Mazen slowly opened his eyes.
A pale gray light slipped through the curtains, washing the room in a haze that felt more like a dream than reality.
A faint heaviness weighed inside his head, as if something had settled there without his permission.
He glanced around in silence. He was lying in his bed... the room was quiet, the rain had stopped.
Beside him, his mother sat on a small wooden chair, her head tilted to the side in exhaustion. She had dozed off while holding his tiny hand tightly.
When Mazen moved his fingers, she woke up at once.
Her eyes fluttered open, and a relieved smile spread across her face as a tear slipped down her cheek.
— Thank God... you're awake.
Mazen looked at her quietly, then whispered:
— Where's Father?
She answered quickly, as if she had been waiting for the question:
— He's fine... injured, but under care in the next room. The doctors said he will recover.
Mazen's gaze lingered on her eyes before he said slowly:
— There was... a monster.
Silence filled the room for a few seconds. Then Aisha nodded softly:
— Yes, it attacked us in the house... and then you suddenly disappeared. We found you unconscious afterward.
— And the monster? Where did it go?
— No one knows... but F.E.E.L said one of their warriors was nearby. He intervened just in time.
Mazen fell silent. Flashes of memory struck his mind
Claws. Blood. Purple eyes. A whirlwind.
And a faint voice whispering:
"Don't worry... your father is safe."
He suddenly asked:
— Who was that man?
Aisha shook her head.
— We didn't see him. No one did. He vanished before anyone arrived.
Mazen lowered his eyes to his hands. Something felt different... a strange power lingering beneath his skin.
He lifted a trembling hand to his face, staring into the small mirror beside his bed.
For a fleeting second, his eyes shimmered in gray
then returned to normal.
He stumbled back, whispering:
— Mother... my eyes...
— What about them? she asked anxiously.
— Nothing... (he said, though inside him something unspeakable stirred).
A soft knock came from the door.
Aisha stood and opened it cautiously. A tall man in a black suit stood there. The emblem of F.E.E.L was printed across his back. His face was hidden behind a smooth gray mask, revealing only his sharp eyes.
He bowed politely and spoke in a calm, steady voice:
— Good morning... may I have a few minutes with you?
Nervous but polite, Aisha stepped aside.
— Please, come in.
The man entered with composed steps, pulled a thin file from his case, and cast a quick glance at Mazen before turning to his mother:
— Mrs. Aisha, allow me to ask directly... Did your son Mazen show any signs of Emotion Eyes since birth? Any traces of radiation?
She shook her head firmly.
— No. A few days after his birth, he underwent a livermorium test. The result was completely negative. No radiation, no eye change, nothing.
The man checked the file and nodded slowly.
— Yes... the same record exists in our database.
He closed the file gently, then looked at her again.
— Would you allow me a moment alone with Mazen? Just a few simple questions.
Aisha hesitated, then agreed, moving to stand near the door.
The man crouched slightly, his eyes steady on the boy.
— Mazen, can you tell me what you saw? Only what you remember.
The boy's lips trembled. He swallowed hard and spoke in a soft voice:
— There... there was a monster.
— What did it do?
— It came through the window... it hit Father... I was so scared. But when I ran, I felt stronger. Like something inside me woke up. Then... my eyes... they turned gray.
— Gray? For how long?
— Just for a moment... before the monster hurt me, a man appeared... flying.
The man's voice deepened slightly:
— Flying? Do you remember his face?
Mazen shook his head.
— No... he wore a mask, and on his back were the letters VI. But... I remember his eyes. One was closed, the other was purple, glowing... like it could see through me.
The man's brows lifted ever so slightly. He didn't comment.
Instead, he closed the file, his movements slow and deliberate.
— That's enough. Thank you. We'll remain in touch.
He turned to leave, but before stepping out, his voice carried back with quiet authority:
— If Mazen shows any changes... even the smallest... please report to us immediately.
And with that, he left.
Silence weighed heavier than the rain outside.
Aisha turned to her son and whispered softly:
— Don't worry... everything will be alright.