Ethan knox - September 2120
"Has your father always been cruel?"
The words slipped out before I could even think about them. Seriously, Ethan, smooth. Real smooth.
I look up at Noah, and for a split second, I thought I'd punched him in the gut with my question. His expression is… caught off guard. Not that I blame him... of course their father wasn't kind. Asking Noah about him was like poking a lion with a stick.
"Sorry," I blurt out before he can answer. "I didn't mean to pry."
Noah lets out a small sigh, shaking his head like he'd seen this kind of thing a hundred times before.
"No, it's fine. Our father was never a kind person," he says, voice flat, almost resigned. "His only focus in life was GeneX and the Lunex vial."
I watch him carefully. Everything I'd heard and knew about Dr. Langford screamed cruel, unkind, borderline monstrous.
"I… met your father before," I admitt, and I swear I can feel both Noah and Finn's eyes snap to me in surprise.
I force a small shrug. "I didn't interact with him much, but the short time I did… I nearly died."
Noah's face softens slightly, a subtle shift I couldn't miss. "Is that what Kai meant when he said our father took you away from him?"
The words hit harder than I expect. My chest tightens, my stomach dropping. I find myself staring at the door, wishing, praying Kai would walk back in. Hoping he is okay.
I wanted to run after him, hold him up in my arms, and never let go. But I knew him, he needed space when he was overwhelmed, or he'd just shut down and run.
"Yeah… your father… he…" I falter, memories crashing back like waves. "…he threatened Kai's life if I didn't push my powers. I was so terrified he'd die… that I pushed myself until I burned out."
Noah and Finn exchange a glance, and Finn lets out this heavy, exasperated sigh, shaking his head like he couldn't quite believe what I'd just said.
"How did you survive?" Noah asks, confusion written all over him. Clearly, he'd never seen anyone live through a burnout.
"There was a doctor at the facility, he saved me before I fully burned out." I can feel their attention on me, like they were hanging on every word.
"During the test, he injected something that slowed my heart drastically," I explain. "Slowed my breathing and I passed out. He even disconnected the wires so it looked like I… died."
Noah ran a hand over his face, trying to take it all in.
Finn glances at him. "Could this be the enhancer Dr. Williams mentioned at the summit?"
"It's possible," Noah says. "He does work for the facility, too."
"Wait—" I cut in, my voice a little higher with surprise. "You said there's a enhancer?"
Noah shook his head. "I'm not sure. It was just something one of the doctors mentioned. But if you survived… maybe it's real. The doctor did say this enhancer was to be used towards burnout victims"
I try to remember what Thomas had told me about that day. He'd used the injection he'd been working on to save me. He said he didn't know if it would work or if I'd survive. Honestly? I almost didn't.
But since Thomas joined us here, he'd said the cure was a dead end and that he couldn't make any progress with it. So… did someone else take over after he left?
Noah sits there, thinking for a moment, before turning to Finn. "We need to try to get our hands on this enhancer."
I blink, caught completely off guard by his sudden declaration, but Finn is already nodding along, like it's the most obvious plan in the world.
"Wait!" I throw my hands up, earning both of their attention. "You can't get involved... not yet, anyway."
I can't let them recklessly dive in while Kai hasn't agreed. He already felt like the room was against him when Noah offered to help, and he disagreed. If he ever found out that I'd planted the idea in Noah's head… he would be furious with me. Probably the kind of furious that makes him retreat entirely.
"Ethan, you don't need to worry," Noah says calmly, like he can see straight through my panic. "This is something I already wanted to get my hands on before even coming here."
Even with his words, I can't shake the unease curling in my chest.
"But Kai-" I start, but before I can finish, Noah stands, finishing the last of his beer.
"Kai can't tell me what to do. I'm the older brother, after all."
My stomach lurches. He's heading for the door. Finn gets up too, and I freeze, trying to process what's happening. Then it clicks, they're going after Kai.
I shove my chair back and rush after them. "Wait!" I shout, but they keep walking.
"I think he's had enough time to cool off now," Noah waves at me over his shoulder, his stride unbroken, confident, like he owns the place.
I finally catch up as he pushes the main door open. Outside, in the dim light, I see him, Kai, sitting on the swing set, gently swaying. A faint orange glow flickers at his mouth.
My chest tightens and panic rises. What am I supposed to do?
I fall into step behind Noah and Finn, my heart hammering as I watch them approach. Noah's determination makes me nervous, he looks ready ton continue the argument, but as he nears, he slows, sits down on the swing next to Kai, and suddenly, the tension in the air feels… different.
Kai glances up briefly at Noah, then turns his gaze toward me and Finn. A cigarette dangles from his mouth. He locks eyes with me, exhales a soft sigh, and flicks it to the ground. He knows I hate it when he smokes, but… I can't bring myself to scold him right now. Not when he looks so tense and fragile, like he's holding himself together by sheer force.
"just assumed someone so focused on staying in shape wouldn't smoke" Noah says softly, easing the swing back and forth.
Kai lets out a small laugh, glancing at his feet, where two more cigarette butts lie. He must have smoked them before we arrived.
"You never used to smoke," Noah continues, when Kai doesn't answer.
"Well… after years of being pushed to your limit, you learn to smoke," Kai says, a little too coldly. My stomach twists. He's not fully calmed yet, and I can feel the tension radiating off him. I worry Noah might push too hard.
"Under the circumstances, that's a perfectly rational" Noah murmurs, swinging gently, giving Kai space.
The silence stretches, filled only by our breathing and the soft squeak of the swings.
"You know," Noah finally say, low and careful, "when I was told you were gone, it broke something in me I haven't quite fixed."
I feel a lump form in my throat. At the same time, Kai fully turns toward Noah, absorbing every word.
"Shortly after that, I received a diagnosis of psychotic disorder," Noah continues, calm but heavy with meaning.
I feel Finn shift beside me, the weight of his words settling in the air.
"Noah, I-" Kai begins softly, but Noah raises a hand to stop him.
"Please. Let me say this," Noah murmurs, and Kai lowers his gaze again.
"It escalated. And occasionally it still does. It feels as though my brain starts working against its own systems... and I'm just forced to endure it"
We all listen, silent, letting the words settle. I glance at Finn. His gaze on Noah is intense, protective, understanding... something more. I don't comment, but the look says everything.
"You say this isn't my fight," Noah continues, voice steady, "but our father pushed us both to our breaking point. The difference is… at least I had Finn to guide me, while you had to face most of it on your own."
My stomach tightens. My eyes lock onto the back of Kai's head. He hasn't moved, still staring at the ground. My heart aches, wishing I could do something to ease that weight.
"Even when you met Ethan," Noah says, and the moment my name leaves his mouth, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "Father took him away from you."
Kai shifts uncomfortably. The shadows around his feet twitch, reacting to his mood.
"So," Noah continues, calm but firm, "it only makes sense that I help, you, and everyone else here. Our objectives align.""
"Noah…" Kai finally speaks, his voice heavy. "I just don't want you to get hurt."
Noah lets out a quiet laugh. "I won't get hurt. I've managed so far, you don't have to worry.."
Kai lifts his head, studying him.
"I just… I just want you to live a normal life," Kai says softly. "That's why I didn't tell you I was alive. I didn't want you involved in this."
My legs move before I've even thought about it. I want to reach him, hold his hand, tell him he doesn't have to carry everything alone anymore.
"Kai," I say gently. He looks at me, and I try to keep my voice soft. "Noah just wants to help you. He wants to stay by your side, like all of us do." I gesture around at the school.
"I know you want to keep him safe. But wouldn't it be easier to keep him safe if he stays close?"
Kai's eyes soften, his shoulders sagging slightly, like part of the weight finally slipped off.
"Plus," Noah adds, standing from the swing and tugging at his tie with that confident grin of his, "neutralising GeneX has always been part of my plan, even without your involvement."
Finn steps forward, standing beside him. "Noah's been working on a new project," he says, and both Kai and I snap our attention toward them.
Noah looks proud, and honestly, he's earned it. "I developed a nullifier, a compound that suppresses abilities entirely."
I freeze, mouth hanging open. I knew Noah was supposed to be brilliant… but this? Something that could undo the Lunex vial itself? Maybe even the counterfeits? The idea spins in my head.
"Kai," Finn says gently as he steps closer, "Noah has been trying to take down GeneX since the day he thought you died."
I feel Kai stiffen. His eyes widen as he looks between them.
"What? Why?" he asks, disbelief colouring his voice.
"Because if it wasn't for GeneX and Father's invention... we could have lived a normal life," Noah replies. "Uncle Owen would still be alive. And you…" He swallows, glancing away. "…you wouldn't have had to suffer so much."
Before I can even react, Kai suddenly jumps up from the swing and crosses the space between them. He wraps his arms around Noah, pulling him into a tight hug.
Noah startles, just for a second, then smiles and hugs him back.
Warmth spreads through me. I feel full of relief and happiness.
For so long Kai lived in a house where his father treated him like a tool, like he was nothing.
But here, in this broken playground, he still has something precious.
He has a brother who loves him.
Kai pulls back a little, looking between Noah and Finn. He actually seems calmer now, less like he's ready to bolt, more like he can breathe again.
"If you want to help," Kai says, voice steady, "you can't do anything reckless. And if Father finds out… he won't be happy."
Noah laughs lightly. "When is he ever happy?"
Finn leans closer and pats Kai on the back, smiling. "Don't worry. I'll make sure nothing happens to Noah."
Kai reaches out, returning the gesture with a small smile. "Thanks."
I step closer, placing my hand gently on the small of Kai's back. He relaxes—just a fraction—and I lean in.
"And I'll try to make sure Kai doesn't do anything stupid either," I say, grinning.
He shoots me a look, rolls his eyes… but the smile stays. I'll take that as a win.
"Then it's decided," Noah says, clapping his hands together.
And just like that, the heavy tension from earlier seems to fade. We're standing in this broken-down playground at an abandoned school, and yet somehow it feels strangely peaceful. Almost hopeful.
Noah glances at his watch, then looks to Finn. "We should probably head back. Tomorrow will most likely be busy now that we released the nullifier."
Finn checks his watch too and nods.
Noah steps forward and squeezes Kai's arm.
"We'll be back soon," he says with a reassuring smile. "Stay safe."
Kai nods. I can tell he's a little disappointed they're leaving, but he understands. If Noah suddenly vanished without warning, the guardians would start searching. And if GeneX joined forces with the facility to look for him…
Yeah. That would be bad. The kind of bad you don't walk away from easily.
I shift a little closer to Kai, just to let him know I'm still here.