After the confrontation, Alex and Samira walked in silence for a while, the weight of what had just happened hanging heavy between them. The rush of energy from the amulet had settled, but Alex could still feel its presence pulsing softly under his shirt, a reminder that things were far from normal now.

Finally, Samira broke the silence. “Alex, you just took on Victor like it was nothing. Yesterday, you weren’t even sure what happened, and now… this?” Her voice was filled with a mix of awe and concern. “You’ve changed.”

Alex nodded, feeling the truth of her words. “I know. I don’t understand it, Samira. It’s like... something woke up inside me when Victor knocked me out fews days back. The amulet, it’s connected to everything. I think it’s my mom’s doing.”

Samira looked down at the amulet. “You mean the one your grandma gave you? The one from your mom?”

“Yeah,” Alex said, glancing down at the small, ancient-looking charm hanging around his neck. “It’s more than just a gift. I can feel it. When Victor hit me that day, I should’ve been dead. I felt it, Samira. I was gone. Then, when my blood touched the amulet, something happened. It brought me back, and it’s been changing me ever since.”

Samira stopped walking, turning to face Alex. “Wait. You mean you actually... died?”

Alex hesitated, the memory of that moment still vivid in his mind. The darkness, the cold, and then... the warmth. The power. “I think so. But I’m alive now, and I feel... different. Stronger. And there’s more.” Alex’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I had visions, Samira. I saw things. Things about my mom. My grandma. About the powers they tried to keep hidden.”

Samira’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Alex took a deep breath, trying to explain. “My mom was part of something—a lineage. A powerful family with magical abilities. My grandma cut ties with them to protect me after my mom died, but she left this amulet behind. And now, whatever power they had, it’s in me.”

Samira stood there, processing everything. “This is... a lot. But it makes sense. The way you moved back there, the way you took Victor down. It’s like you’ve been training your whole life.”

Alex nodded slowly. “I think the amulet is giving me access to everything. Martial arts, magical abilities, even healing. It’s like all this knowledge is inside me, just waiting for me to unlock it.”

Samira was quiet for a moment, her eyes searching Alex’s face. “So, what are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know,” Alex admitted. “I need to figure out what this power means. And why my mom left it for me. But there’s something else.” He glanced around, their voice dropping lower. “Someone’s looking for the amulet. Someone dangerous.

Alex’s jaw tightened as the memory of their wrecked home flashed through his mind. “Whoever these people are, they’ve been searching for the amulet for 18 years. And now that I have it, they’re coming for me.”

Samira reached out, placing a hand on Alex’s arm. “You’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out together.”

Alex gave a small, grateful nod, feeling the warmth of Samira’s support. “Thanks, Samira. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

---

The next day at school, Victor was nowhere to be seen, but the buzz around Alex’s confrontation with him hadn’t died down. Students whispered in the hallways, sharing the latest videos and theories about Alex’s mysterious transformation.

In a secluded corner of the school parking lot, Victor, Jake, and Emily huddled together. Victor was still fuming, his ego bruised beyond repair. He’d never been embarrassed like this before, and it ate at him, the humiliation gnawing at his insides.

Jake shifted uneasily. “Maybe we should just let it go, Vic. Alex isn’t the same anymore. You saw it yourself.”

Victor glared at him. “I don’t care what Alex has become. No one humiliates me like that and gets away with it.”

Emily, who had been nervously looking around to make sure no one was listening, spoke up. “But Vic, you have to admit, something’s seriously wrong. Alex was dead, we saw it, and now they’re walking around like nothing happened. And the way they fought you... it’s not normal.”

Victor clenched his fists, his anger boiling over. “I don’t care if Alex has superpowers or whatever. I’m going to find out what’s going on, and I’m going to take them down. I’ll show this whole school who’s in charge.”

Jake hesitated. “How? You already tried fighting them, and it didn’t end well.”

Victor smirked, pulling something out of his backpack. “I’ve got a plan. And this time, I’m not going to lose.”

---

As the day went on, Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brewing. Even with Victor out of sight, there was a tension in the air, a sense that things were far from over. The amulet’s warmth pressed against his chest, a constant reminder of the power now flowing within him.

During lunch, Samira leaned in close, her voice low. “Any sign of Victor?”

Alex shook their head. “No, but I can feel it. He’s planning something. He’s not going to let this go.”

Samira frowned. “What are we going to do? You can’t keep fighting him forever.”

Alex sighed. “I don’t know, Samira. But I have to be ready. Whatever’s coming, it’s bigger than just Victor. I need to understand this power, and fast.”

Samira nodded, determination in her eyes. “We’ll figure it out, Alex. Together.”

Alex glanced down at the amulet, feeling its power pulsing in time with their heartbeat. He knew the battles ahead would be more dangerous than anything they’d faced before, but with Samira by his side and the legacy of his mother’s power now within him, Alex felt ready to face whatever came next.

But deep down, he knew that Victor wasn’t the only threat looming on the horizon. Dark forces were gathering, and soon, Alex would have to confront the true enemy hunting them for the amulet—and the deadly secrets it held.