The Morning After

The cold bench outside his mother's hospital room had become Harry's makeshift bed. A thin blanket was loosely draped over him, his arms folded as he slept in an uneasy slumber. The buzzing of fluorescent lights and the distant beeping of monitors filled the sterile corridor with a dull hum. But none of that compared to the weight inside Harry's chest the image of Luther's lifeless body still burned into his mind.

A loud murmur stirred him.

Harry blinked awake, eyes bloodshot. He sat up slowly, his back aching. A small crowd had gathered around the TV mounted on the wall above the nurse's station. Something was wrong.

"...this morning, authorities confirmed the discovery of multiple deceased individuals at the Wade Industrial Yard – Block 9. The scene is being investigated as a possible gang war incident," the news anchor reported in a grim voice.

Harry's heart skipped a beat.

Images flashed across the screen blurred silhouettes of black-suited men lying on cold gravel, yellow tape surrounding the yard, cops scanning the area with grim expressions.

"...all deceased have been identified as security of HumanOx Corporation. Officials are unsure who orchestrated the attack, but sources claim heavy close-combat injuries on the victims, some with internal trauma consistent with extreme force. Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward..."

Harry's body froze. His jaw clenched.

They're all dead.

Suddenly, a red light shimmered before him not on the screen. In the air.

A hologram.

It flickered silently, a sleek red interface floating in front of him.

[ VisionOS: Activated ]

[ Congratulations. You fought and bested multiple armed opponents. Your strength has increased. ]

[ Strength Level: 5 ]

The message vanished into the air before anyone else could see.

Harry slowly looked around. No one noticed. Everyone was too busy watching the news, unaware that the "unknown killer" was sitting right among them.

Harry pressed his back against the wall, sweating.

"What's happening to me?"

HumanOx Corporation

Far across the city, in the high-rise headquarters of HumanOx Corporation, a private room sat in tense silence. Inside, the temperature felt colder than steel. Dim lights reflected off black marble walls and a holographic screen hovered in front of a tall, sharp-featured man in a silver-gray suit: Mr. Vexley the head of HumanOx R&D division.

He stared at the screen showing footage from drones that circled above Wade Industrial Yard. Bodies. Blood. Destruction.

A voice crackled through the intercom.

"Sir, Luther's team has been confirmed… neutralized. No survivors."

Vexley's jaw tightened. His fist clenched on the glass table.

"Luther was reckless. He went after the subject without my command," he muttered. "But… that confirms it."

He turned to the figure beside him an assistant in a white coat.

"Whoever survived the initial injection… the VisionOS formula… is no longer dormant."

The assistant hesitated. "You mean he's...?"

"Awakened." Vexley's voice was calm, yet deadly. "And now he's eliminating threats without even realizing it. Find him. I don't care if you scan every street camera in the city. I want him identified before someone else gets to him."

He stared at the footage one more time.

"The formula works."

Three days later.

Harry's mother was finally well enough to be discharged. Her color had returned, and she smiled weakly as she walked beside Harry, her hand in his. The hospital paperwork was done, the nurses wished them well, and for the first time in days, the two of them were finally heading home.

Harry had spent the last few days cleaning up everything replacing broken items, scrubbing out traces of Luther's earlier intrusion, and even changing the locks. He didn't want his mom to know anything about what had happened. No stress. No questions. Just peace.

She needed it.

Back in their small apartment, Harry helped her to bed and sat with her until she fell asleep. He watched her chest rise and fall in a gentle rhythm.

She's safe. For now.

That night, Harry lay on his bed, the moonlight spilling through the window and painting his room in silver.

His fists were still bruised. His body, aching.

But it wasn't the pain that kept him awake it was what he had done.

He had killed them.

Not by choice. Not with intent. But it happened all the same. And Luther? That final punch it felt like striking through paper. The man had collapsed before Harry could even think.

And yet… there was something inside him now. Something growing.

"Strength Level 5." The words echoed in his mind.

Whatever this VisionOS formula was, it was changing him. Making him faster. Stronger. More durable. His reflexes were different. But that power came with a cost.

If he didn't control it, people would die.

"I don't want to be a killer," he whispered into the night. "I need to control this. Or it'll control me."

But beneath that fear… there was something else.

A hunger to uncover the truth. Why was he chosen? What did HumanOx really want? What was VisionOS meant for?

There were too many questions, and only one way to answer them from the inside.

The sun broke through the clouds as Harry slipped on his jacket, tucked a notebook into his bag, and stepped out into the morning air.

Today wasn't just any other day.

It was the day he returned to college.After win Inter-College fighting tournament.

As he walked through the main corridor toward the library, every eye turned toward him. Students whispered in corners, some tried to walk beside him, a few even dared to smile or wave. But Harry knew better.

These were the same students who once laughed at his stutter, snickered behind his back when he failed the chemistry test, and made fun of his tattered sneakers. Now? Now they saw him as someone different.

Someone powerful.

Someone dangerous.

They didn't want to be his friends. They wanted to be near whatever had changed him.

Harry kept his head low and ignored them all, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. His footsteps echoed louder than the murmurs in the hallway. He wasn't angry. He wasn't bitter. Just… detached.

Jessica and Tyler, stood beside the cafeteria wall pretending to check their phones but their eyes darted up at Harry like scared little rabbits.

They didn't say a word. Not after that prank backfire on them.

Good, Harry thought. Let them stay quiet.

As Harry turned the corner, he heard a soft but confident voice call from behind.

"Harry Watson! Are you… are you Harry Watson?"

He turned.

A girl stood at the edge of the hallway. She was around his age, maybe a little younger, with smooth brown skin, expressive hazel eyes, and long black hair cascading freely over her shoulders. She wore a crisp white top and high-waisted blue jeans. There was something pure and unaffected in her demeanor—unlike the others.

"Yeah," Harry said, guarded. "That's me."

She stepped closer, smiling kindly. "I'm Anna. I'm new here. Just transferred this week."

Harry gave a slow nod. "Okay…?"

She chuckled awkwardly. "I don't really know where to go. My schedule says Room B-12 for Biotech, but I have no idea where that is. Could you maybe show me?"

Harry narrowed his eyes. "How do you know my name?"

She blinked innocently. "Oh. I saw your tournament fight. The clips were all over social media. You were… intense."

That made Harry pause. Not because he liked the praise. But because she seemed genuine. Still, he didn't want to trust anyone that easily anymore.

He pointed toward the east building. "Room B-12 is that way. Third floor. Take the stairs near the statue. You'll find it."

"Thanks," she said softly.

He started walking away.

"Hey," she called again. "Thank you… for not ignoring me."

Harry didn't stop. Didn't look back. Just raised a hand halfway, signaling he'd heard her, and disappeared into the hallway crowd.

He had barely reached the library steps when chaos broke loose.

Screeching tires outside. Shouts.

Police cars.

Four of them.

Blue-and-red lights painted the college walls, flashing rapidly as dozens of students swarmed toward the entrance. A woman in a dark blazer led the officers stern-faced, short-haired, with eyes that scanned the crowd like laser beams.

Harry's heart sank.

Wade Industrial Yard – Block 9. The murders.

They had come.

For him.

He ducked behind a pillar instinctively. His thoughts raced.

How did they know? Did someone see me? Was there a camera ? No… I covered my face. I never even touched Luther until… until he forced me.

But he knew how this looked.

Dozens of armed security guards slaughtered in one night. The only survivor Harry.

This wasn't normal. And the cops? They were here to find whoever wasn't normal.

The college dean approached the police nervously. "Officers, what's the reason for this sudden visit?"

The lead detective raised her badge. "Detective Mira Singh. This is in relation to a homicide investigation at Wade Industrial Yard. Block 9. The site is less than two miles from here. We believe one of your students may have seen something. Possibly even been there."

Whispers grew louder. Teachers exchanged glances.

Harry felt sweat bead across his forehead. His hands curled into fists.

But something odd happened.

Instead of looking at him… the detective walked right past, heading toward the principal's office.

She didn't notice him.

Or… she didn't yet.

Still, it didn't calm his nerves. Harry quickly slid into the library, choosing a corner by the window, pretending to scroll through his tablet.

Downstairs, the detective's voice echoed faintly through the speakers.

"We aren't here to accuse anyone. We're looking for witnesses. Anyone who saw unusual activity near the yard last week."

Harry's thoughts spiraled.

Luther had screamed something about the formula before he died. He knew who injected me. He was trying to warn me. Or expose me. Or… kill me?

But Harry hadn't told anyone about the scientist in the car. About the needle. About the night he changed.

Suddenly, a strange realization hit him.

Mr. Vexley didn't know.

The man who created this power who guarded it with armed soldiers had no idea Harry held it now.

And that meant… Harry had an edge. But also a target on his back.

"Harry Watson?"

He looked up.

Anna stood at the library entrance, holding two coffee cups. "I thought you might want one. You kinda disappeared."

Harry hesitated.

"Relax," she smiled. "I didn't tell anyone. Honestly, I just wanted to sit with someone who looks like they don't trust anybody either."

Harry managed the faintest smile.

For once, someone didn't feel fake.

Still… he stayed quiet.

Outside, the red and blue lights flickered one last time before fading away. The police had left. No arrest. No questioning. For now.

But Harry knew something deeper had begun.