Darkness slowly faded.
Aria's eyes fluttered open.
The first thing she felt was pain.
A deep, heavy ache in her side.
Her body felt weak, like every movement weighed twice as much.
She blinked slowly, her vision adjusting to the dim light of the room.
"…Mira…?"
Her voice was faint.
Mira instantly leaned forward. "Aria!"
Relief flooded her face.
"You're awake… thank God."
Ella exhaled deeply, dropping into the chair beside the bed. "You had us scared for real."
Aria tried to sit up—
Pain shot through her side.
"…ah—"
"Don't," Ella said quickly, pressing her shoulder gently. "You lost a lot of blood."
Aria lay back, breathing slowly. Her eyes drifted down to the bandages wrapped tightly around her.
"…you saved me," she said quietly.
Mira shook her head. "You almost died."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Aria turned her head slightly. "I had to do something."
Mira frowned immediately. "Something? Aria, that wasn't 'something.' That was suicide."
Ella didn't interrupt this time.
Aria's expression tightened.
"If I didn't step in, those people could've gotten hurt," she said.
"They were already beaten!" Mira snapped. "You did enough. But you stayed… and you got shot!"
Aria clenched her jaw.
"That's part of it," she replied.
Mira stared at her. "Part of what?"
Aria pushed herself up slightly despite the pain, her voice gaining strength.
"Being a hero."
Ella and Mira exchanged a look.
Aria continued, her eyes serious now.
"Look around us. Crime everywhere. People getting hurt, robbed… ignored. The police don't even show up half the time."
Her voice softened slightly.
"If I can do something about it… if I have the power to help… how can I just sit and do nothing?"
Mira shook her head slowly. "Because you're not ready."
"I will be."
"You almost died, Aria!"
"I didn't," she shot back.
"Barely!"
The room went quiet again.
Mira's expression hardened. "Next time… you won't be lucky."
Aria looked down at her bandaged side.
For a moment… she said nothing.
Then quietly—
"I don't want to be lucky."
She looked back up.
"I want to be strong enough."
Ella finally spoke. "Then you need to learn. Properly."
Both girls looked at her.
"Fighting, control, discipline. You can't just jump into danger and hope your powers carry you."
Aria nodded slowly.
"…yeah."
She shifted slightly, wincing.
Something felt… different.
Her hand moved to her side.
Under the bandages—
A faint warmth.
The wound…
Was tightening.
Very slowly.
But noticeably.
"…wait," Aria whispered.
Ella leaned closer. "What is it?"
"I think… it's healing."
Mira frowned. "Healing?"
Aria pressed lightly. The pain was still there… but something underneath felt… active.
"Not fast… but it's happening."
Ella's eyes widened slightly. "Your body's adapting."
Mira sighed, running her hand through her hair.
"That doesn't make this any safer."
Hours passed.
Aria rested.
But her mind didn't.
Everything had changed.
Across the city—
Screens lit up offices and control rooms.
Footage replayed again and again.
The blue figure.
The speed.
The fight.
Government officials studied every frame.
"Enhancement confirmed," one said.
"Identity still unknown."
"Track movement patterns. She's injured — she won't stay hidden for long."
Deep in the shadows—
A quiet room.
Dim light.
The man in white stood still.
Slander knelt before him.
"There is something you need to retrieve," the man said calmly.
Slander remained silent.
"A doctor… formerly involved in the vaccine program."
A file slid across the table.
"Dr. Bane."
Pause.
"He was present during the anomaly case… Diana Freeborn."
Slander looked up slightly.
"Retrieve any information he has."
A beat.
"Then terminate him."
No hesitation.
Slander stood.
"Understood."
Night fell again.
A quiet apartment.
Dr. Bane sat at his desk, flipping through old files nervously.
Sweat formed on his forehead.
"Something's not right…" he muttered.
A sound.
Behind him.
He froze.
"…who's there?"
Silence.
Then—
A shadow moved.
Slander stepped forward.
Masked. Silent.
Deadly.
Dr. Bane stumbled back. "Wait—listen—I don't know anything anymore!"
No response.
Slander moved.
Fast.
A slash—
Dr. Bane screamed as pain ripped through him. Papers scattered across the room.
He tried to crawl away.
"Please—!"
Another strike.
Clean. Precise.
The room fell silent.
Slander stood over him for a moment.
Then calmly searched the desk, collecting files and data drives.
Mission complete.
He disappeared into the night.
Morning—
The Johnston house felt heavy.
Mr. Johnston sat at the table, barely touching his coffee.
Mrs. Johnston paced back and forth.
"She's not answering her phone…"
"It's been hours…"
Dylan sat quietly, unusually silent.
"I don't like this…" he muttered.
The front door opened.
Slowly.
Aria stepped in.
Pale.
Weak.
But standing.
"Mom…"
Everything froze.
Then—
Mrs. Johnston rushed forward, grabbing her tightly.
"Where have you been?!"
Mr. Johnston stood up instantly. "Aria, do you know how worried we were?!"
Their voices weren't angry—
They were tired.
Scared.
Real.
Aria winced slightly from the hug but didn't pull away.
"…I'm sorry," she said softly.
Dylan ran up and hugged her too. "Don't disappear like that again…"
Aria closed her eyes for a moment.
"…I won't."
But deep down—
She knew that wasn't true.
Somewhere in the city—
A file opened.
A name highlighted.
Diana Freeborn.
And the hunt…
Was quietly beginning.