The dorm room was quiet, the kind of silence that felt too heavy, too unnatural. I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind buzzing with thoughts I couldn't shake. The events of the day played on a loop in my head—Roxanne, the Titan Syndicate, and everything she’d told me. It felt like my world was spiralling out of control, faster than I could handle.

But the quiet didn’t last.

A blood-curdling scream cut through the stillness, making me sit up straight. It was followed by a loud bang, like something—or someone—had hit the wall with tremendous force. My heart pounded in my chest as I strained to listen, trying to make sense of what I’d just heard. Fear tightened its grip around my throat. Who was it? What was going on? And why did it sound so close?

I threw off my blanket and stood, my feet hitting the cold floor as I moved toward the door. Every instinct told me to stay hidden, but I couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in my gut. Something was very, very wrong.

The hallway was dimly lit, shadows creeping along the walls as I carefully stepped out. The sounds were coming from the other end of the corridor. My pulse quickened as I edged closer, trying to make out the muffled voices. Then I heard it again—a low, menacing growl, followed by another crash.

I rounded the corner and froze.

There, standing in the middle of the hallway, was a figure I recognized all too well. My dad. Dr. William Cloud. He was shrouded in an aura of darkness, his eyes glowing with a malevolent energy I had never seen before. And he wasn’t alone—two of Aegis Academy's guards lay unconscious at his feet, their bodies twisted at unnatural angles.

I clenched my fists, electricity crackling around them. How did he find me? Why was he here? My mind raced with questions, but I didn’t have time to think. I had to act.

Before he could notice me, I formed an electric shield around myself, the familiar hum of power surging through my veins. He turned slowly, his gaze locking onto mine. His expression was cold, calculating, as if he had anticipated this moment. There was no warmth, no love in his eyes—just pure, unrelenting determination.

“So, you think you can run from me, Gianna?” His voice was low, dripping with contempt. “You’ve always been so stubborn. Just like Calida.”

That name. Hearing it from his mouth felt like a knife to the heart. My sister. The sister he had killed, experimented on until there was nothing left of her but a memory. The pain turned into anger, fuelling the storm within me.

“Don’t you dare say her name!” I shouted, the electricity around me sparking wildly. “You’re a monster!”

He laughed—a cold, hollow sound that echoed through the hallway. “I’m only doing what’s necessary. You have no idea what’s at stake here, Gianna. But you will learn, one way or another.”

I braced myself as he lunged forward, his metal manipulation sending shards of broken glass and twisted metal flying toward me. My shield held strong, deflecting the debris with ease. But I knew I couldn’t keep this up forever. I needed to end this, now.

Amid the chaos, a memory flashed through my mind—the incident on the stairs, when I had instinctively turned invisible. Could I do it again? Could I use this power to outsmart him?

There was no time to hesitate. I took a deep breath, focusing on the feeling of disappearing, of becoming unseen. The world around me flickered, and just like that, I was invisible.

My dad’s eyes widened in surprise as I vanished from his sight. He spun around, searching the hallway for any sign of me. But I was already moving, silently closing the distance between us. I had the advantage now.

With a surge of energy, I reappeared just behind him and struck, sending a powerful jolt of electricity into his body. He staggered, his control over the metal faltering as he dropped to one knee. But he wasn’t down yet. He turned to face me, anger and pain flashing across his face.

“Why are you doing this?” I demanded, my voice shaking. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

“Because you’re too valuable,” he rasped, trying to push himself up. “You have no idea what you’re capable of, Gianna. But I do.”

I didn’t give him the chance to finish. With one final blast, I knocked him out cold, his body collapsing to the floor with a thud. The hallway was silent once more, the only sound the heavy breathing escaping my lips.

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I stood there, staring at his unconscious form, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. Fear, anger, sorrow—they all mixed until I couldn’t tell them apart. I had just fought my own father. I had won. But at what cost?

I took a shaky step back, my hands trembling as the electricity slowly faded. I couldn’t stay here. I needed to get out, to find help before he woke up. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Roxanne appeared out of nowhere, eyes wide with alarm as she skidded to a stop in the hallway where my dad lay unconscious. My breath was still ragged from the fight, and electricity crackled faintly around my fingers as I tried to steady myself.

“What’s going on?” Roxanne’s voice was urgent, her gaze bouncing between me and the slumped figure of William Cloud.

“I don’t know,” I whispered, my voice trembling despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “He—he just attacked me. But that’s not even the craziest part... He has powers now, Roxanne. My dad has powers.”

Roxanne’s expression shifted from confusion to shock, then to something darker, more serious. “Powers? But how? He’s a scientist, not...”

“I don’t know how he got them,” I interrupted, feeling a wave of frustration and fear rising in my chest. “One minute, I was in my room, and then I heard these noises—screams—and when I came out, he was here. But he wasn’t acting like himself. He was... different.”

Roxanne took a cautious step closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied my dad lying there in the hallway. “Something must have happened to him, Gia. We need to find out what.”

“I just don’t understand how he could get powers,” I muttered, trying to piece it all together. “He’s always been obsessed with supernatural abilities, but this... This doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe it’s something he did to himself,” Roxanne suggested quietly, her voice tinged with concern.

The thought sent a chill down my spine. I shook my head, trying to push the fear aside. “Whatever it is, we can’t stay here. I can’t let him hurt anyone else.”

Roxanne nodded in agreement. Her expression resolute. “We need to get answers, Gia. But first, we need to make sure he can’t come after us again.”

I looked down at my dad, feeling a mix of anger, confusion, and sorrow. This wasn’t the man I grew up with—the one who had always been distant but never violent. But whatever had happened, I knew I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. Not now.

“We’ll figure this out,” I said, more to myself than to Roxanne. “But we must be careful. There’s so much we don’t know.”

“Agreed,” Roxanne said, her tone firm. “Let’s get out of here and figure out our next move.”

With one last glance at my dad, I turned and followed Roxanne down the hallway, my mind racing with questions and a sinking feeling that the worst was yet to come.

Still shaken from the confrontation with my father, I quickly pull out my phone and dial Henry, my father’s lab partner. As the phone rings, my thoughts race. Henry picks up, his voice groggy and confused.

"Henry, it’s Gia. I need to know something… Did my dad… did he give himself powers?" she asks, trying to keep her voice steady. There’s a pause on the other end, and I can almost hear the wheels turning in Henry’s head.

Finally, he sighs, “Gia, I didn’t think you’d find out this way. Your father... he wasn’t born with abilities. He experimented on himself. It was risky, and I advised against it, but he was desperate.”

My heart sinks as the reality sets in. “What? Why? What could drive him to do something like that?” I demand, my voice rising with a mix of anger and disbelief.

Henry hesitates before replying, “He thought he could control it, that he could use the powers to further his research... but it’s changed him, Gia. It’s taken him to a place I can’t reach anymore. You need to be careful.”

My mind raced as Henry’s words echoed in my head. The gravity of her father’s actions weighed heavily on me, and I struggled to process the implications. I gripped the phone tighter, trying to steady her trembling hands.

“Changed him?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. “In what way? What’s he become?”

There was a moment of silence, and I could sense the reluctance in Henry’s voice when he finally spoke again. “He’s become obsessed, Gia. The powers have given him a new perspective on his research, but at a terrible cost. He’s pushing boundaries I never thought he’d cross. You’re in danger now, too, because of what he’s become.”

My’s breath caught in my throat. “Danger? What do you mean?”

Henry’s voice was urgent now, “I mean that he’s willing to do anything to achieve his goals, even if it means putting you at risk. You need to be cautious, keep your distance if you can. And if you have any doubts or need help, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ll do what I can to assist you, but you must stay safe.”

I nodded, even though Henry couldn’t see her. “Thank you, Henry. I’ll be careful. I must figure out what to do next.”

As I hung up, I felt a renewed sense of determination. The revelations about my father’s actions had only strengthened me resolve to uncover the truth and protect myself from the consequences of his choices. I knew the path ahead would be fraught with challenges, but I was no longer just reacting; I was taking control of my own fate.

my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. I turned sharply to find Roxanne standing in the doorway, her expression a mix of concern and resolve.

“We need to leave,” Roxanne said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “We can’t stay here, not with your father like this. I know a place where we can regroup and figure out our next move.”

I nodded, my mind still reeling from the night’s events. “Alright. Let’s go.”

As I made their way out of the academy, the weight of the night’s revelations pressed down on me. My father’s actions, his newfound powers, and the threats they posed felt overwhelming, but I knew I couldn’t afford to be paralyzed by fear. The future was uncertain, but for now, survival and understanding what had driven my father to this point were her top priorities.

With Roxanne at my side, I stepped into the night, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.