Notes from Protarn: Thank you for reading this story. But don't forget to give the credit to a friend of mine, Nicholas who created the idea of the Bolt.

In the previous chapter: Nicholas, a young nuclear engineer was working overtime in David Rider's Powerplant until an incident occurred during the activation of the Particle Accelerator that resulted the city to be under chaos. Being affected by the incident, Nicholas finds himself with electrical powers that granted him the ability to run fast and absorb electricity which heal his wounds, and releasing the electricity like a lightning strike. He made use to his powers by helping as many civilian as he cannot, however he soon encountered a mysterious man in a yellow suit who attempted to kidnap him. With lucky in his favor, Nicholas was able to escape the grasp of his pursuer, but his injury led him to be in a hospital. What will Nicholas do now upon waking in the the now crowded hospital under a blackout due to the incident?

It looked so blurry right now. For a moment everything look so shady and dim, but things started to look clear the longer I open my eyes. I was looking at the ceiling the whole time, a dark ceiling as if the lights had been shut down. How long had I been out?

Seems like I'm in a hospital. How did I get here? The last I remember was seeing a guy on a yellow suit. That got to be dream. Too crazy to be real, but I do get a feeling I enjoyed it. I kinda felt alive out there like the time when I tried to run at a marathon. It was the feeling of rush and the beating on my heat that makes me feel thrilled. That's what I remembered, but it's crazy. Weird stuff like that can't exist. But it felt real; the pain, the rush, my nervousness, being afraid, feeling courageous, and somewhat powerful.

Right now I gotta figure out what I'm doing here. Did something bad happen to me? Could be the explanation of my crazy dream. Someone could've injected me with some drug that cause people to eat rocks.

The room was looking weird. It shouldn't be dark. And why are there so many beds in this room? Why are there so many doctors and nurses in just one room just acting as if a big disaster just happened recently. Then I noticed one of the patients had scales all over his body like a lizard. Am I on the right hospital or is the drug not gone yet?

I feel fine right. The fact I'm gonna say: I don't look hurt. . .

There was some screaming outside the door, lots of screaming. Then I heard a growl, a tiger's growl. People are running away from tiger. Why is there a tiger in the hospital?

I got off from my bed without the pain bothering me. I inspected on myself: no scratch, no burned arms, still got my fingers, my hair hasn't fallen off, head hasn't fallen off. I'm fine, so what's the point of having me here? What kind of idiot would bring a healthy guy to a hospital. It's like bringing a poor guy to an expensive restaurant. That probably explains why so many good people die.

Well right now all it matters was there's tiger on the loose and I got to think of something what to do. Should I fight the tiger or run away? I could be dreaming right now. It's just a dream. Dreams lie a lot. But this could be a nightmare coming true. If it is. . . Do I actually have powers? It's not working right now, so I'm defenseless, or should I say offenseless. The only thing keeping the tiger from coming in was the door; door breaks, we're all screwed. It must've chose this place because the amount of bodies in here like some buffet. In the hospital: everyone is sick. It does make me wonder if the tiger ever thought that eating those people could cause it go sick. Sickness could be my only weapon in here.

More screams came out as if some demon came out from hell.

Before I made any thoughts, the door was opened by me. What was I thinking? Am I trying to get myself killed or attempting a failed escape? I look on the window earlier and saw I'm on the fifth floor. Jumping off could get me killed. I saw some nurses run by and patients crawling on the floor away from the growls.

I followed the sound without my thoughts to guide me. My body was moving on its own as if my mind just shut down because of how intimidating the growl was. I could feel my heart beating so fast as if warning me not to get close, or was it encouraging me to get close? I got closer anyway to investigate.

It was a tiger alright. A tiger probably evolved to look like us. I thought it was going to attack, but instead it scratched the walls and growls in anger as loud as the loudest rock music I heard. I felt like fainting, instead I stood on. It caught me staring at it, there was anger in its eyes but it feels like it's anger was not at me. The tiger man's hands hid his face and ran away as if feeling guilty about something. I was confused why it ran. I could only think of luring me into a trap, since that's how predators are, and a tiger with a body shaped like us, the damage might be worse. Now that it ran away, it's my chance to escape. I have no chance against the tiger, and it won't do any help if I died. More people are going to die all the same.

More screams came out from a different hall. My body felt like being pulled to the scenery like a magnet. I followed the sound and realized there's no sign of blood anymore. What's going on?

I watched a lot of action movies when I was a kid, lots of movies with guns firing, explosions, hot looking cars, and badass heroes beating the bad guys. Now that I think back, it's reckless what those people did; fighting an army with years of experience, robots shooting lasers everywhere, low chance of survival. Those people were lucky to survive, even though it's just a movie. But seeing the heroes fight, it took a lot of willpower to walk on to something life-threatening.

There is an abandoned fluid stand on the floor. This could give me a fighting chance, a little fighting chance after realizing how heavy this thing is. Why do they have to make fluid stand made out of metal instead of wood? I gathered all my strength to carry it, but it weighs like a barbell! This is a hospital not a gym. I couldn't last holding it for more than a minute, it's like the stand wants me dead and probably watch me get eaten by the tiger. Screw this, I'll drag it so I won't get knocked out before I see the tiger again.

Must be tough being in the hospital. There's no power around to bring light where we're going and. . . Power to keep patients alive. . . I saw some candles along the way, but no sign of a backup power being used. All the doors were close with some people I saw peeking out if it's safe; most look away as soon they see me, but a few insisted for me to come in or ask if it's safe outside. It's really tempting, I feel like the next victim in a horror movie, and knowing I'm black, I might die, but I chose to walk on because my body said so. If I survive this that would mean that movies have no real power over stereotypes. I had to walk on my own even though it makes sense to get some help from other people.

The tiger was at the corner near the window. It looks like it's trying to hide itself from everyone. Out of nowhere from my mouth, I started to talk to the tiger, 'You okay there?'

What have I done? . . . Should've hit it when I still got the chance. Now it's looking at me with eyes as vicious as my neighbor's house cat.

'Leave me!'

'Okay I'll leave you alone.'

I was asked and I took the opportunity to leave, just enough reason to runaway. My body chose the opposite like some instinct I don't have control over, some kind of a hidden conscience and leaving the scene would make me hate myself. I have two choices in my hands: live my entire life with guilt or die in a gruesome death. I had been giving chances earlier, so far I took on the path to face the tiger man, and probably I already gone far. By now, there is no turning back. The tiger man looks fierce, the place looks dark, I'm alone and defenses, and the only thing missing is the music of horror, unless screaming and monstrous growling counts.

'Let me help you. Let me find a way to help you.'

'Don't. Please don't. My mind is changing. I'm seeing something different. I was hunting a zebra. I was eating the zebra without holding it with my hands. How do I have four legs? Is it me or do I feel taller, no. . . No. . . Things look shorter now. . . Am I short or tall? My arms. . . My legs. . .'

'Stay calm. Just don't think right now and clear your mind.'

'But whenever I tried to stop thinking, I want to hunt something. Something I could chase and tear it apart. The only thing I could chase was something alive. Eating your prey is fun, but chasing the prey gives me a lot of thrill.'

I knew I made a mistake. Mistake is what led me here. This should be the perfect time to stand up! I lift the fluid stand and position myself like a spearman.

'Stay away from me! Don't get close. I know how to used this, you are going to regret coming closer.'

'Then run! Run kid run! But be warned; you are only granting me pleasure.'

It doesn't look like some dumb animal. If it can talk, then maybe I could convince it not to kill me. Gotta stay calm and look strong, if it knows you're afraid, it knows it has an advantage over me. Hold the spear like a professional so it'll take note of how dangerous I am; if it realize it has no chance against me, it might walk away and probably stop acting crazy.

Luck is against me. The stand has little effect on the lunging tiger man. It's a bad idea to forget that the tiger man is part human, because poking at it with a metal stick without a spear point made me realize how dumb I am. In addition to my doom: it has hands to knock out my only weapon; at least I come to realize why tigers don't get hands like we do, God doesn't want them to rule the world. Listening to the tiger man's advise might be the best idea for me to live.

Before I leave, I pick up a lit candle on top of a place, then threw it at the tiger. It has furs all over the body, fire could burn it down. If I were in a casino, I'll be poor because the tiger man slap the candle away like a fly.

I wish I had my powers back, it's really tiring running before a minute passed. My efforts to run with my body still intact seems useless right now, unless I found a weapon or a way to get my powers back. The tiger man doesn't seem to be chasing me right now, could be giving me a head start or it's still struggling with itself. My plan is to let my body to the running and my mind to do the thinking: what I remembered, my powers has something to do with electricity, absorbing it until there's nothing left to absorb, it can then be used until it has ran out, basically I need to find a way to recharge myself. I was able to find a metal scissor on the floor, at least it's lighter and sharp enough to cut it's skin, or so I thought as if this upcoming near death experience had made me insane. But picking up the scissor wasted few seconds, enough time for the tiger man to find me on the floor, it really does make me wonder if it has a cheetah blood. Are tigers some way related to cheetahs?

Upon seeing the tiger man, I fell on my back. I look around if there's anything else I could use, like a gun or a tranquilizer. There's an outlet on my right, electricity grants me power and getting the electricity from the outlet could help me get my power back. The only problem: the outlet looked like it just blew up, but I do sense something, something electrical, and my guts tells me it's my last chance. Should've thought of the before. If I survive this, I'll give myself a slap to the face for not thinking of an idea that could save me. But will there be power in the outlet judging the fact how there is no power being used? To know the truth, is to find the truth, or the truth will never be known; an advise I was told years ago.

'Should've run faster. You're making the game boring.'

I flip my body to the outlet as fast as I can, while the tiger man lunge at me. It was thanks to the candle I was able to see the outlet, just enough light to see the gaps in the outlet. The tiger may have been fierce and strong, even faster than me, but it wasn't fast enough to prevent me from striking the outlet with my scissor. Electricity exploded like a quick burst. I wasn't really so sure if I caused the explosion, since it felt like I unleash something out from my body. Never mind that. . . Is it over yet?

The tiger man was on the ground, unconscious, and its fur spiked up because of the static electricity. Perfect time to throw down a party for my survival. I noticed electricity flowing around my body, even my veins felt the flow. Got my strength back and I feel like running to Mount Everest without rest. I can finally leave this building. Is it still a mess outside? One way to find one-

The tiger man is not dead. It got back on its feet, it didn't have any trouble standing up, it looked fine. I just made it more upset.

It said to me, 'This should be fun.'

'Don't you mean funny. Look at the mirror.'

Some confidence should help me out. Use courage to bury down the fear that keeps me restraint. But the tiger man only smiled, ready to fight for round two. And the fight would look dramatic if I'm wearing some kind of a suit rather than a patient clothes that made me feel half naked.

The tiger man have the advantage in size and strength, its claws could probably cut me apart like a sword, and its ability to roar made me a bit anxious as if I'm hearing a thunderstorm, the sound carries over to my ears and it has a strong feeling of a menacing presence. It stunned me for a few seconds, enough time like earlier to strike me. But it's different now; I have the power to run, or so I thought, that I'm being delusional, where I died in real life and I've just spending the last moment in my life to imagine what could've happened instead. Though the tiger man had made the first move to strike me, I was quick to evade its animalistic attack. That should confirms it, I have my power back and I'm not dead.

'Surprise? This is how the predator feels when it becomes the prey. And this is how a prey feels when the prey becomes the predator.'

Learning back, water is a good conductor to electricity, but the water cannot be pure or else it won't conduct. Sometime I learned in homeschool and something I saw for myself when working in David Rider's Power Plant. The human body is almost made out of impure water which is why we react when we touch something electrical, unless the voltage is under 45. Animals themselves feel the same thing. The tiger man should've been dead after receiving huge amount of voltage. It must have a very strong skin because the skin is a good insulator against electricity, it prevents us from getting killed if the voltage is not high. However the resistance in the skin can be reduced by adding water and breaking the skin apart. Basically, wreck the cat with bath.

'Time out. I'm gonna need a water break, because this fight is already making me thirsty. See ya!'

'Run as much as you like. You are only making me more satisfied of the challenge you have given me.'

The idea with he scissor and the outlet: bad idea, because the scissor is just good at throwing at the lion man. I could just put my finger to an outlet and my powers are either back or better than ever. I am surprised at the amount of electricity left in this building. Found two empty buckets in the janitor's room and have them filled by the sink. I soon find the problem how slow the water sink was flowing. So I went to look for 5 gallon water bottles in the kitchen. I now forgive luck, for now. Two unopened 5 gallon water bottles in the cafeteria. Got them opened up and readied for battle, if I l know where the tiger man is. My only guess it's nearby the spot i left it in. I was right.

The tiger man tried to attack me and at some point scratched me. The electricity was able to heal me, but I do get a feeling I'm slowing down. I noticed how light the gallons of water were. I can only carry one at a time, but the electricity is either granting me strength or healing the damages in my arms after straining them too much. The tiger man seems to be learning fast, its able to land some hits into me even though I'm fast. How is that possible? But I did got the water bottles scratched by accident which makes it easier to fill the tiger man with water. Thank you luck for giving me the advantage. The tiger man seems to be struggling, the line of electricity I made every time I run fast affects the water.

I'm actually winning. The longer the tiger man feels the pain of electricity, the more confidence I get. I could've chosen to run away, but instead I chose to stay and fight. Was I worried about the lion man hurting people or was it the feeling of victory, overcoming something I'm afraid of that made me do this? This made me feel strong and powerful, not vulnerable or pathetic. I'm actually helping people out, not messing with their lives. My heart doesn't beat because it's afraid, I feel my heart is now beating because of how alive and great I am.

'Stop! It hurts so much. . .'

Should I listen to it or not?

It continued to talk, 'Forgive me what I done!'

I don't think forgiveness can save it. I don't know how to absorb the electricity in the water. I do absorb them if I get close, but that would give the tiger man the chance to kill me. If only I have a very strong magnet.

The pain in the tiger man felt believable, as if it's actually miserable. The tiger man's voice sounded like earlier, confused, scared, regretful, and self-loathing. Could I look myself in a mirror after letting someone die and not know?

I did what it told me to do: help. Just can't live with guilt. I spent enough time being guilty for one night. I almost got Mr. Leg's son killed and I had to let other civilians die so that I could save the one's I'm saving, some of them got injured when I'm trying to save them.

The electricity went into me like I'm the living magnet. I found out I;m not at a disadvantage at all. Absorbing more electricity only makes me faster, even getting close to me is a big risk.

'Thank you. I would like to talk but we don't have time for that. I don't. My mind is mixed. I can't really tell which one is mine. Am I a tiger or a man? I do know I can't beat you or I'll die. Why not we help each other out so we can sort things out what's going on?'

'I guess we do have time to talk.'

Should I take the offer or not? I don't even know that guy. 'Here's a deal. I lock you up in an empty room with no windows so you won't hurt anyone. I'll let you know when I need you.'

'Sounds fair enough, for you.'

'Hey, I'm the winner here.'

'What's your name?'

'You can call me Nick.'

'The names Carlos. You may not believe me, but I used to be a man. Or do I used to be a tiger?'

'I think you already confirmed that. You know what, I change my mind; you help me out, and if you try to attack me, I'll give you fourth degree burn.'

That's something we can agree.'

I think I just made a friend. He may have tried to kill me earlier, turn me into his dinner, tear me apart, but I'll give a shot having someone to watch my back, as in protect it, not stare at it and imagine eating me. The world outside is a big mess, and I might need some help. Just like in the casino, taking a high risk could be a huge reward. I haven't look outside the window, but I got a feeling the night is not yet over.

Though I still wonder though: should I call the tiger man a he or an it?