Chapter 11: The Accident

The school trip had been planned for weeks. For most of the students, it was a welcome break from the monotony of classes and a chance to explore one of the city's most famous landmarks—the museum of modern history. The journey to the city was a long one, and the students were restless. The bus was filled with chatter, laughter, and the sound of muffled music from the various devices the students carried with them.

Maxim sat near the back of the bus, staring out the window as the landscape passed by in a blur of greenery and concrete. He had always preferred quiet moments like these, where he could let his thoughts drift. The past few weeks had been strange for him—ever since that odd moment in the forest, something within him had changed. There were moments when he felt like there was energy coursing through him, something he couldn't control or fully understand. But there, on the bus, surrounded by classmates, it was easy to pretend that everything was normal.

The museum itself was vast, a towering structure of glass and steel in the heart of the bustling city. As they filed out of the bus, the teachers began organizing the students into groups, explaining the itinerary for the day. It was supposed to be a simple visit—an educational experience filled with exhibits and artifacts. Maxim kept his head down, blending into the crowd as they entered the museum.

Hours passed as the students wandered through the exhibits, admiring the ancient relics and reading about the history of the city. But Maxim's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake the feeling of restlessness that had been building inside him. It was as if something was pulling at him, though he didn't know why.

By mid-afternoon, the group was given a break. Some of the students headed to the museum café, while others, including Maxim, decided to step outside for some fresh air. The city was alive with activity—cars zoomed by, pedestrians filled the sidewalks, and the distant hum of traffic filled the air.

Maxim stood by the entrance, watching the world go by when suddenly, chaos erupted.

Screeching tires, the blare of sirens, and shouts from across the street broke the calm. A police car sped past, hot on the trail of a black sedan weaving dangerously through traffic. People screamed as the sedan collided with another car, sending it careening onto the sidewalk. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down.

Maxim's eyes widened as he saw the direction the car was headed—straight toward a lone figure walking along the sidewalk, oblivious to the danger. It was Lila, lost in her own thoughts, completely unaware of the world around her.

Without thinking, Maxim's legs moved on their own. He sprinted across the street, weaving through the chaos of panicked bystanders and oncoming traffic. Time seemed to stretch as the car barreled toward Lila. He could feel that strange energy again, the same sensation he had felt in the forest, only this time, it was stronger. It surged through him like an unstoppable force.

Just as the car was about to crash into her, Maxim reached her. He grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him, but the car was too close. In a final, desperate moment, Maxim threw himself in front of Lila, shielding her with his body.

The impact should have been devastating. The car was moving too fast, and there was nowhere to escape. But instead of the bone-crushing collision Maxim had expected, something extraordinary happened.

The car stopped.

Not gradually, not with a screech of brakes, but as if it had slammed into an invisible wall. Maxim felt a force surrounding him, like a barrier had materialized out of thin air. The car, which should have crushed them both, hovered inches from his outstretched hand, the metal groaning as if held in place by some unseen power.

For a moment, the world stood still. Maxim's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in short gasps. He looked down at Lila, who stared up at him in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke. They were alive. They shouldn't have been, but they were.

The chaos around them continued—police sirens blared, people screamed, and the driver of the car stumbled out, dazed and injured. But no one had seen what had truly happened. No one, except for Maxim and Lila.

Maxim let out a shaky breath, his arms still wrapped protectively around her. The strange energy that had filled him moments ago faded, leaving him feeling weak and disoriented. He slowly lowered his arms and stepped back, his mind racing with questions.

Lila, however, was speechless. She looked from Maxim to the car that had come to a halt in front of them, then back at him, her expression a mixture of shock and confusion.

"What... what just happened?" she finally whispered.

Maxim didn't know what to say. He didn't know what had happened either, only that something inside him had changed. Something powerful and dangerous. He could feel it, even now, like a dormant force waiting to be unleashed again.

But before he could respond, the police arrived, pulling them away from the scene. As they were questioned and escorted back to the group, Maxim's mind raced. He had saved Lila's life—there was no doubt about that. But how? What was this power inside him? And what did it mean?

As the day came to an end and the group returned to the bus, Maxim couldn't shake the feeling that his life had just taken a turn he hadn't expected. Something had awakened within him, something that would change everything.

And Lila, whether she realized it or not, was now a part of it.