Chapter 5
Author: Shofar
last update2025-03-07 00:34:51

Dan immediately grabbed Lauren's wrist and pulled her along with him as they tried to evade the beast, but it was fast - too fast.

In a moment of time, this creature was right behind them, launching one of its blade-like limbs through the air. A sharp gasp met witth Dan's ears, cutting his heart in two, as he lost his grip on her. He turned around to find Lauren, the love of his life caught up with what looked like a long knife protruding from out of her belly.

There, the woman he loved stood, caught between life and death. Time paused. Both their lips parted in shock, their eyes locked on to each other's.

With his hand stretched out to Lauren, Dan yelled, “ Nooo ! “

Dan watched as the alien pulled out it's weapon from Lauren's gut, leaving her to crumble to the ground. His eyes slowly rose from her body to the monster, which was still fuming and snarling at him.

The thing launched itself against Dan again, and knocked him off his feet, sending him rolling several feet from his initial position. Dan quickly cast his gaze in Lauren's direction and found her lying still, her life slowly fading away. He brought her here and now he had failed to protect her.

Guilt pierced his heart and his bones rattled in pain as he slowly tried to make it back to his feet, grunting. As Dan rose, he starred a hole through this creature, a rage like he had never known before began to well up within him. Wrath and fury coursed through his veins, stirring up a strange power within him.

When it came to the people he loved, Dan was as protective as a wolf guarding it's pack.

Dan's breathing got faster and heavier. He looked like a bomb about to explode, his fists and jaw clenched, and his bloodshot eyes locked on to the alien creature.

As he fumed, his body began to feel different. An overwhelming heat surged through him, like molten fire coursing through his veins, growing hotter with every breath. The heat swirled through his body, rising to his chest, then his arms. His entire frame radiated with power he didn’t understand.

The bloodthirsty alien charged straight at him again, it's blade like limbs slicing through the air. Instead of running for his life, Dan stood still, trembling under the influence of the great power welling up inside him, as a faint glow began to emanate from his skin.

The creature closed in on Dan, it's weapon raised to strike, but before it could make contact, Dan burst into flames with a, ‘ boom !’ and the surge of heat violently forced the creature back several feet away.

Wrapped up in flames, Dan marveled at himself. He was on fire but his clothes weren't burning up, nor was his skin. He smirked faintly, realizing what had happened to him. However, the smirk disappeared almost immediately when he remembered what he saw in the future.

Could this be it ? Could this be the beginning of the end ? He wondered.

He turned his attention back to the alien while it gnarled and screeched at him and made a beeline for it with rage and tenacity in every step. As far as he was concerned, that thing wasn't going to live to see another day.

Before Dan's for could make any more moves, he stretched his hands towards it and let himself lose. A wave of fire shot out from his hands, scorching and blackening it's skin as it writhed loudly in pain.

The alien swiftly dived out of Dan's line of attack, beyond the flames’ reach and leapt into the trees, its charred body disappearing into the darkness.

Dan collapsed to his knees, his flames flickering and fading. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. The ground around him was scorched, and the air smelled of smoke and ash.

He crawled toward Lauren, his hands trembling as the fire finally extinguished. Her face was pale and her breaths shallow. She had lost a lot of blood.

“Lauren,” he whispered, his voice breaking and his eyes teary. He cradled her head in his lap as he took out his phone and dialed a number. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Lauren's eyelids fluttered weakly, as she looked up at him with a faint smile and muttered, “Dan... you...”

“Don’t talk,” he said, his voice trembling. “I’m going to get help. You’re going to be okay. Just hang on.”

A voice spoke from his phone, “ 911, what's your emergency ?”

– – –

A black car hastily swerved into the parking lot of the Fremont hospital and came to a screeching halt. The two front doors were snappily opened and out came Doctor Sanders and his wife. The distress in their faces showed how panic stricken they were.

They hurried into the hospital building as their heart's raced within them - hearts soon to be broken. They had just received some terrible news about their daughter so nothing else mattered at the time except making sure she was alright.

After a while of questioning every doctor they could lay their hands on, they finally found the ward where their daughter, Lauren was being attended to. Much to their fright, it was an ICU. They both wouldn't stay calm until someone explained to them what in the world happened to their daughter.

No one could really ascertain Lauren's current state or what the degree of her injury was but the moment the Sanders were told who exactly it was that brought her in, they went completely irate.

They turned around and there, Dan stood still looking at them, his eyes full of fear and terror. Beside him was Felix, who was wearing a white sweater and a concerned look in his eyes.

“ You bastard !” Doctor Sanders yelled, his gruffly voice ripping through the air. “ What did you do to my daughter?! “

“ I…I can explain…there was a..” Dan stuttered.

“ Oh shut up, you fool ! You've brought nothing but embarrassment to this family ever since Lauren knew you, and now this ?” Mrs Sanders fired. “ I'll never understand what my daughter sees in you “

Dan opened his mouth to speak but the words simply wouldn't come out

“ Mrs Sanders, I can assure you none of this was his fault,” Felix tried to intercede.

“ This is none of your business so stay out of it,” doctor Sanders sneered. “ And you. You better hope for your sake she comes out of this in one piece, or I'll make your life a living hell, I promise you!” he thundered.

One of the female nurses witnessing the scene quickly walked over to Dan said to him calmly, “ Mr. Foster, I suggest you leave so we can get things under control.”

Dan was still in shock of what he had seen and what his life had been like over the past few days and now this ? He took a few steps backward, preparing to leave when a doctor approached them.

“ Are you the parents of the lady…Lauren Sanders?” He asked peering into his paper to be sure he got it right.

“ Yes doctor, how is she, how is my daughter ?” Mrs Sanders asked eagerly, her eyes and everybody's fix on the doctor with earnest expectation.

“ Well,” the doctor said, heaving a sigh, “ we've been able to stabilize her for the meantime but…we don't know how long that will last,” he explained, paused, then continued , “ the blade did a lot of damage, and from the looks of the situation, she might not make it.”

Time seemed to stop, and Dan's world felt like it was crashing down - a feeling he was becoming aquatinted with. If looks could kill, the hateful looks the Sanders shot at Dan would have sent him to his early grave before any alien could. Felix tugged him gently, signalling for them to leave so he slowly withdrew himself from the scene.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Related Chapters

  • ARMAGEDDON    Chapter 6

    Dan's apartment.Felix paced back and forth in Dan’s small apartment, the place felt eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath his steps.“Dan,” Felix said, breaking the silence. “You have to talk to me. You're saying you just set something on fire with your hands. Your hands, dude! How is that not the first thing we’re freaking out about?”Dan sat slouched on the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers laced together tightly. He wasn’t looking at Felix; his eyes were glued to the floor. Inside, his mind was a whirlwind of fear, guilt, and confusion.“I don’t know, Felix,” Dan finally muttered.“ All that matters now is that Lauren is dying…and I couldn't save her,” he said looking up at him with a grim expression.Felix blinked, caught off guard. The frustration in his face melted into something softer, almost apologetic. He sat down on the armrest of a nearby chair, his face lined with worry.“ Come on man

  • ARMAGEDDON    Chapter 7

    The rhythmic tapping of rain against the kitchen window was oddly soothing as Ben Carter rinsed the last plate from his dinner. Life had been strange since the train explosion—a disaster he still couldn’t fully wrap his head around. How he survived such a ghastly accident still didn't make sense to him. A miracle, one would say, but that ' miracle' had come with consequences - more weird things he could not understand. His hearing had become unnaturally sharp. Sometimes, if he focused too hard, he’d hear strange vibrations in the air, almost like a pulse only he could feel.Ben set the plate on the drying rack and leaned against the counter, wiping his damp hands on a dish towel. The rain outside intensified, thunder rumbling faintly in the distance. He reached for his coffee mug when something caught his attention—a faint noise from upstairs.It wasn’t the normal creaks of an aging house settling. No, this sound was deliberate, almost rhythmic. Like footsteps.He froze, the mug ha

  • ARMAGEDDON    Chapter 8

    The flashing lights from dozens of cameras reflected off the sleek glass exterior of NovaTech’s headquarters. A sea of reporters surged forward with microphones raised like weapons, their voices forming a chaotic blend of accusations and demands. At the center of it all stood Alisha Carr, the poised and immaculately dressed CEO of NovaTech. Her tailored navy suit hugged her frame perfectly, and not a single strand of her chestnut hair was out of place. She raised a hand, commanding silence without uttering a word. The mob simmered down, their eager eyes locked on her like vultures waiting for a slip.“First,” Alisha began, her voice calm and authoritative, “let me express my deepest condolences to the families of those affected by this tragic incident.” She paused, allowing a carefully calculated hint of emotion to color her tone. “NovaTech is committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.”She let the words settle. Control the tempo. Give them something to hold o

  • ARMAGEDDON    Chapter 9

    Dan wiped the sweat from his forehead as he stepped back from his makeshift targets. His breathing was heavy, his shirt damp from hours of exertion. He had just finished his third part-time job for the day—unloading shipments at a dingy warehouse—and had come straight to this abandoned lot. The sun had long since gone down , leaving the place covered in dim orange from a nearby streetlamp.He looked down at his trembling hands. Ever since the accident, he had not been the same - who would after witnessing such a chaotic train of events in a short space of time. A subtly warm sensation lingered just under his skin, invisible, but constant, like an engine running at low power.Dan sighed and squared his shoulders. He had to focus. He couldn’t let his powers stay raw and untamed, not after what happened with Lauren.A few feet away, he had set up trash cans and broken wooden pallets he’d found scattered around the lot. They weren’t great targets, but they’d do. Dan clenched his fists, le

  • ARMAGEDDON    Chapter 10

    Felix walked the backstreets of Seal City with his hood pulled low over his head, eyes flicking from shadowed alleyways to suspicious faces lurking in the dark. The underbelly of the city reeked of dampness, rot, and desperation—places where law and order barely reached, and where favors were bought with blood and desperation.He didn’t belong here. Never had. Felix was a tinkerer, a man who spent his days hunched over gadgets and tools, working his fingers to the bone in whatever odd job he could find to keep the bills paid. He wasn’t tough, wasn’t ruthless. But today, desperation overpowered common sense.He had spent days scouring the darkest corners of the city, chasing a rumor that had cropped up among the city’s whispers. The kind of rumor that felt too thin to be real but too persistent to ignore.Someone out there could bypass high-security systems. Someone who could do the impossible.Felix clung to that faint glimmer of hope like a man c

  • ARMAGEDDON    Chapter 11

    Riley’s eyes widened at the sound of footsteps and low, gruff voices echoing through the darkened warehouse. She spun around, her gaze locking onto Felix, who was crouched behind a stack of rusted crates.“Great. Just great,” Riley muttered.Felix glanced at her, his own nerves rattled but his expression stubborn. “You’re the one who broke into this place. I just followed.”“Yeah, well, you’re still an idiot.”They were tucked behind a metal shelf cluttered with broken tools and rotting wood. The room stretched far, with shadows deepening toward the corners. Dust swirled in the air, disturbed only by their hurried movements.The men were moving quickly, flashlights sweeping across the room. One of them kicked over a metal can, the clatter making Felix flinch.“They’re tearing the place apart,” Felix whispered.“No kidding.” Riley’s fingers danced along a small, rectangular device she had pocketed moments before—some kind

  • ARMAGEDDON    Chapter 12

    The cell door slammed shut behind Dan with a metallic clang. The place was cramped and smelled of sweat and mildew. Light seeped in through a small, barred window, cutting through the dimness. Dan stared at the wall, his fists clenched.Dr. Sanders had played his cards well. Accusing him of trying to kill Lauren was a stretch, but the Doctor had money, lawyers, and enough connections to make things stick. Dan had barely spoken to his court-appointed lawyer—an overworked man who seemed more interested in clearing his schedule than fighting for him. It was obvious doctor Sanders had it all wrapped up. He was doneDan tried not to believe it, but doubt gnawed at him. Lauren’s father had made it clear he didn’t want Dan around his daughter. But to go this far? It felt personal.Prison life was rough, and Dan did his best to avoid trouble. Most days, he kept his head down, only speaking when necessary. But staying out of sight didn’t stop the rumors o

  • ARMAGEDDON    Chapter 13

    It was a cool evening and Dan sat cross-legged on the stiff mattress, his gaze fixed on the metal bars of his cell. They stood there like prison guards, cold, unyielding, taunting him with their permanence. The urge to lash out, to burn them down until nothing remained but smoldering ash, had been clawing at him since he was thrown in here.But he couldn’t afford to lose control. Not with eyes always watching, waiting for him to slip up.Instead, he trained. Not his muscles—though prison life forced him to stay in shape—but his power. His fire.He reached out, his fingers curling around one of the thick, iron bars. The coolness of the metal seeped into his skin. Dan closed his eyes, inhaling slowly, trying to channel the rage and frustration coiled inside him.Heat gathered in his palm, a prickling warmth that intensified the longer he focused. His hand trembled with the effort, sweat beading along his forehead. He imagined the metal glo

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter 14

    Dan’s body screamed in protest as he dragged himself through the shattered window. His palms sliced on jagged glass, knees scraping asphalt. Behind him, Felix groaned, wedged between the deflated airbag and the twisted steering column."Felix!" Dan coughed, grabbing his friend by the collar and yanking. The smell of leaking fuel filled the air, sharp and dangerous.Riley crawled out of the backseat, clutching her ribs and wincing. Her laptop was smashed, wires and fragments trailing from her backpack. “I’m okay,” she rasped, eyes wide as she scanned the wreckage. “Dan, they’re coming.”He turned.The men moved with ruthless efficiency, dressed in tactical black, no insignias—just cold purpose. One held a compact rifle low, sweeping it across the wreck like he was clearing a room. Another moved toward Dan, his boots crunching glass underfoot.Dan barely got to his feet, shielding Felix. “We don’t have anything you want,” he shouted.

  • Chapter 13

    It was a cool evening and Dan sat cross-legged on the stiff mattress, his gaze fixed on the metal bars of his cell. They stood there like prison guards, cold, unyielding, taunting him with their permanence. The urge to lash out, to burn them down until nothing remained but smoldering ash, had been clawing at him since he was thrown in here.But he couldn’t afford to lose control. Not with eyes always watching, waiting for him to slip up.Instead, he trained. Not his muscles—though prison life forced him to stay in shape—but his power. His fire.He reached out, his fingers curling around one of the thick, iron bars. The coolness of the metal seeped into his skin. Dan closed his eyes, inhaling slowly, trying to channel the rage and frustration coiled inside him.Heat gathered in his palm, a prickling warmth that intensified the longer he focused. His hand trembled with the effort, sweat beading along his forehead. He imagined the metal glo

  • Chapter 12

    The cell door slammed shut behind Dan with a metallic clang. The place was cramped and smelled of sweat and mildew. Light seeped in through a small, barred window, cutting through the dimness. Dan stared at the wall, his fists clenched.Dr. Sanders had played his cards well. Accusing him of trying to kill Lauren was a stretch, but the Doctor had money, lawyers, and enough connections to make things stick. Dan had barely spoken to his court-appointed lawyer—an overworked man who seemed more interested in clearing his schedule than fighting for him. It was obvious doctor Sanders had it all wrapped up. He was doneDan tried not to believe it, but doubt gnawed at him. Lauren’s father had made it clear he didn’t want Dan around his daughter. But to go this far? It felt personal.Prison life was rough, and Dan did his best to avoid trouble. Most days, he kept his head down, only speaking when necessary. But staying out of sight didn’t stop the rumors o

  • Chapter 11

    Riley’s eyes widened at the sound of footsteps and low, gruff voices echoing through the darkened warehouse. She spun around, her gaze locking onto Felix, who was crouched behind a stack of rusted crates.“Great. Just great,” Riley muttered.Felix glanced at her, his own nerves rattled but his expression stubborn. “You’re the one who broke into this place. I just followed.”“Yeah, well, you’re still an idiot.”They were tucked behind a metal shelf cluttered with broken tools and rotting wood. The room stretched far, with shadows deepening toward the corners. Dust swirled in the air, disturbed only by their hurried movements.The men were moving quickly, flashlights sweeping across the room. One of them kicked over a metal can, the clatter making Felix flinch.“They’re tearing the place apart,” Felix whispered.“No kidding.” Riley’s fingers danced along a small, rectangular device she had pocketed moments before—some kind

  • Chapter 10

    Felix walked the backstreets of Seal City with his hood pulled low over his head, eyes flicking from shadowed alleyways to suspicious faces lurking in the dark. The underbelly of the city reeked of dampness, rot, and desperation—places where law and order barely reached, and where favors were bought with blood and desperation.He didn’t belong here. Never had. Felix was a tinkerer, a man who spent his days hunched over gadgets and tools, working his fingers to the bone in whatever odd job he could find to keep the bills paid. He wasn’t tough, wasn’t ruthless. But today, desperation overpowered common sense.He had spent days scouring the darkest corners of the city, chasing a rumor that had cropped up among the city’s whispers. The kind of rumor that felt too thin to be real but too persistent to ignore.Someone out there could bypass high-security systems. Someone who could do the impossible.Felix clung to that faint glimmer of hope like a man c

  • Chapter 9

    Dan wiped the sweat from his forehead as he stepped back from his makeshift targets. His breathing was heavy, his shirt damp from hours of exertion. He had just finished his third part-time job for the day—unloading shipments at a dingy warehouse—and had come straight to this abandoned lot. The sun had long since gone down , leaving the place covered in dim orange from a nearby streetlamp.He looked down at his trembling hands. Ever since the accident, he had not been the same - who would after witnessing such a chaotic train of events in a short space of time. A subtly warm sensation lingered just under his skin, invisible, but constant, like an engine running at low power.Dan sighed and squared his shoulders. He had to focus. He couldn’t let his powers stay raw and untamed, not after what happened with Lauren.A few feet away, he had set up trash cans and broken wooden pallets he’d found scattered around the lot. They weren’t great targets, but they’d do. Dan clenched his fists, le

  • Chapter 8

    The flashing lights from dozens of cameras reflected off the sleek glass exterior of NovaTech’s headquarters. A sea of reporters surged forward with microphones raised like weapons, their voices forming a chaotic blend of accusations and demands. At the center of it all stood Alisha Carr, the poised and immaculately dressed CEO of NovaTech. Her tailored navy suit hugged her frame perfectly, and not a single strand of her chestnut hair was out of place. She raised a hand, commanding silence without uttering a word. The mob simmered down, their eager eyes locked on her like vultures waiting for a slip.“First,” Alisha began, her voice calm and authoritative, “let me express my deepest condolences to the families of those affected by this tragic incident.” She paused, allowing a carefully calculated hint of emotion to color her tone. “NovaTech is committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.”She let the words settle. Control the tempo. Give them something to hold o

  • Chapter 7

    The rhythmic tapping of rain against the kitchen window was oddly soothing as Ben Carter rinsed the last plate from his dinner. Life had been strange since the train explosion—a disaster he still couldn’t fully wrap his head around. How he survived such a ghastly accident still didn't make sense to him. A miracle, one would say, but that ' miracle' had come with consequences - more weird things he could not understand. His hearing had become unnaturally sharp. Sometimes, if he focused too hard, he’d hear strange vibrations in the air, almost like a pulse only he could feel.Ben set the plate on the drying rack and leaned against the counter, wiping his damp hands on a dish towel. The rain outside intensified, thunder rumbling faintly in the distance. He reached for his coffee mug when something caught his attention—a faint noise from upstairs.It wasn’t the normal creaks of an aging house settling. No, this sound was deliberate, almost rhythmic. Like footsteps.He froze, the mug ha

  • Chapter 6

    Dan's apartment.Felix paced back and forth in Dan’s small apartment, the place felt eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath his steps.“Dan,” Felix said, breaking the silence. “You have to talk to me. You're saying you just set something on fire with your hands. Your hands, dude! How is that not the first thing we’re freaking out about?”Dan sat slouched on the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers laced together tightly. He wasn’t looking at Felix; his eyes were glued to the floor. Inside, his mind was a whirlwind of fear, guilt, and confusion.“I don’t know, Felix,” Dan finally muttered.“ All that matters now is that Lauren is dying…and I couldn't save her,” he said looking up at him with a grim expression.Felix blinked, caught off guard. The frustration in his face melted into something softer, almost apologetic. He sat down on the armrest of a nearby chair, his face lined with worry.“ Come on man

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App