Stuck in the Shadows

“Try harder!” shouts the man. “I’m trying as hard as I can!” Kibeon hisses back. “It’s not working.” He then sighs. “That just means you’re not trying hard enough. Humans are so weak and pathetic.” Scoffs the man. Kibeom feels anger rising inside him. He stands up. “Well if we’re so weak, why don’t you come over to our planet and protect these people who need protecting instead of using us weak humans?!” The man is silent and his stare makes Kibeom freeze. Oh crap. Kibeom thinks. What have I done? Kibeom sits back down and apologizes. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.” He mumbles. The man exhales loudly. “Some gasses in your atmosphere are poisonous to us. It is not harmful to humans and there is not much of it in your atmosphere. I do not know much, all I know is that the tiniest exposure will kill us.” He says, looking Kibeom in the eye. “Right let’s get back to training.” He clasps his hands together. “Now try again.” Kibeom nods and closes his eyes. He breathes deeply and slowly; relaxing his body and mind. His trainer said that Kibeom needs to reach a state between consciousness and unconsciousness to see the Galactica doorway. Once Kibeom opens the doors he will awaken his dormant powers. Sounds easy, sure. It’s not. Kibeom hears the man tapping his foot impatiently. “I can’t concentrate if you’re making so much noise.” Mutters Kibeom, his eyes still closed. “You’re merely resting, human!” the man scolds. “It’s not that easy!” Kibeom shoots back. “It is not easy for you humans!” the man’s voice is like thunder. “How can you say that when you look and sound like a human?” Kibeom blurts out of nervousness. “Do you really think we’re similar, human?” Asks the man quietly. “I look like a human for your sake. So you are not frightened by our true forms. But in order to show you that we are different, I will transform back.” Before Kibeom could protest the man closes his eyes and grunts. Kibeom closes his eyes and covers them with his hands. Syra had told him that transformations were disturbing. Just like Syra, the man whimpers and groans and screams until the transformation is complete. “Here human, are we alike now?” asks the man. Kibeom opens his eyes to see a creature with four legs with sharp claws, it’s back is covered with spikes made of bone, his eyes were big and red and his mouth was long, filled with pointy jagged teeth – just like Syra, and it’s fur was white with the same pattern on the man’s neck, all over the creatures body in black. “Are you horrified human?” the creature asks. Kibeom swallows before answering. “No, sir.” The creature closes its eyes and starts whimpering again. Instantly, Kibeom closes his eyes and screams pour from the man’s mouth. Once the screams stop, he opens his eyes again. “When we transform, we have to reach a state between consciousness and unconsciousness. When you see the doors, you can unlock your powers Kibeom.” The man says softly. That is the first time this man has used my name. “What can I call you?” Kibeom blurts. “I want to know your name.” The man is silent and looks like he is thinking. Does he want to tell the human his name? It wouldn’t hurt, would it? “They call me Abalon.” He says. “Now get back to training.” Kibeom closes his eyes and tries to unlock his powers.

After two hours of trying, arguing and explaining, Abalon managed to help Kibeom unlock his powers. “I feel so powerful. I feel invincible.” Kibeom admits. “Don’t use those powers without me around supervising you.” Warns Abalon. “You haven’t mastered them yet and you don’t know how to use them.” Kibeom holds his hands out in front of his and flexes his fingers. He can feel the power coursing through his veins. “So what type of power do I have? Super strength? Super speed? Invisibility?” he asks excitedly. His supervisor shakes his head and sighs. “Those powers do not exist. You’re like a little kid. Try and strike me and I’ll see what you have.” Abalon uses his powers to summon a force field made of clear diamond around him and nods. “How do I use my powers?” asks Kibeom. “Just try and strike, however you want.” Replies Abalon from behind the force field. Kibeom clenches his fist and punches out in front of him; black matter follows and hits Abalon’s force field. Nodding, Abalon takes down his force field. “Necromancy. Impressive. I’ve not seen many people acquire that power.” Abalon pats Kibeom hard on the back. “You did good today human. Do not use your powers on Earth. You do not know how to control them yet. I shall send you back to Earth and collect you at the same time tomorrow.” “Thank you, Abalon.” Says Kibeom.

Kibeom is teleported back to where he was first abducted. He checks himself, back in school uniform and he has his backpack. It puzzles him that the sun is still in the same position as when he left and the time on the phone is only thirty minutes after the time he left. Confused, he walks home like nothing had ever happened.

Notes