The air still smelled like dust and heat.
Fragments of the shattered D2 faded into nothing, dissolving like ash in the wind.
Kael didn't move.
His eyes stayed fixed on the exact spot where it had fallen—no, not where it had fallen… where he had seen something else.
A shadow.
A presence.
Someone.
"…Kael."
He didn't respond.
"…Kael."
A hand tapped his shoulder.
He blinked.
The world came back.
Mira stood in front of him, brows slightly drawn.
"…you good?"
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…yeah."
But his eyes drifted again.
"…I thought I saw someone," he added quietly.
Mira followed his gaze, scanning the empty space.
"…there's no one there."
He knew that.
Still…
"…yeah. Probably nothing."
He brushed it off.
Forced it away.
"…let's go."
Ryden stretched his arms as he walked past them.
"…finally, I'm starving again."
"…you're always starving," Mira muttered.
They regrouped with the others and headed back toward the transport.
Behind them—
The mall stood broken.
Silent.
But the feeling it left behind didn't fade.
---
Far away.
Deep inside the facility.
Hidden behind layers of security—
A private room.
Dark.
Cold.
---
A figure stood there.
Cloaked.
Still.
Watching.
---
Across from him—
A scientist.
Nervous.
Waiting.
---
"…you saw it," the cloaked figure said, voice low, distorted.
"…they've begun to awaken faster than expected."
The scientist swallowed.
"…yes… but the data is still incomplete—"
"…we don't have time."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
---
The cloaked figure stepped forward.
From within the shadows, a small vial appeared.
Dark liquid inside.
Unnatural.
---
"…the plan begins now."
The scientist hesitated.
"…this is too early—"
"…it's already late."
The vial was pressed into his hand.
Cold.
---
"…use it when necessary."
The scientist nodded slowly.
---
The cloaked figure turned.
His gaze shifting.
---
To the center of the room.
---
A glass tube.
---
Inside—
A girl.
Still.
Unmoving.
---
Monitors flickered beside her.
---
**Compatibility: 35%**
---
"…she's progressing," the scientist whispered.
---
"…not fast enough," the cloaked figure replied.
---
Silence.
---
"…she will become the key."
---
And just like that—
He was gone.
---
Night fell.
---
The facility quieted.
---
Lights dimmed.
Footsteps faded.
---
But Kael couldn't sleep.
---
He lay on his bed.
Eyes open.
Staring at the ceiling.
---
That feeling again.
---
That presence.
---
"…someone was there."
He sat up.
Ran a hand through his hair.
---
"…I know what I saw."
---
The room felt too small.
Too quiet.
---
He stood.
---
And left.
---
The halls were nearly empty.
Dim lights.
Cold air.
---
He stepped outside.
---
The night was still.
---
For a moment—
Peaceful.
---
Then—
"…you shouldn't be out here."
---
Kael turned.
---
A girl stood a few steps away.
---
Quiet.
Reserved.
---
Lina Vale.
---
One of the fourteen.
---
The one with the healing hybrid.
---
Her eyes avoided his.
---
"…you're out here too," Kael said.
---
She didn't answer.
---
Just shifted slightly.
---
"…couldn't sleep?" he tried again.
---
Silence.
---
"…hey—"
---
She stepped back.
---
Then turned—
---
And ran.
---
"…wait—"
---
But she was already gone.
---
Kael frowned.
---
"…what was that…"
---
"…you shouldn't wander at night."
---
He turned again.
---
The female scientist.
Dr. Elara Voss.
---
Standing behind him.
---
"…it's not safe."
---
Kael shrugged slightly.
"…just needed air."
---
She studied him.
---
"…get used to unease. It means you're paying attention."
---
Before he could respond—
---
Footsteps.
Fast.
Panicked.
---
"Doctor!"
---
Another student rushed toward them.
Breathing hard.
---
"…something's wrong!"
---
"…what happened?" Elara asked sharply.
---
"…it's one of us—he's—he's changing!"
---
Kael's stomach dropped.
---
They ran.
---
Fast.
---
Through corridors.
Past doors.
---
Then—
They reached the room.
---
It was chaos.
---
A body on the floor.
---
Convulsing.
---
Cracking.
---
Not human.
Not D2.
---
Both.
---
"…what the hell—" Ryden stepped back.
---
The boy screamed.
---
His skin splitting—
Reforming—
Breaking again.
---
His Hybrid—
Half-formed beside him—
Also unstable.
---
"…he's collapsing!" someone shouted.
---
Then—
A voice.
Calm.
Unbothered.
---
"…it was bound to happen."
---
They all turned.
---
The playboy senior.
---
Leaning against the wall.
---
Watching.
---
"…what did you do?" Mira's voice dropped.
---
He smiled slightly.
---
"…nothing he didn't agree to."
---
Silence.
---
"…what do you mean?" Kael asked.
---
"…he gave it to me," the senior replied casually.
"…his hybrid."
---
Shock hit the room.
---
"…you're insane," Mira said.
---
"…am I?"
---
She stepped forward.
---
"…you used him."
---
"…he was weak."
---
That was it.
---
Mira moved.
---
Fast.
Angry.
---
"…you're a fool—"
---
She almost reached him—
---
"STOP."
---
Elara stepped in.
---
Fast.
---
The vial was already in her hand.
---
She didn't hesitate.
---
She injected it.
---
Directly into the boy.
---
And—
His Hybrid.
---
Silence.
---
Then—
The change stopped.
---
Slowly.
---
Painfully.
---
Stabilizing.
---
The cracks faded.
---
The screaming stopped.
---
The room went still.
---
Everyone stared.
---
"…what… was that…" Ryden whispered.
---
Elara didn't answer.
---
"…all of you," she said coldly.
"…return to your rooms."
---
No one argued.
---
But Kael—
Didn't move immediately.
---
His eyes stayed on the boy.
---
Then on the vial.
---
"…that wasn't normal."
---
No one answered him.
---
They left.
---
Slowly.
---
Silently.
---
Kael walked behind them.
---
His thoughts racing.
---
"…that drug…"
---
"…what are they hiding…"
---
Then—
It hit him.
---
A flash.
---
A vision.
---
Something—
Horrible.
---
Too fast to understand.
---
Too real to ignore.
---
His body froze.
---
"…what—"
---
Pain surged through his head.
---
Darkness swallowed everything.
---
And he collapsed.
---
---
Outside.
---
Far from the lights.
---
The cloaked figure stood again.
---
Silent.
Watching.
---
Beside him—
A woman.
---
Elegant.
Cold.
---
"…they've grown," she said softly.
---
The cloaked figure didn't respond.
---
But his gaze—
Never left the facility.
---
"…good," she added.
"…it will make this more interesting."
---
The wind moved.
---
And the night—
Felt heavier than before.