Time passed in a blur.
More birthdays came and went. Stephen, once a helpless baby at the mercy of overly enthusiastic relatives and a way too excited older brother, grew into a child who no longer had to endure being passed around like a prized possession—well, most of the time.
Life was good. No, life was amazing.
There was always something new to explore, some adventure Mark dragged him into, or some story their mother told while tucking them into bed. Whether it was learning to ride bikes, playing games until way past bedtime, or helping their dad in the backyard, Stephen cherished every moment.
He thanked God every day that he had been reborn into such a loving, peaceful family.
He had no idea what world he was in, and frankly, he didn't care. He was happy.
And then… his world changed.
_ _ ♛ _ _
Stephen had just turned ten, and he thought he had life all figured out.
Mark, now sixteen, was in that weird stage between 'cool older brother' and 'annoying teenage menace,' but they still got along. Their father was stern but fair, their mother was loving as ever, and nothing seemed out of place.
Until that day.
It started as any other evening. Their mother was making dinner, Mark was sprawled out on the couch scrolling through his phone, and Stephen was sitting at the kitchen table, doodling in his notebook.
Then, the front door burst open.
A gust of wind followed, ruffling the pages of Stephen's notebook as he turned, blinking in confusion.
And there, standing in the doorway, was his father.
In a suit.
A superhero suit.
Stephen's brain shut down.
His father's red and white uniform, complete with the unmistakable Omni-Man emblem on his chest, stood out starkly against the normality of their home. His cape billowed slightly before settling against his back. His expression was neutral, as if flying through the front door was completely normal.
Stephen's pencil slipped from his fingers.
Mark didn't even blink. "Hey, Dad."
Stephen turned to him, slowly, waiting for the inevitable freak-out.
Mark barely looked up from his phone.
Excuse me?
Their mother sighed from the kitchen. "You could use the door like a normal person, you know."
Their father shrugged. "Force of habit."
Stephen's eye twitched. He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Words refused to form.
His father was a superhero.
The most famous superhero in the world.
And everyone was acting like this was normal.
Stephen stared at his family. "What. The. Hell?!"
_ _ ♛ _ _
His outburst made everyone pause. His father raised a brow, Mark finally looked up, and his mother turned away from the stove with an amused smile.
"What?" Mark said, blinking.
Stephen flailed a hand in his father's direction. "You—he—WHAT?!"
His mother chuckled. "Oh, honey, did we never tell you?"
Stephen felt his soul ascend. "Tell me?! You mean to say this is—this is just—a thing?!"
Mark frowned. "Wait. You didn't know?"
Stephen's mouth opened, but no words came out. Instead, he dramatically slumped onto the table.
His entire life had been a lie.
_ _ ♛ _ _
Dinner proceeded as if nothing had happened.
Stephen, still in shock, sat stiffly at the table as his father casually discussed his patrols, his mother made a comment about some reporter calling earlier, and Mark scrolled through his phone like this wasn't earth-shattering information.
"So," Stephen finally said, poking at his mashed potatoes. "Dad's Omni-Man."
"Yep," Mark said, not looking up.
"And you knew?"
Mark raised a brow. "Dude, everyone knows."
Stephen pressed a hand to his forehead. "And no one thought to mention this to me? Ever?!"
Their father let out a low chuckle. "I assumed you figured it out on your own."
Stephen gawked at him. "I'M TEN."
Mark snorted. "That's old enough."
Stephen's fork clattered against his plate. He turned to his mother, desperate for some kind of reasonable explanation.
She only smiled. "We didn't keep it a secret, sweetie. You just never asked."
Stephen felt his entire worldview crumble.
_ _ ♛ _ _
That night, Stephen lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, completely unable to sleep.
His father was a superhero. A literal superhero.
And not just any superhero—Omni-Man.
His mind started racing. He began recalling everything from the show he had watched in his past life. The fights. The betrayals. The brutal truth about his father's real nature.
His stomach twisted.
What if it happens here? What if history repeats itself?
Was his father truly loving, or was it all just a lie?
He felt sick.
His chest felt tight as his mind spiralled. What if he awakened powers? Would he be tested the same way Mark was? Would he be forced into something he couldn't escape?
No one else knew what he was going through. No one else understood.
He had to act normal. He couldn't let his father suspect that he knew things.
He couldn't afford to slip up.
Stephen turned onto his side, gripping his blanket tightly.
For the first time in years, he felt terrified.
End of Chapter 11