Update: I've actually completely rewritten the first chapter of this story. When I started writing this fanfiction I thought this was going to be a one shot. This story has gotten a lot more attention than I expected. It's got me thinking. You guys engaging is a big part of it. Plus my muse is really singing in my ear. So here is a revision of Chapter 1 which goes along more with the story I've crafted beyond the original one-shot. I hope this fits the narrative better. Tell me what you think! Remember that this is my first attempt at First-person writing and I would still enjoy feedback.

Chapter Summary: As for Brightburn the movie. I really liked it but it was a simple story and left a lot to the imagination. It didn't really flesh out a ton of things that I thought could be expanded on. This is my continuation of the Brightburn Universe. A dark tale of romance and conquest. Hope you like it!

On with the story

She betrayed me. My own mother. I couldn't believe it. I knew she had that piece of ship hidden in her pocket. She didn't know about my X-ray vision. When I caught her trying to stab me I became angrier than I've ever been. My father shooting me in the back of the head was one thing. He turned on me almost immediately. But my own mother? The woman that defended me over and over again. I don't ever want to feel this way again. Not for them. Not for sheep.

When the plane crashed into me I felt no remorse. I'd killed over two hundred people and I could care less. Why would I? These people were nothing. Less than nothing. They couldn't even love. Not really. I'd seen the limits of their love. It was pathetic. They were no more than farm animals. Just waiting to be herded, ruled. Used for my benefit. The benefit of someone superior.

With my parents dead the only other family I had was Aunt Merilee. She was to be my caretaker from now on but I could tell that she feared me. She didn't say anything but I knew that she knew what I was, what I had done. How could she not?

She made me breakfast. Scrambled eggs and waffles. I could tell she didn't try very hard.

"Thank you."

I was polite. She'd taken me in after all. Though maybe she feared what I'd do to her if she hadn't. She sat at my table in silence, glancing at me briefly before focusing on her food. She was cold.

Today I was to take the bus to school. It didn't really make sense since she and I were going to the same place yet here I was, standing alone at the bus stop. That annoyed me but I tolerated it for now. I still didn't want anyone to know about me. Killing Aunt Merilee would make it all too obvious. Taking the world, as the ship told me, would be a lot of work. I'd have to think more about how to do it. I knew no one could challenge me but after I killed all my enemies what then? I just wasn't ready to go down that path. Especially not so soon after my mother's death. She was a sheep, she betrayed me, she tried to kill me, but...I still missed her. I just needed time. For now falling into my normal routine would give me the time I needed to clear my head and plan my next moves.

The bus ride to school was especially annoying today. This was the first day anyone had been back since the school was shut down for two days after the plane crashed. Brightburn was a rather small town and a plane crashing here was really big news. Something that needed to be mourned. Stupid. No one here even knew anyone that died in the crash. The kids certainly didn't care about some random people they never met. The kids didn't care about anyone but themselves.

When I got on the bus I immediately heard whispers as they stole glances at me. I went to the very back to sit alone yet the whispers didn't stop.

"Did you hear that not only did both his parents die, but his Aunt's husband too? All in less than a week."

"He's always been a freak. He probably cast some kind of voodoo on them."

"Then there was the plane crash. I bet he did that too somehow."

"He's definitely a witch or he has really really bad luck."

"For sure."

It took all my energy not to murder everyone right then and there. For now I'd ignore them. They didn't know the half of it. If they did they wouldn't dare speak about me that way. Eventually I'll make it so no one in their right mind would even dream of it.

I kept to myself during homeroom class. I ignored the glances I kept getting. I don't think the kids suspected that I was Brightburn. The rumors they made up were stupid and childish. My homeroom teacher, Ms. Joy, brought up the fact that I lost both my parents but no one seemed to care. Not everyone tried to be mean, but no one seemed to care. What could you expect from sheep?

Royce kept trying to get under my skin. He was always a jerk. I never did anything about it before. That would change soon.

"Hey Freak." He whispered from the seat behind me.

I ignored him.

"I said, Hey Freak. You killed your parents didn't you."

I wanted to tell him yes but I thought against it.

"Maybe they killed themselves because they couldn't stand having such a dweeb for a son."

What the hell was wrong with this boy? I even heard snickering from other kids nearby. Not everyone mind you, but enough. The worst part was that Caitlyn wasn't here to cheer me up. She was always nice to me. After I killed her mother she was sent away. I don't know where. If only I knew.

"Don't ignore me Freak."

I finally had to look back at him. His chubby face pissed me off so much. He seemed to be satisfied by my reaction.

"What? You gonna cast a curse on me?"

"What's going on back there!" Ms. Joy shouted to us, grabbing our attention.

We all snapped our heads forward and continued class like normal. Royce kept being annoying. Was I going to cast a curse on him? Well...something like that.

"So which was it? Voodoo or some kind of creepy, nerd, witch spell?" Royce whispered with a snicker.

I got up suddenly and turned to him with a harsh glare. It took all my energy not to burn his face off right there.

"Brandon, what is the meaning of this?" Ms. Joy spoke out again.

My eyes stayed on Royce. He had the goofiest grin. The teacher wasn't stupid.

"Royce, that's a week's detention."

"What!? But I didn't even…"

"You want two weeks?"

That shut him up. All eyes were on me now.

"Brandon, I want you to report to Mrs. McNichol's office for the remainder of class."

I hesitated but complied. As I reached the classroom door Ms. Joy put a hand on my shoulder.

"I know things are tough right now. Just know that we are here for you. If you need more time to grieve just let us know."

I nodded and left. Taking time to grieve sounded silly to me. Yet I suppose that's normal. The adults weren't as apathetic as my classmates. They were annoying in another way. They cared too much. Or at least they wanted to make you believe they cared. All accept Aunt Merilee.

She sat at her desk focused on some paperwork. She was tapping a pencil rapidly, ignoring me. We sat there in silence for at least 5 minutes. I caught her looking at the clock. We still had a half an hour left.

"So…" I began.

"Just...don't talk." She suddenly blurted out in a fluster.

I didn't like that. Her telling me what to do. I was liking my role as the student less and less. They should all be bowing before me yet here I was, dealing with this...disrespect. It frustrated me to no end.

We sat in silence the entire time until the bell rang. She hadn't even lifted her head from her paperwork. I got up and left without a word.

The other classes went pretty fast. I got a few weird looks, some even sympathetic, but no one spoke to me. No one except the teachers who wanted me to know how much they cared. Yet I knew they didn't care. Not really. They just said that to make themselves feel better. Their empty good deed tor the day. I saw right through them. The act they put on sickened me.

I sat by myself during lunch as I usually do. I took this time to think about how I would take the world. There were so many ways to go about it. I most likely wouldn't want to do it alone. I would be a ruler but the idea of listening to sheep whine about their problems all day was not my ideal view of power. Yet if I was to rule anything but ashes I would need to create some kind of system of governance. Not only that, if I were to rule as the world's king then I would need a queen. Most great rulers had a woman at their side. It felt right. Only one person came to mind.

"Caitlyn."

Speaking her name out loud brought a smile to my face. She was the prettiest girl I knew. A queen should be pretty. I had to find her.

"You talking to yourself Dweeb?" Came the irritating voice of Royce from the side.

He approached me with two of his cronies. Royce was the taller of the three. They followed him around, laughed at his jokes. He was head sheep. Royce clearly never met a wolf. Still, I'd already decided to continue to blend in. At least for now. I tried to ignore him, choosing instead to continue drawing in my notebook.

He snatched it.

"Who is this? Some girl you like? Like you'd ever get a girlfriend."

I stayed seated but gave him the deadliest non-lethal glare I could muster.

"Give that back." I warned in a restrained whisper.

"Hey..that kind of looks like Caitlyn." One of Royce's cronies commented.

Royce took a moment to squint his eyes before releasing that stupid, snide laugh of his.

"Dude you're right. You still creeping on her even after she is gone? Jeez what a loser." Royce spat out while tossing my notebook over my lunch.

My mac and cheese stained the pages. It took every inch of self control not to end him. He was amused by my anger.

"What? You wanna do something nerd?" He taunted while flicking my ear with one finger.

I balled my fists but still didn't move. I couldn't look at him. If I did I'm sure I'd burn a hole through his skull.

"Didn't think so." Royce stated smugly while turning around and walking off.

His cronies followed hastily behind him. I stared at the back of his head with a hatred and fury I don't think I've ever felt. My father made me mad when he tried to kill me. So did my mother. My mother's betrayal hurt the most but I didn't hate either of them. Royce was another story. I'll make him suffer.

School ended fast enough. I took the bus home and had to endure the same stupid whispers and rumors. It seemed that kids didn't have much better to do. Most of them had phones and could text or watch stuff on the internet but somehow they decided it was more amusing to talk about me behind my back. I realize that not every one of my peers was involved in the rumors but enough were to draw my ire towards the whole lot. No one stood up to defend me. To hell them all.

I got home before Aunt Merilee. The door was locked so I had to wait for her. I could of course just fly up to my room or break in through the windows but that would probably cause trouble that I didn't need. There was already enough bad blood between us. So I waited...for hours. It was night by the time she got home.

When she walked up to the porch I was sitting on the curb. She ignored me but unlocked the door so I could enter. She still refused to talk to me. I could smell the alcohol on her breath. She went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine from her cupboard. I went up to my room, locking the door behind me. Aunt Merilee used alcohol to deal with her pain. I had other plans in mind. I opened my bookbag and looked into it with a satisfied smile. My mask was right where I'd left it. It was time to blow off some steam.

Royce

I had to walk all the way home from school because of detention. I was filled with dread the entire time. This was all Brandon's fault. He was such a snitch. By the time I got home the sun was going down. The lights were on in the house. My mom was home. I walked up to the door and paused. I knew that the second I knocked all hell would break loose. I breathed deeply through my nose and found the courage to knock.

The house became silent until I heard footsteps approaching. The door swung open violently and I was met with the angry face of my mother. She immediately grabbed me by the ear and yanked me forward.

"Do you know how embarrassing it is for my boss to deliver a message to me saying my son got detention? Again!?"

She screamed into my ear. God she was so loud.

"I'm sorry, I…"

"Shut the fuck up when I'm talking!" She gave me a hard slap to the back of my head.

It hurt, a lot. I flinched and hunched my shoulders. That usually helped with the pain.

"You're lucky I don't beat your little ass. What the fuck were you thinking? Teasing some boy? How old are you?"

She gave me continuous smacks to my head as she spoke. I had a headache and needed to raise my arms to stop her palm from making my ears ring.

"Twelve." I whimpered out.

It was always hard not to cry when she did this. I was trying to be tough but she made that nearly impossible.

"Twelve goddamn years old and you are still doing this petty shit. Get the fuck out of my sight. I better not hear that computer come on." I ran up the stairs to my room as fast as I could.

I barely stopped myself from slamming my door. Mom hated when I did that and she was already angry enough.

I cried for a while after that.

A few hours later mom called me down for dinner. Her voice carried through the house. I was quick to make it down the stairs. My plate was on the kitchen table. Mom was curled up on the couch with her husband Desmond.

"Come here boy." Desmond called to me.

Fuck. I'd never say that out loud but I definitely was thinking it. Desmond had a bottle of Hennessy in one hand. Mom was leaning her head on his chest. They were watching some stupid show on the television.

"Your mom told me what happened. Talking back when she's trying to teach you a lesson?" He said in a tone which was always hard to respond to.

"I was just…"

"I'm not fucking finished." He snapped and sent a hard stare my way.

I couldn't match his gaze. Especially when he's had a few drinks. He was way bigger than me. He worked out too. I stayed quiet after that.

"If you're going to do some dumb shit at least be smart enough not to get caught."

"Desmond." Mom called out in surprise, though her tone was a lot more gentle when speaking to him.

He scoffed.

"That little boy needs to learn how to act like a man. He's doing childish shit at his age. He ain't gonna make it. Come here boy." Desmond lectured.

I didn't move forward. I was too scared.

"Royce you move when your father tells you." My mom hissed at me.

"He's not my dad."

Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut. Desmond stood up immediately.

"The fuck you say boy?"

Mom got up and placed a hand on his chest.

"Let me talk to him."

He shoved her to the side and walked up to me. Mom crossed her arms and glared at me as if I had gotten us both in trouble.

Desmond towered over me. I had to look away. He squatted down to be eye level.

"The fuck you say to me boy?"

"Nothing sir." I managed to whisper out.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you."

His command was followed by a hard smack to my face. It hurt more than my mom's hits. I couldn't help crying almost immediately. I tried to look at him but as soon as I did he smacked me again.

"You need to learn some respect boy. When I married your mother you became my boy and you are going to fucking recognize that. You hear me?"

Another smack. I was shivering. My mom just stood there and looked away when I shot her a pleading gaze.

"Don't look to her for help, she can't help you. I'm not your father huh? You a little man? A little man living in my house? Alright I'll treat you like a man."

Desmond and my mom have hit me a lot but never as hard as this. His fist crashed into my chest. I collapsed. I must there for at least 20 seconds trying to breath.

"Desmond that's fucking enough." I heard my mom say as she stood over me.

He scoffed and headed back to his couch, taking a swig from his bottle.

"You spoil him. That's why he ain't got no damn sense. I'll teach him."

I felt massive relief when I was finally able suck in air. Mom inspected me but once she was satisfied she stood up and shook her head.

"Go to your room."

I didn't need to be told twice. I dragged myself up to my feet and made my way up stairs. I climbed under my covers and cried myself to sleep clutching my aching chest.

Brandon

This family is despicable. Every single one of them. Royce takes his pain out on me. The world won't miss them.

I'd been watching them for a while now. Enough to see how disgusting they were. None of them deserved to live.

Royce

A roar of thunder woke me up. I hate thunder. I got out of bed and started to head downstairs. All I wanted was some milk to help me sleep. I tried to be as quiet as I could. When I got to the bottom of the stairs I saw Desmond passed out on the couch. He'd spilled his bottle of Hennessy on the carpet. I'm sure they'd argue about that for a while. I'll try not to be around when they do.

I opened the fridge but right before I reached in I heard footsteps coming my way.

"The hell you doing boy?"

Desmond moved towards me with wobbly steps. I backed up a bit.

"Just getting some milk Sir."

He slammed the fridge door.

"Did I say you could get some milk?"

I went wide eyed and shook my head, backing up until my back hit the sink.

"No...I just thought…"

"Nah you weren't thinking."

He was going to hit me again. When he was like this the only thing to do was just cover up as best as possible. I turned my head to the side and closed my eyes but the blow never came.

"The fuck…" Desmond spoke out in a tone that sounded like pain and surprise.

When I opened my eyes I couldn't help yelling.

Desmond's hand was missing, the one he raised. He looked at it in horror before turning around. What we both saw would haunt my dreams.

This man stood in front of us with the scariest mask I've ever seen. He was floating. Floating! He was holding Desmond's hand.

Then something impossible happened. The masked man shot a red laser from his eyes to melt Desmond's other hand off. Desmond and I both yelled at the top of our lungs. I fell to the ground and watched as the demon tour Desmond apart limb from limb. After a few seconds Desmond was just a torso and a head. Blood was everywhere. It was a nightmare. Then the demon floated over to me. I peed myself.

It lifted it's hand and took off it's mask. Brandon!?

"You were right you know." Brandon spoke in this deep, creepy voice.

'What? What do you mean?"

"I am a freak. Unlucky for you."

I didn't know what to say. He picked up my hand and squeezed really hard. I heard my bones break.

"Ah! I'm sorry. I'm sorry I called you a freak!"

It hurt so badly.

"Of course you are. You'll say anything to save yourself. That's all you care about. That's all any of your care about. Yourself. Your pitiful, useless selves."

He did the same to my other arm. I thought he'd tare my arm off but he just left it looking like a bendy straw. He did the same for both my legs. Last was my left eye. His laser shot straight into my eye. It smelled so bad.I think I was going to pass out. I barely registered a scream coming from behind him.

My mom was looking on in horror, a phone in her hand. She was calling the police. The last thing I saw before my world went black was Brandon using his laser vision to burn a hole straight through my mom's head.

Brandon

That was a good way to let off some steam. I got home pretty late that night. I just flew through my put my mask away in my bookbag and right before I hid it my Aunt Merilee opened the door to my room. I calmly put my bookbag in the closet and headed over to my desk, her eyes on me the entire way.

"Where were you?"

I didn't say anything. I knew I was a bad liar. I found that out when I tried to lie to my parents.

"Are you going to answer me?"

I gave her my attention, staring at her in silence. She tapped her foot rapidly in agitation before turning on her heels and walking off.

I slept good that night.

School was out for the next couple days once the news got out of Royce's family being massacred. I left Royce alive but crippled. He didn't say anything about me to the police. He reported that a masked man attacked his family but he didn't specify that it was me. He's smarter than I give him credit for. Though that's not saying much.

Aunt Merilee left the day she found out about the killing. I don't know where she went. She left me a key and a note saying she'd be back in a few days. Maybe she just ran. That would be a smart move on her part. It didn't look like she took any of her things though. Maybe she just needed time away. Who knows. What I really cared about was having the entire house to myself. I enjoyed that.

I didn't mind taking the bus back to school a few days later. The bus went almost completely silent when I walked on. Even the bus driver seemed nervous. I moved to the back in my usual secluded spot. I got a few tentative glances but there were no whispers. Hm. That was the quietest bus ride I've ever been on.

When I made it to school grounds people were weary of me. I could see even the teachers giving me weird gazes.

"Brandon Breyer, report to the principal's office."

The halls filled with whispers again. Whispers of murder, witch, demon. I suppose it made sense. First Caitlyn and now Royce. Everyone knew I didn't like Royce. Now he was a cripple and his family was dead. They'd seen my strength, the way I broke Caitlyn's hand.

When I got to the principal's office I saw police officers waiting near the principal.

They all knew. Or at least heavily suspected. They thought I had something to do with Royce's assault. They'd ask questions. People would start connecting the dots. I would be investigated. Even if they couldn't prove anything they would make my life very annoying for the next few days, if not weeks. Now was as good a time as any.

Right in front of the secretary I suddenly burst through the ceiling and flew a good distance into the air.I donned my mask and readied my heat vision. No one would escape alive.

I rampaged through the city for hours. Ambulances and police cars kept coming and I eradicated them all. I was fed up. By the time I was done a large portion of the city was in flames. I let a few firefighters and paramedics live. I found it entertaining watching them scramble around. Anyone with a gun died. I would teach them the price of challenging my power. Bystanders recorded me using their phones. I let them live. With everyone at the school dead along with most of the police force I doubted anyone had any suspicion that Brandon Breyer was the one who would come to be known as Brightburn. Well, there were still two. A crippled boy and my aunt.

I made it home late that night. The lights were on and the front door was unlocked. I didn't even have to use the key she left me. When I opened the door Aunt Merilee was waiting for me.

"That's you isn't it."

She spoke out in a dull tone. She had a television remote in one hand and a wine glass in the other. Her back was facing me while she watched a news recording of my rampage. How I flew through the air, destroyed buildings, killed police and swat with my heat vision.

I walked right next to her and watched the broadcast. There was something enjoyable about seeing myself from a sheep's perspective.

"You killed Noah."

She had this emotionless tone to her voice. I nodded.

"Then Tori and Kyle too? You parents. The people that loved you?

I scoffed.

"They didn't love me. Not really. They tried to kill me."

"Because you're a monster."

I paused and turned my head to narrow my eyes at her. She took a sip of her wine.

"I've known Tori all my life. She loved you more than anything. Even if she tried to kill you she never stopped loving you. If you don't believe that then you're a fool."

I was on her in an instant. I knocked her out of her chair and slammed her to the ground, my hands around her throat.

She whimpered and coughed but didn't fight. It's like she'd given up.

"Don't call me that." I warned.

She glared up at me with absolute hate.

"Monster." She managed to whisper out.

I almost killed her right there but something made me stop. I released my grip on her neck and sat up. She heaved heavily to catch her breath.

"The lion does not concern itself with the opinions of the sheep."

I'd heard that quote somewhere. It seemed fitting.

She got up with wobbly legs and reached desperately for a bottle of wine, pouring herself another glass.

"What are you?"

I turned my back to her to watch the television.

"I already told you. I'm superior."

We stayed in silence for a while just watching the news story. She was the first to break the silence.

"I want you to leave."

I didn't bother turning to face her.

"What if I don't want to."

"Then I'll leave. I won't be around this any longer. You've taken everything from me. Just go. Please."

I finally turned around to see tears pouring down her face. She was consuming yet another glass of wine. She looked pathetic. I could tell she was already dead inside. There was no need to kill her.

"Fine. Just tell me one thing and I'll go. If anyone would know it'd be you.

She looked at my expectantly.

"Where is Caitlyn?"

Royce

I hated this place. Everything about it. The nurses looked at me with pity. It only made me feel worse. The doctors said I'd never walk again. I was completely blind in my left eye. I wouldn't even be able to hold a pencil. On top of that they didn't even have butter for the pancakes.

A nurse was assigned to feed me. I had a television that was on most of the time. I found myself watching stories about Brightburn. About Brandon. It was all I seemed to care about these days. What he had done to me. To my family. Desmond I could care less about but my mom...I still loved her. Sometimes I hated her but she had her moments. She took care of me. I'd give anything to have her back. Yet I'd give even more to make him pay. I knew I couldn't. I don't think anyone could stop Brandon. He was even beating some military guys. I think he really was a demon.

The first few days in the hospital I had a lot of visitors. Mostly from police and reporters. I told them the same thing. I was attacked by a masked man. Eventually I confirmed that it was Brightburn who attacked my family. I never mentioned anything about Brandon. I knew he was out there. He wore that mask for a reason. If I told people about him then he'd probably come get me. Mama didn't raise no fool.

One night a man stood outside of my hospital room. It was pretty late. Past visiting hours. I'm not sure how he got in. Maybe he bribed the nurses. He walked into my room wearing a business suit. He was completely bald. He was a pretty young white guy so it's kind of weird for him to be bald. Maybe he had cancer.

"Hello Royce. I'm glad we're able to meet."

He stood at the side of my bed. I wasn't in a talking mood. I just kept watching the tv screen. He pulled up a chair.

"I've heard a lot about you. You're the boy who survived being attacked by Brightburn. Or should I say Brandon Breyer."

That got my attention. How did he know? I panicked at bit.

"What? I...I don't know what you are talking about."

He gave me this knowing smirk. He knew I was lying.

"I'm sorry to hear about your mother and stepfather. No one deserves to die like that. Now you'll be like this for the rest of your life. This must be so hard for you."

Understatement of the year. I gritted my teeth and glared at him. He could see how annoyed I was.

"What if I told you that you could get back at the person who did this to you?"

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the television.

"Brightburn did this to me. No one can stop him. Especially not me. Get out."

He made me mad. I couldn't even feed myself and he was talking about me getting revenge?

"What if you could?"

When I looked at him he had this weird smile. I felt like he knew something I didn't. Like he was holding some big secret. He took a wallet out of his suit jacket and retrieved a card from it.

"My name is Darian Dolus. I've created a program which could restore your body and even allow you to get vengeance on the one who wronged you. I call it the Terminator Protocol. When you are ready give me a call."

He stood up and began to walk off. He left the card on the desk next to my bed. It was black, his name in gold lettering. At the bottom was a phone number. He had to be crazy right? Right? But what if he wasn't. I glanced one last time at the video of Brightburn flying through the air.

"I'm ready."

The man stopped as his hand clutched the door handle.

"Going through this program will take years. You should give yourself time to recover. There is no need…"

"I'm ready." I repeated.

He saw how serious I was. He turned to face me with that same knowing smile.

"Good. Then let us begin."

End of Chapter 1

Hopefully this is a stronger chapter than my previous "Chapter 1." I think this should tie much better into Chapter 2. Let me know! Thanks for reading guys.