The forest burned behind them, crackling and roaring as flames climbed from tree to tree.
Smoke twisted into the sky, dark and heavy, turning the air hot and hard to breathe.
Hex stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest as a figure stepped through the fire. The orange light reflected off white hair, giving the boy a ghost-like presence. His sharp features, calm expression, and the number glowing above his head,550,made Hex's blood run cold.
"It's him," Hex muttered, eyes narrowing.
The same boy who had stared at him coldly when they first landed. And now, seeing him up close in the middle of this chaos, Hex felt a chill run down his spine.
His instincts were screaming that this person was dangerous. He turned himself invisible again.
Without making a sound, he began to inch away, careful with every step, hoping to slip out without being noticed. But just as he shifted his weight, the boy vanished.
Hex barely had time to react.
BANG.
