17 16.

They collapsed together on the couch, spent and satisfied.

Alex and Sarah laid tangled together on the couch, their naked bodies still flushed from passionate lovemaking. Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the afterglow.

Startled, he turned, only to be confronted by two mysterious figures clad in black, their faces obscured by menacing masks.

He could only tell apart their gender based on their figures. One of them was seemed like an curvy woman while the other one looked was an huge man with bulging muscles.

Before he could even react, the man moved with inhuman speed, crossing the room in the blink of an eye.

A surge of fear gripped as Alex watched in horror as the dark figure's hand smashed into the back of Sarah's neck.

In a brutal strike, Sarah crumpled to the ground, unconscious. The speed and precision of the attack were beyond anything humanly possible.

In the next moment darkness enveloped Alex's vision, and the world vanished into an inky void. The last sensation he felt was a disorienting wave of dizziness, leaving him helpless in the face of this inexplicable assault.

Couple of hours later...

Alex awoke with a jolt, his eyes flying open to reveal a blindingly bright room. As his vision adjusted to the stark white surroundings, he realized with dread that he was chained to a cold metal chair, thick shackles binding his wrists and ankles.

He looked around, the room was completely white and had a lot of lights pointing towards him. The room had no windows, it had one mirror where he could see him self and a door.

He didn't see Sarah in the room but currently Sarah was least of his concern, for him she was replaceable.

He looked at his reflection an ominous collar made of futuristic heavy metal encircled his neck and he was now wearing a white dress that were not his, the unseen purpose of the collar filled Alex with fear.

He struggled against the restraints in vain, the clanking of chains echoing off the bare walls.

Just then, the door slid open with a hiss, and in walked the two shadowy figures who had brought him here.

Alex's heart pounded rapidly in his chest as they approached. He knew these two were not normal - no, they were something far more sinister, something similar to him. He had seen the guy move at inhumane speed and he had a feeling the girl also had some power or abilities beyond the norm.

"Who are you?" Alex demanded, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. He attempted to use his hypnotic powers to influence them, but found them useless against these strange beings. The collar around his neck seemed to suppress his abilities.

The figures said nothing, merely staring at Alex with cold, inhuman eyes. He struggled helplessly against the chains once more, fear and adrenaline coursing through his veins.

What did they want from him? What twisted purpose lay behind his capture? Alex's mind raced as the figures drew nearer, mysterious and terrifying in the harsh white light of the bare room. This was no ordinary danger - he was utterly at their mercy.

He felt helpless, scared, powerless he felt vunaralable. If he survived this ordeal he made a promise to himself that he would do everything in his powers to never feel this way again.

The female slowly approached Alex, her eyes locked fiercely on his. With a snap of her fingers, a swirling black portal materialised beside her.

She reached her hands into the inky abyss and pulled out a simple metal chair. The legs scraped against the concrete floor as she positioned it directly in front of Alex and sat down, staring him down.

Alex heart starts to beat faster and faster, this confirmed his feelings that they were not normal.

With slender fingers, she grasped the edges of her mask and lifted it off, revealing her flawless features and piercing eyes.

"Welcome to the Liberators' headquarters," she says flatly.

"Sorry we had to meet under these...conditions." Her tone is devoid of any actual apology. "My name is Enigma. I'm the vice leader of the Liberators."

She gestures to the tall, muscular mutant looming beside her. "And this is Phantom." Phantom's face is obscured by a dark hood, but Alex can feel his intense gaze.

"I answered one of your questions Alex, now it's your turn to answer our questions and for your sake I hope you don't lie to us."

Alex nodded his hands and back were drenched with sweat.

"What ability do you have?"

"I don't know... Arghh" Phantom punched alex on the guts as soon as Alex finished his sentence.

The punch took the wind out of Alex's lungs and he started gasping and groaning in pain.

Enigma leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. "We've brought you here because we know about you, Alex. We know you're one of us. A mutant. With special powers." Her voice lowers.

"We just don't know what your powers are yet, so let me ask you again Alex, what are your powers?"

Phantom crossed his bulging arms, face obscured by a black mask. Alex's heart pounded as he glanced between them.

Their eyes bore into him, full of purpose and danger. He knew he was at the center of something big now, something he won't be able to escape.

The tension in the room is palpable as Alex struggles against his restraints. He stares back at Enigma, unsure whether she's friend or foe. But surrounded by these two powerful mutants, he knows one wrong move could end his life.