Hero Within

It started with a knock on the door. Nate hesitated, staring at the clock—it was close to midnight. When he finally opened it, no one was there, but a note was pinned to the door. The message was written in jagged, angry handwriting:

"You think you can humiliate us? Watch your back, kid."

Nate froze, his chest tightening. He crumpled the paper and turned to shut the door, but the voice in his head spoke before he could.

"They're coming for you again. You know this, don't you?"

"I don't need your input," Nate muttered, his frustration growing.

"I saved you once. You'll need me again."

Nate ignored the voice, shutting the door harder than necessary. He tried to brush it off, but the unease stayed with him.

---

The next day, Nate was walking home from the corner store when he felt a presence following him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the same two goons from the alley fight. They were no longer ordinary thugs. The dark wave had given them horrifying enhancements. One of them had jagged claws extending from his hands, glowing faintly red, while the other had glowing eyes that could pierce through the shadows.

"There he is," one of them growled. "Time to finish what we started."

Nate ran, his heart pounding. They chased him through the streets, closing the distance fast. He ducked into an abandoned warehouse, hoping to lose them, but it was no use.

"You can't hide forever, kid," the clawed one said, his voice echoing through the space.

Cornered, Nate clenched his fists, his breathing heavy. "What do you want from me?"

"You made fools of us," the one with glowing eyes spat. "Now, we're here to return the favor."

Nate tried to think of a way out, but before he could move, a familiar heat surged through his chest. The voice was back.

"Let me handle this. They're no match for me."

"I can do this on my own!" Nate shouted.

"No, you can't."

As the first thug lunged at him, Nate felt the flames ignite within him. His eyes turned gray, and blue fire erupted around him, forming a shield. The jinn had taken control.

The fight was brutal but short. The jinn moved Nate's body with precision and power, blocking every attack and countering with devastating blows. The claws melted against the blue flames, and the glowing-eyed thug was blinded when the fire flared up. Within moments, they were incapacitated, writhing on the ground in pain.

When the jinn receded, Nate was left standing in the aftermath, his chest heaving. He looked at his hands, trembling. "What... am I?"

---

That night, Nate sat with his uncle Henry in the garage, recounting everything. Henry listened intently, nodding occasionally but saying little.

"I don't think it's all bad," Nate said finally. "I mean, yeah, it's terrifying. But if I can control it... maybe I can use it to help people. To stop the monsters this city is dealing with."

Henry raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about being a superhero?"

Nate shrugged. "Why not? Someone has to do it."

Henry rubbed his chin, considering. "If you're serious about this, you'll need support. A plan. And more importantly, control. That thing inside you—if it takes over completely, you'll be no better than the monsters you're trying to stop."

"That's why I need your help," Nate said. "I can't do this alone."

Henry sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, kid. Let's do it."

---

Over the next few weeks, Nate and Henry worked tirelessly. Henry used his expertise to build gadgets and analyze Nate's abilities, while Nate trained to improve his strength and reflexes.

At the same time, Nate began talking to the jinn. Their conversations were tense at first, but over time, a reluctant partnership formed.

"You want me to help you play hero?" the jinn asked one night, its shadowy form flickering in the mirror.

"Yes," Nate said firmly. "You want me to be strong, right? Then help me protect this city. Help me make a difference."

The jinn chuckled darkly. "You're ambitious, I'll give you that. Fine, I'll help—for now. But don't forget, you need me as much as I need you."

With Henry's inventions, the jinn's power, and Nate's determination, the trio became a force to be reckoned with. Together, they began taking on the rogue humans corrupted by the dark wave, one battle at a time.

But even as they made progress, Nate couldn't shake the feeling that the jinn had its own agenda—and that their uneasy alliance wouldn't last forever.