The Bullet That Saves Humankind

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Genre: Science Fiction
Archetypes: The Reluctant Hero | The Chosen One
Theme: Rivalry

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In the year 2025, an explosion of biblical proportion shook the world. The explosion caused unborn children to die in their mothers' womb, and those who survived developed abnormal abilities. Their DNAs were altered; they mutate and became special humans.

The greatest of them all was Trytos, the first generation special human. He was born with the strength of a thousand men. His muscles are compact and hardened like steel. He was known as the savior, the one.

When it was thought that special humans were a threat to humankind, he was first in line in protecting his kind. He was born for that sole purpose. He died protecting his people, and with his death came peace and unity. He was and will always be the legend nobody could surpass.

Many years passed since the war.

"How did your father saves everyone again?" asks Cathy.

"They said he died stopping a man from setting a bomb that would have blown the whole city." Dom looks at the statue of his father. He wonders about him sometimes. Why would anyone go through all the troubles of sacrificing his life for a future he was never gonna be a part of? Everyone thought him a hero, he thought him an idiotic martyr.

He's gone and yet Dom must still compete with him; to live up to his name. He must always be the best cause people expected too much of him, being the son of a hero. Nobody stops to ask what he wants.

"Stop staring at your father, Dom. You're never gonna be like him," Cathy remarks, teasing.

"The hell if I'm going to be. You're irritating."

Cathy chuckles and leaves him alone.

As Dom starts to follow her, everything around him suddenly changes, as if time is turning backwards. Everything happens in a haste like a movie in fast forward. He sucks in his breath. Then all came to an absolute stop.

"So, past this time," he mumbles as he looks around taking in everything. The statue isn't there anymore.

Dom is able to travel through time. His mom passed it to him and it looks like he has done it again. He curses inwardly, he must learn to control his ability, or he'll find himself stuck in a different timeline.

He starts walking and looks at his wristwatch. The watch is configured to move backwards or forwards according to his travels, in that way he can easily know to when exactly he is. One of their kind invented it for travelers like himself.

"Dammit!" he mumbles upon seeing the year. 2055. The year the war broke.

He starts running to find shelter, and when he turns around a corner, he almost misses his step. He is horrified to what he is seeing. Humans and Special humans alike dead in the street. They bloodied bodies scattered like garbage. He swallows hard, he feels like he is about to throws up.

In the middle of the street, two people are fighting. Dom fearing they might notice him decided to leave, but he stops when one of them falls down, the other runs away. He went to check on him.

The man fisted his shirt upon seeing him. "You must stop, Trytos," he rasps. "He plans to destroy the city and everyone in it. You must save them. You must kill him."

"What?" His father?

"Trytos is our savior, but he is blinded by his need to protect his people. Killing all those human is not the answer. War can make one lost sight of his purpose. You must remind him, we are not monsters. Stop the bomb." The man handed him a gun as he breathe his last breath.

He stares at the gun. Why him of all people?

He curses and despite his hesitation followed his father in the city center. He catches up to him just about the time he sets the bomb off.

"Stop!" he said pointing the gun at him.

"It's over! It's done."

"Stop it. This is not the answer."

"No."

"Please, don't make me do this." Dom started crying. "I'm sorry, father."

The gun went off. As his father falls down, he runs to bomb. In class, back in his time, they were taught how his father supposedly defused the bomb, so he fumbles on the buttons the way he remembers. He is almost done when he hears another shot and felt a searing pain in his stomach. He turns around and saw his father down on the ground with a gun, smiling.

"Idiot boy."

Crying, he shots him again and before he lost consciousness, he pushes the last button.

He saves them all; he has competed with his father and won, for the last time. He smiles as everything fades away.

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