CHAPTER 18: THE JUNGLE'S CALL

John's sharp words sliced through the charged air, freezing Miss Julie in place.

Her face paled as she recoiled slightly, more from disbelief than fear. "How dare you speak to your teacher like that?" she whispered, the authority in her voice reduced to a stunned murmur.

Before she could regain her composure, a figure emerged through the gathering crowd—a man in a crisp white coat, his presence commanding. His expression was calm but curious, observing the scene with the trained eye of someone used to chaos.

"Doctor Thomas!" Julie gasped, her voice breaking with awe. "Is that really you? The renowned Doctor Thomas, here at our school?"

But John didn't seem to hear her. His attention remained fixed—on her, and on the white-hot anger still burning in his veins. He didn't release her arm.

Suddenly, a firm but gentle hand touched John's shoulder.

His instincts reacted before his thoughts could. His body tensed, fist coiling, ready to strike.

But when he spun around and looked up into the calm, serious face of the man behind him, his punch halted mid-air.

Doctor Thomas.

Their eyes locked—an unspoken exchange of alarm and recognition passing between them. Doctor Thomas didn't flinch. Instead, he placed both hands gently on John's shoulders, grounding him with his touch.

"John," he said softly, "I have a message for you… from your sister."

Before the doctor could say more, John snatched the phone from his hand. His eyes scanned the message rapidly, his breathing quickening with every word.

"Dear Doctor Thomas,

I know what I'm doing might seem wrong, but when I went to John's school to look for him, I heard that he might have gone into the jungle to become stronger. You know better than anyone how helpful—and how dangerous—that jungle can be. John isn't the kind of boy who can survive there easily. All I want is for my brother to be safe. So I'm going into the jungle to find him.

I've searched every part of the city. If he was here, I would've found him. That means he's in the jungle.

And I'm going after him.

If I'm wrong, and he comes back, please—please take care of him for me.

—Luna"

John's fingers trembled. His mind raced. The burning in his chest was no longer anger—it was fear. And guilt.

Doctor Thomas watched him closely. "This is bad," he said, worry heavy in his voice. "It's nearly evening. If she's gone into the jungle now, it'll be dark soon. Even if I found someone willing to search, they wouldn't enter the forest until morning. It's too risky. Too—"

But John was no longer there.

The doctor's words trailed off as he looked around and saw only the tail of John's coat disappear through the school gates.

"John!" he shouted. "John, stop! If you go into the jungle too—what happens if both of you don't return?!"

But John didn't stop.

He sprinted down the empty road, toward the horizon where the forest loomed like a sleeping beast. As the school buildings shrank behind him, the trees grew taller, darker, thicker. He didn't hesitate. At the edge of the forest, he paused for a single, breathless heartbeat.

"Luna," he whispered, eyes scanning the dense shadows. "I know everything now. I was wrong—not you. You always loved me. And I… I pushed you away."

His chest tightened.

"And now that I know the truth, I can't lose you."

And with that, he dove into the darkness.

The cool undergrowth brushed against his legs. Strange calls of birds and beasts echoed through the trees. The jungle was alive—and watching. But John didn't stop. Not even when a branch scraped his shoulder. Not even when the ground beneath him turned slippery and treacherous.

He ran harder.

I'll find her. I have to.

Then—slicing through the night like lightning—a roar.

Deep. Thunderous. Unmistakably feline. It chilled his blood.

And then, a metallic clang—the sound of steel colliding with something unyielding.

John froze. His breath caught.

"That roar…" he said aloud, barely a whisper. "It's a Lion. And not just any Lion. It's that one…"

There was only one Lion in the One Star City Forest known for such strength. The beast that even hunters feared to provoke.

John's blood ran cold. "She's in trouble," he whispered. "She's really facing that thing… at night."

A vision of Luna flashed in his mind—standing bravely, defiant and determined. Alone.

No!

He bolted forward again, legs burning, lungs gasping for air. But he didn't slow.

Even if it costs me my life, he swore to himself, I'll save you.

The forest thickened.

And the sounds of battle—roars, crashes, and the faint cry of someone fighting for survival—grew louder.

John clenched his fists.

The fear that once held him back was gone.

Now, there was only resolve.

And the promise he carried with every pounding step:

This time, I will protect you.