Chapter 1: The Blue Flash
In the eastern United States, on a tranquil and sweltering summer night, the town of Maplewood lay quietly under the cover of darkness, having just been washed by a torrential rain. The post-rain air was refreshingly crisp, imbued with the scent of damp foliage, as if nature itself had just been cleansed. This small town, encircled by dense forests and far removed from the clamor of the city, had its silence broken only by the murmurs of its residents and the nocturnal symphony of insects.
Though Maplewood was small, it brimmed with unique charm. At its center stood an ancient clock tower, whose chimes resonated through every corner of the town at each hour. Most of the houses were traditional wooden structures, their roofs covered in moss, exuding a rustic and homely aura. The residents, warm-hearted and sincere, shared a familial bond with one another.
On the outskirts of this town was a modest hill known to the townsfolk as Notting Hill. Atop the hill was an expansive clearing with a panoramic view, free from the town’s light pollution, making it an ideal stargazing spot. Ethan, who had often camped and picnicked here with his parents during his childhood, was intimately familiar with this hill. From his home, it took just over twenty minutes by bicycle to reach this stargazing haven. The town’s inhabitants frequently visited the lake at the hill’s base for fishing or hiking, making it a popular recreational spot.
Tonight, 17-year-old Ethan Miller rode his old bicycle through the silent streets, heading to his favorite stargazing spot. With his slightly tousled brown curls and deep blue eyes often filled with melancholy and contemplation, Ethan cut a distinctive figure. Of medium build and slightly frail, his movements nonetheless conveyed determination and persistence. He wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, paired with worn-out sneakers, giving him an unpretentious and down-to-earth appearance.
Ethan had a profound passion for astronomy, harboring an endless curiosity about the night sky since childhood. His room was filled with various astronomy books and a telescope, a gift from his aunt who had recognized his interest in stars and constellations. Every night, he would bring his telescope to this hilltop clearing and quietly observe the heavens.
Tonight, the sky was exceptionally clear, with stars twinkling like countless gems embedded in a deep blue canvas. Ethan parked his bicycle, skillfully set up his telescope, adjusted the angle, and began waiting for the arrival of the Leonid meteor shower. A gentle breeze blew, bringing refreshing coolness and dispelling the summer night’s heat.
He took a deep breath, savoring the moist scent of the grass and trees in the air, his heart brimming with anticipation and excitement. Each meteor streaking across the sky seemed to tell a story of the universe, and tonight, he felt he might witness something extraordinary.
Bending down, he carefully observed the night sky through his telescope. The Leonid meteor shower was one of the astronomical events he most eagerly awaited each year. Despite having seen it countless times, his excitement and enthusiasm for each occurrence never waned. Tonight's sky was exceptionally clear, the stars shining brightly as if setting the stage for the impending meteor shower.
Each star seemed to hold a story, each meteor a wish carried across the cosmos, the vast universe brimming with secrets. He pondered the future, the mysteries of the cosmos explored through scientific inquiry, and Emily’s eyes filled with curiosity.
At that moment, a strange blue flash suddenly appeared in his telescope. The light was so dazzling that Ethan couldn't look directly at it, as if the entire night sky had been illuminated. His heart skipped a beat, and his intuition told him this was no ordinary meteor.
Ethan squinted, trying to discern the source of the blue light. However, the flash flickered for a moment before vanishing without a trace. Then, a severe headache overwhelmed him, and his vision went black as he lost consciousness.
When he opened his eyes again, it was the following morning.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a gentle glow on his face. He found himself lying in his bed at home, his head throbbing slightly, his mind a foggy haze. He tried to recall the events of the previous night but realized he had no memory of how he had returned home.
Looking around, the room's furnishings remained unchanged, everything seemingly normal, yet the computer, which he distinctly remembered shutting down, had its screen aglow. Ethan felt a twinge of unease and checked the computer, discovering browsing history from websites he had never visited. Rubbing his temples, he sensed that things were becoming increasingly bizarre.
Glancing at the time, he realized he was almost late. Despite not seeing his backpack and telescope from the previous night in the room, he didn't have time to search for them. He hurriedly washed up, quickly packed his bag, and rushed downstairs. His mother, Mary, was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She looked somewhat pale, her eyes reflecting a hint of fatigue, but she still managed a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Mom," Ethan said as he put on his shoes.
"Good morning, dear. Remember to take your lunchbox, and be careful on your way. Don't rush," Mary replied, her voice imbued with maternal care as she coughed softly twice.
"Got it, Mom. You should rest more and not overexert yourself," Ethan responded quickly, feeling a warmth in his heart mixed with a touch of worry.
Mounting his bicycle, Ethan pedaled furiously toward school. The cool morning breeze brushed against his cheeks, alleviating some of his headache, but the strange blue light and ensuing darkness from the previous night still lingered in his mind. He silently resolved to revisit the stargazing spot after school, hoping to uncover some clues.
When he arrived at school, the bell had already rung. He hurriedly pushed open the classroom door and stepped inside. The stern Mr. White was explaining a complex math problem on the blackboard. Ethan quietly found a seat, hoping not to draw too much attention.
Sitting next to him, Jack, who had bushy curly hair, noticed Ethan's wretched appearance and couldn't help but whisper and snicker as he compared the lines of the woman's body with his hands from the top to the bottom, "Ethan, did you stay up too late watching this last night?"
Ethan glared at him and retorted in a hushed voice, "Shut up, Jack. I was busy last night." He didn’t want to elaborate, as even he hadn’t fully grasped what had happened.
Mr. White noticed Ethan’s distraction and frowned slightly. He put down the chalk, crossed his arms, and stared intently at Ethan.
"Mr. Miller," Mr. White’s voice was low and severe, "since you think my class is unimportant, why don't you answer this question?"
The classroom instantly fell silent, and everyone turned to look at Ethan. On the blackboard was a calculus problem. Given that Ethan’s class had only just begun learning calculus, the problem was quite challenging. Even Emily, the best math student in the class, couldn’t solve it.
Ethan glanced at the problem, his heartbeat accelerating, and his palms slightly sweaty. His mind was a jumble, and the headache from that morning seemed to resurface.
However, at that moment, a clear solution suddenly emerged in his mind, as if someone were gently guiding him. He took a deep breath, stood up, and began solving the problem step by step.
"First, this problem requires decomposing the function, then applying the integration by parts formula..." Ethan’s voice grew steadier, and the chalk in his hand swiftly outlined the solution on the blackboard. His classmates’ eyes widened in astonishment, and even Mr. White couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, his face reflecting disbelief.
Minutes later, Ethan finished, the blackboard filled with the steps and the final answer. He turned to face Mr. White, awaiting his evaluation.
Mr. White remained silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "Very good, Mr. Miller. Your solution is absolutely correct. You may sit down." His tone carried a hint of reluctance, but he couldn’t deny that Ethan’s solution was perfect.
Ethan exhaled in relief, his heartbeat gradually returning to normal. As he returned to his seat, he noticed Jack and the other classmates looking at him with a mix of admiration and surprise. No one had expected that Ethan, usually average in math, could solve such a difficult problem. Unlike other subjects, mathematics doesn’t allow for guesswork; the solution process had unequivocally proven that he had mastered this portion of calculus.
"Bro, how did you get so good at this? Are you sure you're Ethan? The Ethan I know isn't this good at math," Jack joked quietly, his tone filled with curiosity.
Ethan shrugged helplessly and replied, "I have no idea, maybe it was last night's strange encounter."
"Strange encounter?" Jack raised an eyebrow, but before he could probe further, Mr. White resumed his lecture, and everyone had to suppress their curiosity.
Throughout the morning, Ethan felt uneasy. His mind kept replaying the blue flash from the previous night and the peculiar experience of solving the problem this morning. He knew he had to figure it all out; otherwise, he wouldn’t find peace.
