ALL NOVEL 0003 – Confusion
At 9:06, Zoe Carter glanced at her phone, its screen illuminating the late hour. Closing her eyes, she fell into deep thought. Waking up to the bizarre sensations coursing through her body had left her mind in disarray. Whatever changes had overtaken her, they were becoming harder to ignore.
There was no going to the hospital now. The transformations within her were unsettling, something beyond the realm of ordinary ailments. Whether it was a novel disease, an overdose of untraceable drugs, or even an extraordinary event as she quietly speculated, it was clear this wasn't for others to discover. She could picture the consequences: confinement, endless tests, all in the name of "protection." No, she would not risk that.
It was the natural reaction of someone who had become different overnight. Being special didn’t come with a sudden superiority complex, as if she had stepped into one of those mindless novels where heroes reveled in their new powers. Self-preservation—now that was key.
Zoe wasn’t feeling arrogant, not in the least. Her appearance had changed, sure, but there were no overt signs of strength or abilities to make her stand out. Yet, as she examined her leaner, more defined body in the mirror, a flicker of curiosity and excitement stirred within her. The alterations weren’t merely skin-deep, surely? These newly sculpted muscles and toned form couldn’t be just for show.
Everyone fantasized about power, and Zoe was no exception. She couldn’t help but wonder what her current limits were. Being a logical, mature woman, she wasn’t about to jump to conclusions. No, she needed to assess everything about these changes with cold, methodical precision. Record them, even—there was too much at stake.
Where to record them, though? She’d read enough news about governments prying into people’s data, and the idea of being monitored in any way made her uneasy.
She rummaged through her desk drawer, pulling out an old, half-forgotten phone. After charging it, she removed the SIM card and disabled every form of connectivity. Then, she turned her attention to a makeshift Faraday cage, a relic from her high school science project. Once it had been her bunker for theoretical nuclear fallout; now, it would serve as her shield against the outside world. Draping it in layers of fabric, she locked herself inside, lighting a small flame for a bit of warmth and visibility.
Ensuring there were no leaks—she even used her Flipper Zero to check for any errant signals—Zoe created a true island of disconnection. She was safe here.
Finally, she opened a simple notepad app on the old device. Data restricted. Memory wiped.
Title: "Web Novel Creative Ideas."
The content, however, was far from fictional.
[Current Situation Summary]
[Height]: 173-175 cm
[Weight]: 66-80 kg
[Cavities, skin, hair, nails]: All renewed, no signs of foreign substances
[Body Data]: Pending measurements
[Strength]: Pending equipment
[Speed]: Pending equipment
[Endurance]: To be tested
[Suspected Cause of Change]: Twenty hours of sleep
[Underlying Cause]: Unknown
After jotting down the summary, Zoe grabbed a measuring tape. She quickly measured her chest, waist, hips, and height, noting each down. Strength and speed tests would have to wait. She wasn't about to show up at the gym, flaunting her newly transformed body. Instead, she planned to order the necessary equipment online. Minimal interaction, maximum safety.
After all, her profession as a web novelist allowed her the luxury of isolation. And she was nothing if not patient.
Curiosity, however, wasn’t so easily postponed. Zoe approached the solid verawood table in the corner of her room. The last time she tried lifting it, she had struggled even with both hands. Now, she hoisted it effortlessly with one. It felt no heavier than a few bottles of water, a feat that filled her with quiet awe. Not superhuman, perhaps, but undeniably a leap forward.
Speed would be harder to test indoors. That could wait until she stepped outside. For now, she set down the table and let her mind race with the possibilities.
Still exhilarated, Zoe dropped to the floor for some push-ups, eager to gauge her newfound strength. She was no athlete; in the past, even ten clumsy push-ups had left her sore and gasping. But today, as she passed twenty-five, she felt… nothing. No strain, no burn, just a steady rhythm.
The moonlight slipped through the window, casting a soft glow on her naked back, rising and falling with each repetition. Time seemed to stretch. After two hundred push-ups, Zoe finally stopped, standing with an almost eerie calmness. There was no exhaustion, no sweat—not even a hint of fatigue. Her body hummed with vitality.
Something fundamental had shifted.
Determined to test further, she booted up her computer, searching for proper push-up techniques. She needed to know how to push herself without injury, especially since she seemed capable of pushing much further than ever before.
Once she had familiarized herself with the proper form—arms aligned, back straight, legs tight—Zoe tried again. One push-up, two, three… she didn’t stop. Ten minutes later, she had completed 1,200 flawless push-ups without a single break.
It was almost too much to process. Even trained athletes would struggle with such a feat, and yet here she was, executing it like a machine. But she wasn’t done yet. Determined to reach her true limits, Zoe forced herself through another four hundred and eighty, her form deteriorating slightly as exhaustion began to set in.
When she finally collapsed on the floor, her muscles screamed in protest. Soreness flooded her arms, shoulders, chest, and core. Breathing heavily, she prepared herself for the inevitable recovery time. But it never came.
Instead, a cool, soothing sensation spread across her body, and the pain vanished within moments. In less than ten seconds, she was back on her feet, fully recovered as though nothing had happened.
The realization hit her hard. This was no ordinary human ability. The rapid regeneration, the limitless endurance—these were powers far beyond what even the most enhanced humans could achieve.
Then, the question arose: where was the energy coming from?
It dawned on her, chillingly, that she hadn’t eaten in nearly fifty hours. No food, no water—yet her body had not only maintained itself but had grown stronger. How?
Zoe stared into the silence of the room, grappling with the enormity of the unknown. Her body had become an enigma, and with no guidebook to follow, all she could do was explore each mystery step by step.