Chapter Five

Flipping around a device on his desk, the plethora of data he was examining earlier disappears and rematerializes again a few feet in front of my face.

“Remember when Anja and Josh scanned you? Well, this is all of the information gathered from that singular scan. Pretty amazing, right? I know your blood type, resting heart rate, age, height, and more.”

“Wow,” I say, inspecting the different data panels Sorel displays.

“But what really caught my eye,” says Sorel, sliding a panel out of the way before expanding a new one before my eyes. “Is the tattoo you have on your forehead.”

“Tattoo?” I ask, not knowing what he’s talking about.

Looking away from the data back at me, Sorel clicks his tongue, “You didn’t know… interesting.”

Pushing himself toward his desk, Sorel opens a drawer and grabs a mirror. Rolling back, he hands me the mirror, “See for yourself.”

Holding back my hair, I look in the mirror and see the tattoo he’s talking about. The tattoo was inked in black, consisting of two crossed flaming wings, one overlapping the other.

“I– I never got a tattoo…”

“So, the awakening process was disrupted… it must be completed.”

“The what? What are you talking about?”

“Tell me, Mateo, what happened to you on the night of the shard shower?”

“That’s the day I was framed for murder. I was with–”

“Yeah, yeah, I know all that. I’m not talking about your crime. I want to know what happened to your body. Do you remember anything? Anything at all?”

Recalling that night, I say unconvincingly, “It’s still blurry, but I’ve remembered bits and pieces over time. There was an earthquake. A vase hit my head after I had drunk a couple beers, and Kavi rushed me outside so the house wouldn’t collapse on us. I was losing consciousness as I watched the stars fall. When I came to, Kavi was dead, and the pain was gone.”

I remember more, but I need to learn about this tattoo. If Sorel tries to dig for more information, I have leverage.

Sorel nods along with my story, “You were drunk and injured. Makes sense why your body was incapable of awakening properly. You were able to heal though, odd…”

“So, will you tell me what this ‘awakening’ is?”

“Yeah, there’s a lot to go over,” Sorel looks at me. “What you saw in the sky that night was not shooting stars or asteroids. They were crystal shards, thousands of them.”

“Crystal shards?”

Sorel nods, “Yeah, and what I’m about to tell you is not a rumor… it’s a fact. Each one of those beautiful crystal shards contains a special power. Even more, a human can inherit and awaken that shard's power within them. Isn’t that fascinating?”

So that shimmering light that I saw… was it a shard?

Knitting my brows together, I pretend to be shocked, “Yeah… yeah. So you’re saying these shards have something to do with me?”

“Absolutely,” says Sorel, grinning. “It’s because of a shard that you have that tattoo! Basically, when an iris shard comes in contact with a person’s bloodstream, that person awakens the energy force of ‘iris’ within them. Once integrated with the human body, iris is capable of many things, including amplified strength, speed, and healing, but that’s not all. Along with those benefits, an awakened person inherits the unique special ability the iris shard had carried within itself.”

I put my hand up, “Okay, wait. This is the same iris as the invisible stuff that holds our islands still and keeps them close together, right? The same energy source the Defiantos use to work?”

“That’s right,” replies Sorel, amused. “The islands stay floating in the air because iris helps them reject the laws of gravity. You see, iris has its own magnetic force… or gravitational pull that strings all of Opuree’s islands together. And while it exists everywhere in the world, iris is concentrated the most in Opuree.”

“So that’s why the Defiantos are able to help humans jump super high in the air, run on walls, and do all kinds of things that normal shoes can’t. Iris has its own rules when it comes to gravity.”

“Correct. I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re quite smart for a grounder.”

Pretending that comment doesn’t bother me, I reply, “I had a friend from the Skylands who taught me things he learned at school.”

“Well, he did a good job. Iris has long existed in our world, but its discovery is a little…” Sorel teeters his head back and forth. “Let’s just say many disagree on how we discovered such a unique energy force. Anyway, we’re no strangers to iris, but these shards added quite a few more components to iris than we previously understood. In fact, it’s safe to say we know next to nothing about how iris works now, which makes iris all the more dangerous, and that much more intriguing.”

So, if I remember right… Sorel said people can absorb these shards?

“I have a pretty good idea of what happened to you that night,” continues Sorel. “The vase opened up a wound on your forehead, and a shard happened to make contact with your blood. Once that occurred, you began absorbing the shard into your body, but since you were drunk and fatigued, your body wasn’t able to endure the full length of the awakening process. However, you said you felt fine once you woke up, which means your body must’ve at least partially undergone the awakening process, since iris amplifies the speed of human healing. The tattoo on your forehead is proof. What’s more, after an individual completes the awakening process, they’re naturally aware of the iris that exists within them, and your ignorance speaks against that.”

“Okay. So, you called me in here because of my tattoo?”

“Yes and no,” Sorel pauses. “I brought you here more so because of the power you now possess. The shard you absorbed may have appeared like any other, but the ability you inherited is incredibly rare. In fact, you’re the second person I know to have this type of ability, and you’re the first I’ve talked to face-to-face. But you must complete the awakening process if we want to learn more about your ability.”

Along with a terrified chill, a tingling excitement starts to creep up inside me as I fantasize about what potentially awesome, ultra-rare power I have.

“How do we do that?” I blurt out. “Complete the awakening process, I mean.”

“It won’t be easy,” says Sorel, his voice dropping. “Beneath your tattoo is what’s called a gemcore. There are two parts to every gemcore. The first part is the gem, which is a shell of hardened crystalline texture identical to the shard you came in contact with to awaken your iris. This gem is meant to shield and protect what’s inside it, the iris core. The iris core is the second part of your gemcore, and it’s a small, concentrated sphere of iris. Your iris core holds the signature encryption for your unique ability, and to reinitiate the awakening process, I’ll have to retrieve it from within you. I will warn you, this extraction will be incredibly painful.”

Thinking about my current circumstances, I say, “Doesn’t sound like I have much choice, do what you have to.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Sorel grins, “I admire your courage. Let’s head next door.”

Now sitting in the middle of a large empty room, Sorel stands in front of me, holding a medical device with the appearance of a gun with a short barrel.

Meanwhile, my arms, legs, and neck have been tightly bound to the chair.

You know, I think I might be having second thoughts…

“We have to stimulate the events that cause an awakening, which means I need to cut through whatever I need beneath your tattoo until I retrieve the gemcore inside. Once I retrieve your gemcore, I’ll have to wait a few seconds before letting the core contact your blood again, restarting the awakening process. Rest assured that any wounds or injuries will be healed by iris once you’ve awakened properly. The only issue is that you must remain conscious, and we can’t use any kind of numbing agent.”

“Wait, what?”

“I wish you luck, Mateo,” says Sorel, placing the device against my forehead.

“Hold on. You’ve done this before, right?!”

“Nope,” says Sorel, clicking a button on the device.

A searing pain instantly burns itself into my forehead. While I scream in agony, I barely hear Sorel say, “Halfway there, Mateo. Don’t you dare pass out on me!”

Attempting to endure the monstrous pain I’m feeling, I somehow maintain my awareness until I feel Sorel’s slippery fingers press against my forehead again. A hardened surface then touches my wound, making me violently shake my body in resistance. The chair I’m sitting in flips over on its side, my shoulder crashing into the ground.

A second passes. An agonizing, hellish second. And then suddenly, my entire head begins to heat up, but not in a discomforting way. The pain from the wound on my forehead starts to soothe as my whole body is enveloped with blue and white flames.

“Incredible,” utters Sorel, taking a few steps back in awe of what he’s witnessing.

The chair burning to a crisp, I stare at my free hand, rotating it around to determine if what I see is real. Once I affirm that this isn't my imagination, I climb to my feet. Looking down at my blazing body, a mix of blue and white flames engulf me from head to toe.

Is this really me? So, this is iris… I feel so… powerful.

Remembering the purpose of this, I transfer my gaze to Sorel, “Well, did it work this time? Did I complete the… awakening process?”

“You sure did…” says Sorel, his jaw slacked in amazement. “Now listen to me closely. Controlling the basic properties of iris is like breathing. Once you're awakened, it comes naturally. This means that your body should already know how to turn your iris on and off without you having to think about it. Could you try and temper the flames for me?”

I nod, close my eyes, and stand still.

I don't need to think about how... my body already knows. Don't think about it, Mateo. Just let your body do the work for you. Let your instincts take over…

After a few deep breaths and letting my mind clear, I feel the tingling warmth of my flames simmer away, and I reopen my eyes.

“You’re a natural,” says Sorel enthusiastically, jerking his head toward the medical room. “Let’s run some more tests. It’s time you and I learned the name of your power.”

While I sit back in the medical chair, Sorel grabs a different device from his desk. This device looks a lot like one of those scanning thermometers. As he walks over to me, I move away.

“Hey, you’re not about to cut me open again, are you?”

Sorel laughs, “No, we’re done with that. This is called an ‘Iris Scanner’. It’s very straightforward to use. All I have to do is hold it above your tattoo like this–”

I hear a beep, and a light turns green on the bottom of the scanner.

“And it scans your tattoo. Now that you’re awakened, I’ll be able to see far more information about your shard and how iris has affected your body. It only takes a few seconds to process this data,” says Sorel, typing away on his keyboard.

Rolling back to me a few seconds later, Sorel clicks a button on the back of his monitor, and a cluster of new data panels project themselves into the air.

“This is everything that scan has just gathered about you and your ability,” says Sorel, sorting through the data panels and separating them. “And this–”

Now dug to the bottom of the pile of panels, Sorel taps on the bottommost panel and twists his wrist in the air. The panel spins around, expanding until it throws itself front and center of all the data, the other panels around it minimizing in size.

“Is your ability.”

In the top left corner is an emblem of two flaming wings that cross. Grabbing the mirror on the table beside me, I double-check to be sure. Examining the mirror, I confirm that my tattoo is the same shape. Looking back at the data, I start reading from the top. Headlining the panel are the words, ‘Name: Heavenly Flames’.

My ability is called heavenly flames? Not bad…

The following line reads, ‘Category Type: Los / Light’.

So, each ability falls under a different category. I wonder what the other categories are…?

My gaze drops to the next line and the last segment of information.

Description: After concentrating iris into certain regions of the body, the user is able to manifest white and sky-blue flames. Strong in offense and defense, heavenly flames can act as an extension of the user's body and even provide the ability to fly. The flames also possess rapid healing and cell regeneration traits; however, overuse of heavenly flames can sap an individual's stamina and overheat the user, potentially causing Hyperthermia. Along with the symptoms of Hyperthermia, the user may suffer from heatstroke. In extreme cases, the user may even experience organ dysfunction, organ failure, and possibly death.’

After reading the last line, I take a deep breath and try to remain calm, but Sorel notices my uneasiness.

“Don’t sweat it, Mateo,” he says, enthralled by the information above him. “Every ability has its limits. We are still human, after all.”

I swallow my unease, “Yeah… can you explain–”

“I knew it. You really are a Los wielder…” interrupts Sorel, a broad smile glued on his face.

Silently watching as Sorel swipes through the rest of the panels, murmuring things under his breath, I can only make out, “...the insight he’ll provide to iris…”

“Hey,” I loudly say, regaining Sorel's attention. “What’s next?”

Pulling himself together, Sorel scratches his beard, “That’s right.”

Rolling over to his desk, Sorel tosses me an article of black clothing. Untangling it and holding it out in front of me, I recognize it’s a bodysuit.

“Put that on underneath your clothes. It’s kinda like armor, and it's been tailor-made to fit your body, so discomfort shouldn’t be an issue.”

I look at the bodysuit and then back at Sorel, who keeps himself turned away.

“Oh, you mean right now?”

“Yeah, and we ain’t got all night, so put it on already,” says Sorel.

When I took off my clothes and put on the bodysuit for the first time, it felt tight but also weirdly comfortable. As Sorel said, it is a perfect fit. Once my prison uniform is back on, I inform the scientist that he can turn around again.

“That under armor is imbued with a neutralizer to iris called ‘Wentworth,'” says Sorel. “While you live in Soulbell, you’ll always have to wear that armor to negate your iris. You can only take it off when you’re given permission by a guard, the warden, or me. Understand?”

I nod and ask while tugging at the armor on my shoulder, “And why do I have to wear this?”

“Because you’re not the only convict here who has iris. In fact, almost everybody in Soulbell possesses at least one iris ability. With so many superpowered inmates, we can’t have you all trying to kill each other, so you all have to wear that armor to greatly dampen your iris. If you try to use too much iris while wearing that, the armor will react, and your vital organs will be restrained.”

“How does everybody here have an ability? You made it seem like having one was rare.”

“A large concentration of shards found their way to Soulbell,” says Sorel before pausing. “And I personally wanted to oversee how people would react… and evolve after inheriting such fascinating abilities.”

A chilling shudder courses down my spine, and a hint of distress settles in.

But before I have time to process Sorel’s statement, he asks me, “Mateo, if I offered you a chance to get your freedom back, would you take it?”

Uneasy by the abrupt mood change in the room following the earlier statement, I rub my sweaty palms together while contemplating what Sorel means by that question.

A chance to get my freedom back? Does he mean that he’ll help prove my innocence? No… that’s not it. It’s an opportunity that he’s giving me. Probably one that I could fail. But if there’s even the slightest chance that I pass whatever he’s talking about, I might be able to go home to Mom. I could help her again...!

“Yes...”

“Of course you would. Who would turn down such an offer in your position?” rhetorically asks Sorel, his curious eyes as piercing as an owl. “Well, there is a way. If you want to get out of Soulbell, you must master the mysteries of iris and fight your way to the top.”

“Wait, what?”

Walking to his desk, Sorel presses a button and says, “Mateo Hernandez is ready to be returned to his cell.”

Realizing time is short, I ask, “What do you mean by fighting my way to the top?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. If you want to regain your freedom, you must prove yourself in the duels.”