The sound of footsteps increased.
Measured. Heavy. Resonating with power.
Von's chest constricted. Despite the bruises and restraints, Justin moved to the front of him, assuming a defensive stance.
The door then slid open.
Then he entered.
A tall, sharp-jawed man wearing a white lab coat that was immaculate and seemed to glow in the fluorescent lights. His shoes shone. Calm as silence, he entered, his black gloves flexed.
He had a surgeon's appearance rather than a soldier's.
But when he stepped inside, the atmosphere changed.
Like it was listening to him.
"Subject 1207," he said, looking at Justin. He turned to Von and added, "And Subject 1208." "I wanted to know when we could meet."
He spoke softly. Polished. However, each word slithered across the glass like a blade.
Von didn't answer.
Justin smiled, bloody-lipped. "Let me guess. You're the asshole behind all this."
The man gave a small smile. "Dr. Rhane Caelum. Head of the Enhanced Human Division's Research and Containment. However, you can call me whatever helps you cope. He said, giving him a passive-aggressive smile.
He took a step forward, examining them as if they were objects on display.
"I've been observing you two for a while. Von, especially you."
Von's stomach dropped.
"I am aware of the incident," Dr. Rhane stated in an almost compassionate tone. "About your mother, I find it quite amusing."
Von's fists clenched, the black tourmaline cuffs buzzing faintly at the strain. But the more he struggled, the more his power got drained.
Rhane went on, "Don't take it personally," and walked past them to the window. His hands clasped behind his back, he gazed out over the rows of containment pods. "None of you can compare to this. Capabilities at random? Unplanned changes? That's not how nature operates. We need to know what caused this.
He pivoted.
"And sacrifice is necessary for answers."
Von stepped back unsteadily.
He questioned, "Why... why are you doing this?"
Dr. Rhane tilted his head, eyes gleaming behind silver-rimmed glasses.
"Because chaos needs to be kept under control. It is necessary to comprehend power. Managed. Otherwise, it eats everything it comes into contact with.
He was still staring at Justin.
"You especially... You radiate disorder."
Justin smiled. "It takes one to know one."
Rhane's smile dimmed, just a little.
The lights in the room flickered as he raised a gloved hand without saying anything.
For a moment only.
Von sensed it. That shift in pressure. That slight change in the atmosphere.
Rhane was awakened.
But he didn't reveal what he could do.
He didn't need to.
Because in this room, he already had all the power.
"Prepare them for isolation," he said, turning to the guards. "I'll begin trials in the morning." He said with an evil smile.
Von's heart pounded.
Isolation.
Trials.
They weren't getting out of here.
Unless they found a way to beat the system.
{📌 World Note: Black Tourmaline – The Awakening Suppressor
Ever since the first awakenings began, governments and private labs have scrambled to find ways to contain and control powered individuals. After years of research and experimentation, one rare mineral changed everything: black tourmaline.
Unlike regular containment tech, black tourmaline doesn't simply block abilities—it nullifies them at the source.
It disrupts the natural energy flow that fuels awakened powers, almost like cutting a wire inside the body. When worn or applied through devices—like restraint cuffs, collars, or injected chips—it makes using abilities impossible. Not weakened. Not slowed down. Gone.
For many awakened, the moment black tourmaline touches their skin, it feels like being unplugged—drained, numb, and powerless. For some, the effect is immediate. For stronger individuals, resistance may last a few seconds, but in the end, everyone falls silent under it.
Some have described the sensation as
"Like static swallowing your mind."
"Like your blood turns heavy."
"Like your power forgets it even existed."
{It's why black tourmaline is essential to the government's control tactics. Whether in labs, prisons, or enforcement units, it's always nearby—cold, black, and merciless.}