A Big Change

{{Hospital Room – Midnight}}

A faint beeping echoed through the dimly lit room. Eric's eyelids fluttered open, his body stiff and aching. The white ceiling above him felt unfamiliar. The scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils, and as his vision adjusted, he realized where he was.

The hospital.

Slowly, he turned his head to the side.

There, slumped over the hospital bed, was his mother.

Maria's head rested against the mattress, her hands gently holding Eric's. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and faint tear stains marked her cheeks.

But what stood out the most, her eyes.

Even in her sleep, they were red and swollen, evidence of the hours she had spent crying.

Eric swallowed hard. His chest tightened with guilt.

As if sensing his movement, Maria stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and the moment she saw him awake, fresh tears welled up.

"My son…" Her voice cracked as she sat up, clutching his hand tightly. "Please, don't make me worry like that again."

Eric felt his throat tighten.

"You're all I have in this world full of misery." She let out a shaky breath. "If something happened to you, I—I wouldn't be able to go on."

Eric's hands clenched. A part of him wanted to tell her.

Mom… Dad is alive.

The words hovered on his tongue, but he swallowed them back.

No.

It wasn't the right time.

He forced a weak smile. "I'm sorry, Mom… I won't make you worry like that again."

Maria sniffled, brushing away her tears. "You better not."

Eric hesitated for a moment, then gently squeezed her hand.

"I'm okay now. Really. Can we go home?"

Maria blinked. "Are you sure? You just—"

Eric nodded. "Yeah. I feel… surprisingly good."

Better than good, actually.

Stronger.

Maria sighed, rubbing her forehead. "You're as stubborn as your father…" But then she gave in. "Fine. I'll talk to the doctor."

{{Eric's House – Morning}}

[[BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!]]

Eric groaned, slamming his alarm clock.

For a moment, he stared at the ceiling. Did everything that happened yesterday… really happen?

The hooded man. The strange energy. His body moving faster than before.

It all felt unreal.

But as he sat up, his body felt light, too light.

He shook his head and quickly got dressed. Throwing on his uniform, he rushed downstairs.

Maria stood in the kitchen, already expecting him. She handed him a brown paper bag with a small smirk.

"I packed sandwiches for you," she said. "Figured you'd wake up late again."

Eric chuckled, scratching his head. "Thanks, Mom."

She ruffled his hair. "Now go. Before you miss the bus."

Eric rushed out the door.

{{Bus Stop – Morning}}

The moment he arrived at the stop, he saw the bus, already moving away.

"Not again!"

Desperation kicked in. His legs moved on their own.

He ran.

Faster than he ever had before.

The wind roared in his ears. His feet barely touched the ground.

Inside the bus, students gasped.

"Dude… is he catching up?!"

"No way!"

In a blur, Eric surged forward, reaching the bus just in time. With a final push, he grabbed the railing and swung himself inside.

Panting slightly, he looked around.

Everyone was staring at him.

"Whoa, that was insane!" one student said.

"Cool moves, man!" another added.

Eric forced a nervous chuckle. "Uh… thanks?"

Then—

"Move it, loser."

Dwayne.

The bully stomped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Think you're hot stuff now, huh?"

Before Eric could react, Dwayne threw a punch—

And suddenly, everything slowed down.

Eric could see the punch coming. Every detail. Every muscle movement.

Without thinking, he raised his hand.

THUD.

The bus fell silent.

Eric had caught Dwayne's fist. Effortlessly.

Dwayne's eyes widened in shock. "What the he—?"

Eric quickly let go, stepping back.

Dwayne's face darkened. "Just wait 'til we get to school." His friends nodded, their expressions filled with promise of revenge.

Eric gulped.

{{School Hallway – Lunch Break}}

Eric sat across from Lily at their usual lunch spot, still distracted.

"You okay?" Lily asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.

Eric hesitated. "…Just thinking."

Lily smirked. "About how you outran a bus this morning?"

Eric chuckled. "Yeah, something like that."

But deep down, his thoughts were elsewhere.

Who was that hooded man?

How did I get this power?

His fingers absentmindedly tapped the table.

SMACK!

A hard shove from behind sent him tumbling forward.

Eric barely caught his sandwiches in time.

But.

SPLAT.

His tray of food? It had landed on someone's back.

A very familiar back.

Dwayne.

The cafeteria went dead silent.

Dwayne slowly turned around, his face red with rage.

Eric's stomach dropped.

"…RUN."

And he did.

He sprinted out of the cafeteria, pushing through the crowd.

Heavy footsteps followed.

Dwayne and his gang were right behind him.

{{School Hallway – Near the Lockers}}

Eric skidded to a stop, panting.

A dead end.

Slowly, he turned.

Dwayne and his friends stood at the other end of the hallway, grinning.

"You think you're fast, huh?" Dwayne sneered. "Let's see how fast you are when we break your legs."

The crowd gathered. Students whispered excitedly.

Eric tensed.

Dwayne and his gang rushed forward, fists raised.

Then—

Everything slowed down.

Again.

Eric's heartbeat echoed in his ears.

He saw their movements before they happened.

Dodge left.

Duck.

Counter.

His body moved instinctively.

He slipped past the first punch.

Sidestepped the second.

Then—

He threw a punch of his own.

CRACK!

Dwayne flew backward, crashing into the lockers.

The hallway went silent.

The students stared, mouths open in awe.

Even Eric was frozen.

Then—

"ERIC!"

The principal's voice boomed through the hallway.

Eric turned.

The man's face was furious.