Malachai left the house with his backpack over his shoulder, though it no longer felt heavy at all. The loose hoodie and old jeans helped hide the changes, but not completely: his shoulders stood out more, his arms looked thicker even under the fabric. He walked to the truck, got in, and drove toward Riverdale High.
The drive was short, but he used it to test a few more subtle things. He accelerated a bit harder than usual into a tight curve; the truck responded without skidding, and he corrected the wheel with a minimal, almost instinctive movement. Razor sharp reflexes. No delay between seeing and reacting.
He parked in the student lot. Got out and walked toward the main entrance. The courtyard was packed: laughter, chatter, and the usual teenage noise. No one seemed to notice anything strange about him… yet.
He entered the building. The hallway smelled of disinfectant and adolescence. He climbed the stairs to the second floor without getting tired. Not a single drop of sweat. His endurance was ridiculous: he could have run ten laps around the gym and still felt fresh.
He reached the math classroom just as the bell rang. Professor Keller looked at him over her glasses.
"Mr. Walker, how kind of you to grace us with your presence today." She said sarcastically.
"Sorry, Professor. Family issues." Malachai replied in a neutral tone, sitting in his usual spot at the back. He didn't care much about classes right now he was there more out of obligation than anything else. If it were up to him, he'd be testing the limits of his body at this very moment.
Class began. He opened his notebook, but he didn't need to take notes. His mind processed everything faster: differential equations that used to give him trouble now solved themselves in seconds. A nice side benefit of the upgraded body, perhaps.
He glanced around. Betty Cooper was two rows ahead, to the right. Perfect ponytail, buttoned pink sweater, skirt. She took notes with surgical precision, but every now and then she turned her head slightly, as if she could feel someone watching her.
Malachai smiled inwardly. He had known her since waking up in this body. The "old" Malachai had been her lab partner in science last year. Betty always helped him with homework when he pretended not to understand (though he actually did he just liked watching her explain things with that shy passion).
She was the perfect girl: flawless grades, debate club captain, volunteer for everything, but with that hidden shadow he recognized because he had watched the show. The darkness she repressed beneath layers of kindness.
When class ended, Betty approached his desk with her folder in hand.
"Hi…" she said softly, blushing a little. "I brought the notes you missed yesterday and the day before. I put them in order."
Malachai took the folder. His fingers brushed hers for a second. Betty pulled her hand back quickly, looking at the floor.
"Thanks, Betty. You're the best."
She looked up, surprised by his direct tone.
"It's nothing… I just didn't want you to fall behind. Are you… okay? You look different today."
Malachai raised an eyebrow.
"Different how?"
"Taller… and… I don't know. More confident." She bit her lip. "Sorry, that's stupid."
"It's not stupid." he said, lowering his voice. "And yes, I'm fine. Better than ever."
Betty gave a shy smile that sweet smile that hid so many things.
"If you need help with anything else… you know where to find me."
"Same goes for you. If you see anything weird… anything at all… come straight to me. Understood?"
She nodded slowly, a bit confused but obedient.
"Understood."
Malachai watched her walk away down the hallway. Chemistry. Good. He needed her close. Not just because he felt attracted to her, but because in this town, girls like Betty were the first ones the clown would target.
At break, he went out to the courtyard. He leaned against the wall, observing the students. That's when he saw him.
Andrew Detmer.
The kid from Chronicle. Dark hair, eyes down, walking alone toward the science building with headphones on. He carried an old backpack and the expression of someone already tired of the world. Malachai recognized him instantly: the same boy who, in the movie, would find the crystal with his friends and gain telekinesis that could challenge the heavens themselves.
"There he is. My lottery ticket." He smiled chillingly and licked his lips.
Malachai didn't approach. Not yet. He watched from a distance. Andrew sat on a secluded bench, pulled out a notebook, and started drawing something. He looked alone, ostracized. Perfect to manipulate… or to follow.
'The crystal falls in the woods near the lake, during a storm. If I follow the movie, it'll happen soon. But this time there won't be any sharing of telekinesis. Only I will get it. No one else touches that power.'
He planned quickly in his mind: monitor Andrew without him noticing, wait for the moment the trio (Andrew, Matt, and Steve) goes into the woods. Intercept. Or better: make the crystal "appear" only for him. If he had to eliminate competition… he would. Coldly. Without remorse.
The bell rang. Malachai returned to class with his head full of plans.
At the end of the day, he left school and drove straight home. He parked, went inside. The house was still empty. He went upstairs to change.
At 6:30 p.m. the doorbell rang.
He opened it. Beth Boland stood there with an insulated bag in her hands and a tired but genuine smile.
"Hi, Mal… I brought homemade lasagna. As thanks for… you know." She lifted the bag. "Can I come in?"
"Of course. Come in."
He led her to the kitchen. Beth took out plates and served generous portions. It smelled incredible.
While they ate, they talked about normal things at first: Dean's job (still absent), Beth's kids, the book club. But little by little the tone changed.
Beth set her fork down.
"Malachai… it's the mortgage… the bank is threatening foreclosure in two weeks. Dean says he'll 'take care of it' but does nothing. I don't know how I'm going to get out of this." Her voice cracked, almost on the verge of tears.
"Beth… how much exactly would let you breathe easy for two months?"
She looked up, surprised.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because I can help you." he said with a gentle smile.
"No, Malachai, you're a kid, I can't-"
"I can and I want to," he said calmly. "It's a loan. No interest. Pay me back whenever you can. Or don't. I don't care. But you're not losing your house."
Beth went silent. Tears began to well up.
"Why would you do that for me?"
"Because I hate seeing people I like suffer. And because… I can."
He pulled out his phone, opened the banking app, and transferred the twenty thousand dollars Beth needed. He showed her the screen.
"Done. It's already in your account."
Beth stared at the notification, covered her mouth, and stood up abruptly. She hugged him tightly, trembling.
"Thank you… thank you, Malachai. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"You don't have to repay me with money." he replied, returning the hug briefly. "Just stay close. And if you see anything strange in town… balloons, clowns, shadows in the sewers… tell me immediately. Promise?"
She pulled back slightly, puzzled by what he said but not questioning it, and looked into his eyes.
"Promise."
The hug lasted a second longer than normal. Beth smelled like vanilla. When she left, Malachai closed the door and leaned against it.
"One more closer. Betty too. Cory… soon. In this twisted world, I'll do whatever I want even if what I want is a harem."
He looked toward the garage. The spaceship was waiting.
And somewhere in town, Andrew Detmer walked toward his fate, unaware that someone had already marked him.
Malachai smiled coldly.
"The crystal will be mine. And after that… no one will stop me."