Jason woke with a dull ache in his muscles and a hunger gnawing at his stomach. The soreness was a reminder of yesterday's training—his body protesting, but also adapting. He sat up on the worn-out couch, rubbing the back of his neck. The apartment around him was grim: peeling paint, cracked floorboards, and the lingering smell of damp. His shades lay on the cracked table, still hiding the faint blue glow from his Six Eyes. The glow was a reminder—his power wasn't gone, but mastery was still a distant goal.
He pushed himself up and walked over to the cracked window. Outside, the city was waking up with its usual mixture of noise and chaos. Cars honked in traffic jams, people hurried along sidewalks, shouting to one another, or lost in their phones. The early morning sunlight was weak, struggling through layers of smog. Jason breathed in the sharp, polluted air, his senses picking up the small shifts in energy around him—the barely perceptible vibrations in the pavement, the flicker of power in the street lamps.
He grabbed the shades and slid them over his face, shielding the faint glow from curious eyes. Locking the door behind him, he stepped into the cool morning and started moving through the streets.
His first stop was a small grocery store a few blocks down. He had to eat, but the fridge back at his apartment was empty except for a half-empty bottle of water and some stale crackers. At the store, he wandered the aisles, eyes scanning prices. Nothing was cheap. He didn't have cash, only a few coins left from earlier odd jobs he barely remembered taking.
Outside the store, Jason experimented with his power, focusing on the air just beyond his fingers. The space shimmered faintly, bending in subtle waves. He reached out mentally, tugging at a plastic bag lying forgotten on a nearby bench. It shifted an inch. No one noticed. Small victories.
Jason swallowed the urge to push further. He had to be careful. The power was raw, unpredictable. One wrong move and he'd end up attracting unwanted attention.
He wandered back into the street, moving along without purpose. Every time he passed a group of people, he scanned them—energy flows, tension, any sign of hostility. His Six Eyes gave him clarity no normal human had. But it was also isolating. No one else could see the invisible threads of energy weaving through the city like veins.
His thoughts drifted briefly to his family, the life he'd left behind. He wasn't sure if they even knew what had happened to him, or if they even remembered him anymore. It was a strange, lonely feeling. But there was no time to dwell.
His stomach growled, louder than he liked. He cursed under his breath. Food was a problem—one he hadn't solved yet.
By midday, Jason found himself sitting on a bench in a park, watching the city rush past. The hunger was a constant ache now. He pulled out his phone and started searching for work again. Delivery gigs, day labor, temp jobs—all required IDs, experience, or references he didn't have. Every option closed off before he even got started.
He sighed and shoved the phone back into his pocket.
No money, no connections, no resources.
He was running out of time.
Later, while passing a quiet alley, Jason heard a harsh voice shouting orders. "Give me your wallet!"
He froze and peeked around the corner.
Two men had a kid trapped—one holding a knife, the other nervous and twitchy.
Jason's instincts kicked in immediately. He couldn't just walk away.
He stepped out calmly
"Hey."
The bigger thug turned, snarling.
Jason's palm flickered with Blue energy—subtle but sharp. The knife jerked free from the man's grip, hitting the ground with a clang. A push of invisible force sent the man stumbling back, off-balance.
The smaller man panicked and disappeared into the crowd.
The kid stared at Jason, wide-eyed and shaking.
"Thanks," he whispered.
Jason nodded and melted back into the shadows before anyone else arrived.
Back in the apartment, he found a piece of paper slipped under his door. The landlord's handwriting was clear and unforgiving.
Rent overdue. Pay within three days or leave.
Jason sat down heavily, the weight of reality pressing down. Bills didn't wait for powers or training. He had no money saved, no fallback. The few coins he'd found yesterday were gone. No calls returned. No new leads.
The power thrumming under his skin, endless and steady thanks to the Six Eyes, felt useless here.
He needed cash, and fast.
He spent the next few hours making calls, sending texts, and checking online ads again. Every place wanted paperwork, ID, a bank account, something he didn't have. No legitimate options.
Jason's mind ran through possibilities: temp work, deliveries, odd jobs, selling small favors. All dead ends.
He paced the apartment, running his hands through his hair. The weight of the problem was crushing.
If he lost this place, he had nowhere else.
No safety net.
He sat back down, eyes heavy but focused. Training was important, but now survival was the priority