Amari's eyes flickered open. The harsh light of day blinded him for a moment. His chest ached, his head pounded. For a heartbeat, he thought it was all a dream—the mansion, the attack, his father and grandfather standing strong, the blinding light that swept him away.
But as he sat up, Daniel stirred beside him. The city street around them bustled with life. Strange buildings loomed overhead, signs flashing in colors Amari had never seen back in his village. The air smelled of roasted meat and dust.
It was real. All of it.
Amari's voice trembled. "Are Dad and Grandpa… really gone?"
Daniel pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes. He forced a grin, though his voice was heavy. "We don't know that for sure. They could've escaped. They could've beaten those guys… or maybe they were captured. But dead? Nah. We can't say that yet."
Amari lowered his head, fists trembling.
"But," Daniel continued, "we do need to figure out where the heck we are first."
The two boys wandered through the unfamiliar streets until they came across a large wooden sign.
WELCOME TO SAMANDA
Amari blinked. "Samanda?"
Daniel nodded toward a small shop. "Let's grab a map. We need to see how far we are from Maximus."
Inside the shop, the boys studied the map spread across a counter. Their stomachs sank.
Maximus was far. Too far. A journey of months—maybe even a year—on foot.
Daniel slammed his fist on the counter. "We can't wait that long! They probably need our help right now!"
Amari's gaze hardened. "Think, Daniel. If Dad wanted us to run right back, he wouldn't have sent us so far away. He sent us here for a reason. So we can grow. Get stronger. Learn how to use our powers—and our eyes. Then, when we're ready… we'll take those bastards down."
His eyes gleamed with a fire Daniel had never seen before.
"I won't forgive them," Amari whispered.
Daniel clenched his jaw, nodding. "Neither will I."
For now, though, their stomachs roared louder than their anger. The boys found a small diner and sat down for lunch, the warmth of freshly cooked food soothing their nerves.
But another problem rose. Amari set down his fork. "Daniel… where are we going to live? We can't stay in inns forever."
Daniel's eyes caught something through the diner window. Hidden behind a grove of trees at the edge of a field stood a large, weathered house.
"Amari. Look." He pointed.
The house looked abandoned, shadows clinging to its broken windows and sagging roof.
Amari raised an eyebrow. "It might be empty… but we should check it out before just moving in."
Daniel grinned. "Let's go."
The house creaked as they stepped inside. Dust coated the wooden floor, cobwebs hanging from the corners. The smell of damp wood filled the air. But for all its neglect, it was sturdy. Strong. A shelter waiting to be claimed.
"It's not bad," Amari admitted. "Doesn't look like anyone's living here." He looked around, then smiled for the first time that day. "We can make this work. All we need are supplies."
Daniel smirked. "Good thing I planned ahead." He pulled a small pouch from his jacket. Gold coins clinked inside. "Before we went grocery shopping back in Maximus… I grabbed money from the safe."
Amari stared at him, wide-eyed. "You what?!"
Daniel shrugged. "Hey, it saved us, didn't it?"
By sundown, the abandoned house had transformed. They scrubbed the floors, hung curtains, fitted locks on the doors, and laid down fresh carpets. New beds, a couch, and a small table filled the empty rooms. The once-haunted house now looked… alive.
Still, Daniel slapped his forehead. "Oh! We forgot the most important thing—food and a refrigerator."
The shopkeeper, amused by their persistence, agreed to deliver the refrigerator by cart. By the time the sun vanished behind the hills, the house was stocked, warm, and filled with the smell of freshly cooked dinner.
The brothers sat across from each other at the table, eating quietly.
Tomorrow was the start of a new life.
"Daniel," Amari said, determination burning in his voice, "we wake up at dawn. Training begins. Not just for survival—but for our family. We'll rescue them. No matter what."
Daniel smiled, a fire matching his brother's in his eyes. "Yeah. We'll save them together."
That night, in their new beds, the two brothers drifted into sleep—clutching the hope that one day, they'd reunite with the family that had given everything to protect them.