Riley was hunched over her workbench, the familiar hum of machinery surrounding her as she focused on the latest gadget. Jace sat nearby, his body aching from the day’s work, but his mind was elsewhere. The days were becoming routine, and while he could see the progress he was making—both physically and mentally—he knew that to make any real change, he needed something more.

  Suddenly, the soft crackle of a news broadcast filled the room, catching both of their attention.

  “Breaking news in the world of powered individuals. The Hero Program is recruiting once again, aiming to bolster the ranks of those with high-tier abilities to better protect society’s most vulnerable. With a growing divide between the powered and powerless populations, it’s clear that the stakes have never been higher.”

  Jace’s eyes flicked to the screen, where a shining logo of the Hero Program flashed before the news anchor’s face.

  “After recent incidents in the slums and the rise of rogue powered individuals, the government has made it clear that they are looking to establish new alliances with those who can be trusted to uphold the law. The Hero Program promises power, prestige, and the chance to fight for justice. But with it comes the weight of responsibility. Are you ready to take that step?”

  Jace’s heart raced. The Hero Program. It was everything he’d wanted—an opportunity to level the playing field, to gain the strength to protect the people he cared about.

  Riley didn’t look up from her work, but her voice was steady. “You thinking of joining?”

  Jace shrugged, though his eyes never left the screen. “Maybe. Seems like the kind of place where people like me can prove they’re worth something. I need to get stronger… if I’m gonna make it out of here alive.”

  Riley paused, eyes flicking up at him before returning to her task. “You know it’s not all glory and fame. They’re looking for people who are willing to play by their rules. If you join the Hero Program, you’ll be their pawn. Their propaganda machine. But, if that’s what you want, then go ahead. Just be sure you don’t forget who you are once they start feeding you all that idealistic bullshit.”

  Jace nodded slowly, absorbing her words. He wasn’t blind to the fact that the Hero Program might not be as pure as it seemed. But the thought of being stronger.

  Riley added with a smirk, “Besides, you’ll probably get your ass kicked for the first few months. But who knows? Maybe they’ll give you a nice shiny badge to wear when you make it to the top.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Jace replied dryly.

  But Riley’s expression softened for a moment. “Just don’t let them break you. We both know what the world’s like for people like us.”

  Jace’s lips twisted into a half-smile. “I’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Later.

  Victor stood in the dim light of his hideout, a bottle of alcohol in hand. He was deep in thought, his fingers drumming against the glass as he stared out at the darkened city skyline. Jace had been doing well under his command, but Victor could see the fire in the young man’s eyes—the same drive that had made him useful. And he knew that if Jace was going to continue to survive, he would need more than just Victor’s protection.

  The news broadcast echoed in the background, and Victor grinned to himself.

  “So, the Hero Program, huh?” he muttered, as if to himself.

  Jace stepped into the room, walking over with a silent nod. “Thinking about the same thing?”

  Victor took a long swig from the bottle, eyes narrowing. “I don’t care what you do, kid. You wanna join their little government-sanctioned circus? Fine. But don’t come crying to me when you realize it’s just another chain.”

  Jace hesitated before responding, “I’m not joining for their glory. I just need to be strong enough to not get caught up in the next mess.”

  Victor’s lips curled into a small smile. “Stronger, huh? Well, just remember—strength isn’t just about power. It’s about knowing when to use it and when to hold back. In this world, the strong don’t always win. Sometimes, the ones who play the game best do.”

  Jace gave him a look, one of silent understanding. “I know.”

  Victor set the bottle down, locking eyes with him. “Then do what you need to. But don’t forget what side you’re on. Once you’re in, there’s no turning back.”

  Later that night, Jace sat on the roof of their makeshift apartment, staring out at the stars above the slums. He felt the weight of the decision he had to make—sign up for the Hero Program and play by their rules, or continue carving out his own path with Victor’s gang. But neither option felt like the answer. Both paths came with compromises.

  In the distance, the faint glow of city lights illuminated the skyline, a symbol of the power, control, and hope that came with the Hero Program.

  Jace sat there on the roof, staring out at the lights of the city. They flickered, one by one, like stars caught in the concrete sky. The slums were a different world—distant and detached from the gleaming towers that symbolized power, wealth, and control. But he couldn’t help but feel drawn to that light, the promise of something more. The Hero Program… the idea of it was simple, but it felt like the one shot he had at being more than what he was—something better, something stronger.

  “How do I even start?” he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. He didn’t have powers like the others, no flashy abilities that made him stand out. He wasn’t a hero, not yet. Maybe not ever.

  He thought about the broadcasts he’d heard—the promises of the Hero Program, the shiny badges, the prestige. But there was always that nagging doubt. How would a powerless person like him fit in? He had no unique gift, no way to stand out among the others who had abilities that could crush buildings or freeze time.

  “Maybe I’m just dreaming,” he whispered to himself. “Maybe it’s not even possible for someone like me.”

  The fear of failure lingered in the back of his mind. What if the program saw him as a joke? What if he couldn’t measure up, couldn’t make the cut? He’d seen what happened to people who didn’t belong—dropped into the gutter, discarded without a second thought. That was always the risk when you didn’t have power. The world didn’t care about the powerless.

  But then, there was the hope. The chance to be strong. To prove everyone wrong.

  Jace shook his head, his thoughts spiraling as he tried to focus. He didn’t know what it took to become strong in their world. He didn’t know what it meant to play the game. But what else was there? This might be his only shot to escape the life he’d been handed.

  “I’ll do it,” he said, more to himself than anyone else. “I’ll join. It’s my only chance.”

  Jace leaned back against the wall, staring out at the skyline, his mind still reeling from the uncertainty. He didn’t see the divide between the powered and the powerless, the system that kept those without power underfoot. He only saw the promise of strength—the one thing that had always eluded him.

  For now, that was enough.