The four boys ran through the woods, though really, only two of them were running.
Ajax and Xavier had lagged behind, their steps heavy and slow, so Valen and Alex had already shifted forms, their bodies surging with eidolon power. In a flash, they scooped up their friends, carrying them through the underbrush with ease.
They jumped the fence in one synchronized motion, finally reaching the dense, shadowed forest.
The air was thick, damp, and cold, clinging to their skin.
The darkness was split by sharp beams of flashlight, cutting through the black illuminating patches of earth and twisted roots.
"Hey over there!"
"Is that blood!?"
"No, just a puddle!"
Police officers and their dogs scurried about, their low voices mixing with the distant barks as they combed the area for clues.
The scent of damp earth and decaying leaves was heavy in the air, mixing with something far more metallic and sickening.
Valen and Alex silently climbed up the nearest trees, settling among the gnarled branches like predators observing their prey. From above, they had a perfect vantage point.
The scene below was gore, but none of them flinched, well except for Ajax, who looked kind of pale, his eyes wide as he struggled to suppress a groan.
The body lay in the clearing, utterly mangled. Limbs were torn and scattered carelessly, as if discarded without thought.
The torso was a hollow cavity, dried and shriveled, as though every drop of blood had been violently drained. Blackened blood pooled beneath the remains, the dark liquid congealing into unnatural patterns. The skin seemed like raisin, wrinkled.
Ajax let out an involuntary "ugh," the sound thick with nausea. Instantly, a sharp beam of light swung in their direction.
A heavy-set black woman in a police uniform aimed her torch directly at the noise.
(Image of the scene)
Her expression was hard, her eyes narrowing. The light landed on a cluster of leaves, trembling faintly in the breeze, and she sighed, shaking her head before returning her attention to the corpse.
Valen and Alex exchanged glances, their eyes sharp. Xavier, the most level-headed individual in their group, had reached into his ever-present notepad, the pages thick with cryptic sketches. With a whispered incantation, a shadow bloomed from his hand, cloaking their position in seamless darkness, saving them.
Ajax shifted uncomfortably under their glare, scratching his head as if embarrassed.
Below, the woman stood beside a forensic investigator. The air was tense with unspoken questions.
"So, find anything?" the woman's tone was clipped, professional.
The investigator rubbed his temples, clearly frustrated. "This is beyond anything I've ever seen in my career. I can't even begin to guess what kind of creature...or creatures could have done this." His voice cracked slightly as he gestured toward the body.
"The torso's been completely drained, no blood in the heart, the stomach ruptured from within. The innards are scattered, torn apart. Limbs, separated cleanly. It's not natural."
The woman's face darkened as she studied what remained of the body. The head was sunken, the skin pulled tight over bone, the expression frozen in a silent scream.
A tall man in uniform approached.
That must be Galpin. Valen thought.
The sheriff of Jericho, the same officer the boys had seen back at school.
(Image of Sheriff Donovan Galpin)
"Ritchie, any updates?" Galpin asked.
(Image of Ritchie Santiago)
"No, Sheriff. Nothing concrete. We've got no leads." The fat woman officer's shoulders slumped.
Galpin's eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting toward Nevermore Academy in the distance. "Report it as a wild bear attack."
Ritchie, his deputy, shook her head. "Are you sure? This doesn't look like one."
"We have no choice," Galpin replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "But I know.. it's connected to that damn school... I just can't prove it yet."
He turned to direct the other officers, leaving the scene tense and uncertain.
Above, the four boys watched in silence. Ajax's phone buzzed suddenly.
"Guys! The warden is doing room checks!" Ajax whispered, panic threading his voice.
The others exchanged urgent looks.
The crime scene could wait. Now, the priority was getting back to the dorm, without being caught.
Valen and Alex shifted, their eidolon powers surging once more as they carried Xavier and Ajax back through the trees.
When they reached the dorms, Alex veered toward Caliban, planning to cover for Valen, who in turn headed straight to drop Xavier off at Thisbie.
*
[Alex's POV]
Shit shit shit shit shit shit! I have to move faster.
I hurdled over roots, rocks, and abandoned debris without breaking my speed. My breath came in sharp gasps as adrenaline propelled me forward. Caliban Hall loomed ahead, its grim shadow covering the grounds.
No slowing down.
We already had two strikes. A third would mean expulsion, possibly permanent.
Yeah, I know. Two strikes in a month... fucking Legends right?... No. That was fucking stupid.
We were kinda the troublemakers of Caliban, made noise, thrown fights, and did every illegal thing...(yeah not drugs... don't do that, that's bad for you kids), until the dorm warden had enough. Three more chances, he said... And we blew two of them. Both snitched on for sneaking in girls.
I will really kill that motherfucking snitch if I find him!
Valen, of course, had hauled Enid into a full-blown personal concert. The balls on that idiot were practically titanium.
And me? I'd brought a cute shapeshifter. She seduced me, morphing into my favorite actress, I don't even know how she knew it, and... cough...we got caught making out.
Thank god they didn't tell my parents.
I climbed the tree, my muscles tense. The balcony branch was inches away. I jumped reaching it.
Ajax scrambled to see what was happening.
As I waited, I was really getting worried... Time stretched thin. Should I just knock the warden unconscious? Nah, too risky. They will know I did it.
Then my phone buzzed again, from Ajax.
"THE WARDEN IS JUST IN THE NEXT ROOM!!"
FUCK.
I glanced at the balcony. No sign of that bastard.
SHIT.
Just then I had an idea.
And then suddenly came the knock.
BAM BAM!!
"Hey kids! Open up!"
"Sorry sir, the door's jammed!" I lied, my voice steady despite the tremor in my chest.
Valen, please come fast! I thought desperately, bracing the hinge tighter.
"It's not opening!"
"You troublemakers! I know you've got something going on in there! Open up or I'll sign your expulsion!"
Fuck... I looked at the balcony once more... with hope to see my brother... but he was still not here...
Fine then... I will beat him till he faints... andI'd take the hit. At least Valen could stay.
I drew a deep breath and slowly cracked the door open. The warden stormed in, chest puffed, eyes narrowed.
"Show me what illegal things you're hiding!"
Just as I raised my hand, ready to strike, I heard him say, "Valen! Why are you sweating so much?"
"Sir, I was exercising and the AC isn't working. And please, renovate this damn place, it sounds like it'll collapse just from your voice."
The warden's face flushed red, but he said nothing, suspiciously scanning the room.
I caught Valen's eye, and he winked.
Relief flooded me like a long overdue tide and I exhaled deeply.
The warden continued to search, failing to uncover anything. With a grumble, he turned and left.
"I'll send a maintenance guy tomorrow. But next time, file a complaint before something like this happens," he called over his shoulder.
As the door clicked shut, I walked and collapsed onto my bed, face-first.
Too much stress.
Valen's voice broke the silence, teasing.
"Tired already?"
"Yeah… you shit."
We both laughed, the sound echoing softly in the dim room.
-------
A/N - This is the Bonus Chapter unlocked at 1200 power stones!
Y'all really out here forcing me into daily uploads… I'm suffering but also kinda loving it... I am not a Masochist... am I?
As a tiny reward for my hard work (and sanity), throw those sweet stones at me, you bloodsuckers.
On a serious note- thank you so much for the support! If you want to get ahead with advance chapters, they're up on my Patreon:
patreon.com/Captain_Lag