"Mom?!" Leon rushed inside without hesitation.
When he reached her, she pointed a trembling hand at the TV.
The news report confirmed what Vera had mentioned at school—but now, the presenter mentioned the names and small details of the survivors.
What he saw puzzled him so much he couldn't close his eyes for five minutes.
"Good evening, Bion City. We regret to announce this afternoon's tragic incident…"
The reporter gestured behind her at the crash site.
"The plane crash rumors you all heard were true. Among the survivors is an eyewitness who was working on the very building the plane crashed into.
Before we hear his account, let's review these images."
Leon studied every frame. Then, the camera cut to the witness.
"Uncle Max?!" He barely stopped himself from shouting, not wanting to make his mum scared or shed more tears.
"Does that mean Dad was there? No...no—he was sick this morning. He promised he wouldn't work today right before I left for school!"
Leon's heart hammered as his thoughts raced.
As soon as the interview began, Leon's body went numb.
"Sir, can you describe what you saw? How did it happen? And where is your partner?"
Max wiped his eyes. "We started painting the 21-story building before dawn. We had five floors left when…" His voice broke. The reporter turned away, dabbing at tears.
"My partner Andrew reached the top floor. He became happy as he spotted his son's school and alerted me to check if I could also see it. But as I turned, I saw the plane coming straight to us."
As his father's name got mentioned, Leon collapsed. Tears flooded his vision, hot enough to make him blind.
"Andrew!" His mom's wail pierced the air. "Leon, do you see your father there?"
He forced himself upright. "Yes, Mom, I can see him." Not to cause more harm to her situation, Leon lied.
Since they were warned not to say anything serious or share any dreadful news with her, Leon knew exactly what to say—or do, or even act—when it was a lie.
"Let's get you to bed; you've had a long day. Dad will come home soon." He guided her upstairs, scrubbing at his own tears mid-step.
Once she was settled, Leon sprinted back to the TV, memorizing the crash location. He glanced up the stairs, hoping no one would descend before he returned.
As he opened the front door, Lily called his name as she descended, "Leon, where are you going?"
Hearing her soft, low voice, Leon turned, smiled, and whispered, "Just going for some fresh air."
But as his voice faded, Lily replied, "I'll come with you—I can't sleep."
Leon's stomach dropped. Knowing very well he wouldn't be able to go to the location if she comes along.
Just as he opened his mouth, a barrage of barks made Lily cower behind the kitchen wall.
With her childhood dog bite trauma, she began to sweat profusely. "Are they gone?" she asked as her head peeked out.
Leon responded. "They are still there. Stay inside; they can't reach you while I'm outside."
"Don't keep long." Lily moved out from where she was and served herself some fruit juice before ascending back to her room.
Leon waited until her foot sound faded before exploding into motion with enormous speed.
Buildings blurred past him. Shadowy beings turned and looked at him in amazement.
Dust swelled up wherever his legs stamped; shredded posters clung to him like spectral chains.
His eyes first gleamed, then erupted in a godlike golden fire as he neared the crash site.
Bion City—a segregated zone for the lower-middle-class citizens and the training ground for the ability stealers before they are deployed to serve a specific elite.
Most of the moderate-middle class, upper-middle class, the affluent, and the elite established businesses, factories, and industries there.
Leon skipped to a halt, bending double as pent-up heat radiated from his skin.
As soon as he straightened, he began to circle the building in slow, delicate steps.
All that he saw around were shattered rocks, paint buckets, metals, dust, and torn parts of the plane.
But the actual body of the plane was gone, since the TV showed it was being carried away by the Wreckage Removal Team.
Ignoring the official investigation markers, Leon scaled the damaged staircase bit by bit, scanning for traces of his father.
On the tenth floor, Leon's ears picked up a strange and alien language buzz. His pulse spiked—the voices came from above.
Then, he quickly doubled his pace as the sound seemed to be in range.
As he reached the nineteenth floor, a shadow flew past him. Leon quickly hid behind a wall, tracking its movement.
He saw two green creatures with snake-like eyes standing before the shadowy being, their pupils pulsing like full moons.
To get a better view, Leon edged forward, positioning himself just one wall away from them. Then, he peered through a round hole in the wall.
Their lips moved rapidly, but their language remained incomprehensible.
As Leon scanned their belongings, he noticed rings pulsing on each of their fingers—identical to the one the wealthy man used against the poor man.
His fist got clenched instantly, but since they outnumbered him, Leon held his position.
While observing them, one creature suddenly turned towards his hiding place and began approaching.
Leon jerked back from the hole but could still hear the footsteps drawing closer.
A warning alarm blared just as the footsteps reached his side of the wall.
The creature froze mid-step. For a split second, shiny blades extended from their bodies as they scanned the alarm's source.
Each of the three humanoid creatures wielded a distinct blade.
The one that nearly caught Leon bore the longest and sharpest—its shiny and smooth surface.
"Final warning: leave the building before we strike!" A booming voice echoed through the air, followed by the sound of flopping wings.
Leon risked another glance through the hole. The creatures's skin now gleamed like metal as they hissed, armor plating visibly forming across their bodies in preparation for battle.