... Let's think. I've got plenty of time to sort out my thoughts.
Nicolas lay on his bed. His eyes darted aimlessly, tracing invisible lines in the air. He hadn't moved for half an hour even though his stomach was growling. He was preoccupied with finding the truth about Atlantis.
Scrooge died by the revolver man. A gap in power was formed and the Chinese took the opportunity to build Atlantis. Jacob and other gang leaders receive support from them and most likely have their base of operations in here. The city is still under development so it didn't already exist.
What else?
... Jacob was oddly specific when he asked whether I could make a fireball. Too specific. Also, Jonathan didn't seem as surprised by my shining eyes and veins as the other gangsters were. He has definitely seen something similar before... They're not telling me something. They might know what I am.
Nicolas not even once had doubted Jacob but Jacob's moral greyness corroded Nicolas' trust. His eyes were bloodshot, like he hadn't slept at all the past few days. He had trouble sleeping last night because of the sewers' stench.
I'm too tired to stay awake. The tour and explanation of Atlantis from Jonathan was just too exhausting. He didn't give me a lot of useful information and made me walk till I couldn't move. I'm sure that bastard's holding a grudge.
Growl!
Nicolas' stomach complained loudly. He hadn't eaten since his trip to the market. With slow, unsteady steps he got out of his tiny room and headed downstairs, towards the hall.
Despite the lights outside, the hall was eerily quiet. Silence hung over the air in the pitch black lobby. Nicolas could even hear his own heart beating.
Creepy... Not today. I'm taking my chances with starvation.
He took a turn and went back to his room.
*
24th of September 2025
A new day began for Nicolas in the nightless city. In the dark room, the lights hid behind the curtains. He was bathed in his sweat and his breathing was ragged.
He got up from the bed, his hand reaching out to the bottle of water atop the table, right below the window. As his lips touched the bottle, his hand suddenly started trembling, spilling the water on his shirt. His other hand was also trembling, as if in unison.
The trembling came to a halt just as abruptly as it appeared.
... I need new clothes. I've been wearing the same since Monday, when I met Jacob. I shouldn't have thrown the rest in trash.
His clothes reeked, but not as bad as the sewers. With eyes still sleepy, Nicolas left his room slowly.
*
Nicolas was drinking a coke he had found in the fridge of the safehouse. He could no longer distinguish what time it was since he didn't have his phone to check. No one was present at the lobby to ask so Nicolas went back to his room.
I'm finally alone. It must be nighttime outside so they left. Who would want to sleep here after all... Now I can check the materials I bought from the market.
Nicolas opened the plastic bag he had put the metals in and placed them on the table.
I didn't find any barium but I got the aluminium and magnesium powder. I'll use the powder as a flammable dust to throw at others.
Both powders were inside transparent jars. Their calming, grey color seemed compromising to their destructiveness.
I'm almost out of money right now. I haven't stolen from anyone in days. I'll fix that after I leave from this place.
During the three months he had been off the grid, Nicolas stole from several people who seemed to have bad personalities. He lived off the stolen money and unexpectedly made a lot. But right now something else worried him more.
... I haven't found a single reason Jacob brought me here. He isn't a guy to do something without a purpose. I might be in danger but... would he really hurt me?
Nicolas, despite being troubled, shoved his worries to the back of his mind and focused on the table once more.
If I can't predict him then I can just prepare the best I can for a fight.
Without hesitation, he grabbed carefully the jar in front of him and opened it. With his gloved hand, he took an amount smaller than a finger.
Aluminium... I doubt it explodes but if my teacher said so I guess it's true. To think something so dangerous is right under our noses... There's only one way to find out. Like they say curiosity killed the cat.
Nicolas cleared the table and placed the powder on it. After taking a step back, he snapped his fingers. Immediately, a blood red flame appeared at his gloved palm.
Suddenly, the flame danced through the air. A nearly transparent small bridge formed between Nicolas' hand and the fire, its color was blue. As the fire approached the desk it got less and less fierce and accordingly the small bridge became thin like a thread. But then an explosion happened before it reached the powder.
Straight away, the powder on the table exploded too. Nicolas was surprised and frightened by this event.
Fuck-
Booooom!!!
The light blinded Nicolas followed by the sound of the explosion. White smoke dispersed throughout the room. Nicolas held his breath and covered his eyes.
Fuck. I can't see anything. I don't even know if the smoke is poisonous. Where's the damned window?
He searched with his arms left and right to find the window. Fortunately, he found it just as he started feeling light-headed. Breathing the dirty air, he felt it was the clearest in the world.
Right below him there was no one to see what had happened. It was awfully quiet.