The Storms Within

Prologue

Prologue: Ang Pagputok

It was supposed to be a simple escape—a break from the pressure of schoolwork. Zariah “Zee” Astrid Torres and her friends, Kalliope “Kalli” Ignacio, Aria Aster Morales, Harmony “Hannie” Pascual, River Tan, and Niamh Alonzo, decided to visit a mountain near their hometown. The school year had been stressful, and the idea of spending a day surrounded by nature seemed like the perfect remedy.

After a long hike up the trail, they reached the foot of a beautiful waterfall. The sound of rushing water filled the air as they bathed in its cool embrace, laughing and letting the worries of school drift away.

"Masarap dito," Niamh said, her eyes closed as she let the water cascade over her.

“Ang lamig, pero ang saya,” River added, splashing water at Kalli, who squealed in surprise.

When they finished, they made their way to the top of the mountain to set up a campfire. The night sky stretched above them, a blanket of stars twinkling in the distance. They gathered around the fire, the warmth a welcome contrast to the cool mountain air. Laughter echoed through the night as they shared stories, roasted marshmallows, and talked about their dreams and fears.

“Ang saya, no?” Aria smiled, looking around at her friends. “Minsan lang tayo magka-kasama ng ganito.”

“Dapat ganito lagi,” Hannie said, nodding, her eyes glinting with a spark of excitement.

But the peaceful night would not last.

Suddenly, a low hum vibrated through the ground beneath them, barely noticeable at first but growing stronger with each passing second. The wind picked up, the trees around them swaying violently, and a strange sensation settled over the group—like something was wrong. The air grew thick, charged with an unnatural energy.

Then, the explosion.

A blinding light pierced the sky, so bright that for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. A deafening roar followed, shaking the very earth beneath them. The force of the explosion sent them tumbling to the ground, their bodies overwhelmed by the intensity of the shockwave.

For a brief moment, everything went black.

When Zee opened her eyes, she was no longer on the mountain. She found herself in her room, lying in bed as if nothing had happened. Her friends, too, were back in their own homes, seemingly unscathed. But something inside them felt… strange.

“Zee, are you okay?” Kalli’s voice came through the phone, breaking the silence. “What happened? I— I woke up in my room too, but it feels like something’s… off.”

“I feel it too,” Zee replied, sitting up, her mind racing. Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to make sense of what had happened. “Something’s different.”

The others shared the same unease. Aria, Hannie, River, and Niamh—all of them felt it. A strange pull inside them, like something had awakened, something they didn’t understand. Powers, abilities they never had before, now thrummed beneath their skin, just waiting to be discovered.

But none of them could explain what had happened—or why.

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