James stirred awake, his body aching, his mind sluggish. The cold metal of the truck bed pressed against him, the thin blanket draped over his shoulders offering little warmth. Around him, other survivors sat in silence, wrapped in the same flimsy coverings. Their eyes were empty, staring at nothing. No one spoke. No one cried. The weight of what they had witnessed had stolen even the will to grieve.

  The truck rumbled down the shattered streets of Victoria Island. James barely registered the figures beside him or how he had gotten there. His gaze remained fixed outside, where the once-thriving city lay in ruin. Buildings had crumbled, their skeletal remains jutting into the sky like broken fingers. Flames licked at the husks of homes, sending thick smoke spiraling into the air. The roads were slick with blood, reflecting the flickering light of burning cars.

  Soldiers moved methodically, retrieving bodies from the wreckage—some human, others not. Medics loaded the twisted corpses of creatures onto stretchers, likely for study. A woman sat on the curb, cradling the lifeless head of her child, her body swaying as she whispered to him. Nearby, a wife clawed at the mangled remains of a car, trying to drag out the limp form of her husband before the wreck exploded. The air was thick with the scent of smoke, burning flesh, and something James could only describe as wrong.

  It was a nightmare. One no one could wake from.

  A voice cut through the suffocating silence. "It's painful, isn't it?" The officer who had pulled James from the ruins—his name was Segun—watched him carefully. "This place used to be beautiful. Now, it’s just… ashes."

  James didn’t reply. He just kept staring out the truck, his face devoid of expression.

  Segun exhaled and continued, as if needing to fill the silence. "Where we found you… it was worse than this. A graveyard."

  James finally turned, his voice barely above a whisper. "My family?"

  A flicker of hesitation crossed Segun’s face before he answered. "I’m sorry, kid. We’re spread too thin. We couldn’t give them a proper burial. But… we laid them to rest the best we could."

  James turned back to the ruined city. His voice was quiet, almost lost in the wind. "I see. Thank you."

  Segun nodded but said nothing more. He knew there was nothing left to say.

  The truck rolled on, carrying its silent cargo of the broken and the grieving.

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  UN Conference –

  “We’ve been arguing for almost a week now. We need a solution—fast.” A weary representative slammed his fist on the table. “The chaos within our borders is under control for now. Awakeners are cooperating with the military. But what then? If we don’t find a long-term strategy, everything we’ve done will be meaningless.”

  Mr. Langston scoffed. “And what do you suggest? Hand our awakened citizens special privileges until they no longer need us? Or should we use force to suppress them, making ourselves look like cowards clinging to power? Either way, we’re losing control. They may be manageable now, but once they master their abilities… I don’t even want to think about whether they or the creatures from the rifts will be the bigger threat.”

  The room fell into uneasy silence. The weight of his words settled over the gathered leaders—no one had an answer.

  Just as the tension reached its peak, a calm voice broke through.

  “How about we establish our own awakened task force?”

  Heads snapped toward the speaker. The suggestion was so na?ve, so absurd, that for a moment, no one knew how to respond. Then anger flared across the room.

  “You think that’s the solution?” George Whitesmore, European representative growled. “Do you realize how long it would take to train and control such a force?”

  Zhang Wei remained unfazed. “One year.”

  Scoffs and murmurs rippled through the chamber. Langston leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “And I assume you have a plan to back up that claim?”

  “Of course.” Zhang’s voice remained steady. “Within a year, our respective regions would be stabilized. Order would be fully restored. More importantly, your governments would receive all the credit. The world will see you as the saviors who ended the chaos.”

  A heavy pause. Then a quiet, skeptical voice spoke.

  “Stop.” Mr. Diwe’s sharp gaze locked onto Zhang. “You’re not offering this solution out of goodwill, are you?”

  Zhang’s lips curled slightly. “I see you’re not naive, Mr. Diwe.” He leaned back, his confidence unwavering. “Yes, I have a way to bring this crisis to an end. But I won’t give it away for free.”

  A Pakistan representative shot up from his seat. “Our world is on the brink of collapse, and you want to do business?”

  Zhang’s gaze turned ice-cold. “Yes.” His tone was as sharp as a blade. “Your nations are falling apart. I have a solution. Do you have a better one?”

  The room fell silent again. The Pakistan rep sat down, his jaw tight.

  Anika Rao tapped her fingers against the table. “So this is what you and your scientists have been working on since the beginning of this conference.”

  Zhang smirked. “You’re very perceptive, Ms. Rao.”

  He swept his gaze across the room, his voice lowering to a near whisper. “I’ll give you all a choice. Are you open to negotiation, or will you let your nations collapse out of pride?”

  His eyes settled on key figures. “Mr. Khan, Mr. Langston, Ms. Rao, and of course, Mr. Diwe. Your countries are the ones on the verge of breaking. That’s why you’ve been the most vocal here. It is already hard for countries to control their people I wonder how terrifying it is to regulate countries with massive population like yours”

  He folded his hands together, his expression unreadable. “This is your only opportunity to save your nations. You will take it, won’t you?”