Chap 1: Surprised Shock.
One day, in Harrly Beach.
Raiden dashed down the stairs, half-slipping into his shoes, half-grabbing his bag, clearly in a rush.
His mom tugged at the strap.
“Hey, where are you off to in such a rush that you can’t even kiss me goodbye?”
Raiden gave her an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, Mama.”
He planted a quick kiss on the top of her head, ruffling her black hair gently.
“Gotta go! I’m late to class.”
Before she could say anything else, he was out the door, shutting it behind him.
His mom stood for a moment, then shook her head, chuckling softly.
“What am I gonna do with you, Raiden?”
☆☆☆
Raiden slid onto his motorbike, quickly tying his layered hair into a half up half down. His black roots peeked through the white-silver strands, with edges of royal blue catching the sunlight, then slid his helmet on.
He started the engine, kicking off the stand, and made a sharp turn, adrenaline already kicking in.
☆☆☆
[ HARRLY BEACH HIGH SCHOOL.]
He had finally made it to school. Raiden parked his bike and slid off in one smooth motion, blinking against the bright sunlight. For some reason, it made him feel… alive?
He grabbed his bag, turned off the switch, and locked it with the twist of a key.
The moment he stepped onto school grounds, he could feel all eyes on him. Whispers and muffled chatter floated around, the word 'freak' tossed casually, as if it meant nothing.
He ignored them, focusing on his own business.
Then—
SMACK.
Someone slapped his back hard.
“Freak.”
The boy walked away, but Raiden’s hand shot out, pulling him.
"Mind minding your own business, asshole?”
The boy froze, his smirk faltering as he trembled under Raiden’s sharp yellow, orange gaze.
“y-yeah! It was… a misunderstanding, sorry…”
Raiden’s eyes narrowed. With a sigh, he shoved the boy back harshly. The boy staggered, then fled to his friends.
The whispers quieted. Raiden simply grabbed his books from his locker and made his way to class.
☆☆☆
He opened the classroom door and gave a faint bow of his head.
“Sorry for the delay…”
The professor paused, then she smiled lightly.
“It’s okay, Mr. Volt. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Raiden nodded faintly and quietly made his way to his seat.
Amy smirked.
“Why were you late today? Hmmm?” she whispered.
Raiden rolled his eyes.
“No reason. I just… overslept.”
She hummed thoughtfully and turned her attention back to the whiteboard.
“Okay, class, so today…” the professor continued the lesson.
But Raiden couldn’t focus. Something felt… off.
His hands twitched slightly, and his vision flickered with colors no one else could see—streaks of blue flashing across his eyes.
He blinked slowly, trying to chase the feeling away, but it only persisted. Rubbing his eyes made it worse.
Amy glanced at him, concern flickering in her expression.
“You sure you’re okay today?” she whispered.
Raiden crossed his arms and gave a faint nod.
“Yeah. I’m fine…”
☆☆☆
After a few hours, the feeling only worsened, like adrenaline clawing at his chest.
Then—
RINGGGGGG—
ENDING OF FIRST PERIOD.
The bell made something inside him spike. He groaned, pressing a hand to his forehead in discomfort.
Raiden had never liked loud noises, but this… this felt beyond mere annoyance.
Amy snapped her fingers in front of his face.
“Hey! Raiden? Bro, are you okay? You’ve been acting… funny today…”
Raiden shook his head and stood up.
“I’m fine, Amy. Just a little tired… that’s all.”
Amy frowned but stayed quiet. She reached out, grabbing his hand—but pulled back immediately.
“Ow!”
He flinched.
“What? What’s wrong?”
Amy rubbed her arm, wincing.
“You… shocked me.”
Raiden’s eyes widened.
“That couldn’t have been me...” he said quietly, confused.
Amy nodded, still rubbing her arm.
“Maybe… but seriously, ow. That hurt like a bitch.”
Raiden swallowed hard, following her silently.
Just what. The. Fuck. Was. That?
☆☆☆
A few hours had passed—maybe five or six.
The school bell rang loudly again.
SCHOOL HOURS HAVE ENDED. SCHOOL HOURS HAVE ENDED.
Amy jogged up to Raiden, who was busy placing books in his locker.
“Heyyyyy, so… wanna hang out?”
Raiden shook his head.
“Sorry, Ayms. Not feeling well today.”
Amy smiled faintly.
“It’s okay. I get it. Get some rest, Volt.”
The hallway, once crowded, had thinned out. A group of popular kids tore through, bold and arrogant, shoving past students with little care.
Amy tugged on Raiden’s sleeve.
“Uh… I think we should go before they start throwing slurs at you again…”
Raiden narrowed his eyes, untieing his hair.
“Go. I still have some stuff I gotta grab.”
“You sure?”
He gave a faint nod, shutting his locker.
When the group finally reached him, they stared him up and down in disgust.
“What a monster… yellow eyes, weird hair. Yeah, checks out. Definitely a freak,” one of them said aloud, chuckling.
Raiden ignored them, not sparing even a glance, as he zipped up his bag.
He thought of them as hyenas, loud and annoying.
The group seemed unsatisfied with his silence. One boy stepped forward, frustrated.
“Listen here, freak,” he muttered, closing the distance.
Raiden’s yellow eyes darkened.
“What? What is it?”
The boy froze, glancing back at his friends.
“You’re acting like you’re better than everyone else… when you’re just a freak with good grades.”
Raiden raised an eyebrow, lowering himself to meet the boy’s level.
“I’m not acting. I am better than all of you.”
The boy flinched, clenching his fists.
“You… bitch—!”
He swung a punch at Raiden’s side.
The hallway filled with gasps and whispers. Raiden winced slightly, then glared back. The boy’s eyes widened as he stumbled back.
“You really are a monster, freak,” he whispered.
Raiden rolled his shoulders, clutching his side.
“Monster… has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
Slowly, he walked toward the boy. The boy’s friends moved out of the way, clearly horrified.
The boy fell to his ass, crawling backward. Raiden’s eyes flickered with the familiar blue and purple lines—brighter this time. The boy went pale.
"Monster..."
The boy whispered, frozen
“You know,” Raiden murmured, eerily calm, “you shouldn’t back out right after calling someone a freak and being all cocky about it.”
Then—
He kicked the boy in the stomach. But it wasn’t any normal kick. The boy flew back six feet, yelping and groaning, clutching his stomach.
“Ugh! Fuck!”
Raiden froze mid-step, eyes widening. Sparks seemed to crackle at his feet, the energy thrumming violently under his skin. What… what just happened? His calm expression vanished, replaced by a flash of panic.
The hallway echoed with gasps.
"What the fuck was that...?"
"Is he okay...?"
"Did the freak shock him or something?"
"What the fuck? He flew like six feet away!"
The whispers continued, low, shocked and observant.
Without another word, Raiden backed up, full of adrenaline, chest heaving. Then, still stunned by the surge, he turned and fled the school.
☆☆☆
Raiden bolted out of the school doors. The bright sunlight seemed too sharp, the sounds of the now-empty hallways echoing like distant thunder.
He slid onto his bike, fumbling with the keys for a moment, hands shaking slightly despite his efforts to stay calm. The bike roared to life, and he pressed the gas without thinking, tires screeching slightly on the asphalt.
What… was that? He gripped the handles so hard his knuckles whitened. Sparks—no, electricity—had surged under his skin. He hadn’t meant it. He hadn’t touched anything.
Reving his bike, it jerked forward, weaving sharply through traffic. Every red light felt like a countdown, every honk like a warning.
He pressed a hand to his Helmet, trying to make sense of it, but the tingling under his skin only intensified. Stay calm, Raiden. Stay calm…
The familiar streets of Harrly Beach blurred past, his adrenaline making everything feel unreal. In the back of his mind, a small, terrified voice whispered, You’re a monster…
But he didn’t dare stop. Not yet. Not until he was home.
☆☆☆
When he finally made it home, Raiden rushed in, slamming the door behind him.
His mom emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Rai, honey? What’s wrong?”
Raiden sank onto the couch, covering his face with his hands, his leg bouncing nervously.
“I… I don’t know what’s wrong… Mom.”
His mom frowned and sat beside him, reaching for his shoulder. He jerked upright, panic flashing across his face.
“Don’t touch me…”
She froze, concern turning serious.
“Raiden Volt, you tell me what’s wrong. Right now.”
He backed away, afraid to make contact with anything.
She rose slowly, inching closer, her tone softening.
“Raiden… tell me what’s wrong. I can help you.”
She extended her hand gently.
He stumbled backward, staring at her hand as if it were a live wire.
“No… I can’t touch you.”
Her expression faltered.
“Why? Why can’t you touch me, Rai?”
Raiden paused, eyes darting nervously around the room.
“I…” He whispered, unable to finish the sentence.
Her eyes widened, and he swallowed hard, scanning her face.
God… don’t tell me she’s… she’s scared of me?
He inched back slightly, exhaling in frustration and fear.
“Honey… did something happen at school today?”
He froze, every nerve on edge, unable to speak.
She inched closer, her hand still outstretched.
“Something you couldn’t explain… like a weird feeling?” she asked quietly.
Raiden’s back slammed against the wall, nowhere to run now. You monster…
He gave a faint nod.
She covered her mouth, clearly shocked.
Raiden sniffled, looking away from her, a mix of fear and relief washing over him. She knows…she knows what you are, coward, you couldn’t tell her yourself, could you?
She grabbed his arm, and he gasped.
“Shh, shh… hey, I know what’s wrong. Relax, honey. I can help you, I promise.”
Raiden’s breathing was uneven, his hands trembling slightly.
She pulled him into a gentle hug.
“Shhh… Mom’s here. She can help you.”
Her voice was soft, soothing, and her hands rubbed his back slowly. He gradually calmed, sinking toward the ground, though the faint glimmer of electricity still danced in his eyes.
She knelt in front of him, studying his expression and his glowing eyes.
“My poor baby…”
She pulled him into another hug, careful not to press too hard, like she instinctively knew the danger of sudden contact.
She sniffled, wiping her eyes.
“I never thought… that you would be born with this,” she admitted quietly. “If I had… known... I should've known, I'm sorry I couldn't tell you till now, you must feel so confused...”
Raiden’s breathing evened, his confusion and exhaustion mixing into a heavy weariness.
“What… is this, exactly?” he whispered, staring up at the ceiling.
She pulled back slightly, sniffling.
“It’s a symbol…”
Symbol?
“ A Symbol?”
She nodded, glancing at a nearby picture frame.
“Your father had one…”
Raiden’s eyes widened.
“Dad…?”
She gave a faint nod.
“The same one you have… electricity.”
Raiden stared blankly at the floor, trying to process the revelation.
“Wait… how did you know?”
She tilted her head, a soft smile in her eyes.
“…You didn’t want to touch me. Like you were afraid to shock me,” she murmured. “Your father was the same at the start, when I first met him. Too scared to touch me... had the same look in his eyes too…”
Raiden exhaled, a bitter half-laugh escaping him.
“Well… fuck. No wonder I feel like a freak.”
She cupped his face gently.
“You aren’t a freak. You’re special, Raiden Volt,” she said firmly.
“And you will understand that.”
He nodded slowly, drained, but a faint spark of hope flickering in his chest.
☆☆☆
She carefully sat down in front of him, holding a worn book.
Raiden stared at it, blankly.
She reached out her hand. He instinctively inched back.
“No. Go on… hold my hand. I want to check something,” she said softly.
He glanced at her, a flicker of hesitation in his sharp yellow eyes.
She softened, smiling warmly.
“Go on. You’re allowed to.”
His lips parted slightly, and he tentatively reached out. A strange, buzzing sensation spun through his chest—
SHOCK!
His mom pulled her hand back, wincing.
Raiden flinched, pulling away instinctively.
“Hey… it’s okay. That was supposed to happen. I’m fine.”
He swallowed the knot in his throat, keeping his distance.
“You’ll have to come closer eventually,” she murmured gently, opening the book.
“There’s this island…” she began.
Raiden tilted his head, curiosity flickering through his exhaustion.
“Called… Outcast Island.”
His stomach dropped.
“Outcast…?”
She nodded.
“I know. The name isn't … promising.”
He leaned back, fidgeting with his hands nervously.
“But before the island,” she continued, her tone shifting, “it all started with one special child. She was known for her ability to control water and rain itself. Beloved by many, she gave them rain on bad days, showing kindness… but one day…”
Raiden inched forward, drawn into the story.
“She was sent to the town’s freak show, forced to perform tricks for others’ amusement. After a while… she grew. And tired. Tired of the way she was treated.”
Raiden frowned.
“Like an animal… a monster?”
She nodded grimly, meeting his gaze.
“Yes.”
“One night, after a show, she snuck out, gathering all the water she could find, and began practicing the art of water control—manipulating it to do exactly what she wanted.”
Raiden leaned forward, captivated.
“The next night, her caretaker approached the cage, giving her water from a cup. She was chained by hands and feet, so she couldn’t fight back… but it didn’t matter. The chains were useless against her.”
Raiden tilted his head, confused.
“But you said she’d been there a while. Why didn’t she do anything before, if the chains were so weak?”
She smiled faintly, a trace of pride in her eyes.
“She could have… but she waited. Waited for the perfect time—during a blood moon, when darkness masked her movements, when fewer people were around. Everything was planned… for one precise strike.”
“When the caretaker closed the cage behind them,” she continued, her voice lowering, “she used the sweat on her body to snap the chains.”
Raiden’s eyes widened.
“Sweat?”
She nodded.
“Water control isn’t just water. It’s anything that contains liquid.”
Raiden’s jaw tightened.
“So, then she controlled the caretaker to… kill themselves”
His mom admitted.
He froze.
“How…?”
“Blood control,” she whispered, closing the book slightly. “It’s the hardest part of the Symbol of Water talents.”
Raiden stared at her, his voice trembling with disbelief.
“So… that means I can control anything with electricity?”
His mom nodded gently.
“Yes. But since you’re naturally gifted, you don’t just control electricity—you can create it.” She paused, her voice soft but serious. “That kind of skill takes practice… and control.”
Raiden swallowed hard, his eyes flickering down to the closed book in her lap.
“What… what happened after?”
She gave him a faint, bittersweet smile, brushing his messy hair back from his face.
“She fought off the rest of the guards and escaped to a distant island… the very same island now known as Outcast Island.”Raiden’s brows furrowed, confusion flashing across his face.
“But I still don’t get it. Why call it a symbol? What does that even mean?”
His mom hummed thoughtfully, glancing down at the old book.
“They say that before she left, she carved a mark into the island itself. A symbol, as if to claim it… or to warn others who came after. So they decided to name it after her mark in honer of what was left of her.”
Raiden leaned back, crossing his arms tightly over his chest.
“So now what?” His voice dripped with frustration. “Am I just gonna… stay like this forever?”
His mom’s expression softened, though her eyes clouded with worry.
“No… and yes,” she admitted quietly.
Raiden’s head snapped toward her, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.
“What does that even mean?”
“It means,” she said carefully, “that you’ll have to go somewhere that can teach you everything you need to know about your power… about yourself.”
Raiden’s stomach twisted, a surge of electricity crackling beneath his skin.
“Go…?” His voice dropped, sharp and tense. “Go where?”
Seeing his shoulders tense, his mom immediately stood, instinctively taking a cautious step back.
“Rai, sweetie… relax,” she urged gently.
But before she could calm him, the lines appeared again—streaks of blue and yellow flashing across Raiden’s vision. His breath quickened, his expression twisting with frustration. Energy rippled through his body, his very skin seeming to hum with charge.
He leaned back and covered his face with his hands.
“Shit… sorry, Mom.”
She carefully reached out and patted his back, her touch light and deliberate.
“This is exactly why I’m telling you—you need to go. I don’t fully understand this, Raiden. I never have. There’s only so much I can do for you…”
Raiden dragged a shaky hand through his hair, his chest heaving.
“Where?” he demanded, his voice low. “Tell me where I have to go.”
His mom inched closer, lowering her voice to a near whisper.
“The Outcast Academy. They’ll teach you everything you need to know about your Symbol… and how to use it safely.”
His eyes narrowed.
“For how long?”
She hesitated, her frown deepening.
“Three years… maybe a little more.”
Raiden’s entire body jolted, a spark literally leaping from his hand.
“What!?”
His mom quickly stepped back, wringing her hands nervously.
“Th-there are breaks during the holidays! You’ll be able to come home. It’s… it’s sort of like college.”
Raiden let out a heavy sigh and buried his face in his hands.
“This keeps happening… doesn’t it?”
His mom knelt beside him and gently took his trembling hand in hers, despite the risk of another shock.
“Yes,” she whispered. “But you’ll learn to control it, Raiden. I promise you. That’s why you need to go.”
Raiden squeezed his eyes shut, tipping his head back, voice breaking slightly.
“And if I can’t?”
She tightened her hold, her voice firm.
“Then I’ll be there to help you pick up the pieces. Always.”
