Nathaniel Darkthorne
Before time skip
After Erek’s self-destruct sequence began, Nate felt relief and apprehension beginning to wash over him. His mind understood the weight of the situation, but his body was narrowly settling in, and his adrenaline-fueled high wore off. He knew he had to act quickly, so he departed from the group and headed to the nearest bathroom, his movements shaky and confused.
The bathroom door creaked as Nate pushed it open, echoing in the empty exhibit. The fluorescent lights constantly flickered overhead, casting an eerie glow on the worn-out titles. The air was heavy with the scent of disinfectant, and for Nate, his senses were still operating at maximum level. His heart pounded in his chest like a drum, everything becoming too overwhelming for him to handle.
Once inside the bathroom, Nate’s hand trembled as he gripped the edges of the sink. The events of the day frightened him, and the confidence he felt from gaining powers had left him, leaving behind nothing but questions. Did I make the right choice? He was both terrified and shocked at his decisions.
Nate leaned over the sink, his lanky body reflecting in the mirror, but the face staring back at him was almost unrecognizable. Instead of the usual confident Nate, there was a face whose breaths came out in short, ragged gasps. A face that was wrecked with sweat and tears. The adrenaline that had coursed through his veins was now completely gone, leaving him weak and vulnerable. His mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions - fear, doubt, more doubt, and determination all mingled together like a chaotic dance.
The sound of water dripping from the faucet seemed amplified, each droplet echoing in Nate’s ears like a metronome, marking the passing seconds. He couldn’t help but stare at his ghostly and pale condition, his hair looking more like a mess than it did this morning…
He couldn’t hold it - a sudden wave of nausea and pain swept over Nate, and he doubled over the sink retching. The acidic taste of reality filled his mouth, and he closed his eyes tightly, wanting the sensation to be done with already. His body convulsed with each heave, and he clutched the sides of the sink, his knuckles turning completely white. The bathroom seemed to swirl like a vortex with emotions and sensations. Nate’s heart seemed to pound even harder in his ears, drowning out the sound of his vomiting. His breaths came in shallow gasps, and the floor beneath him seemed to disappear.
As he buckled his legs, the waves of nausea subsided, still kneeling on the floor, Nate wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He felt weak and drained, but a sense of clarity began to emerge from the fog. He didn’t know if this was the right choice, but he had to be stronger, and he had to do whatever he could to survive.
Taking a deep breath, Nate stood up, splashing cold water on his face, the refreshing sensation soothing his flushed cheeks. He looked at his reflection one last time, the boy in the mirror didn’t look afraid; instead, he stood even taller. The journey had just begun, and Nate needed to be at one hundred percent to face the challenges ahead.
“Nate… Are you okay?” He heard someone ask outside the bathroom, whoever it was Nate wasn’t sure. “Better than most,” Nate replied and truly meant it.
Nate noticed the collective looks of uneasiness between the group. Even after everything that just happened, Nathaniel was at a loss for words, so as the awkward silence carried on, Carmen spoke.
Ease proceeded to flow through Nate’s body. He felt relaxed listening to Carmen’s words, she was the last to touch the device but the first to speak when it mattered. So he paid attention to her instinctively, only cutting in with a suggestion.
“It’s too dangerous to morph out here.” Nathaniel interrupted Carmen. “We can decide who morphs first once we are someplace private. You heard what Erek said."
“I know a shed in the woods behind the school we can go to. It will give us some cover until we get something better since we are probably all itching to try this thing out.” Nathaniel continued, leading the group through some dense woods behind the school.
The tall trees loomed overhead, their branches intertwining like ancient sentinels guarding a long-forgotten secret. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. It was as if nature itself was cloaking the path in secrecy, shielding them from prying eyes.
As they ventured deeper into the woods, the air grew cooler, and the sounds of civilization faded, replaced with the sounds of different animals. Nate’s heart raced with each step, a mix of fear and rejection filling his chest. It was risky, letting people in on his hideout, one that he did a lot of convincing to share with the janitor.
Finally, they arrived at the shed. It stood there, unassuming and weathered, nestled amidst the foliage. The wooden planks were aged but taken care of, the new paint clearly rushed, but the structure looked surprisingly sturdy. Nate turned the rusty doorknob, and the door creaked open with a protesting groan.
He stepped inside, and a bright light flickered to life, casting an eerie glow across the space. Nate had spent numerous hours cleaning and organizing the shed, turning it into his makeshift headquarters. The walls were adorned with maps, posters of notorious criminals, and information on major companies. The tables leaning on the wall had tons of weird items and objects, with a fish tank, and a resting spot for a cat. Old computers also lined a wooden table, their screens displaying a trove of more research Nate had compiled. A few files on companies, new articles, and suspicious incidents were all laid out, forming a web of interconnected information.
“There are tons of animals outside, a few fish in the tank, and the cat that comes and goes.” Nate took in the sights and stares from those around him. “So who wants to go first?”
@Animorphs - add whatever you want to the hideout this is just the base. There’s a few rooms in the shed and a bathroom (: