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An hour and a half later.
Diana stood beside Alan's bed without moving. She held one of Ben's old shirts in both hands. Her fingers twisted tight in the worn cotton as she pressed the fabric against her face. The cloth felt damp where tears had soaked through. Her shoulders shook while she breathed into it. She stood near the bedroom window. The curtains hung half open. Thin morning light stretched across the floorboards and crawled slowly toward the bed. She did not look away from Alan. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and laundry detergent.
Alan's chest lifted unevenly. A dull ache pulsed behind his eyes. His body felt wrong. Heavy. Slow. His fingers moved first. A small twitch. Then another. Air dragged through his throat as he took a shallow breath.
Diana froze. Her head snapped toward the bed. The shirt slipped from her hands and dropped onto the chair beside her with a soft thump. She rushed forward. Her steps stayed uneven and she caught the edge of the rug with her foot. She stumbled, caught herself on the mattress, then grabbed Alan's hand with both of hers. Her fingers closed tightly around his. They trembled.
"Alan?"
Her voice broke halfway through his name. She leaned closer, searching his face.
"Alan, are you waking up?"
Her grip tightened.
"Can you hear me, honey?"
Alan's eyelids fluttered. The room swam in and out of focus. Warm hands wrapped around his own. His mother's hands. They felt shaky. His vision slowly cleared. Diana's face came into focus above him. Her eyes stayed swollen and red. Tear streaks marked her cheeks. Her lips trembled as she tried to smile, but the expression fell apart before it fully formed. She pulled him upright suddenly and wrapped both arms around his shoulders. Her embrace stayed tight. Almost desperate. Her fingers dug into the back of his shirt.
"Alan… you scared me so much…"
Her voice cracked. She leaned back and placed both hands against his cheeks. Her thumbs brushed across his skin as if she needed to confirm he was really there. Her shoulders continued to shake.
Alan blinked slowly. His head felt stuffed with fog. He tried to piece together the last thing he remembered. A tight knot formed in his stomach. Something felt wrong. Very wrong.
"Ugh…"
He lifted one hand to his forehead. A sharp stab of pain shot through his skull and he winced.
"What… happened to me?"
His voice came out dry and rough. He swallowed and forced himself to sit up. His arms trembled under his weight. A strange warmth moved through his body. It felt unfamiliar. Like something new had been forced into his veins.
"My body feels so heavy all of a sudden…"
He rubbed his eyes with his fingers. Then he looked around the room.
"Where's Dad?"
His voice grew more alert. His gaze moved across the doorway. The hallway outside stayed empty.
"Why isn't he here yet?"
Diana's eyes shifted away. Just for a moment. Alan saw it. His chest tightened. He inhaled sharply.
"Mom."
His voice came out quieter. Then louder.
"Mom, tell me what happened to him."
His eyes searched her face.
"What was that look just now?"
Diana's fingers gripped the bed sheet. The fabric crumpled under her hand. Her throat moved as she tried to speak. No sound came out. She looked away again.
Alan's pulse hammered in his ears.
"No."
His head shook slowly.
"No, don't do that."
He sat up straighter despite the weakness in his body.
"Don't look away."
His voice rose.
"This can't be real."
Diana drew in a shaky breath. Her chest lifted.
"Alan… I…"
Her lips parted again. She closed her eyes briefly. Then she forced herself to continue.
"Your father fought Megalodon."
Her voice trembled.
"He fought him to protect the capital."
She paused. Her fingers twisted the edge of the blanket.
"But… he didn't make it."
Alan's entire body stiffened.
She continued quietly.
"But two villains interfered."
Her eyes lowered.
"They attacked him after the battle."
Alan's hand slowly lifted from the mattress. His fingers curled. His knuckles tightened. He slammed his fist into the mattress. The impact shook the bed.
"What do you mean two villains?"
His voice rose sharply.
"Who are they?"
Diana flinched at the force in his tone. Her breath grew uneven.
"They were ruthless."
She rubbed one hand against her other wrist.
"You didn't see them."
Her gaze drifted toward the window as she spoke.
"They killed people like it meant nothing."
Her fingers rubbed together nervously.
"When I went to retrieve your father's body… I saw them killing survivors."
Her voice dropped lower.
"They even attacked the dead."
Alan stared at her. His breathing grew faster.
"Like they were afraid someone might still be alive," she continued quietly.
"I thought they would find or notice me."
Her hands tightened together.
"But somehow they didn't."
She swallowed.
"Your father fought until the end."
Her voice softened.
"But those two… they destroyed everything."
She wiped at her face with the back of her hand.
"I don't understand why they would do something like that."
Her eyes filled again.
"Ben didn't just save the city from the demons."
Her voice trembled harder now.
"He saved the entire world."
Alan felt something drop inside his chest.
"No."
The word slipped out quietly.
His head shook.
"No…"
His voice cracked.
"Please tell me this is a lie."
He stared at her desperately.
"Mom… please."
His fingers gripped the bedsheets.
"This has to be a nightmare."
Diana lowered her head. Her shoulders trembled again.
"Alan… there's something else I need to tell you."
She wiped her eyes and forced herself to meet his gaze.
"Earlier… before you woke up…"
She hesitated.
"I used my appraisal eye on you."
Alan stared at her. His breathing slowed slightly.
"I don't know how Ben did it."
Her voice remained soft.
"But your father used a unique spell."
Her hands rested on the edge of the bed.
"A spell that transferred the powers of everyone who died today in the capital."
Her eyes locked on his.
"Into you."
Alan didn't move. The room felt smaller.
Diana continued.
"And he left a message as well."
Her voice softened further.
"A message that will reach you when the time is right."
Alan's body went rigid. His lungs felt tight. His fingers curled into fists. His chest rose and fell in uneven bursts.
"He's gone?"
The words came out fractured.
His voice shook.
"He's actually gone?"
He swallowed hard. His throat felt dry.
"How?"
His voice suddenly rose again.
"How could two mere villains overpower him?"
His eyes burned.
"He's the strongest hero."
His voice grew louder.
"He's the strongest hero there is for fuck sake."
Diana flinched when his voice echoed through the room. Her own grief rose again. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Alan…"
Her voice broke.
"I'm so sorry."
Alan leaned forward. His hands clenched the sheets. His shoulders shook with anger and grief.
"Who the hell were they?"
His voice trembled despite the rage inside it.
"The two villains."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"Who were they?"
Diana hesitated.
Alan's hands trembled.
He lifted them slowly in front of his face and stared down at them as if they belonged to someone else. His fingers curled halfway and then loosened again. His breathing came out uneven.
His jaw tightened until his teeth pressed together hard enough to hurt.
"I don't care about any of this."
His voice came out low and cracked in the middle of the sentence.
"I don't want these powers."
His shoulders rose with a shaky breath.
"I don't want anything if the cost meant he's—"
His words stopped.
Both of his hands closed into fists.
The muscles in his forearms tightened. His knuckles slowly turned pale as he squeezed harder.
His head lowered.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I just want him back…"
The room went quiet.
The only sound came from the faint movement of the curtain near the window and the uneven rhythm of Alan's breathing.
Diana stood beside the bed without speaking for a moment.
Her chest lifted slowly as she inhaled.
Then she spoke.
"Alan…"
Her voice was softer now, but steady.
"Don't do this. Please."
She stepped closer to him and placed one hand gently on his shoulder.
"I understand how you feel."
Alan slowly lifted his head.
His eyes were wet. The lashes clung together in small clumps from the tears that had gathered there.
His gaze drifted past her for a moment before settling back on her face.
Diana reached forward and placed both of her hands on his cheeks.
Her palms were warm, but they trembled slightly.
Her thumb brushed the corner of his eye and wiped away a tear that had begun to slide down.
"Your father believed in you."
Her voice shook but she continued.
"I believe in you too."
She held his face gently between her hands.
"But you do not have to fight."
Her eyes searched his.
"You do not have to follow his path."
Alan did not answer.
His gaze shifted away again.
His eyes moved slowly across the room without focusing on anything.
Diana swallowed and forced herself to continue speaking.
"Listen to me."
She lowered her hands from his face and rested them lightly on his shoulders.
"You must keep these powers a secret for now."
Her grip tightened slightly as she spoke.
"We do not know what these powers will do to your body."
Her eyes moved across his face carefully.
"You might not be able to handle them yet."
Her fingers slid upward again and cupped the side of his cheek.
"They could harm you."
She leaned closer to him as she spoke.
"I will find someone who can train you."
Her voice softened.
"Someone who can help you control them safely."
She paused for a moment before finishing.
"Someone who can guide you slowly."
Her eyes held his.
"But you cannot tell anyone."
Her voice lowered further.
"Not yet."
She searched his expression.
"Okay?"
Alan sat still.
His shoulders remained stiff.
His breathing stayed uneven.
He stared straight ahead without blinking.
"Alan…"
Diana's voice softened again.
"Please."
She reached for him and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him against her chest.
His head rested against her shoulder.
His body felt rigid.
Every muscle in his back and arms stayed tense, as if he was holding himself together through pure force.
His heartbeat pounded hard against her chest.
Diana felt it through the thin fabric of his shirt.
Inside Alan's mind, his thoughts turned slowly.
(Thinking): I will not waste Dad's sacrifice.
His fingers curled slightly against his leg.
(Thinking): One day I will use this strength.
His breathing steadied a little.
(Thinking): I will protect people like he did.
After a moment, Alan pulled away from her.
Diana's breath caught the instant she saw his eyes.
She recognized the look immediately.
Focus.
Determination.
A cold resolve forming beneath the grief.
It reminded her too much of Ben.
Fear flickered across her face.
She raised both hands and cupped Alan's face again.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"That look…"
Her voice shook.
"I know that look."
She shook her head slowly.
"You do not have to follow your father's path."
Her hands tightened slightly around his cheeks.
"You do not have to repeat what happened to him."
She inhaled slowly before continuing.
"I will carry that burden."
Her voice steadied with determination.
"I will deal with what I can."
Her shoulders straightened slightly.
"I can still use some of my abilities without triggering the curse."
Her fingers brushed lightly against his jaw.
"I will keep you and Jade safe."
Her voice softened again.
"I just need time."
Her mind raced.
(Thinking): Alan is still young.
Her hands slowly lowered from his face.
(Thinking): I will not sacrifice my son.
Her fingers tightened together in front of her.
(Thinking): Not even if the entire world is at stake.
Her breathing slowed as the thought settled.
(Thinking): I will carry this myself.
Her eyes returned to Alan.
(Thinking): When he is ready, he will save the world.
Her chest tightened.
(Thinking): But not now.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
(Thinking): Not while grief is tearing him apart.
Her fingers curled slightly against her palm.
(Thinking): Power without balance will destroy him.
Her eyes hardened with resolve.
(Thinking): The line between right and wrong will blur.
Her shoulders straightened.
(Thinking): I will not allow that to happen.
She reached toward him again.
Alan suddenly turned his head away from her hand.
The movement was quick and sharp.
Her hand stopped in the air.
"Just answer the question already, Mother."
His voice was low.
Controlled.
But something dangerous sat beneath it.
His eyes lifted and locked onto hers.
"Who were they?"
Diana's back stiffened.
Her hands slowly lowered.
For a moment she did not move.
A memory forced its way into her mind.
Her fingers tightened together unconsciously.
The room remained silent.
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