Alone

Dave laid in a place filled with endless white light. He was unconscious until he slowly began to wake up. He loved the feeling of being comfortable, but he didn't know where he was.

"Where am I?" Dave said with a faint voice that echoed around him. "What happened?" he asked himself as he tried to remember. Suddenly, he recalled the terrible incident. He quietly touched his stomach, relieved to see it was intact.

"What's going on? Am I dead?" Dave wondered aloud, looking around the strange place. There were no entrances or exits, just a white space with no walls or ceiling. Suddenly, the white surroundings began to change, slowly turning into a dark grey color.

With this, Dave knew he was in his cosmic consciousness, the same place where he had met Lord Kan before.

"Hey, weird Kan guy, are you here? What's going on?" Dave asked, hoping for an answer.

"Why wouldn't you listen to me?" Lord Kan said angrily. "You nearly got us killed!"

"That's good news, I am not dead," Dave replied. "But that stab should have killed me. I need to know what's going on with my mom. What's happening to her?" he asked with concern.

"Your inability to see the obvious will lead to your downfall, just as we have seen now. You let your guard down. You have powers now, so be prepared for the consequences that come with them. That thing isn't your mother anymore. Whatever it is, it has to die," Lord Kan said sternly.

"What are you talking about? What do you mean she is not my mom?" Dave asked, confused. "I just want to know what's going on with her so we can deal with it. I am not killing my mother," Dave said boldly.

Your mother is fully controlled by a cosmic entity," Lord Kan said. "We have to end her."

"Can you stop saying that? What's wrong with you? We are not doing anything to my mother," Dave argued.

"Can't you see, boy? That thing isn't her. She died the first time it took over her body. She can't hear you, and she is gone, Dave. She is gone. There is nothing you can do about it," Lord Kan said.

"You have to kill her now. With your current state, you are still here. Let me take over your body to help you," Lord Kan continued.

"You bastard!" Dave screamed as he tried to punch Lord Kan, but his hand passed through him, and Lord Kan appeared behind him.

"I am only a cosmic form, Dave," Lord Kan said.

For now, you can't touch me since I am growing slowly within you, but my power is all around you," Lord Kan said.

"Listen Boy, you are alive because you were able to acquire some deep cosmic ability from me. It's a rare ability that only you might have, but it works slowly the first time. If you manage to wake up, you will only end up dying again because that thing is going to end you before you even blink. Regeneration doesn't mean you are truly immortal. If your heart or head is aimed at, you are surely dead. That thing has an eighty percent chance of going for your head next time," Lord Kan explained.

"Why are you telling me this?" Dave asked, kneeling on the floor as he glared at Lord Kan with disgust.

"Because I want to help you, Dave," Lord Kan replied.

I will have to take over your body to help you fight this thing," Lord Kan said, stretching his hand towards Dave.

"I don't need your help, and you are not taking over my body! You are not!" Dave shouted.

"Have it your way then," Lord Kan said, looking at Dave as he faded away.

Soon, Dave woke up, still lying on the floor. He looked at his stomach and saw it was completely healed. He stood up, not seeing his mom around.

"You are alive," a monstrous voice echoed as his mother descended from the roof and headed towards Dave.

"Mom, I know you are in there. It's me, Dave. Please remember. I know you are in there," Dave said, crying as he saw the monstrous form approaching.

"I should have known you had the rare regenerative ability. I will end you here and now," the powerful monster said as it quickly moved, swinging one of its tentacles with a sharp edge like a sword towards Dave's neck.

Dave closed his eyes, still hoping his mom would come back. Tears rolled down his cheeks, knowing fully well that if it didn't work, he was dying for sure.

Suddenly, the sharp tentacle was stopped. Dave's markings and eyes were glowing brightly. The creature using Rita's body was surprised as Dave held it firmly and suddenly dragged it with full force, cutting off the tentacle.

The creature screamed as it fell to the floor.

Meanwhile, in Dave's cosmic consciousness, he was sinking into the depths…

Dave stared in surprise. "What's happening? What are you doing to me?" he screamed as he saw Lord Kan.

"It's not me you should blame. You caused this yourself, Dave. If you are not letting me take over your body, your cosmos detected your flaw and quickly switched between the two cosmic energies. Now, that's you and me in one body. Let me help you do what you can't do," Lord Kan said.

"No. Don't hurt her, she is still my mom," Dave shouted.

"You disgust me, Dave. You nearly died. If I hadn't reached you that fast, you would have been killed for real. Only your rage will free you from that cosmic cage, but until then, I am in control of your body," Lord Kan said.

"No, no, no!" Dave screamed.

Dave sank fast into the dark ground like quicksand, which covered him up to his neck until he was finally submerged.

Soon, Lord Kan took over Dave's body and stood in front of the possessed Rita as she slammed into the ground due to the ripped tentacle.

Just as Lord Kan was about to move, he realized he was finding it difficult to move and fell to the floor on his knees.

"How can he still try to control his own body? I underestimated him too much," Lord Kan said, but he noticed Rita close to him. Before he could react, Rita gave him a hard kick, which sent him flying as he burst through the wall, appearing outside. He held the ground to reduce the speed at which he traveled.

"Now I have full control," Lord Kan said.

Lord Kan's markings on his hands were now glowing. The creature dashed towards him with extreme force, extending its long tentacles. Lord Kan dodged effortlessly.

He formed a sharp spear of light around his hands and moved behind the creature, cutting off all its tentacles before it could make another move. With his right hand surrounded by blue light, Lord Kan gave the creature a heavy punch, sending it flying a long distance.

The creature saw a light beam approaching and managed to dodge it. Lord Kan continued sending another light beam towards the creature. The creature dashed at high speed, managing to dodge the light beam again. It already knew the power difference between them.

Moving on, the creature noticed Lord Kan was above it with light

Lord Kan's leg was surrounded by light energy, ready to kick. He moved so quickly that the creature didn't notice him until it was too late to dodge the attack.

Lord Kan gave the creature a mighty kick with explosive force, tearing the ground and destroying the road. Cars flew away from the shock waves. They were fighting on an open street, and the houses around took the impact. People had already run away from the area as the fight came so suddenly.

The creature managed to stand up after the impact and moved towards Lord Kan.

"Damn, I am reaching my limit already. This boy's body is still too weak. He just awakened his powers and hasn't learnt how to use them yet" Lord Kan thought.

"I have to end this before he takes over his body," Lord Kan said as he struggled to move with Dave's body. The creature using Rita's body charged towards Lord Kan.

Lord Kan managed to pull one of his hands free. He began to gather and convert cosmic light energy into his right hand as the creature came closer. The creature held out its hand, which took the form of a long, sharp, dark alien hand.

As they came close, Lord Kan realized he wouldn't make it in time. He thought the creature would cut off his head. Lord Kan was barely controlling Dave's body and couldn't hold it for long. He was losing control over Dave's body.

"No, just hang on. I am not failing, not me!" Lord Kan shouted as he stretched his hand, which had the sharp light energy.

When the creature got close, Lord Kan realized he had thrown his hand too early. The creature's sharp hands were already at Lord Kan's neck. But then, the creature acted like it slipped and moved its sharp hand away, falling into Lord Kan's hands. Lord Kan's hand burned through its stomach.

They both knelt on the floor as blood began to gush out of Rita's stomach. Dave's hand was still in it. The rain began to fall heavily, and Lord Kan started to lose consciousness slowly.

"This isn't over, Lord Kan," the creature said as it rested its head on Lord Kan's shoulder.

Lord Kan's eyes widened in surprise, looking at Rita's head on his shoulder. Rita slowly began to come back to normal as the alien appearance on her began to disappear.

Dave's glowing markings began to fade until they became normal. He slowly opened his eyes and regained control over his body. At first, everything was blurry until he could see properly.

He couldn't believe his eyes. He saw his mom kneeling and resting her head on his shoulder. Tears were already pouring out, and he couldn't help it. He shouted, "No, no, no!" Dave then discovered his hands were still inside his mother's stomach. He slowly removed them, blood all over his right hand.

"No, mom, no," Dave said, crying as he held his mom tight and close to him. His markings on his hand began to flicker, going off and on.

"He's too weak now to get to his rage; it's helpless," Lord Kan said to himself within Dave.

Dave, don't blame yourself. Thank you for saving me. You are really a wonderful child," Rita said softly with her eyes closed, using the last strength she had.

"Mum? Mom, what are you talking about? What do you mean I saved you? I'm so sorry, it wasn't me," Dave said, crying.

"Don't say that, Dave. I am realizing the truth now at the time of my death. I wish I had more time to tell you the truth, but you have to find your dad before it's too late," Rita said as she gave up her last breath.

"Mom? Mom, what do you mean? Mom, wait!" Dave shouted, not wanting to believe that his mom was now dead. He continued shouting and crying as his markings began to glow, starting from his hands and moving to his legs and neck.

Rita's body began to disintegrate and turn into dust until she finally disappeared.

Suddenly, Dave's entire body was engulfed in a bright blue light, and he ascended into the sky in a long blue beam. This beam was seen by many people due to the dark clouds on a rainy day. The beam of light created an iconic scene, easing the tension created by Lord Kan and the creature, a serene beauty of light in the dark.