《The Colour Of Darkness》


 Chapter 1 - Normal

    "Integration is the reverse of differentiation¡­ So, if you''re integrating X to the power of n¡ª"


    Eddie''s voice echoed through the empty school lounge, each word bouncing off the walls and drilling into Nathan''s head. Supposedly, they were here to revise for math.


    The finals loomed over them like storm clouds, and tension hung in the air. Everyone was nervous. Not surprising. Except Eddie¡ªhe was the only one actually interested in studying. It made Nathan wonder, from time to time, how they were even friends.


    "Nate!"


    Nathan flinched as Ryan shouted directly into his ear.


    "What?" he asked, rubbing the side of his head.


    "Everything okay?" Ryan''s usual playfulness was missing, replaced by something close to concern.


    "Of course." Nathan sank deeper into the bean bag. "It''s early. Give me a break," he muttered, voice thick with fatigue.


    "You know, if you guys put even a little bit more effort¡ª"


    "We get it!" Lucian groaned, snapping his book shut and tossing his calculator on top of it. "I would put in more effort, but I''m¡ª"


    "Too lazy?" Ryan cut him off with a smirk.


    Blood rushed to Lucian¡¯s face as he forced a smile. "I swear, I¡¯m gonna bury you one of these days."


    Nathan stretched as he got up from the bean bag. "You two lovebirds keep at it. I need coffee."


    Eddie ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "Why the hell did you guys even ask for help if you weren¡¯t gonna use it?"


    "Come on, Eddie. You should know us by now." Ryan pulled out his phone¡ªhis unofficial signal that he¡¯d be mentally unavailable for the next fifty minutes. "There¡¯s no point in us being here."


    "Whatever." Eddie slung his bag over his shoulder, already moving to catch up with Nathan.


    Just as they were leaving, a girl walked into the lounge, waving. "Hey, guys!"


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    Nathan didn¡¯t even glance her way, heading straight for the door.


    "Hey," Eddie replied.


    "Bad mood?" She tilted her head, eyes flicking toward Nathan as he disappeared down the hall.


    "Nah, he¡¯s just like that nowadays." Eddie shoved his hands into his pockets, posture stiffening.


    "Oh." She watched Nathan for a moment, brows slightly raised.


    "Yeah¡­ I should probably go make sure he doesn¡¯t do something he shouldn''t." Eddie chuckled nervously.


    "Right. See you." She turned and walked deeper into the lounge. Eddie exhaled, lips pressed together as he watched her go.


    ~~~


    The cafeteria was empty. Quiet. Nathan stared out the window, eyes unfocused on the distant city skyline. These days, just thinking about it gave him a headache¡ªthe engines roaring, the screeching tires, the endless hum of movement. Maybe it was stress. Maybe not. But lately, he¡¯d noticed how even the smallest vibrations irritated him.


    He took a sip of his coffee¡ªpure black. Bitter. The taste barely registered. With a sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to silence the noise in his head.


    "You sure you¡¯re okay?"


    Eddie dropped his bag onto the table and took the seat next to him.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Probably just stressed about exams." Nathan groaned. "The teachers act like it¡¯s the end of the world."


    "I mean¡­ it could be." Eddie shrugged.


    "Okay, shut up. Not helping." Nathan rolled his eyes and took another sip.


    "Maybe you should stop being so dependent on coffee."


    Nathan turned his head slowly, jaw dropping in mock offense. "How dare you. I am a proud caffeine addict. Lemme be."


    "Suit yourself, man. Just saying."


    Nathan knew Eddie wasn¡¯t wrong. He¡¯d been drinking way too much coffee these past few days. Normal blends barely did anything anymore¡ªblack was the only thing strong enough to get him through the first few classes.


    Eddie leaned forward. "Also, what was that with Lacey back there? You basically ignored her."


    Nathan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    "I mean, she said hi. It¡¯s basic etiquette to say it back, no?"


    Nathan chuckled, his lips curling into an amused yet warm smile. "Does it bother you that I didn¡¯t say hi?"


    Eddie stiffened. "What? No! Don¡¯t get any ideas."


    "Whoa, relax. I didn¡¯t say anything." Nathan¡¯s laughter grew louder.


    "Yeah, but you were thinking it!" Eddie hissed.


    "Dude, the only thing I¡¯m thinking about is the physics homework I forgot to do."


    Nathan paused. His expression blanked.


    "Oh, shit. I forgot about that."


    In one swift motion, he downed the rest of his coffee, shot up from his seat, and sprinted off.


    "See you later, Ed!"


    Eddie sighed, leaning back in his chair. He stared out the window, watching the city breathe.


    "See ya.¡±

 Chapter 2 - Strange

    Jenny¡¯s daily routine was simple: wake up, go to school, sit through classes, hang out with friends, go home, and study. A predictable cycle. A peaceful one. And yet, she wasn¡¯t sure if she could follow it anymore.


    All because of him.


    Nathan Blake.


    There was nothing remarkable about him. He wasn¡¯t the smartest. He wasn¡¯t the strongest. Not the tallest. Not the most attractive.


    But he was manipulative.


    And she knew that better than anyone.


    Something about him had always felt off. The way he spoke, as if he already knew everything about you. The way his eyes scanned your face, analyzing, calculating. The way he always seemed to know exactly what to say to get what he wanted.


    And the worst part? No one else seemed to notice.


    He makes you feel at ease. Talking to him is calming. And being ignored is torture. Jenny had tried to convince herself she was imagining things. That she was reading too much into it. But no¡ªdeep in her gut, she knew. Something was wrong with that man.


    And now¡­ that man was sitting right next to her.


    She clenched her jaw, trying to suppress the shudder that ran down her spine. The seat beside him just had to be the last available one on the bus.


    ¡®Why did I even come on this trip?¡¯ Jenny groaned internally, feeling like the universe was playing some kind of sick joke.


    Behind her, her friends were laughing, joking around. If only she had gotten on the bus sooner, she wouldn¡¯t be stuck with him for the next few hours.


    Her gaze flickered to the side, observing him. Nathan didn¡¯t look good.


    Good.


    Jenny almost smirked. ''Serves you right.''


    He had his head leaned against the glass window, his eyes shut, brows furrowed. His whole body looked tense.


    Without thinking, she reached out and nudged his arm.


    "You okay?" she whispered.


    Nathan¡¯s eyes fluttered open slowly, their usual sharpness dulled. Red-rimmed, tired.


    ¡°Sorry?¡± His voice was lower than usual, groggy.


    ¡°I asked if you¡¯re okay. Your eyes are red.¡±


    Nathan shifted, leaning back against the chair. Then, in an instant, that warm, easy smile appeared¡ªtoo smooth to be anything but practiced.


    "I¡¯m fine," he said. "Something probably just got in my eye. Thanks for asking."


    If she didn¡¯t know him, she might have believed him.


    But she did.


    She sighed, looking away. ''Whatever''. He was obviously in pain, but if he wanted to act like nothing was wrong, that was his problem.


    ¡°Yeah. You should probably sleep. It¡¯s gonna be a long ride. Sorry for bothering you.¡±


    Jenny turned her attention to the seat in front of her, trying to ignore him. She wanted to hate him. Needed a reason. But right now, he wasn¡¯t some smug, manipulative bastard. He was just¡­ tired.


    ''I guess I¡¯ll bear with him for now.''


    A few minutes later, she stole another glance at him. He was already asleep, completely still, his breathing deep and steady.


    ~~~


    Pain pulsed through Nathan¡¯s skull.


    Loud. Too loud.


    The hum of the engine. The whisper of fabric rubbing against skin. The subtle movement of air. Sounds most people wouldn¡¯t even register were now screaming in his mind.


    It was unbearable.


    The pressure in his head had been building for days, getting worse. Would his skull just split open one day? He almost welcomed the idea.


    He needed a solution. A fix.


    Last time, he¡¯d gone to a doctor. Bad idea. The brain scans had been agony¡ªworse than being burned alive. And in the end, the doctor had no answers. Just a vague mention of "unusual neural activity," especially in the auditory cortex.


    Great. Thanks for nothing.


    That¡¯s why he¡¯d agreed to this trip. A distraction. Something to take his mind off the relentless overstimulation.


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    But something had changed.


    A few days ago, something¡­ strange happened. Something Nathan couldn''t make sense of.


    ~~~


    The grand hotel lobby gleamed under the opulent crystal chandelier, its glow reflecting off polished marble tiles. The architecture exuded sophistication¡ªmassive black obsidian pillars reached toward the intricately designed ceiling, and to the right, a sleek black marble staircase wound its way to the upper floors. To the left, receptionists stood behind a pristine counter, poised to welcome guests with well-practiced smiles.


    Nathan lay sprawled on one of the luxurious couches, his body sinking into the plush cushions. His mind, however, refused to relax. Exhaustion clung to him, yet sleep remained stubbornly out of reach.


    ¡°You alright, kid?¡± A man¡¯s voice broke through his haze. The stranger, likely in his late thirties, sat at the other end of the couch, his expression calm, observant.


    Nathan let out a tired chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve been asked that so many times this week, it¡¯s almost annoying.¡± He sighed. ¡°But yeah. I guess.¡±


    The man leaned back, resting one arm on the couch¡¯s armrest. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind sharing with a stranger, would you?¡± His voice was smooth, laced with quiet empathy.


    Nathan hesitated, then exhaled. Maybe talking to someone who didn¡¯t know him wouldn¡¯t be the worst idea. ¡°You¡¯d probably think I¡¯m crazy.¡±


    The man grinned. ¡°Depends on what you¡¯ve got to say. Name¡¯s Nik, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Nathan,¡± he replied, then shrugged. ¡°You can call me Nate if you want.¡±


    Nik nodded. ¡°So, what¡¯s going on with you, Nathan?¡±


    Nathan sighed again, staring at the ornate ceiling. ¡°It¡¯s just been a crazy week. Exams are coming up, and I already know I¡¯m gonna fail. I don¡¯t even need to take them to be sure of that.¡± He shifted slightly. ¡°And¡­ I¡¯ve been hearing things.¡±


    Nik raised an eyebrow. ¡°Like ghosts or something?¡±


    ¡°I wish,¡± Nathan muttered. ¡°It¡¯s everything. Right now, I can hear your heartbeat. Your breathing. The footsteps of people way off in the distance. My own muscles contracting and relaxing.¡± He turned his head slightly, his eyes locking onto Nik¡¯s. ¡°Please tell me I¡¯m going crazy.¡±


    For a moment, Nik said nothing. His silence stretched, as if carefully weighing his response. Then, finally, he spoke. ¡°No. You¡¯re not crazy. I believe you.¡±


    Nathan scoffed. ¡°So you believe in ghosts too?¡±


    Nik let out a hearty laugh. ¡°No, no. Of course not.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But I believe you. Eyes don¡¯t lie.¡±


    Nathan frowned. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Nik waved it off. ¡°But you¡¯re probably overwhelmed by this unnatural overstimulation. Your brain is working overtime to deal with the continuous data you''re being exposed to, which means you¡¯re exhausted.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°I¡¯m just guessing here, but I bet you¡¯ve been drinking a lot of coffee lately to deal with the mental exhaustion.¡±


    Nathan blinked. ¡°¡­Yeah, that sounds about right.¡± He buried his face in his hands, rubbing his temples as he yawned. ¡°I¡¯m so tired. I just wanna sleep.¡±


    Nik chuckled. ¡°Just a thought, but have you tried embracing this enhanced hearing? Maybe that would help.¡±


    Before Nathan could respond, a small voice called from across the lobby.


    ¡°Daddy!¡±


    Nik turned, spotting a little girl several feet away. ¡°Well, that¡¯s my cue.¡± He pushed himself off the couch. ¡°Hope you figure this out, Nathan.¡±


    Nathan watched him walk away, scooping the child into his arms. Nik didn¡¯t look back.


    ¡°Embrace it?¡± Nathan muttered under his breath. He let the words settle in his mind. ''Well¡­ it can¡¯t possibly be that bad¡­''


    Closing his eyes, he let go of the resistance he¡¯d been clinging to for weeks. He allowed himself to sink into the overwhelming noise, to follow it rather than fight against it. Slowly, the chaos began to take shape. It wasn¡¯t just noise¡ªit was a map, a colorless world where density alone distinguished between objects. Sound was no longer just something he heard. It was something he saw.


    And yet, the pain remained¡ªsharp, searing, splitting. But this time, instead of trying to drown it out, he focused on it. Experimented with it. Bit by bit, he willed his senses to shrink, drawing the overwhelming radius inward. As it constricted, the strain in his head eased. He pulled it in further, and finally¡ªfinally¡ªhis hearing returned to the normal human range.


    Nathan let out a slow breath, cracking his eyes open. The headache still lingered, but it was manageable. He shifted slightly¡ªand that¡¯s when he noticed her.


    Jenny.


    She was asleep, curled up on the couch beside him, facing him.


    ¡°Jenny.¡± He called her name softly, but she didn¡¯t stir. He reached out, tapping her shoulder lightly. ¡°Hey, Jenny.¡±


    Her eyes fluttered open, bleary and confused as she registered her surroundings. She blinked a few times before speaking. ¡°Um¡­ Noah asked me to bring you the key card to your room. You guys are roommates¡­¡±


    Nathan¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°And where is he?¡±


    ¡°He went to sleep. And you both looked exhausted, so I thought I¡¯d just wait until you woke up.¡± She reached into her pocket, pulling out the key card.


    Nathan took it from her, eyes studying her expression. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ an awfully nice thing to do for someone you hate.¡±


    Jenny stiffened. ¡°Wha¡ªWhat do you mean?¡± She gulped, her heartbeat quickening. Her gaze dropped, avoiding his.


    Nathan tilted his head slightly. ¡°You hate me, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡ªNo, I don¡¯t.¡± Her voice wavered. She hesitated, then exhaled, her shoulders sinking. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated. I thought I did.¡±


    Silence stretched between them.


    Nathan didn¡¯t speak, letting the weight of unspoken words press down on her. Eventually, the quiet gnawed at her resolve.


    ¡°I actually like you.¡± Her voice was small, uncertain. Then, after a shaky breath, she added, ¡°In a¡­ you know¡­ like that kind of way.¡±


    She gulped, her fingers fidgeting with the sleeves of her hoodie. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it until today. And¡­ I was looking for an excuse not to like you, so I told myself I hated you. But I didn¡¯t. And¡­¡± Jenny¡¯s voice trailed off as she felt her face heat up. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she dared a quick glance at Nathan¡¯s face, desperate for his reaction.


    His jaw had gone slack. Brows raised. Eyes barely blinking.


    ¡°I am so confused,¡± he blurted out.


    Jenny¡¯s face burned hotter.


    Nathan winced at his own words, quickly shaking his head. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just really tired right now. We¡¯ll definitely talk about this later.¡±


    Jenny sat there for a moment, nodding slowly. ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±


    A pause.


    Then she stood, brushing off her hoodie. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯ll see you later¡­ I guess.¡± She gave him a small, awkward wave before heading toward the elevator.


    Nathan sighed, watching her retreating figure.


    ''What the hell just happened?¡¯

 Chapter 3 - Inhumane(1)

    Nathan¡¯s phone buzzed on the bedside table. He groaned, lazily reaching for it and shutting off the alarm. Staring up at the ceiling, he exhaled heavily. His headache was gone, but his mind still felt drained. He needed more sleep.


    He turned his head toward the other bed, where Noah had been when he dragged himself into the room the night before. But now, the bed was empty.


    Nathan frowned. ¡®No way Noah left on his own¡¯. A creeping thought entered his mind. He closed his eyes and sent out a pulse, expanding the range of his hearing for just an instant before dialing it back down. A still image of everything within his range formed in his mind.


    ¡®Convenient,¡¯ he thought, smirking.


    Noah wasn¡¯t on this floor. Which meant he was probably downstairs getting breakfast. Nathan figured he should get up and eat too, but right now, something else took priority¡ªunderstanding what else he could do with this newfound ability.


    Where did it even come from? A mutation? Some kind of weird genetic anomaly? He had accidentally drunk some questionable milk last week, but that surely wouldn¡¯t cause a mutation¡­ right? I mean, it did look kinda radioactive¡­


    Shaking his head, he pushed himself up from the bed, stretching his limbs. A sudden rush of blood made his vision blur, and he almost collapsed back onto the mattress. He steadied himself, then made the bed before heading into the bathroom to freshen up.


    ~~~


    Edward stood in front of the mirror, combing through his hair, trying¡ªand failing¡ªto get it to stay in place. He wouldn¡¯t admit it, but he¡¯d been worried about Nathan. The guy had been off for the entire past week. And now, on this field trip, away from home and all the usual pressures, maybe he¡¯d finally get a chance to unwind.


    Ed¡¯s phone buzzed on the bathroom counter. A message from the group chat.


    [Nathan: You guys awake? I just woke up and Noah¡¯s gone.]


    Eddie picked up his phone.


    [Ryan: Yep. He¡¯s at the cafeteria. Dude, you¡¯re missing out. Ivan fell into the pool literally just now.]


    [Ed: I¡¯m still in the room. Gonna go down soon.]


    [Nathan: My dad¡¯s calling. I¡¯ll be down in 10.]


    [Ryan: Cool.]


    Ed set the phone back down, screen facing the counter. Maybe he was overthinking things. Everyone was stressed about exams¡ªnot because they cared about the tests, but because none of them wanted to disappoint their parents. That wasn¡¯t really the case for Eddie, so he couldn''t exactly relate.


    He sighed, glancing at his reflection. His hazel eyes stared back at him beneath a mess of wavy black hair that refused to be tamed. His features were¡­ average. No sharp jawline, no striking eyelashes, nothing that made him stand out. Even his athletic build wasn¡¯t the kind that turned heads.


    He scoffed. Not everyone gets to be whatever they want.


    But that¡¯s why he liked their group. They kept him grounded, pulled him out of spiraling into insecurities. Ryan was the one with the looks. Nathan had that effortlessly captivating smile. Lucian had his contagious laugh. And Eddie¡­ well, he had his academics. That was his thing.


    He let out a small laugh. ¡°What am I even doing with my life?¡± he muttered, shaking his head before heading out.


    ~~~


    Jenny hadn¡¯t slept all night. How could she?


    She had just confessed to the guy she was supposed to hate. She groaned, burying her face under the pillow. She still couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. How had that even happened?


    Zoe, her roommate, had clearly noticed something was off. She sat on the bed, drying her hair, before casually dropping the question.


    ¡°So¡­ when were you gonna tell me?¡±


    Jenny¡¯s head shot up. ¡°Tell you what?¡±


    Zoe turned, giving her a knowing look. ¡°You know what.¡± Jenny swallowed hard. Did Zoe see it happen? Did she know?


    After a long silence, Jenny sighed in defeat. ¡°Fine. I like Nathan Blake, alright?¡±


    The hairdryer slipped from Zoe¡¯s hands. ¡°WHAT?!¡±


    She spun around so fast it was a miracle she didn¡¯t snap her neck. ¡°The hell do you mean Nathan Blake?! He¡¯s friends with Ryan! The same Ryan who tried to force himself on you!¡±


    ¡°I know that, okay?! But Nathan doesn¡¯t even know that about Ryan,¡± Jenny shot back, sitting up.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯ll admit Nathan¡¯s a good guy,¡± Zoe said, crossing her arms. ¡°But he sucks at choosing friends. Or maybe¡­ maybe we¡¯ve got him all wrong. Maybe he¡¯s just as bad.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± Jenny muttered.


    ¡°Come on, Jen! You never liked Nathan before. You always said there was something off about him.¡±


    Jenny sighed. ¡°Zoe¡­ there¡¯s something off about everyone.¡±


    ¡°Not like this. Did you see how he looked at Edward when he broke his leg? Ed¡¯s supposed to be his friend, and he just stared at him. It was Lucian who actually helped him.¡±


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    ¡°Maybe there was something else going on,¡± Jenny said, rubbing her temples.


    ¡°Or maybe you¡¯re just blind now because you like him,¡± Zoe argued.


    Jenny had no response to that. Because, deep down, she knew Zoe had a point.


    Maybe she was right.


    Or maybe¡­ she wasn¡¯t.


    ~~~


    ¡°I get it, Dad.¡± Nathan¡¯s voice echoed through the room as he stood in front of the mirror, buttoning up his shirt and fixing his hair. His phone lay on the dressing table, the call screen displaying one word: Dad.


    [I know I haven¡¯t been home much, and I know that hurts you and your mom, but you have to understand¡ª]


    ¡°Dad, seriously. I get it.¡± Nathan sighed, picking up his phone. ¡°But that¡¯s not what this is about, is it?¡±


    Silence.


    [Look¡­ there are things related to the case that I can¡¯t share with you, but you need to be careful. As far as the evidence goes, there are certain individuals in that hotel you should definitely avoid.]


    Nathan frowned. ¡°What kind of case are you working on?¡± His brows furrowed, attention shifting from the mirror to the phone.


    Another pause.


    ¡°Dad?¡±


    [Just... don¡¯t trust people too easily.]


    Nathan exhaled slowly. ¡°Alright. I promise.¡± He ended the call, staring at his phone for a moment. What the hell was that about?


    His father had never warned him about a case before. In fact, he usually shared details, often asking for Nathan¡¯s insight. Nathan had even helped solve a few cases in the past. So why the secrecy now?


    ¡°Certain individuals, huh?¡±


    Closing his eyes, Nathan expanded his hearing. This time, instead of pulsing outward, he scanned each floor separately, searching for anyone suspicious.


    A famous artist. A programmer. An office worker. A cheater. Cops undercover. A writer. His classmates. His friends. Jenny¡ª


    Nathan slapped himself in the face and immediately cut off his senses.


    Shit.


    How was he supposed to face Jenny now? Technically, he hadn¡¯t seen her in the shower¡ªbut let¡¯s be real, the difference was barely noticeable. Groaning, he covered his eyes with his hand.


    It wasn¡¯t embarrassment. It was shame. He had seen something he wasn¡¯t meant to. Strangely, the guilt wasn¡¯t there when he spotted the guy cheating on his wife a few floors down. But Jenny? He knew her. Not well, but well enough. And if her confession last night had been sincere, avoiding her now would send the wrong message.


    Focus.


    His father had mentioned a case. Undercover cops were here. That wasn¡¯t a coincidence.


    Nathan sharpened his senses again, this time zoning in on the room where the officers were stationed. He sat still, concentrated¡ªand suddenly, it was as if he had left his own body. The room unfolded around him, visible from every possible angle.


    And he listened.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much time. He¡¯s going to be on the move again.¡± One officer sat on the bed, rubbing his temples.


    ¡°We still don¡¯t know what he looks like,¡± the other muttered, standing by the window, staring out at the city. ¡°So how do we even know the sources are legit?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t. Higher-ups want him gone.¡±


    The officer by the window snapped his head around. ¡°Why? What did this man even do? And he¡¯s a single parent, for God¡¯s sake!¡±


    ¡°Look, Danny, we just follow orders, okay? If we want to keep our heads on our shoulders.¡±


    Danny scoffed. ¡°I joined the force to fight injustice and corruption. This is corruption! There¡¯s no evidence of this man ever committing a crime!¡±


    The first officer met his gaze. ¡°There are things in this world beyond our understanding. People who look human but aren¡¯t. People with abilities straight out of fiction. They exist, Danny. And they run the show from the shadows. We¡¯re here to stop them.¡±


    Danny barked out a laugh. ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡±


    The officer¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Where do you think all those stories come from? Vampires, shapeshifters¡ªthese aren¡¯t just myths. They¡¯re warnings from people who saw them firsthand.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re seriously telling me vampires are real?¡± Danny¡¯s voice dripped with skepticism.


    ¡°The stories aren¡¯t accurate, but they¡¯re based on truth. I¡¯ve seen it. I saw my partner¡¯s heart ripped out of his chest¡ªthrough his back.¡±


    Danny¡¯s face paled.


    The first officer lowered his voice. ¡°You don¡¯t have to believe me. And yeah, our system¡¯s corrupt. But we¡¯re not letting that thing in human skin go free.¡±


    Nathan snapped back to himself, his senses returning to normal.


    His heart pounded.


    What the hell was his dad working on?


    Who¡ªor what¡ªwere the cops chasing?


    And most importantly...


    If powers like his existed, then what else was out there?


    Nathan exhaled, shaking his head. I¡¯ll think about this later.


    Glancing at his reflection one last time, he turned toward the door.


    As he opened it, he nearly bumped into Lacey. Her hand was raised mid-knock.


    ¡°Lacey?¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t down for breakfast, so I thought I¡¯d check on you.¡± She lowered her hand and clasped them behind her back, following as Nathan stepped out and walked toward the elevator. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Offended?¡± She tilted her head playfully.


    Nathan chuckled. ¡°No, Lacey. I¡¯m not mad. Or offended.¡± His face melted into a familiar, easy smile.


    ¡°Then why ignore me?¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to do, Lacey? I confessed. You rejected.¡± He shrugged.


    ¡°I still want my friend, you know.¡±


    The elevator doors slid open, and they stepped inside. Nathan pressed the button for the cafeteria, and Lacey waited patiently for him to respond.


    ¡°We can¡¯t be just friends anymore,¡± he sighed, staring up at the ceiling. ¡°You know how I feel about you.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t be the same as before¡­ but we can still try to be friends, you know.¡± She nudged him lightly.


    Nathan clicked his tongue. ¡°Wow, look at you. Desperately trying to friendzone me.¡± He shook his head in mock disapproval.


    Lacey burst into laughter, and despite the knots inside his chest, Nathan found himself laughing too.

 Chapter 4 - Inhumane(2)

    ¡°F*ck. I swear someone must have pushed me!¡± Ivan raged, standing near the pool, water dripping from his clothes. ¡°I was lucky I didn''t have anything important on me. Seriously, who the f*ck was it? This is not funny!¡± His voice grew louder.


    ¡°But why did you come here anyway?¡± Ryan asked, handing him a towel.


    ¡°I don''t know, to explore.¡± Ivan rolled his eyes, snatching the towel and wiping his face.


    From a distance, inside the cafeteria, Noah watched the scene unfold. Ivan wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, but he wasn¡¯t completely right either. Someone had bumped into him¡ªby accident. Noah could step in and clarify the situation¡­ or simply enjoy the show. He chose the latter.


    His frail, pale figure made him stand out even from a mile away. That was one of the reasons he had grown introverted. He was different. Weak. Even as a child, his parents had been overly protective, never allowing him to play with other kids. That isolation shaped him into the detached person he had become.


    To make matters worse, Noah was far too trusting. He had lost count of how many times people had taken advantage of his kindness. And yet, despite it all, he still trusted. Almost blindly at times.


    High school had been nothing like he had expected. Not in the slightest. Everyone was consumed by their own drama, too infatuated with themselves to notice anyone else. Noah often felt invisible¡ªand that was fine. He didn¡¯t mind being the unnoticed kid in class.


    Then came Nathan Blake. A variable Noah couldn¡¯t quite figure out. Nathan didn¡¯t stand out much¡ªhe wasn¡¯t the smartest. Noah could easily beat him in any subject. Nor was he the strongest. But if there was one thing Nathan excelled at, it was people. He wasn¡¯t the kind to seek attention, nor did he try to control crowds, yet somehow, he knew everyone. The most popular kid. The guy who barely showed up to class. The quiet student most would ignore.


    To Noah, who had barely any friends, Nathan seemed like a genuinely nice guy. But experience had taught him not to expect too much. Become too clingy, and people avoided you. Become too distant, and they called you arrogant. Humans never seemed to know when to be satisfied.


    Noah chuckled to himself. He had agreed to share a room with Nathan. To study him. A week of observing how the guy lived might reveal something no one else had noticed. After all, nobody really knew who Nathan Blake was. No one knew his background. Yet, here he was, attending one of the most prestigious schools in the country. That had to mean something¡­ right?


    Some might call it an obsession. But to Noah, it was curiosity. Or perhaps, deep down, he wanted to prove to himself that there was no such thing as kindness without an agenda.


    ~~~


    ¡°Jenny!¡± Zoe called, poking her head through the doorway. ¡°It''s just breakfast, for god¡¯s sake!¡± She rolled her eyes.


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Jenny muttered, checking herself in the mirror from every angle. Her palms were sweaty. She wasn¡¯t sure why she was trying so hard to look perfect. But she had to. She had to be noticed.


    ¡°Jen.¡± Zoe shot her a death glare from across the room. That was Jenny¡¯s cue¡ªif she didn¡¯t move now, her funeral was in five minutes.


    Almost instinctively, Jenny turned and marched toward the door. ¡°Yep. I''m coming.¡±


    ¡°Seriously. What could you possibly be worried about to be this dramatic?¡± Zoe sighed, shaking her head in disappointment.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°I mean, you weren¡¯t acting any different when it was about you know who.¡± Jenny pressed her lips together and gave Zoe a knowing look.


    ¡°I thought we agreed not to bring that up again!¡± Zoe hissed, straightening up in offense.


    ¡°No. I agreed not to say his name again.¡± Jenny smirked.


    ¡°That¡¯s the same thing!¡± Zoe huffed as they walked down the hallway toward the elevator, exchanging insults and regrettable memories of past romantic endeavors. The conversation distracted Zoe, and she didn¡¯t notice the man approaching until she bumped into him.


    ¡°Shit. I''m sorry. I wasn''t looking.¡± Zoe winced at her carelessness.


    The man was¡­ unusual. Blonde hair, emerald-green eyes¡ªrare genetics around these parts. Especially the green eyes. But what stood out even more was his attire: a light peach trench coat, complementing his hair in an oddly deliberate way.


    He offered a warm smile. ¡°That is quite alright.¡±


    Despite looking no older than his twenties, something about his demeanor felt¡­ out of place. Too poised. Too controlled.


    ¡°Happens to us all. And I''d say I¡¯m more at fault than you.¡± His gaze shifted to Jenny as well. ¡°I don''t mean to trouble you, but have either of you seen a boy? Blonde. He¡¯d be hard to miss.¡± His eyebrows lifted slightly, almost pleading.


    ¡°No¡­ We haven¡¯t,¡± Jenny answered, wrapping a hand around Zoe¡¯s arm. ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± The man exhaled in disappointment. ¡°Once again, I apologize for the intrusion.¡± With a slight nod, he continued down the hallway. Jenny and Zoe watched him disappear.


    ¡°That¡­ was weird,¡± Zoe muttered.


    ¡°I know.¡± Jenny nodded. ¡°Which proves my point¡ªthere¡¯s something off about everyone.¡±


    ¡°No. You do not get to use a random stranger to support your argument.¡± Zoe frowned.


    ¡°Look, if you wanna waste your time with Blake, be my guest. Just don¡¯t come crying to me when things go exactly as I predict.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t.¡± Jenny crossed her arms and pressed the elevator button. ¡°Besides, I took karate classes after that incident. I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Girl¡­¡± Zoe gave her a once-over. ¡°You¡¯re delusional if you think you can overpower that man. Look at you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not worried about Nathan trying anything like that,¡± Zoe added, her tone turning serious as the elevator doors slid open. They stepped inside.


    ¡°There are rumors about him, Jenny. Bad ones. And rumors like that don¡¯t start without a reason.¡±


    ~~~


    ¡°You remember Celeste? From middle school?¡± Lacey asked, watching the numbers change on the elevator panel.


    ¡°I guess. What about her?¡± Nathan tilted his head slightly, glancing at her.


    ¡°We met recently. And, boy, she had some interesting things to say.¡± Lacey chuckled, but Nathan remained silent, his expression expectant.


    ¡°She also mentioned you,¡± Lacey added, testing his reaction.


    ¡°Like?¡± Nathan¡¯s gaze flicked up to the elevator display.


    ¡°Like what happened with Barry¡­¡± She paused, peeking at him, holding her breath. ¡°She said you were involved.¡±


    Nathan remained silent for a moment.


    ¡°I was involved with everyone, Lacey. And I knew what Barry was going through¡­¡± Nathan¡¯s voice trailed off. He swallowed hard, his head turning away, fists clenching. ¡°Maybe I should have done more¡­ Maybe¡­¡± He exhaled sharply, turning back to her, his brows knitted together in pain. ¡°Maybe I should have been held responsible for that tragedy.¡±


    Instinctively, Lacey cupped his face in her hands. ¡°No. Nathan, I¡¯m sorry. My peanut brain didn¡¯t realize how painful it must have been.¡±


    ¡°I could have stopped him¡­¡± His voice cracked. His hands found Lacey¡¯s wrists, trembling as he held onto them. ¡°I could have. But I was so caught up in my own drama. So self-centered, I neglected him.¡±


    Nathan turned away. ¡°F*ck. I was supposed to be his friend.¡±

 Chapter 5 - Neurons

    The aroma of perfectly done coffee and pastries filled the air. Jenny and Zoe entered the buffet arranged by the hotel for its guests. The first thing Jenny did was scan the room for the certain someone she was looking forward to see.


    And there he was, talking to Noah, probably small talk but Jenny was glad it didn''t look like something serious. Zoe slapped her on the back and skedaddled towards their fried group. Jenny annoyingly rolled her eyes before walking towards the table with Nathan and Noah.


    Nathan seemed to have noticed her from the conner of his eyes. Jenny gave an awkward wave to which Nathan returned the favor. ¡°Hey.¡± Nathan said when she was close enough.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡± Jenny didn''t really know what to say. Noah was quiet, his eyes darting between Nathan and Jenny. The quiet awkwardness was surprisingly loud. ¡°So.. what you guys talking about?¡± She asked sitting down with them.


    ¡°We were talking about Ivan. You must have heard right.¡± Nathan said, his brows raised.


    ¡°Oh yeah.. Like why wear flashy clothes and go to a pool?.¡± Jenny leaned in, amused.


    ¡°Luckily he wasn''t in there for a long time.¡± Noah chimed in. ¡°Prolonged exposure to chlorinated water has a negative effect apparently.¡± He added.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Anyways, what''s the plan for today? I didn''t read anything the teachers sent.¡± Nathan leaned back on his seat.


    ¡°Well, we''re going to this science museum I think. Mainly focused on robotics and stuff.¡± Noah said going through his phone trying to find the name of the place. ¡°We''re leaving in like 15 minutes¡­ you should probably eat something before than Jenny.¡± Noah said.


    Jenny exhaled sharply. ¡°I knew I forgot something.¡± She paused herself off the chair and went to the buffet to take her pick.


    ¡°So do need like a note book or, anything?¡± Nathan asked Noah.


    ¡°No. You''ll most likely be fine. And if you do need notes, I got you covered.¡± Noah said, giving him a thumbs up.


    ¡°You sure? I don''t wanna impose.¡± Nathan frowned, his voice drenched in worry.


    ¡°Yeah. Don''t worry about it.¡± Noah said, smiling. Genuinely in fact. Which surprised Nathan.


    ~~~


    The teacher, Mr. Aldrich, started calling the students to get on the bus. The middle aged man had a frown carved into his genetics. Most people would think he''s mad but his students knew him well enough to know otherwise.


    The museum wasn''t that far from the Hotel so today''s work mostly would end quicker than the rest of the week. ¡°Come on guys, we''re tight on schedule. We can''t be late!¡± And then his eyes landed on Lucian. ¡°Lucian stop pestering the felines and get over here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah yeah.¡± Lucian sighed as he got up from petting a sleek black cat. Pulling out a bottle of sanitizer from his pocket, he rubs it over his hands. ¡°Happy?¡± He said showing his hands to Mr. Aldrich.


    ¡°Very. Now get in there.¡± He replied, jerking his head towards the bus.


    Lucian walks in and scans the seats for someone he knows. Seeing the seat next to Ryan empty, Lucian plops down. ¡°The hell¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Ryan asked raising his brows in confusion.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lucian asked with the same confusion. Both of them remained silent for a moment.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Ryan sighed. ¡°You know what¡­ never mind.¡± His eyes went back his game. Moving the console and attacking what appears to be soldiers of another team.


    ¡°I seriously don''t get what you find entertaining in playing that.¡± Lucian commented, looking up at the miniature air conditioner on top of them.


    ¡°Dude. It''s a ranked match. Don''t bother me right now.¡± Ryan said, his eyes glued to the phone screen.


    ¡°Sure..¡± Lucian said, his eyes analyzing everything around him. Everyone was involved in something. Mostly idle talk. And some on their phones. Lucian felt empty. What was the point of being here? He wasn''t even interested in coming on this trip. He only came because his friends came.


    The murmurs of students enveloped the vehicle. The dim light of day gleaming over the horizon. The massive towers cast pillars of faint darkness on the city roads. It was quiet, cool and comfortable. Lucian relaxed his muscles, sinking into the seat. They didn''t have giant cushion attached to them, but they weren''t rock hard either.


    His hair, being soft and straight, usually fell infront of his eyes, which Lucian normally found annoying. However today was not one of those days. He''d rather relax on this trip. The stress waiting for him at home was more than enough.


    Lucian opened his eyes to the sight of Nathan walking in with Jenny and Noah following them behind. Instinctively Lucian¡¯s eyes squinted at him. ¡®What are you planning this time?¡¯ His jaw clenched just seeing the sight.


    Nathan walked pass him, giving the general smile pouring warmth on the receiver. Lucian raised his brows in acknowledgement. And that was it¡­ the end of their exchange. Like every other time.


    ~~~


    Danny stared at his reflection on the mirror. His hands cupping water from the tap. Washing his face, Danny sighed. ¡®I don''t buy it. Of course I don''t. Supernatural beings? Not a chance.¡¯ Wiping his face with a towel, his mind dived into the possibilities of why his partner would lie to him.


    Knock. Knock.


    ¡°I''ll get it.¡± Danny said walking out the bathroom, tossing the towel on the counter. As he pulled the handle, his immediate attention went to the mesmerizing emerald eyes. And then his neck tightened. His feet levitated above the floor.


    His instinct to survive kicked in a bit slow. He grabbed the hand that choked him. ¡°I apologize for the undignified greeting on my part.¡± The man stepped in the room, closing the door behind him.


    Danny¡¯s partner, unaware of the intrusion walked over, ¡°Hey, Dan. Everything alright?¡± His eyes widened as he reached for his handgun.


    ¡°You and I both know that would be irrelevant.¡± The man said tightening his grip around Danny''s throat. Danny felt his hands losing their will to fight for him. His eyes went towards his partner, begging for help.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± The officer asked snatching the gun out of the holster and aiming at the man.


    ¡°Sebastian Von Ashford.¡± He smiled easily, as if he wasn''t choking Danny with his left hand. ¡°Pleasure to meet you. I heard you were looking for me.¡± He said tilting his head.


    ¡°Never heard of you. Now let him go!¡± The officer demanded. He could hear the blood pulsing through his body. The rush of adrenaline flowing through his veins. A similar feeling, yet somehow it felt different. It was as if he was being watched by a beast. A hunter.


    The officer never once in his career though of himself as the hunted, except once. A memory that he''d rather forget. But an experience already edged into his mind. permanent.


    The realization hit him like iron bricks launched. He swallowed hard, though his mouth was dry. His breath already gaining weight by the passing second. ¡°You''re one of ¡®them''.¡±


    ¡°I don''t not know what you''re referring to,¡± Danny''s hands fell as consciousness faded from his mind. The intruder drops his unconscious body to the floor. Stepping over his head, the man walks towards the officer. ¡°But for argument¡¯s sake. Let''s say you''re right. What do you know about me?¡± He asked, putting hands behind his back.


    ¡°I- I know what you''re capable of.¡± The officer said, his voice trembling.


    ¡°If you did, you would not hold me at gunpoint.¡± The man stepped forward, letting the gun touch his chest, smirking.


    The officer¡¯s hands shook with his finger on the trigger. He should shoot right? There''s no way he''d miss. ¡®SHOOT!¡¯ He scolded himself, but to no avail. The animal deep within the human mind knows what it''s facing. It''s natural predator.


    ¡°Now, I''m going to ask you a simple question.¡± The man slowly held the gun and took it from the officer.


    ¡°Where. Is. My child?¡±