The world was in chaos. Screams filled the air as the earth cracked and swallowed people whole. Thunder roared, lightning slashed through the sky, and tremors shook everything to ruin. Shadows writhed, stretching and consuming what remained.
Rex's eyes snapped open. His heart beat steady as he stared at the smooth polymer ceiling with dim panel lights above him. A dream. It was just a dream and it felt so real.
Soft morning light passed through the polymer walls, revealing their faint, barely visible seams. He turned his head slightly. Fabian was still asleep on the mat beside him, his arm covering his face. The other mat, likely Felix's, lay empty. He must have been up for a while.
Rex sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. The sun was already high, probably around 9 a.m. His body still felt heavy, his mind hazy from the strange dream.
Stepping outside, he found Freya crouched beside a portable energy stove, a large blackened pot resting on top. A faint hum came from the device as a steady blue flame heated the bubbling broth inside. The rich scent of simmering stew filled the air as she stirred with a large metal ladle, occasionally adding wild herbs.
Her eyes met his strange tired eyes as he stepped out, she stared at him for a second before motioning for him to come sit beside her.
"Hi," Freya finally said, glancing at him as he sat down before quickly looking away, watching the steady flame as the stew thickened.
"I'm, um... Freya. And you're Rex." She awkwardly introduced them both, stealing another glance at him. "I guess... where you came from got affected too, huh?"
Rex didn't answer. He only gave a small nod.
She sighed. "That must've been awful. I can't imagine losing my brothers. If I did... I'd probably kill myself."
Her words were blunt, but there was an ache behind them. She lowered her head.
"Our parents died in a car accident ten years ago," she continued, stirring the pot absentmindedly. "It hasn't been easy for us. Felix said he saw the murderer's face and how they just drove away with dead eyes, having no remorse, like our parents' lives didn't matter." Her voice hardened. "Felix swore back then that he'd get revenge... but now? Now he's gone all soft." She let out a bitter chuckle, shaking her head. "He's strong enough to do something, but he's let it go and I hate him for that."
She paused, then turned to him, her gaze burning with determination.
"With the apocalypse, and now that people are awakening powers... I'm going to get stronger. I'll find them myself and make them pay."
Her grip tightened around the metal ladle, knuckles turning white.
"Do you feel the same way?" she asked, watching him closely. "Do you want revenge? Do you want to make the universe pay for what it did to your family?"
Rex shook his head slowly.
Freya blinked, caught off guard.
He wasn't sure how to explain it. He wasn't even sure how he felt. His emotions were tangled, raw.
Instead of answering, he found himself just... staring at her.
Her light brown eyes shimmered under the morning sun, framed by long dark pink hair that cascaded down her back. Her features were soft; smooth skin, slightly plump lips, delicate cheeks. He had never seen a girl this pretty before. It was... distracting.
She noticed his stare and stared back at him as she studied him intently, noting his shiny white hair with red strands, his sharp amber eyes were striking, glowing faintly in the daylight, and the defined jawline that was impressive for a 12-year-old. "I guess you're just as soft as Felix," she muttered sadly "Maybe that's why he likes you."
"I do feel rage," Rex admitted suddenly.
Freya turned to him, surprised he had spoken.
"A mix of different things," he continued. "I just woke up from a terrible dream... and before that, I was out for four weeks before Felix found me. Now I'm in a world that feels completely different. Everything's happening so fast, but somehow, time feels slow. I don't even know how to feel yet... I'm still trying to get a grip on it all." His voice dropped slightly. "It's like I don't belong here. I just hope I can fit in North Avalon."
Freya smiled, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "I'm sure you will."
Rex looked at her, and for the first time, he smiled back.
Her gaze flickered up to his hair. "You know... your hair is really strange"
Rex blinked. "Huh?"
She grinned. "It's nice, though. You're probably the only kid in town with white hair."
Rex's smile froze
"What?" he muttered.
Freya tilted her head. "Your hair. The color."
Rex reached up and touched his hair in disbelief, panic bubbled inside him. "W-What?" He scrambled to his feet, looking around wildly, searching for a mirror. Freya blinked, confused, noticing he needed a mirror, she hurried inside to fetch one.
When she returned, he took it from her hands, holding it up to his face. When he saw how much he had changed. Red amber eyes, white shinny hair with red strands.
"ARRRHHHHHHH!" He screamed
Freya winced, covering her ears.
Fabian woke up from his sleep wondering what was going on
* * *
After two minutes, Rex was still yelling.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HAIR?!" he cried, spinning around to face them like a wild cartoon character. "What did you guys do to my hair?!"
Freya and Fabian just stared at him like he had lost his mind.
This was one of Rex's many personalities—the loud, dramatic, borderline unhinged version of him.
Just then, Felix returned from his morning training, sweat glistening on his skin. He paused at the sight of Rex frantically tugging at his hair.
"What's going on?" Felix asked surprised.
Freya pointed at Rex. "He just realized his hair is white."
Rex ran up to him, shaking him by the shoulders. "What happened to my hair, huh?!"
Felix raised an eyebrow. "Your hair wasn't always like this?"
"No!" Rex shouted. "I had a lovely, BLACK HAIR!"
Felix couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, amused to see this side of him.
"I'm serious!" Rex continued, pacing in circles. "I don't need this crazy color that makes me look like a grandpa! Do something!"
Felix tilted his head, as if in thought. "Seems like the impact changed your hair color," he mused. After a brief pause, he added, "Do you want me to dye it back to black?"
Rex snapped his head up, nodding frantically.
"Alright, alright," Felix said with a laugh as he stepped inside the house
Freya shook her head at his dramatic attitude as she laughed at him.
Felix returned moments later with a small container of hair dye. Rex sat on a stool outside, shifting in place as Felix applied the dark color, carefully covering every strand of white.
When it was done, Rex stared at himself in the mirror, a deep sigh of relief escaping him as he ran his fingers through his newly restored black hair. He turned to the others, flashing a smug grin.
They all smiled, admiring how good he looked. But just as the satisfaction settled in, their smiles wavered.
Freya and Felix's expressions slowly changed.
Rex frowned. "What?" He glanced back at the mirror.
A faint glow shimmered from the strands of his hair. The dark color dulled, then faded entirely. Within seconds, his hair had transformed back to gleaming white, streaked with red.
Fabian let out a scornful laugh. "Looks like your awakened powers are set on keeping your hair white."
"You've got to be kidding me," Rex groaned.