Long before superpowers became common, they were whispers—rare gifts passed down through the unknown. In a small, quiet city tucked away in a certain country, these powers were nearly unheard of. But within one family of six, the extraordinary began to take root.
Two of the children, the second oldest and the youngest, had awakened with abilities that no one could explain. The parents, ordinary but loving, tried to keep life steady despite the strange times. The eldest daughter, Lena, had no power. But she never let that bother her—she was the rock of the family. Calm, responsible, quick-thinking. The kind of person others naturally followed.
Her younger sister, the second child, did have a gift. She didn't know how strong it was yet, but she believed in it with all her heart. Often, she'd tease Lena, joking that the older girl was the only "normal" one in the house—but it always came from a place of love. She wanted to grow strong enough to protect them all. Lena, despite her sister's antics, loved her deeply.
Their two youngest siblings were still too little to understand much. They played, laughed, and bickered in the way small children do, their innocence a fragile shield against the strange world creeping closer.
One night, the family sat down together for dinner, laughter filling the room like warm light. The second child, as usual, was playing with her food. Lena, ever the big sister, frowned and reminded her to eat properly. "Okay, okay," her sister said in a dramatic tone, rolling her eyes. The entire family laughed. Just for a moment, everything was peaceful.
Then came the knock.
It was soft. Unexpected.
The parents exchanged confused glances—no one was supposed to visit that night. When they opened the door, everything changed.
A flash of steel. A knife flying from the shadows. The father moved instinctively, trying to shield his chest. The mother screamed, voice sharp and urgent: "Run!"
The children froze. The second child clenched her fists, ready to use her powers, desperate to help—but Lena stepped forward.
"Do what Mom says," she ordered, eyes sharp with fear and resolve.
They ran.
Lena led her younger siblings through the night, heart pounding. She found a hidden spot for them and whispered, "Stay here. I'll come back."
She didn't wait for questions. She ran back to the house.
When she returned, everything was shattered. The furniture broken, the walls cracked, silence hanging like a ghost. The front door was open, swinging gently. She stepped forward slowly, eyes wide.
And then she saw them.
Her parents. Lifeless. Still.
A scream ripped from her throat.
By the time the police arrived, it was too late. They wrapped her in a blanket and told her the intruder had been caught. He was going to jail. It was over.
But it wasn't.
Lena's breath caught in her chest as a terrible thought struck her. She stood suddenly and grabbed a nearby officer. "Where are my siblings?! Where are they?!"
The officer hesitated. "We… we couldn't find them."
The world tilted. Her mind spiraled.
They're gone… because I left them.
She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. It was her fault. It had to be.
The officers tried to calm her down. The next day, she was placed in an adoption center and began therapy. Two weeks later, a kind couple adopted her. They didn't know her past in detail. They didn't ask.
They just gave her a quiet room and gentle smiles.
Her name was Lena, which meant "Light." Fitting, perhaps—because even after everything, she still carried a small flicker of hope in her chest. A fragile glow that refused to be snuffed out.
Three years passed.
Now, Lena is a high school student, blending in with the ordinary world. Her powers never came. But her memories never left.
And this…This is where her story truly begins.