High school...
The most miserable years of my life.
Friends? Maybe one or two... But what I felt most from everyone else was fear.
They didn't see me as human—even though I was.
They didn't see me as a hero—even though I had power.
To them, I was just... a strong monster. Someone to obey, or be destroyed by.
I could've destroyed them. Ended their fear for good.
But in the end? I was just a high school kid who hadn't even turned 18 yet.
My high school years didn't go the way I'd hoped.
No girlfriend. No sex. In my own eyes, I was just a powerful virgin monster. Porn helped—temporarily numbing those feelings. But it was just a band-aid. Until life finally shifted into a new phase.
After I turned 18.
I woke up trapped in a pitch-black room. Or maybe it had light—I couldn't tell, because my eyes were sealed shut. No sight. No sound. No smell. My basic senses had been stripped away by some police squad. Every time I'd start to regain consciousness, a needle would plunge into my neck, knocking me out again. Days blurred into months. Three? Five? I lost count.
Then—my 18th birthday arrived.
They took me to the Court for the Control of Superpowered Individuals—what a bullshit name. This is where they try those with supernatural abilities who've committed crimes.
I wasn't a hero. But I was locked up for shattering a classmate's bones—ribs, legs, arms, skull, even fingers. A girl.
I wasn't the predator. I was the prey.
I told you I'd never had sex. But I came close.
Until I found out everything she said was a lie. That scheming bitch just wanted my power for herself.
And when I realized that? I stopped feeling anything.
Except rage.
I... regret some of it.
The words felt hollow even as I thought them. Too late now.
Here I was, in court—bound to a chair, limbs shackled, eyes, ears, and nose sealed shut. Forced to breathe through my mouth. The weight of stares pressed into me.
Her family. My family.
The judge was droning on. I couldn't make out most of it—just the wheeze of his old voice. The same one that had ordered me imprisoned until 18. In these chains.
Now? Probably adult prison. No way her family would ever forgive me. So years behind bars it'd be.
"Your Honor..."
I cut through his speech. My voice sounded calm to me, but they must've heard it as a shout.
"I know I'm going away. For years. But before you send me... could you let me see my family's faces one last time? Please."
This moment was utterly humiliating. I'd never begged anyone like this before—but I truly love my family.
Then, silence. Complete.
Until, after what felt like forever, they removed my blindfold.
Now I could escape.
But would that make things worse? Yes. I could run—but what about my family? How long could I keep running?
Besides... if they were just going to throw me back into some dark prison cell, to be drugged unconscious for who knows how long... maybe it wouldn't be so bad. They'd just knock me out again anyway.
So the only thing left to do was say goodbye.
The blinding light seared my eyes—I hadn't seen anything this bright in months. I threw up a hand to shield my face, turning my head… only to lock eyes with her.
Still in that wheelchair. Legs in casts. Fingers too.
Goddammit. Of all the things to see first after so long—her?
Shame flooded me for the first time in five months. But then I remembered: how she'd manipulated me, tried to weaponize my feelings. That shame curdled into something darker.
Not that it mattered now.
I didn't need to do anything. Just… look. And there it was—the fear behind her hatred.
I turned away. To my family instead. Father. Mother. And my little sister—only two years younger, but I'd always protected her.
Always.
I wanted to run to them—to hug them, to beg for forgiveness. But I couldn't move.
'Mom... Dad... I'm so sorry...'
My voice clawed its way out, hoarse and broken. Too many months asleep. Too many days silent. My vocal cords felt rusted shut.
I had something else to say to my sister, but nothing came to mind. Mom was crying, and Dad had his hand on her back, comforting her. But my sister? She just stared at me—eyes worried, confused, and pissed. Sometimes, she scared me. She had this crazy way of mixing emotions that shouldn't even go together.
One second, she'd be furious; the next, she'd smile. But I knew, underneath all that, there was a strong sisterly love... pitying her big bro.
'Mia... take care of yourself.'
The judge hadn't even given the verdict yet. But I already knew. Now, I'm getting transferred to adult prison. Probably gonna be locked up for two, three years... maybe even more.
My eyes landed on the judge, but what really caught my attention was the guy on the second floor of the courtroom. He was leaning against the railing, right above the judge's head, staring straight at me.
I didn't know him, but his dark blue hair stuck out like crazy. Nobody here had anything but jet-black hair.
'Mr. Adrian Novell. Five months ago, you were sentenced to six years in prison for the severe assault of a girl your own age. Since then, the victim's family has refused to drop the charges, and the blood money hasn't been paid. We have no choice but to transfer you to an adult prison.'
Exactly what I expected. That bitch's smug smirk, right next to my mom's tear-filled eyes—it was some twisted tragedy. And I was the one who caused it. No... she did...
I closed my eyes again. They yanked me out of the chair and dragged me off to God-knows-where.
The whole time my eyes were open, I could've easily run for it. They knew that. But they didn't care.
I could feel the cool breeze outside, just for a second—then bam. Pushed into some cramped metal box. Probably one of those prison transport vans.
Suddenly, I felt someone adjusting the heavy metal headset clamped over my ears. A few seconds later, they yanked it off.
"I wanna give you a chance, Adrian."
The voice came from right in front of me. So I wasn't alone in this damn box after all. Still couldn't see a thing, but at least my hearing was sharp now. I wasn't in a transport van—I was out in the city. Surrounded by crowds, the roar of engines, electric cars humming, even a plane overhead. And right in front of me, the calm, commanding voice of a man who sounded way too sure of himself.
"You've got an ability that should be classified as forbidden. You know what that means? The court told everyone you're going to a regular adult prison. But the truth? You're headed to a place where they lock up the worst of the worst. Monsters in chains, just like you—all of them with unnatural powers. All of them marked as forbidden."
"The government's job is to wipe out threats like you. So they'll drain every last drop of power from your body… until there's nothing left but a corpse."
I'd never heard of anything like this. I couldn't trust it—but I couldn't just ignore it either. Die? I'm supposed to die in some unknown place after they've sucked every last bit of feeling out of me?
"Oh, and your corpse might get experimented on too."
"Wha—what?!"
I couldn't stay quiet anymore. "Who are you?!" I shouted.
The guy slapped a hand over my mouth. "Chill. I can hear you just fine, so keep it down."
When he pulled back, I realized he was sitting right across from me—and he was probably coming all the way to wherever they were taking me. Now, he was about to lay out his offer.
If you cooperate with the government, I guarantee you'll stay alive. They just need your power. We'll help you achieve all your dreams—everything you've ever wanted. In return, you lend us your abilities… for life."
It was too good an offer. Honestly, I couldn't think of a single downside. All my desires fulfilled, total freedom as long as I handed over my powers. Finally, I'd get to use them properly for once.
But…
"What exactly do you plan to do with my power?"
"Relax. We'll just run a few blood and genetic tests. No pain. And in exchange? You become the founding pillar of global peace and security."
By accepting that deal, my life's greatest chapter began at 18. Now, all I had to do was push myself—until I became the world's #1 hero. The strongest. Everything I'd craved since childhood: fame, respect, wealth, legacy.