Prologue
March 3rd, 2014. 50 Years ago.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Nox leaned against the couch in her apartment, her thumbs repeatedly hitting buttons on her Xbox remote while her eyes subconsciously took in the images of Rage on the screen. Despite the headphones blasting the sound effects into her ears, her mind picked up the slightest sound of mumbling thoughts from outside her door. Sighing, she paused the game and rose from the couch, glaring through the peek hole. Her eyes widened at what she saw on the opposite end of the door. She whirled around and pressed her back against the door and cupped a hand over her mouth, breathing heavily.
A knocking resounded from the opposite end of the door. "This is Jacksonville Police Department! Open the door and walk out with your hands over your head, or we will open fire!"
Nox held her breath and shook her head. They were lying. She could tell. She couldn't pinpoint exactly who they were, but they weren't the police. Although they were wearing the uniforms, she could read their minds decipher they were working for a much higher power.
Nox squeezed her eyes shut as the knocking grew louder.
"Nox Arcana!" One of them pressed on. "We know you're inside, and we will not harm you if you cooperate."
That was another lie. Without wasting another breath, Nox's eyes scanned the interior of her apartment, coming to a stop at the fire escape situated outside her window. She pushed herself off the door and scrambled to the window, undoing the lock.
She heard shouts from the opposite end of the door before a loud banging, followed by a few splinters flying off the door frame. They were trying to break in.
Nox struggled a bit before she undid the lock and threw the window open.
The door suddenly went flying off it's hinges, and five men clad in combat uniform made their way into the apartment with their weapons raised.
Nox reacted on instinct and slipped off the window, landing on the fire escape below with a loud clang. She was sure that whatever these people wanted, it was regarding the powers she'd been given since she was little. But the question was: How did they find out?
Nox gripped the railing of the fire escape and hurled through the air towards the ground, using her levitation to break her fall before she rushed to her car.
"After her!" Nox heard one of them shout, and it only quickened her pace. She fished her keys out of her pocket, opened her Volvo car door and stuck them into the ignition. She stomped the pedal and the Volvo sped out of the parking lot and into the streets.
Beads of sweat worked on Nox's forehead as she pressed the gas further, yanking the wheel left and right in an attempt to squeeze her way between the cars and outrun the multiple armed police vehicles. Sparks of light burst from the side windows of the cars, and Nox swore loudly as the bullets popped the back wheels of her Volvo. "Son of a—!" Her car began to swerve, leaving behind black tire tattoos on the street. The sparks of metal grating against the street set the night aflame.
Nox hid the Volvo inside an alleyway and watched the police cars blur past. She scrambled out of the Volvo and ran deeper into the alleyway, shielding her eyes with her arm when the spotlight of a chopper swept over her. She tripped twice in her rush, but made it to an end, blocked off by a barbed wire gate. She glanced over her shoulder to see multiple strangers clad in combat uniform rushing in, heavily armed.
Clenching her teeth, Nox clawed her way up the barbed wire fence, climbing it until she whirled over the top and landed on the opposite side, using her psychic power beneath her feet to break her fall. But she slid to a stop and unleashed a melancholic yell at what she saw on the opposite end of the alleyway. She was trapped by soldiers from both sides. They raised their firearms at her, but she extended both her hands, using the psychic energy channeling through her veins to deflect the bullets. She crouched and sprung power into her feet, making a leap for the next rooftop.
Nox fell to her knees on the peak of the building, curling her fists until her knuckles turned white as she breathed in air. But a hardy voice just ahead brought her attention. "Excellent. That's just the power we've been searching for."
Nox reeled her head up to witness a silhouette against the moonlight. She scrambled to her feet and focused on her psychic power. "Who are you?" She demanded with a cold edge in her tone.
"You won't have to worry about who I am." The silhouette emerged into the light, revealing his face, angled and battle-hardened. His blue piercing eyes caught the light of the moon beneath his beret. He looked to be in his twenties. "The only thing that should concern you now is just how we're going to train you."
Nox swallowed down her panic. Training? She thought. Who the hell is this guy?
Deciding to lessen the awkwardness, Nox said, "I don't work for anyone. Get out of my way, or I won't hesitate to kill you."
"And a thirst to kill targets," He said nonchalantly, strolling closer. "Even better."
Nox reacted on instinct and raised her arm at him, her powers raging. "Not one step closer."
"I think you have the wrong idea," The man said, producing a magnum caliber from his holster. "I have the advantage here."
Knowing bullets were unable to hurt her, Nox pulled up a force shield effortlessly. "I said don't come any closer."
The man's eyes darkened as he stopped moving, but he didn't lower the weapon. Without hesitation, he clicked the safety off and pulled the trigger. Time slowed down as Nox saw the flash emit from the barrel before she saw the bullet speed at her. It hit the force shield she put up, and it shattered like glass. A choke escaped the back of her throat as the bullet lodged itself into her shoulder. She fell onto her back.
"Anti-sound wave bullets. Newly founded by Russian researchers, they can cut through even the strongest sound waves holding them back. Don't look so surprised," He said as he reloaded and towered over Nox's form, staring at him with frozen eyes. "You're becoming part of this project, whether you like it or not." He planted the bottom of his boot against her arm to keep her in place. "One more thing. You can call me Major General from now on… Not that you'll be needing it."
The flash emitting from the barrel of the gun was the last thing she saw.