1 Chapter One - My past, everyone’s future

Isaac Woodman

T1 2045 - Heat lapped at my flesh as I stood upon the precipice, glancing downwards at the damaged Earth below. Veins of fire broke through to the surface, engulfing everything. The water and lakes have long since evaporated, becoming pools of bubbling magma. Buildings crumbled as the already dead structures were eaten by the fury of the flames. I saw a few stragglers below, people running from the destruction in a pointless attempt at survival. Amongst the smashing of concrete against stone, people screamed. It pierced through the cackling fire and the groaning of structures that had once been shops and cinema's. Joy long since surrendering to the echoings of death. I felt a calloused hand on my shoulder, steering my gaze away from the destruction below. Harold looked at me with eyes that had long since lost their ability to cry, but even with his stoic expression, a solemness could be felt from him. The others were the same, they had fought to the end, but this world had succumbed, we all knew that. Nothing could survive here and that was why we knew it was time. A heavy silence bore down amongst the five of us as we embraced, neither of us not wanting to break the serenity of the moment. The torn flesh of my peers against mine felt comforting in that impossibly long moment. We broke the embrace, not one of us shedding a tear as we did so. They knew what needed to happen, what I had to do. We had another chance at this, preventing this outcome. I turned and headed back to the edge of the cliff, overlooking the death and carnage below. I breathed out slowly looking upon each of them fondly. Jason Krivet, Levin Hussain, Fiona LeBlaunche, Harold Sterling and Ashlea Drury. Names that were synonymous with the battle we had endured and eventually lost. I nodded to Harold who in response cupped his hands, light reflected around the insides of his closed hands, becoming brighter and brighter until the refracting array of colours looked like a physical thing, moulded by his tight grip. As he fired a beam of colourful energy from his palms, I said the first thing that came to mind.

"Thank you," the weight of the words almost caused them to catch in my throat as I spoke them. My vision went dark as the condensed light hit me. The last thing I could think of was the sadness of our final moments, for them, it was death, the loss of everything. For me, I was losing the versions of them that I came to love, came to fight for. Even though this was a chance to start over, I feel like a part of me is still standing there, embracing my friends.

T2 2025 - Indescribable pain shook my body and I opened my eyes seeing a ceiling that was all too familiar, belonging to a past long since forgotten. I looked about the room, the walls were painted with an inconsistent coat of white paint, posters which depicted the newest video games and a widescreen tv which hung off the wall opposite the black and white sheets that covered my messy bed. I lay there for a few moments, in disbelief at the scenery around me. A part of me was surprised that it actually worked. Ignoring the lingering sensation of pain, I jumped to my feet and headed for the bathroom mirror, pulling off the plain grey t-shirt as I walked over. The face I saw looked unfamiliar, where moments prior I had long greasy hair, now it was short, brushed up and over to the left, even the dark brown of my hair was more colourful. I was sporting a little patch of stubble, my torso slightly bulging rather than the toned abs of my past, my future, no scars. I looked alien, my mind remembering two differing versions of myself, I was only a little shorter, about five foot nine now, which also felt weird. I stripped completely, taking a look at the me of the past. I stared at the version of me in the mirror and I stared back, the once naivety that I used to have, clouded by the sorrowful mind that had taken it over. I walked out of the bathroom, and turning on the news, today was the 3rd of August, giving me two months to find him.

T1 2045 - Tension bubbled in the chilled air of the building that we had gathered in. The room used to have been one to house parties and events akin to wedding receptions and business conventions, but now, it was in a state of disarray. The shining television screens placed around the room were the only source of light in the darkness of the room. It had only been fifteen minutes since the countdown had started, shocking us all. The final test, we had made it. But as this message appeared, a new one took its place - only one of you may participate - simple. A very simple rule, but that one rule turned us against each other as we bickered like children over which of us was the strongest. I kept an ear out for the discussions that were taking place, however most of them were about petty things.

"We all need to shut up and come to a decision!" the voice bellowed and I scoffed as I recognised it. Everyone turned to face the imposing form that belonged to Jason Krivet, a dear friend to most. His ash blonde hair made him easily distinguishable even in the corner of the room where I sat. "That countdown won't stop whilst we bicker, so we need to come to a united decision. If that is true, this means that this is the end," he pointed a tanned finger at the ongoing countdown, "we need to succeed, or, or," he paused for a few seconds. "I sincerely believe that if we don't succeed, we won't get any other chances. This is our only opportunity, so, I believe that the best thing we can do is to choose someone who has the highest chance of victory, if you believe that to be you, then feel free to volunteer." For a few moments, no one stepped forward.

"I will volunteer." Harold stated firmly as he raised his hand.

"So will I," Levin piped up, following Harold in his declaration. Other people who I was unfamiliar with also put their own names forward.

"I will also volunteer," the voice had a commanding presence to it that was unbefitting of his scrawny appearance. Everyone in the room turned to face the man, who was closely followed by two aides. Murmurs echoed throughout the room, wondering why Sebastian Vassinari was here at this time. He advanced to the collapsed staircase where Jason had just spoken from, elevating himself so that all could see him. "I am the best choice for this final test," his words held a sense of power that captivated me as I looked over at him. The saint. The sole reason behind humanities prolonged survival. The power to double the power of others. I and everyone else looked at him in confusion, but no one seemed to be the one to ask why. He wasn't a fighter, his ability was that of support not combat.

"You need to convince us then," Jason stated from beside us, "make a case for why it should be you over everyone else in this room." Sebastian smirked from beside him and held his palms up towards the ceiling. I jumped to my feet in surprise as I saw the light bend to his will before my very eyes. Can't be, I thought to myself as I looked over to Harold who was as stunned as I was. However, before the light shot from his palm in a focused beam of destruction, his fingertips caught fire and the flames jumped from finger to finger. What? I dared not move. Sebastian stepped forwards and stood, floating as if the air he stood upon was a tangible thing. Sebastian's smile widened as he saw our expressions and raised his still ignited and glowing palms to the ceiling and released the shot, vaporizing the ceiling above us. No one spoke through the dust that rained down on us from above. I looked over at Harold whose expression changed, he had noticed it too. The final vaporising blast wasn't just his ability alone, but a culmination of different abilities that worked together in sinew that amplified the ability belonging to Harold. A masterclass of control. It wasn't said aloud but it was obvious which one of us was going to be the champion going forward.