The morning came, and Nina was practically buzzing with excitement.It was her first full day working with The Agency, and everything inside her screamed ready. She got out of bed, took a warm bath that smelled faintly of lavender soap, brushed her teeth like she was preparing for battle, and made her way toward the office with a little bounce in her step.
As she passed Cole's room, she stopped for a moment. Her hand hovered in the air, halfway to knocking.Maybe I should say hi, she thought. It would be polite, right?But she didn't knock. Of course she didn't. She stood there awkwardly for another second, then moved on.
She stepped into the office, half-expecting Kima to be there waiting for her with some kind of cool mission or intense lecture. That's what she hoped, at least. She liked Kima. Actually, she admired her. One day in, and Nina already saw her as the older sister she never had—tough, calm, someone who made her feel genuinely safe.
Felix was… different.
She didn't dislike him—he was cool, in his own chaotic way. But there was something wild about him. He had this energy, this unpredictability that made Nina uneasy. Sure, he was protecting her now. But what if, one day, they decided she wasn't useful anymore? She knew deep down that her power was why they'd saved her. And she also knew Felix wouldn't hesitate to make hard calls.
Kima felt like a choice. Felix felt like a risk.
So, imagine her disappointment when she stepped into the office and no one was there to greet her.The room was quiet, sunlight pouring through the windows, dust dancing lazily in the air. A large wooden table sat in the center, covered in stacks of thick books. Nina raised an eyebrow and walked over, her boots echoing softly on the floor. On top of the books, a folded letter waited for her.
She picked it up and unfolded it immediately.
Dear Nina,
I'm sorry we're not there on your first day, but something came up at The Agency and we had to leave earlier than expected. We're also handling your registration today—it's part of protocol.I left you some books about the Agency's early days and how we deal with powers. There's a lot, I know, but I remember how much you love to read.Have a nice day! :)—With love, Felix
"She remembered!" Nina shouted with a grin, heart lifting at the thought. Kima remembered what she said yesterday—about her love for reading.
But then her eyes caught the signature.
"With love, Felix."
She blinked, then crumpled the letter in two with an annoyed scoff."Of course it's from him," she muttered.
Still, she wasn't going to let that ruin her day. The books were thick, old, and full of promise. Like any true bookworm, she grabbed the largest one and dove in.
She read for hours—completely absorbed. The world around her faded, replaced by tales of psychic experiments, old agents with wild abilities, the founding of the Agency, and strange missions involving time loops and shadow creatures.
By the time lunch rolled around, she'd already finished three books. She microwaved some leftover pizza from the night before, ate in silence, and sat back down, cracking open the fourth.
Just as she reached the second chapter, a low growl echoed from behind the door. She froze.
Do they have a dog and forgot to tell me? she wondered, half-joking—but also slightly alarmed.
The growl came again. And this time, the doorknob turned.
Nina's heart jumped to her throat. Her body stiffened.
The door creaked open.
And in stumbled what could only be described as a zombie-Cole.
He looked like death warmed over. Hair a mess, eyes bloodshot with heavy bags under them, posture slumped like his spine had given up on life. He shuffled inside, groaning slightly.
Nina blinked. "Are you… okay?"
"I just… didn't sleep last night," he answered. "I thought that after everything that happened, those guys might come back, so I stayed alert."
She could tell he was lying, but didn't want to ruin the moment."Well, in that case, you can have this," Nina said, pointing toward the pizza boxes.
Cole perked up, suddenly full of life."Leftovers? Awesome!" he grinned, opening one box and stuffing a slice of pizza into his mouth.
"How old are you?" Nina asked, watching him devour the food.
"Forgot everything, remember?" he replied with his mouth half-full.
Nina frowned."Last night you said that was a lie."
Cole paused mid-bite."Oh yeah. I did say that."
"Why?" Nina pressed.
He shrugged."Why not? I don't know them. They let me stay here for free, so I guess that's good. But I also know they want something from me."
"Kima said they found you passed out and took you in because you had nowhere else to go," Nina explained.
"Kima is a bitch."
Nina's jaw dropped."The fuck is wrong with you?! Why would you say that?"
"Because it's true!" Cole snapped, eyes burning with frustration."She just wants to look like she's the strongest, the smartest, the most skilled person in the room. Miss I can do anything by myself. That's not strength—that's delusion. I hate people like that. People who think being alone is a good thing."
He left her speechless.Is he really just a kid? she asked herself.
"How about Felix?" she finally asked.
"That guy's a piece of shit," Cole said, then smirked. "But I respect him."
"Why?" Nina asked, genuinely curious.
"Because at least he tries to keep people together," Cole replied, more calmly now. "They're both hiding things from us. So why should we tell them everything we know?"
Nina sighed and gave a slow nod. Her thoughts finally began to settle. In his own way, the boy was right. What if Felix and Kima wanted the same thing the red-feathered ones did, but chose to use kind words instead of force? She had nowhere else to go, and alone, she was an easy target.
She needed an ally. Someone who, even if not out of loyalty or care, would stay by her side simply because their goals aligned. Survival. And in this strange new world, survival already seemed like a luxury.
Unfortunately, her only real option was this random kid she had just met. He didn't seem like a bad person—just a little rough around the edges. At the end of the day, he was just a kid. And if she looked past that dark glimpse of the future, he seemed too careless, even clueless, to be capable of anything truly harmful.
The one thing that mattered most: if he was her only choice, then by default, she was his. That made them equals. Partners by necessity.
With that thought in mind, she opened her mouth and spoke the words that would change both their lives forever.
"Let's be a team then."
"What?"
"If they're hiding things from us, they're probably hiding things from each other too," Nina said. "So if we team up and don't hide anything from each other, maybe we stand a chance. In case… things go south."
Cole nodded thoughtfully."You're a user, right?"
"Yes," Nina answered without hesitation.
"Okay. Here's what we're gonna do. I'll tell you what happened to me, and in return, you tell me what power you have.Deal?"
"Deal," Nina said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"I used to live in an orphanage. All boys. Eastern part of the city. Two months ago I'd had enough, so I ran away."
Nina leaned in, already hooked."Why?"
"It was a waste of time," Cole said. "The staff wasn't that bad, and neither were the other kids, but I don't know… once a month we'd get new music and movies. Seeing how people lived out there… I wanted a taste of that."
"And why were you passed out on that street?"
"Ah. A man tried to kill me," Cole said casually, like it was just another Tuesday.
Nina blinked. Her face said I have a million more questions, and Cole could tell.
"He followed me for a while after I escaped," Cole continued. "I thought he was some dumb guardian. But things changed when I confronted him in that alley. He said he knew who I was. And that… I have to pay for my sins."
"And after that?"
"I think he hit me in the head. That part's a blur."
Nina nodded, digesting everything.
"Now your turn," Cole said.
"I can see the future," Nina confessed.
Silence.
Cole just stared, clearly thinking hard. He opened his mouth a few times, trying to find the right words, but nothing came out. Then finally:
"You a creep."
"What?!" Nina frowned, clearly offended.
"So let's say I go to the bathroom in like an hour. You can see what I'll do in there?" Cole asked, grinning mischievously.
He really is just a kid, Nina thought, rolling her eyes."No. It doesn't work like that. I only see the future when I'm stressed or scared. And even then, it's really random."
"Lame," Cole muttered.
Nina didn't bother replying.
"So," Cole said, leaning back, "you were kinda scared when you saw me yesterday. Did you see me? In the future, I mean."
Nina started sweating but kept her composure."No. I just had a shitty day and I got scared."
So much for their truth-only rule. But she wasn't the first to lie—half of what Cole had told her was false.
"Listen," Cole said, a spark of rebellion in his voice. "Wanna get out of here?"
"What? Why? You know we're not allowed to," Nina said.
"Come on! I feel like I'm dying in here. Let's just go around the block."
After reading so many books, Nina felt like she'd earned a break."Fine," she sighed. "Let me grab my coat."
They say that losing is part of life. That it builds character, teaches lessons, and makes a man whole. When a man finally learns to lose, he will be complete and find true happiness. Blitz didn't believe that. He hated losing. This week it had only happened nine times, so it wasn't such a big deal—for now. But next week would be his. Until then, he really needed a drink.
There he was — a young blond man, looking just shy of his twenties, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and a loose red tie, sitting at a bar in some shabby pub, deep in thought. It was the middle of the day, but the place was packed. Even if a table had been free, he still would've sat at the bar—it was his lucky spot.
"You should really quit gambling," the young barmaid said, snapping him back to reality.
Blitz smiled. "You know I can't. It's the only way." He pulled out a pair of red dice and began rolling them on the bar.
"Only way to what?" she asked, immediately regretting the question.
His eyes widened. "To save the world."
She was lost for words.
"Imagine," Blitz continued, "one day, I make enough money and put it all into one massive bet. The things I could do if I won... I could solve all the world's problems."
Just then, the door slammed open. Blitz turned around to see who it was, and in walked a kid wearing a cropped red hoodie over a white t-shirt and baggy pants, followed by a young woman in a black skirt, light blue shirt, vest, and a tie. They slowly made their way into the bar.
The kid thought, Everybody must be looking at me right now. But in reality, nobody even noticed them—except Blitz and the barmaid. The rest of the patrons were too drunk to care.
"Cole," the young lady said as the boy walked toward the seat next to Blitz. "I don't think we're allowed in here. We should go."
"Come on! We'll be fine," Cole said, sitting down. He then looked at the barmaid, ready to order. "Give me a beer."
Blitz nearly fell off his chair laughing, and the barmaid giggled as well.
"I'm afraid you're too young for that," the woman said.
Nina finally caught up and sat beside Cole on the last empty chair. Too shy to speak, she kept her head down, prompting the barmaid to step in.
"And how about you, my dear?" the woman asked jokingly. "A beer too?"
Nina raised her hands, about to refuse, but Cole beat her to it.
"She wants a gin and tonic," he said, casually pointing his thumb at her.
Nina arched an eyebrow. "How do you even know what that is?"
Cole smirked. "Felix told me. That's what girls like—gin tonic and tequila."
Blitz kept laughing, clutching his belly. "You're a funny kid," he said, then raised a finger. "Come on, Katie, give them what they want. Put it on me."
Katie frowned. "You know how deep your debt is, right?"
Blitz shrugged it off with a laugh. "I'll pay. Double. Soon. Once I'm back on my feet and making real money."
That caught Cole's attention. "What do you do for a living?"
"Me?" Blitz said with a smug grin, already answering without waiting. "I'm a professional gambler."
"So… you're a loser," Cole said flatly.
Blitz clenched his fists. "You wanna get smacked, kid?"
Cole raised his fists with wide eyes, pretending to be concerned. "How long's it been since you last ate? I'm afraid you'll drop dead if we fight."
Nina was already tugging on Cole's sleeve, trying to calm him down, but the boy wouldn't budge. Then his eyes landed on something shiny on the table.
"What are those?" Cole asked. "Is that how you make money on the street?"
Blitz grinned proudly and picked up the dice. "You like 'em, don't you? These are my weapons of justice. Last thing my father gave me before he disappeared. With these, I'll change the world."
This guy's crazy, Nina thought. He and Cole might actually get along too well.
Just then, the barmaid returned with two sodas. "Here you go. This is all I can offer right now."
Nina reached into her pocket for her wallet. Kima and Felix had left them money to get food.
"No need," Katie said. "It's on Blitz."
"Blitz?" Cole and Nina echoed.
"That's my nickname," he answered proudly. "I was so good at the game, they banned me from everywhere."
That's so cool, Cole thought. "Okay, I changed my mind. I don't wanna beat you up anymore. You're lucky."
Nina slapped her forehead in embarrassment.
"You kids are something else," Blitz said, chuckling. "I like you." He turned to the barmaid. "Come on, Katie, open their bottles. I wanna make a toast."
"Right now," Katie muttered, reaching under the counter for the bottle opener. But it wasn't there.
Just then, a man built like a bear stood up from one of the tables at the back of the bar and lumbered toward the counter, his companion trailing behind—a woman so unnerving, Cole thought she might be the ugliest living creature on Earth. They had come up to the bar to place an order.
"Eight beers. For me and the lady," the man grunted.
"One sec, I'm looking for something," Katie replied politely.
The man's voice rose with anger. "I want something too! So move your ass and give it to me!"
"Yo, shitheads," Cole shouted, grabbing everyone's attention. "Wait your fucking turn."
The two strangers fell quiet for a beat—until the woman gave a twisted smile and slinked up to Cole, grabbing his cheeks with both hands.
"Ain't you a cute little boy," she purred. Her breath hit him like a brick wall. It stank. Bad.
Cole squinted, face scrunched. "Damn, woman. What did you put in that mouth? Or how many?"
"Cole!" Nina hissed, trying to pull him back. "That's enough!" She turned to the couple. "Please forgive him, he's just—"
The man shoved the woman aside and grabbed Cole by the collar, lifting him with both hands, completely ignoring Nina's words.
"You better apologize to my love, you little shit."
Cole caught the man's breath too—just as vile as the woman's. He wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"Damn, i bet you're the one who kisses her after the guys are done," he said with a wide, mocking smile.
The man's eyes went wild, his face darkening. He released Cole—only to swing a massive fist into the boy's face before he hit the ground.
Blood sprayed through the air as Cole collapsed.
"Cole!" Nina screamed, diving off her chair and landing beside him. "Oh my God, please—say something!" She shook his shoulders, desperate for a response.
Katie vaulted over the counter and crouched beside them. She glared up at the brute. "Are you insane? He's just a kid! You can't do this here—get out!"
"I do what I want," the man growled, stepping toward them. "Now move! I'm not finished. The brat needs a real lesson."
Nina stood up, putting herself between him and Cole.
The man sneered. "Oh, we've got a hero now? That's cute."
At the bar, still with his back turned, Blitz slowly began to roll the dice between his fingers. His voice came low, sharp, almost a whisper.
"Yeah, we have a hero. You're just looking at the wrong one."
He let the dice fall.
"Roll," he said, moments before they clattered onto the bar top.
6 - 6.
Blitz smiled—and then he moved.
In one explosive leap, he launched from the stool and slammed his fist into the man's chest with such force that the giant was sent crashing across the bar, slamming into the back wall. The impact cracked the wood and left a gaping hole where the man now lay, unconscious.
The bar fell dead silent.
The woman shrieked and rushed to her partner's side. Around them, at least twenty men stood from their table, fixing their eyes on Blitz, who now stood protectively between them and the kids.
They began to close in.
"Looks like things are getting lively," Blitz said, calmly spinning the dice between his fingers.
The mob crept closer, tension thick in the air. But Blitz didn't flinch. He smiled—a sharp, cold smile. One that, had Cole or Nina seen it, would've said it made Felix's smirk look tame.
"Now," Blitz said, voice steady, "which one of you ladies wants to be first?"