The Prototype

Chapter 15

Rowan helped Solace up from the overturned truck, their levitation devices still intact but unable to counter the force of Maia's blows. Solace glanced over at Nathan, who was clutching his leg, gritting his teeth against the pain, his dark eyes still focused on Maia above.

"What do we do now?" Solace whispered to Rowan, watching the sky darken further with the rising waves. "She's out of control."

Rowan set his jaw, his expression grim.
"We have to get her away from the city. If she keeps this up here, she'll drown everyone."

Nathan, overhearing, gave a nod of agreement. "The levitation devices can buy you some time against the waves, but if she forces us off the ground, we'll need a way to bring her down."

His gaze flicked back to the chaos Maia was unleashing, his expression unyielding. "We have to keep her focused on us, away from the people."

With a deep breath, Ethan activated his levitation device, rising slowly into the air as he clenched his fists, still trembling from the pain in his shoulder. He hovered just high enough to meet Maia's eye level, the winds whipping through his hair, rain stinging his face.

"Maia!" he called out, his voice breaking through the roar of the storm. "You keep saying you're unstoppable. But that doesn't mean you're unbreakable."

Maia's expression faltered, just for a second, before she shook her head, an unsettling smile spreading across her face.

"You think you can break me, Ethan? You're nothing without me. You've always been nothing until you met me."

She raised her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, the waves surged higher, looming over the buildings as if about to crash down on them all.

But before the wave could strike, Nathan sprang into action, signaling to Rowan and Solace to activate their levitation devices. "Get above the waves and spread out! Keep her guessing!"

Rowan and Solace nodded, each tapping their levitation devices to hover into the air, taking opposite directions to surround Maia.
Rowan's heart hammered as he flew up, side-eyeing Solace, who gave him a quick nod of reassurance. They needed to get Maia's attention—and keep it.

As the three of them spread out, Maia's eyes flicked between them, her expression morphing into one of annoyance. "Typical." she muttered, her fingers curling to manipulate the waves around them. "You think your little tricks will stop me?"

Nathan, still on the ground, gritted his teeth through the pain in his leg and focused on Maia. His dark gaze was intense, his mind racing through their options. He called out, "Ethan! Stall her! I have an idea, but I need time."

Ethan glanced down, nodding slightly before turning back to Maia. "You can pretend all you want, Maia, but we both know you're scared of being vulnerable." He tightened his fists, channeling every ounce of determination into his words. "That's why you keep hiding behind this power."

Maia's eyes flashed with anger. "You have no idea what I've been through, Ethan! All I wanted was to make them see me. RESPECT me!" Her voice cracked, but she quickly masked it with a sneer.

She sent a wave crashing toward Ethan, but he managed to swerve, narrowly avoiding its force. Her frustration only seemed to grow.

Rowan took advantage of her distraction, calling out to her from a distance. "Come on, Maia! Are you really this predictable? All that power, and yet you're still just throwing temper tantrums?"

His tone was mocking, but his face was tense, eyes flicking between Maia and the towering waves behind her.

Maia turned on him, her expression twisting into a snarl. She raised her hands, directing the storm toward Rowan, the wind intensifying around him. But Solace darted forward, calling out.

"Hey, Maia! Thought you'd appreciate a little girl power," and she shot up, sending a surge of her own energy from one of the crystals she took from the tomb back in Australia to disrupt the storm.

The winds around Maia faltered, if only for a moment, as Maia's attention split.

Meanwhile, Nathan rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a small but powerful device—a specialized EMP generator he'd been working on for emergencies.

He muttered to himself, "This will disrupt her hold on the waves, but it's only temporary. And we'll need perfect timing."

Ethan spotted Nathan's device from above and knew what Nathan was planning. He signaled to Rowan and Solace with a quick nod, catching their attention before mouthing, "On my mark."

Rowan and Solace exchanged determined glances, bracing themselves. Ethan took a deep breath, calling out once more, louder this time. "Maia! If this is all about respect, then face us directly. Stop hiding behind the storm!"

Maia clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing on Ethan, a flicker of something vulnerable slipping through her hardened expression. She drew closer, abandoning her control over the waves to focus on him, her power still crackling in the air.

Now was their chance. "Nathan, now!" Ethan shouted.

Nathan activated the EMP, and a pulse shot out in all directions. Maia's connection to the storm shattered, the towering waves crashing back into the sea. In that moment of vulnerability, Rowan and Solace dove toward her, restraining her with their levitation devices, binding her in place.

Maia," Ethan said softly, hovering closer, his voice gentle yet firm. "You're not winning this battle Maia. You don't have to destroy everything to prove your strength. To prove you're worthy of being noticed. To prove your Intelligence.
We see you. I see you. I've always seen you."

For a brief moment, Maia's expression softened, her grip on her power loosening. But then, the darkness in her eyes returned, and she let out a scream, sending a shockwave through the air.

Rowan and Solace were flung back, struggling to regain their balance midair.