Weight of the Title

Nate stood in front of the mirror, his reflection staring back at him with the blue and black suit that Henry had designed to protect his identity. The mask was tight, but the sensation of it was oddly comforting. It shielded him from the world, from the eyes of the people who now whispered his name—The Host.

The title sounded grand, like something that belonged to someone else. Someone braver. Someone who hadn't been thrown into this mess by a freak accident, someone who hadn't been bound to a powerful jinn for the rest of his life.

His fingers traced the edge of the mask. His mother's face flashed in his mind—her kind smile, her worried eyes as she'd asked him if he was okay after every strange episode he'd had as a child. She had no idea what was really going on. Neither did Henry, at least not entirely. They were both in the dark, but now, the dark was becoming Nate's world. The mask hid his fear, his uncertainty. But deep down, he knew that this was only the beginning.

The aftermath of his fight with Inferno had brought him recognition—and with recognition came attention. Not just from the people of Coast City, who were divided about whether they should trust him or fear him, but from forces far more dangerous. The city was still recovering from the devastation of the dark wave explosion, and Nate knew that the monsters it created weren't done yet.

"They're calling you a hero." Antrasite's voice floated into his mind, as smooth and indifferent as ever. "But don't forget, little host, you didn't ask for this."

Nate clenched his fists, the adrenaline from the battle with Inferno still thrumming through his veins. "I didn't ask for any of it," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "But here I am."

The jinn's laughter echoed in his mind, a dark and chilling sound. "You don't have to ask for power. It's not a matter of choice. You're mine now, and I'm yours. Together, we'll decide the fate of this city."

Nate stared at the reflection of the suit in the mirror, his body suddenly feeling too small for it. The weight of what he had become sank deeper in his chest with every passing moment. The Host.

"I'm just trying to protect the city," he said softly, as though the words would make him believe it. "I'm just trying to do the right thing."

Antrasite's voice softened, though there was an edge to it. "The right thing? Or the thing that serves your purpose, little host?"

Nate squeezed his eyes shut, trying to shut out the jinn's voice, but it lingered, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. He wasn't sure which path he was on anymore—whether it was the one he had chosen or the one Antrasite had led him to.

There was a knock at his door. It was Henry, always punctual, always there when Nate needed him. "Nate?" his uncle's voice called through the door. "You ready to go?"

Nate took a deep breath and walked away from the mirror. It was time to face whatever was waiting for them outside.

---

In the lab, Henry was already waiting, his hands busy adjusting the various monitors on his workstation. "You're the city's newest hero now," Henry said, his eyes bright with excitement but tinged with concern. "The news is buzzing with your name."

Nate slumped into the chair beside his uncle, staring at the screen as it flickered with news reports. The city was split. Some saw him as a protector, a savior who could take down the city's most dangerous criminals. Others… others were more skeptical. "They don't even know who I really am," Nate muttered. "I'm just some guy with a suit and powers no one can explain."

Henry paused, glancing at him with a knowing look. "That's why we keep your identity secret. But, Nate, this is bigger than you. This is bigger than all of us."

"Is it?" Nate's voice was quieter than he intended, but it carried an unease that had settled in his bones ever since that first battle. He wasn't just fighting criminals anymore. The dark wave explosion had opened doors to things far worse. Things that had been hidden for too long.

Henry's tone was firm but comforting. "We're not alone in this. You've got the suit, the power, and me. But more than that, you've got a purpose. We'll figure this out together."

Nate nodded, though the uncertainty still gnawed at him. He didn't know if he could handle what was to come, but he knew he had no choice.

---

The next few days were a blur of news stories and strange occurrences. The city was more on edge than ever before. Nate had thought defeating Inferno would make him feel accomplished, but instead, it only made him feel like he was standing at the edge of something far darker. Rogue jinn hybrids—people infected by the dark wave—were appearing across the city, each one more dangerous than the last. The question was no longer just what they were fighting. It was who was pulling the strings.

One late evening, as Nate and Henry were reviewing reports on the new wave of hybrid activity, Henry looked up from the screen. "I've been tracking the patterns. There's something bigger coming, Nate. Something more organized. And it's only a matter of time before they start making their move."

"Great," Nate muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Like we didn't have enough to deal with already."

Henry met his gaze, his face serious. "You're not in this alone. You've got me, and you've got Antrasite."

Nate's stomach tightened at the mention of the jinn, but there was no denying the truth in Henry's words. Antrasite's power had kept him alive, had kept him strong when he otherwise wouldn't have been. And Nate couldn't deny that the connection between them had grown. The jinn was a part of him now, for better or worse.

---

The next night, as the city hummed with the usual dangers, Nate pulled on the suit and checked his reflection once again. This time, the mask didn't feel like a barrier. It felt like a shield. A symbol of the responsibility he had taken on.

"You ready?" Henry's voice echoed from the doorway, and Nate nodded.

The weight of his decision settled over him like a cloak, but there was no turning back now. Coast City needed The Host, whether he was ready or not.

"We've got this," Nate said, more to himself than to Henry.

The city waited for them. The fight wasn't over. It was only just beginning.