Chapter 3
James woke up expecting pain. There was none. For a moment, he thought he was still dreaming. He shifted slightly on the hospital bed, bracing himself for the familiar stab of agony but his body responded smoothly, effortlessly. His breathing was steady. His chest felt light. He felt himself strong, too strong. He sat up. The movement was so sudden that the nurse across the room gasped. "You wait! You shouldn't be.." James swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. No dizziness. No weakness. The bandages that had once felt like restraints now felt unnecessary, almost decorative. He clenched his first slowly, feeling power coil beneath his skin like a sleeping engine that had just come alive. "This isn't possible," the nurse whispered.
Doctors rushed in moments later. Tests were run. Scans repeated. Murmurs filled the room words like impossible, unprecedented and miraculous floated in the air. His charts were checked again and again,as if someone had made a mistake. Dr Elias stood at the back, watching silently. Their eyes met. Just for a second the doctor gave the faintest nod. James felt a chill run through him. Within hours the conclusion was unavoidable,James was discharged.
Outside the morning sun felt sharper, brighter. Colors seemed deeper and sounds clearer. He could hear traffic Two streets away, feeling the weight of his footsteps on the pavement with startling clarity. The woman he had saved two nights before waited by a sleek black car. She studied him carefully, disbelief flickering across her face." You were barely unconscious yesterday," she said. "And now you're walking out like nothing happened." James exhaled slowly. "I don't understand it either." She smiled, though her eyes remained searching. "Either way, you saved my life. I won't forget that."
The drive took them through quiet,affluent streets until they stopped before a modern house, clean lines, high walls, security discreet but obvious. "Where are we? James asked. "Your house, my little way of saying thank you." She responded. James's face lit up. He could not believe that the mansion infront of him was his. Inside, she finally relaxed. Over a quiet meal, she explained what she hadn't said before. "I am a target," she admitted. "Competitors people who don't want my work to succeed attacked me last night. That is not new." James frowned," And you still walk around without fear." She met his gaze, "Fear doesn't stop bullets." Something about that answer stayed with him.She handed him an envelope thick and heavy " A little extra," she said" use it however way you want." James hesitated, then accepted it. " Thank you, truly." She dropped a bunch of car keys in his hands," Those cars outside on the car park are yours." James could not believe his ears. His mind raced to his little sister and how they have suffered at the hands of their stepmother.
As the car pulled away, James stood alone in his new home, the envelope still in his hand. He closed his eyes and focused. His heartbeat was steady. Controlled. Power hummed beneath his skin. Whatever Dr Elias had done to him it had changed everything. And somewhere in the city, unseen eyes were already back toward him. Because miracles, James was about to learn never go unnoticed.