Malachai entered the house through the back door, leaving trails of mud and water across the kitchen floor. The rain kept hammering the windows as if it wanted to come in with him. He was soaked, his T-shirt clinging to his torso, outlining every new muscle, every prominent vein. His brown hair with honey highlights dripped onto his forehead.
Cory appeared in the hallway almost instantly, wrapped in a silk robe that parted slightly at the neckline from her hurried movement. She held a towel in her hand, as if she had been waiting.
"Malachai… my God, you're a complete mess." she said, her voice a mix of concern and something softer. "Come here, take that off before you catch a cold."
He closed the door behind him and stood still, looking at her. Cory approached without hesitation, draped the towel over his shoulders and began drying his hair with slow, almost tender movements. Her fingers brushed the nape of his neck, his shoulders, sliding down.
"You're… freezing." Cory murmured. Malachai's body regulated temperature perfectly, he didn't feel cold. But she didn't know that.
Her hands moved down his chest, drying the drenched T-shirt. The touch lingered longer than necessary. Cory swallowed audibly when her palms felt the hardness beneath the fabric.
"This… this isn't normal." She whispered, almost to herself. "Your muscles… they look carved." Her fingers paused over his left pectoral, pressing lightly. "How is it possible you've changed so much in such a short time?"
Malachai looked straight into her eyes. He didn't pull away.
"I told you I grow fast."
Cory lifted her gaze. Her eyes held an ambiguous gleam, maternal concern mixed with something deeper, hungrier.
"It's not just growing… it's… transforming." Her voice dropped. "It scares me a little… but it also… I like seeing you like this… Strong… Confident."
Malachai covered one of her hands with his own, stopping it over his chest.
"You don't have to be afraid of me, Mom."
She gave a small, nervous smile.
"I'm not afraid of you…" I'm afraid of what you make me feel. She thought the last part but didn't say it out loud.
The silence stretched. Cory slowly withdrew her hand, as if it cost her effort.
"Go change before you catch a chill. I'll make you something hot."
Malachai nodded and went upstairs. In his room he closed the door, peeled off the wet clothes, and looked at himself in the mirror. The body was perfect: 1.92 m, broad shoulders, defined abs, veined arms. But now there was something more: a faint buzzing in his head, as if his mind had a new muscle waiting to be used.
He looked down at the 30-kilo dumbbell that had been sitting in the corner for years. He stared at it.
He focused.
The weight trembled. It rose a few centimeters off the floor, hovered clumsily for a second, then fell with a dull thud.
Malachai smiled.
"Telekinesis… beginner level, but real."
His telekinesis was much stronger than that of the other three in the movie, not only because he was the only one who received the crystal's powers, but also thanks to the superhuman physical enhancements given to him by the spacecraft.
He tried again. This time he lifted it higher, up to chest level. He held it there, trembling slightly, as if his mind still lacked fine control. He lowered it carefully.
Then he looked at the open window. Wind and rain were blowing in.
He focused on his own body. He tried to lift himself.
His feet left the floor… 5 centimeters. Then 10. He floated awkwardly, like a poorly tied balloon, wobbling. He lost control and dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Fuck… slow." He muttered, but not frustrated. "I need practice."
He changed into dry clothes sweatpants and a tight black T-shirt and went downstairs.
Cory had hot chocolate waiting for him on the table. She sat across from him.
"Drink." She slid the mug toward him. "And tell me… where were you in this storm?"
"Just… walking. Thinking." He lied easily.
Cory stared at him.
"You're different, Malachai. Not just on the outside. Your eyes… they look older. Like you've seen things I don't even want to imagine."
He took a sip. "Maybe I have."
She leaned across the table, coming closer.
"If you ever need to talk… or… anything… I'm here. Always."
Malachai held her gaze a second longer than necessary.
"I know, Mom."
The moment broke when his phone buzzed. A message from Betty.
Betty: "Hi… did you get home okay in the rain? I was worried. If you want, tomorrow after classes we can study together in the library. I have new notes."
Malachai: "Sure. See you tomorrow."
He put the phone away. Cory raised an eyebrow.
"Betty Cooper again?"
Malachai gave a small smile. "She's a good girl."
Cory laughed softly. "Be careful. Good girls… sometimes hide things."
She went up to her room shortly after.
The next day at school, the atmosphere was still heavy from the previous night's storm. Malachai arrived early. In the hallway he saw Betty near her locker, organizing books with obsessive precision.
He approached.
"Good morning, Betty."
She turned, blushing instantly.
"Hi, Malachai… you're early today." She looked him up and down, lingering on his height and the way the T-shirt hugged his torso. "Are you… okay? You look… different. Taller. And… stronger."
He leaned against the locker next to hers.
"I grow fast." He said simply.
Betty looked down, twirling a strand of hair, a little nervous but still spoke.
"Yesterday… after school… Polly came home really scared. She said she saw something weird in the park near the river. A man… or something that looked like a clown. It was pouring and she swore it looked at her and… smiled. Like it knew her."
Malachai tensed internally but kept his face neutral.
"What else did she say?"
Betty swallowed.
"That it had red balloons. And that… she felt like it wanted her to come closer. Polly never scares easily, but last night she didn't sleep. She asked me not to go out alone." She looked up, worried. "Do you think it's… something bad? Like the old town stories?"
Malachai stared at her.
"Tell me everything Polly said. Every detail."
Betty nodded slowly.
"She said the clown didn't move. It just looked at her. And when she ran… she heard laughter. Like a child's, but… evil."
Malachai felt a cold, calculating sensation in his chest.
Pennywise had already started moving.
And now it had a target: Polly Cooper.
"Betty…" He said quietly. "If you see or hear anything strange… anything at all… come straight to me. Don't go anywhere alone. Not you, not Polly."
She nodded, nervous, feeling her heart warm at seeing Malachai worried about her and her sister.
"Understood… thank you for caring."
Malachai placed a hand on her shoulder, brief but firm.
"It's not just caring. I want you to be safe."
Betty blushed harder and looked down.
"See you in the library after classes, okay?"
"I'll be there."
As she walked away, Malachai looked out the window. The sky was still gray.
Pennywise had awakened.
And now it knew there was fresh prey on the board.
But it also knew someone else was watching.
Malachai smiled coldly.
"Come for them… and see what happens when one monster crosses another. I'm not afraid of you."