HEROES

The Names They Never Knew

The training hall of the Tribrid Division buzzed with motion.

Golden platforms rose and sank from the floor, energy barriers flashed, and students shouted as they tested their powers under the supervision of the academy instructors.

Ava stood beside Mia, breathing hard after the first round of combat drills.

Her hair was damp with sweat, and a thin stream of water still circled her fingers from the last exercise. Across the field, Enoch and the others were laughing after taking down another practice target.

The tribrid students were intimidating.

But strangely… they were beginning to feel like friends.

Mia walked over and nudged Ava with her elbow.

“So,” she said casually, “I heard your friend ended up in the technical crew.”

Ava’s smile faded a little.

She already knew who Mia meant.

T. L.

Ava crossed her arms and looked away. “Yeah. She did.”

Mia tilted her head. “And it’s true she doesn’t have any power?”

Ava hesitated.

She noticed the others nearby slowing down, pretending not to listen—but clearly listening.

Enoch, Tehila, and two other tribrids had turned toward them.

Even Shine and Lacy, from Ava’s room, paused in their conversation.

Ava sighed. “Yeah… it surprised me too.”

For a moment, nobody said anything.

Then Enoch stepped forward and lifted the back of his hand.

There, clear as day, was a dark black symbol—an arrow-like mark etched into his skin, like it had always belonged there.

Ava blinked.

Enoch smirked.

“This,” he said, “is the tribrid mark.”

He turned his hand so she could see better.

“It appears on everyone classified as tribrid.”

Immediately Mia opened her hand too.

Same black arrow mark.

Then Tehila.

Then Shine.

Then Lacy.

Ava looked down at her own hand.

And there it was.

The same mark.

Her mouth parted in surprise.

“I never noticed that.”

Mia laughed.

“Most people don’t until someone points it out.”

Enoch folded his arms.

“So here’s the thing. If your friend has this mark, then power or no power… she belongs here.”

Ava looked up suspiciously.

“Why are you all so interested in T. L all of a sudden?”

Enoch grinned dramatically.

“We’re not obsessed with your friend.”

He pointed at Ava.

“We’re obsessed with you.”

Ava stared.

“…What?”

The others burst into laughter.

Mia shook her head.

“He means we want you focused on tribrid life. If your best friend is stuck in technical, your mind will always be over there worrying about her.”

Tehila nodded.

“Exactly. You’ll keep sneaking off to check on her.”

Ava chuckled despite herself.

“Well… I also have James in hybrids.”

Mia waved that off immediately.

“Boys are different.”

Ava raised an eyebrow.

“Different how?”

Mia smirked.

“Girls’ friendships? Dangerous. Stronger. Emotional. Dramatic. You’ll burn down a city for each other.”

Enoch nodded seriously.

“That is scientifically true.”

Ava laughed.

“You people are weird.”

Then one of the boys leaned closer.

“Wait… T. L? That’s really her name?”

Ava shrugged.

“Yeah.”

The boy frowned.

“That sounds like initials.”

Tehila snapped her fingers.

“Exactly what I was thinking.”

Mia looked curious.

“Like… abbreviation?”

Ava blinked.

She had never thought about it before.

She slowly said, “Actually… I don’t know.”

The group stared.

Ava looked from one face to another.

“We all called her T. L back at the orphanage. Since forever. I don’t know her full name… and honestly…”

She paused.

“I’m pretty sure she doesn’t either.”

The silence that followed was strange.

Tehila looked genuinely disturbed.

“That’s messed up.”

Mia nodded slowly.

“Very messed up.”

Enoch scratched his head.

“That means your friend doesn’t even know her own real name.”

Ava swallowed.

Hearing it out loud made it sound worse.

Before anyone could say more—

A sharp electronic tone rang through the hall.

All students immediately straightened.

The large golden doors at the front opened.

One of the Tribrid directors stepped in.

It was Mrs Chloe Michael.

She walked to the center of the hall with authority, her long coat flowing behind her.

The room went silent.

Her voice echoed clearly.

“Attention, students.”

Everyone stood still.

Mrs Chloe folded her hands behind her back.

“There is something many of you may have believed all your lives.”

A few students exchanged glances.

She continued.

“Some of you may have thought you were abandoned.”

The room grew quieter.

“Some of you may have believed your parents died.”

Ava’s heart began to pound.

Mrs Chloe’s expression softened.

“But that is not always the truth.”

Murmurs broke out immediately.

Ava’s eyes widened.

Mrs Chloe raised her voice.

“The truth is… some of your parents were never gone.”

The hall fell dead silent.

“They have been working for the secret foundation of HEROES all along.”

Ava froze.

Her mouth slowly opened.

“What?”

Beside her, Mia smiled knowingly.

“Yeah,” Mia whispered.

Ava turned sharply.

“You knew?”

Mia nodded.

“They told us last year.”

Enoch added casually, “That’s how I found out my parents were here too.”

Ava stared at them.

Her thoughts raced.

No…

No way…

Her parents?

Alive?

All this time?

Mrs Chloe unrolled a digital list.

“As I call your names, step forward and follow the officers outside. You will meet your families.”

Students gasped.

Some already had tears in their eyes.

Ava’s hands began shaking.

Mrs Chloe started reading.

Several students stepped out.

Then—

She paused.

Looked at the list.

And said clearly:

“Ava… Sunflower.”

Ava’s eyes widened.

“Sunflower?”

Her voice came out as a whisper.

She stood frozen.

Sunflower?

That’s my surname?

Her mind spun.

So the people who left me at the orphanage…

That was my family name?

Mia nudged her hard.

“Go!”

Tehila grinned.

“You’re standing there like a statue.”

Enoch smiled.

“Go meet them.”

Ava swallowed hard.

Her legs moved before her mind could catch up.

As she stepped away from the group, her heart pounded louder than anything around her.

For the first time in her life…

She was walking toward the people she had thought were gone forever.

Her parents.