I know a lot of people don't get the new story notification till chapter two, so if you're new here then hi. I hope you enjoy :)
Chapter Two: Explode
The first thing parents typically tell their children is something along the lines of 'stranger danger' which is what my parents did for me, except not in the way for a random person on the street. They told me about my hulk, how it worked, and all there was to know about it.
It wasn't supposed to be a 'stranger danger' concept but that was how I interpreted it to make it easier for me to comprehend.
The first time I transformed into my hulk was when I was just below my double digits. I don't remember much from the event because I have done my absolute best to blur those memories from my brain. For the most part, it's been successful. However, it's the actual transformation process that never seems to leave my mind.
Think of my body during the transformation phase like a grenade. A strong and sturdy outer shell with a dangerous power within that can be triggered anytime and at the worst time. Once the key is removed, the power ignites and explodes into uncontrollable chaos where lives are left at risk.
-o-
I'm alive.
I wince in pain as my head stirs in the snow. I don't feel any pain in my body except for my brain that is currently pounding against my skull, screaming to get out.
No, not my brain. It.
Shit. Why? Why now?
"...Daniel..." Emily mutters groggily in the distance.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Oh my god, how do I stop this? Can I stop this? I can't. The - my - the hulk is its own being that lives inside of me. It does whatever it wants when provoked. I have no control over time when I wish I did!
"Hey...are you okay? Are you hurt?" Emily continues.
My breathing rate increases even though I try to get it to calm down. It's now fighting against my own body, pushing against me, trying to get me to concede. I want to just scream it out but choose to hold it inside.
I. Can't. Let. It. Explode.
But it's much too strong.
I can hear Emily struggling to crawl towards me. She's alive and I'm more than grateful for that but I only wish that she was crawling the other way. Then again, I get her mindset right now since I haven't responded so she's probably making sure that I'm not dead.
She's coming here and so is it. How perfect.
"No!" I yell back at her, keeping my head buried in the snow. That came out a bit more harsh than expected. Was that even me talking? Hopefully, the cold will numb the pain but my head is on fire so it renders the snow useless. "Stop! Just stay there!"
"What?" Emily questions. "What is it? Daniel, look at me."
The problem is, I won't be looking at her. I know my eyes have turned from brown to green which means that it is now looking at her.
"I'm sorry..." I mutter, looking straight into her suddenly-widened hazel eyes with glowing green ones.
-o-
Emily's face drops. I should be glad she's alive but I'm even happier that she understands the current situation and what will become of it. I need to try and take control but I am an actual wreck waiting to happen.
I get up with ease since the hulk is overriding my pain with his energy. I need to try and take control of as much of this situation as I can so I walk over to Emily and pull her up. She takes a breath that I can see and I begin to walk away from her.
I don't want her to be near the hulk when it arrives. I don't want her to be here at all.
"What are you doing?" Emily asks me.
"Emily," I respond seriously with a plan in my mind. "Go home and get my parents. Tell them - "
"Tell them what?! That I abandoned you in the middle of nowhere when you're going to change?! I'm not leaving you here. That's ridiculous. We need a new plan."
She thinks she can take the lead and I really wish she can. Well, neither she nor I are in charge but the being attempting to break free is and it doesn't like being hidden underneath the surface.
"No," I try to say to her. "I'm telling you - "
"You're not going to tell me anything," she argues. "I'm not going back home without you."
"Shut up!"
Emily steps back. That scary part is that wasn't me talking.
This is happening way too fast.
I walk over to a tree and use it as support to keep standing. Emily doesn't move which I'm grateful for. I just want to shrivel up and cry but the hulk won't let me.
"Daniel," Emily states, slowly walking closer to me. "Look, I'm - "
"I'm sorry," I cut her off. I just need her to know that. I begin shaking and not because of the cold. "Again. It's just that I'm more scared than you are. Shocker, I know. The last time this happened to me was so long ago that I don't even remember it. Believe me, I know you're too hard-headed to leave but I don't want to kill you."
Those words felt like poison dripping down my tongue and that was me talking.
"Kill?" Emily repeats almost as if she's confused. "Kill me? Why would you ever kill me?"
"Because I can't control it!"
"What? But your dad - "
"That's my dad. This is me. It's different. I can't stop it and I'm afraid for you. Please do me a favor and call - "
"Yeah, yeah." Emily pulls out her cell phone. "SHIELD is number six on speed dial."
Emily turns around and begins calling SHIELD. That's probably a bad idea, but I have my mind in other places to be focusing on that. I just want my parents. I just want this all to not happen.
I want it to be over.
I can feel the hulk just on the tip of the surface and I can't hold it in much longer. I want to but even if I try my absolute hardest, I can't. I don't want Emily -
"Go ahead," Emily says calmingly, almost making the pressure on my shoulders weightless. "Stop holding it in and making it harder for yourself."
"Thank you," I reply.
That was the most relieved I've felt all day. I take off my jacket and glasses and hand them to her. I can't see anything so I try my best to find her forehead and lightly kiss it. I can hear her trying to hide tears and I do my best to ignore it because of what's about to happen.
-o-
And the grenade explodes...
Emily's Counterpart - Chapter 117 (Big Transformations Part Two)
Stay Tuned - it's here...
