9:32 pm
"Well… the evidence points to it," Rachel said, her voice measured, looking at Daniel. "But we still need to run tests. To see if you really are the Hybrid."
"Don't sugarcoat it, Rachel," David said, his arms crossed...
"We knew from the start," His gaze sharpened. "He's the Hybrid."
He shifted his gaze to Daniel, locking eyes with him.
"All we need now… is your consent."
A beat passed, the tension thick enough to feel in the chest.
Daniel looked at David, then at his father… then his mother.
Both gave him a subtle nod — a quiet seal of approval.
His thoughts shifted. Faces flashed in his mind — his friends, their laughter, their fear, their pain.
His hands curled into fists, knuckles whitening, the tendons in his arms tightening like steel cables.
He raised his head. His eyes locked on David's, no hesitation, no flicker of doubt.
"This power…" His voice was firm, steady. "…can end this war. End the pain. End the suffering, for everyone."
A breath.
Then, with conviction sharp enough to cut through the air—
"Teach me how to use it…"
"You have two days to prepare." David's tone was flat, unshaken — like he'd known Daniel's answer long before he asked. "Use them well. Say your goodbyes."
"Wait… what about the tournament?" Daniel asked, his mind flashing back to what Wane had told him this morning.
David's eyes narrowed. "What about it?"
"You know… the tournament you host to pick the new Archangel."
"Those tournaments were faked. My father came up with the idea. It was the only way to find the Hybrid without suspicion."
Daniel leaned back slightly, absorbing that.
"Oh, and Daniel…" David's gaze locked on him, cold and unwavering.
"Don't tell anyone you're the Hybrid. Not even your friends"
"Our time here's done. We got what we want," David said, turning toward the door.
"Come on, Rachel. We need to report back to the others. " He glanced over his shoulder.
"Oh, right," Rachel picked up her tablet and stepped forward. "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I promise we'll do our best to keep Daniel safe… and to train him hard." She smiled warmly.
"Bye, Daniel!" she added with a cheerful wave.
Outside Daniel's room
Rachel clutched the tablet to her chest, smiling. "I'm glad Daniel agreed."
David didn't slow his stride.
"Agreed?" David's eyes stayed forward, his voice flat — stripped of any warmth.
"He never had a choice."
The words hit hard, carrying no anger… only certainty.
May 06, 2023
10:56 AM
On the roof of the hospital
"Man, how did we even make it out of that alley alive?" Wane muttered, leaning forward against the railing, a half-empty soda can dangling from his fingers.
Daniel gave a short chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck as he leaned against the rail beside him. "Yeah… feels like a miracle."
Wane tilted the can back, draining the last of it in one gulp.
"Damn."Crush! The aluminum crumpled in his fist, sharp against the morning air.
"It's a shame about Briana—" Wane's voice cracked before he clenched his teeth.
"Yeah," Daniel said quietly
"Argh, she doesn't even remember who we are." He turned away, shoulders tight.
"Doesn't that just piss you off?"
Wane hurled the can to the ground, the metal rattling and rolling across the rooftop.
"Yeah, she's alive, but… Argh!" His voice cracked, sharp with anger.
His fists clenched at his sides as memories of Briana rushed back—her laugh, the little things she said, the moments that now felt ripped away.
"Her memories will come back." Daniel's voice was steady as he looked at Wane.
"Yeah…" Wane muttered, turning to face the railing. His eyes wandered across the buildings around them, but his mind was miles away. "We just have to try harder."
"That's why I got these." He reached into his back pocket, pulling out two folded sheets of paper. He unfolded them slowly, letting the header show first.
U.W.D. Registration — Caribbean Branch
Application
Last Name … First Name … Middle Name …
Daniel's eyes widened slightly. "Umm…" He stared at the forms, expression unreadable, a mix of hesitation and pressure settling in his chest.
"Come on, man." Wane pressed the paper into his hand. His voice was firm, almost burning with conviction. "We have to get back at those Nyxborn. All of them."
He leaned back against the rail, eyes set on the horizon. "It's no Archangel… but it's a start. We've got to start somewhere."
"Y-yeah, the thing is—" Daniel paused, his face a mix of emotion
Inter thought
"What the hell, David?"Am I just supposed to walk away? Tell him I'm gone and never coming back? This is Wane… my best friend. A day ago, he watched the girl he loves bleed out, and nearly died himself. And now I'm supposed to leave him alone? Just like that?"
"Wane… I have to tell you something." Daniel's voice cracked slightly.
Wane tilted his head, confused. "What?"
Daniel looked away, the words sticking to his tongue like glue. He forced a breath, trying to steady himself.
"It might sound crazy," he said, his fists tightening against the railing.
He finally turned back, locking eyes with his best friend.
"But… I got recruited."
A beat.
"…By the Archangels."
Wane froze. "What..
"Wait, I'm confused." Wane let the words hang, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Daniel for an answer.
He exhaled, shoulders heavy, the weight of the secret pressing down on him.
"I shouldn't even be telling you this," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "But I can't lie to you. Not after everything we've been through."
Wane's brows knitted, confusion tightening across his face. "Daniel… what are you saying?"
Daniel looked down at his clenched fists, then back at his best friend. His next words dragged out of him, each one heavier than the last.
"…I'm a Hybrid."
Silence.
"Ok, I knew that son of %*#@% doctor was lying." Wane's voice was sharp, like he'd been waiting for proof.
"Huh? What are you talking about? How did the doctor reach in this?" Daniel asked, confusion heavy in his voice.
Wane jabbed a finger at him. "Dude, your whole attitude's flipped. Now you're mumbling about some Hybrid nonsense, and that damn doctor has the nerve to say nothing's wrong with you?" His eyes burned, frustration spilling out with every word.
Daniel dragged a hand down his face. "Oh my god, just let me finish what I have to say."
"Fine," Wane said after a pause, his jaw tight. "But once you're done, we're getting you checked."
Daniel took a breath, steadying himself. "Ok… I'm gonna try my best to explain it."
Wane leaned in, waiting.
"So what happened was—" Daniel began, but a voice cut through the rooftop, cold and sharp as glass.
"You were given one simple instruction."
From the shadows at the edge of the rooftop, a figure stepped forward, his presence heavy and commanding.
Both boys spun.
"David?!" Daniel's eyes widened.
"What —why are you here?"
"Huh?" Wane blinked, bewildered, his eyes darting between them.
"Who the hell is this guy, Daniel?!"