A young woman stood on the balcony, the city lights spilling across her face. Below, the streets pulsed with life, a river of movement, sound, and color that never stopped. She rested her hands on the cool stone railing, letting the hum of the city seep into her thoughts.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, unlocking the screen with a flick of her thumb. A new message glowed:
Need you to do something for me. Keep an eye out for these two. Report if you find them.
Attached was a photo. The faces of two familiar figures, Taiwo and Tahir. Seeing them now, here, in this vast city, tightened her chest in a way she hadn't expected.
It's them.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. Questions raced through her mind: why were they here? How had they gotten this far? But she shoved them aside. Now wasn't the time for doubt.
She snapped the phone closed and slipped it back into her pocket, letting the weight of the moment settle. Her eyes narrowed as they scanned the streets below, calculating, measuring, tracking possibilities. Every shadow, every light, every movement could matter.
She had work to do.
The city buzzed with life, its streets teeming with activity as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. It was nothing like the quieter outskirts Taiwo, Tahir, and Tanisha had known. Skyscrapers towered above them, the air filled with the chatter of a thousand conversations, honking horns, and the hum of trains in the distance.
A few days had passed since their arrival, but the trio was still adjusting to the sheer scale of it all. For now, they needed a place to lay low. They moved through the crowded streets together, weaving carefully around pedestrians, street vendors, and performers. Even as they stuck close, the city's density worked against them. A group of people jostled them from the side, and for a split second, Taiwo's attention was drawn away. When he looked back, Tanisha and Tahir were a few steps behind, separated by the press of the crowd.
He let out a low, impatient growl. "Huh? Where'd they go?"
Before they could regroup fully, a commotion erupted ahead. A young man darted out of a nearby alley, clutching a bulging sack as if his life depended on it. He collided with Taiwo, sending them both stumbling. Gold coins spilled across the pavement, glinting in the fading sunlight.
"What the hell, man?" the man snapped, scrambling to gather the coins. His face twisted with anger as he shoved Taiwo's shoulder. "Watch where you're going!"
Taiwo didn't answer. He just turned, shoulders squared, keeping his attention forward as if Kian didn't exist. He still couldn't find Tahir or Tanisha anywhere
"Hey!" Kian lunged, grabbing Taiwo's arm. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Taiwo froze for a split second, then slowly turned back, locking eyes with him. His expression was calm, almost bored.
"You're in my way," Taiwo said quietly, voice low. "Step aside."
Kian's grip tightened. "Step aside? Fuck that!" He squared up, ready to swing. Without hesitation, he swung a wild punch at Taiwo. Taiwo shifted instinctively, sidestepping with precise, fluid movements. Kian, realizing he didn't have time for a fight, glanced over his shoulder and saw a cop weaving through the crowd, shouting orders.
"You're not worth it," Kian muttered, snatching up the coins he could before bolting down the street.
Taiwo barely had time to process the retreating figure before the cop's attention fell on him.
"Hands up!" the officer barked, leveling a gun. "You're under arrest!"
"What? I didn't do anything!" Taiwo protested, raising his hands cautiously.
"I said, hands up! Don't make this harder for yourself!" the cop snapped.
From the street, Tahir and Tanisha pushed through the crowd, weaving past pedestrians. Tahir's voice carried as he called out, calm but firm: "It was an accident! He didn't steal any of this, it was the guy who ran off."
The officer swung his gaze toward them. "Hands up, both of you!" His voice was sharp, uncompromising. Tanisha and Tahir froze, obeying immediately, hands raised.
Taiwo's eyes darted between them and the cop. "Why should we listen? We didn't do anything!" he snapped, voice rising, the tension breaking.Taiwo hesitated, then tilted his chin in defiance. He kept his hands raised, not yet attacking, but his posture was unyielding, ready.
In one fluid motion, his hand shot out, slapping the gun from the officer's grasp. The weapon clattered to the pavement. Without hesitation, he shoved the man backward, sending him sprawling. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Move!" Taiwo barked, turning toward the alley. Tanisha and Tahir didn't hesitate. They sprinted after him, weaving through the throngs of people. Taiwo vaulted over a rusted fence, landing lightly, then glanced back.
"Hurry up!" he barked to Tanisha, reaching out to help her climb.
"I'm coming!" she gasped, hauling herself over the top, heart racing.
Tahir followed immediately, landing beside Taiwo as they disappeared into the twisting alleys. The officer scrambled to his feet behind them, shouting, but the crowded streets and narrow passageways gave the trio a head start. Taiwo led the way, calculated turns keeping them ahead.
"We need to lay low for a while," he said, eyes sharp. "No questions, no attention. Understand?"
Taiwo led the way down the street, eyes scanning every corner as if trouble could spring out at any moment. The city roared around them, cars honking in a relentless cacophony, vendors shouting over one another, music from street performers clashing with the chatter of the crowd.
"This place is overwhelming," Tanisha muttered, pulling her hood tighter around her face. "How do people live here without going crazy?"
"It's a different world," Tahir said flatly, his gaze moving constantly across the street. He stayed close to Tanisha, as if ready to shield her from anyone who got too close.
Taiwo stopped abruptly, forcing the others to almost collide with him. "We'll be fine," he said, voice steady but tense. "Stick together, avoid eye contact, and…" He trailed off, eyes narrowing at a shadowy figure across the street.
"What is it?" Tanisha asked.
Taiwo shook his head. "Nothing… thought I saw someone."
Tahir frowned. "You're being paranoid."
"Yeah, probably," Taiwo muttered, slipping into a narrow side alley.
The alley reeked of damp trash and oil, but it offered a momentary reprieve from the chaos outside. Taiwo leaned against the wall, pulling the sack of gold from under his jacket. "This'll keep us afloat for a while. We just need a place to lie low."
Tanisha wrinkled her nose. "That's not exactly subtle, Taiwo. What if someone saw you take it?"
"Then I'll deal with it," Taiwo said sharply.
Tahir raised an eyebrow. "So you did steal it, huh?"
"I took it from the thief," Taiwo said, shrugging.
"But the cop was right," Tahir said cautiously.
"It doesn't matter," Taiwo replied. "We have money now."
Tahir shook his head as they moved through the alley. "We can't just do whatever we want, Taiwo. If we're gonna live here, we have to play by the rules."
Taiwo snorted, tightening his grip on the sack. "Rules? Since when did rules save anyone? We survive because we're smarter and faster, not because some cop says so."
"This isn't a game," Tahir said, voice low but firm. "One wrong move, and it's over. We follow the laws, at least on the surface, and we stay out of trouble."
Taiwo gave him a sidelong glance, expression unreadable. "Or we make our own rules. You sure you're ready for that?"
Tahir's jaw tightened. "I'm ready. But I'm not reckless."
The alley emptied them back into the bustling street, the city's gaze pressing down from every corner. Unease settled over the trio as they moved.
They made their way to a nearby train station, the sounds of the city fading slightly as they descended the steps to the underground platform. Taiwo glanced over his shoulder, mind still replaying the chaos from earlier.
For now, they were safe. But how long would that last?
The train slowed with a faint screech of brakes, the steady hum of the engine dropping into a low whine as it pulled into the station. Eartha sat by the window, her gaze unfocused, watching lights smear across the glass. The rhythmic sway ceased, replaced by the jostling movement of passengers rising from their seats.
The doors slid open with a soft hiss.
A rush of people stepped in, murmurs and shuffling feet briefly breaking the quiet. Eartha's attention sharpened when two young men and a girl entered the car. They stood out, not loud, not careless, just alert in a way most commuters weren't.
She recognized them immediately.
Taiwo lingered near the entrance, scanning the car with guarded eyes before settling into the empty seat beside her. Tahir and Tanisha moved on into the next car, sitting together but staying tense, their shoulders stiff.
Eartha's fingers tightened around her phone.
Damn it. It's him.
She lowered her gaze, pretending to scroll. The message on her screen burned into her vision. Need you to do something for me. Keep an eye out for these two. Report to us if you find them.
She glanced sideways at Jovryn. He sat calmly on her other side, posture relaxed, expression unreadable. But she caught it, the brief flick of his eyes toward Taiwo before he looked forward again. He noticed. The train lurched as it pulled away from the station. Eartha leaned back, forcing herself to breathe evenly.
Her leg began to bounce. Should I send it?
She typed quickly: Found him, then froze. Her thumb hovered over the screen before she erased the words.
Not now. If I do anything, Jovryn will see.
Her gaze drifted back to Taiwo. He wasn't looking at her. His attention was fixed down the aisle, toward the next car. Watching Tahir and Tanisha. Waiting.
The train began to slow again. Taiwo murmured something under his breath. Eartha couldn't hear it, but Tahir and Tanisha stayed seated. No one moved. Then Taiwo turned his head slightly. For a split second, their eyes met. Eartha's breath caught. She looked away instantly, thumb swiping at her phone with forced casualness.
When she glanced back, Taiwo was already facing forward again—but his posture had changed. Tighter. More alert.
He noticed me, she thought. Or… maybe he didn't.
Beside her, Jovryn stared at his reflection in the window, calm as stone. The train hissed to a full stop. Passengers began filing out, but Eartha stayed seated, watching Taiwo from the corner of her eye.
What's your move?
A few cars down, the doors slid open again. Caspian, Calder, and Cordela stepped aboard. The people from the forest the ones who were searching for Taiwo and Tahir.They moved with purpose, scanning faces, reading the car like a map. Caspian's eyes locked onto Tahir and Tanisha almost immediately.
A grin tugged at his mouth. "Found them."
Tahir stiffened. He grabbed Tanisha's arm. "We need to move."
They stood, and the trio was already advancing.
"Dude," Tahir hissed as they hurried toward the next car, "it's them."
Jovryn rose from his seat in one smooth motion. His eyes narrowed, not in recognition, but assessment. His hand slipped inside his jacket.
"Trouble," he muttered. "And not the subtle kind."
Caspian stopped a few feet away, amusement flashing across his face. "Didn't expect security to be riding today."
Jovryn's jacket fell open just enough to reveal the gun. "You picked the wrong place. Stand down."
"Oh, relax," Caspian said. "We're not here for you."
Eartha was already moving. Her weapon came up, aim steady despite the spike of adrenaline. So I wasn't the only one sent, she thought grimly.
"TAIWO," Caspian shouted, voice echoing down the car. "STOP RUNNING."
The gunshot cracked through the air. Jovryn fired first. The train erupted into chaos. Passengers screamed and ducked as Caspian, Calder, and Cordela dove for cover. Eartha fired in controlled bursts, forcing them back.
"Damn it," she hissed, sliding behind a pole.
Water surged as Caspian countered, shaping it into a compressed blast. It slammed into Tahir's chest. He staggered, gasping, hands flying to his side as blood spread beneath his fingers. His knees hit the floor.
"Tahir!" Taiwo froze, horror flashing across his face before rage took its place.
Tanisha dragged Tahir behind a row of seats. "Stay with me," she whispered, pressing hard against the wound.
The train screeched as it slammed into the next station. Doors burst open. They ran.
Caspian shouted after them as the doors slid shut. "This isn't over!"
The platform was eerily quiet when they spilled out. The echo of gunfire faded behind them.
Tahir stumbled, and collapsed. Blood pooled beneath him, his breathing shallow, uneven.
"Tahir!" Taiwo dropped to his knees, hands shaking as he tried to help, panic written across his face.
"He's bleeding too much," Tanisha said urgently. "We need help, now."
Jovryn stepped closer, already pulling out his communicator. "I can get him to the base. Medical's closer than any public facility."
Taiwo shot to his feet, stepping in front of him. "No. Get away from him."
Jovryn met his glare, voice sharp but controlled. "If you waste time arguing, he's going to bleed out right here."
Eartha folded her arms. "He's not bluffing. You want him alive? Let him move."
Taiwo looked down at Tahir, pale, barely conscious, then back at Jovryn. His fists trembled. "If he dies… "
"He won't," Jovryn cut in. "Not if we move now."
After a beat, Taiwo stepped aside.
Jovryn lifted Tahir carefully. Tanisha squeezed Taiwo's arm. "We'll fix this. Just, trust it."
Taiwo didn't answer. He watched silently as Tahir was carried away.
A few steps back, Eartha pulled out her phone and began typing.
They're all here. She hesitated before adding. With the heroes now.
The sterile scent of the infirmary lingered as Devon worked on Tahir. Taiwo and Tanisha sat nearby, their eyes fixed on the still figure on the cot. The soft beep of the heart monitor filled the silence.
"Is he going to be okay?" Taiwo asked quietly.
Devon didn't look up. "He's stable for now. He just needs rest and monitoring."
Hours passed slowly, the weight of waiting pressing down on them. Eventually, Jovryn entered, calm but alert. "You two should get some rest. There's nothing more to do right now."
Reluctantly, Taiwo and Tanisha left the infirmary, glancing back once at Tahir before stepping into the hallway.
Taiwo pushed the door open and stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room. It was surprisingly lived-in, as if someone had only just left. Posters, bands, abstract patterns, clashed across the walls, chaotic but oddly welcoming. A bookshelf overflowed with novels, trinkets, and old magazines, while a desk groaned under pens, notebooks, and a half-finished model kit.
The bunk bed dominated the space. The lower bunk was neatly made with a navy comforter; the top was draped with a thin, faded sheet, floral and worn, likely older than him. Against one wall leaned a full-length mirror, frame chipped but sturdy.
Taiwo caught his reflection and paused. His clothes were wrinkled, stained, worn from days on the move, out of place in this orderly room. He ran a hand through his hair and let out a quiet sigh.
Jovryn's words echoed: "You can use whatever you need."
Taiwo hesitated, then looked to the dresser. Its drawers were slightly open, revealing neatly folded clothes. The offer, casual before, now felt real.
He shrugged off his grimy shirt, sliding into a soft shirt and black pants. The fabric felt strange against his skin, clean in a way he hadn't touched in days. He glanced once at the mirror, then quickly discarded the old clothes into a heap by the door. With them gone, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter, if only a little.
He sank onto the lower bunk, the mattress firm but forgiving beneath him. Leaning forward, elbows on his knees, he took in the room again, messy, personal, full of someone else's life, yet now his own.
For the first time in what felt like weeks, Taiwo let out a slow, genuine breath, a small relief threading through him.
The next morning, Taiwo sat in the corner of the training room, staring at his hands like they held all the answers. The quiet hum of the facility pressed in around him.
Jovryn approached, his usual swagger tempered, hands in his pockets. "Hey. Got some news for you," he said, leaning against the wall.
Taiwo didn't look up. "Yeah? What?"
"Your brother… he's awake," Jovryn said carefully. "Devon says he can respond, talk a little, but he can't move much yet. Any strain could make the wound reopen."
Taiwo's jaw tightened. He looked away, voice low. "Figures."
Jovryn shifted, then pressed on. "On another note… I ran some tests. You and Tahir… you've got powers. Pretty strong stuff. You've got insane strength. Tahir… wind powers. Rare combo, really."
Taiwo's gaze flicked to him, unreadable.
Jovryn's tone softened. "Look, with abilities like that, you could make a real difference. Help people, be a hero. Someone worth looking up to."
Taiwo scoffed, lips curling into a cold smirk. "A hero? Like you? Running around pretending you matter? Nah. Not my thing."
Jovryn's brow furrowed. "I get it. You're angry, scared, probably feeling trapped. But out there? Having powers isn't just a gift, it's a responsibility. And trying to live out there without training? You're asking for trouble. Could get yourself killed, or worse."
"And what if I don't care?" Taiwo shot back, eyes dark. "What if I just want to live my life without anyone telling me what to do?"
"I'm not your enemy," Jovryn said firmly. "Neither is Eartha. We want to help you control it. Survive. Protect yourself and your brother. You owe yourself that."
Taiwo said nothing for a long moment, eyes dropping to the floor. Then he shrugged, voice tight with indifference. "Yeah, whatever. Do what you want."
Jovryn studied him a beat longer, then nodded and stepped away, leaving Taiwo with his thoughts.
Eartha appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, watching. "He's… a tough one."
"Yeah," Jovryn said quietly. "But there's potential there. We just have to figure out how to reach him."
Eartha's gaze returned to Taiwo, sharp and calculating. "Before it's too late," she murmured.