Chapter 4: Nightmare

"What's wrong with you, kid!?" The bus driver was visibly furious. He couldn't believe that a student would run up to him and demand the bus to stop while he was driving.

What if the kid's actions caused an accident?

Confused by the commotion, Gwen hurriedly followed Alex to see what was happening. She was concerned and wanted to understand why he had suddenly dashed to the front of the bus.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Gwen asked, trying to catch her breath.

Mr. Herminton, their homeroom teacher, noticed the commotion and worriedly approached them. "Alex, what's the matter? Do you need it?"

Alex, still catching his breath, turned to Mr. Herminton, his expression confused. He didn't understand the reference made by his teacher.

"Do you need to sit on a throne?" Mr. Herminton asked, hoping to clarify his statement.

Alex and Gwen exchanged puzzled looks, clearly not comprehending the teacher's remark. Mr. Herminton face-palmed, realizing his joke had missed its mark.

"I mean, you know when you need to 'go,' you have to sit, right?" Mr. Herminton clarified.

However, seeing their continued confusion, he sighed in realization. "I mean... to use the toilet! You have to sit on a 'throne.' That's what I was referring to."

Silence filled the air as Alex's focus shifted back to the bus driver. He disregarded the teacher's comment, knowing there was no time for jokes.

"Please, stop the bus immediately!" Alex urgently pleaded with the driver, his voice filled with urgency.

"I told you to stop the bus!" Alex shouted desperately, his voice filled with urgency. He turned to Mr. Herminton, seeking his assistance. "Teacher, please, tell him to stop!"

Confusion filled the bus as the students and teachers tried to comprehend the situation. Gwen began to question why they needed to stop when suddenly the sound of gunfire erupted from the car.

"Oh, fuck!" Alex muttered under his breath, realizing the gravity of the situation.

In the chaos, the criminals opened fire on the police cars in pursuit. Panic and fear swept through the bus as everyone ducked for cover.

The criminals managed to shoot down one of the police car's drivers, causing the car to veer off the road and crash into the guardrail, launching it into the path of the bus.

In an instant, a violent collision occurred. The bus shuddered as its front end crumpled under the impact, the driver's seat taking the brunt of the force.

The bus veered sideways, scraping against the guardrail and desperately trying to maintain balance. Reacting instinctively, Alex wrapped his arms around Gwen, shielding her from the chaos around them.

The events unfolded in a blur. The bus toppled over, the force of the crash sending them hurtling towards the windows. Glass shattered and the world spun as they dangled precariously on the edge of the overturned bus, their lives hanging in the balance.

His head felt heavy, and an ominous sense of danger filled the air. Alex's gaze scanned the chaotic scene, but amidst the chaos, his focus remained on Gwen.

"Gwen? Are you okay?" Alex's voice trembled with concern as he reached out to her.

Gwen slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurred from the impact. Her attention, however, was diverted by the sight of an approaching car hurtling towards them, its brakes screeching in absence.

"Alex, do you see that?" Gwen's voice wavered as fear gripped her.

Alex's expression hardened, and without hesitation, he instinctively knew what he had to do.

"Gwen, close your eyes," Alex's voice was filled with determination and protectiveness.

Confused but trusting Alex's instincts, Gwen complied, shutting her eyes tightly. She could sense the imminent danger drawing nearer, but she found solace knowing that Alex was by her side.

Alex's focus intensified as he directed all his energy toward the approaching car. With unwavering resolve, he braced himself, determined to shield Gwen from harm.

Amid their precarious situation, Gwen's voice broke the tension, her words laden with sincerity.

"Why should I close my eyes? I want to see your face in these final moments," Gwen confessed, her vulnerability shining through.

Caught off guard by her unexpected confession, Alex's surprise quickly turned into a faint smile. "Well, that's a unique way to express your feelings, Gwen."

In the face of imminent danger, their connection deepened, their shared vulnerability forging an unbreakable bond.

"Anyway, you won't die, Gwen," Alex reassured her, his voice filled with determination. The car was rapidly approaching, its headlights blinding them. "So we can hang out sometimes."

Gwen closed her eyes, ready to face the imminent danger. "Do you mean, in the afterlife? That's a good plan."

Alex's grip tightened as he focused all his strength and willpower. With a surge of adrenaline, he extended his left hand and exerted a tremendous force to halt the car's progress.

Time seemed to stand still as the car suddenly stopped, mere inches away from Gwen and Alex. The sheer display of Alex's strength left Gwen dumbfounded, her eyes wide open in disbelief.

Alex breathed a tired sigh, the weight of the situation sinking in. "...Keep it for yourself, will ya?"

Gwen just nodded dumbly.

"Alright, let's get outta here." Alex then retracted his hand from the car as he turned his head toward Gwen who looked at him dumbly. "Can you move your body?"

After that, Alex asked Gwen to find help nearby. Then he helped those who were still trapped on the bus to get out one by one. He thought everything was gonna be alright.

But halfway through, he found a few classmates who were no longer breathing.

"..."

Alex doesn't need to check their pulses, he himself has enhanced senses strong enough to see if they are still breathing or not. After getting them out, he felt the same feeling he got before the accident happened.

He couldn't help but think of a few possibilities but he didn't want to believe either of them.

As he kept doing what he was doing, the feeling kept getting stronger until he found a body that wasn't breathing anymore that belongs to...

"James... No, it can't be..."

Alex's voice cracked with grief as he knelt beside his fallen friend. Tears streamed down his face, his body trembling with overwhelming emotions. He couldn't comprehend the loss he was experiencing at that moment.

"No, no, this can't be happening," Alex whispered, his voice trembling with grief.

He placed a trembling hand on James' still form, hoping for a sign of life, but deep down, he knew it was futile.

"AHHHH....!!!"

For the first time in his life, Alex cried like a newborn baby, tears streaming down like a river as a cry of anguish echoed through the wreckage as Alex mourned the loss of his dear friend.

He couldn't escape the overwhelming sense of despair that enveloped him.

Amidst the chaos, the sound of approaching sirens grew louder. Help was on the way, but for Alex, it felt too late. The lives that had been lost couldn't be brought back.

---

George Stacy, the captain of the New York Police Department, found himself leading a team of officers to the scene of a traffic accident, an unusual task for someone in his position.

However, this was no ordinary situation—it involved the safety of his own daughter. George had received a phone call from his daughter, which initially brought relief, but quickly turned into horror as he learned about the accident.

Upon arriving at the accident site, George surveyed the scene and saw that most passengers were safe, with only a few casualties. Thankfully, his daughter was among the unharmed individuals.

Approaching the captain of the medical team, who stood near an ambulance, George inquired about the extent of the casualties.

"How many casualties in this accident?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice.

The medical team's captain responded, "We have 17 seriously injured, 22 with minor injuries, and 7 fatalities, including 5 students, a teacher, and the driver."

As they discussed the grim statistics, their attention was drawn to a young boy carrying a body. Seeing this, they instinctively approached the boy.

Observing the dried tears on the boy's cheeks, George gestured for the medical team to join them.

"Don't worry, kid. We'll do everything we can to save your friend," George reassured him, projecting strength and determination.

The boy's response, however, shattered their hopes. He spoke softly, his voice tinged with despair.

"You won't be able to," the boy muttered, causing George to question what he had heard.

"I'm sorry?" George replied, his disbelief evident in his tone.

The boy shook his head and turned toward George, revealing haunting red eyes that carries a deep sense of anguish.

"He's not breathing anymore," the boy uttered, his words heavy with sorrow and...

...acceptance.

George's heart sank, and a profound sense of empathy washed over him as he realized the magnitude of the loss the boy had experienced.

"...I see," George responded.

George watched as the boy carefully laid his friend's lifeless body onto the mattress prepared by the medical team.

"He always tried to ship me with Gwen," the boy shared, causing George to perk up his ear as he listened silently.

"But I knew that James actually liked your daughter as well," the boy continued, his voice filled with resignation and longing.

Inwardly, the boy couldn't help but mock himself, acknowledging his own selfishness.

'He could ignore his own happiness for his friend, but how could I not? I'm such a selfish bastard,' he thought, his self-criticism weighing heavily on his conscience.

Suddenly, the boy's strength waned, and he collapsed. Reacting swiftly, George caught him before he hit the ground, recognizing the exhaustion that emanated from the boy, both mentally and physically.

Looking down at the boy in his arms, George couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

"You had a good friend, kid," he murmured softly, his voice tinged with respect and understanding.