Whispers and Rumors!!
The moment he walked into Lumea High School, he knew something was wrong.
Students clustered around lockers like bees around honey, whispering anxiously. Normally, Kairo slipped through the halls unnoticed. But today, eyes lingered a second too long.
"Half the East Sector is still without power," muttered Jade Marken, a girl from his science class.
"My dad said the blackout came from an energy spike," said Tomas Wilde. "Like something overloaded the whole grid."
Jade lowered her voice.
"People said someone was there when the surge happened. A boy." Kairo's breath hitched.
He forced himself to keep walking, but his chest tightened with every whisper.
Static in Class. Science class felt like a trap.
The teacher, Ms. Cataline Roen, was explaining electrical discharge on the board. "Static electricity occurs when"
Kairo didn't hear the rest. A buzzing sound filled his ears. The lights above his desk flickered in rhythm with his pulse.
His fingers tingled. His pen vibrated. No, not the pen his hand.
Stop. Stop. Please stop… But the spark didn't stop.
It snapped out of his palm with a sharp crack, striking the metal leg of his desk. Every light in the classroom flared blindingly bright.
"Whoa!" Tomas gasped.
"What was that?!" Jade whispered.
Kairo's heart slammed in his chest.
Ms. Roen stared, chalk slipping from her hand.
"Kairo… did you… cause that?"
Before he could answer, the classroom door hissed open.
The Agents
Two people stepped inside, not teachers, not administrators.
They wore sleek black tactical coats marked with a silver insignia:
ΣCI — Sigma Containment Initiative
Kairo had seen that logo only on news reports about dangerous technologies and rogue powered individuals. The agency that "handled threats."
The taller agent spoke first.
He had dark brown skin, a square jaw, and eyes sharp as knives.
Agent Aric Vanton — Field Commander, Sigma Containment Initiative
"We're here for Kairo Dune," he said. The class froze.
Ms. Roen stiffened. "Is this a mistake? He's just a student."
Agent Vanton didn't blink.
"This is not a mistake, ma'am."
The shorter agent stepped forward. Her hair was braided tight, her expression precise and unreadable.
Agent Lira Hensley — Energy Analysis Division, Sigma
She flashed a small holographic badge.
"We need to escort Mr. Dune to Sigma headquarters immediately. There was an incident last night near the East Sector power grid."
Kairo felt the room tilt. Tomas whispered, "Dude… what did you do?"
Kairo didn't answer. He didn't know how to.
Agent Hensley tapped her wrist device.
A faint hum filled the room.
"Subject located," she said quietly. "Electromagnetic readings elevated. Proceed to containment transport." Ms. Roen stepped between them.
"He's terrified. At least explain" Agent Vanton cut her off. "For his safety and everyone else's, we need him to come with us."
Kairo's entire body trembled.
The Black Transport
Outside, a sleek black vehicle waited - more advanced than anything he'd seen. Sigma's emblem glowed faintly on its side.
Rain dripped down its polished surface like silver tears.
Agent Vanton opened the door.
"Kairo. Inside."
Kairo swallowed hard.
"What do you want from me?" he whispered.
Agent Lira Hensley softened the slightest bit.
"We're not here to hurt you," she said. "We're here because your abilities are manifesting faster than expected. And if they spike again without control…" She paused. "People could get hurt. Including you."
Kairo looked down at his trembling hands.
"I don't want to hurt anyone," he said.
"Then let us help," she replied.
Agent Vanton's voice was firmer.
"Get in, kid. The storm isn't done with you yet." Kairo took a shaky breath.
Then he stepped into the transport.
The door sealed shut behind him — soft, final, inescapable. As the vehicle pulled into traffic, lightning split the sky.
And Kairo realized, for the first time, that the lightning felt familiar. It felt like him.