"To the Beginning" (Book 1 of the "K-Pop Mysteries" Series)

Vacation With a Twist

I chill in my hotel room for a few days, only going out a couple times to get groceries, in disguise of course. I can't stand to be out for more than an hour each time though. Being around people feels like such a burden these days, but unfortunately, I can't stay much longer. My inner monologue is going off the hook when I hear a knock at the door. Going up to it, I look out the peephole to see who it is. It's Yugyeom.

Me: Yes?
Yugyeom: Mr. Johnson, you have a visitor in the lobby.
Me: How is that possible?

Yugyeom: I don't know, but he says he has known you for over 7 years.
Me: What name did he give you?
Yugyeom: He said it was "Kid"? I don't-

I swing the door open.

Me: How did he know I was here, and how did he get here?!
Yugyeom: I don't know, but it seems urgent.
Me: Lead the way!

He leads me to the lobby, and in the sitting area, I see a figure that I could recognize anywhere. Going over to him, I call to him in shock.

Me: Alex?!

He gets up and turns around, smirking.

Alex: I knew you would be surprised. I hope it's a pleasant surprise.

Me: Yeah, it is, but how did you get here? And how did you know I was here? And how did you know where to find me?

Alex: Oh, I got a vision from God, and He told me to come here and see you. He also told me your name was Peter Johnson now.
Me: Yeah, it is. So why did God want you to come here and see me?
Alex: He wanted me to come and be here for you as a support system.
Me: Before I agree, I have a question for you.
Alex: Ask away.
Me: What is one thing that I've told you and only you?

Alex: As far as I know, nothing. You haven't told me anything that you haven't told at least one person.

Me: Very good.

Alex: I understand that you're testing me to see if it's actually me. Come on, bro, I've known you since 2014, and we think a lot alike. So what do you wanna do?
Me: Well, first off, let's head up to my room so we can talk privately about what's been going on.

As I'm walking him upstairs, I see Yugyeom looking at him very skeptically and seriously. I raise my eyebrows to show I understand his expression. Bowing, he goes back to what he was doing before. When we get to my room, and I shut the door, I turn on Alex and push him against the wall.

Alex: Whoa! What the hell, dude?!
Me: Come on, now. You think I can't see through a disguise spell?!
Alex: What are you talking about, bro?! I've never even heard of a disguise spell!!

Me: Don't try to lie to me!

Electricity starts popping in my fingertips as I put them near Alex's head. I try again.

Me: I'm gonna give you one more shot to be honest with me. Who are you, really?!

Alex: Bro, it's me, Alex!! What are you doing?!

Sighing in resignation and exasperation, I put my hand on his head, and electricity surges through his brain. Yelping, he hits me in the chest, making me fly against the opposite wall. As I struggle to get up, he rushes at me and goes for a hook. My hair and eyes go green, and I block his hit. Then I retaliate with a flurry of punches, but he blocks all of them. Finally fed up, I shoot a blast of air at him, knocking him back. Chortling, he gets up slowly and smirks at me.

Alex: Well, that's interesting. I haven't met an All-User in many moons.
Me: Again, who are you?! And why are you disguised as my best friend?!

Alex: I guess my disguise is a bust, as annoying as that is to admit.

His physical form shimmers to reveal the person behind the disguise. It's-

Me: Milianna! What are you doing here?!

Milianna: I'm here for you, of course.
Me: And why did you disguise yourself as my best friend?

Milianna: You already know the answer to that question.
Me: I wanna hear you admit it.
Milianna: I knew I wouldn't get the chance to talk to you alone otherwise.
Me: And why do you wanna talk to me alone?

She smiles sadly at me, and I see a touch of... wistfulness?!... in her eyes.

Milianna: I need your help. Nashville needs your help. We have no All-Users in that city, and the presence over it is lulling everyone into a sense of... false ease, if you will. Please, Andrew. We need you. Please.
Me: Why me? I'm not the only All-User you can find.
Milianna: Actually, yes, you are.

Me: Wait, what?!
Milianna: You are the only All-User to even exist in the last 100 years.

Me: How is that possible?!
Milianna: They were slaughtered.
Me: By who?
Milianna: Each other. Their powers made them power-hungry, and they massacred each other to try to absorb the strength of those they killed. They essentially made themselves go extinct.

Me: Then how am I an All-User?

Milianna: There is a power that gave you these abilities.

Me: And what is this power?
Milianna: I don't know. I can only sense another power at work in you.
Me: So why do you need an All-User?
Milianna: Because Eunbin wasn't the mastermind. There was someone else pulling her strings.

Me: Who?
Milianna: I don't know. Only an All-User can find out.
Me: I'm on vacation!
Milianna: Please.
Me: I said I'm on vacation. I'm sorry, but you'll have to do this yourself.
Milianna: Fine, but just know that if you don't help, Eunbin's master will come after you. And your loved ones. The Master wants to absorb all magic into themself. If you don't help, everyone you love will quite literally be sucked dry of all their vitality and power.