Jayden woke up abruptly in the principal's office.
The room was empty.
Silent.
His heart pounded as his eyes scanned every corner. The furniture felt heavier, the shadows sharper—more threatening than before.
Without wasting a second, he rushed to the old wooden cabinet and retrieved his saber. He gripped it tightly, feeling the familiar weight in his hand—the cold blade oddly reassuring.
"Finally… I can move," he muttered.
He sprinted to the window. A cold breeze hit his face as he leapt out, landing cleanly outside. The streets were empty.
He ran.
Fast.
Toward home.
When he reached the old wooden door, he knocked hard.
Isaeah opened—and immediately noticed the state he was in: bruised, shirt torn, a cut across his cheek.
"What happened to you this time?" Isaeah asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Captured, beaten, and—" Jayden started.
Isaeah cut him off, skeptical.
"How did all that happen in less than an hour? Just admit you skipped class."
Jayden tried to protest, but Isaeah shook his head and, without hesitation, sent him straight back to the academy.
At the academy, during break, Jayden found Kim.
He grabbed her arm, serious.
"Kim, you need to hide. Now. There's an organization—against hybrids or something like that. They're trying to kill you."
Kim looked at him, confused.
"I don't understand, Jayden. What are you talking about?"
"Didn't you hear what I just said? You need to leave. Now," he insisted.
Suddenly—
SMACK.
The screen cuts to black.
Time freezes.
Jayden turns—and beside him, Kim's hand is still raised.
"You think pushing me away because of who I am is going to help you?" she shouted, her voice breaking. "I didn't think you were like that!"
Jayden lowered his head.
"…Sorry."
Without hesitation, he grabbed her and ran.
They rushed through the school corridors. Kim hit his back several times, but Jayden didn't stop.
"Trust me! Kurai's involved in this—you need to hide!"
"…Fine, I'll trust you," Kim snapped. "But if nothing happens, I'm the one who's going to deal with you, idiot."
Jayden led her to the large buildings in District 93.
"Go hide in the sewers. There are a lot of people there—they won't find you."
Kim grimaced, disgusted—but obeyed, disappearing into the shadows.
Back in class, the bell rang.
Students returned to their seats.
The teacher began roll call.
"Kim?"
Jayden raised his hand quickly.
"Absent, sir."
Kyle stared at him, suspicious. He had seen her with Jayden.
Before he could speak, the teacher smiled—a cold, unsettling smile.
"Jayden… you didn't happen to see her, did you?"
Kurai spoke calmly:
"Yeah, Jayden… where is she?"
Kyle's suspicion grew, but the lesson resumed.
After class, Kyle confronted Jayden.
Jayden told him everything.
At first, Kyle didn't believe a word.
But eventually, he agreed—on one condition.
"Show me where she is," Kyle said. "I'll protect her."
Jayden nodded.
Satsujin suddenly appeared, wanting to join. Kyle refused. Jayden accepted anyway—determined to secure Kim's safety.
A faucet dripped slowly.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The sound grew heavy… almost hypnotic.
The camera slowly shifted.
Toward a hooded figure.
The boy lifted his hood.
Kurai.
Holding a phone.
"Kurai… I knew that useless brat would betray us," a voice laughed on the other end.
"Then why give him the mission?" Kurai replied calmly.
"Because he was always going to lead us straight to her. Am I wrong? You listened to him, didn't you?"
"…Yes. I know Kimberly's location."
A low, sinister laugh echoed through the call.
The camera pulled back.
The image blurred.