— This is my city, where I live. Its name is Old Vile. In the world we live in, there are mutants — beings with incredible powers. Those who use their powers for good are called heroes. Those who use them for evil are called villains. In a world where power is everything, Old Vile is different. Here, there are no mutants. Sure, there are crimes, but nothing beyond what a regular human could do. People here don’t even talk about heroes. It’s a pretty... normal place. And like everyone else here, I’m also just a normal person.

The view turns to the sky, we see the sun, and everything lights up. When the brightness fades, we see a lamp turned on. The camera lowers and shows a door, which opens quickly, revealing Hector, a boy with spiky hair.

— And that’s me, Hector. A normal 13-year-old boy who lives with my dad, mom, grandma, and my three siblings.

Hector walks into the kitchen, where there’s a table set for breakfast. On the right side of the table, we see the front door. His mom is preparing breakfast. His two brothers are already at the table.

Hector: — Good morning, mommy!

He looks at his brothers:

Hector: — What’s up, punks!

Brothers: — You’re the punk, grandma’s boy!

Hector laughs and sits down. To Arthur’s right is Layla, his sister. Hector’s father arrives with a big smile:

Dad: — Good morning, family!

He messes up Hector’s hair and sits down. Mom sits across from him. One chair remains empty.

Hector: — Dad, mom, do you know where Kepler is?

Dad: — Your brother’s traveling.

Hector: — Alright...

Hector checks the clock:

Hector: — I better go or I’ll miss the train. Coming, Layla?

Layla: — Let’s go!

They leave.

Hector (shouting): — Bye, family! See you later!

Scene shifts. Hector and Layla step off the train and walk down the street together. Layla, with long black hair like Hector’s, is very pretty. Hector leans on her head.

Layla: — Get your hand off my head!

Hector (laughing): — What’s with the attitude?

Layla (blushing): — Of course I’m mad, dummy!

Hector (smiling): — Alright, chill...

They keep teasing each other until they reach school. Layla pulls Hector’s hair.

Layla: — You’ll respect your little sister now, huh?

Hector: — Careful! My hair...

A familiar voice interrupts: it’s Bernard, Hector’s best friend.

Bernard: — Hey, Hector, Layla! How’s it going? Sorry I’m late!

Bernard has straight brown hair, average height (1.65m), and is obsessed with anime and manga.

Hector (trying to speak): — I...

Layla covers Hector’s mouth:

Layla: — We’re good, Bernie...

Bernard (blushing): — Bernie? I’m older than you, you know...

Layla (smiling): — Hehe...

Hector: — Couldn’t you get here earlier?

Bernard: — Sorry, I was up late watching anime. (Cuts to a scene of him at night, eating snacks and watching anime)

Hector (laughing): — Got it, haha...

Bernard: — Hey, Hector, did you get taller?

Hector: — I did! Glad you noticed.

Bernard: — You look like a lamp post!

Hector (putting his hand on Bernard’s head): — Well, with your height...

Bernard (grumpy): — Hmph!

Layla watches with a comic expression:

Layla: — So childish...

Hector and Bernard (together): — But you’re younger than us!

Layla (blushing): — So what?!

Some girls call Layla.

Layla: — Gotta go, boys. See ya later!

Layla walks off.

Bernard: — Did you read the manga I told you about?

Hector: — Yeah! Mario’s Bizarre Adventures, right?

Bernard: — That’s the one!

BELL RINGS!

Hector: — We better go.

Bernard: — Yeah, let’s.

Cuts to them entering class. They sit side by side. The teacher enters.

Teacher: — We have a new student. He’ll be studying with you.

Jonh: — My name is Jonh. Nice to meet you.

Jonh is slim, about 1.70m tall, with messy straight black hair. Some girls whisper:

Girls: — He’s kinda cute...

Jonh sits behind Hector.

Hector (turning around): — Welcome! I’m Hector.

Jonh (shy): — Nice to meet you...

Teacher: — Any problem, Hector?

Hector: — No, sir. Sorry.

Class continues. Bell rings to end.

Hector and Bernard leave school and head to the station.

Bernard: — Your sister’s not coming?

Hector: — No. She texted saying she’s going by car with her friends. (Hector shows the phone)

Bernard: — Ah, I see...

Hector (looking at Bernard): — You like my sister?

Bernard (startled): — What?! Of course not! Never!

Hector: — Hmm, sure...

Bernard (shouting): — STOP!

Hector (laughing): — Hahaha!

The camera pulls away. We see Jonh waiting for the train. It arrives, and everyone boards. Hector and Bernard look for seats — only two left beside Jonh.

They sit. Jonh is reading a manga.

Hector: — You read manga?

Jonh (showing it): — Mario’s Bizarre Adventures.

Bernard: — That’s what we read too!

Jonh: — Really? You guys like it too?

Hector: — Who’s your favorite character?

Jonh: — Platinum Star. Super fast, stops time. Yours?

Hector (excited): — Killer Queen!

Bernard (confident): — Yours are lame. Mine’s Black Rest!

They all laugh and talk about the manga. The train doors are about to close. Two hooded figures enter and look directly at the boys.

The train departs...

They get off.

The three walk along a dimly lit street. Out of the darkness, two hooded figures are revealed, secretly following them. Shortly after, Bernard notices they’re being followed and signals the others with a hand gesture. They understand and start running.

They turn a corner, then another, and enter an alley. Jonh says, panting: — They won’t find us here...

The three catch their breath, thinking they lost them, but the calm is shattered — the two hooded figures appear.

One says: — Thought you could escape?!

The three line up in fear. Hector steps forward bravely:

Hector: — What do you want?!

— We want the Power, says one hooded figure.

Hector: — We don’t have any Power!

— Liar! shouts the same figure, raising a gun and shooting.

Hector barely dodges, the bullet grazing his eye.

The hooded figure says: — I didn’t aim to kill, but I will with the second shot if you don’t give me the Power!

The three panic. Suddenly, an explosion and loud rumble erupt. A beam of light shoots into the sky like a pillar. They take the chance, rush at the distracted attacker, and knock the gun away. When he retrieves it, they’re already gone. The light approaches them until it hits.

Scene shifts to Jonh running alone on the street, terrified, the pillar of light behind him. The clouds gather energy, and suddenly, a lightning bolt strikes him, throwing him back.

Another scene: Bernard and Hector run together. In the sky, nine lights of different colors disperse. A red one heads toward Hector and hits him. Hector screams in pain, and the explosion reaches them.

Everything goes dark. We see the aftermath — the explosion and light beam destroyed everything, leaving behind only chaos and memories.

We see Hector on the ground, defeated and bleeding. And we realize — he’s the boy from the vision...

end...(continued in the next chapter)