Dante collapsed onto the cold pavement of the construction site, his breathing ragged.
His arms trembled. His entire body ached, as if he had just run miles without stopping. His vision swam, and for a moment, he thought he might pass out.
The power was still there, thrumming beneath his skin. But it felt… unstable.
Like a fire burning too hot, threatening to consume everything if he wasn't careful.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, trying to steady himself.
He had done it.
He had controlled the shadows.
For a moment.
But then—they had tried to control him.
That thought sent a fresh shiver through his spine.
This power wasn't like the Gifts everyone else had. It wasn't just an ability—it was something alive. Something wild.
And if he wasn't careful…
It would devour him.
The night air was crisp, and silence hung heavy over the construction site.
Dante pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly as dizziness threatened to pull him back down. He was dehydrated, drained, and running on fumes. He still had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind "what if someone saw me?" he didn't know if it had been the lack of sleep or if he had actually heard someone. All he knew for sure was he needed to get home.
He checked his phone. 3:42 AM.
Damn.
He had been out here for hours.
His parents would wake up soon.
The last thing he needed was for them to start asking questions.
So, with one final glance at the abandoned structures, Dante turned and began the long walk home.
The streets were empty, save for the occasional flickering streetlight or a stray cat darting through an alley. It was the first time in his life he had walked through the city without feeling like a nobody.
Because now?
Now he had power.
Real power.
But was it really his?
Or had he stolen something that wasn't meant to be taken?
The thought twisted in his stomach.
His hands curled into fists.
No.
This was his right.
For sixteen years, he had been told he was a Zero—a mistake.
But now?
Now, he was something else entirely.
---
By the time he reached his apartment building, his body felt like lead.
He moved carefully, unlocking the door as quietly as possible. If he was lucky, his parents were still asleep—
A floorboard creaked.
Dante froze.
A moment later, he heard movement from the other side of the apartment.
Shit.
His mother's voice, groggy with sleep: "Dante?"
His pulse spiked, but he forced himself to sound calm.
"Yeah, Mom. It's me."
A pause.
"…Why are you just getting home?"
Dante hesitated.
Think. Fast.
"I—uh—couldn't sleep," he said quickly. "Went for a walk."
Another pause. Then, a sigh.
"Alright. Just… be careful, okay?"
Dante exhaled. "Yeah. I will."
No more questions.
His mother shuffled back into her room, the door clicking shut.
Dante let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
That was too close.
He couldn't afford to get sloppy.
Not when so much was at stake.
---
Dante shut his bedroom door behind him and leaned against it, exhaustion crashing down on him like a tidal wave.
His entire body ached.
His head throbbed.
The adrenaline was gone, leaving behind only raw fatigue.
Still, he couldn't stop himself from testing it again.
He raised a trembling hand.
The shadows flickered at his fingertips, curling like smoke.
For the first time, he noticed something new—
It was harder to summon.
The power was still there, but it felt… distant.
Like he had pushed it too far tonight.
Dante frowned.
Did his body have a limit?
How many times could he use this stolen power before it burned him out completely?
His stomach churned at the thought.
He was too tired to figure it out now.
So, with one last glance at his trembling fingers, he collapsed onto his bed.
And for the first time in days… he let sleep take him.
---
Dante barely got two hours of sleep before his phone buzzed.
The caller ID read Alyssa, his cousin, Dante always grew up being compared to her everything he wasn't she was. She had gotten her Gift just like everyone else, not only that but she had gotten a powerful one too; Spacial Manipulation.
He groaned, rubbing his eyes before answering.
"Alyssa," he mumbled. "It's too early to be calling on a Saturday..."
"Too early? It's almost noon," she shot back.
Dante blinked. Noon?
Shit.
He had slept way longer than he thought.
"You alive over there? Need me to pop in over there?" Alyssa pressed.
"Barely, and no I look like absolute hell right now" he muttered as he drowsily rubbed his eyes.
A pause. Then—
"Listen," Alyssa said, her voice shifting. "There's been… talk."
Dante sat up straighter. "Talk?"
Alyssa hesitated. Then, in a lower voice—
"Some guy got jumped last night."
Dante's stomach dropped.
She kept going.
"Gifted guy. Nothing crazy. Said his power just… disappeared."
Dante forced himself to sound normal. "So?"
"So, that doesn't happen," Alyssa said sharply. "You don't just lose a Gift, Dante."
She hesitated.
"And before you say anything—no, I don't think it was you."
Dante's breath caught.
She didn't think it was him.
But she was suspicious.
And that was bad.
Because if she started digging, if she started looking into it—
She might figure it out.
Dante forced a shrug. "Weird. But it's got nothing to do with me."
Another pause.
Dante knew she was rolling her eyes as Alyssa said "No shit Sherlock, just thought you'd wanna know." there was a pause as her tone took on a more concerned and serious tone "Be careful out there Dante, it's dangerous out there without...you know; a Gift".
Even now the words still hurt, no matter what he accomplished or how hard he worked, that's how his family around him always saw him. As a weakling, someone to be coddled and protected; just a Zero.
Dante exhaled slowly. "Yeah. I'll be safe don't worry. Thanks but I gotta go Alyssa, bye".
Dante then hung up letting out an exasperated sigh.
Dante let his phone drop onto his bed, disheartened from her words while his pulse was still racing.
That was too close.
He needed to be careful.
Because if Alyssa found out the truth—
He didn't know what she would do.
But he wasn't about to find out.
---
Dante lay back, staring at the ceiling.
His body ached, but his mind was racing.
There were limits.
Consequences.
And there was the possibility that someone saw him testing his new abilities, people might start asking questions.
Alyssa wasn't the only one who had probably heard about the mugger.
If other people started noticing…
If the wrong people found out…
Dante clenched his fists.
He had power.
But now?
Now he had a target on his back.
And if he wasn't careful—
Someone would come looking for him.
And when they did…
Dante had to make sure he was ready.