Mirage

The Hall of Devils

Ethan and his companions were led into a grand, opulent hall, its walls adorned with symbols of power and control. The governors, the true architects of Avaria's misery, sat on elevated thrones, their faces twisted into sneers of disdain and amusement. Their laughter echoed through the hall, a chilling reminder of their arrogance and cruelty.

"So, this is supposed to be the guy we're worried about?" one governor sneered, his voice dripping with condescension.

Another governor leaned forward, a cruel smile on his lips. "His father made him the first superhuman to destroy us, but look at him now."

Ethan's mind raced as he tried to piece together the truth. His father, Benson Carter, had been a special intelligence agent officer for the government, tasked with uncovering and discovering critical information. But in his search for justice, Benson had stumbled upon the Frostbury camps and their horrific experiments. The government's true nature had been revealed to him, and everything he had believed in was shattered.

Benson had discovered the superhuman compounds, samples of which he had stolen in a desperate bid to expose the truth. The government had quickly caught on, and in their attempt to silence him, Benson had barely escaped with his family. It was in the midst of this chaos that Benson had founded the rebel revolutionaries, a movement that grew into a formidable force against the oppressive regime.

Ethan's thoughts flashed back to the night his father was killed. They had been living in a new house, trying to stay under the radar. But the government's reach was long, and Benson had been gunned down on their front porch. Knowing his family would be in danger, Benson had taken a drastic step—he had injected Ethan with the superhuman compound, ensuring his son would have the power to continue the fight.

The realization hit Ethan like a tidal wave. His father had known the danger they faced and had prepared him for this moment. Ethan had the ability to retrieve any information on the surface of their world, a power that made him invaluable and incredibly dangerous to the government.

"That's why you called me the answer," Ethan said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "My father knew. He prepared me for this."

The security head stepped forward, his expression dark. "Yes, Ethan. Your father's actions made you a threat. We've been monitoring you, waiting for the right moment to strike. You are the key to everything, the answer to our problems and potentially the cause of our downfall."

The governors exchanged glances, their amusement giving way to a more serious concern. They had underestimated Ethan, and now they were faced with the consequences of their hubris.

"Enough of this," one governor snapped. "We need to decide what to do with them."

Another governor nodded, his face hard. "We can't let them live. They know too much, and if Ethan's powers develop further, he could expose everything."

Ethan's heart pounded in his chest. He knew he had to act, and fast. He glanced at his friends, their faces filled with determination. They had come too far to be defeated now.

Maya, still tearful but resolute, stepped forward. "You can't just kill us. We have a right to stand against your tyranny."

The governors laughed again, but there was an edge of uncertainty in their eyes. "You think you can stop us?" one of them jeered. "You're just children playing at rebellion."

Ethan took a deep breath, drawing on the strength his father had given him. "We're more than that," he said, his voice growing stronger. "We're the future of Avaria, and we won't be silenced."

The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The governors knew they were facing more than just a group of rebels. They were facing the embodiment of Benson Carter's legacy, a force that had the potential to overthrow their corrupt regime.

"Take them away," the head governor finally commanded, his voice trembling with barely concealed fear. "We'll deal with them later."

As the guards moved to comply, Ethan's mind raced. He had to find a way to escape, to harness the power within him and use it to bring down the government once and for all.

As they were led out of the hall, Ethan's resolve hardened. He would honor his father's memory and fight for the future of Avaria. And with the truth on his side, he knew they could not be defeated.