CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT:FANGS IN THE DARK

I had no idea what time it was. The halls of this place never changed, the same dull atmosphere no matter the hour. Maybe that was why I felt so restless. Maybe that was why my mind wouldn't shut up.

Since getting stuck here, I'd done nothing but train and wait. Train and wait. For what? The opportunity to fight? The chance to leave? I told myself it was all just preparation for killing that bastard, but if I was being honest, I wasn't sure anymore.

Then there was Nicole, always hovering around like some well-meaning pest. Ken, who enjoyed getting under my skin just a little too much. And Helen, pulling all the strings like some mastermind, watching, waiting. For what? For me to suddenly care?

A knock on my door cut through my thoughts. I turned my head but didn't move. "What?"

"We're being summoned," Nicole's voice came from the other side.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair before pushing off my bed. "Great," I muttered. "What now?"

When I opened the door, Nicole was already walking ahead, not waiting for me to follow. Ken joined us as we made our way down the hall, his hands in his pockets, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Any idea what this is about?" Ken asked, glancing at Nicole.

She shook her head. "No, but I have a feeling it's important."

I didn't reply. Didn't need to. If Helen was calling us, it meant something was coming. Maybe, finally, I'd get something worth my time.

When we reached her office, the door was already open. She was waiting.

"Come in," Helen said, her usual unreadable expression in place.

We stepped inside, and the moment we did, I knew things were about to change.

Helen sat behind her desk, fingers interlocked as she studied the three of us. The room was eerily quiet, save for the faint ticking of a clock in the corner.

"You've been assigned your first mission," she finally said, sliding a folder across the desk.

Nicole was the first to step forward, picking it up and flipping through the pages. Her face remained calm, but I noticed the slight narrowing of her eyes. Ken leaned over her shoulder, scanning the contents before letting out a low whistle.

"Monster extermination," he mused. "Sounds fun."

I scoffed. "We're not exterminators."

Helen leaned forward slightly. "A village on the outskirts has reported being terrorized by an unidentified creature at night. Several people have gone missing, and those who've returned speak of something unnatural—something that doesn't belong in this world."

"And they need us to handle it?" I asked, folding my arms. "Why not send people who actually care?"

Helen's sharp gaze locked onto mine. "Because this isn't just about the village. It's about you. About proving that you can work as a team, that you can handle a mission without letting your personal grudges get in the way."

I clenched my jaw but said nothing.

Nicole closed the folder and turned to face Helen. "What do we know about this creature?"

"Not much," Helen admitted. "No one's gotten a clear look at it and lived to tell the tale. But from what we've gathered, it's fast, strong, and highly intelligent. It doesn't just kill—it hunts."

Ken exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "Great. A nightmare with brains."

Helen ignored his comment. "You'll leave immediately. A portal has been prepared for you. It will take you directly to the village outskirts. The elder will provide more details upon your arrival."

Nicole nodded. "Understood."

I turned to leave, but Helen's voice stopped me.

"Liam."

I paused, glancing over my shoulder.

"Try to remember," she said, her voice softer, "not everyone is your enemy."

I didn't reply. I just walked out.

Whatever this mission is, it's just another distraction. I'm leaving this shit hole immediately I'm through that portal.

Ken smirked as he adjusted the holster on his thigh. "Hope this mission isn't a waste of time."

I rolled my eyes. "It already is."

Nicole sighed but didn't argue as she stepped toward the swirling portal. Its dark energy pulsed like a living shadow, distorting the air around it. Helen stood nearby, arms crossed, her sharp gaze locked on us.

"Your objective is clear," she said. "Investigate the village's claims, find the source of the attacks, and eliminate the threat. The portal will take you close, but you'll have to make the rest of the way on foot."

Ken gave a lazy nod before stepping in. Nicole followed with a quiet breath.

I hesitated for a brief second, staring into the shifting darkness. They had no idea what I was planning, and that was for the best. The moment I stepped through, I wasn't coming back.

Without another word, I walked forward and disappeared into the portal.

Ken smirked as he adjusted the holster on his thigh. "Hope this mission isn't a waste of time."

I rolled my eyes. "It already is."

Nicole sighed but didn't argue as she stepped toward the swirling portal. Its dark energy pulsed like a living shadow, distorting the air around it. Helen stood nearby, arms crossed, her sharp gaze locked on us.

"Your objective is clear," she said. "Investigate the village's claims, find the source of the attacks, and eliminate the threat. The portal will take you close, but you'll have to make the rest of the way on foot."

Ken gave a lazy nod before stepping in. Nicole followed with a quiet breath.

I hesitated for a brief second, staring into the shifting darkness. They had no idea what I was planning, and that was for the best. The moment I stepped through, I wasn't coming back.

Without another word, I walked forward and disappeared into the portal.

The sensation of stepping through the portal was always the same—cold, weightless, like slipping through a crack in reality. In the blink of an eye, we emerged on the outskirts of a quiet village nestled between thick, dark woods and rolling hills. The sky overhead was streaked with the deep purples and blues of early evening, the last traces of daylight barely clinging to the horizon.

The village itself looked abandoned. A few lanterns flickered weakly outside wooden homes, their glow struggling against the creeping darkness. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something else—something metallic. Blood.

Ken let out a low whistle, his sharp eyes scanning the area. "Not exactly welcoming, huh?"

Nicole frowned, her fingers tightening around the handle of her whip. "They said the attacks happen at night. We need to find the village leader before then."

I barely listened. My gaze swept over the deserted streets, taking in the boarded-up windows, the half-open doors, the eerie silence. It didn't feel like people were hiding inside—it felt like they were already gone.

As the eerie silence of the village settled around us, I took a step back, my gaze flickering toward the treeline. This was my chance.

Without a word, I stretched my arm forward, focusing on the familiar pull of shadows bending to my will. A portal—my way out of this mess, out of this pointless mission, away from the dead weight of Ken and Nicole. I was done playing by their rules.

But the moment I willed it into existence, something went wrong. Instead of the swirling abyss of my escape, darkness swallowed me whole.

For a split second, my body felt weightless, as if I had been yanked out of reality. Then, just as fast as it happened, the world snapped back into place. But it wasn't the village.

I was standing right where I started.

Helen's school.

The hallway was empty, the air still. My breath caught in my throat as I looked around, confusion twisting into anger.

"What the hell?" I growled.

I clenched my fists, trying again, but nothing happened. The shadows didn't respond. It was like I had been shackled, tethered to this place.

A slow realization settled over me—Helen had done something. That damn pin prick during registration… the sigil.

Grinding my teeth, I slammed my fist against the nearest wall. "Damn it."

No way in hell was I going to be trapped here. No way.

And then, just as suddenly as I had vanished, I felt the same pull again—like an unseen force gripping me, yanking me back.

The cold air of the village rushed over me as I reappeared in the same spot I had left. Ken and Nicole hadn't even noticed I was gone.

I staggered slightly, breathing hard, my mind racing. I wasn't just on a mission. I was on a leash.

I clenched my jaw, refusing to accept what had just happened. Stretching my arm again, I willed the portal into existence, pouring more energy into it. I didn't care what was going on—I was leaving.

Darkness swirled around me, and the moment my body slipped through, I felt the same force yanking me away.

But instead of the village, I landed somewhere else entirely.

Helen's office.

She sat behind her desk, hands folded neatly, a knowing smile on her face. The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the room, casting soft shadows across the bookshelves lining the walls. She had been waiting for this.

My fury erupted the moment I laid eyes on her.

"What the hell did you do?" I snapped, fists trembling at my sides. "Why can't I leave?"

Helen sighed, her expression calm, like she had expected this. "Because I knew you'd try something like this."

I took a step forward, my teeth clenched so tightly my jaw ached. "Undo whatever you did. Now."

She didn't flinch. "I'm afraid I can't do that."

My nails dug into my palms. "The sigil," I spat. "It wasn't just for registration, was it?"

She nodded. "It ensures that as long as you're part of this program, you can't just run away. The moment you try, it brings you right back here."

My chest rose and fell sharply. "So, what? You're keeping me prisoner?"

Helen shook her head. "No, I'm keeping you on the path you refuse to walk."

My blood boiled. I wanted to lash out, destroy something—anything. But all I could do was glare at her, my fury burning in silence.

Helen exhaled softly. "You have a mission to complete, Liam. Don't keep your team waiting."

A moment later, the shadows pulled me again.

As soon as I reappeared, the first thing I saw was Ken smirking at me. Nicole had her arms crossed, one brow raised.

"Took a little detour, did you?" Ken drawled.

Nicole tilted her head. "You tried to run away, didn't you?"

I stiffened. My hands curled into fists at my sides as frustration bubbled in my chest. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Ken let out a short laugh. "Come on, don't play dumb. You were gone for a solid ten seconds, and now you're back looking pissed. Pretty obvious, don't you think?"

Nicole hummed. "And let me guess—Helen didn't let you."

I ground my teeth. They knew. How the hell did they know when I didn't?

"What did she do?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

Ken shrugged. "Beats me. But from the look on your face, I'd say she put a leash on you."

I clenched my jaw, my blood boiling. This wasn't just some stupid mission anymore. Helen had done something to me—something I hadn't noticed. And the fact that these two idiots knew about it before I did made it worse.

Nicole's gaze softened slightly. "Guess you're stuck with us now."

Ken grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

I exhaled sharply, forcing my anger down. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. But for now, I had to play along.

Before I could say anything, a low, guttural growl rumbled through the air, cutting through the night. Our heads snapped toward the sound.

Nicole immediately unfurled her whip, the leather coiling around her arm like a serpent ready to strike. Ken, always relaxed, lazily reached for his handgun, but his eyes were sharp, scanning the darkness for movement.

I narrowed my gaze, my irritation momentarily pushed aside. The growl had come from the trees beyond the ruined lab ahead—a deep, unnatural sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Guess we're finally getting to the fun part," Ken murmured, cocking his gun.

Nicole frowned. "Stay focused. We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

I didn't wait for them to strategize. Stepping forward, I willed my shadow to spread, stretching across the ground like ink bleeding into the earth. The darkness slithered ahead, reaching toward the trees, feeling for whatever was lurking within.

Then, the creature moved.

A blur of black and red burst from the tree line, landing just a few feet away with a heavy thud. The thing was monstrous—twisted flesh and exposed muscle stretched over a body too large to be natural. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto us, its mouth parting to reveal rows of jagged, uneven teeth.

Nicole tensed. "That… is not a normal beast."

Ken let out a low whistle. "Well, shit. That's a whole science experiment gone wrong."

My eyes flicked to Ken. "What do you mean?"

He jerked his chin toward the creature. "See that mark on its shoulder?"

I looked closer and noticed a faint, burned-in emblem—one I had seen before. My stomach tightened.

"The Hunters," Ken said grimly. "This thing was theirs."

The creature let out another guttural snarl before lunging at us, moving faster than anything its size should.

I barely had time to react before the battle began.

The moment the beast lunged, I was already moving. Shadows surged around me, wrapping my limbs in darkness as I met the creature head-on. My fist connected with its grotesque jaw, sending a shockwave through the air, but the damn thing barely staggered. Its claws came at me in a blur—I twisted, barely avoiding being shredded.

Nicole's whip lashed out, coiling around the beast's hind leg, but the second she tried to pull, the creature roared and yanked her off balance. Ken fired off a few shots, the bullets striking its hide but barely slowing it down.

"Tch." This was taking too long.

Ignoring them, I pushed forward, shadows coiling around my arm as I struck the beast's torso. This time, my power tore into its flesh, black tendrils sinking deep, forcing it to shriek in agony. It thrashed, swiping at me wildly, but I wove through its attacks, landing blow after blow.

Nicole and Ken had stopped trying to take the lead, reluctantly falling into support roles. Nicole's whip kept the beast from moving too freely, while Ken's bullets targeted its joints, slowing it down just enough for me to tear into it.

I was winning.

Then, suddenly, the beast let out an ear-piercing screech and lurched backward. Its massive, twisted body tensed, muscles rippling.

And then it bolted.

I didn't hesitate—I shot forward, ready to finish it off, but the damn thing was fast. It darted toward the ruins of the old lab, disappearing into the shattered remains of the facility.

"Tch." I came to a stop, fists clenched. "Coward."

Nicole exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulder. "You could've at least worked with us instead of charging in like some lone warrior."

Ken dusted himself off, shaking his head. "Nah, this is classic Blondie. He'd rather break himself fighting alone than admit he needs help."

I shot him a glare. "Shut up."

Ken only smirked. "Whatever. Now what? That thing's still out there."

I turned toward the lab, my jaw tightening. "We find it."

Nicole crossed her arms, her whip still coiled tightly in her grip. "We're not chasing after that thing blindly. We need information."

I scoffed. "We don't need information. We need to kill it."

Ken stretched, rolling his neck. "For once, I actually agree with him. That thing's wounded—we should finish the job before it recovers."

Nicole's eyes hardened. "And what if there's more to this than we know? What if the villagers have seen something that could help us? We're here to do a job, not rush in like idiots and hope for the best."

I folded my arms, annoyed. "You just want to play nice with the locals."

"Maybe," she shot back, "but at least I'm thinking ahead."

The argument dragged on for a few more minutes, neither side willing to back down. But in the end, Nicole was annoyingly persistent, and Ken, lazy as ever, decided it wasn't worth fighting over.

"Fine," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "Let's go."

Nicole smirked like she'd won something. "Glad you're finally seeing reason."

I rolled my eyes.

With that settled, we turned away from the ruined lab and made our way back toward the village. The air was still thick with tension, the distant howls of the beast echoing behind us.

The village was eerily quiet, its streets dimly lit by flickering lanterns. The few villagers outside hurried past, their eyes filled with wariness and exhaustion. Nicole, ever the voice of reason, approached a middle-aged man carrying a bundle of firewood.

"We're here about the beast," she said firmly. "Where can we find the village elder?"

The man's face tensed, his grip tightening on the firewood as if he expected the creature to lunge from the shadows at any moment. He hesitated, then jerked his head toward a larger hut near the center of the village. "Elder Rohen's place. But don't expect much—he's already accepted our fate."

With that, he hurried off, leaving us standing in the cold night.

"Great. A village full of optimism," Ken muttered, adjusting his coat.

I rolled my eyes and led the way toward the hut, the weight of the night pressing down on us.

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