CHAPTER 43: IGNORANT YOUTUBERS!!!

Back in the present...

"You wanted the origin of percenters, right? You’ve got it. Are you happy?"

Erykah’s voice trembled, raw with emotion as she stood beneath the gray sky, her eyes fixed on the weather-worn stone that marked her brother’s resting place. Her breath fogged the cold air, coming out in uneven bursts. She gripped the lapels of her coat so tightly her knuckles turned white, the fabric wrinkling beneath her trembling fingers. The wind stirred around her, brushing strands of hair across her tear-streaked face, sticking to her cheeks like the grief that clung to her soul.

Edward stood a few feet away, shoulders tense, face caught in the soft tug between sympathy and disbelief. "I... I didn’t know it involved your brother. I’m sorry for what happened to him, I truly am."

He moved closer, slow, careful, like approaching a wounded animal, uncertain if the wrong word would make her shatter. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her in silence. His touch was light—gentle, but full of intent. It was a bridge, an anchor, a shoulder to cry on. Erykah didn’t flinch. Instead, she leaned into him, allowing herself—for just a moment—to not be strong.

A long pause stretched between them like a wire. Edward let the weight of the revelation settle, then finally spoke.

"So that’s where our powers come from... our brain, huh? I would’ve never thought of that."

His gaze lifted toward the sky as if trying to see through the clouds and into the invisible network of neurons firing within their skulls—into the source of their abilities, the strange 90% that once sat dormant and had now awakened.

"Where’s Trey now? Did he ever come back?" he asked, still holding her lightly.

Erykah’s lips parted, but her voice dropped, weighed by exhaustion. "No one knows where he is. He was last seen at the burial... well, that’s what Monet told me."

She shifted, straightening up with effort, using Edward’s shoulder for balance. Her legs felt hollow, as though grief had seeped into her bones and replaced the marrow. Every step away from that grave felt like dragging chains behind her.

"Oh, that’s weird," Edward muttered, casting a glance down at his watch. A soft buzz vibrated on his wrist, and the numbers flashing back at him told him all he needed. "I should start heading home. My mom would kill me if I don’t come back before eleven."

"Yeah... my mom would also be looking for me," Erykah replied, her voice trailing off. The two of them turned from the grave, walking side by side, their footsteps quiet against the cold earth.

Erykah faltered. She stumbled slightly—just a misstep—but Edward caught it.

"Come on, let’s get you a cab, Erykah."

"You’re kidding, right?" She gave him an incredulous look, eyes widening as he crouched down in front of her.

"Come on, Erykah. Just hop on."

"Urghh," she groaned, clearly mortified. But she climbed onto his back anyway, her arms wrapping loosely around his shoulders.

"If anyone ever hears about this, I’m killing you," she said, lips forming a pout that didn’t quite hide the tiny flicker of gratitude in her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah," Edward chuckled, adjusting her weight. The wind carried their laughter down the hill like an echo trying to chase away the pain they left behind.

—

Edward crept into his house with care. The silence felt sacred. The living room was dark, save for the faint blue glow emanating from the dining room. He followed it and stopped at the threshold.

His mother was asleep at the table, glasses askew, head resting on a cluttered spread of bills, overdue notices, and an open laptop. Her hand still clutched a pen mid-stroke.

He stood there for a moment, his chest tightening. Quietly, he fetched a blanket from the couch and draped it over her shoulders. Leaning down, he brushed a kiss to her forehead.

"I love you, Mom," he whispered.

Then he tiptoed upstairs.

In his room, he sat on the edge of the bed, the silence of the house wrapping around him like a thick coat. His phone lay on the blanket beside him, screen black. He picked it up.

"I need to tell Nina about all this," he muttered. "She’d want to know the origin of our powers too. Erykah wouldn’t mind, right?"

He tapped on her contact and waited. Nothing. A frown pulled at his brow, and he tapped again. The second time, she answered.

"Hey, Eddie," Nina said, her voice soft through the speaker.

"Yo, Nina. I gotta tell you something."

And he told her everything. From Rafik and the percenters to Genome, from the bloody history to the burial site. The words poured out like floodwater breaching a dam.

"Oh my!! That’s... that’s a lot for Nina to take in," she replied. She always spoke in third person when she was overwhelmed. "So you’re trying to say our powers stem from the fact that we’re using more than 10% of our brain? Sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi film."

"Yeah. The story shocked me too. Also, the fact that there were corporations who were hunting us before..."

His voice trailed into stunned silence.

"But the corporation that chased us... they’re gone for good, right?" Nina asked. Her voice was calm, but the tremor beneath it betrayed her concern.

"Yeah. Rafik killed the CEO, and their base was never seen again."

"And his friend Trey? Whatever happened to him?"

"He hasn’t been seen since the burial."

"Think he’s de—"

"Nah. He isn’t dead," Edward interrupted, cutting her off without hesitation.

"How do you know?" Nina asked.

"I just know. Look, Nina... I’ve been thinking. What if we were given these powers for a greater purpose, you know?"

"Look, Edward. Nina also has thoughts like that some days. But then she remembers she’s just a teenager. We’re both teenagers, who haven’t even seen life at all. So look—enjoy your powers and your youth. Plus, any threat to us is gone forever."

She paused, then softened her tone. "So relax. Rafik died to make sure percenters don’t have to fear for their lives. So with that being said... don’t think too much about this, okay?"

"She’s right," Edward thought, staring at the ceiling. "There’s no reason to be afraid. The Genome corporation was taken down by Rafik."

A gentle smile curved his lips as he dropped backward onto his bed, phone slipping from his hand.

"I have no reason to worry."

—

Somewhere else...

"We’re starting our hike, YouTube!"

David’s voice rang out cheerfully as he stood in front of the camera, hiking gear strapped tight and eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"What are we doing here, David?" the cameraman asked, trying to keep the frame centered.

"People said they’ve been hearing mysterious noises around this area!" David gestured dramatically to the forested cliffs and dense brush ahead. "So I want us to be the first YouTubers—and the first people—to catch what’s there on camera."

Jake and Mira, trailing behind, exchanged glances of amused doubt.

"Okay, less talking and more moving," David called, taking the lead as they ventured into the terrain. The trail was rough, but they were used to it. They’d done dozens of expeditions before.

After about an hour, the trio arrived at a descending series of worn, moss-covered stone steps. Mira came to a sudden halt.

"Wait—wait a minute. David, do you see that?"

She pointed toward a rusted shape barely visible beneath layers of dirt and overgrowth.

David’s eyes widened. "Jake, Mira—I told you it was real!"

He bolted toward the shape. In his excitement, he didn’t see the rock beneath his foot.

His ankle twisted.

"—trip," Jake sighed as David tumbled forward, sprawling down the slope.

They rushed to help him up, but by the time they caught up, all three now stood before a massive hulk of scorched metal—an old ship half-consumed by the earth.

"This isn’t just an object. This is a spaceship," David whispered, stunned.

"A spaceship? Are you sure you didn’t hit your head when you fell?" Mira asked, wary.

"It is a spaceship, I’m telling you. Look—GENOME."

He pointed to the faded letters etched into the hull.

"We probably shouldn’t touch anything. We don’t know if it’s dangerous," Jake warned.

But David didn’t listen.

He pressed a button on the back panel.

A hiss erupted from the ship. The door cracked open as a cloud of thick gas burst out, coating them in a foul stench.

"Urghhh."

"Dude, I said—don’t touch anything."

"What’s this gas?"

They covered their faces. The air was sharp and metallic. Slowly, the haze cleared.

And then they saw what lay inside.

"What the fuck!!!"

Bodies. Dozens. Some burned, others torn. A silent massacre, frozen in time.

"Yo, Jake, come in with the camera. They gotta see this, man."

Jake hesitated.

"I’m not so sure about this, guys..." Mira whispered, her voice cracking.

"Don’t bitch out, Mira! We’re about to make history—"

David’s voice stopped mid-sentence.

"Jake? What is it? You and Mira look like you’ve seen a ghost."

"Behind you, David," Jake whispered, pointing with a trembling hand.

David turned—

Too slow.

A figure emerged from the shadows and ripped his head clean off.

Jake and Mira screamed. Panic turned their legs to springs. They fled through the forest, dodging branches and roots. But Mira stumbled.

"Jake, help—!"

A hand pierced her chest before she finished the sentence.

Jake ran harder.

He saw the car.

He reached the door.

But it was behind him again.

"Run no more," it said.

Jake couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.

The figure leaned forward, gently pressing the camera back into Jake’s shaking hands.

"Go and show your race what’s about to unfold."

"Tell them... in 150 days, a war is coming."

And it vanished into the trees.

Jake launched into the driver’s seat and sped away, heart pounding.

The forest behind him fell silent again.

But ahead of him, the world remained blind.

150 days till the war...