Chapter One

Saba blinked open his eyes and looked around. The room was familiar but not familiar. It was bare, dark and creepy. Saba flinched when a scary male voice from his nightmare sounded.

"Begin phase one!"

A hiss sounded before black liquid began filling the container. A raging flare of panic filled him and he banged his hands on the glass.

'Let Me Out!' the boy's voice wouldn't work.

The liquid was to his waist and climbing faster.

The liquid flowed up and up, closer to concealing him in its tar-like essence. His head was covered and the feeling of being ripped apart filled him, it was worse than the nightmare.

He floated slightly and curled up, screaming into the liquid.

The liquid soon faded away and a sharp object was clipped to the back of Saba's neck. The boy laid on the floor of the container, panting and shivering. The door slid open and the container's glass disappeared. Saba looked up and saw the Markovian Regent.

Stand.

The boy stiffened when a dark voice entered his head and before he knew what was happening, he was standing. The regent grinned.

Good. Now, show me your Meta-Gene.

Nothing happened. Saba didn't move nor did he do any special powers.

I said, "Show me your Meta-Gene"

Still nothing.

The man scowled and walked forward before tearing a small, badge-like thing off Saba's neck. The boy gasped, the feeling of control returned.

"Another failure, kill him" the man snarled as he left.

The 12-year-olds eyes widened before he ran to the door, renewed panic filling him. He grabbed the handle and pulled and pulled but the door wouldn't budge. Heat fell onto the boy's back and he turned and gasped in fear. A giant lava monster was walking towards him, the intent to kill radiating from it.

Saba pulled against the door harder, it creaked at the vigor. A burning hand grabbed his shoulder and Saba screamed as the lava bit into his skin. The monster threw him into the opposite wall. The 12-year-old cried out and fell limp when his back hit the cold metal.

The monster grinned and walked towards him again. Saba blinked dizzily at the creature.

The door opened and a young Markovian woman entered, she stared in shock before screaming and running out, leaving the door open.

Saba blinked and looked at the door when it opened. The same woman walked in, saw the creature heading to the boy, screamed and ran. Saba took a shaky breath before putting his hands under him and pushing himself to his feet. He felt adrenaline pump through him and he ran for the door.

The creatures fiery fist came towards him and he slid under it. Once he got to the door, the boy slammed it closed behind him and continued running.

He ran through another door, through the hospital, through the front doors of the hospital. He looked behind him to make sure no one was following, a car sped towards him when he looked back and he covered his face. Cool, metal hands grabbed him and lifted him out of the way of the car. Saba screeched and began thrashing in the iron grip.

"¡Whoa! ¡ Chico Cálmate! ¡ No te haré daño!" the familiar voice of El Paso's hero caused the boy to go limp.

Scared green eyes looked at the Scarab-Wielder carrying him. He looked so much more than he did on the News. The News didn't capture the shades of blue and black his armour was, it didn't catch the seriousness in his eyes, heck, it didn't even catch how young and different this Blue Beetle was compared to the previous Blue Beetle.

A strong sense of Deja-Vu filled the boy. The new Blue Beetle landed on a rooftop and gently put the boy down.

Blue Beetle looked at him, worry in his hidden brown eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Saba bit his bottom lip, looked down and nodded.

A soft breath and 'good' came from the bug and he held out his hand.

"Let's get you home than"

Saba blinked, feeling tears well up, and stepped back, shaking his head.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong?" the El Paso hero asked softly.

Saba remained silent, his hand gripping the burn. The hero's eyes widened when he saw the blistering burn.

"Dios mío" the man breath, shock and fear in his eyes, "who did this?"

Saba glanced up at him before quickly looking back down. Blue Beetle sighed softly and knelt down, his eyes holding no pity, no sympathy nor did they hold judgement, all they held was a calm understanding.

Saba felt as if he could tell the man anything and everything. The boy opened his mouth and spoke for the first time in two years.

He told the hero everything. From being captured by the Reach to the Lava Monster. The Beetle just listened, a frown growing on his face and worry filling his calm.

Saba broke down after he finished and Blue Beetle held him, speaking softly into his ear, promising that it would get better, that he would be safe. And Saba believed him.