Five years passed.

When Levi stepped out of the juvy gates at thirteen years old, he felt the sunlight like it was something new. Beside him stood Zeith Moore—taller, stronger, and no longer the scared kid he once was. They had both changed. They weren’t boys anymore; juvy had shaped them into survivors.

Zeith crossed his arms. “Five years in there… feels weird being free.”

Levi nodded. “Yeah. But we made it.”

Even though Zeith respected Levi deeply, a small piece of resentment still lived inside him—leftover from the moment Levi pushed him to stand on his own. But it wasn’t hatred. It was more like a bruise that never completely healed.

They walked toward the bus stop, backpacks over their shoulders. But Levi couldn’t shake a strange feeling—like someone was watching them.

Then Zeith whispered, “That guy… he’s been behind us since the gate.”

A tall man in a black suit and dark glasses followed them from a distance, matching their every turn.

Levi slowed down.
Zeith swallowed hard.
The man stepped forward.

“Are you Levi?” he asked calmly.

Levi’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s asking?”

“Come with me,” the man said.

“No,” Levi snapped. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

The man reached toward him.

Levi didn’t even think—instinct took over. He swung his fist and punched the man in the jaw. The man’s sunglasses flew off and hit the ground.

Levi froze.

The man’s eyes were bright yellow. Not glowing—solid yellow, like no human eyes could ever be.

“What… are you?” Zeith whispered.

The man didn’t answer with words.

His skin began to shift, his face tightening, ears stretching into sharp points. His hair receded until he was completely bald, and static energy cracked around his fingertips.

Electric sparks danced across his hands.

“RUN!” Levi shouted.

They sprinted down the street, cutting through alleys, jumping over low fences. Lightning flashed behind them, striking the pavement with a crack that made their ears ring.

“He’s not human!” Zeith cried.

“I noticed!” Levi yelled back.

Another bolt of electricity shot past them. The air hummed like a storm was exploding around them. Levi felt his legs burning, lungs aching, but he kept running.

But the creature was faster.

It appeared in front of them in a flash—eyes glowing like two suns, electricity wrapped around its body like armor.

Levi tried to push Zeith out of the way—

—but a surge of electricity burst from the creature’s hand.

A blinding flash filled Levi’s vision.
Pain exploded through his body.
Zeith screamed something he couldn’t hear.

And then—

Darkness.

The last thing Levi saw was the monster standing over them, sparks dancing across its skin, before everything faded away.