The lights in his quarters never went fully dark. Soft, sterile glow seeped from strips along the ceiling, keeping the shadows shallow, the corners visible. Theron lay on his back, staring at the metal panels above, trying to ignore the hum of machines embedded in the walls.
[ERROR: Override Detected.]
[Notice: █████ Watching.]
He blinked hard. The text didn't fade. It lingered, flickering faintly against his vision like it wanted him to know he wasn't alone.
Theron pushed himself up, ignoring the ache in his arms. The medical patch Seris had applied dulled the pain, but it couldn't fix the weight in his chest or the pounding in his skull. He poured water into a metal cup from the sink. The water tasted metallic.
The door clicked.
"On your feet," Hale's voice said over the intercom.
Theron wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Where to now?"
"The Kennel," Hale said. "Shared space. Integration."
That didn't sound promising.
The Kennel's common hall was larger than he expected—a long rectangular space lined with reinforced doors and overhead lights that gave everything a sharp, sterile glow. Benches lined the center, with sparring mats pushed against one side. The air was thick with the tension of predators in close quarters.
Kael was the first to notice him.
"Well, well." The blond hunter leaned casually against a wall, his scarred grin curling. "Look who they finally let out of the cage."
Theron ignored him, scanning the room. Selene was perched on a bench nearby, legs crossed, a calm smile playing on her lips. She looked like she belonged at a cocktail party, not surrounded by killers.
"Careful," she said lightly, her amber eyes tracking Kael. "You'll scare him."
Kael's grin widened. "That's the point."
A few other hunters glanced up, some curious, some indifferent. One man sat in a corner with his head in his hands, rocking slightly. His skin was pale, veins glowing faintly blue beneath the surface.
Theron's gaze lingered.
The man suddenly snapped his head up, eyes wide and unfocused. "They're watching," he whispered. "All the time. Don't blink."
[ERROR: Undefined Parameter.]
[Notice: Monitoring Active.]
The System's text flickered across Theron's vision in perfect sync with the man's words. His stomach knotted.
Kael noticed his distraction and stepped closer. "Hey." He jabbed a finger against Theron's shoulder. "You listening, alley rat?"
Theron's gaze sharpened. "Don't touch me."
Kael chuckled low. "Or what? You'll glitch me to death?"
Selene stood gracefully, sliding between them. Her presence was soft but commanding. "Kael," she said smoothly. "Not today."
Kael smirked, leaning closer to Theron. "You'll have to fight me eventually. Might as well get it over with."
Theron felt the tension coil in his gut, his fingers twitching near the hilt of his sword. The System flickered violently:
[Warning: Soul Integrity—73%.]
[Surge Detected.]
Kael's grin widened. "There it is."
The room shifted. Hunters nearby leaned in, sensing blood. The man in the corner laughed softly to himself, whispering in rhythm with the System's glitches.
"Don't blink. Don't blink. Don't blink."
Theron's vision blurred, mana surging painfully through his body. He clenched his fists, trying to rein it in.
Kael stepped closer, close enough for Theron to feel his breath. "Come on. Show us why Hale dragged you in here."
Theron's patience snapped. He moved fast, his hand wrapping around Kael's wrist, twisting sharply. Kael grunted but didn't pull back, his grin feral now.
"Better," Kael said.
Mana flared around Theron like static, the hum of energy making nearby hunters tense. The System's warnings escalated:
[ERROR: Control Override.]
[Alert: Containment Risk.]
"Enough."
Hale's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Theron blinked, and suddenly Hale was there, standing just inside the hall, hands behind his back. His calm presence was colder than Kael's grin.
Selene's smile returned, smooth and unreadable. Kael shrugged, stepping back like none of it mattered.
Hale's gaze swept over Theron, then the room. "Go back to your quarters."
Theron hesitated, adrenaline still buzzing through him.
"Now," Hale said.
Theron moved, forcing his legs to carry him toward the door. The hunters' stares burned into his back.
As he passed, Selene murmured, just loud enough for him to hear, "Don't let them see the glitches. That's how they decide who goes downstairs."
Theron stiffened, glancing at her, but she was already looking elsewhere, her expression neutral.
The door sealed behind him with a heavy hiss, and the hall outside felt even colder than before.
[Notice: You are not alone.]
The text burned bright across his vision, sharp enough to make him flinch.