6. Gold and Ghost.

At eighteen, Brandon Breyer sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the acceptance letter from a New York university. He was excited about college, about a new life in the big city, about the chance to see Spider-Man or Iron Man in action. But one problem nagged at him: money. His parents, Tori and Kyle, were barely making ends meet on the farm, and college in New York, even with a partial scholarship, was expensive. He needed a way to earn cash—fast. But he didn't want to slave away at a regular job. Not when he had powers that could change everything.

He sat in silence, thinking, until an idea sparked. Mines. The world was full of abandoned shafts hiding treasures—gold, platinum, rare minerals. With his superhuman senses, he could find them. With his strength, he could extract them. And with his wits… he could sell them.

Over the next few weeks, Brandon disappeared for entire days, telling his parents he was "visiting friends" or "taking walks." In reality, he was flying across the globe, visiting forgotten mines from Australia to South Africa. His super-vision, able to see through rock, worked like an X-ray, spotting veins of gold, diamonds, and even rare elements he'd read about in chemistry books. Telekinesis and superhuman strength let him split stone effortlessly, and flight meant he could hop continents in the blink of an eye.

What psychologists called the "butterfly effect"—a small decision that changed his life—started with a single pebble. Brandon wasn't about to flaunt his powers, so he sold the minerals at cut rates to shady types—black-market dealers who didn't ask questions. He met them in dark alleys in small towns, handing over sacks of glittering stones and collecting thick stacks of cash. He knew it was illegal, but he justified it: the mines were abandoned, and he was just taking what lay unused.

When he returned home with a bag full of money, Tori and Kyle noticed the change. Brandon, usually quiet and pensive, seemed more confident, a new spark in his eyes—maybe pride, maybe relief.

"Where'd you get this money, Brandon?" Tori asked, eyeing the stack of bills he'd spread on the kitchen table.

Brandon hesitated but knew he couldn't lie. Not to his parents.

"I found a way to earn," he said carefully. "Using my… abilities. Mines, minerals, that kind of thing."

Kyle raised an eyebrow, then, to Brandon's surprise, burst out laughing.

"Why the hell didn't you think of this sooner?" he asked, clapping him on the shoulder. "Beats plowing fields!"

Tori wasn't as amused. She looked at him with concern.

"Brandon, is this safe? And… legal?"

"Don't worry, Mom," he replied, avoiding her gaze. "I'm careful. No one's getting hurt."

Tori sighed but didn't press. She knew Brandon was different, that his life would never be ordinary. And the money meant their son could pursue his dream of college in New York. That was enough for her to turn a blind eye.

With the cash, Brandon could easily cover tuition, a New York apartment, and still have enough for a comfortable life. Packing his bags, he felt excitement. New York wasn't just about college—it was the city of superheroes. He wanted to see them in action, maybe even learn something about himself. About his powers, his place in the world. But above all, he wanted to study—maybe engineering, maybe physics—something to help him understand the technology of his ship, still hidden in the farm's shed.

The university's opening day was chaotic. Students jostled through crowds, professors handed out flyers, and the air smelled of coffee and city smog. Brandon, tall and muscular, drew glances but ignored them, focused on finding his department.

And then he saw her. She stood at a science club booth, with a distinctive hairstyle—blonde hair shaved on one side, the rest tied into a messy ponytail with hints of pink streaks. She was a bit older, even more striking than in the news, but there was no mistaking her: Gwen Stacy, Ghost-Spider. Her bright eyes sparkled with confidence, and her smile had a way of making the crowd around her fade. Brandon knew her from TV, though no one around seemed aware of her double life. By luck or misfortune, she was the one who noticed his lost expression and approached.

"Hey, you look like you could use some help," she said, her voice warm but with a hint of sass. "First day?"

Brandon blinked, caught off guard. For a moment, he forgot how to speak.

"Uh, yeah. Looking for the engineering department," he stammered.

Gwen laughed, pointing the way.

"Come on, I'll show you. I'm Gwen, by the way."

"Brandon," he replied, following her. His heart beat a little faster than it should. It wasn't just that she was beautiful. This was Ghost-Spider. A hero. And she was talking to him.

Walking across campus, he felt New York was already springing surprises. He wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.

[I hope guys you like the novel. If you have any ideas for new characters or events, let me know. And a question: would you prefer Brandon to start using the pseudonym Brightburn or a new one?]