Level: 8
⸻
7:32 PM — Hospital Room 14
Zack was mid-conversation with his mom when he felt it.
Not presence.
Not vampire pressure.
Wrong.
Too clean.
Too precise.
He glanced toward the ceiling vent.
Nothing moved.
He scanned the hallway.
Nurses.
Families.
Normal.
Too normal.
His mother coughed softly.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," he lied.
But his body was tense.
Like prey sensing a trap.
⸻
The Implant
Two floors below—
The female hunter stood beside a janitor cart.
Hospital badge.
Fake.
She slid open a utility panel near the security office.
Inserted a small black device the size of a matchbox.
It blinked once.
Then went dark.
Above, on the roof—
A micro-camera was already positioned facing Room 14's window.
The man in the van adjusted his monitor.
"Interior audio coming online."
⸻
Zack Tests the Air
Zack stepped into the hallway casually.
He leaned against the wall.
Closed his eyes.
Focused.
Listening.
Nothing unusual.
But something was off.
Then—
A faint electrical pulse.
Different from the previous rooftop interference.
This one was static.
Localized.
He opened his eyes slowly.
Turned toward the ceiling.
The vent.
Tiny reflection.
Too symmetrical.
Camera lens.
His pulse didn't spike.
He didn't react.
He walked back into the room.
Sat beside his mother again.
And waited.
⸻
Hunter POV
"Target did not react," the man whispered.
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"He noticed."
"How?"
"He altered breathing rhythm for 1.2 seconds."
Silence.
"He knows."
"Good," she said calmly.
"We escalate."
⸻
The Bait
At 8:11 PM—
A nurse entered Room 14.
Zack immediately noticed something wrong.
Wrong scent.
Wrong heartbeat pattern.
Too steady.
Too controlled.
She approached his mother's IV.
Zack stood slowly.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
She smiled.
Professional.
Perfect.
"No, just routine adjustment."
Her hand moved slightly under her sleeve.
Metal glint.
Not medical.
Zack stepped between her and the bed.
Her smile faded.
Subtle.
She whispered quietly so only he could hear.
"We'd prefer you cooperate."
His eyes shifted silver.
"Get out."
She moved fast.
Not vampire fast.
Trained fast.
Pulled a small injector device from her sleeve and lunged toward his mother's neck.
Zack grabbed her wrist mid-motion.
Steel formed instantly.
Crushed the injector in his grip.
Liquid splashed onto the floor.
She tried to knee him.
He absorbed it.
Twisted her arm behind her back.
Pinned her against the wall silently.
No shouting.
No chaos.
His mother was still asleep.
Barely stirred.
Zack leaned close.
"Wrong move."
The hunter's eyes were calm.
"You hesitated."
Zack's grip tightened.
"Because she's human."
She smiled slightly.
"Exactly."
Footsteps in the hallway.
Backup.
Zack calculated instantly.
If he breaks her arm—
Noise.
If he knocks her out—
More noise.
If he kills—
Exposure confirmed.
Instead—
He shoved her toward the door.
Hard enough to disorient.
Then he ripped the ceiling vent down.
Camera fell.
Crushed it.
By the time the backup agents reached the hallway—
Zack was sitting calmly beside his mother again.
Human skin.
Normal breathing.
They entered the room.
"Is everything okay?" one asked casually.
Zack looked at them blankly.
"Yeah. Why?"
They scanned quickly.
No obvious damage.
No fight.
No noise.
The injured hunter nurse was already gone.
Retreated.
Professional.
⸻
Rooftop — After
Zack stood alone.
Fury controlled.
They crossed a line.
Not by attacking him.
By touching her.
Notification appeared.
PROTECTIVE INSTINCT SPIKE DETECTED
COMBAT EFFICIENCY TEMPORARILY INCREASED
Level didn't change.
But something inside him did.
This isn't a game anymore.
They're not studying.
They're moving.
⸻
Hunter Debrief
Undisclosed location.
The woman removed her earpiece.
"Result?"
The male agent replied:
"He chose restraint."
She nodded.
"Good."
"Why good?"
"Because it confirms emotional anchor."
She looked at the monitor showing Room 14.
"We proceed to Phase Three."
⸻
Final Message
Zack's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Text:
"If you want her safe, meet alone."
Zack's jaw tightened.
No hesitation.
He typed one word back.
"Where."
⸻
End of Episode 10.