Chapter 20: Shattered Perfection
"…They'll come for this family too."
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The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
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Emily's chest tightened.
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"What does that even mean?!" she snapped.
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Her father didn't answer immediately.
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And that—
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That made it worse.
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"You keep saying things like you understand what's happening," Emily continued, her voice rising, "but you're not explaining anything!"
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"Lower your voice," her mother said sharply.
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Emily turned to her instantly.
"No."
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Silence.
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A dangerous kind.
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"I'm done pretending everything is normal," Emily said. "It's not. Something is happening to me—"
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"We can see that," her mother cut in coldly.
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That stung.
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Emily's expression hardened.
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"Then stop acting like I'm the problem."
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"I am acting like a parent," her mother replied. "You're skipping responsibilities, lying, and now speaking in riddles about being 'marked'—"
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"I didn't choose this!" Emily snapped.
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The room went still.
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For a moment—
no one spoke.
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Then her mother stepped forward.
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"You always have a choice," she said firmly. "Control yourself."
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Emily laughed bitterly.
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"Control?" she repeated.
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A pause.
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"You think this is about discipline?" she said.
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Her voice dropped—
shaking now.
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"I almost disappeared today."
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Silence.
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Her mother's expression faltered—just slightly.
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"There was something," Emily continued, "and it—"
She hesitated.
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"…it touched me."
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The air shifted.
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Her father's expression darkened instantly.
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"…Where?" he asked.
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Emily blinked.
"…What?"
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"Where did it touch you?" he repeated, more urgently.
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She slowly raised her hand.
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"…Here."
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He stepped forward quickly—grabbing her wrist.
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Emily flinched.
"Hey—!"
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But the moment he touched her—
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He froze.
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His grip tightened slightly.
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"…It's active," he whispered.
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Her mother's composure broke completely now.
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"What do you mean active?" she demanded.
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Before he could answer—
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Every light in the house flickered.
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Once.
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Twice.
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Then—
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Darkness.
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Emily's breath caught.
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"…No."
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A familiar pressure filled the air.
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Heavy.
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Sharp.
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Zara's words echoed in her mind:
They act.
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Her father released her immediately.
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"…Get behind me," he said.
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But it was already too late.
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The glass wall behind them—
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SHATTERED.
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CRASH.
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Wind rushed in violently—
curtains whipping—
glass scattering across the floor.
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And from the darkness outside—
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It stepped in.
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Another Hunter.
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But this one—
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felt different.
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Stronger.
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Its body was more defined.
More stable.
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Its presence—
overwhelming.
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"Target confirmed."
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Emily's heart dropped.
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"…It followed me."
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The Hunter's gaze shifted—
not just to her—
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But to her parents.
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"Additional subjects detected."
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Her father stepped forward immediately.
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"Stay behind me," he repeated.
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But this time—
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his voice was different.
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Serious.
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Dangerous.
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The Hunter tilted its head slightly.
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"…Unknown resistance detected."
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A pause.
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"Recalibrating threat level."
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Emily's eyes widened.
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"…It can sense you too."
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Her father didn't deny it.
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Instead—
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he raised his hand slowly.
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And the air around him—
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shifted.
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Just like Daniel.
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But heavier.
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More controlled.
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Older.
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Her mother stepped back slightly.
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"…You hid this from me?" she whispered.
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He didn't look at her.
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"…I was protecting you."
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Emily stared.
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"…You too?" she whispered.
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Her father glanced at her briefly.
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"…We'll talk later."
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The Hunter moved.
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Fast.
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It lunged straight at Emily—
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But her father intercepted instantly—
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Their forces colliding—
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BOOM.
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The entire room shook.
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Furniture cracked.
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Walls trembled.
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Emily stumbled back.
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"…This is insane."
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"Emily!" her father shouted. "Focus!"
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The Hunter attacked again—
faster—
stronger—
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But this time—
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her father held it back.
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Barely.
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"Get out!" he yelled. "Both of you!"
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"I'm not leaving you!" Emily shouted.
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"You don't have a choice!"
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The Hunter's energy spiked suddenly.
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"Priority target: Emily."
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It broke through—
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For a split second—
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And that was enough.
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It rushed past him—
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Straight toward her.
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Emily froze—
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Not from fear.
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From that feeling again.
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That pull.
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Soon.
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Her vision flickered.
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The world slowed.
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And just as the Hunter reached her—
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Something inside her…
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responded.