What the hell just happened?

I’d lost it. Completely. I thought I had things under control, thought I could keep the rage in check, but that… that wasn’t me. Not really. I’d meant to save Leo. I was supposed to stop Rico, but somewhere along the line, I’d snapped. I didn’t just want to beat Rico. I wanted to end him. I wanted to tear him apart piece by piece. But why?

I wiped my hand over my face, as I looked at the blood staining them, the weight of it all came crashing down on me. “What the hell’s wrong with me?” I muttered.

That’s a damn good question, Doc chimed in, his voice crackling in my head, not quite as enthusiastic as before. I mean, sure, Rico’s a slimy bastard and he deserved death, but the way you went at him? That was something else, kid. And I’ve seen things.

He wasn’t wrong. I’d fought harder before, been pushed to the edge, but this… this was different. It wasn’t just about the fight, it was about what I felt. That anger, that fury—it wasn’t just because of Leo, was it? I mean, yeah, I felt for the guy. His past sucked, no doubt about that. But I just met him. Why the hell did I get so angry?

You already know, kid, Doc’s voice dropped, more serious now. It’s the absorption. It’s not just about power. It’s the memories, the emotions. They’re all wrapped up in there, tangled in that messy little package you keep calling your “abilities.”

I frowned. “You’re saying… every time I absorb something, it changes me.”

Bingo. Doc’s tone was sharp, biting. It’s subtle most of the time, but this? This wasn’t subtle. That Coyote you absorbed? Its rage, its pain, all of it—you felt it. Whether you wanted to or not. And that’s the problem, Kain. You don’t just get stronger. You get pieces of them too. Their memories, their instincts, their emotions. He paused for a second, like he was mulling something over. And you’ve been tapping into those instincts without even realizing it.

I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of what he was saying settle in my gut. Every fight, every creature I consumed—it wasn’t just about getting their powers. They left marks on me, more than I’d realized. Maybe that’s why I lost control. I wasn’t just angry for me. I was angry for the Coyote. Its pain, its rage—that became my rage.

But it doesn’t have to be, Belmont’s voice cut through the storm of thoughts in my head, steady and calm, like always. You can control it, Kain. But only if you know who you are. You have to remember that. You are Kain Reyes. His voice held firm, echoing through me. You’re not a beast. You’re not a slave to the memories. These powers—they don’t define you. You define them.

Belmont was right, I had to keep hold of myself, or I’d lose everything. The power, the emotions, the memories—it was part of me now, but it didn’t get to be the one pulling the strings. I had to figure out who I was, what I stood for, and hold onto that. Otherwise, the next time I lost control, it might not just be some thralls in my way.

I exhaled slowly, the tension easing out of my shoulders, but the questions still lingered.

“Yeah, but who am I really?” I muttered, my voice barely more than a whisper.

You’re Kain Reyes, kid, Belmont repeated, his tone soft but firm. The guy who fights for what’s right. The one who steps up when no one else can. Not because of the power, not because of the hunt. But because deep down, you know what you believe in.

My fists unclenched, the blood from the fight drying on my skin. Belmont wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t make it any easier. I had to remember who I was, but the line was getting harder to see. The rage, the power—they made me feel unstoppable, made me feel like I could do anything, take down anyone. But that’s not why I was here. That’s not why I started this.

I wasn’t some monster. I wasn’t like Rico, no matter how much the hunger tried to tell me otherwise. I was Kain Reyes, and I wasn’t going to let anything change that.

This won’t be the last time, Belmont continued, his voice quieter now. There’ll be more fights, more enemies, more temptations to lose yourself in. But the moment you forget who you are, the moment you let the hunger define you—that’s when you lose.

I nodded, even though neither of them could see it. Belmont was right. I couldn’t let this happen again. I couldn’t let myself become a slave to the power I’d taken.

“You really think it’s that simple?” I asked, glancing down at my blood-stained hands. “Just remembering who I am?”

Of course it’s not simple, Doc shot back, snickering. But it’s the only shot you’ve got. You want to stay in control? Then you gotta stay you. Not the Coyote. Not the Wendigo. Not anything else you decide to gobble up next. He paused, then added with a sly edge, I mean, come on, Kain, you’ve already got that whole quipping, brooding, vigilante thing going for you. Stick to that and you’ll be fine.

I snorted, shaking my head. “Yeah, thanks, Doc. Real helpful.”

I’m here all night, kid.

I took a deep breath, feeling the last of the pain and tension leave my body. The wounds were gone, healed. My mind was clear again, or at least as clear as it could be. But Doc and Belmont were right. If I didn’t figure out who I was, then I would lose myself in all of this. I couldn't let that happen.

My eyes slowly turned towards the exit, as my feet began to move my mind in a whirl at what to do. First I'd have to make my way back to the town, then do some more digging. Thanks to the coyotes memories, I wasn't completely out of luck no doubt though with the fear Rico showed as he ran with his tail tucked between his legs it wouldn't be nearly as easy to find him again. I thought as I left the mansion behind

The trek back was rather uneventful and quiet contrary to everything that happened before then regardless of my strength the walk back took hours, yet when I finally saw the town nestled within the mountain range a feeling of calm seeped into my bones. Standing atop the dusty mountain ridge, I took in the view of Bakersfield sprawled out below me like some cracked desert mirage. The place always looked different from up here: a city stitched together with desperation and heat, the kind of place where shadows pooled in all the wrong corners, and magic—if you knew where to look—seeped in like spilled gasoline on the sunbaked asphalt.

The air was thick, hot, almost oppressive, and the town was bathed in that peculiar twilight haze, one part golden hour, two parts smog. Neighborhoods sprawled out from the center, a mix of cookie-cutter homes and patchy green parks, but as you moved outward, the fields took over—a vast, dusty quilt of orchards and farmland, stretching far as the eye could see.

From up here, I could trace the course of the Kern River slicing through the heart of the city, the water an untrustworthy shade of green, coiled like a serpent hiding in plain sight. Beyond, the mountains loomed—ancient, watchful—flanking the town like silent sentinels, their peaks kissed by the last of the day’s light.

Bakersfield looked almost peaceful from up here. But I knew better. Down there, things that went bump in the night kept pretty busy, especially after today.

"As far as towns go this place is a garbage heap." Doc laughed

"That's clearly uncalled for you old snake, the town might not be much but it's got a unique type of beauty" Belmont echoed

"Hahaha hate it or love it, this place is my hometown and a good reminder of who I am." I chuckled in amusement as I made my way towards the town adding a little pip to my steps as I flew down the mountain and passed the fields, a blinding light caught my eye as a driver sped down the freeway his Hi-beams blinding me while the wind of his car as he drove past me nearly sent me stumbling to the floor, and at the speed I was running that would have done a little more than just leave some light scrapes and bruises.

Finally, as I arrived within the city limits, I paused for a moment, my thoughts lost and unsure. My memories floated back to when this all began: the constant moving from place to place, learning to gain a semblance of control over the new abilities I wielded. I had never really considered what they would cost me. It felt as if I’d been speeding through everything, never taking a moment to rest.

I needed to ground myself, but sadly, with things as they were, I didn’t have that kind of luxury. Hopefully, in time, I would. For now, though, there were some leads I could check on—a world the coyote’s memories had opened up, revealing facets of Rico’s operation and connections.

Apparently, slumbering within Bakersfield were certain markets run by various members of the supernatural world—players neither Doc nor Belmont had told me about. To be fair, they said their main focus was on helping me gain a semblance of control over my powers first and foremost, before I delved into a world I knew nothing about, Nor was I ready for.

If today’s events were anything to go by, I could only agree with their words. Either way, it was something I would begin to tackle in the morning. For now, I made my way to a cheap hotel to get some rest. I had a big day ahead of me, and despite all these abilities, sleep and exhaustion were slowly creeping up.