Stephen's first day of middle school was supposed to be exciting. New environment, new faces, new experiences.
But instead, he felt like a ghost drifting through the hallways, barely aware of his surroundings.
His father was Omni-Man.
That truth gnawed at the edge of his mind, twisting his stomach into knots. How had he missed it? How had he gone ten years without realizing what was right in front of him?
It wasn't stupidity—he wasn't stupid.
No, it was something else. A question kept repeating in his head, a whisper that wouldn't leave him alone.
Did I always know?
_ _ ♛ _ _
He sat in his first-period class, staring blankly at the board. The teacher's voice droned on in the background, but none of it registered. His hands gripped the edge of his desk, knuckles white.
How did I not realize?
His father had always been… different. Stronger, faster, more composed than anyone else. There were hints, little moments that should have made it obvious.
The way he sometimes disappeared for hours with no explanation.
The way he watched Mark so carefully, as if waiting for something to happen.
The way he never seemed surprised, no matter what.
Stephen's hands clenched tighter. I knew. I always knew. But I ignored it.
Had his brain blocked it out? Had he been too small, too young, too happy to let himself question it?
Or was he just living in a fantasy?
Is this world even real?
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
_ _ ♛ _ _
Lunch came, but Stephen had no appetite. He sat at a table, barely touching his food, while the other kids around him laughed and talked.
Mark had known. Mom had known.
Had he been the only one blind to the truth?
His head throbbed.
Everything about his life played over and over again in his mind—his childhood, the warm memories, the laughter, the safety.
It felt real.
But now, doubt crawled through his thoughts like a disease.
Had his happiness been a lie?
Had he been fooling himself all along?
If this was the world of Invincible—if his father was Omni-Man—then he knew how things ended. He knew what could happen.
Would it happen to him, too?
_ _ ♛ _ _
By the time P.E. rolled around, Stephen was completely drained. His thoughts wouldn't stop spinning, dragging him deeper into an endless pit of uncertainty and fear.
Then, something familiar touched his skin.
The sun.
He stood in the middle of the field, feeling its warmth on his face. The golden rays soaked into his skin, melting away the chaos in his mind. His eyes fluttered closed. His breathing slowed.
This is real. The sun is real.
For a moment, he forgot everything. The worry, the doubt, the fear—it all faded under the comforting heat of the sun.
Then—
WHAM!
A ball came flying toward him.
Without thinking, without even opening his eyes, his hand moved instinctively.
His fingers closed around the ball—
CRACK!
The ball exploded in his grip, pieces flying everywhere.
Silence fell over the field.
Stephen's eyes snapped open, his breath caught in his throat. His classmates stared.
The coach blinked. "Uh… huh."
Stephen swallowed hard.
Oh, no.
Someone—probably Jimmy—let out a low whistle. "Dude, you obliterated that ball."
The murmurs started. The whispers. The looks.
He could feel the eyes on him, analysing him, wondering. That wasn't normal.
He felt cold despite the warmth of the sun.
Did his father know this would happen? Did he expect this?
Stephen clenched his fists, trying to stop them from shaking.
I need to act normal. I need to act normal.
He forced a weak laugh. "Uh… sorry?"
Coach Henderson frowned. "How hard were you trying to catch that?"
Stephen gave the only answer he could. "I… don't know."
The coach narrowed his eyes, but then sighed. "Alright, let's just get another ball. And maybe don't crush this one, yeah?"
Laughter rippled through the other students, but Stephen barely heard it.
His breathing was shallow. His chest was tight.
He had just crushed a ball in his bare hands. He hadn't even thought about it.
What else can I do?
That night, Stephen lay awake in bed, staring at his ceiling.
His fingers twitched at his sides.
He was changing.
And he didn't know if that was a good thing or not.
End of Chapter 12