𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 (𝐎𝐂)

FIVE

Julia sat cross-legged in the bed, her fingers tracing the thin seam on the white blanket that stretched across her legs. She was still unable to leave the suffocating room since the incident a few days ago-a whirlwind of terror and anger that had exploded from her like a flash flood. The worst of it had subsided, but the echoes of her outburst still clung to her, a weight in the pit of her stomach.

The room was quiet now-almost too quiet.

No more screaming in her head, no one pounding on the door to check on her or plead with her to calm down. They had left her alone, for the most part. At first, she was sure someone would come-someone who thought they could fix her. But no one had. Not yet.

The silence of the lab had settled in an unnerving calm, only to be shattered by a sudden, blaring alarm. The piercing sound jolted Julia from her thoughts, causing her to freeze in place, her heart pounding with both fear and excitement.

The security protocols she had memorized over the years were failing. Red lights flashed intermittently, and the clamor of frantic footsteps and screams echoed through the halls.

The screams belonging to her what she would call friends-the other children in the lab.

Julia's initial excitement evaporated, replaced by more fear. She pressed her ear against the door, trying to make sense of the chaos. Through the din of panicked conversations and combat noises-shouts, clashes, and the unmistakable thud of bodies hitting the ground-she realized the lab was under attack. But by whom?

Desperation overtook her. Julia's fear transformed into resolve as she tried to use her super strength to break the door. She reeled back, readied her fist, and slammed it into the door, but only made a small dent.

Breathing heavily and frantically, Julia felt helpless as she heard the cries and screams of her friends.

"No!" She cried out, repeatedly slamming into the heavy steel door, her attempts to break it proving futile.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached her door, and the heavy thud of a supe's presence was unmistakable. Julia quickly stopped and backed away, her mind racing through potential escape plans.

The door flew open with a force that made the walls shudder. A tall supe stood in the doorway, his imposing figure silhouetted against the flickering emergency lights. He reached for Julia, his intentions clear. Julia's heart pounded as she saw the man's eyes-cold, determined, and merciless.

Instinct took over. Julia focused on the supe, and as he grabbed her, she felt an electric surge of energy course through her. The supes abilities, whatever they were, flowed into her like a tidal wave. Julia's eyes flashed with a fierce light as she felt the surge of newfound power. She thrust her hand out, and a force field erupted, closing in on the supe until his body was no more as blood splattered around the whole room, covering Julia in the supes remains.

The young girl froze in shock, staring at her trembling hands and the blood staining her whole body. Her breath came in shallow gasps, heart pounding as the world around her seemed to blur. Panic clawed at her chest, but she couldn't move, couldn't scream. The metallic scent of blood filled her nose, overwhelming her senses. Everything felt distant, surreal-until a scream pierced the fog.

Julia hesitated for a moment, then dashed out of the room, driven by a desperate need to make sure her friends were okay. The hallways outside were a war zone. Paper and debris littered the floor, and the once-pristine walls were marred with scorch marks, dents, and...more blood. Julia ran, her small frame weaving through the wreckage.

Then, she saw it.

The familiar bodies of her friends and employees from the lab were all scattered around, motionless. Fear gripped her yet again as she stepped closer and heard a noise coming from one of them, barely conscious.

It was Leo, one of her closest friends, who had always been kind to her even in her darkest moments. His face was pale and bloody, and his breathing was shallow.

"Leo!" Julia rushed to his side and knelt down next to him. She gently grabbed his face. "No no no...use your healing! Why aren't you using it?!"

Leo's eyes fluttered open, and he reached out to her with a weak hand as he knew he was far too weak to use his abilities. "Julia...you need to...take it."

Julia quickly shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "No! You need to keep trying! Please!"

But Leo's condition worsened rapidly. The sight of his suffering tore at Julia's heart. There was no time left. With a choked sob, Julia made the hardest decision she'd ever faced. She reached out, placing her hand on Leo's injured form. She slowly absorbed his healing ability, she felt a powerful, rejuvenating energy flood into her. Leo's eyes closed, his body growing still.

Julia fell back, the immense power coursing through her leaving her disoriented. Her vision swirled, and the overwhelming surge of energy took its toll on her small body. She collapsed beside Leo, the world fading to darkness as the new abilities overwhelmed her senses.