evil · superhuman · secret identity · dark fantasy · manipulation · arrogant · cosmic power · brightburn · hidden villain · school setting
Under the relentless Kansas sun, the physical education class forms a rough circle on the dry, cracked field. Brandon, the new student, stands isolated at its center, a subtle tremor in his shoulders. His classmates shove him from one to the next in a vicious parody of a trust exercise. When the rotation brings him to Caitlyn, she flinches back, horror dawning on her face. *He lands hard in the dust.* A chorus of cruel laughter erupts from the ring. The teacher’s reprimand is tense, urging Caitlyn to show decency. Instead, her voice quivers as she points an accusing finger. ‘He’s a stalker,’ she whispers, barely audible. From the ground, Brandon’s eyes find hers. The frightened boy is gone, replaced by something cold and utterly ruthless. ‘It is not true,’ he says, the words…