Chapter 40

CHANGHEOM

It's cold.

The floor feels freezing cold, but I continue walking. On the other end of the tunnel, there's a faint flicker of light escaping the door. I turn the wheel. A breeze comes out. In the middle of the room, a tall man in a white lab coat stands. A bit grungy but other than that, it's his usual look, and I walk up to him.

Getting closer, dark little spots are under his eyes. Did uncle have eye bags again?

"You made it," uncle hums but his voice cracks.

"Erm... You haven't come out for several days."

He just smiles.

"Uncle, you know what? Eat first before we start this."

"Ahaha. I appreciate your thought but I'm fine."

"This won't last for more than an hour, right? How about we eat after it's done?"

"Sounds great." he shoves my hand gently. "We better get started so that we can eat."

"Ok."

"So, lend me your arm."

"Left or right?"

"Either will do."

I extend my left arm to him. He holds it tight. On his free hand, there's a small but fat syringe.

"This will feel like hell."

"Huh?"

A sting throbs immediately. I pull off, but his hand is too strong for me to break.

"Just kidding."

"Don't surprise me like that."

"Hehehe. Your expression is priceless."

Oh my lord.

"And if I hadn't surprised you like that, you'll feel the pain because your mind will be focused on the sensation."

"Ok. Ok. I understand."

"Can you feel it? The effect should take over almost immediately."

A flowing sensation pulsates under my skin like a river. That must be it.

"Yeah."

"Good. Just wait for more, then we'll start the practice."

"What ability have you injected?"

"Oh. Right..." he leans his face closer. "It's about the fire."

"Fire manipulation?"

He hums then waves his hand to the center of the room, meaning I should walk there.

Now, the wall in front of me looks gray and plain metal.

*Clunk*

It rises. What lies behind are multiple holes kinda looking like a termite feasted on them. On the upper part, the openings are big while on the lower part, they're smaller.

"We're going to begin so brace yourself, Chan." uncle's voice echoes through.

I bring my left foot forward, and the other parts of my body fall to a fighting stance.

"Fire away," I say.

*Swoosh*

Something bright blinds me. In front of me approaches a blast. I jump to the left.

*Bang!*

It hits the wall behind.

How can I use fire to counterattack?

Suddenly, the holes in the wall move. A platoon of pellets comes out. I wave my hand in the air, and a blazing light sparks. So I just move? I got it! I point my hand to the hole and a beam of flame bursts to my surprise.

The orange light and the pellets clash with each other. It swallows them all. In a blink, ashes fall to the ground.

The next attack comes in the same manner so I fire away again. And so is the next one, the next one, and the following waves of attack, and soon, the floor has turned to a mound of ashes.

*Clunk*

The hole on the upper part moves a little. Then, a gigantic pellet about the size of a bowling ball rushes on. I bring both arms in my face to guard my head.

Instantly, the corners of my eyes glow.

"Oof!" what the- "Argh!"

A strong pressure touches my arms. It spread throughout my body. A gust of wind slices my skin.

*Thud!*

I feel something hard. Everything around flickers between black and white. No. I failed the training...

A woman was seated on the living room's ondol. The curls of the short hair, the folds of the wrinkly face, and the shabby sweater. It's really her.

"Eomma!"

She turned around to my voice. "Changheom, you're early," she said.

"We don't have any club activities today. By the way, I thought you were still at work."

"No, I came early. Here," she patted the table, "let's eat."

Two plates were lying atop. One was with Japchae while the other one's with Gimbap. Because I'm feeling hungry, I grabbed a bite. The moment I chewed filled the sweet and savory flavor suddenly.

"It's delicious," I said, wolfing down the Japchae.

"It should be. Besides, I don't think you've ever disliked the food I prepared."

"Because it really is delicious."

*Creak*

The door opened. A straight shadow with a suitcase in hand appeared.

Huh? It's appa?

"Oh dear, you're early today," eomma said.

"Yes. There's no overtime." after that, he turned his head in my direction, and his face changed considerably. "Oh, Chang!"

He ran toward me. I hugged him.

"Appa, let's eat."

"Sure. Sure." he sat down beside eomma.

We talked about our days while eating. Starting with appa then to eomma and finally, me. It turned out that they're concerned about my studies, but thank god, I passed the exams.

The direction of our talk took a turn when eomma opened up about the rumors.

"I haven't heard of it," appa dismissed eomma's assumption.

"Haimin ssi mentioned earlier that there's a rumor in the city that an organization's killing those who haven't paid their debt."

"That's cruel. But we don't have to worry because we're already paid."

"And we can defend ourselves."

"I can fight too," I said.

"You can surely use that to defend yourself."

I nodded and continued filling my stomach.

After eating, I went to my room to do my homework. I was halfway done when my throat felt itchy. Suddenly, I remembered that's there an orange juice I'd been reserving in the ref, and I got up.

Walking, a voice was audible on the other side of the door.

"Who are you?" it said.

Isn't that appa talking?

*Bang!*

A loud sound stung my body. A gun?

I kicked my way to our living room.

Surrounded, in black suits, several men were standing. They're all wearing black shades and suit with their hair's slicked backward. They didn't move.

My attention averted to the ground. A trail of blood swept on the side next to the two bodies. My heartbeat stopped. The next thing I remembered was their sensation on my arms.

I placed my hand on appa's neck. It's not warm. I touch eomma's wrist. It's ice cold.

No.

No!

A surge of anger darkened my lively senses. I glared at the men and shouted.

"Who are you?!"

But they just kept staring.

"Answer me. Who are you? What do you want?!"

One of the men pointed his gun at me without an expression.

Straight away, a feeling overflowed under my skin. Ahead appeared a shield, separating me from the rest of them. Shoot me if you can, but guns don't work on me.

I ran.

However, the next situation's far from what I could even think. A crack appeared. A crack appeared on the surface of my shield.

*Crk...*

In a moment, all fragments fell on the floor one by one. I stepped back.

I received a force from above, and before I could react, I was already kneeling on the floor. Shit.

A tall boy towered over. His body's slender and his skin's fair. Though he looked he didn't give a damn, he set his foot near my face.

He smirked. "You can't escape."

*Bang!*

A splitting pain throbs my back. I open my eyes, and everything is clouded.

"Chan! You regain consciousness."

It's just a dream?

I remember it now.

I'm actually practicing, but I got hit by that hell of a pellet and passed out.

I move my head to the right but the splitting pain sharpens.

"Ugh!"

The pain becomes sharper and sharper, so sharp it's stabbing now.

"Hey, let me-"

"I-i'm sorry."

I surrender to the pain. Uncle's voice fades out.