Klaus stood frozen, his mind racing as he tried to process the scene before him. His voice broke the silence, low and filled with urgency. "What the hell is going on?" His gaze locked on Ace, who was gasping for air in desperation.

It was a sight Klaus had never witnessed before, a moment that defied everything he thought he knew. Ace, a demigod who had been immune to exhaustion, was struggling to breathe. Klaus shifted his eyes to Riley, who returned his gaze, her expression mirroring his shock and confusion.

Taking a step closer, Klaus crouched beside Ace. His tone softened, though concern weighed heavy in his words. "Ace, are you okay?" he asked.

But Ace didn't respond. His gasps continued, frantic and unrelenting, his wide eyes staring ahead as if caught in some invisible nightmare.

"Ace!" Klaus called again, louder this time, hoping to pull him back from whatever state he was in.

At last, Ace's eyes flicked toward Klaus, though they remained filled with an unnerving emptiness. "K-Klaus?" he stammered, his voice trembling, barely audible.

"Are you alright? What's going on?" Klaus pressed, leaning in closer.

But before Ace could answer, a sharp knock resounded through the apartment, shattering the fragile tension. Klaus and Riley turned toward the door in unison, their alarm deepening.

"Hello?" a firm voice called from the other side. "Is anyone home? We received complaints about a loud noise and need to investigate."

"Damn it," Klaus muttered under his breath, immediately realizing the implications.

The knocking resumed, followed by the voice again, more insistent this time. "Is anyone home? If no one responds, I'll have to use a spare key to ensure everything is alright. Please, open the door."

Klaus glanced at Riley, his mind racing. They had no time and no good options. He was far too recognizable as a publicly known demigod and if whoever was outside saw him, explanations would spiral out of control. Ace, though not as well-known, was still a person who could easily complicate matters further as well.

"We can't be seen," Klaus whispered urgently to Riley.

Riley's eyes darted between Klaus and the door. "Then what do we do?" she asked, her voice strained with worry as another knock reverberated through the room.

Klaus clenched his jaw, his mind working furiously. The sound of jangling keys sent a jolt through him, signaling that the person on the other side was preparing to enter. Time was slipping away.

"Ace," Klaus said sharply, turning back to him. "Can you run?"

Ace remained unresponsive, his breathing ragged, his mind seemingly stuck in the haze of whatever trauma had brought him to this state. Klaus leaned closer, his voice rising with urgency. "Ace! Can you run?"

Ace blinked, his eyes flickering with faint recognition, but as he began to process the question, his expression shifted. A flicker of terror crossed his face, and his breathing quickened again as a certain memory flashed in his head. "I… can't," he finally whispered, his voice barely audible, his body slumped as though weighed down by an invisible force.

The metallic sound of the keys turning in the lock snapped Riley's attention back to the door. "Klaus," she whispered, her voice tight with panic. "We're out of time."

But Klaus didn't reply. There was no more time left.

The official stepped cautiously into the apartment, his initial hesitation giving way to professionalism. He moved deeper into the space, scanning for anything out of place. The only sound was the faint hum of the television, which he promptly turned off before continuing his search.

The apartment appeared deserted. He wandered into the dining area, his eyes briefly catching on a hole in the wall near the table. It piqued his interest, but without context, there was no way to determine how long it had been there or whether it was significant. With no signs of activity and no one home, the official concluded his investigation and prepared to leave.

Meanwhile, at the Walker residence, Klaus stood near his bedroom door, holding Riley in his arms. His breaths were faintly audible, evidence of the extraordinary feat he had just accomplished. Moments earlier, he had relied on his Perfect Precognition ability to perceive the world at the speed of light, effectively freezing time and giving him the opportunity to think for a while before acting.

When the official entered Ace's apartment, Klaus had only seconds to execute his plan. Realizing the critical nature of the situation, he decided to relocate everyone involved; Ace, Riley, and the unconscious girl; to his house. It was the safest place to regroup and assess the situation without interruptions.

Klaus quickly calculated his moves. Knowing he couldn't carry everyone simultaneously, he resolved to transport them one by one, concerned about the potential risk of dropping anyone at such immense speeds. He deactivated his ability just as the official entered the apartment and used the brief window to begin his operation.

First, he carefully picked up the strange girl, cradling her in his arms. With less than a whisper of motion, Klaus sprinted across the city to his home at the speed of light, stopping only long enough to unlock the doors between Ace's apartment and his room. Then, he returned for Ace before finally returning to retrieve Riley.

The entire process, spanning miles across the city, took barely over two seconds. Klaus moved with such precision and silence that the official remained oblivious as Klaus sped past him multiple times.

By the time Klaus returned with Riley, his breaths were measured but audible, a testament to the strain of the feat. Riley's senses slowly caught up to what had transpired. She blinked, her surroundings coming into focus. Recognizing Klaus's room, she pieced that he had used his Burst Speed to get everyone out with haste.

Klaus' breathing slowly began to even out as a brief silence began between them. Their eyes met briefly, and a flicker of awkwardness passed between them as Riley realized she had been in his arms. Klaus, sensing the same, averted his gaze and set her down softly.

"N-Nice save," Riley muttered, her voice quieter than usual as she avoided his gaze.

"Thanks," Klaus replied, his tone matching her awkwardness.

The moment passed quickly as their attention turned back to Ace and the unconscious girl. With no interruptions, Klaus focused on assessing the situation. He crouched beside Ace, whose breathing had steadied but whose expression remained distant, haunted.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Ace," Klaus called softly, attempting to bring him back to the present.

Ace's eyes fluttered, his mind still clouded by whatever ordeal he had experienced. It took a moment, but Klaus's call finally regained his attention. His breathing slowed, though his fear lingered.

"Are you okay?" Klaus asked gently, his concern clear.

"I… I'm not sure," Ace managed, his voice faint and unsteady between breaths. "I... think so."

Klaus glanced at Riley, who stood nearby in silent contemplation. Her expression reflected his own growing unease. Whatever had happened to Ace and the strange girl, it was more troubling than either of them had anticipated.

Ace's breathing finally began to even out, the erratic gasps fading as his body slowly relaxed. His reddened eyes flickered, scanning the room in a haze. "Where... are we?" he asked, his voice faintly.

"We're at my house," Klaus answered, his tone calm. "We had to leave your place quickly."

Ace blinked, his mind piecing together fragments of memory. The tension in his posture began to ease as he processed Klaus's words. "Did I... manage to return from there?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Return?" Klaus echoed, leaning closer.

"Is everyone... okay?" Ace asked again, his tone softening, his eyelids fluttering as exhaustion weighed on him.

Klaus hesitated, noticing the weariness etched into Ace's face. He felt like it wasn't the time for questions; not yet. "Yes," he said, his voice steady. "Everyone is fine."

A faint smile crept onto Ace's face, fragile but genuine. "I'm... glad," he whispered, his head tilting forward as his eyes finally closed.

"Ace?" Klaus called gently, leaning forward in concern.

Riley quickly knelt beside Ace, placing a hand over his face. "He's still breathing," she confirmed, her tone reassuring. "He's probably just asleep."

Klaus exhaled in relief, his tension easing. Both he and Riley turned their attention to the girl lying nearby. Neither of them recognized her, yet her striking beauty left an indelible impression. Her delicate skin, long white hair, and inexplainable presence made her seem almost otherworldly. Riley checked her pulse and confirmed she was also alive, though unconscious.

The two sat in silence for a moment, trying to make sense of the situation. But as the quiet stretched, they became uncomfortably aware of their earlier interaction before Ace's arrival. Neither could meet the other's gaze, the awkwardness from the unspoken tension still lingering between them. Klaus came to understand his action during the moment and felt unsure of how to address it.

Finally, Riley broke the silence. "Uh... Klaus?" she ventured hesitantly.

Klaus glanced her way, his posture stiff. "Yeah?" he stammered.

She hesitated, but before she could speak, the door to Klaus's room burst open. Both turned sharply as Shade strode in, his expression tight with concern.

"Klaus," Shade called, his voice urgent. "Are you okay?"

Klaus gave a slight nod. "I'm fine," he assured his brother, though confused by the urgency in his voice.

Shade's sharp gaze swept the room. "I felt your emotions through the shadow I created for you," he explained. "It woke me up immediately, so I had to check up on you."

Klaus nodded in understanding. "Don't worry," he assured once more. "Everything's fine... I think."

Shade's attention shifted to Ace, lying unconscious on the bed. "Ace?" he asked, his voice softening. But before he could say more, his eyes caught sight of the girl beside him.

Shade froze, visibly struck by her appearance. "Who's... that?" he asked, unable to tear his gaze away. "And what's going on?"

Klaus took a deep breath and began recounting the little they knew, explaining Ace's sudden arrival and the events that had unfolded. When he finished, Shade's confusion mirrored their own.

"So, what did Quinn say about this?" Shade asked.

"She hasn't responded," Klaus replied. "I tried reaching out telepathically, but I think she's asleep."

Shade sighed, his worry evident. "Then we'll have to wait for Ace to wake up. He's the only one who can explain what's going on."

"Yeah," Klaus said before turning toward Riley. "You can go home and rest if you want. We've got this."

"It's fine," Riley replied firmly. "This might be bigger than we think. I'm not bothered with staying."

The three settled into the room, their eyes drifting back to Ace and the unconscious girl. They spoke in low tones, catching up on other matters to pass the time, but the weight of the situation kept the conversation brief. Eventually, they fell into silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they waited for answers that only Ace could provide.

As the hours stretched on, the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, painting the room in soft hues of gold. Klaus and Riley sat side by side, the closeness between them unspoken yet palpable.

Despite the passing of time, neither dared to meet the other's gaze. The memory of their earlier moment lingered heavily, and Klaus, unsure of how to address it, avoided the topic altogether. He was unaccustomed to navigating situations like this, his usual confidence faltering under the weight of uncharted emotions.

The silence was broken by a sudden, sharp inhale. Ace's eyes snapped open, and with a jolt, he sat up straight, his chest heaving. Klaus was on his feet in an instant, his concern mirrored by Shade and Riley as they moved closer.

"Ace," Klaus said, his voice steady but edged with worry.

Ace's wide eyes darted around the room before settling on Klaus. "Klaus?" he murmured, placing a trembling hand over his chest. His breathing was rapid, his body visibly tense.

"You're okay," Klaus assured him, stepping closer and resting a reassuring hand on Ace's shoulder. "You're safe now."

Ace's breathing began to slow under Klaus's calming presence, the panic in his eyes giving way to a semblance of relief. As the tension eased, Klaus finally voiced the question weighing on everyone's minds.

"What happened to you?" he asked, his tone both gentle and probing. "And how did you just... appear like that?"

Ace's brow furrowed as he searched for the right words. "I'm... not entirely sure," he admitted. "I'm still trying to make sense of where I was."

"Where you were?" Riley echoed, her curiosity piqued.

Klaus stepped in to provide context to Ace. "Quinn said she couldn't track you for two months," he explained.

"Two months?" Ace's head snapped up, his shock evident. "That can't be right..."

The disbelief in Ace's voice only deepened Klaus's concern. "Does that mean you weren't on Earth?" Klaus pressed, trying to piece together the puzzle.

Ace hesitated, his expression shifting as he recalled the experience. "I was," he said slowly. "But it was... different."

"Different how?" Shade asked, leaning forward.

Ace took a moment before responding, his voice low and uncertain. "As I said, I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "But it felt like... I was in the future."

The room fell into stunned silence. Shade's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's... impossible," he murmured.

"You're not making sense," Riley added, her skepticism clear.

"I know it sounds crazy," Ace replied, frustration flickering in his tone. "But if I had to make an educated guess, that's the only explanation that fits."

Klaus remained quiet, his mind racing. Ace's words were alarming enough, but it was the fear still lingering in his eyes that struck Klaus the most. If Ace was telling the truth, then whatever future he had glimpsed must have been far from hopeful. Yet there was still one pressing question.

"How did you even manage to end up there?" Klaus asked, his voice steady but insistent.

Ace lowered his gaze, his expression darkening. "If I had to guess..." he began, "I'd say I accidentally used my ability on the single worst person I could have."

The confusion in the room only grew. Riley tilted her head, her brow furrowing. "Isn't your ability just... speed?" she asked.

"Yeah," Ace nodded. "But that isn't the only power I have."

Klaus's eyes narrowed. "What ability exactly are you talking about?" he asked, his lack of knowledge evident.

Ace glanced at Klaus, a flicker of realization crossing his face. "I never got to tell you what it was, did I?" he said.

Klaus remembered a moment during the Cosmic League when he had asked Ace about the nature of his power. At the time, Ace had mentioned that Quinn had advised him to keep it a secret and not share it with anyone. Reflecting on it now, Klaus realized he had completely forgotten about that conversation until this very moment.

Klaus' silent expression made it clear to Ace that he truly had no knowledge of the truth. Deciding there was no reason to withhold it any longer, Ace took a steady breath and began to explain.

"After the human extinction crisis," he started, his tone low but firm, "I accidentally activated my unique ability on someone. And my abilities... it's not just moving fast."

He paused briefly, locking eyes with Klaus before concluding his words. "I also have the power to duplicate and multiply a person's maximum top speed upon physical contact."