Chapter 1. The Flash That Unmade Us

He sat on the edge of his star-seat, gazing down at Earth — at its people — and thought to himself:

Why am I so invested in these creatures? In how they speak, how they love, how they hurt?

Their emotions were intoxicating — messy, unfiltered, raw. He fed on them with fascination, leaning forward like a man watching his favorite drama — but suddenly the fascination soured into frustration.

Humans once were authentic. True. Unwavering.
But now?
They were muted versions of themselves — choked by customs, expectations, and fear.

He thought of the first humans — in the garden, before everything fractured.
When did they fall so far from the original form? When did they forget how to simply be?

He wasn’t a god.
Not a deity.
Not a judge.
Just a being — ancient and curious — baffled by how far they’d drifted.

He had observed humans for millennia — as entertainment, as mystery, as obsession.
And at the height of his frustration, something in him snapped.

Yes… that’s it. They’ve forgotten how to be authentic. I’ll remind them.
They might not understand at first — but they would feel it.

I will restore truth to their essence. I will peel away the masks. I will meet them soul to soul.

His loneliness wasn’t from isolation — it was from separation.
He could see them — but he could not reach them.

Until now.

He snapped his fingers.

And the world ignited.

It wasn’t a flash — it was an eruption.
Blinding. Endless. All-consuming.
People felt something inside them split — like their minds were falling into a bottomless void.

When it finally ended…
the world was silent.

And then —
identity shattered.

You’ve heard people say we are all connected, right?
One collective consciousness, one web of minds?

Well — the being didn’t just tap into it.
He opened the floodgates.

For the first time in their lives…
people had unfiltered access to their true selves.
No barrier. No persona.
Masks stripped away at the level of essence.

People couldn’t pretend anymore.

Those who had no idea who they were — suddenly saw themselves clearly.

Now you might be thinking — so what?
Well… the being leaned in, eager, almost trembling with anticipation.

At last… the garden reborn. Humanity restored to authenticity. Harmony. Kinship.

But that isn’t what happened.

At first, nothing seemed different. People blinked, dazed…
and then —

It began.

A girl with a wildfire temper erupted into literal flames.
A boy obsessed with freedom tore the sky open with storms.
Another, worshipping strength, lifted cars like toys.

Identity had taken form.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.

And the world?
It fell into chaos.

The being stared in shock — realization hitting him like a punch:

They are not ready.
They do not know themselves.
They cannot wield their essence.

Instead of harmony —
He had birthed anarchy.

So… how do I know all of this?
And what happened to me when the Flash hit?

It’s simple.

I had no power to begin with.
I was nothing.
I was undefined.
I was unmade.

And in that emptiness…
I discovered something.
Not a power —
a permission.

I found myself —
and I accepted me.

This is the story of what happens when the world tries to cage you with labels — and you refuse to shrink.

My name is Astra, by the way.