UNWELCOMING RETURN.

After a few days of Sora recovering a bit more, I was finally able to speak to him. I had been waiting for this moment for months, never losing hope that he wouldn't wake up. The room was bathed in soft, golden sunlight as I approached his bedside. Sora's eyes fluttered open, and he looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and relief.

"Leo, tell me what's happened while I was asleep," Sora said, his voice filled with curiosity about the world he had missed.

I smiled and took a deep breath, wanting to paint a vivid picture for him. "You didn't miss much in terms of the world outside. The first month you were gone, I spent most of my time locked in my room, drowning in guilt for not being able to save you. But then, something changed. I found a way to cope with it, and I managed to perfect a new ability I'd been working on for a while – I call it Atmokinesis. It's more than just manipulating the weather; it's about mastering the fundamental elements of Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Lightning. I can do just about anything with it."

Sora's smile grew wider as he listened. "It seems you've surpassed me now. It's going to take a lot for me to catch up. Is there anything else this Atmokinesis can do?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

I chuckled, knowing there was so much more to this power. "Oh, there's a lot more to it," I replied. "I can become one with the elements. For example, if I lose a limb during a fight, I can create a replacement using one of the five basic elements. Picture a rocky arm with enhanced strength."

Our conversation was about to be abruptly interrupted by the entrance of a man named Williams. Sora tried to stand up, but months of inactivity had weakened his muscles, and he struggled to find his footing.

"Good to see you again, Sora," Williams said with a nod of acknowledgment.

Sora's determination to stand reflected in his eyes. "Damnit... Why did Sora want to kill me so badly? What could I have possibly done to make him hate himself so much?" he asked, frustration and confusion evident in his voice.

None of us could fathom why Future Sora harbored such a strong desire to kill his past self, but as long as Sora lived, that dark future would persist. Before any more questions could be asked, another figure entered the room – Mr. Brown.

"BROWN," Sora exclaimed, attempting once more to stand.

Brown chuckled at Sora's weakened state, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "What do you want, Brown, and how did you get in here?" Williams demanded.

Brown's reply sent shivers down our spines. "Take this and read it, Ryder," he said, revealing an ominous letter. How did he know Headmaster William's first name?

Headmaster Williams' expression shifted from cautious to outright anger. "You will not take anything from this child. He is part of this facility, and as long as I live, you will not lay a finger on him. Now, get out of here, Noah," Williams declared, placing his arm protectively in front of Sora.

Brown's smile deepened, an unsettling malevolence behind his eyes. "Then you are ready for the consequences, right?"

I couldn't stand the suspense any longer. "What does the note say, Williams? Hand it over," I ordered.

The note contained a chilling message:

Dear Headmaster,

You are reading this letter, which means you have chosen to disobey me. As punishment, I will be taking Sora Katayama as my prisoner. He has committed crimes against humanity and will be tried and judged accordingly.

I have a special room for Sora Katayama, and it is the only thing keeping him alive. If you take him from his room, I will be forced to go after you, Williams.

Sora's room is located under the main facility. Please enter the hallway behind my office. In the very back of that hallway is a large steel door. The password to unlock it is 'Sora.'

The door to Sora's room will not open unless you enter the password.

Thank you for your cooperation.

-Noah Brown.

Headmaster Williams and I exchanged speechless glances, realizing that Sora had been taken from us, and his life hung in the balance. We were compelled to follow Brown's instructions.

"Come on, Sora. The Headmaster can't protect you anymore," Brown taunted as he moved towards the door, prepared to take Sora with him.

I was torn between screaming and crying. I couldn't bear to see Sora taken away by this malicious man. "What are we going to do, Headmaster? We have to save him!" I implored.

Headmaster Williams wore a mask of deep concern, reminiscent of the day he broke the news of Sora's disappearance. "Don't worry, Leo. I will not let Brown take Sora away from me, and you won't let him either, right?" Williams declared, his voice resolute.

He was right; if I allowed Brown to take Sora, there would be nothing to stop him from carrying out his sinister plans. I had to get Sora back, but I had no idea where they had gone.

Without hesitation, I bolted out of the room and began to follow Brown's trail. He led me through a hidden tunnel that descended into the basement, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Brown had been planning this all along. It was as though he had been biding his time for the perfect moment to snatch Sora away. The thought of saving Sora pushed me onward, deeper into the heart of the unknown.

As I ran through the dimly lit, rust-infused corridors, the air grew thicker with tension. Had Brown orchestrated this labyrinthine route to make sure we couldn't find Sora? The deeper I ventured, the stronger my determination became.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of running through the labyrinthine halls, I arrived at a massive steel door.

"This must be the place," I whispered to myself.

"I am not letting you take him!" I declared with conviction, confronting Brown and Sora, who had been drawn into a perilous situation.

Sora and Brown both turned to look at me, and Sora's face lit up with a mixture of surprise and relief. It was clear he didn't know whether to be happy or concerned about my presence. "Leo... No! You can't come any closer!" Sora exclaimed, his voice tinged with fear.

Brown placed his hand firmly on Sora's shoulder. "You don't have a choice. I am the one with the password," he stated smugly.

Sora strained to break free from Brown's grasp, but his weakened muscles betrayed him. I couldn't stand by and let this happen. "Let go of him!" I shouted, and the ground beneath us began to tremble, and the ceiling threatened to collapse.

Brown's face twisted into an amused grin. "Are you sure about that? Don't you think Sora might be a little disappointed in you? I mean, you're attacking me, not the enemy," he taunted.

My eyes widened as the realization hit me. Brown was right; I had been attacking the wrong target. I struggled to regain control, but it was as though my powers had taken on a life of their own.

Sora's fear-filled gaze never left me as he slowly approached. Despite his weakened state, he drew nearer and nearer until he stood directly in front of me, holding on to me tightly. "I'm sorry, Sora, I can't control it," I confessed.

Brown, seizing the opportunity, grabbed Sora's arm. "Let's get going, Sora. The trial is waiting for you," he said.

A bone-chilling sensation coursed through me, a feeling of being watched, of impending doom.

Brown's smug expression morphed into one of terror. "It's too late now... You're already here," he stammered.

And then, a shadowy figure rose behind Sora, its ominous presence filling the room. It was dark, almost as tall as the chamber itself. The figure reached out, grabbed Sora, and began dragging him down a corridor, disappearing into the darkness.

"SORA!" I screamed in desperation, my heart pounding as I realized that the true enemy had revealed itself, and we were now faced with an even greater threat.