The town radiated a gentle warmth, its people brimming with a simple, unaffected kindness. As Su Zhan walked along the sunlit streets, he found himself greeted by friendly nods and open smiles. It was the sort of place where neighbors knew one another, where children played on front lawns, and the air was filled with the aroma of home-cooked meals. For a moment, Su Zhan almost wished he could linger, to soak in the peace that seemed to permeate every corner of this quiet community.
But he was not here for peace. He was searching for Molly, a young girl whose ability made her more valuable and more vulnerable than anyone around her could possibly imagine. With only a few careful questions, Su Zhan found her home, a modest house on a tree-lined street. From the outside, there was no hint of the danger that hovered just beyond the horizon. The house was alive with laughter and the clatter of dishes as Molly's family prepared dinner, their voices blending in the easy harmony of a family at ease.
Yet Su Zhan knew the truth. Molly's father, an unremarkable man by all appearances, carried a secret: the power to freeze. It was not the earth-shattering, reality-defying ice conjured by the likes of the X-Men's Iceman, but it was still enough to draw the attention of predators. Sylar, a killer who specialized in hunting people with abilities, was already closing in. And if Sylar ever discovered Molly's gift—the ability to locate anyone, anywhere, like a living GPS—he would not hesitate to destroy the entire family.
Su Zhan's main goal was Molly. Her power, when paired with teleportation or spatial manipulation, could make anyone unstoppable. No one could hide from her. But tonight, as he watched the family gathered around their table, he felt a pang of regret for what he was about to do. They looked so ordinary, so happy, utterly unaware of the storm about to break over their heads.
He approached the front door and knocked gently, careful not to startle anyone. After a moment, footsteps echoed in the hallway, and the door opened to reveal a woman with kind eyes and a cautious smile.
"Can I help you?" she asked, her voice polite but wary.
Su Zhan returned her smile. "I'm looking for your husband. May I speak with him?"
She nodded and called for her husband. A moment later, a man who looked every bit the average neighbor appeared, wiping his hands on a dishtowel.
"You're looking for me? I don't believe we've met," he said, his tone friendly but guarded.
"Could we talk privately?" Su Zhan asked, his voice gentle.
Molly's father hesitated, glancing at his wife, then nodded. He stepped outside, closing the door behind him.
"My name is Su Zhan," he began quietly. "I'm here for a simple reason—to save you or to save your family."
Molly's father blinked in confusion, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. "If this is some kind of joke, you've got my attention."
Su Zhan's expression remained serious. "Your ability to freeze things has drawn the attention of a man named Sylar. He's a murderer, notorious for targeting people like you. If he finds out about your daughter's ability, he will not stop until he has destroyed you all. You have two choices: uproot your family and live in hiding, always afraid, or let me take your ability. Without it, Sylar will have no reason to pursue you, and you can live in peace."
The man's face drained of color. He looked down, his hands trembling. "You can… take my ability?"
Su Zhan nodded. "I can remove it without hurting you. But if you refuse, I will have to act. I'm not here out of pure kindness. I need your ability for my own reasons. But if I can save your family in the process, that's a good thing, isn't it?"
The air around them grew noticeably colder. Frost began to form on the grass at their feet, a silent warning from Molly's father.
"Trust me," Su Zhan said softly, "if I wanted to hurt you, it would already be over."
A long silence stretched between them. Finally, Molly's father sighed, defeat in his eyes. "If you can really do it without hurting us… then do it."
They moved upstairs to a quiet room. Molly's father sat on the edge of the bed, his posture tense. Su Zhan placed a hand on his shoulder, concentrating. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a chill swept through the room, and a thin layer of ice formed on Su Zhan's arm before melting away.
Molly's father flexed his hands, searching for the familiar spark of power—and found nothing. He looked up at Su Zhan in awe. "You really did it. It's… incredible."
Su Zhan smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "You should be grateful. If Sylar had found you first, you might not have had the chance to say goodbye."
The ability to freeze was impressive on the surface but limited in scope. It could not create ice from nothing, and its potential was constrained. For Su Zhan, it was simply another step toward his goal.
"You can bring your daughter now," he said gently.
Molly's father hurried downstairs and returned with Molly in his arms. She was a small, delicate girl, her eyes wide with innocence and confusion. Su Zhan knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.
"Hello, Molly," he said softly. "I'm going to help you, okay?"
She nodded, trusting him without hesitation.
Su Zhan reached out, touching her gently. The resistance he felt was stronger than her father's but still less than Claire's. Perhaps her youth, or the fact that her power was not fully awakened, made the process easier. After about ten minutes, he felt the ability settle within him—a subtle but unmistakable sense of connection to every living being on the planet.
"You're safe now, Molly," he said, offering her a warm smile. "You can go back to dinner."
He turned to her father. "Everything went well. I won't keep you any longer. Have a good night."
Molly's father looked at him, uncertainty lingering in his eyes. "Are you sure there won't be any problems?"
"Don't worry," Su Zhan replied, patting his shoulder. "You're safe now."
He left the house, stepping out into the cool night air. The satisfaction of having acquired three abilities in quick succession filled him with quiet pride. He made his way to a nearby newsstand, purchasing a map for the next stage of his journey.
As he glanced over his shoulder, he noticed a man in a cap buying a hot dog at a nearby stall. The man's gaze lingered on Su Zhan, watching him with a calculating intensity.
Su Zhan smiled to himself, his confidence unshaken. "You're watching me? You'll find it's not so easy to take what I have."
With a soft chuckle, he turned back to the street, ready for whatever challenges the night—and the world—might bring.