I always thought I was normal. At least, that's what my mother told me over and over again — the only person in this world who ever made me believe it.
But the truth began to shatter the moment I stepped through the heavy doors of my school on that first day. The walls, the faces, the air itself seemed to shift and warp into something hostile, something cold.
Whispers trailed me like shadows.
Snickers echoed from behind half-turned backs.Eyes darted away the moment mine sought to meet theirs, as if the very sight of me burned their retinas.
"Monster."
"Devil."
"Disgusting."
"The alien…"
They spat words like venom, and though I could remember every single one, I learned early not to carry them inside me, not to give them life. To everyone but my mother, I was an outcast. A burden to be ignored.
I learned to shrink into silence. To disappear behind the fragile mask of normalcy. I became a ghost in the classroom halls, a shadow nobody noticed unless they wanted to mock.
But deep down, the world's cruelty had begun to chip away at something inside me — something I had yet to understand.
The bell rang for third period.
The classroom was the same as always: harsh fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, making the white ceiling panels seem dull and sterile. The sluggish ceiling fan spun lazily, barely moving the stale air. A faint smell of cheap soap and dry erase markers lingered, mixing with the faint scent of sweat and teenage fear.
Normal day. Ordinary.
Abrham, the loudmouth who fancied himself king of the classroom, leaned over to Kidros, his closest follower. Their voices were loud enough that even people at the back could hear.
"My man, you can't tell me that anime wasn't a masterpiece. I'm still thinking about it!" Abrham said, grinning wildly.
Kidros chuckled, the kind of laugh meant to command attention — obnoxious and loud. "Yeah, but that part with the weird giant dancing? I couldn't stop laughing."
Abrham smacked his desk, grinning like a fool. "Bro, that was gold. Hey—speaking of weird giants… doesn't that kid in the backseat look like one?"
Their gazes slid toward me like knives. But I kept my head low, eyes fixed on the scratched tabletop. Pretended not to hear. I could hear it clear and loud even if they were in the other classroom.
Abrham laughed harder, proud of himself.
Alisha, the only girl brave enough to speak her mind in the class, turned her head and rested her chin on her palm, dry and tired. "Sounds like you're talking about that useless giant. Mind if I join your little roast session?"
Abrham smirked, amused. "Oh? Someone's getting polite now? Kkhahaha…"
Kidros leaned forward, elbows on his desk, eyes gleaming. "For real, man. She's got jokes."
Alisha shrugged, indifferent. "They say he's not even human. Like, from another planet or something."
Kidros put on a mock serious face. "Some say he's the devil's reincarnation."
Abrham laughed again, then leaned in like he was sharing a deep secret.
"Oh really? My mom said his mother did something… horrendous. And now, raising that thing is her punishment."
The words hit me harder than any physical blow.
My breath caught.
My fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms.
This wasn't just teasing anymore. This was poison.
Kidros sneered, twisting his face in disgust. "Bet his mother looks just like him… like a pile of trash."
Alisha leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper, sharp like a dagger. "Keep it down, genius. The whole class can hear you."
Abrham shrugged, unfazed. "Relax, he's domesticated. Won't do anything. And the rest of the class? They think the sa—"
He never finished.
Because the air shifted.
The atmosphere thickened. A shadow stretched beside him. A shadow with weight. With an undeniable presence that made the air crackle and hum.
That shadow... was me.
I had never intended to step in. Never wanted to be noticed. But this time, everything inside me broke loose.
They dared to mock my mother — the only person who ever stood for me, who loved me unconditionally. The woman who fed me, who kissed my wounds, who told me I was human even when I felt like anything but.
And they laughed.
A fire erupted in my chest, spreading heat through my veins, igniting a storm beneath my skin. My blood thundered through my ears, drowning out every sound except the roar of my own rage.
I muttered, voice trembling with fury, "This time… this time..."
My feet moved before my brain could catch up. My body felt like a vessel possessed, a beast clawing its way out.
My fist shot forward — fast, raw, wild — aiming straight for Kidros' face. He didn't dodge because he was quick. He ducked because something darker, deeper than fear, pulled him down. His foot caught the edge of the desk and he tumbled backward, crashing onto the cold, hard floor.
The classroom froze.
Eyes widened. Mouths fell open.
But that was only the beginning.
The punch had missed him by inches, Yet the power behind it was unlike anything human. The wall behind Kidros cracked, splintering like glass under a hammer.
The plaster crumbled.The bricks shattered.
A jagged hole opened, letting sunlight flood through like a spotlight on the chaos I had unleashed. Dust drifted down like ash. The ceiling trembled.
Silence swallowed everything.
No one dared breathe.
That was when they knew. I was different, I wasn't like them.
Inside my mind, a voice slithered out, low and sinister, whispering cold commands. "Kill them… every one of these measly humans. C'mon, throw another punch… to that ugly girl. "My head pounded. My fists tightened until the nails bit deep into my skin. My legs shook. "Rip them open. They laugh at you? Let them cry now. Make them scream." I struggled to breathe.
My heart hammered, so loud I was sure it would burst. I tried to speak, Tried to stop.
"No… that should be eno—" But the words got stuck, Something inside me tore open.
Not a snap — more like a door creaking wide. Something dark crawled out. I didn't black out. But I lost control. My thoughts blurred. My skin burned .My eyes—felt like they were bleeding fire. Everything around me turned deep crimson, glowing with an eerie light. Black veins snaked across my face, pulsating like roots breaking through earth. My breath came in jagged, uneven gasps.
My chest rose and fell as if I had just run a marathon. My back hunched forward, arms heavy with a weight I couldn't explain. I could hear everything — every whisper, every pounding heartbeat, every shuddering breath.
Some students screamed. Others scrambled to crawl away. One kid toppled from his chair, eyes wide with terror.
And me?
I didn't move.
Not yet. Because I wasn't just angry anymore. I wasn't even human.
This time...
I changed.