Chapter 2: Spark in the Chaos

The demons swarmed, their guttural growls and piercing shrieks blending into a chaotic cacophony. Each one was a grotesque amalgamation of shadows and flesh, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy. Michelle fired her pistols with precision, the sharp cracks of gunfire punctuating the chaos. 

"Watch your left!" Xavier's voice rang out, cutting through the din. 

Michelle pivoted, narrowly avoiding a clawed strike. She fired a quick volley, the bullets tearing through the demon's chest in a burst of black smoke. The energy aroun the rift was growing wilder, sparking arcs of raw power that illuminated the ruins in harsh, strobing light.

"We're surrounded!" Michelle shouted, her voice strained.

"Then fight like your life depends on it," Xavier replied, a dark grin playing on his lips.

He leapt into the fray with deadly grace, his blade slicing through the air. Each strike was precise and brutal, his movements almost hypnotic. The faint hum of his collar grew louder, pulsating with each swing of his weapon.

Michelle gritted her teeth, the adrenaline surging through her veins. She matched his pace, her pistols spitting fire as she covered his blind spots. 

A demon lunged at her, its jagged claws aimed at her throat. She ducked, rolling to the side and firing upward. The creature screeched as it dissolved into smoke, but another took its place almost instantly. 

"They just keep coming!" she yelled, her arms burning from recoil of her weapons. 

Xavier stepped in front of her, his blade glowing with an intense light. "Stay behind me."

Before she could protest, he raised his weapon, slashing through a wave of demons with an explosion of raw energy. The force sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, momentarily staggering their attackers. 

Michelle's breath hitched. What kind of power is that?

The reprive was short-lived. More demons poured from the rift, their howls growing louder. Michelle and Xavier were forced closer together, their movements perfectly synchronized as they fought to keep the horde at bay. 

A sudden surge of demonic energy erupted near them, throwing Michelle off balance. She stumbled, her pistols slipping from her grasp as she fell toward the rubble.

Xavier was there in an instant. His hand shot out, gripping hers and pulling her upright. 

The contact was electric. A spark ignited where their skin touched, sending a jolt up her arm spreading like wildfire through her body. The world seemed to tilt for a heartbeat, the noise of the battle fading to a distant hum. 

Michelle's breath caught, her gaze locking with Xavier's. His eyes, intense and unyielding, held hers as if searching for something deeper. 

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low, almost intimate. 

"I-I'm fine," she stammered, though her pulse races wildly.

His grip lingered for a moment longer than necessary before he released her, turning back to the fight. Michelle stood frozen, the ghost of his touch still tingling on her skin. 

As the last demon fell, Michelle bent over, bracing her hands on her knees to catch her breath. Her pistols hung loosely in her hands, their barrels still smoking. 

"That was... intense," she said between gasps. 

Xavier nodded, sheathing his blade. His collar emitted a faint hum before going silent, its glow dimming.

Michelle looked at him, her curiosity bubbling to the surface. "Who are you, really? And why don't you have a wristband?"

"Xavier," he said, meeting her gaze. "And for why I'm here..." He hesitated, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's just say I have unfinished business."

Before she could press him further, a distant voice called out. 

"Michelle! Are you there?"

It was Kara. Relief flooded her, as she turned toward the sound. "Over here!"

She looked back at Xavier. "Come on, I'll introduce you to my partner."

But the space where had stood was empty. 

Michelle's heart sank. She scanned the ruins frantically, but there was no trace of him-no footprints, no movement, nothing.

"Michelle!" Kara's voice was closer now. 

She turned reluctantly, heading toward Kara, her mind spinning. Who are you, Xavier? And why do I feel like I'll see you again?

"Let's get out of this place... more like a fucking disaster hole." Kara managed to stifle a chuckle. 

"I absolutely agree, what a first mission... I didn't think you meant it literally about 'throwing fresh meat into the fire'. Michelle smiles at Kara. 

The Grand Hall

Back at the Academy, the tension was palpable. The grand hall was packed with students, their murmurs filling the space as they awaited the head of the Academy's address. The room was vast, its vaulted ceiling decorated with intricate carvings of past battles against the abyss. 

Michelle and Kara slipped into the crowd, their mission still fresh in their minds. As Michelle scanned the room, her thoughts lingered on Xavier-his presence, his blade, the spark of his touch. 

The murmurs quieted as the head of the Academy, Commander Veyla, stepped onto the raised platform at the front of the hall. Her sharp eyes surveyed the crowd, her posture commanding respect. 

"Hunters," Veyla began, her voice firm and unwavering, "our world grows more unstable with every passing day. The rifts are expanding, and the demons grow bolder. Missions like the ones today are only the beginning. Your training is not just preparation-it is survival."

The words were meant to inspire focus, but Michelle barely registered them. Her mind was back in the rift, replaying every moment with Xavier. His calm demeanor, the way he moved so fluidly through the chaos, and most of all, the electric spark of his touch. 

Who are you, Xavier?

It wasn't just curiousity driving her. There was something deeper, something she couldn't quite name-a pull, like his presence had ignited a part of her she hadn't known existed.

She glanced at her hands, flexing her fingers as if she could still feel the residual jolt from their brief contact. The sensation had been fleeting, but it had left an imprint, like a whisper she couldn't shake. It was more than just physical; it had resonated in her very core.

And then there was the way he'd vanished. No explenation, no sign of where he'd gone. One moment he was there, solid and real, and the next he was a memory, leaving her with more questions than answers.

"Michelle," Kara whispered, nudging her.

Michelle blinked, realizing Commander Veyla was still speaking. She forced herself to focus, though her mind remained half in the ruins of the rift. 

"Each of you has a role to play," Veyla said, her gaze sweeping the room. "The bonds you form, the strength you cultivate, will determine not just your survival, but the survival of everyone who depend on us. Remember this: a Hunter's pulse is not just their own-it beats for all of humanity."

Michelle's pulse quickened at the words, her thoughts once again drifting to Xavier. What if he had something to do with her powers, the ones she still didn't fully understand? The resonance she felt with him was unlike anything she'd experienced before, and it left her unsettled. 

As the students dispersed, Kara tugged her toward the dormatories. "You've been quiet. What are you thinking about?"

Michelle hesitated, then sighed. "I just... I can't explain what happened." 

Kara raised an eyebrow. "Sounds cryptic."

"Yeah" Michelle muttered, mostly to herself. "He is."

As they walked, the words of Commander Veyla echoed in her mind: "A Hunter's pulse is not just their own-it beats for all of humanity." 

But for the first time, Michelle wondered if her pulse was resonating for something-or someone-else entirely.