Chapter 5: Testing the Limits

The hum of the workshop was different now, almost alive. Henry stood in the center of the room, his hands resting on the workbench as he stared at the amplifier. The device was silent, inert, but Henry could still feel its lingering resonance in the back of his mind. The connection wasn’t as strong as it had been during the storm, but it was there—a faint vibration that tied him to the world beyond the walls of the workshop.

He closed his eyes and focused, letting his thoughts drift toward the lightbulb above. At first, there was nothing but the faint buzz of electricity. Then, with a subtle push of his will, the bulb flickered and brightened. Henry opened his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. It was working.

But he needed to know how far he could take it.

Mia’s voice startled him. “What are you doing?”

Henry turned to see her standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. Her expression was wary, a mix of concern and frustration. “Just… experimenting,” he said, trying to sound casual.

“You’re pushing too hard,” she said, stepping into the room. “What if something goes wrong?”

Henry hesitated, then said, “Mia, I have to understand this. If I can control systems, I can do more than just survive. I can change things—maybe even for both of us.”

Mia shook her head, her voice rising. “And what happens when they find out? You saw those drones, Henry. They’re not messing around.”

Henry exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I know it’s dangerous, but if I don’t figure this out, we’ll be stuck here forever. I can’t accept that. I won’t.”

Mia didn’t respond immediately. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet. “I just don’t want to lose you.”

Her words hit harder than he expected. Henry looked away, guilt gnawing at him. “You won’t,” he said, more to himself than to her. “I promise.”

As the day wore on, Henry took his experiments outside the confines of the workshop. The streets of District 14 were bustling, the storm’s passing leaving behind muddy puddles and a charged atmosphere. Vendors called out to passersby, children darted between the legs of scavengers, and the ever-present hum of machinery filled the air.

Henry wandered through the district, his mind on the amplifier and the faint vibration in his chip. He needed a test, something bigger than a lightbulb. His eyes landed on a nearby vending machine, its screen flickering with ads for synthetic food packs. It wasn’t much, but it would do.

He stepped closer, ignoring the suspicious looks from the vendor nearby. Closing his eyes, he reached out with his thoughts, letting the hum of the machine fill his mind. It was like stepping into a vast web of connections—data streams, power lines, circuits all intertwining. With a careful nudge, he accessed the machine’s internal systems.

The screen glitched, then flashed. Henry pushed further, navigating menus and commands with a precision that felt almost instinctive. A soft click echoed from the machine, and the compartment opened, revealing a neatly packaged food pack.

Henry pulled back, his heart pounding. He’d done it—no tools, no wires, just his mind. The exhilaration was almost overwhelming.

“Hey!” The vendor’s voice cut through his triumph. “What the hell are you doing?”

Henry froze, realizing too late how conspicuous he’d been. “Sorry, it must’ve glitched,” he said quickly, backing away.

The vendor glared at him but didn’t pursue. Henry slipped into the crowd, his thoughts racing. The experiment had worked, but it had also drawn attention—exactly what he didn’t need.

That night, back in the workshop, Henry stared at the amplifier with a mix of pride and unease. The vending machine had been a small victory, but it had also exposed the risks. If he could manipulate systems that easily, who else could be watching?

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. This time, it wasn’t Mia.

Rafe stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his expression grim. “We need to talk.”

Henry tensed. “About what?”

“About whatever it is you’re doing,” Rafe said, his tone sharp. “People are noticing things—drones going down, machines acting weird. You’re making waves, Henry, and waves get people killed.”

Henry bristled. “I’m not doing anything that’s hurting anyone.”

“Yet,” Rafe shot back. “But this isn’t just some gang you’re messing with. The people upstairs, they don’t like surprises. You think you’re safe down here because they don’t care about us? They do. And when they notice you, they’ll come down here and burn the whole district just to be sure.”

Henry’s jaw tightened. “So what? I’m supposed to sit back and do nothing?”

Rafe sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. “No, you’re supposed to be smart. You want to fight the system? Fine. But if you’re not careful, you won’t even get the chance.”

Henry didn’t reply. He wanted to believe Rafe was wrong, that he could use his powers without consequences. But the memory of the drones—and the presence he’d felt—made it hard to dismiss his warning.

As the night deepened, Henry returned to his experiments, determined to push his abilities further. This time, he connected the amplifier directly to his chip, letting its power flow through him. The connection was stronger now, the vibrations sharper and more precise.

He focused on the grid outside, letting his mind wander through the circuits and power lines. It was like navigating a vast ocean of energy, every spark and current flowing through him. He could see patterns—systems he didn’t fully understand yet but felt drawn to.

And then, he felt it again.

The presence.

It was stronger this time, more deliberate. Henry’s mind recoiled, but the presence didn’t retreat. Instead, it pushed back, filling his thoughts with a single word: “Observed.”

Henry gasped, yanking the amplifier loose and stumbling back. The room spun, his pulse racing. He knew now, without a doubt, that someone—or something—was watching him. And they weren’t going to stop.