The gunshot echoed through the bank.
Aria's body jerked as the bullet struck her side.
"…ah—!"
Pain ripped through her, sharp and sudden.
Her breath caught in her throat as her body weakened instantly.
She looked down.
Blood spread across her blue suit, dripping steadily to the floor.
Her vision blurred for a second.
No… not now…
Around her, the bank was already destroyed.
Most of the robbers lay unconscious, scattered across the ground from her earlier attacks.
A few others struggled weakly, barely able to move.
One of them, shaking, lowered his gun slowly, eyes wide in fear.
"She… she's still standing…"
Sirens screamed outside.
Police were closing in fast.
Aria clenched her teeth.
Move… just move…
With the last strength in her body—
She leapt.
Glass shattered as she burst through a window and disappeared into the night.
Seconds later—
Police stormed the building.
"Drop your weapons!"
The remaining robbers were quickly restrained.
But the officers froze as they stepped further inside.
Blood.
Everywhere.
A massive pool soaked the floor.
One officer whispered, "Whoever that was… they lost a lot of blood…"
Above them, the security cameras blinked silently.
Everything had been captured.
Hours later, the city buzzed with tension.
News channels replayed the footage repeatedly.
A figure in blue.
Fast.
Powerful.
Taking down criminals like it was nothing.
Then the moment—
The gunshot.
The stagger.
The blood.
"Authorities are calling her a mysterious vigilante," the reporter said.
"Her identity remains unknown."
The screen froze on her silhouette mid-motion.
Chicago had found something new.
Something dangerous.
Something… unknown.
Far from the noise—
Aria stumbled through the streets.
Her breathing was weak.
Her body swayed with every step.
Blood marked her path.
"Mira…"
Her voice barely existed.
She reached the door.
Knocked once.
Twice.
Then collapsed.
The door opened.
Mira froze instantly.
"…Aria?"
Her eyes widened in pure shock.
Aria lay on the ground, covered in blood.
"Oh my God—!"
Mira dropped beside her.
"Aria! Stay with me!"
No response.
Her hands shook as she grabbed her phone.
"Ella! Come now! Please!"
Moments later—
Ella rushed in.
She stopped the moment she saw Aria.
Her expression changed immediately.
Focused. Serious.
"…we don't have time."
They carried Aria inside and laid her on the bed.
Ella examined the wound quickly.
"Bullet's still inside."
Mira's voice trembled. "Can you do it?"
Ella inhaled deeply.
"…yes."
"Hold her steady."
Mira gripped Aria tightly.
Ella worked carefully, her hands steady despite the pressure.
Aria's body twitched faintly.
Blood flowed again.
"Almost…"
Then—
A soft metallic drop.
The bullet fell.
"Got it."
"Press here!"
They wrapped the wound tightly, applying pressure.
Bandages secured it firmly.
Slowly…
The bleeding reduced.
Aria's breathing steadied.
But she remained unconscious.
Silence filled the room.
"She's going to be okay…" Mira whispered, though she wasn't fully sure.
Ella nodded softly. "She just needs rest."
Far away…
A dim room.
A screen played the footage.
Over and over.
The man watching said nothing.
He simply observed.
He turned away from the screen and moved toward his desk.
A memory card slid into his laptop.
Files opened.
Vaccine Program — 2031
Rows of data appeared.
Subjects.
Results.
Failures.
All marked the same.
Deceased.
Scroll.
Scroll.
Then—
He stopped.
One file.
Highlighted.
Diana Freeborn
Status: ANOMALY
His fingers paused slightly on the keyboard.
Flashback—
A clinic.
Children seated in rows.
A young girl.
Diana.
A needle enters her arm.
The liquid flows.
Inside—
Cells react.
Energy spreads violently through her system.
The mutation begins.
Doctors shouting.
Monitors spiking.
Other children collapsing.
Silence following them.
But Diana—
Still breathing.
Eyes flickering.
Body changing.
A report being written.
"Unstable reaction…"
"Unexpected adaptation…"
"Subject survived…"
Another report.
"Vision loss observed…"
"Condition unstable…"
"Return to guardians approved…"
A final image—
The child being taken away.
Alive.
Back to present—
The man stared at the screen quietly.
No smile.
No words.
Just… interest.
Morning—
The Johnston house was uneasy.
Mrs. Johnston knocked on Aria's door.
"Aria? Wake up, you'll be late!"
No answer.
She opened it.
The bed was empty.
Her expression changed instantly.
"John…!"
Mr. Johnston rushed in.
"What happened?"
"She's not here!"
Dylan stood at the doorway, confused.
"Where did she go?"
Silence filled the room.
No one had answers.
Across the city—
Aria lay still.
Bandaged.
Breathing slowly.