Unknown place

Jared's POV (Same Time)

Jared slipped away from school, weaving through the bustling crowd on the street. He knew the hotel where Jakuna Singh was staying was a good 20 to 25 minutes away, and he was well-prepared. Beneath his arm, he carried a hoodie to help conceal his face from the hotel cameras, though he knew wearing it now would draw unnecessary attention on the bus. Instead, he settled into his seat, calm but resolute, keeping the hoodie folded beside him and his cap pulled low. He had also packed a bottle of water—just in case.

To make sure no one could trace him, he'd left his phone in his school locker, knowing he'd be unreachable. People would likely notice his absence soon, maybe even call him, but he intended to be done with his mission before they had any idea he was gone. Aunt May, he figured, would have Peter to reassure her if things dragged out longer than expected.

When the bus finally pulled up near the hotel, Jared stepped off, taking a moment to absorb the scene. The hotel entrance buzzed with activity, swarming with reporters and journalists jockeying for position, hoping for a glimpse of Jakuna or a chance to hurl questions his way. Guards stood firm at the gates, stopping anyone without a press pass from entering.

Jared pulled on his hoodie and cap, scanning the nearby press vans until he spotted two journalists—a man and a woman—chatting over coffee by one of the vans, their press IDs carelessly left on a seat inside. He quickly assessed his options. It would be too risky to just snatch the IDs outright; he needed a diversion. He eyed the man's coffee cup, noticing the straw that suggested it was iced, not hot. With a subtle mental nudge, he tipped the cup, sending the cold coffee splashing across the man's shirt.

"Holy shit!" the man yelled, jumping back as the drink spilled over his clothes. "Not again!" He groaned, dabbing at the stain with napkins while the woman fussed over him, clearly caught off guard by the sudden mess.

It was all the opening Jared needed. In one smooth motion, he slipped past the pair, grabbed one of the ID badges, and pocketed a notepad and pen from the van's dashboard. Without looking back, he melted into the crowd, moving briskly to avoid any stray glances.

Once he'd created enough distance, Jared joined a group of other reporters, all with press IDs swinging around their necks. He clipped his own around his neck and adjusted his hoodie, keeping his head down as he approached the hotel's entrance. The guard at the door barely glanced at his ID, too preoccupied with the growing throng behind him, and waved Jared through without a second thought. Jared exhaled in relief, slipping past the crowd and into the hotel's bustling lobby.

Inside, the atmosphere was chaotic, with reporters, guests, and hotel staff bustling about. He pushed his way through, making a beeline for the elevators. Several people stood waiting, and he hung back, letting them go first, wanting to avoid drawing attention. When the elevator finally emptied, he stepped in alone, hitting the button for every floor to avoid lingering in one spot for too long. If anyone questioned him, he could just say "some kid" had pressed them all before running off.

After a few floors, his patience paid off. As the doors opened on the ninth floor, he saw exactly what he'd hoped for: two guards stationed at the end of the hall, with two more standing outside a single door. Jared felt a surge of satisfaction—this had to be Jakuna Singh's room.

The guards looked up, eyeing him suspiciously. Jared shrugged, muttering, "Some kid pressed all the buttons and took off. Annoying, right?" He flashed them a sheepish smile, hoping his young face would be enough to disarm any doubts.

The guards exchanged exasperated glances, clearly too tired to care about a teenager's excuses, and went back to their posts. As the doors closed, Jared allowed himself a slight grin. Everything was falling into place.

When he reached the next floor, Jared exited and moved down the hall to the room directly above Jakuna's. He noticed the small rectangular glass panel beside the door, glowing green to indicate it was unoccupied. All the rooms he'd passed earlier had green lights, except Jakuna's, which had been red. Perfect. He slipped inside, grateful for the empty room.

Heading straight to the balcony, Jared peered over the railing, scanning the balcony below. A large jacuzzi dominated the space, and beyond it, he could see the outline of Jakuna's terrace, just close enough for him to use his powers.

As he strategized, he heard footsteps and froze, pressing himself back against the wall. From below, a voice drifted up, muffled but unmistakable.

"Let me rest here for a few minutes," Jakuna was saying. "Go check if the preparations for the meeting are in order." A moment later, Jakuna himself came into view, dressed only in boxers as he sank into the jacuzzi with a sigh. The guards' footsteps faded as they departed, leaving Jakuna alone.

Jared's pulse quickened. This was his chance. He stretched his arm out, focusing hard to control a thin stream of water from the bottle he'd brought. Carefully, he maneuvered the liquid over the railing and down to Jakuna's balcony, forming a large, dense bubble that encased Jakuna, muffling any sounds.

Jakuna's eyes widened as he struggled, but the water held firm, silencing his cries. Jared could see the panic in his eyes, the bewildered, helpless realization that he was utterly trapped.

"Huh? What—?" Jakuna sputtered, his voice muffled by the watery bubble that wrapped around him, binding his arms and legs as he struggled to comprehend the invisible assailant holding him captive. Every twist and turn only tightened the watery restraints, leaving him gasping for breath but completely silent to anyone outside.