CHAPTER 2: THE MAN IN BLACK
The white space stretched endlessly in every direction.
No sound.
No wind.
No ground… yet Alex was standing.
His heart was still racing.
"This… isn't real," he muttered, looking around. "It can't be."
The man in black stood calmly in front of him, hands behind his back, as if this place belonged to him.
"You're handling this better than most," the man said.
Alex snapped his head toward him.
"Better than most?" he repeated. "What does that even mean?! Where am I? Who are you? And what was that crack?!"
His voice echoed into the emptiness… but nothing answered back except the man.
The man sighed lightly.
"So many questions. Not enough time."
"Then start talking!" Alex snapped.
For a brief moment… the man's eyes sharpened.
And the pressure in the air increased.
Not visible.
But felt.
Alex instinctively stepped back.
"…You feel that, don't you?" the man said.
Alex swallowed.
"…Yeah."
"Good," the man replied. "That means you're not completely useless."
Alex frowned.
"Excuse me?"
The man ignored him.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the distant crack in the white void. It had grown slightly larger now… thin black lines spreading from it like veins.
"That," the man said, pointing toward it, "is a fracture between universes."
Alex blinked.
"…What?"
"A tear," the man continued, "caused by something that shouldn't exist in your world."
Alex stared at the crack.
It pulsed.
Like it was alive.
"Okay…" Alex said slowly. "Let's say I believe you. Why am I here?"
The man finally looked back at him.
"Because," he said, "you were chosen."
Alex let out a short, dry laugh.
"Yeah, no. I think you got the wrong guy."
"I didn't."
"You did," Alex insisted. "Look at me. I'm not special. I'm not strong. I can't fight. I can barely handle school."
He stepped closer, frustration rising.
"So whatever this is… find someone else."
Silence.
Then—
The man smiled.
Not kindly.
Not mockingly.
Just… knowingly.
"That's exactly why it's you."
Alex froze.
"…What?"
The man took a step forward.
"Power doesn't create heroes," he said. "Choices do."
Before Alex could respond—
The man suddenly raised his hand.
And in an instant—
The world around them changed.
---
They were no longer in white emptiness.
They were standing… above a city.
Alex's city.
But—
It was destroyed.
Buildings collapsed.
Fires burning.
The sky cracked open with the same black fractures.
People running.
Screaming.
Falling.
Alex's eyes widened.
"…What is this?"
"This," the man said calmly, "is what happens if you do nothing."
Alex's breath became uneven.
"No… this isn't real."
"It will be."
Suddenly—
A loud explosion echoed.
Alex turned—
And saw something drop from the sky.
A figure.
It landed with a massive impact, sending debris flying everywhere.
The ground shattered beneath its feet.
Smoke cleared slowly.
And then—
Alex saw it.
A man.
Dressed in black.
Aura dark… heavy… terrifying.
Alex felt his body freeze.
"…Who is that?"
The man beside him answered quietly:
"Your enemy."
The figure slowly lifted its head.
Its eyes glowed faintly.
And then—
It looked straight at Alex.
Even though Alex knew…
This wasn't real.
It still felt like that thing could see him.
A chill ran down his spine.
"…Why does he look—"
"Familiar?" the man in black finished.
Alex didn't answer.
Because deep down…
He already knew.
---
The vision shattered.
Everything turned white again.
Alex stumbled slightly, catching his breath.
"That… that was…"
"The future," the man said.
Alex looked up at him, anger rising again.
"So what? You showed me some scary vision and now I'm supposed to believe I'm the 'chosen one'?"
The man's expression didn't change.
"I didn't show you that to convince you," he said.
"Then why?"
A pause.
Then—
"To prepare you."
Before Alex could react—
The man stepped closer.
Right in front of him now.
"Listen carefully, Alex," he said, voice lower, more serious.
"What's coming… cannot be stopped by normal people."
Alex clenched his fists.
"Then give me power," he said. "If I'm supposed to fight that thing, then make me strong."
The man stared at him.
For a long second.
Then—
He shook his head.
"You misunderstand."
Alex's expression hardened.
"What?"
"You're not getting powers."
Silence.
"…What?"
"No energy blasts. No flying. No god-like strength," the man said calmly. "Nothing like that."
Alex just stared at him.
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
"Then how am I supposed to fight that thing?!" Alex snapped, pointing toward where the vision had been.
"With this," the man said—
And tapped Alex's forehead.
Alex flinched.
"…My head?"
"Your mind," the man corrected. "Your decisions. Your ability to lead."
Alex scoffed.
"That's stupid."
"It's the only thing that will work."
Alex shook his head.
"This is insane. I'm not doing this."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You don't have a choice."
"I do," Alex shot back. "I'm done. Send me back."
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
Then—
The man sighed.
"Very well."
He snapped his fingers.
---
Alex felt the world shift again.
The white space faded.
His room came back.
His bed.
His headphones.
Everything normal.
Alex sat up quickly, breathing heavily.
"…It was a dream," he whispered.
Silence.
Then—
He laughed softly.
"Yeah… just a dream."
He stood up, running a hand through his hair.
"Man, that was messed up."
He turned toward his mirror—
And froze.
His reflection…
Looked different.
Subtly.
Stronger.
Sharper.
More… alive.
"What the—"
Before he could process it—
A voice echoed in his head.
Calm.
Familiar.
"You said you weren't ready," the man's voice said.
Alex's eyes widened.
"…What?"
"Too bad," the voice continued.
"Because it's already begun."
Suddenly—
A loud BOOM shook the house.
Alex's heart dropped.
"What was that?!"
From outside—
People started screaming.
Car alarms blared.
And in the distance—
Something… roared.
Not human.
Not normal.
Alex slowly walked toward his window.
And looked outside.
His entire street…
Was in chaos.
And far above—
The sky…
Was cracking.
Just like before.
Alex whispered—
"…This isn't a dream."
---
To be continued…