Chapter 12 Born Again

Kai is holding onto an iron rod at the top of his closet door, using both arms to pull his weight up and down, his entire upper body dripping with sweat, his chest even broader and his abs breaking up becoming even more visible, he releases his grip landing on both his feet, his figure even more muscular than normal.

He enters into the bath, the sound of rushing water filled the air minutes later the sound that could be heard was the gentle pattern of water droplets. He emerged, refreshed and revitalized, with water droplets glistening on his skin." He dressed in his usual style wearing a blue hoodie, a pair of black joggers and sneakers to go with.

He pulled up outside his house with both hands in his hoodie as always and a backpack hanging from his shoulders he strolled quietly down the street the fact he was over an hour late didn't seem to bother him.

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Kai's footstep slowed as he approached the school his eyes scanning the school slowly with a mixture of disinterest and disdain, the remaining flicker of light inside him being completely snuffed out, leaving only a dull, icy stare with a change of heart he turned around altering his course.

"I remember when I used to run to school with every ounce of energy in my body even though I knew I'd end up being 10 minutes early but now I am over an hour late and am still not going to go to school" a soft inward 'hmmph' of amusement escaped his lips, a hint of smile playing on his face. 

Kai was still in his usual inner monologue suddenly a car zoomed past him it's rush of air stirring his air, for a fleeting instant something resonated within him.

Time seemed to slow as he watched the car glide away the wind whipping his hair into a frenzy, his eyes sparked with intuition a thrill of excitement flickering to life. 

Without hesitation Kai sprang into motion joining the car in a burst of speed, with a whoop of excitement he tore down the sidewalk his feet barely touching the ground the air rushed past him, a cool caress that soothed his skin and lifted his spirits.

He felt so free that he couldn't help but smile and for the first time in a very long time, with precision and power the car carved a smooth arc through the corner entering into another road.

With a desperate burst of excitement to keep up he snatched a skateboard leaning against a lamp pole, one moment it was there the next second it was in his hand with a flicker of his hand he sent the board rolling and immediately hopped onto it.

"Hey get back here with my skateboard !" The owner yelled.

"Sorry!" Kai yelled his voice filled with thrill.

Using the lamp pole as a pivot, Kai swiveled into the next street with a swift fluid motion, the skateboard's wheels hummed a vibrant smooth melody echoing off the surrounding building as he glided effortlessly away.

His exotic chase turned into a real competition with $10,000 on the line, his eyes squinted with precision refusing to lose sight of the car, with his target locked he carved a seamless path through the crowded street his skateboard gliding effortlessly around pedestrians and obstacles.

He emerged from the crowd, he had a clearer and closer view of the rear end of the car which he chased after hiseg pounded the pavement continuously sending the skateboard surging ahead with incredible speed his towering form dissolved into a smear of color a fleeting impression of speed and power.

With another push Kai moved at dizzying velocity speed typically reserved for automobiles his legs bent slightly at the knees allowing him to maintain perfect balance the wind whipped through his hair sending it flying behind him like a golden banner his face set in a fierce grin seemed chiseled from the very wind itself.

His eyes narrowed to slits against the rushing air, the world around him became a colorful blur, a mad whirlwind of sound and motion that he navigated with ease, his senses heightened to a superhuman level. 

He accelerated so fast, he and the car moved side by in a heart stopping display of speed, obviously the driver was unaware that he was currently in a race with a teenage boy on his skateboard and $10,000 on the line so he cruised at a decent speed whereas Kai was literally becoming one with the wind in order to keep up.

With a last ditch effort he struck his feet against the ground unleashing a final burst of speed pushing him far ahead of the car with which he won the 'race' , he slammed on the tail on the tail of the board the wheels locking up in a squeal of protest bringing him to a rough jolting stop. 

His chest heaved with ragged breaths each gasp a desperate attempt to replenish his depleted lungs a few seconds later a triumphant grin slowly spread across his face as he still struggled to catch his breath

The passerby looked at him in confusion as one moment he was moving at incredible speed and in an instant he stopped and began smiling like he had just won a $10,000 cash prize.

The thrill Kai felt from competing with that car was amazing just about 10 minutes ago smiling was like a chore but now he was doing it so effortlessly, he felt a sweet sensation of freedom in the air one that he could never feel in his school even in a million years. "This is way better than going to school, how was I able to move so fast well I guess the workouts are paying off" Kai said to himself but this time with his mouth and not in his head.

The dull light inside of him that was barely a flicker had resonated into the hot burning fire within him, he wasn't just back to his old self he had found something new to live for, the thrill he had just now had shifted the entire destiny of this young man.