The hovercar glided smoothly over the streets, the low hum of its engines a constant undercurrent to the silence that enveloped the vehicle. Theo sat in the backseat, his legs dangling just above the floor, adjusted by the soft, steady pulse of his hover boots.

  Alyssa and James were talking ahead of him, but Theo’s mind was elsewhere. The world outside seemed almost surreal, as if he wasn’t meant to be part of it. His thoughts kept drifting back to the power he’d recently discovered in himself. ECHO, it wasn’t as polished as he’d hoped, and it certainly wasn’t the kind of power you could just switch on and off. But it was something.

  “Are you just going to stare out the window all night?” James asked, noticing Theo’s distant look.

  Theo blinked, tearing his gaze from the cityscape. He shook his head. “Just thinking.”

  “About your power?” Alyssa asked, her tone casual but understanding. “It’s a lot to process.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I guess it’s just… I’m still trying to figure out how to use it right. It feels.”

  “You’re fine,” James interrupted, resting his arm on the back of the seat. “You don’t have to be a master right away.”

  Theo couldn’t help but feel the weight of James’ words. He wasn’t wrong. His power wasn’t weak, not even close. He’d already learned that the bio-energy within his own body enhanced his strength, sharpened his senses, made his reflexes faster. But there was more. He could feel it pulsing beneath the surface, just out of reach.

  “I hope you’re right,” Theo muttered.

  “You’re about to find out,” Alyssa added with a smile. “It’ll be easier once we’re at the facility.”

  Theo shifted in his seat, his hover boots adjusting as he angled his body toward the window again. The neon glow of the city cast an eerie light across the buildings, but something felt off. He could sense the power, but he couldn’t yet control it. That was the next step, and it was a step he wasn’t sure how to take.

  “James,” Theo started, leaning forward. “What exactly happens here? I mean, I’ve never been to a testing facility like this before.”

  James grinned. “What happens here? Simple. You get tested. You get evaluated. Then, depending on how you do, you’re either invited to join or, uh, well. But let’s not worry about that part. Horizon doesn’t throw away good people.”

  Alyssa shot him a look, then turned to Theo. “Just be ready for anything.”

  Theo’s mind raced. He clenched his fists, trying to calm the fluttering anxiety in his chest. He had to be ready. He wasn’t like the others with obvious powers—this whole ECHO thing was still a mystery, and he couldn’t afford to fail.

  Theo thought about what ECHO was again and what his power said to him:

  “Energy type - Bio Energy”

  “Control - None”

  “Harmony - Unstable”

  “Origin - Self”

  He couldn’t help but think about why his power had 4 parts to it.

  The hovercar slowed as they neared a rge building, its sleek design cutting through the night sky. It was a sharp contrast to the chaotic streets of the city—a clean, almost clinical structure that stood alone, tall and imposing. The lights from the building reflected off the surrounding dark streets, casting long shadows.

  “We’re here,” Alyssa said, breaking Theo from his thoughts.

  The car came to a halt, and the doors unlocked with a soft click. The air outside was cool, carrying the scent of metal and fresh concrete. Theo stepped out, adjusting the hover boots beneath him as he felt the steady hum beneath his feet.

  The building before them loomed. Alyssa and James didn’t waste time. They moved briskly toward the entrance, passing a series of high-tech security measures. Theo followed, his eyes scanning his surroundings. The entrance was sleek, guarded by security personnel who barely looked up as they passed—clearly, this wasn’t their first time.

  Inside, the facility was sterile, cold even. The walls were smooth, white, and adorned with subtle holographic dispys. It felt more like a research facility than anything else. Even the air seemed different, charged with the electricity of focused energy. There were rooms off to the sides, their doors reinforced and marked with signs he couldn’t quite make out.

  At the end of the hallway, they reached a rge set of doors. The guards standing by merely nodded as Alyssa pced her hand on a biometric scanner. The doors slid open, revealing a spacious chamber lined with advanced monitoring equipment. The scent of ozone and faint static electricity hung in the air. I thought this was a training facility, this looked more like a pce where people were put to the test.

  In the center of the room stood a man in his te thirties, wearing a form-fitting bck uniform. His posture was rigid, authoritative, and his sharp gaze didn’t miss a thing as they entered. His short bck hair and piercing eyes gave him an intimidating presence.

  “This is Director Hayes,” Alyssa announced, stepping forward.

  Theo swallowed, meeting Hayes’ gaze. There was something unsettling about the way the man studied him, as if he were evaluating more than just his appearance.

  “So you’re the one, Alyssa messaged me about,” Hayes said, his voice cool but with an edge of interest. “Alyssa brought you here. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  Theo straightened, trying to shake off the pressure. The room seemed to close in around him as the director moved toward him, his eyes never leaving Theo’s.

  “Tell me about your ability,” Hayes said.

  Theo hesitated. “It’s… Well, I’m not entirely sure what it is yet. It feels like… energy moving within me, but it’s not like anything I’ve read about or seen before. It enhances my strength, speed, reflexes, senses. But… I’m still learning to control it.”

  Hayes studied him silently, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Interesting. I’d like to see how well you can control it under stress. Let’s have a little test.”

  Theo’s pulse quickened. “What kind of test?”