I couldn't help but scream out in pain, screaming until no air was left. I felt like molten lava was flowing from my hand, slowly consuming every single cell in my body. I couldn't even breathe, I collapsed on the ground twitching like a fish on land.
My vision went dark, but that didn't stop the pain. I endured for god knows how long when suddenly, just as quickly as it started, it stopped.
I just laid on the floor, short rapid breaths filled my deprived lungs once again with air. I tried to open my eyes but something was covering my face, not just my face, my entire body felt like it was encased in some unknown substance.
I punched and kicked to free myself and crawl out. Looking back, I see that it was a dark red mixture of coagulated blood and other unknown fluids.
Disgusted, I rush to my bathroom to take a shower. I spent the next hour trying to brush and remove the blood and grime from my body.
Stepping out, I was once again shocked at my reflection in the mirror. A stranger looked back at me, long silver sapphire hair adorned a well-chiseled face, my black eyes seemed even darker, like an endless abyss.
'I look rather good' I thought as I posed a few times in front of the mirror.
Wait... no, how did I become like this? I ran my hand through my new hair, it doesn't feel synthetic...
Is this a result of me absorbing that crystal? I was way too many questions. I can't pinpoint exactly what changed and what I got from that ordeal.
Calming myself down with deep breaths another concern arose.
How can I go outside now, my ID pictures look so different from the current me. It's good that I didn't really have any friends after starting college or else I would be exposed.
I could just say this was the result of me awakening an ability, it's not as if I was the first one to experience such a dramatic change after receiving abilities.
Growl...
My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden hunger. I got dressed in a t-shirt and shorts before heading towards my kitchen to prepare some ramen.
...
Several bowls of ramen later, well, more like my entire month's supply of ramen later, I was still hungry. I desired some meat, a steak sounded heavenly right about now.
Deciding to walk to the nearest supermarket and buy some food, I left.
The moment I stepped into the street, I drew quite a lot of gazes. Since I lived in a college town many students were commuting to and from classes.
I was feeling quite good due to all the attention from girls staring until I happened to overhear their conversations.
"Hey, is that like a new style?" Asked a girl to her friend.
"He's quite unique looking, but an old t-shirt with food stains, cargo shorts, and crocks are hardly a fashion statement than a complete disregard for his cleanliness." Replied her friend.
I haven't realized how well my hearing got until I focused and listened. But now I really want to find a closet to lock myself into.
I forgot to change before going out. Looking down, the oil stains caused by the ramen I inhaled earlier peppered my shirt.
Awkwardly covering the stains to the best of my ability I rushed towards the store. I was already halfway there and I wasn't one to give up in the face of adversity, even one as great as this.
However, when it rains it pours, a sports car pulled up right in front of me as I tried to rush across an intersection. Instinctively, in an attempt at self-preservation, I form an air cushion between me and the car.
Screech!
It stopped just in time, leaving me standing there like a deer in headlights holding my hand up like some middle schooler pretending to use the force. Well, technically I can cause force like I phenomenons by manipulating the air but that's not the point.
I lower my hand feeling rather embarrassed.
"Sorry!" I yell at the driver, behind the heavily tinted windows.
"What the hell man, are you blind?" A young man poked his head out to vent.
But when he said that, I suddenly realized I wasn't the one in the wrong here. The walk sign clearly showed a little animated white stick figure walking, not to mention the man ran a red light.
"Hey young man, let's be reasonable here, you ran a red light almost hitting me, a pedestrian." An ingenious plan formed in my head, "Shouldn't I be compensated for the untold emotional distress you have caused?"
"What if I suddenly develop heart problems because of this?" I righteously lectured, "You could have ruined my bright future you know."
I went on and on jumping from PTSD to cancer, putting my two years' worth of university education to good use.
"I still have a wife and 7 children to feed at-" My sensitive ear suddenly picked up rustling noises followed by muffled yelling. Tracking the disturbance my eyes arrive at the trunk of the sports car where almost on cue, a loud banging was heard.
"Here, have your money, now get out of my way!" The now flustered and annoyed young man threw a few hundred dollar bills.
"Thank you, what a kind-hearted young man you are!" I gleefully replied and continued on my merry way to get the most expensive cut with the money I earned.
"And they say a communications degree is useless, ha!"
Looking at the passing car, I made a mental note of its license plate number before continuing my journey to get some food.
Ring. Ring.
"Hello, is this the police? I'd like to report a kidnapping."