The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and delectable pastries filled the air as Jenny and Zoe entered the buffet arranged by the hotel for its guests. The first thing Jenny did was scan the room for the special someone she had been eagerly anticipating.

  And there he was, engaged in conversation with Noah—likely just small talk—but Jenny was relieved it didn’t seem serious. Zoe playfully slapped her on the back and dashed toward their group of friends. Jenny rolled her eyes in annoyance before making her way to the table where Nathan and Noah were sitting.

  Nathan seemed to catch sight of her from the corner of his eye. Jenny offered an awkward wave, which Nathan reciprocated. "Hey," Nathan said when she was close enough.

  "Hey…" Jenny wasn't quite sure what to say. Noah remained silent, his eyes shifting between Nathan and Jenny. The uncomfortable silence felt surprisingly loud. "So… what were you guys talking about?" she inquired, taking a seat beside them.

  "We were talking about Ivan. You must have heard, right?" Nathan asked, raising his eyebrows.

  "Oh yeah… Like, why wear flashy clothes and go to a pool?" Jenny leaned in, amused.

  "Luckily he wasn't in there for long," Noah remarked. "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 said as he leaned back in his seat.

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

  Jenny exhaled sharply. "I knew I forgot something." She pushed herself off the chair and walked over to the buffet to make her selection.

  "So, do we need a notebook or anything?" Nathan asked Noah.

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

  "You sure? I don't want to impose," Nathan said, his voice filled with concern.

  "Yeah. Don't worry about it," Noah said, smiling genuinely, which surprised Nathan.

  ~~~

  The teacher, Mr. Aldrich, began calling the students to board the bus. The middle-aged man had a frown etched into his features. While most people might assume he was angry, his students knew him well enough to understand otherwise.

  The museum was not far from the hotel, so today's trip would likely conclude more quickly than the rest of the week. "Come on, guys, we're tight on schedule. We can't be late!" His gaze then fell on Lucian. "Lucian, stop pestering the felines and get over here."

  "Yeah, yeah," Lucian sighed as he stood up from petting a sleek black cat. Pulling a bottle of hand sanitizer from his pocket, he rubbed it over his hands. "Happy?" he asked, displaying his hands to Mr. Aldrich.

  "Very. Now get in there," he replied, jerking his head toward the bus.

  Lucian walked in and scanned the seats for someone he recognized. Spotting the empty seat next to Ryan, he plopped down. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Ryan asked, raising his brows in confusion.

  “What do you mean?” Lucian asked, mirroring the same confusion. Both of them fell silent for a moment.

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  Ryan sighed. “You know what… never mind.” He returned his focus to the game, maneuvering his character and attacking what seemed to be soldiers from another team.

  “I seriously don't get what you find entertaining in playing that,” Lucian remarked, glancing up at the miniature air conditioner above them.

  “Dude, it's a ranked match. Don't bother me right now,” Ryan said, his eyes glued to the phone screen.

  “Sure…” Lucian replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Everyone was engaged in various activities—mostly idle chatter, while some were absorbed in their phones. Lucian felt a sense of emptiness. What was the purpose of being here? He had no real interest in this trip; he had only come because his friends were going.

  The murmurs of students filled the vehicle. The dim light of day glimmered on the horizon. The massive towers cast shadows of faint darkness on the city streets. It was quiet, cool, and comfortable. Lucian relaxed his muscles, sinking into the seat. While the seats didn't have large cushions, they were not uncomfortably hard either.

  His soft, straight hair typically fell in front of his eyes, which Lucian usually found annoying. However, today was different. He preferred to relax during this trip; the stress awaiting him at home was more than sufficient.

  Lucian opened his eyes to see Nathan entering, with Jenny and Noah trailing behind. Instinctively, Lucian squinted at him. ‘What are you planning this time?’ His jaw clenched at the mere sight of him.

  Nathan walked past him, offering a warm smile that enveloped the recipient. Lucian raised his eyebrows in acknowledgment, and that was it… the extent of their interaction—just like every other time.

  ~~~

  Danny stared at his reflection in the mirror, cupping water from the tap in his hands. As he washed his face, he sighed. ‘I don't buy it. Of course I don't. Supernatural beings? Not a chance.’ Wiping his face with a towel, his mind delved into the reasons why his partner might lie to him.

  Knock, knock.

  “I’ll get it,” Danny said, stepping out of the bathroom and tossing the towel onto the counter. As he grasped the handle, his gaze was drawn to the mesmerizing emerald eyes. Suddenly, his neck tightened, and his feet felt as if they were levitating above the floor.

  His instinct for survival kicked in slowly. He grasped the hand that was choking him. “I apologize for the undignified greeting on my part,” the man said as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

  Danny's partner, unaware of the intrusion, walked over, "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 strength waning, his hands losing the will to fight. He glanced at his partner, his eyes pleading for help.

  “Who are you?” the officer asked, swiftly drawing the gun from its holster and aiming it at the man.

  “Sebastian Von Ashford.” He smiled effortlessly, as if he weren’t throttling Danny with his left hand. “It’s a 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 feel the blood pulsing through his body, the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was a familiar sensation, yet somehow it felt different. It was as if he were being watched by a beast, a predator.

  The officer had never considered himself the hunted throughout his career, except for one instance—a memory he would prefer to forget. However, that experience was already ingrained in his mind, permanent and unshakeable.

  The realization struck him like iron bricks being hurled through the air. He swallowed hard, despite his dry mouth. With each passing second, his breath grew heavier. “You’re one of them.”

  “I don’t know what you’re referring to,” Danny's hands fell as his consciousness slipped away. The intruder dropped his unconscious body to the floor. Stepping over Danny's head, the man walked toward the officer. “But for the sake of argument, let’s say you’re right. What do you know about me?” he asked, placing his hands behind his back.

  “I—I know what you’re capable of,” the officer said, his voice trembling.

  “If you did, you wouldn’t hold me at gunpoint.” The man stepped forward, pressing the gun against his chest with a smirk.

  The officer's hands trembled as his finger rested on the trigger. He should pull the trigger, right? There was no way he could miss. ‘Shoot!’ he scolded himself, but to no avail. The primal instinct within the human psyche recognized what it was up against—its natural predator.

  “Now, I’m going to ask you a simple question.” The man effortlessly took the gun from the officer.

  “Where. Is. My child?”