Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 86

At the front was John, a towering man with a presence as intimidating as his sharp, calculating gaze. Behind him were Chloe and Amber, their expressions twisted with barely contained anger.

"Karl," John said, his deep voice resonating like thunder, "it’s about time we had a little chat." freёweɓnovel.com

Karl instinctively stepped forward, his stance defensive. Valencia and Layla moved to flank him, their bodies tense, ready to spring into action if needed. "What do you want?" Karl demanded, his tone dripping with hostility.

Chloe stepped forward, her tone cutting like a blade. "Don’t act like the victim here, Karl. You might be playing hero now, but we know the truth about you."

Amber, her expression filled with venomous hatred, jabbed a finger toward Karl. "After mass-murdering thousands with your ’gift,’ what’s next? Are you planning to finish them off with your undead?"

Karl’s face twisted with confusion and anger. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Don’t lie!" John barked, his voice booming. "Thousands of innocent lives lost—people driven to madness, jumping to their deaths, causing chaos and destruction. And it all leads back to you. You and that damn power of yours!"

Karl’s breath hitched as John’s words cut deep. He wanted to deny it, to fight back, but the memories came rushing in—memories of his careless actions when he first discovered his abilities.

"I didn’t mean for any of that to happen!" he finally burst out, his voice cracking. "I was reckless. I didn’t understand what I was doing. But I never wanted anyone to die!"

"And yet, they did," John shot back, his eyes cold and merciless. "You think you can just walk away from the blood on your hands? You owe this world, Karl. It’s time to start paying your debt."

Amber stepped forward, her voice icy. "If you really regret what you’ve done, use your power to fix it. Hack their minds. Erase the evil. Give people a chance to live in peace."

Karl shook his head, his frustration bubbling over. "You don’t get it. My power doesn’t work like that. The effects don’t last. Their sanity comes back, and I can’t—won’t—use it to control people over and over again."

Chloe let out a bitter laugh. "So you’ll just sit back and do nothing? Thousands are dead because of you, Karl. Their blood is on your hands."

John stepped closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over Karl. "You don’t get to walk away from this. You either use your power to make the world a better place, or we make sure you can never use it again."

Valencia stepped in, her voice sharp and cutting like a blade. "Enough. You’re not heroes. You’re just looking for someone to blame. If you think bullying Karl into submission is the answer, you’re just as delusional as the people you claim to despise."

John turned his icy gaze on Valencia, clearly unimpressed. "Stay out of this," he warned. "You have no idea what’s at stake here."

"Oh, I have plenty of ideas," Valencia shot back, her tone dripping with venom. "And I know people like you. You think you’re doing the world a favor, but really, you’re just fueling your own self-righteous crusade. You’re no better than the chaos you’re trying to stop."

Layla stepped forward, her hand raised in a calming gesture. "Let’s not escalate this," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We all want the same thing—a better world. But forcing Karl to abuse his power won’t solve anything. It’ll just create a new cycle of suffering."

Chloe sneered, her lip curling in disdain. "Oh, please. Don’t act like you’re on the moral high ground. Protecting him after everything he’s done? That makes you complicit."

Layla’s eyes hardened. "Protecting him doesn’t mean ignoring his mistakes. It means giving him the chance to make things right in a way that doesn’t destroy him—or anyone else."

Amber’s expression twisted with anger. "You think he deserves a chance? After the lives he’s ruined? The families he’s torn apart? He’s a monster, and monsters don’t get second chances."

Karl, who had been silent, finally found his voice. "I’m not a monster," he said, his voice low but steady. "I’m just someone who made mistakes—horrible mistakes that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. But I’m not going to let you or anyone else turn me into a tool for your twisted version of justice."

John’s face darkened, his towering presence even more menacing. "Then you’re just as selfish as I thought. You have the power to change everything, and you refuse to use it because you’re afraid. You don’t deserve that power."

Karl clenched his fists, his body trembling with a mix of anger and guilt. "It’s not about fear," he said through gritted teeth. "It’s about responsibility. You think using my power to control people makes me a hero? It doesn’t. It makes me a tyrant."

"Tyranny is better than chaos!" John snapped, stepping closer. "At least under control, people have a chance to survive. But if you keep hiding, keep refusing to act, more people will die. Their blood will be on your hands—again."

Valencia stepped between them, her eyes blazing with fury. "Back off," she snarled. "You don’t get to judge him. Not when you’re willing to sacrifice everything for your own agenda. You’re not heroes. You’re just another group of manipulators looking for a pawn."

John glared at her, his jaw tight. For a moment, it seemed like he might lash out, but instead, he stepped back, his expression cold and calculating. "You’re making a mistake," he said quietly. "All of you. But when the world falls apart again, and the blood starts spilling, remember this moment. Remember that you chose to protect the man responsible."

He turned on his heel, motioning for Chloe and Amber to follow. Chloe threw one last venomous look at Karl before turning away, while Amber hesitated, her face a storm of conflicting emotions. But ultimately, she followed John into the shadows, leaving the group alone in the dim light of the parking lot.

The silence that followed was deafening. Karl let out a shaky breath, his shoulders slumping as the weight of the confrontation settled over him. Layla placed a gentle hand on his arm, her expression filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

"No," Karl admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay."

Valencia sighed, crossing her arms. "Forget them. They don’t matter. What matters is what we do next. And right now, we need to figure out what Glowsphere wants from you."

Karl nodded, his jaw tight. "They know about my family. That’s not something I can ignore."

"Then we plan," Valencia said firmly. "If we’re going to walk into their trap, we’re doing it on our terms."

Layla gave a small smile, her hand still resting on Karl’s arm. "We’ll get through this, Karl. Together."

For the first time that night, Karl felt a flicker of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep him moving forward. As the three of them retreated into the campervan, the weight of the unknown loomed large, but so did their determination to face it—whatever it might bring.