Chapter 5: The Boy With Great Potential
Ian Whitlock's life was one of quiet routine. A 23-year-old school teacher in the Philippines, he found joy in shaping young minds and living a simple life with his family. But fate had other plans.
One fateful evening, as Ian walked home, a group of robbers ambushed him, and a stray bullet pierced his heart. Rushed to the hospital, his family held on to hope, but the doctor's words crushed them: Ian's time of death was 5:30 in the morning. The town's beloved teacher, known for his kindness and patience, was gone.
Two nights passed, and Ian's body lay still in the morgue. Then, without warning, a strange phenomenon occurred. A soft, ethereal glow began to emanate from his body, growing brighter until it was almost blinding. The morgue's equipment began to beep erratically as Ian's body temperature skyrocketed.
And then, in an instant, Ian's eyes snapped open. He sat up, gasping for air, as if he'd been holding his breath for far too long. His mother, overcome with emotion, rushed to his side, tears streaming down her face.
"Ian, what happened?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Ian looked around, disoriented, and then focused on his mother. "Mom?" he said, his voice weak but full of wonder. "I... I don't know. I remember being shot, and then... nothing. What happened to me?"
His mother checked his pulse, her hands shaking with joy and disbelief. "You died, Ian. Two days ago. You're... you're alive again."
Ian's gaze drifted to his chest, where the bullet wound had vanished without a scar. He flexed his fingers, feeling an unusual energy coursing through his veins.
"I don't feel any pain, Mom," he said, his voice filled with awe. "It's like... I'm new again."
As Ian's mother hugged him tightly, tears of joy streaming down her face, Ian couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change in ways he couldn't yet comprehend.