The Nexus.

What do I do? I pondered deeply, the gravity of the decision weighing heavily on me. This is by far the hardest choice I've ever faced.

Unsure of my path, I turned to my siblings for guidance. Aaliah, after some thought, expressed that joining could hold potential benefits for us, but she admitted feeling a lingering unease about the option. The thought of imprisonment clearly unsettled her. I already knew where Booker stood—his decision had been apparent from the moment he was first presented with the ultimatum.

"Whatever you decide, I'll always stand by you," I reassured him, my voice steady. "I'll follow both of you, no matter what, until the end of time."

Aaliah made her choice. "I'm joining," she declared with resolve. With her decision clear, mine became inevitable—I, too, would join.

Taking a deep breath, I pressed the blue button. Instantly, the restraints were released, and the door unlocked. I cautiously peered down the hallway and spotted them both. Without hesitation, I rushed toward them, pulling them into a warm embrace.

"Till the end," I whispered.

"Till the end," they echoed in unison.

Footsteps approached from down the hall. Joe Wann, accompanied by a group of guards, strode toward us. "Are you all ready to begin your transformation?" he asked, his voice calm yet commanding.

"Yes," we answered together, the conviction in our voices undeniable.

He led us further down the corridor, explaining the structure of the program as we walked. "As I mentioned before, your transformation will occur while you're here," Wann explained, scanning his ID to open a secure door.

"There are five phases in this program," he began, guiding us to a room where phase one was on display. "The first is the Discovery Phase. Its purpose is to challenge your mental capacity and help you fully understand your abilities."

He directed our attention to another section of the room, where someone was engaged in a demonstration of phase two. "This phase focuses on testing your critical thinking skills." The participant was connected to a complex system of cables and a helmet designed to enhance cognitive precision. "It's widely considered the most difficult phase," Wann added with a knowing smirk.

The third phase, the Refinement Phase, focuses on sharpening our abilities and gaining mastery over them. During his explanation, a metahuman, seemingly upset, began to power up her abilities out of frustration. Wann immediately ordered the guards to restrain and remove her.

As the guards dragged her away, I felt a wave of her emotions—anger, despair, and defiance—all coursing through me. Wann smiled thinly and said, "Carry on; there's nothing to see here."

He continued the tour, showing us phase four, referred to as the Mastery and Integration Phase. "In this stage, you'll work alongside a seasoned metahuman to perfect your skills and become one with your abilities."

Finally, he presented phase five, the Hero's Trial. "This is the culmination of everything you've learned. You'll undertake solo missions and low-risk assignments to build confidence and independence. The Hero's Trial is designed to challenge you in complex, high-stakes scenarios orchestrated by experienced heroes. Once completed, your successes and failures will be analyzed to foster growth."

Wann then guided us through the facility's living quarters, outlining the day-to-day expectations. "This program has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct—no peeping, no fraternization. Your focus here is on your growth and your contribution to society."

As the tour ended, he escorted us to the processing station. Just before he turned to leave, I couldn't resist asking, "What about our mom?"

He froze momentarily before replying, "We've informed her of your absence. However, she left the country shortly afterward."

The weight of his words hit me like a blow to the chest. My heart sank, but I forced myself to remain composed for the sake of my siblings. "She wouldn't... would she?" Aaliah whispered, her voice trembling as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Wann left us in silence. Moments later, a gentle voice greeted us. "Welcome to phase one, sweethearts."

A woman approached, her badge identifying her as "Melinda." She split us up and led each of us to meet our trainers.

"So, you must be Kaleb," my trainer said, her badge bearing the number "#263." The unusual designation caught my attention. She placed a folder on the desk and introduced herself as Rem.

Sensing my apprehension, she placed a reassuring hand on mine. "Don't worry," she said warmly. "I know this is all new and overwhelming, but I'm here to help."

Her touch sent an inexplicable chill down my spine, but when she pulled her hand away, I felt an unexpected sense of calm. "Better now?" she asked with a kind smile.

"How did you do that?" I asked, intrigued.

She explained that she was known as the "Ultimate Empath," and her power, which she called "Love's Touch," allowed her to calm others with a mere gesture. She also revealed that her badge number reflected her rank among a thousand rated heroes.

"Enough about me," she said with a grin. "Tell me about you."

I felt strangely at ease as I introduced myself. "I'm Kaleb. I'm sixteen years old and still figuring out my abilities. But I do know one thing—I have ultimate manipulation."

Her expression shifted to one of amazement. "Do you think you can help me?" I asked, hopeful.

She admitted she had never encountered someone with my level of power but assured me she was excited to embark on this journey together.

"Training starts tomorrow, but for now, you need rest," she said kindly. I nodded and headed down the hall.

As I passed a room labeled "Counselor," faint voices caught my attention. The conversation seemed to revolve around the earlier incident with the restrained metahuman. "You can't let emotions control you," a voice said sternly. "It'll only lead to darkness."

The intense malice emanating from behind the door made me step back. In my retreat, I accidentally bumped into someone.

"Sorry about that!" I said quickly.

"It's fine," the girl replied with a laugh. She introduced herself as Maddie, a seventeen-year-old who had been at the facility for over a year.

We chatted briefly, and she demonstrated her unique power: sound sculpting. Using the ticking of a clock, she created a delicate flower in her hands. Though beautiful, it disintegrated the moment silence disrupted its sound source.

Before she left, Maddie leaned in close and whispered, "After tomorrow's training, meet me at the tower by the edge of the facility." I nodded, intrigued, as she walked away.

Exhausted by the day's events, I knew I needed rest. Tomorrow was going to be another long day.