EXO: "EXOPLANETS"
12

Now only two are left without power. One of them was Sehun, the youngest, he was only 18 years old a few days after he was arrested. He hasn't even graduated from school and unfortunately, I don't think he's going to make it.

Already, I felt a strong sense of protection against him, especially since he could not tolerate the pain so well that he had difficulty adapting. We all try to help as much as possible and make sure that he knows he can count on us, but there is only so much we can do.

The other is me. Every day I would wait for a change, sparking something supernatural but nothing happened. I was the same as before and I started to worry. It makes no sense, at least a month has passed and I have experimented almost every day. 

Why is everyone developing strength except me? The thought that I did not have the EXO gene was always on my mind. Maybe they made a mistake and took the wrong child. You'd think it would be a good thing, that I'm not a freak who can fire or water out of my hands but not.

It just means that I can be thrown away. If I was really mistaken in the experiment, they would kill me without blinking. They would not be foolish enough to let me return to the world and let me roam freely with the knowledge I had learned. I won't be trusted, I have too much responsibility. The only logical measure that ensured secrecy was my death.

I was desperate and scared but there was nothing I could do. Everyone just became stronger, finding a new side to their strength while I just sat and watched. I don't mind but I don't want to die at nineteen either. I'm too young and there's a lot of things I want to do.

Instead of feeling useless, I try to help others in any way I can. When Xiumin tests his abilities, I will help him and give him advice. Sometimes it works but other times it doesn't, it's really a try. Originally, he could only produce ice particles but now he could form solid objects at will.

But there was a problem, it hurt him. The stronger his strength, the more pain he felt when he used it. It was as if his body was not adjusting to the extreme cold it produced so as to reject the abnormality. It was getting worse, to the point that the pain was too intense to endure. So, he avoided using it completely.

But sometimes it can't be ignored. He did not yet have complete control over his strength, so without intending he would freeze random objects or he would produce a sudden burst of ice. Sometimes it's funny but other times it's dangerous, especially when it's aimed at one of us.

Also, there were times when I woke up from discomfort to realize that he had frozen the ground beneath and ice seeped into my cells. In those moments, I thank God that Chanyeol's power is fire and he can help melt or we will both have frostbite now.

But not just Xiumin, but everybody. No one could fully control their abilities and it injured them. This was a serious matter because a fire-like power was wild and dangerous when it got out of control. That is the reason why young children are taught that they should not play with fire.

At first, Chanyeol had almost no control over it but he is better now. He repeatedly practiced until there was a burn scar on his skin from the overwhelming heat coursing through his body. He did not want to hurt anyone and that was the price he had to pay.

My impression of Chanyeol has changed a lot since we first met. He is someone who is funny, casual and intelligent but sometimes he lets his emotions beat his personality. Now that I know him better, I can say that he really has a good heart.

The sound of shaking caught my attention and I turned to look at Sehun, in the cell next to me, sleeping. I watched her as she threw and turned around, making a low moaning sound and I could tell she was having a nightmare.

For us, they are quite common. I don't think it's possible to live this without it haunting us in our dreams as well. I'm not sure if there will ever be a time I'll sleep well again but right now, that's what I'm most worried about.

The cold took hold of me and I realized there was a breeze in the air. Surely, it was just my imagination, we were underground and there were no windows here. How could there be wind?

My hair started to blow and bumps appeared along my skin, making my hair stand up straight. It was starting to get stronger and stronger, to the point that I had to reach for the metal rod of my cell to keep it stable. I saw the others doing the same thing and Chanyeol shouted, "what happened?"

"I don't know, is that another power?" Xiumin shouted back. It's not a surprise anymore, it happens a lot actually. Something strange is going to happen and usually it is the result of a new found ability.

This one was stronger than the others, similar to the light intensity of Baekhyun. It felt like a mini typhoon hit the room and I was really worried that we would all start flying from the force of the wind.

I held on tighter to the bars and looked up to notice that Sehun was still curled up like a ball, asleep. His eyes moved quickly behind his eyelids and his body was still agitated. Trying to be heard from the noise, I declared loudly, "It's Sehun."

"Send him to stop!" Suho exclaimed from across my cell. While fighting against the force that pushed me back, I crawled to the other side of my cell and tried to get as close to her as possible.

I knew he was unaware of the situation because he was too immersed in his subconscious mind. I pushed the barrier with all my strength and I felt it bend over my arm. A strange sensation crept on my skin, tingling my limbs. The tension between my attack and the barrier started to build up and with one last push, I managed to get through it.

I quickly grabbed her leg and shook her, trying to wake her up. I screamed his name but he couldn't hear me at all. Suddenly the tingling in my limbs got stronger and it felt like my entire body was filled with energy. Electric energy.

I can't resist what happens next, I can't control it. A burst of pain hit my body that was connected to Sehun and he screamed in pain. Then everything stopped and the room was quiet. Calm. It was frightening, the contrast from the chaos a second ago was too drastic.

My nerve endings felt like they were fried and vibrations spread throughout my body. I was shaking but I couldn't stop, I didn't know how. What happened I looked down to see my hands shining, unlike Baekhyun's hands, they sparkled.

Electricity rolled around in my palm and I realized the gene was finally activated. Sehun seems to have something to do with it, I'm just not sure what.

I had meaninglessly formed a ball of energy in my hand and I panicked. What am I supposed to do? I tried to stop it but it didn't go away, but they continued to grow. Finally, Xiumin spoke carefully, "Chen, what are you doing?"

"I don't know, it's not me. I can't stop him" I defended myself. I need to clear my mind and think logically. What is the best thing to do when someone has an energy ball formed from their hand? I don't know. Why can't they teach this in school instead of math.

"It's okay. Remember how you helped me, you already know what to do. Focus on the energy and make it your way" Xiumin said calmly. I closed my eyes and started concentrating on the energy and I could feel it pulsing in my body. It feels like a part of me and everywhere. Too much buzz, how can I focus?

"Chen," said Baekhyun warning and I opened my eyes. The energy ball had grown bigger and in a state of panic I knew I would not be able to stop it. I can feel it in my stomach, my body wants to release it. The energy needed to be free and I needed to quickly dissolve it. In a hurry, I shouted, "everything, get down!"

They did what I said and fell to the ground. When I was sure the others were in a guarded position, I set my focus to the metal bar in front. I put my arm forward and let go.

Electricity burst out of my hands in the river. Only then did I realize, it wasn't just electricity, it was lightning. It was brilliant and beautiful. That's a part of me.

Because the cells are connected, it conducts a current through the metal, illuminating the entire room with a blue spark. I pray that no one touches the bars because I know for a fact that this blow will sting.

It was painful but at the same time it was a relief. I let it all go until there was nothing left in me. Tired I fell to my knees and I felt like vomiting but I took a deep breath to regain my composure.

After I finally calmed down, I turned my head and saw Sehun curled up like a ball, not moving. I rushed over and grabbed through the bars, pulling his body towards me. Panicking, I examined her pulse and heaved a sigh of relief as I felt it throbbing in her skin. I shook her once and there was no reaction, I thought she might faint from the shock I gave her. Suho cleared his throat and asked, "is he okay?"

"He's alive" I said faintly. I'm not sure how badly he was injured but he's still breathing and I understand that. Guilt invaded my intestines as I looked at his lifeless body. I shook him once more and called him a name. Slowly her eyes opened and relief flooded over me. Confused he was hoarse, "what happened?"

I explained in detail that he had finally developed his strength, most likely the manipulation of the wind or the weather and somehow it might trigger my power as well. I apologized profusely for electrocuting him and he assured me that he was fine and that he barely felt it.

After a while Sehun wondered, "what is going on now? They succeed, genes have been activated on all of us and each of us has different powers. What do they want with us now?"

"Well, I guess this is what they actually mean by 'limitless possibilities'," Xiumin said with a sigh. We have changed a lot in the short time since we arrived. Not just physically, but in every aspect. We became mentally stronger, the torture for weeks ensured that no one else could hurt us. At this point, I'm not sure what pain really means because it's so constant that life means pain.

However, at the same time I felt fragile, like at any moment I could only rest. We all have low points, moments of tears not stopping and we will allow each other that time to take over the despair. Understandably, we have all lost our lives, our future and our families.