### Chapter 2 - Emergency Alert A searing pain shot through Theo’s body, a chaotic storm raging within him as if his very essence were twisting and transforming. Spurred by the torment, his mind clung to consciousness like a shipwrecked sailor grasping debris in a turbulent sea. “Theo, are you awake?” The voice pierced the haze of his thoughts, frail and laced with desperation. “Please, big brother, wake up!” With great effort, Theo pried his eyes open, a groan escaping his lips. “You’re too loud,” he croaked. “I’m sorry!” Aries’ voice trembled, breaking into sobs of relief. “I’ll call the doctor right now!” She bolted out of the room, urgency propelling her forward. As Theo winced at her departure, he dragged himself into a sitting position. “That girl… she could have just pushed the button here,” he murmured to himself, a faint smile ghosting his lips as his eyes roamed the pristine walls of the hospital room. He gulped, confusion swirling in his mind. 'A private hospital room?' This was luxury far beyond what they could afford. How had he ended up here? Born into the harsh reality of poverty, he had always navigated life with a father who drowned his sorrows in drink and a mother who toiled endlessly to grant him and Aries a flicker of hope for a better future. Her relentless struggle, juggling multiple jobs, had ultimately led her to a dark fate; a leukemia diagnosis that drained their meager funds while dragging her in and out of hospitals. Theo had worked tirelessly, his studies mingling with various jobs, each day a battle to keep the family afloat. Miraculously, he had the mind of a genius, yet to his classmates, he was the quintessential pushover—just a nerd to be bullied and belittled. But he had persevered, earning scholarships that allowed him to graduate college against all odds. Now, he felt surprisingly revitalized for someone who had been beaten senseless and struck by a meteorite. “I thought I really died,” he muttered, his brow furrowing as he touched his healing body. “How long was I out to heal this quickly?” Fragments of memory flickered in his mind—the strange pain, the urgent voice that had called out to him. “Pioneer? Mutation Abyss? Apocalypse?” he murmured, the phrases invading his thoughts. A chill ran down his spine as that eerily familiar voice resonated once more within his mind. **[Mutation Abyss initialized...]** His heart raced, eyes snapping wide open as he scanned the stark, empty room in rising panic. **[Welcome to the Mutation Abyss.]** “What the hell?! Who’s there?!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the sterile walls. “Show yourself!” His hands trembled before him, eyes fixated on the unsettling array of flashing screens that had materialized out of thin air. “Shit, what’s happening?” He muttered, blinking rapidly, disbelief creeping into his thoughts. For a moment, the translucent monitors persisted in their existence. He rubbed his eyes, wishing them away, but they remained stubbornly. Panic tightened his chest, and he tried to focus, willing them to vanish like a fleeting thought—and to his horror, they obeyed. Theo froze, his complexion turning a pale shade of fear. What in the world was happening? Just then, the door burst open, and Aries rushed back in, flanked by the doctor and two nurses. “How are you feeling, Mr. Luther?” the doctor inquired, his tone snapping Theo back to the present. Right. The hospital bills. How would they manage to pay for this? Panic gripped his heart again as he glanced at his sister, desperate not to let her witness the turmoil brewing inside him. “Better,” Theo responded too quickly, the words spilling from him. “I can be discharged now, doctor. No pain, nothing at all. Please, just let me go home.” His throat tightened at the thought of scraping together money, perhaps reaching out to old acquaintances for help. He took a breath, trying to hide his anxiety behind feigned calmness. But Aries, ever perceptive, sensed the storm beneath the surface. As the doctors began their check-up, she leaned closer. “Brother, you don’t have to worry. The government will cover the hospital bills for those hit by the meteorites.” “Yes, indeed,” the doctor added, a note of comfort easing Theo’s worry. “You’re one of the fortunate few who survived. It’s almost a miracle. Many were not as lucky—some didn’t make it, and others came in with severe burns and organ failure. You…” He paused, scrutinizing Theo’s form. “Do you remember what happened to you last night?” The memories came flooding back like a tide. It had all begun at Beatrice’s celebration party. She had been the sole light in his otherwise bleak life, the only one who’d shown him kindness. Their bond, rooted in childhood, had flourished against the backdrop of his mother’s work as a maid for Beatrice’s family. Mockery had always shadowed him, the laughter of others ringing in his ears as they called him a pathetic loser for serving Beatrice in every way imaginable—homework, projects, even her thesis. Yet he had never minded. Her smile had always been the greatest reward. But the party had taken a dark turn. She had embraced him, thanking him for the flowers and all he had done, when suddenly Rey and his gang of bullies had grabbed him, dragging him away and pummeling him mercilessly. Somehow, he had managed to break free. He had escaped them, swinging by the hospital where his mother lay confined, desperate to find solace. He glanced at Aries, a pang of shame hitting him. It would be too humiliating for her to hear about his beating. Instead, he told the doctor about the meteorite that had struck him after he fell from a parapet wall. The doctor jotted notes briskly, retrieving Theo’s medical records. “When you first came in, you had numerous bruises and fractures. Yet, remarkably, everything has healed. No serious internal damage noted.” Theo blinked, disbelief washing over him. He had never been a believer in miracles, yet the inexplicable nature of his healing set off alarm bells. What had transpired? Had the meteorite somehow altered him? Or was it whatever was whispering in his mind—the Mutation Abyss? Abruptly, that crystalline screen flickered back to life before him, causing him to point in astonishment. “Do you see those?” he exclaimed, his voice climbing in pitch. “Those screens in front of me!” Aries stepped forward, concern knitting her brow. “What are you talking about? There’s nothing there!” Her gaze flitted to the doctor. “Are you sure my brother is okay? What about his head CT scan?” “Everything appears normal,” the doctor reassured her. “His vitals and neurological functions are within range. No signs of trauma or abnormalities.” Despite his words, the doctor shared a brief, concerned look with the nurse, then added, “I’ll arrange for a psychologist to assess him. It could be a stress-induced hallucination from the traumatic experience.” He then turned to the nurse, instructing, “Document this in the report and notify the president’s office at the White House.” Theo’s frown deepened. “The president? Why would my condition require reporting to him?” The doctor fixed Theo with a thoughtful look before responding, “All meteor survivors are under close observation. The government is tracking their recovery progress. It has become standard protocol in hospitals treating these victims.” An uneasiness surged within Theo. The thought of being confined and subjected to experiments jangled like raw nerves. Quickly, he forced a laugh, brushing it off. “Ah, I must have imagined it. I just woke up; I’m not even wearing my glasses! My vision is terrible without them.” Aries jumped to his defense. “Right! My brother can’t see a thing without his glasses. He probably mistook shadows for something else.” The doctor hesitated but ultimately nodded. “I’ll have an ophthalmologist check his vision and provide a new prescription.” As relief washed over him, Theo inhaled deeply, 'I need to tread carefully. If they discover I am different… escape from this place could become impossible.' Just as the doctor prepared to say more, a screeching alarm blared through the hospital corridors, followed by a chilling announcement that made the hair on the back of Theo’s neck stand on end: “Emergency Alert! All personnel to high alert! Code Black in the lower levels! I repeat, Code Black in the morgue! Immediate lockdown procedures initiated!” Fear gripped him like a vice as the atmosphere shifted, the reality of danger now looming like a shadow overhead.