EXO: "EXOPLANETS"
9

"That's not true, you can't believe it," I said desperately trying to persuade him and myself. I looked down, wanting the ice to go but to no avail. "If that's true, something will happen to you. You don't feel different, do you?"

"No, except from the fact that everything hurts, I feel the same way" he replied. Why just me? Maybe I'm not too normal.

Suddenly, from the cell opposite me, Baekhyun lifted up with a cry and the lantern in the middle of the room exploded. The glass from the light bulb shattered and darkness enveloped us again.

"It's getting creepy, it's not a coincidence, is it?" Chen asked carefully.

Baekhyun grimaced with sudden movements and I felt sorry for him because he had the worst of us all. On top of the pain left from the experiment, he might start to feel the continued effects of the terrible beating he received. With a shriveled face, he asked, "what just happened?"

"I don't know how, but I think you just destroyed that light bulb," Chen replied in a serious tone. I couldn't see Baekhyun's reaction in the dark, but I knew he didn't expect that answer when he foolishly asked, "what?"

"You wake up and the light bulb explodes at the same time . If not you, then who is it?" Chen reasoned and although it was unreasonable, I thought the same thing.     

"Are you crazy, what are you talking about?" Baekhyun said confusedly and his voice grew higher.

"Right now, we don't know the effect of the experiment or what is referred to as the genes that are supposed to be activated but strange things keep happening. Xiumin with ice and you with light bursting. Doesn't it seem like too much of a coincidence? " Chen concluded.

Baekhyun laughed hysterically in response and a voice echoed around the room. I heard the movement and assumed the others were starting to wake up now.

"Are you trying to say we're developing strength?" Baekhyun asked in disbelief. It sounds really stupid, but when I looked down to see the residue left over from the ice, I wasn't sure. It wasn't enough to form water but a little condensation told me that it wasn't my imagination, it was real.

"We're developing strength?" ask a low voice I don't recognize. Maybe it's the new kid, Chanyeol. Expect from Suho no one else has spoken to him yet. We have all been thrown to the deep end with this situation, but at least we all have time to prepare for the worst. He had arrived here without a clue what had happened and then instantly, he was brought in to try.

"No, no," Baekhyun replied frustratedly and suddenly something started to shine. It was not dark anymore, there was a dim light illuminating the room and it was coming from him.

Hands shining.

"There was a light coming from his frightened hand," Chen whispered so that only I could hear. "If it's not a superpower, then I don't know what it is ..."

Despite the serious situation, I struggled to laugh at his comments. I'm holding him back because it'll make things worse than they already are.

Baekhyun was now in a full panic. He jumped around in his cell with a flailing hand, shaking it vigorously, trying to stop it. When that didn't work out, he tried to command her, telling her hands to 'turn off' but they only became brighter. As he got more and more to work, he began to shout in his hands, using as many variations as possible: 'adam', "adam", "turn off".

He looked silly and when he desperately shouted 'kill the lights', I couldn't help it anymore, I laughed out loud. Since meeting Baekhyun I know he's a funny guy and even the simple things he does look funny but this is a much different level.

My laughter triggered Chen as well and soon everyone joined in. The voice was infectious and addictive, making the situation even more amusing than before. It felt strange, I hardly ever smiled since I got here, but now I laugh out loud.

Baekhyun slowly looked up from his hand and I stopped, we all did. I don't want him to feel humiliated or that we laugh at his level. I was worried that he would be irritated or angry, but instead he smiled and laughter came out of him. "It's ridiculous, isn't it? Light emanates from my hands, for God's sake."

We all laughed at his comments and he quietly added, "what should I do?"

"Still calm and take a breath, try slowing your pulse down to a resting speed. It seems like the more work you get the brighter they shine," Suho suggested. Baekhyun sat on his knees and took a deep breath and took it out. He repeated it several times while we all watched in silence. Surprisingly, it worked, the lights started to dim until they were completely off.

"OK, I take back what I said earlier," said Baekhyun comically, "I think we're developing strength."

This time I held back the laughter because everyone was silent. In his statement, reality began to sink in. We are all trying to process this new information and what it means. Even after witnessing what we just saw, I'm sure some other boys are still in denial.

"No, Sherlock," muttered the cynical Chanyeol. Since I didn't know him, I don't know if his intentions were funny or offensive. Baekhyun turned towards her and replied, "really, sarcasm? How original."

"What do you want us to say? That it's cool you have your own light show" Chanyeol sneered.

"No, but I know you have something you want to say, so just say it," Baekhyun threatened to retaliate. I was surprised by the turn of events because we laughed just a few minutes ago, this was the last thing I expected. I don't think that we're going to turn on each other so quickly.

Although, I understand that emotions are getting higher and that just builds unnecessary tension between us. They become impulsive and they do not think before they speak. Fights and arguments are inevitable, especially when nine boys, each with different opinions, are gathered together.

"Well, since you asked, I'll tell you. Obviously, you are developing strength but we all seem to be fine. What the woman said was true. You're different. Don't you think it's unfair that we're all locked in here, when eight of us are normal? " Chanyeol.

I gasped at her words because not only was Baekhyun different, it was also me. Chen looked towards me but I did not meet his gaze. He had seen the ice and he knew I was the one causing it. So if he mentioned what happened earlier, I wouldn't be able to deny it.

I hope he won't do it because I don't want to admit it. Thinking it was one thing but actually saying it out loud, just affirming it was real. Luckily he looked away and decided not to say anything. Already, I can see that he has loyalty and I owe him for that.

"How did you know that?" Baekhyun replied and with his tone of voice I knew he was getting angry. Then he spitefully added, "you can't talk so fast, you might end up just like me."

"Well for one, I don't see a ray of light shooting at my hand" Chanyeol sneered with a mocking laugh. Baekhyun's hands began to shine again making me feel anxious. We all don't know what to do or how to stop this argument.

"Who do you think you are? Show some respect, I don't even know you and you're trying to fight" Baekhyun sighed angrily. The light became increasingly bright and bright, but that did not stop Chanyeol's final blow as she echoed Baekhyun's words from before, "respect is received." 

I was brought back to the memory of Baekhyun who was cowering on the ground shaking after being electrocuted. He was barely strong enough to speak, but he had defended himself when no one else had done so. He had muttered those three words to the people who had brought us and knew that the only result for him was more pain. However, he kept saying it and it was admirable and bold.

But now, in the heat of the moment, Chanyeol threw those words back into his face as if it was meaningless, when it happened. They gave us hope, that we would not be underestimated by the monsters that locked us in cages and that we could fight against those who oppressed us. That we can survive this and get out alive .

At those three words, the fury that had emerged from Baekhyun exploded in the form of a light that pushed him back against the wall behind him. It was dazzling, intense to the point I could feel the heat coming from it. It was not like before where it only came from his hands but his entire body lit up. I retreated slowly, moved away from her and closed my eyes before I went blind. Although, even with my eyes closed I can only see the light.

"Baekhy! Baekhyun!" Shouted Suho. "Stop! You hurt us. Relax, breathe." I'm not sure how long any of us can withstand this, the light is too strong. However, there is something else I cannot wear. Not just normal light, it was like a substance that felt painfully purifying. 

"I can't stop him! I can't control it" cried Baekhyun. "He's right, I'm different! Look what I became, see how they changed me. I'm not human anymore, I'm a monster."

He was confused and I knew that he was really panicking. It seemed like his strength increased all his other senses, especially his emotions. The light we enjoyed was an insight to everything he felt: anger, pain, guilt, sadness, panic and fear. It's all mixed up floating around us and it feels like I'm part of it, experiencing the same thing as him.

The situation became desperate because it was completely out of our control. All I know is we need it to calm him down. I moved forward, with my eyes still closed, until I reached the metal rod of my cell as close as possible to it.