DC: Zoom

The summer heat rippled through the city, waves of warmth rising from the pavement as people lined up outside the bank, fanning themselves in the sweltering air.

Amid the crowd, a hooded figure slipped inside. His hands remained buried in the pockets of his hoodie, fingers curled into fists.

The moment he stepped through the doors, the air shifted. The temperature plummeted, a biting chill creeping through the room.

Beneath the shadow of his hood, his eyes gleamed—not human, but an icy, unnatural shade of blue.

Without hesitation, he strode to the front, yanking his hands free and slamming them onto the desk. A sharp crack echoed as frost spread across the glass, freezing solid in an instant. The woman behind the window gasped, recoiling as ice crawled toward her fingertips.

Jason hunched over his notebook, scribbling answers between bites of his sandwich. The low hum of chatter filled the room, blending with the distant sounds of students passing by outside during lunch. His teacher, however, was oblivious to it all—eyes locked on the news playing at the front of the room, their expression tense.

A few words cut through the noise, sharp and chilling.

Jason's pencil stilled. He lifted his head, drawn to the screen.

"We can hardly believe what we're seeing," the reporter said, her voice tight with disbelief. "It appears that everyone inside the bank… has been frozen solid."

She turned, gesturing toward the ice-covered building behind her. Frost clung to the windows, thick and unyielding, while a thin mist curled at the edges of the shattered entrance.

"The cause remains unknown," she continued, "but authorities have confirmed there are no signs of life inside. Everyone has been declared dead."

Jason's stomach tightened. A cold unease settled in his chest, creeping through him like the frost on the screen.

The anchor's voice cut back in, sharper this time. "We've just received confirmation—millions of dollars have gone missing. As for who, or what, is responsible… that remains a mystery."

Lawson let out a low breath, rubbing a hand over his face. "The hell is going on?" he muttered. "Ever since that particle accelerator explosion a year ago, it's been one insane thing after another."

A year ago, he had woken up in a hospital bed. Since then, strange events had unfolded—not just in the city, but across the world. Videos began surfacing, showing impossible things—only to vanish just as quickly, as if someone didn't want the world to see.

Lost in thought, he recalled the day everything seemed to slow down for a split second. At first, he dismissed it as his mind playing tricks on him. But… was it? He hadn't experienced anything like it since, so it was probably nothing. Still, the idea of having superpowers made him chuckle. That would be cool.

Shaking off the thought, Jason grabbed his belongings, slung his bag over his shoulder, and waved goodbye to his teacher. He made his way toward his next class, his footsteps quickening as the quad came into view.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Oh, look, if it isn't the nerd," Isaiah sneered, stepping into Jason's path with a smug grin.

Jason clenched his jaw, narrowing his eyes. "Leave me alone, Isaiah."

Isaiah's smirk widened as he took a step closer, his goons closing in around him. "What's the matter? You gonna cry?"

The group began shoving him, slowly spinning him in a tight circle, each shove more aggressive than the last.

"Hey, leave him alone!" The sharp command rang out from behind him, and Jason's breath caught. He knew that voice all too well. Kara.

Jason's gaze flicked over her, the sharpness in her blue eyes matching the determination in her stance. Her blonde hair swayed as she stepped forward, like a shield between him and Isaiah's group.

Isaiah snorted, turning to her. "Look, your girlfriend had to play hero again." He shoved Jason one last time, the force nearly making him stumble.

Jason muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for anyone to hear, "She's not my girlfriend."

He gathered himself as his only friend approached. "Thank you," he said quietly.

She nodded, her expression sympathetic. "Those guys are the worst." She gave him a small smile before gesturing to follow her. "Come on, let's get to class."

Jason's fingers curled into a tight fist, his knuckles white as heat surged through him. His muscles tensed, his body itching to strike, the urge so strong it almost pulsed. A brief flicker of orange light sparked in his eyes, barely noticeable, but enough to send a surge of electricity through his veins.

His breath came in quick bursts, and for a moment, he was lost in the overwhelming rush of anger.

Then, Kara's voice cut through the tension, calm and clear. "Ignore them," she said, her eyes steady as she met his gaze. "They're not worth it."

For a moment, he stood there, the urge to retaliate burning through him. But then, slowly, his hand loosened, the tightness ebbing away. He exhaled deeply, the anger melting into a quiet resignation. Kara was right. Just a few more years, and he'd never have to deal with them again.