The story you're about to read is of my own creation, along with some friends of mine. It is set in England in the near future, around 2035-ish, and all the characters are original as well, except for certain mentions. Those are DC property. Other than that, the world of Helix: Ascent belongs to the amazing game creator FarmerJaller. Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Chariot

At 6:00 in the morning, Cato awoke. He was as quiet as could be as he walked down to the ground floor of the family mansion, silent as a mouse when he fixed his breakfast, and made no noise as he discovered that he was the last one to wake up. "Oh. Good morning, all."

Jacqueline yawned and waved him towards where she sat on the settee. Henry said, "Good morning."

Robert put his book down and said, "Do you know what day it is, Cato?" The older boy shook his head. "It's two days 'till Christmas!"

"It is, isn't it?"

"The tree's in the atrium. Want to go play?"

"Sure, Rocky."

"Boys, before you go, I want you to know that your aunt Martha, your uncle Thomas, and your cousins Max and Elizabeth are coming over later, and staying the night."

"Okay, Mum. See you in a bit!"

The tree was truly a masterpiece, a fine specimen of pine with holly, baubles, and tinsel all over. It was two and a half metres high, and its star was beautifully radiant. There was a soft rug underneath the trunk, stretching three feet out from the tree in all directions, with boxes stacked up all throughout. The boys ran around it, trying to catch each other. At some point, Robert stopped. He squinted at a spot around the tree and clenched his fists. Cato, on the opposite side of the tree, had not realised that Robert had stopped. He kept running until he hit the spot that Robert was glaring at. He would have kept running, but something tripped him. He fell comically, doing a full forward flip in the air and landing on his backside.

"Ow… What was that?"

"I did it! I di– oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry, Cato!"

"Slow down. You did what?"

"I think I have powers. I can make rocks in places the rocks shouldn't be. Look under the rug where you tripped."

Cato did just that, and found four little pebbles. "That's… Do Mum and Dad know?"

"Yeah."

"Rocky, this is really cool, but I don't really think you should be doing this, okay?"

"Huh?" Robert looked confused and a little bit hurt.

"I love that you can do this, that you're more unique than anyone else, but it's dangerous, okay? Someone could get really hurt. I heard you broke someone's hand already."

"He was a bully and it was an accident!"

"He deserved it, he had it coming, yeah. I know. But my point is, you weren't even trying, and you hurt him. What if that happened to Mum, Dad, me, anyone you love? Would you want to do that to our cousin Max? I know he's your best friend."

"I get it, Cato! I get it."

"Hey, Robert, look at me. I'm sorry. I'm just worried."

"I know."

Henry walked in. "Your mother has to go to the courthouse. When her session's over, do you boys want to go with me and bring her home?"

"Yeah, Dad. Of course." Henry smiled at his boys, and they smiled back at him. Henry knocked twice on the doorway with his knuckles as he left.

"Cato, I think I'll go work out. Want to come with?"

"I'll go twice your speed on the treadmill."

"Big talk for a man with little legs. You're on!"

"That was fun, eh, Rocky?"

"Tiring is what it was. I haven't run that fast in months!"

Their father entered the room. "We'll be going to get your mother in fifteen minutes. Cool down, dry off, and change your clothes, alright?"

"Okay, Dad." They followed him out, but they went to their bedrooms to shower and change. Fifteen minutes later, they met their father outside. He pressed a button that hung from his keyring, and all the doors in the mansion locked. They got into their father's (impractically expensive) car, which had been christened "Dad's Chariot" by Robert and Cato, due to how their father cared lovingly for it. Henry started the car up, backed through the drive, turned the car, and drove down to the courthouse; to his wife.

They arrived at the courthouse as the sun went down, and sat in the car as they watched all the people leave. The last person to go down the steps at the door was Jacqueline, and she smiled when she saw her husband and children. She made her way over to the Chariot at a faster pace. When she opened the door, she hugged her children, gave her husband a kiss, and sat down. Henry started the car down the street.

And then the world exploded.