CHAPTER 34: Steel Veins and Silent

The comm buzzed in my ear as the Captain's voice came through, crisp and commanding.

"Listen closely. You're dealing with two enemies. One appears to have abilities resembling telepathy—though it's erratic. The other... we have no data on. No power signatures. Nothing."

A strange chill settled in my chest. I looked around at my team—Zack, Visor, and me. The three of us were trained for missions like this, but the unknown always had teeth.

"We do have their coordinates and background profiles," the Captain added. "Your mission is to uncover the second target's power and neutralize both threats."

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Understood."

The comm went silent.

We formed a tight triangle formation, just like in training. Each of us watched a different direction, moving as one.

That's when he appeared.

A boy in a dark hoodie, maybe seventeen, stepped out from the shadows. He moved with the unsettling confidence of someone who knew what we didn't. In one hand, he gripped a blood-streaked knife—the same one he had used in his earlier ambush. His lips curled into a grin.

"Let's have fun," he whispered.

He raised both hands.

Weapons. Each finger sprouted a different blade—throwing knives, short swords, jagged daggers. Like spiders on threads, they shot out in all directions.

I barely ducked, the wind from one of the knives slicing across my cheek.

"Zack, go!" I shouted.

Zack stepped forward and raised his hands—but then froze.

He dropped to his knees.

"I can't..." he gasped. "It's like my powers are... gone."

My heart slammed in my chest. I could see it in his eyes—pure confusion, helplessness.

Another wave of blades screamed through the air. I dodged, barely, and we signaled to each other—split up.

I dove behind a thick cement pillar. Blades slammed into it with a force that cracked the concrete. Another crack spidered out just inches from my face.

I tried calling Caitlyn for backup. Her voice came through the comm—fragmented, garbled.

"—bit... static... can't—" then silence.

I clenched my fists. I didn't even know these friends of hers. But they were dangerous.

I peered out and caught a glimpse of Visor—he was trying to activate his power, arms shaking in frustration. Nothing. I tried too—digging deep, reaching inward. Still nothing.

Suddenly, a blade zipped past, catching my ear and slicing open my cheek. Blood ran warm down my face. I turned in time to see another one curve midair and head straight toward me.

I jumped up, grabbed a rusty pipe from the floor, and swung. The impact vibrated through my bones—but the blade still pierced clean through, punching a hole straight through the pipe like paper.

Desperate, I pulled out my kunai and met the next strike. Sparks flew. My blade deflected—but couldn't pierce his katana. I was outmatched.

My body moved on instinct, hands a blur of motion. I had no time to check on Zack or Visor. The blades came too fast, too relentless.

Then... an idea.

I raised my bleeding hand and caught one of the weapons mid-flight.

Agony lanced through me—blood splashed on the ground—but it stopped.

I'd stopped one.

My heart raced as realization bloomed.

Across the room, the hooded boy's face twisted in disgust. "You dirtied my weapon," he spat, his voice suddenly deeper, colder.

I tightened my grip, refusing to let go. I looked at him—and then past him.

The other figure was standing perfectly still, eyes glowing red. Watching. Observing. Not moving.

And yet...

"They haven't taken a single step toward us," I whispered.

That's when it hit me.

"The red-eyed one... he's the source. His ability suppresses powers outside of his field. We're inside their trap."

I broke cover and sprinted straight at them, pain be damned. I held the bloody weapon in one hand and my katana in the other.

The hooded boy smiled as if he'd been waiting for this. "Time for revenge," he hissed.

His hand shot forward—and every single weapon he had launched at Zack and Visor suddenly turned and surged toward me.

I gritted my teeth. The pain was unbearable. Weapons sliced through my arms, my side, my legs. I stumbled, almost falling.

He laughed. "How does it feel... making my blades filthy with your disgusting blood?"

I met his gaze, cold and unmoving.

"I'm used to pain."

His smirk faltered.

He tried to control the weapons again. Nothing happened.

I grinned, blood dripping from my lips. "It's not telepathy. It's metal weaving. And with my blood on your blades... you can't control them anymore."

I threw my katana like a spear toward Visor.

"NOW!"

Visor caught it mid-air, a flicker of his power finally igniting.

In a blur, he struck both enemies down.

Silence.

I dropped to my knees, breath ragged, and began pulling the embedded weapons from my body. Zack ran over.

"Don't touch me!" I snapped, more fiercely than I meant to.

He stopped. "But I—"

"There are two more on the first floor," I interrupted. "Go help Alex."

He hesitated, then nodded and ran.

Visor stayed.

He stepped forward slowly.

"I said stay away," I muttered.

His expression softened. That look again. The one that said you're hurting and I see it.

"Stop looking at me like that," I muttered.

He came closer, just inches away, reaching his hand toward me.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" I screamed. "DON'T TOUCH ME!"

He flinched, stepping back.

"Are you okay?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Please," I said quietly. "Don't touch me."

He backed away slowly, eyes filled with something like pity. He turned and moved to secure the enemies again.

I wanted to say something. Apologize. But that... thing inside me, that fear of being touched—it clenched tighter than ever before.

I clicked my tongue, frustrated with myself.

I finished removing the last blade, blood pooling at my feet. Quietly, I activated the healing function of my powers. My body, part of my ability, was regenerating—slowly knitting skin and bone together.

I glanced at Visor. When will he use his power like I know he can? I wondered.

Then... the floor below us shook with a deafening explosion.

A deep bang echoed through the building.

Something was happening on the first floor.

And whatever it was... it was big.