CHAPTER 20, The Hunt Begins
Night settled slowly over the city.
The world outside grew quiet—
But Jay's mind didn't.
He sat on the edge of his bed, leaning forward, his hands loosely clasped together. The faint yellow light of his room stretched shadows across the walls, making everything feel longer… deeper… almost unreal.
He hadn't moved much since it happened.
That presence.
That voice.
"Find him."
The words echoed again in his mind.
Clear.
Cold.
Unavoidable.
"…Find me?" Jay whispered under his breath.
The question didn't make sense.
If that thing was a fragment of his past…
Then why was it searching for him?
Shouldn't it already know him?
—
A faint pulse stirred inside his chest.
Not pain.
Not fear.
Something else.
Recognition.
Jay's eyes slowly lifted.
"…You felt that too, didn't you?"
Inside—
The darkness responded.
The shadow appeared.
Standing still.
Watching him.
"Yes."
Jay exhaled slowly.
"Then explain it."
A pause.
The shadow didn't answer immediately.
As if choosing its words carefully.
"…Fragments do not carry everything," it finally said.
"They carry pieces."
Jay frowned.
"Pieces of what?"
"Memory. Power. Intent."
A brief silence.
"And sometimes…"
"…purpose."
—
Jay's grip tightened slightly.
"…So that thing had a purpose."
"Yes."
"And that purpose is… me?"
The shadow's red glow deepened faintly.
"…It is connected to you."
Jay leaned back slightly, thinking.
"Connected doesn't mean friendly."
"No," the shadow replied.
"It does not."
—
Silence filled the room again.
But now it wasn't empty.
It was heavy with realization.
—
"If it's searching for me…" Jay said slowly,
"…then it's not the only one."
The shadow didn't deny it.
"…Correct."
Jay closed his eyes for a moment.
His thoughts racing faster now.
"So how many are there?"
No answer came.
Not immediately.
Which meant—
Even the shadow didn't fully know.
—
That was worse.
—
A sudden chill ran through the room.
Not as strong as before—
But noticeable.
Jay's eyes snapped open.
"…Again."
He stood up instantly.
This time—
He didn't wait.
—
"Show yourself."
His voice was firm.
Sharp.
Commanding.
—
Nothing appeared.
—
But the feeling didn't go away.
It lingered.
Like something just beyond his reach.
—
Jay clenched his jaw.
"…You're hiding."
A faint whisper echoed—
Not in the room—
But inside his mind.
"…Not hiding…"
Jay froze.
The voice wasn't the same as before.
This one—
Was clearer.
Colder.
More focused.
—
"…Watching."
—
Jay's breathing slowed.
His eyes flickered red again.
"…Then stop watching and come out."
A pause.
Then—
"…Not yet."
—
Jay's fists tightened.
"You're the one looking for me. So come face me."
Silence.
Then—
A faint response.
"…Soon."
—
The presence faded.
Just like that.
Gone.
—
Jay stood still for a few seconds.
Listening.
Waiting.
Nothing.
—
"…This is getting annoying," he muttered.
—
Inside—
The shadow spoke again.
"You are being tested."
Jay frowned.
"Tested by what?"
"…By what remains of your past."
—
Jay turned his gaze toward the window.
The night sky stretched endlessly outside.
Dark.
Quiet.
But no longer empty.
—
"…Then I'll stop waiting," Jay said.
The shadow watched silently.
"…And what will you do?"
Jay's eyes hardened.
"I'll find them first."
—
Inside the darkness—
The shadow didn't react.
But if it could—
It would have smiled.
—
Because that decision—
Changed everything.
—
The next morning—
The school felt different again.
Not because of fear this time—
But because of rumors.
Whispers spread through the corridors.
Students talking in low voices.
Glancing around nervously.
—
Jay walked through the hallway, noticing it immediately.
"…Something happened."
He didn't need to ask.
He could feel it.
—
Near the staircase—
A small crowd had gathered.
Students standing in a circle.
Watching something.
—
Jay moved closer.
Slowly.
The crowd parted slightly when they noticed him.
Not out of respect—
But instinct.
—
And then—
He saw it.
—
One of the boys from yesterday.
The bullies.
—
He was on the ground.
Unconscious.
—
His face pale.
His body completely still.
No visible injuries.
No blood.
Nothing.
—
But his eyes—
Were open.
—
Wide.
Frozen.
Filled with pure terror.
—
Jay's expression darkened.
"…This wasn't normal."
—
A teacher pushed through the crowd.
"Move aside!"
Students stepped back.
The boy was quickly taken away.
—
But the whispers didn't stop.
—
"They said he was found like this…"
"No one knows what happened…"
"He was fine yesterday…"
—
Jay stood there.
Silent.
Thinking.
—
Inside—
The shadow spoke quietly.
"…It has begun."
—
Jay's eyes narrowed.
"…What has?"
A pause.
Then—
"…The hunt."
—
Jay clenched his fist slowly.
Because now—
It was clear.
—
Whatever those fragments were—
They weren't just watching anymore.
—
They had started moving.
—
And this time—
They weren't just looking for him.
—
They were getting closer. 🔥👁️