Breaking the Code - Written by: Alexander Sharp
As I look over, I can see a long way down. My nerves twist, morphing the inside of my stomach into a whirlpool of anxiety. Either I was going to fall to my death, or a miracle would happen. For the name of science, but with the fear of god, I jumped. The air tore past me, a roar in my ears. My heart pounded like a drum, each beat louder than the last.
Tears streamed from my eyes, whipped away by the wind as gravity pulled me faster and faster. For a moment, the world seemed to freeze, the city lights below flickering like distant stars. Then, the ground rushed up to meet me. Cortex stood in front of the tallest building in town, his breath visible in the cool night air. The fluorescent lights of the sign above the entrance buzzed faintly.
Security Officer Richards, a stout man with a gruff demeanor, eyed him suspiciously as he approached."Hey, can I go up to the roof?" Cortex asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Richards snorted. "Rooftop access is restricted, kid. What's up there that's so important?"
Cortex’s eyes gleamed with a mix of determination and something darker. "Just need to see the view," he said with a sly smile.Richards wasn’t convinced. "Look, pal, rules are rules. You want a view, try the observation deck at City Tower. Now scram."But Cortex wasn’t about to give up.
As Richards turned his back to adjust his belt, Cortex bolted through the doors, heading straight for the stairwell."Hey! Stop right there!" Richards barked, his voice echoing in the marble lobby. He gave chase, but his heavy-set frame struggled with the sudden burst of activity.
"Kid, you better not be thinking of doing something stupid!" The stairwell echoed with Cortex’s footfalls as he ascended, two steps at a time. He clutched a small vial in his hand, its contents glowing faintly. Adrenaline coursed through him as he reached the final flight of stairs, pushing open the heavy door to the rooftop. The cool night air hit his face like a slap, but he welcomed it.
Richards was close behind, wheezing as he reached the roof. "Kid, don’t do it! Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not worth it!"Cortex turned, his face lit by the city lights below and the faint luminescence of the vial. "You don’t understand," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "This isn’t just about me. It’s about proving everyone wrong.
All those people who laughed at me, who doubted me, who said I wasn’t smart enough... they’ll see. They’ll all see."He uncorked the vial and downed the glowing liquid in one gulp. Richards lunged forward, but Cortex was faster. He sprinted to the edge of the roof and looked down, the dizzying height making his heart pound even faster.
"Don’t!" Richards shouted, panic in his voice. "Whatever you’re trying to prove, it’s not worth your life!"Cortex smiled through tears, a manic yet triumphant grin. "For science," he whispered, and then he jumped.
The rush of air was deafening. The world blurred as he plummeted, gravity pulling him faster and faster. Tears streamed from his eyes, whipped away by the wind. For a brief, horrifying moment, he thought he had made a terrible mistake. Then he hit the ground.Pain exploded through his body.
He felt everything—the snapping of bones, the crushing weight of impact. Darkness began to creep in at the edges of his vision. But then, something miraculous happened. His heart jolted back to life, sending a surge of energy through him. His broken bones snapped back into place, his torn muscles knitted together.
He gasped, sitting up as if waking from a nightmare.Richards reached the edge of the roof, staring down in disbelief. "What the hell..."Cortex stood, brushing himself off. He looked up at the astonished faces of onlookers gathering nearby. For the first time in his life, he felt truly alive. He had done it. He had proved them all wrong.