The ALICE Program (Big Hero 6 Fanfic) (Book 2) 《COMPLETED ✔️》

26| A Knock at the Door

A/N: I'm very sorry about there not being an update for a while. Life has been pretty busy for me as of late (I have recently started college, so I have been focusing on that as I want to do my best with this new fresh start I have). Though, please don't think that means that I won't be updating this story anymore (I will, but only on certain weekends or when I can actually be bothered to).

I intend to see this story through until the end and then after that, I will be taking a long-needed break from The ELEMENT Trilogy. A third and final book will be on the way after this one, but the plot is still in development. With that all being said, I hope you enjoy this new chapter (I needed a break so I decided to write this). Enjoy! :D

A Knock at the Door

Oh, God...Oh God, Oh God, Oh God...I've messed up! I've messed up big time!

Tadashi curled up on his bed, millions of thoughts hitting him all at once. Why? Why did he always have to mess up? Why couldn't he just be normal again?

Why am I like this? Why did it have to be me? Why did I have to be the one to get mutated? Why can't I just be a normal human being like I used to be?

"Don't beat yourself up over it, Tadashi." Danika soothed him, having gotten used to his habits of self-loathing. "These things happen sometimes, neither you or Evie are to blame. You saved her life for the second time, maybe it was just meant to be."

"I'm not in the mood, Dani," Tadashi said, not turning to face her. "Thanks for trying to help, but I don't think anything is gonna work right now."

Danika bit her lip, trying to think of something she could do to help. She then remembered, hoping her news would lift Tadashi's spirits. "Hey, good news. Morley sent me a text and the whole lockdown situation is under control. The school will be open tomorrow so everything will be going back to normal."

Normal. That one word. That one thing neither Tadashi nor his mutant sister or friends would ever be. Never completely, anyway. Post Traumatic Stress was one thing, though witnessing people be hurt and killed in front of your very eyes was one thing that would never, ever, go away. It would remain embedded in the fragile mind for the rest of your days, waiting for the right moment to haunt you with horrific imagery and God awful nightmares. Nightmares so graphic that they felt so real, down to the last drop of blood and piercing needle that punctured skin second after second.

"Great." Tadashi faked interested, still looking at the blank wall. There were once posters there, some from his childhood and others from his teen years. Now they were locked away somewhere in a dresser, tied with string and rolled in scrolls to keep them from creasing.

Normal. Normal. Why can't you just be like everyone else?

Tadashi screamed into the night like a wailing banshee, stinging tears burning his cheeks. It hurt to cry, it hurt to feel the way he did. Viens pulsing a glowing orange, the anger within was making him lash out. Fire surrounded him, setting nearby trees alight with flames. With each scream, it only got worse for everything that had once been a beautiful part of nature.

"What are you doing!? Dash, stop!" Ted tried to pull him away, the destruction taking place before him bringing him to tears. "You're gonna get yourself killed!"

Ted's body twinged with pain, making him grimace. He collapsed to his side, his whole self in agony. Tadashi did his best to put the fire out, to absorb it back within himself, before tending to Ted.

"Oh no! Ted, I-I...I'm so sorry! I forgot how much this affects you! I'm sorry!"

"Dash..." Ted teared up. "It hurts..."