Chapter 3. Trouble in Paradise

I bolted up in a cold sweat frantically looking around as I fought for breath, the first thing I noticed were devices around me with sensors attached to me. The monitors showing an array of different statistics. I seemed to be in the infirmary, the rhythmically consistent and constant beep of my heartbeat persisting through the ringing in my ears. Through my ragged breathing, Jordan stirred awake, he was sat next to the bed a worried expression plastered on his face.

"Thank god, you're awake!" Jordan exclaimed.

I responded wearily attempting to shed my dreariness. "Why are you so excited..."

Interrupting me halfway through my sentence someone abruptly entered the room, they were well-dressed in a white coat with a formal shirt and tie. They held a clipboard in their left hand and a pen that was attached to the clipboard in their right. They flipped through the pages on the clipboard casually, going back and forth the pen moving to their lip as they landed on the correct document.

"Hello, I am Dr. Heath Gray, and you are, hmm. Ah yes, here we are...Brian [redacted], it appears you have woken up from your three-day comma." Dr. Gray said in the most casual unperturbed manner I thought possible. "Looking at the notes here there are a few peculiar incidents, first off your skin was too durable to insert a drip but it also appeared you didn't need it. Second, you didn't excrete any waste, urine, stool, and the like, but this isn't unusual with those who have gone into a coma. It appears as if whatever that incident was that affected certain individuals that are now in comas may be the cause of this unusual phenomenon."

Dr. Gray explained, a bit of interest peeking through his seemingly professional blank face. As I attempted to process and understand the implications of the information he relayed two things happened almost simultaneously. The TV on the wall that was playing some random action show cut to a distressing news channel. As the broadcaster was starting to explain the situation, his appearance a mess, alarms started going off in the hospital and from other sources outside. From the view of the outside world through the window to my left, a huge explosion could be seen going off. Everything was happening so fast that I was barely able to understand it, partially from still feeling groggy and shocked. Jordan stood up as all the chaos ensued eyes wide from the explosion let alone the alarms and news station. The doctor seemed to display a bit more emotion rushing out to see what was going on within the hospital.

The news anchor disheveled and out of breath quickly gave one last message. "We aren't sure the exact cause of all of the attacks happening not only throughout the country but the world. It all seems too coordinated for it not to be some sort of planned attack but considering how widespread it is there seems to be no concrete conclusion. The working theory at the moment is this is somehow related to the incident a few days ago. But as of right now, we recommend everyone get somewhere safe, stay where you are if you are in a safe position, and pray."

I took a deep breath to calm myself down before noticing a familiar nagging feeling that had been slowly growing in the back of my mind. It felt exactly like the hunger that I felt when getting close to that strange red floating orb in the warehouse. The sensation was only building so I clenched my fists and kept breathing. Everything that was going on was a bit overwhelming but now was no time to panic, I looked up at Jordan giving him an assessing look before pulling off the sensors and getting out of bed. As I shook off the tiredness I realized something, I wasn't hungry, in fact, I felt in the best health of my life. I knew the doctor had told me something more was going on with me and anyone else affected by the incident I caused but it was strange. I looked down at myself and noticed I was only in a hospital gown, looking around for any clothes Jordan quickly put two and two together.

"Ah, Brian here," Jordan said handing him a fresh pair of clothes. "Yes, I went to your place and picked up some clothes for you for when you woke up."

"Well thank you, Jordan, I appreciate it, how are you holding up?" I asked concerned about his wellbeing with all the chaos.

"I'll be alright sir, I'm more worried about you, to be honest," Jordan responded a bit more formally but still in a casual nature.

Jordan turned around as I started getting dressed, as I took off the hospital gown I noticed how toned my body appeared. I knew I was not this fit, I wasn't in the worst shape but this was definitely different. Pieces started fitting together in my head, all the events seemed to lead to one conclusion. The incident with Clark, everything pointed to that moment and it would be delusion to ignore it. One conclusion could be I was still in a coma and something went wrong with taking down Clark. But if this was real I had to take it seriously and consider the fact there might be more going on here. I decided to do what the news reporter suggested and stay hunkered down at the hospital.

I cleared my throat to get Jordan's attention "Jordan, listen to me well, I'm alright in fact I'm more than alright but right now we need to try and heed the reporter's advice. We will talk more about everything going on at some point later when and if we actually get to safety. But for right now survival is the top priority, if it is anywhere near as bad as I'm thinking...things could get rough." I commanded acting as seriously as I could.

Just as Jordan was about to respond Dr. Gray stumbled into the room falling backward, shuffling back horrified as he landed. His completely impassive professional expression was now replaced with one of abject horror. He was bruised and bleeding from many wounds on his face. Jordan stepped back stunned by the sudden turn of events, I got in front of him to protect him from the incoming threat.

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Suddenly the hunger spiked, edging at the back of my mind threatening to consume me. I felt that I needed to consume, to feast upon whatever was making me feel this way. The reason for what was going on entered the room. He was an imposing figure standing at 6'7", still wearing the hospital gown his muscles spilling out of them. There were a few sensors still connected to him that he didn't even seem to notice as well as red crackling energy coming from his fists. He took one more step into the room taking his eyes away from the doctor and to mine, It felt like he could see into my soul, right through me. The look in his eyes, it was the same hunger deep inside me I could see it clearly, a predatory look not unlike a lion that chases down a gazelle.

I stayed calm not giving into any emotion attempting to spill out and take control. As the man assessed me a snarl plastered over his face as he looked back towards the doctor. He walked casually over to him and grabbed him by the collar lifting him into the air, the doctor yelped in fear as this mysterious man did so. I wanted to intervene but Jordan stopped me, I looked to him in protest but was met with the eyes of prey. Jordan was mortified by not only this stranger but me, I attempted to calm him down and started to approach the man.

"Thanks for leading me right to another one doc! hahahaha! It only took a little convincing!" The man said, his deep raspy voice booming out from him.

Not a moment after he finished talking he clenched his fist and pulled it back getting ready to punch Dr. Gray. I could feel that whatever coming next was no ordinary punch so I quickly rushed into action. I shoved the man away with a surprising amount of force, he released Dr. Gray stumbling back a few paces a hint of anger flashing across his snarling face. Retaliating without saying a word he came at me with explosive speed. His speed and power were impressive, but I could tell that's all he had. With any ordinary individual, it would be over in a single punch for them, and even with experienced combatants, his speed would most certainly outshine any of their techniques. Although I knew I wouldn't be quite as fast I could tell my body was much different now. It would take some getting used to but the man was throwing punches aimlessly, no real thought behind what came next in the fight.

As I continued dodging and gaining a sense of his predictable movements the man showed some very clear signs of anger. The more he missed his mark the more furiously he attempted to strike me down. His attacks became more, and more erratic making them easier, and easier to evade, even so, I had to be ever-present. If I slipped up for a moment it could be deadly, I had a feel of the fight and my own ability but I had no idea if I could take a punch from this lunatic. I persisted with this evasion strategy until I could find a hole in the defense that was his offense. There had been many times it would seem obvious to go for a counter but there was always an extreme sense of danger with the thought. This was no average opponent and getting closer to him to strike back left me open to his ridiculous speed and force. As he became sloppier with his movements, his anger becoming palpable, more, and more openings appeared. I knew that whatever move I made would need to be swift and decisive, no hesitating. No matter what I did it might shock him if I make contact of any kind let alone a forcible kind so I could potentially use that to go for another hit or back off.

As the battle continued I was finally able to capitalize on a huge opening, going for an uppercut to the chin. Right as my fist connected, I received flashes of memories some I recognized and some I didn't. The foreign memories were all over the place and seemed to come all at once yet lasting hours. It appeared as if I was reliving and experiencing key life moments of this man, some public and some very private. The man's name was Jackson and for most of his life he was kind, but in the last 10 years of his life, this wasn't the case. He had done horrible things and turned into a true monster. With all this information the extreme emotions being held back shot forward. Everything I had been suppressing came forth, fear, anger, hunger, any emotion one would normally have been experiencing amplified to a dangerous level. Along with Jackson's memories also came the memory of when I used my mental power, all of this combined made for a huge opening for Jackson.

Jackson was sent back by the powerful blow, his jaw fracturing from the force and shocking him for a few moments. He regained his composure, anger fueling him more than ever before as he came at me. At this point I was still reeling from the overwhelming experience, my mind unable to cope with everything going on. As he reached me his fist lit up violently red, but there was something different about this punch compared to any other. It was similar to the punch he charged against the doctor but somehow more. Barely being able to block with my arm I got hit with an explosive amount of force. As I hit against the wall it felt like cardboard as I went right through it into the next room, my trajectory only slowing slightly. I slammed through two more walls and rooms before coming to a full stop. I groaned from the physical and mental pain, but soon Jackson would be on me again. On my back, I tried to get up but it was too little too late, Jackson was already upon me. I put my arms up to defend myself as his fists slammed down berating me. As the punches came down faster and faster my arms were barely enough cracking and breaking under the intense power. The floor beneath me cracked as I was hit over and over, I gritted my teeth in anger adrenaline and something else rushing into my system.

"ahhh!" Jordan yelled rushing over with some equipment slamming it into Jackson's back.

The equipment crumpled against his bulk but ultimately managed to achieve the main goal, a distraction. Jackson stopped his onslaught for a moment backhanding Jordan hard in the chest. He was launched into the wall but unlike myself was stopped by the wall dropping to the ground unmoving. In this moment I quickly bolted up and took the opportunity to make some decisive blows. A liver punch or two, a jab to the temple and a few more assaults as fast as I could. My injured arms strained against the blows damaging them more but I persisted, ignoring the pain and using it to push myself forward. Jackson dropped to the ground not having any time to react and defend. Mindlessly I kept up the assault pure instinct and emotion driving me, I was not in control but this may have saved me. Punch after punch I pummeled Jackson, my fists flying into his face, another punch, and another, and another, and another. I stood over Jackson panting, his face a bloody pulp and my hands a mangled mess. My fingers were shattered, my hands were fractured and broken, my arms in a similar state but a smile was etched across my face.

As I caught my breath my elation only rising, the building rumbled, it was clear other fights were happening and more chaos was ensuing around me but I paid none of it any attention as It was finally time for me to have a well-deserved meal. It came almost naturally to me, I didn't have to be shown or instructed how to do it, the action feeling like second nature as I put my destroyed hands on Jackson's body and consumed.