A Risky Experiment

Nathan sat at the edge of the abandoned quarry, his legs dangling over the jagged cliffside as a light mist hung in the air. The Fragment in his pocket thrummed weakly, as if the heart of a living creature. It had been days since his harrowing escape from the warehouse, and the newfound silence gnawed at his restless mind. The confrontation with Jenkins, the mysteries of the Helix Order, and the undying energy of the Fragment—they all swirled together in a mesmerizing and crazy cocktail.

He needed answers.

More than that, he needed control.

Nathan stood, brushing dust from his jeans. This place, far from prying eyes, was perfect for testing the limits of the Fragment's power. His fingers shook as he extracted it from his pocket, the pressure of the object surprisingly far out of proportion to its size.

As soon as the Fragment was brought out, the air became heavy, a real, if barely perceptible, alteration to which Nathan's own flesh responded, in the form of gooseflesh. He inhaled deeply and concentrated, recalling the wave of energy that had saved him before. It had been instinctual, raw—but now he wanted to harness it, to bend it to his will.

"Come on," he muttered, closing his eyes. He pictured the waves of energy, the way they had rippled outward, crackling with power. "Work with me."

At first, nothing happened. Only silence, the soft swish of wind through the leaves. Then, the Fragment grew warm in his hand. A whisker of hum permeated the room, escalating in frequency until a tremor shook the earth under his feet.

Nathan opened his eyes. A soft radiance swathed the Fragment, a pattern of dynamic, swirling markings on its surface that appeared to react to his mental state.

A grin spread across his face. "That's it."

He extended his arm, willing the energy outward. A small burst erupted from the Fragment, sending a cloud of dirt and pebbles scattering. It was exhilarating—and terrifying.

However, next the Fragment proliferated unrequested and the luminescence increased. A crackling wave of energy rippled outward, stronger this time, shaking the earth. Nathan stumbled backward, struggling to contain it.

"Stop! he shouted, his voice lost in the roar of the power he'd unleashed.

The energy spiraled out of control, slamming into a nearby boulder and reducing it to rubble. An uncanny warp ran through the atmosphere, as if a mirage on a hot day, and for a second, Nathan thought he saw—or saw a phantom—behind the mist.

Before he could concentrate, the warping disappeared, leaving him gasping for breath and rattled.

"Damn it," he muttered, clutching the Fragment tightly. His hand burned where it had been in contact with the object, the faint smell of singed skin wafting in the air. He crouched to the ground, sweating profusely, and in shock exhaustion.

"You're going to get yourself killed, you know."

Nathan whipped his head around, heart racing. Jenkins stood at the edge of the clearing, his usual smirk replaced with a look of grim disapproval.

"How long have you been there? Nathan demanded, his voice raw.

"Long enough to see that you're as reckless as ever. Jenkins stepped closer, his boots crunching against the gravel. "Do you have any idea what you just did?"

"I was. testing it, Nathan said, struggling to his feet. "I need to figure out how this thing works."

Jenkins shook his head, exasperated. "Testing it? That wasn't testing—it was a bloody beacon. You just turned on every Fragment tracker within 100 miles radius.

Nathan froze. "What are you talking about?"

Jenkins sighed, his shoulders slumping. Fragments are not just a jumble of objects for fun. They're tied to the fabric of reality itself. When you use them, you're not just drawing on power—you're bending the laws of existence. And trust me, there are people who will see you", etc.

Nathan's stomach churned. "People like the Helix Order?"

"Among others," Jenkins said darkly. None of the worse things are found beyond the Helical Order, kid. Fragment Hunters, warring groups, monsters attracted to this sort of instability and so on. And you've just painted a giant target on your back.

Nathan clenched his fists, frustration boiling over. "Then what am I supposed to do? Hide? Pretend this isn't happening? I can't go back to being normal after everything that's happened.

Jenkins studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. And with a sigh, he said, "No, you don't. But if you're serious about this, you need to be smarter. Controlled. Or you're not going to survive long enough to learn the truth.

Nathan stared at the Fragment, its light fading but still faintly blinking. "What truth?"

Jenkins hesitated, then shook his head. "You're not ready for that yet. Just please promise me you'll remain out of view for a little while. Stay away until I figure out how to clean up after you.

Nathan didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on the Fragment, its enigmatic patterns reflecting the turmoil within him.

Stepping aside, Jenkins hesitated and looked back. "And kid? When you try to blow something up next, don't take the entire world with you.

Nathan saw him get lost in the mist, and his words stuck in the air. Lay low? That wasn't going to happen. It was only when he discovered what he sought to know—of the Fragments, of the Helix Arrangement, and of himself.

And somewhere in the shadows, a pair of unseen eyes continued to watch.