Chapter Two: Finally
Kirro barely slept that night.
Every time he shut his eyes, he saw sparks dance across his skin. Every time he tried to calm down, his chest hummed like a live wire. He'd pinch himself, whisper wake up, but it never faded. It wasn't a dream.
By morning, he felt different. Lighter. Stronger. For once, the peeling walls of his apartment didn't seem so suffocating. For once, the smog didn't weigh him down. He wasn't just another kid in the slums anymore.
He was Gifted.
Breakfast Confession
His mother was already awake when he stumbled into the cramped kitchen, still wearing his hoodie from last night. The room smelled faintly of reheated rations. Lira, his little sister, sat hunched over her cracked tablet, scribbling notes before the morning net shut down.
"You look like you didn't sleep," his mother said, raising a brow. "Don't tell me you stayed up gaming again."
Kirro grinned, wide and uncontainable. "Mom. Lira. You're not gonna believe this."
Lira didn't even look up. "If this is about noodles again, I swear—"
"No." He slapped his hand against the table, sparks bursting across his knuckles with a sharp crack. "I awakened."
The tablet clattered to the floor. His sister's eyes went wide. His mother's hand flew to her mouth.
Kirro laughed, almost giddy. "See? Voltage. Electricity. I can control it. This is it — we don't have to stay here anymore. I can apply to an Agency, get scouted. We could move out of here. To the Upper Cities."
Lira's eyes shone. "You mean… no more ration cut-offs? No more net shutting down every night?"
"Yes!" Kirro leaned forward, sparks still flickering. "This is our ticket out. I'll prove myself and we'll never have to live like this again."
The Dream
For a moment, hope filled the room. His mother's expression softened, though worry lingered in her eyes.
"Kirro… powers don't always mean safety. The Agencies, the Guard… they use people. They throw them at those monsters like—like weapons."
"I don't care," Kirro said quickly, his voice steady. "If it means you and Lira can live better, it's worth it. This power—" He raised his sparking fist, blue light dancing between his fingers. "—it's our way out."
His mother stared at him for a long moment. Then she sighed, shaking her head. "Just promise me you'll be careful."
Kirro smiled, the fire in his chest impossible to hide. "Don't worry, Mom. This is just the beginning."
That morning, he walked to school taller than he ever had before.
He wasn't just Kirro from the slums anymore.
He was Voltage.And the world was finally going to see him.