“Maybe, but only if we-”

A startling interruption when a thundering noise came from the corner of the viewing room. Cumulating misty fog hovered in one part of the area until enough seconds passed when powerful gusts generated from midair only to be sucked into the cloud. The cloud began rotating rapidly clockwise and sparks popped out, breaking the bulb of the ceiling lights and the light cover was stripped, striking the floor and a couple of seats.

“Is that a door?” Daniel asked. He held tight to the hilt, ready to withdraw from the scabbard.

Xavier stood, stopping Daniel. “Don’t. They’re friends.”

“How are you certain?”

“This is a transporting portal. Fighters from my world take different forms to travel.”

I think I understand what he meant. Daniel kept his attention on the thundering cloud, easing a little from his hilt. “Alright.”

“You got my word.”

The misty fog dissipated, and the cloud took the shape of a double door, and the spinning wheel flashed reminiscent of sunlight as it brightened the entire room, glaring beyond the one-way glass, interrupting the operation.

My eye reflex has definitely changed. Daniel’s eyes didn’t blink, while a gust of yellow light blasted directly at his face. He felt a presence coming from the source of light. It was much heavier and stronger than he or the most he had faced from Xavier. This is taking longer than it should.

He exerted his aura, thinking it would disperse most of the beaming light. The yellow light countered back with a silhouette zoomed from the spot. Daniel felt the qi heading in his direction and deployed his katana, striking the silhouette. The strike blew it and him off, and he braced his back when he directed himself away from the relative location of the operation room.

Landing on the chair, Daniel was partially out of the range of the light. The door of the viewing room that he could barely see through half of his left eye. With no intention of leaving, he barged back into the light, and his katana escalated in weight, recalling the first time he wielded it. However, the pure white qi burst out from the blade and traces of it reached his hand. His fist reddened before traveling up halfway to his arm. And so the qi gushed out, surrounding and forming a turquoise aura.

The aura surprisingly reacted to the light rapidly. The yellow light closest to the aura degraded rapidly. Daniel, observing the effects, moved back towards his earlier spot, intending of striking so-called “Friends”.

Daniel felt a sting up shooting his inner body. He knew it was from the aura, but he couldn’t control the urge when subsequently his qi bursted. It felt like a heavy shower constantly pouring above his head, running down his shoulders and tickling his back to keep the sensation on spec.

The concrete wall started cracking, and the windows connected to the operation busted vertically. With a quick decision, he swiftly went for the grapple with the sword held tight in his grip. One speed and head butted at the silhouette, hence wrapping his arms around it. With such force, he slammed it down on the floor. He sensed Xavier’s feet next to him, thus ending the confrontation. All the yellow light and aura dissipated.

“That’s enough!” Xavier yelled.

Daniel rolled out of the way, laying on between what the windows previously stood. He regained his composure, facing the ceiling. Everything seemed to return to normalcy. He turned to the right and saw the surgeons all collapsed along with the doctor. All fainted flat. Daniel rolled again, lifting himself up from the floor.

His attention went to the operation bed. Upon his eyes focused on Mother Elaine, something was off. Where are the wounds? He ran up to the bed. “She’s all healed?!”

“Seriously?!” Xavier asked.

Daniel nodded while glancing at the machine. “Yeah! Her vitals are supposedly good. But how?”

"It was you," Mayor Burman said.

Having been told that it was a so-called “Friend”, he heard a unique voice with a melody at the end of each clause or sentence. Excluding the melody, it becomes a blatant Southern accent. For a moment, Daniel stood still. He checked Mother Elaine’s pulse and returned with a powerful rhythm, communicating with his finger. “Are you the one Xavier called friend?” He turned around slowly, anticipating chaos.

“Friend? That’s it?!”

Facing back in the devastated viewing room, a lady covered in a white cloak, hovering with her dominant presence. Behind her beautiful face was covered by a hoodie that came along with it, and underneath her cloak was black as space. Not a trace of outline or clothing was revealed beyond the darkness, looking like she was floating similar to a ghost. Lowering his eyes, Daniel saw her footwear peeking below the cloak. It was white as paper, but having a direct light at a certain angle turned it into pure snow.

Very intriguing and amazing. Daniel was fascinated by it and got a clearer view as he pivoted away from Mother Elaine’s bed.

A toe box of a heel but functioned truly as an ordinary shoe. The lady descended with her feet eased to the floor, opening her cloak outward and leaving it hanging on her shoulders. Body-length cloak shrank into the structure of a cape, falling to her waist. The hoodie dissipated and her long black hair casually fell to her waist. She looked about the same age as him and younger than Xavier. Her complexion is a candle and her facial cheeks shined through the reflection from the ceiling light as she stepped into the operation room.

“You come here!” She instructed, gesturing her finger.

Daniel stood there, knowing she would just head up to him. He held his breath when she reached in front of his face. She jolted her hands under his jaw, studying him like he was an image of anatomy in a loaded textbook. He couldn’t move as she would just smack his hand out of the way, forcing him to only look at her emerald pupils.

My god. My forehead is gonna twitch. The lady’s emerald eyes startled Daniel’s mind and were well aware the longer this lasted, his vulnerability would become abrupt and break.

He could not take it anymore, feeling the boiling exhale reach to the edge of the esophagus and triggering his reflexes. The left hand involuntarily grabbed the lady’s arm as she was checking his hair.

The lady got surprised, like a stressed owl with enormous eyes, and she demanded to let go, trying to remove his grip. Smacking it again, Daniel in response, held tighter and demanded her to quit. “I think you have enough of your observations, mam.”

“Darn it,” the lady muttered disappointedly, along with a shallow grunt. For a moment, the two had a process through their confident stares, and with Daniel mentioning his problem, the inner effect had ceased.

Xavier ran up in between the two. “What on earth are you guys up to?!” He blurted in a tantrum, suggesting a different time. By then, Daniel and the lady nonverbally called it off as he let go of her arm, and she lifted her fingers from his strands of hair.

“I reckon you are wasting your focus on us rather than on Mother Elaine!” The lady refuted with her palm pointed directly at Mother Elaine, who's just awakened from her slumber, visibly curious about her surroundings and the wreckage scattered around the bed.

“Was that you in that sunlight?” Daniel asked with his arms crossed. “Cause I would have lost if it wasn’t for my katana, establishing the qi to counter the effects.”

“Forgive me, but this was all to see how a human could do such tasks according to the reports.” She summoned a photograph, showing a blurred image of Daniel running through the perimeter of the football field. “This was you, wasn't it?”

Daniel held the photograph, focusing closer on the image. I'm well known in this other world, am I?

“So, I was being watched since that day… you stalker.”

“Hey, Temperman. Relax. We were curious as we were looking for the troubled Xavier and only to find y'all at the football field.”

Whatever. Daniel saw Mother Elaine back at her feet, convening with the two while Xavier assisted her. Her clothes were restructured and reattached, looking as good as new. No more blood stains and the wounds on her shoulder were cleaned. Partially, she was still drugged from the anesthesia. Her eyes are partially opened, clearly the redness hanging below, but she is stable and desires some food. The three began departing the operating room while Daniel stood and stared at the doctor, not knowing what to do with her. She wanted to talk with him later, but he felt could not leave her alone until that matter was settled.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Temperman!”

Is this what she is gonna call me? “What?” Daniel turned around and replied, returning to his neutral composure.

“Come on, we're gonna go.”

Daniel directed the attention to the doctor. “I can’t just leave her here. You can’t expect things to go quiet once she wakes up.”

The lady went back into the operating room, pointing to the one lying on the floor behind him as if it was her. He nodded, unsure what she was going to do. She kneeled and her hand was overwhelmed with green ki all over the palm. She slapped the doctor’s back, waking her up.

“Ouch!” the doctor grunted, quickly getting up from the debris. “That hurt.”

“Careful! For God's sakes,” Daniel berated the lady for being too direct.

She blatantly ignored his remarks, insisting again to leave.

The doctor got up, a little disturbed by the destructive operating room. She then saw Mother Elaine standing in front of her, causing her to ask questions.

“We can’t do it here. My home would be safer-”

“That won’t happen. The place has been wrecked, leaving the garage and a portion of the place remaining.” The lady appealed. “Which is another reason I came here. To take you to my home.”

Her home? My home is gone? No, I need to go back now! Daniel barged out of the room, speeding past others. His mind went nuts, uncertain of what had happened. With an upsurge in adrenaline, Daniel sprinted back to the sky bridge and rammed through the glass windows, gliding away back home.

10.2

Arriving back at his home, Daniel remained hovered high enough in the air, remaining unnoticeable by the heavy crew below. Examining below, he could hardly believe the destruction left behind. The garage and what was left of his residence were his bedroom and bathroom, according to the shape of the roof.

Frustrated, Daniel stretched his legs and landed at the entrance. The walls were demolished along the gates leading to the driveway. Fire trucks parked across multiple parts of the lot with flashing lights. Detectives and investigators scattered around the lot, and Daniel headed down from the road to his garage. The garage was still structurally intact from afar and the doors were still sturdy. A couple of investigators attempted to crack the pin on the garage keypad.

He sprinted to them, demanding to step back. They draw their attention to him, ordering him to not intrude on the property. Daniel wondered, figuring they couldn’t recognize him. The beard and height change technically altered his overall persona, leaving him a stranger to their eyes.

“Are you listening?! He said to get out of the property!” One detective demanded.

That startling face looked familiar.

Sudden remembrance flashed to the moment he yelled at one detective for berating his duty. He for sure had told the two in hazmat suits to report him. Daniel articulated his lips, thinking he would never see that selfish man ever again. Adding the fact he had already forgotten out of his memory. Witnessing the face made all the bristling fire go off.

“Hey, take this guy out of this area, will you?” That detective called a few police on the scene.

Fine, all loose. Daniel confronted the detective. “I remembered you. That bastard who let me into the contaminated room.”

“Pssh surely, you can’t be him-ugh!”

With his fist thrust directly into his abdomen, Daniel smiled and chastised him while the police swiftly ran with guns drawn. “Darn, you make my blood boil.”

He began beating him further before kicking him in the head, stunning him, and colliding with the cop. They crashed to the pavement, and Daniel drew his pistol from his waist, spooking the police crew to open fire. Swarms of bullets collided with him, reflecting off from his clothes. He had not been given the time to brace the bullets. However, the police ammo was depleted.

Daniel, with the pistol still in his hand, directed the barrel to the temple of his head.

Bang!

Ding ding.

The bullet free fell and danced amongst the floor, bringing nothing. It rolled away in a circular motion and clashed with Daniel's boots resting beside its soles. He put his pistol away back into his holster, and a loud voice ahead along with heavy footsteps ran down.

“What the fuck was that all about?! That’s freaking Daniel you Christ,” Mayor Burman scolded everyone. He panted till he caught his breath. “And you! You are a monster!”

“Surprising to see a familiar face. You recognized me somewhat!?”

“The voice is distinct. I knew it was you, no mistake. Brief news told me a story. What the hell happened?”

Daniel shrugged, unsure of the situation himself. “I just got here. Only to be in this chaotic problem. Before getting to business, why on earth is that detective still in his job?”

“Look, I'm sorry! That's the Colemond PD’s responsibility…but we need to talk.”

These conversations just keep stacking up, and it’s wasting my time. “Now?! I don’t have time, and y'all need to stay away from me. You don’t want to get hurt as this house did!” Daniel fumed.

He turned back to the garage and found the mounted keypad was busted after those detectives sabotaged it. Next, he punched and tore off the wires and the mount, leaving a hollow hole in the garage jamb. Also, the garage door slammed shut and locked from behind, because of setting up custom hinges. Without a proper garage remote, it stays locked. This house is trashed. I guess this would have to do. Daniel kneeled for his palms to touch the door stop and flexed his hardened fingers, causing a wide dent and giving him the grip to hold. Peeking behind, he saw others stupidly standing in place.

“Did all of you guys hit your damn head?! Step the fuck back or you’ll get squashed!” Daniel berated the entire crew and Mayor Burman.

The creaking of the tracks when Daniel pulled it outwards, directed at him and outside. Another exertion for the pull and he felt the ringing of the metal that locked the garage in place. Therefore, he repeatedly yanked until a loud and swift tearing of metal alloy ground his ears.

Afterward, the garage door, weakly hanging to the track, came loose, surrendering to Daniel’s hands. One step at a time. He cautioned while glancing back multiple times to be certain he was clear. He doesn’t know why he is like this, worried about the potential harm if he makes one mistake. When it was clear, he placed his footing and gave a spin, tossing the garage door in a swing.

Bang! Screech!

The door landed on the street, grinding on the concrete till it completely stopped on the empty lawn across his lot.

His Ford pickup still looked intact, and he sprinted inside, pulling one drawer open. A toolbox with a pin lock appeared in front of his eyes, and Daniel thrust it out of the drawer. And next, he crushed the lock easily into dust with his bare palm. Opening the toolbox revealed the key fob and a set of keys. Grabbing both, Daniel entered his pickup and drove it out of the space, parking it on the road outside of his lot.

He went back down to the lot and dealt with Mayor Burman, who told him to have a private talk.

“Did you leave work early? What made you come down here?”

Mayor Burman gave the glare. “The city saw the news. It ain’t like the whole phenomenon was anonymous. Weeks ago, at the Herman Football field, those two Light Pillars struck the day and night sky. That was you, wasn’t it?”

“Does it matter to you?”

“Of course it does,” Mayor Burman reaffirmed. “The entire month of conspiracy theories and the reaction even reached nationwide. My entire office is stacked with questions that I couldn’t answer cause I wasn’t there. And we need an answer.”

Daniel bellowed and frustratingly scratched his entire head. “No, you don’t. I don’t even have the explanation myself. Let’s not bring myths to the table.”

“You’ve changed, and it’s only been more than a month,” Mayor Burman spoke in a low voice while simultaneously rotating his head in despair. “Much taller, robust, and different. I’m sure you have things to tell me.”

“Even though you’re my former boss, safety is still a priority,” Daniel muttered. Hence, he gripped Mayor Burman’s shoulder. “Time tells when it will be told. Today, tomorrow, or the upcoming week is not it…tell everyone else to get out of here. One day, all of us will understand. Now go.” He tapped his shoulder and turned him around, gesturing him to go. Revealing the stubbornness, Mayor Burman was hesitant and resisted, demanding at least a sentence. Daniel refuted with the safety mindset, refusing any more answers.

He stood there, observing all the first responders and detectives, and departed the scene. His eyes stared immensely towards the prior detective he had beaten. You better not come back ever again. The detective was lifted to the ambulance and was the first to leave the scene. Every other first responder returned with a cold eye and feared to speak whenever Daniel was around. A few gave a shallow bow, but once they all were gone, Mayor Burman remained.

“Are you still-”

“It’s final. No.” Daniel replied with a disapproving gesture.

Mayor Burman sighed and went to his car. He saluted before shutting the door, and his red Cadillac sedan sped off.

Daniel then walked uphill to the street. Suddenly, the rubbing vibration shook his leg. He reached down into his right pocket, finding his phone received a call. Heh, Xavier. He grinned and answered the call. “Finally, you are using the phone. What’s up?”

“Get back here at the hospital. Liam has gone out of surgery and is heading back to his room.”

“Ok, give me fifteen minutes. I’m going by car to get there. Bye!”

He checked his truck bed to be cleaned before entering the driver's seat. Opening the sun visor came with sunglasses. Taking it out of the holder, he hovered it over his visual space. Nah, this ain’t working. He tossed the sunglasses out of the window and revved the truck.