The Awakening

The air in the warehouse was still thick with tension. No one spoke, their eyes locked on Luca. The unnatural silver gleam in his irises flickered like a distant storm, and for a moment, Evelyn felt as though she was staring at a stranger.

"Luca?" she whispered, reaching toward him hesitantly.

He blinked, and just like that, his eyes returned to normal. He swayed slightly, gripping his head. "I… I don't know what happened."

Julian and Rayna exchanged wary glances.

"You were dying," Rayna said, her voice low. "The Hunter did something to you."

Luca pressed a hand against his chest. The fever that had been tearing him apart was completely gone, but in its place was something new—something humming beneath his skin, unfamiliar and powerful. "I feel… different."

"Different how?" Julian asked, his fingers twitching toward his gun again.

Luca hesitated. "Stronger." He flexed his fingers, testing the sensation. "It's like—I can feel something I couldn't before."

Rayna narrowed her eyes. "Like what?"

Luca turned his gaze toward the shadows in the corner of the warehouse. For a split second, Evelyn could swear they moved—rippling as if alive.

Luca exhaled sharply. "Like there's something… waiting."

A chill ran down Evelyn's spine.

"We need to get out of here," Julian said. He was already moving, checking his ammo, making sure the path outside was clear. "If The Hunter left you alive, it's for a reason. We need to figure out what that is—before he comes back to collect."

Luca stood, rolling his shoulders. His movements were fluid, controlled. Stronger than before. He caught Evelyn watching him, and for a brief second, something flickered in his gaze—something unreadable.

"Let's go," he said.

—

Later That Night

The safe house was quiet. Too quiet. Evelyn sat on the edge of the couch, staring at Luca from across the room. He was pacing, restless, his hands twitching every so often like they wanted to reach for something unseen.

Julian was on the phone in the next room, likely calling in favors to figure out who—or what—The Hunter really was. Rayna had locked herself in the bathroom, patching up the injuries from earlier.

Which left just the two of them.

Evelyn swallowed. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Luca stopped, glancing at her. "Why do you keep asking that?"

"Because I was holding you while you were dying a few hours ago," she shot back. "And now you're—" She waved a hand at him. "Fine. Better than fine. That doesn't just happen, Luca."

His jaw tightened. "I know."

A beat of silence.

Then, finally, he sighed and sank onto the couch beside her.

"I don't know what's happening to me," he admitted. His voice was quiet, uncertain. "I just know that something inside me changed when he touched me."

Evelyn hesitated, then reached for his hand. His fingers twitched, but he didn't pull away.

"We'll figure it out," she promised.

Luca looked down at their hands. Slowly, carefully, he curled his fingers around hers.

A warmth spread through her chest.

But just as she was about to speak, the lights flickered.

Then—darkness.

A cold whisper slithered through the air.

You are awake now.

Luca stiffened.

Evelyn's breath caught.

Then, the shadows moved.

—

Next Chapter: The Truth Within

What is happening to Luca? What did The Hunter awaken inside him? And why does the darkness seem to be calling his name?