The streets were empty again.
But this time—Kai wasn't running.
He stood still under a flickering streetlight, his breathing calm, his eyes focused. Axel and Leo stood beside him, both watching carefully.
"This is crazy," Axel said quietly. "We're not hiding anymore… we're going straight to him?"
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
Leo adjusted his glasses. "The man from the rehab facility… the one who injected you. You're sure about this?"
Kai's jaw tightened.
"He knows about my powers."
"He knows about my mom."
"And he thinks he can control everything."
Kai looked up, eyes sharp.
"I'm done letting him decide what happens next."
An hour later—
They stood outside a heavily guarded government building.
Tall fences.
Cameras.
Armed security.
Axel let out a low whistle. "Yeah… this is definitely not a good idea."
Leo scanned the area. "Security is tight, but not impossible. There's a blind spot on the east side—15 seconds window between camera rotations."
Kai didn't hesitate.
"Then we move in 15 seconds."
They moved fast.
Through the shadows.
Over the fence.
Timing every step perfectly.
Leo disabled a small camera with a device. Axel kept watch. Kai led.
No powers.
Just precision.
Inside—
Cold hallways.
Silent floors.
The same feeling Kai remembered.
The same place where everything changed.
"Second floor," Leo whispered. "His office should be there."
Kai nodded.
They moved.
Footsteps echoed.
Guards.
Axel stepped forward quietly, knocking one out before he could react. Leo handled another with quick precision.
Kai didn't stop.
He kept walking.
Until—
He reached the door.
The same door.
He pushed it open.
The man was there.
Sitting calmly.
Like he was expecting them.
"I was wondering when you'd come," he said without looking surprised.
Kai stepped inside slowly. Axel and Leo behind him.
"You took my powers," Kai said, his voice low.
The man looked up.
"And yet… here you are."
Kai's fists clenched.
"You lied. You said they were gone."
The man stood up slowly.
"I said what was necessary."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Kai took another step forward.
"I want them back."
The man studied him for a moment.
Then smiled slightly.
"It's not that simple."
Kai's eyes hardened.
"Make it simple."
Axel stepped closer. "We're not leaving without answers."
Leo added, "And we know more than you think."
The man walked around his desk slowly.
"You're still thinking like children," he said calmly. "This isn't about power. It's about control. Balance. Survival."
Kai shook his head.
"No. This is about you taking something that wasn't yours."
The room went silent again.
Then the man stopped walking.
"You want your powers back?" he asked.
Kai didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The man nodded slowly.
"Then you're going to have to earn them."
Kai frowned. "What does that mean?"
The man's expression darkened slightly.
"It means…"
He pressed a button on his desk.
Alarms started blaring.
Doors locked.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the halls.
"…you just walked into a test."
Axel looked around. "Oh… this is bad."
Leo's eyes narrowed. "Very bad."
Kai didn't move.
Didn't panic.
He just looked at the man.
"…Good," Kai said quietly.
The red glow didn't return.
But something else did.
Confidence.
"I was getting tired of running anyway."
Footsteps got closer.
The fight was coming.
And this time—
It wasn't about escaping.
It was about taking back everything.