Chapter 5: Hunted

Kieran’s muscles tensed. The two figures in the alley weren’t ordinary people.

They didn’t move like civilians—no hesitation, no wasted energy. The man’s smirk was casual, but his stance was too relaxed, too measured. The woman’s gaze, cold and assessing, sent a chill down Kieran’s spine.

They were hunters.

“Relax, kid,” the man said, stepping forward. “We’re not here to hurt you.”

Liar.

Kieran’s body knew the truth before his mind did. His newly awakened instincts screamed at him. Every fiber of his being told him run.

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The woman raised a device—a sleek, black scanner with glowing blue lines.

BEEP.

Her eyes narrowed. “Impossible.”

“What?” the man asked.

“No registration. No Awakening signature. And yet…” She glanced at the corpse behind Kieran. “He shouldn’t be capable of that.”

Kieran took a step back. His fingers twitched, energy crackling faintly. He didn’t know who these people were, but if they were scanning him, it meant they worked for someone.

And if the system had taught him anything, it was this—

He couldn’t trust anyone.

The man sighed, rubbing his temple. “Great. Another anomaly. You know the rules—HQ will want him contained.”

Contained?

No.

Before they could react, Kieran turned—and ran.

“Shit! He’s bolting!”

A split second later, the ground exploded behind him. The woman had moved—fast. Faster than humanly possible.

Kieran barely dodged, his body twisting unnaturally mid-air. His instincts took over, his movements no longer his own. He landed, barely keeping his balance, before sprinting into the maze of alleyways.

His heart pounded. His lungs burned. But he didn’t stop.

Because for the first time in his life…

He was being hunted.