At
C.I.N.T.R.A
Allen’s
eyes cracked open. His head pounded. His body felt like a dead weight
being dragged across cold metal. Two agents - one on each arm.
The
floor scraped beneath him. His wrists were locked in cuffs that bit
into his skin. His wrists were locked in cuffs. He pulled. They
didn’t budge.
At
the prison facility entrance.
They
stopped at a scanner. Red light swept over him - head to toe. A
mechanical voice: “No weapons detected. Genetic markers: positive
for AM204. Classification: Golden Vein. Threat level: Critical.”
Allen’s
stomach dropped. They knew exactly what he was. They continued. Allen
stared at the other prisoners as they kept going.
One
man rocked back and forth, muttering. Another’s hand glowed faintly
- she kept trying to use her powers against the walls, over and over,
crying each time they failed.
His
breath froze. Cold spread through his body. He couldn’t move.
The
Agent pushed him forward. “Keep moving.”
They
reached an empty cell. As the door opened, Allen was thrown into the
cell. Allen rushed to the door as it closed.
“Let
me out here!...”
He
slid down with his back against the wall. His eyes burned. He wiped
them fast as
footsteps
approached his cell. He sprang back up, drying his face with his
hands.
A
man stopped before his cell. Tall, broad-shouldered, hair slicked
back. When his eyes met Allen’s, Allen felt it like a physical
weight.
“How
long have you known about your powers?”
His
tongue couldn’t move.
“How
many people have you killed with it?”
“Nobody!
I haven't — I didn't hurt anyone!”
“Where
did you get them from?”
Allen
froze.
The
man said. “I doubt it’s from a lab… so which one?”
“Your
mother or your father?”
“Don't
you dare touch her!”
“Don’t
worry, we’ll find that out ourselves.” He turned.
Allen
rushed to the glass. “Touch her and I'll...“ he yelled.
The
man stopped. He returned to glass.
“Oh!
And if we do?”
His
jaw clenched. Heat flooded his chest. His fist tightened until his
nails bit into his palms. A golden pulse flickered in his eyes. He
exploded at the man. The glass protected him.
“I’ll
kill you”
The
man laughed. He reduced his height as he bent forward.
“Be
careful with me, kid. Or you won’t have a family to return to.”
his eyes flickered purple.
Allen
stepped backwards. His hands shook. The man called an agent to unlock the cell. He walked in. He sat on one side of the cell. Allen took
the other.
“Ever
heard of I.I.A?”
Allen
shook his head. The man laughed.
“Don’t
play games with me, kid,” he smirked. “You’re a spy, right?”
Allen’s
back was against the wall.
“Yeah,
I'm a super spy. That's why I got caught in a high school cafeteria.
“In
case you don’t know, many spies died in my hands
Allen
flinched. His breath stopped in his throat. Heartbeat delayed.
“All
those trainings and all those powers, even their age didn’t save
them.” He stood up and closed the distance.
He
grabbed Allen by the neck. His hand raised Allen into the air. Allen’s
heartbeat dragged. He froze mid-air. Purple energy pulsed beneath the
man’s skin. His grip started to crush Allen’s throat.
The
air shimmered around them. Allen’s skin cracked. Flaked. His face
hollowed. He could feel himself dying - not healing, not adapting.
Just.. ending.
“That’s
enough, Jason”
A
woman stood in the doorway. Older, sharp-featured, uniform, pristine.
Her tag read Drakos.
Jason’s
hand opened. Allen collapsed. Almost lifeless.
Jason
left the cell. His heartbeat peaked. Blood flooded his vessels. His
skin sealed the cracks. Life returned to his face.
Two
agents came in and took Allen out. They’re headed to the
Interrogation Room.
In
the Interrogation room.
Allen’s
alone at the table. His hand was cuffed by a special restraint. A man
walked in. He took his seat. He smiled.
“You’re
scared, right?” He reclined on his seat.
Allen's
jaw clenched. “What do you think?”
“Most
of us here just follow orders.”
"Right.
Just following orders. That's what the Nazis said, too."
His
smile didn't reach his eyes. “You read history. Good.”
The
man shot his arm forward for a handshake. Allen withdrew his hands.
“You’re
still those?”
he laughed. “You really are just a kid.”
He
reached for Allen’s hands with the key. “Don’t mind my
colleagues.”
Allen’s
mouth didn’t move. A tag caught sight of a tag on the man’s
jacket. Takamasa Kentaro.
Allen
squared shoulders. Arm crossed.
He
brought out a tab and played the footage of the Cafeteria scene. The
video floated above the tab as a hologram. Allen watched. He paused
where Allen activated his powers.
“Most
people say that’s a monster, but we have a name for them. Inhumans.
“
Allen
just kept staring at him.
“You
need some water?” Takamasa leaned forward.
“What,
you gonna poison it?”
“Guard,
help me with a glass of water.” He pointed to the door.
A
guard came in with a glass of water and dropped it before Allen.
Allen didn’t even look at it.
“From
the footage. You’re an inhuman. And not just
any inhuman, but a golden-vein inhuman”
“Do
you know what that means. Allen Cold”
His
stomach dropped.
“How...”
He swallowed. “How do you know that?”
“We
know everything about you.” Takamasa tapped the tablet. A hologram
of Allen’s dad came out.
“Let’s
say we’re watching you, Allen. Ever since the sad incident of
your father’s death.”
Allen’s
mouth opened. Closed. His hands curled into fists.
“He
our
agent. A top agent indeed, but in a world like this, people come and
go.”
His
voice sounded cold. “You’re lying.”
“Am
I?” Takamasa swiped. “Your father, Trent Cold. Worked for
C.I.N.T.R.A. for twelve years. Solid record.”
Takamasa's
finger swiped. Another image appeared — Allen's dad in tactical
gear, C.I.N.T.R.A. insignia on his shoulder.
Allen's
vision blurred. “No. H-he wasn't...“
Stolen novel; please report.
“He
was. For twelve years.”
“Then
why didn't he...” Allen's voice cracked. He bit down hard, forced
the words back.
Allen
couldn’t breathe. His dad. Working for them. All those years.
“You’re
lying. Why should I trust anything you say?”
“Am
I?” Takamasa smiled. “Ask your mother when you get home.”
“Look
here, Allen. There are only two options for you. One: Go home, but
we’ll be watching. One mistake and we bring you back.”
Allen
leaned back. His fists tightened.
“You
can’t run or hide, kid. We know where your family lives. We’ll
just.. erase them”
Allen
lunged at him. He froze mid-phase before he could reach Takamasa. He
studied Takamasa, whose eyes glowed purple.
Is he also an
inhuman?
An
invisible force held Allen in the air. He returned Allen to his seat.
He laughed as Allen kept on staring at him.
“Resistant!”
Takamasa smiled. “Don’t worry, you’ll understand with time.”
“Option
two: Work with us. Training, resources, and protection for you and your
family will be provided. But you’re ours.” He hands Allen a
business card.
Allen’s
muscles relaxed, but his eyes were tense.
He
stood up. “Get one thing straight, Allen. The world’s cruel. It’s
either you work with us, or suffer the fate of your existence.”
He
left the door. “In the next five minutes, some agents will take
you home.”
He
turned to Allen. “And in the meantime, don’t forget about what
we’ve discussed. Good luck, Allen Cold.”
He
left the room. Allen sat in the silence after Takamasa left. His
hands were shaking till he tightened his fist.
He
looked at the business card on the table. His reflection stared back
from the metal surface - eyes red, face hollow. He ran his hand
through his hair.
****
At
home.
In
the living room. Allen’s mom held on to Nia, stroking her hair.
C.I.N.T.R.A Agents are around them - watching them till the order
comes.
As
the front door opened, Allen walked through the front door and froze.
C.I.N.T.R.A
agents. Three of them. Standing in his living room, as they owned
it. Watching his mom and Nia on the couch like suspects.
His
mom’s face was red, eyes swollen. Nia was curled against her,
trembling.
The
agents’ hands rested on their weapons.
Allen’s
fist clenched.
“Return
to HQ.” Takamasa’s voice crackled over the comms.
The
C.I.N.T.R.A agents went out the door. They entered their vehicle and
left - returning to base.
Relief
flooded Nia’s face. They hugged him tight. His mom checked if he’s
alright. Nia hurried to the door, locking it.
“How
are you feeling? They didn’t do anything to you, did they?”
Evelyn checked his face.
Allen
removed her hand from his face. His face was cold.
Evelyn’s
breath came in short gasps.
He
glared at her.
“You
knew!”
Evelyn’s
eyes widen. Word faded from her mouth. She trembled.
“You
knew about dad!” Allen clenched his fist. “That he worked with
C.I.N.T.R.A.”
Evelyn
reached for him, but he backed off. Nia walked in slowly. Her eyes
burned from tears.
“Allen,”
Nia closed the distance.
Allen
took another step back.
“How
long have you known?”
“Allen…”
Evelyn’s voice broke.
“How.
Long.”
Her
breath caught. “I can explain...”
“No!
You can’t. That’s why you lied to me.”
“Allen,
don’t!” Nia stepped between them. “She had to protect you!”
“Protect
me?” Allen’s voice cracked. “By lying? By letting me think...”
He
stopped. Looked at both of them. His mom was broken on the couch. His
sister’s eyes were filled with tears.
“I
was the only one who didn’t know,” he said.
“Not
knowing that dad was one of them.” He laughed. “Guess I was the
only one living a lie”
Tears
filled his mom’s eyes. Nia’s words died in her throat. Allen went
up the stairs to his room. Evelyn rested on the sofa - her hands
covered her face. Tear slipped through. Nia rushed to cuddle her.
“Trent,
why’d you leave me with this?” her voice broke. “You promised.”
“It’s
okay, Mom. Please, stop crying” Nia hugged her tightly.
****
In
Allen’s room.
He
stared at himself in the mirror. He hissed. Went to his table -
picked up the photo with his dad in it. He traced his finger over his
dad’s face in the photo. The glass was cold.
He
sat on his bed, leaned forward with his fingers crossed.
I'm
still pissed at you. But God, I wish you were here.
He
stared at the photo. “You would have explained what’s really
going on right now,” he sighed.
Hours
later, Allen sat by his window.
A
knock. His mom's voice: “Allen? Are you asleep?”
“I
just wanted to apologise for keeping you in the dark.”
Allen’s
awake, seated by the open window. The night blue light came down on
his face. Evelyn turned the doorknob. The door opened. She stole a
glance.
She
saw Allen at the window. “Can I come in?”
He
turned to the window. “Yeah”
She
came in and sat on his bed. She faced him.
“I’m
sorry about how you got to know your powers. Your dad said you were
special. I thought he meant smart or talented. Not... this.”
“What
did they tell you?” she leaned forward.
Allen
gave her the business card. She took it. Sighed as she looked at it.
“He
wanted to be here to teach you how to use it, but he couldn’t.”
Allen
looked at her. “I knew he used to be busy and didn’t like to talk
about his work.”
“I
mean.. Why work with C.I.N.T.R.A despite all the things they’ve
done to people?”
Evelyn
went to his table and took the photo with his dad in it. She joined
him at the window.
“He
had no choice, Allen. It was his life against ours.” She looked at
the photo.
“For
years, they made him do things he hated. It almost broke him,” her
eyes met Allen’s.
“And
he didn’t want that for you. That’s why he tried so hard to keep
you out of it,” she forced a smile.
Allen
remembers:
Ten
years back. When Allen was seven.
He
and his dad went fishing in a small lake. His dad had caught a fish
so small they'd both laughed. Threw it back. His dad's hand on
Allen's shoulder: "We'll get a bigger one next time."
She
handed him a photo of his dad and his friends - Allen’s mentor,
three other men, one old, and a young lady in it.
“Your
dad and his friends fought back against the control. But I guess it
wasn’t enough.”
Allen
looked at the photo. Allen's finger stopped on one face. Young guy,
dark hair, serious eyes. Something stirred in his memory. Blurry.
Distant.
“Who's
this?”
Evelyn
looked. “That's Zen Nakamura. Your dad's student. He used to look
after you when you were little.”
Allen
stared at the face. He didn't remember clearly. But the name…
“Zen,”
he repeated.
“Why?
Do you remember him?”
Allen
shook his head. But something about the name felt important.
“Are
they still alive?”
“I
don’t know. After your dad died, they scattered. Went underground.
Zen was the only one who checked in, but that was years ago.”
“But
if there’s anyone that tell you more about your father. It’s
them.”
Allen
studied the photo again.
Evelyn
handed the card back to him. “I won’t stop you from making your
decisions. Whatever you decide, I'll support you. But don't let them
control you like they controlled your dad.”
Allen
nodded.
“And,
promise me one thing…”
She
hugged him. “...That you’ll always stay safe out there.”
“I’ll
be careful,”
His
mom heard the difference but didn’t push. She held him for a long
moment. When she finally let go and left his room, Allen looked back
at the photo.
At
Zen's face. At his dad's team.
****
The
next morning, Allen was in the attic, surrounded by his father's
boxes. Dusty files, old gear, nothing useful. An hour in, still
nothing.
Nia
climbed up. “Find anything?”
Allen
closed another box. “No.”
She
joined the search anyway.
Their
mom's voice came from below. “Aren't you two supposed to be at
school?”
Evelyn
stood at the attic entrance, still in her robe, phone in hand.
Allen
looked up. “After what happened? I can't go back. Not yet.”
“Just
finish up and come have breakfast.” Evelyn turned around. She
paused at the stairs. “Okay?”
Allen
arranged the boxes. “Okay, I will.”
Minutes
later, at the Diner table.
Allen
came down the stairs. The air smelled like egg sauce mixed with the scent
of hot bread. Allen walked to the table.
“I
couldn’t find anything about dad in that attic”
“Don’t
beat yourself up. At least you checked” Evelyn served them some
tea.
Evelyn
took her seat. “As a matter of fact, your dad wasn’t the kind of
person to leave important files around - even at home.”
“Why?”
Nia chimed in.
“Your
dad never kept important files at home. Not after the break-in.”
Allen's
head snapped up. “Break-in?”
Evelyn's
expression darkened. “Two years ago. Someone went through his
office. Took files and equipment. Your dad never proved who, but he had
suspicions.”
After
meal.
Evelyn
sat at the table alone. The same table where Trent had sat three
years ago, handing her a case.
She
remembered his voice: “It’s for Allen.”
Three
years back. Late Afternoon.
Trent
placed the case on the table between them. His hands lingered on it -
like he was reluctant to let go.
“It’s
for Allen”, he said. “When he’s ready.”
Evelyn
set down her tea. “Ready for what?”
He
didn’t answer right away. Just looked past her, out the window to
the backyard where Allen and Nia were playing. Allen was fourteen.
Nia was twelve.
They
were chasing each other around with water guns, laughing.
Trent
watched them like he was memorizing the moment.
“Trent.”
Her voice sharpened. “Ready for what?”
He
exhaled. Turned back to her. His jaw was tight.
“To
understand what he is,” he paused. “What I couldn’t protect him
from.”
The
weight in his voice made her stomach drop.
“You’re
scaring me.”
“I
know.” He reached across the table, covered her hand with his. His
palm was warm. “I’m sorry.”
“Then
tell me what’s going on.”
He
looked at her for a long moment. Words his tongue didn’t want to
say.
“I
can’t. Not yet.”
“
“I
can’t.” his grip tightened. “But if something happens to me…
if I don’t come back… give him this. And tell him...”
His
voice cracked. He stopped. Cleared his throat.
“Tell
him I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to explain.”
Evelyn’s
chest constricted. “Don’t talk like that. You’re coming back.”
He
smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes.
“Yeah.
Of course I am.”
He
stood. Kissed her forehead. His lips lingered there - longer than
usual.
“I’ll
give it to him tonight,” he said. “When I get back.”
