, the unbearable pain, and then... darkness. "What happened?" Mac asked, as he sat up, noticing that his body felt different.

"Take it slow," Mr. Lou said, stepping forward. "You've been through a lot, Chandler. You need time to process everything."

After Mac sat up with the help of his father, he looked around at the concerned faces surrounding him. "The last thing I remember was... that monster. I was stabbed, and then..."

"You died, Chandler," Crispin said softly, Mac froze for a moment. "I.... what?" Mac was not sure whether his own father was trying to pull a prank on him or not.

"But Alpha awakened inside you and brought you back. He saved your life." Crispin put his hand on his shoulder, waiting to see Mac's reaction.

Mac's eyes widened. "Alpha... I remember hearing a voice. Is he still...?"

"I'm here, Chandler." Alpha's voice echoed in his mind, calm and steady. "Now, don't freak out on me, but I'm part of you now."

Mac's breath hitched, his heart racing. "This is real? I have... something inside me?"

"It's real," Mr. Lou said gently. "Alpha is a part of you now. He's been keeping your body active while you healed."

Mac's mind swirled with confusion and disbelief. "I... I don't know what to do with this," he admitted, his voice trembling.

"You'll have time to learn," Mr. Lou reassured him. "I'm going to help you understand the changes that have taken place in your body. You'll need to master not only your physical abilities but also the magic that Alpha brings."

"Magic?" Mac repeated, looking at Mr. Lou incredulously.

"Yes," Mr. Lou said. "Magic flows through you now, and you'll need to learn to control it. I'll teach you everything you need to know, but for now, focus on resting. You've just come back from a difficult journey."

Mac slowly nodded, though the weight of what had happened was still sinking in. His mind felt heavy with questions, but he trusted Mr. Lou and his parents. For now, that was enough.

He looked over at Samantha and Crispin. "I'm sorry... for everything."

Samantha shook her head, tears in her eyes. "No, Chandler. You have nothing to apologize for. We're just so relieved you're here."

Crispin placed a hand on Mac's shoulder. "We're proud of you, son and we'll get through this together. One step at a time."

Mac nodded again, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He laid back on the bed, closing his eyes as the weight of the past week finally caught up to him.

For now, he would rest.

As they all exited Mac's room and closed the door behind them, Samantha stopped and stood in the hallway. Her expression of pure dread didn't go unnoticed by both Crispin and Mr. Lou, "Mi Amor? Are you alright?" Crispin slowly approached her, concern was in his voice.

"I'm worried on how he'll react when we have to tell him the truth," Samantha said, with concern in her voice. Crispin went and hugged her, "One thing at a time, dear. When the time is right, then we'll all sit down and tell him everything." Mr. Lou sighed heavily, he knew that once they tell Mac about Alpha, then maybe he'll have to reveal more about his past.... About the fact that he's immortal.

To Be Continued....