I sit on top of a toilet seat cover, frowning hard at the cream-colored lightbulb. A light sheen of sweat covers my forehead.

At least half an hour has passed since I've hidden in the toilet, trying to blow up a lightbulb. It flickers twice above me, but I know I'm not there yet.

I pace back and forth in the tiny space, just thinking of the different ways. Ever since my ability has awakened, I can feel an occasional itch in my fingertips, but I don't know how to properly use it. I've tried to chant some wizard incantations like those in the fantasy movies. I've even doused my hands in water, hoping to generate electricity again, but nothing happens.

I need something else.

Something that can empower me.

This time, I try to conjure an image in my mind. I think of the crystal-blue ocean, the salty air and the water flowing around me. I think of the sunset, the gorgeous colors of the skies, my family, friends and Zarius. I picture him taking me out for a swim across the ocean, accompanied by friendly sea friends who ride the waves with us.

I think of a future of us living in this broken world. Building a home together.

Hope.

A tingle spread from my arms all the way to my fingertips. The light flickers again, and this time, I hear something humming, like a static sound from the TV when you hit the wrong channel.

Just as I brace myself for what's about to come next, the bulb sizzles and explodes. Pieces of glass rain onto the floor tiles and I'm engulfed in darkness.

I've done it.

I've used my ability for the second time and it feels incredible.

Although I don't have the time to practice again, I think I can somehow use it to get us out of here.

I've stayed out of the camera for too long, because the door to my cell suddenly unlocks and slides open. A set of boots enters and an annoyed guard's voice calls out for me.

"How long are you going to be stuck in the toilet for? Get out of there," he snaps. I hear him drop a tray and it clatters. "Your meal is here."

This is definitely a security check. Remembering Max's words, I press the button on my earpod and brush out my blonde locks to hide it. Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I push the toilet flush button and clamber out with a nonchalant shrug.

"Stomach ache," I explain. "This room is making me claustrophobic."

He shoots me a disgusted look. Now that he has checked on me, he turns to leave, but I can't just let him go yet.

I need him to come closer without raising his suspicion

"Wait." I can't help but feel nervous. I'm terrible at acting, much less trying to sneak up on someone. "Can you fix a lightbulb? The one in my toilet is faulty. It's difficult to see in there."

He rolls his eyes at my request. I can definitely tell he hates how he's babysitting a teenager like me. This explains how a newbie guard like Max could easily swap his duties with the others and deliver my food the last time.

He looks dubious. "You're playing a joke on me, aren't you?"

"I'm not lying," I insist. "You can check it out yourself. The light is definitely out. I can't shower in the dark."

He lets out a weary sigh. "You better not be lying to me. Go sit on the bed and wait."

He doesn't act cautious around me, probably because he thinks I'm just a girl who's as harmless as a rat.

He can give me the second round of practice that I need.

As he sidesteps around me to reach the toilet, I grip his meaty arm and squeeze tightly, concentrating hard. My odd action only earns me a hard frown.

His face darkens at my touch. "What do you think you're doing–"

Suddenly, a thundering roar coming from the outside startles us both. Loud enough that we hear muffled cries and shouts penetrating the thick walls of this room. Gunshots fire off rapidly and the alarm goes off.

Whatever that is happening out there, it's really bad.

But this is a great time for me. Seems like luck is on my side, because this is the only chance I think I'm getting.

While the guard remains distracted, I imagine my energy flowing through me like a stream. Something ignites from my fingers and stings the poor man. The next second, his body slumps onto the ground, unconscious.

I hope he's okay and not dead. I'm certain I didn't release a high current, just a minimal shock.

I snatch up his security wristlet and grab his gun. After unlocking the door, I hurry along the familiar corridor where Lieutenant Johan had brought me yesterday—back to where Dad's cell is.

It doesn't take me long to realize that the source of that frightening roar earlier was from Dad. After all, the scene outside his room is a mangled mess. Bodies after bodies sprawl on the floor, arms and limbs twist in odd angles. Blood and bullets cover the walls and floor.

But Dad is nowhere to be seen.

Trepidation and fear set in my heart. I break into a run, darting past similar confinements like mine. At the eighth room, I swipe the guard's wristlet to open the door, but a huge shadow bolts out and tackles me to the floor.

It's Zarius.

I'm happy to see him, but there's something awfully wrong with him. His eyes are bloodshot and filled with malice. He pins me to the ground by my shoulders, snarling at me like a rabid animal.

From the peripheral of my vision, there's a frightened scientist huddling in the corner of his room, holding a tablet in his hand. Controlling Zarius.

I'm too late.

The nanobots are controlling his mind, distorting his image of me. They're confusing his senses so that he doesn't recognize me and himself.

"Zarius, stop! Look–it's me!"

He doesn't listen to a word I say. We wrestle about, rolling on top of each other. He slams my back against the floor again, trying to weaken me. Hurt me.

Fighting through my pain, I make a reckless decision to wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist so that he stops throwing me around like a rag doll. I hug him tightly, trying to get his madness under control.

"Hey, Zarius. Stop this," I coax as gently as I can. "I got you. You're going to be alright."

He lets out a nasty growl and tries to get me off him, but I hang on tight. Refusing to let go. I unwrap a hand, lace my fingers through his hair, and press my face into his neck. Mumbling gentle words of consolation.

My voice seems to reach him, calm him, somehow. Because he now fights me less and his muscles relax. I continue reassuring him I'm right by his side and everything's going to be fine with him. I'm not his enemy.

But on the inside, I'm so mad at everything; this apocalypse, World Solutions, the experiment, the unjust deaths. Why is it so hard trying to live in this world?

Electricity pulses through me, and I accidentally jolt Zarius once. His body stiffens once, before he collapses to the floor and I fall over him.

"Zarius?" I shake his shoulder once. Oh God, of all times, why did I have to let my emotions provoke my powers? I've let myself hurt him by mistake. "Zarius! I'm so sorry! Can you hear me?"

My frantic cry gradually elicits a response from him. He moans and pushes himself up onto his elbows just as I fling my arms around his neck in relief.

"Delia?"

"Zarius." I sob into his shoulder and cling onto him, unable to put words together. He rubs my back in circles and presses his face into my hair.

"Thank you, Delia." His grateful voice wraps me in warmth and gentleness. "You got me out."

A loud tapping noise catches our attention. The scientist in the same room as us furiously presses away on his tablet to activate the nanobots in Zarius again, but nothing happens.

With a quick flick of my fingers, I kill the battery in his tablet, earning a quick gasp. The scientist stares at me in disbelief, his lips quivering in fear.

"T-that's impossible. You-you can manipulate electricity?" His eyes flicker between Zarius and me, until realization hits him. "Did you cancel out the nanobots in his brain with electromagnetic waves?"

His question answers my confusion. In a flash of movement, Zarius darts across the room and knocks him out cold, no doubt angry at this human who had controlled him like a lab rat earlier.

In the meantime, I study my hands and wonder if what the scientist has said is true.

Did I really eliminate the nanobots by sheer luck?

However, time is of the essence. Zarius takes my hand and we leave, heading back down the corridor. He skids to a stop in front of the cells next to us and exchanges a look with me. "There are more of our kind here."

He's referring to the other captured merfolks. "Here." I take out the security wristlet and tap it against the gray panel beside the door. "This unlocks every room. Use this and free them all. I'm going ahead first to find Dad."

His face creases into a worried frown, but he sees my look of determination and agrees to my plan. "Alright." He wraps his hand around mine and squeezes once. "Will you lend me some of your powers?"

How can I forget? He can manipulate elements, so he can borrow mine without getting hurt. He's going to perform the same trick that I used earlier to free the other merfolks from the nanobots in their brains.

"Of course. Take them."

I feel like a power bank as electricity transferring from my palm to his. I can feel my energy depleting as well, but I'll just deal with it.

A minute later, he releases my hand. "That's enough." He nods his head, before leaning in to press a quick kiss to my head. "I'm proud of you, my mate," he says. His eyes shine with love and pride. "Stay safe. I will catch up with you shortly."

We break apart and go our separate ways. I run past the lab, now looking empty and destroyed. There are shards of glasses, broken experiment specimens and equipment clutter on the floor.

The only living person I see is standing in the lobby, waiting for the elevator. When it arrives with a loud ding, he enters and turns around. A pair of gleaming eyes meet mine, accompanied with a face that I know too well.

"Dad!" I scream, but the doors close just a second before I can reach him. Dread sinks into my stomach when I realize the elevator that he's taking is going to lead him to the upper floors where the civilians' living quarters are.

He's about to spill more blood on his hands than he realizes.

And I've got to stop him.

💕