The forest was alive in that eerie, mid-day stillness—the kind where every sound felt louder than it should. The sun clawed its way through the tangled mess of trees, spilling gold across damp earth and casting long shadows that stretched like claws. The air smelled like wet moss and old bark, heavy with the kind of silence that warned you something was about to happen. Birds? Quiet. Wind? Still.
It was the kind of calm that wasn't peaceful—it was loaded, like the whole damn world was holding its breath.
Naomi's eyes snapped open, panic hitting her like ice water. Her head throbbed, and every muscle in her body screamed as she shifted—barely moving, but enough to realize shit— "I'm awake." And that's when she saw it.
Not far from her, there he was—the psycho who had yanked her life out from under her like a cheap rug. The bastard was lunging forward, his body cutting through the air with terrifying speed. Time didn't just slow—it practically broke. Everything stretched out like some insane slow-mo shot straight out of a blockbuster. Every detail stood out too sharp to ignore: the way his muscles bunched under his clothes, the murderous fire in his eyes, and—God help her—the sheer speed that made him look like a bullet carved from flesh and rage.
But then, on the other side of that nightmare, there was him.
Her boss. Cold, untouchable, the terrifyingly calm billionaire, Parker Black. Except this wasn't the boardroom, and this wasn't the same guy who sat behind a desk like the whole world was already his. Nah. He was barefoot? Dirt smudged on his ankles, standing there in a loose sweater shirt and baggy-ass trousers—looking like he'd been through hell and was ready to punch the devil in the throat for fun.
But her breath really hitched when she caught sight of the sword.
White flames, searing, alive—crawling down his arm like they had a mind of their own, licking at the fabric without burning it. His sweater didn't even singe. And those flames? They weren't just fire—they were hunger. They tore through the air toward the man with terrifying speed, shadows wrapping around Parker like a living thing, coiling tight like they were ready to strike.
Parker pivoted, barefoot on the rough forest ground, and swept the sword forward in one fluid, deadly motion. His mouth moved—he shouted something, but to Naomi, it was like the whole world was underwater.
Everything stretched on in slow motion.
And then—whoosh—that slash of fire carved through the air, like death wrapped in heat. Shadows followed in its wake, thick and dark, like the forest itself was bleeding.
Suddenly, time snapped back. Parker didn't wait to see if the hit landed. He was already moving, sprinting toward her like the devil was clawing at his heels.
"EREEEE!" His voice ripped through the air, raw and desperate.
Naomi couldn't even process what was happening before he was there, scooping her up like she weighed nothing. The world blurred around her, everything moving too fast to comprehend. She felt the solid strength of his arms, the rush of wind against her skin—and then, just as suddenly, shadows bloomed beneath Parker's feet. A portal, black and swirling, ripped open under him.
And across the portal on the other side of it—in the living room—she caught a flash of movement. Ere. That sharp, intelligent glint in those eerly beautiful golden eyes.
Parker didn't hesitate. He jumped—no, he fell into the portal
The portal shook—a gut-punch of sound that echoed through the trees like a thunderclap. Naomi's brain couldn't keep up. Her body screamed, but everything went numb, and her last memory before the world drowned in black was Parker's voice—raw, sharp, and cracked with pain.
The portal pulsed violently, shadows rippling like a living wound. Parker's body twisted mid-air, and a raw, guttural scream tore from his throat—sharp, broken, real. His grip on Naomi tightened, muscles straining as agony ripped through him, fire and shadows clashing inside like they were trying to tear him apart.
The sound echoed, jagged and desperate—then the portal snapped shut, swallowing everything in brutal silence.
The hallway was chaos—crowded, noisy, the usual mess of bodies and voices crashing together like a human hurricane. But then they showed up, and suddenly, it was like someone hit the damn slow-motion button.
Maya led the way, sharp, confident, every step screaming, I own this place. Anabelle was right on her side, that signature smirk pulling at the corner of her mouth—danger and beauty wrapped in one effortless package. And then there was Evelyn, trailing just a beat behind, that wild spark in her eyes making her look like trouble just waiting to happen.
Yeah, the hallway felt that energy. Heads turned like dominos falling, phones whipped out faster than anyone could blink, and the air filled with that soft, collective "Ooooh…" The stares weren't just admiration—they were respect mixed with fear. Because when these three walked together , it wasn't for show. Something was about to go down.
Only, today wasn't about flexing power—it was a hunt. And the thrill of it rolled off them like heat.
The slow-mo-like vibe shattered when Evelyn broke the silence. "It's coming from this way. The energy—faint but fresh—it's leading straight to the old building and there seems to be some kind of fight?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the buzz of the hallway like a blade.
Maya's eyes narrowed, sharp as glass. "Someone had the guts to step into Origin territory without permission? And target someone?"
Evelyn nodded, her usual playful vibe wiped clean. "It gets weirder. Parker—he was acting off. Came into my class, all tense like he was hunting for someone. Dude looked scared. His whole body was on edge, like… like something was wrong."
Both Maya and Anabelle snapped their heads toward her, voices slicing through the air in perfect sync, "You said Parker was involved earlier, right?"
"Yeah," Evelyn confirmed, her tone dipping low. "It wasn't just random. He ran off, eyes wild like he'd seen a ghost. Something—or someone—spooked the hell outta him."
Anabelle's brow furrowed. "What the fuck would Parker be doing in Class A acting all weird? I don't even know him like that."
Maya froze, pieces clicking together faster than she liked. "Class A…" she muttered—Naomi. That girl from yesterday, the one sticking close to Parker like they had some secret connection.
Her pulse spiked. No way this is coincidence.
"Parker…" Without another word, she bolted, feet hitting the ground hard as she sprinted through the courtyard, her school uniform whipping behind her like a flag of war.
"That's our cue!" Anabelle called, already on the move, Evelyn right beside her. "She's rarely wrong—this could be bad."
They didn't need to say it out loud, but the thought was burning through all of them—if their instincts were right, if that terrifying presence had anything to do with Parker and Naomi…
He could be dead already.
But maybe—maybe—they weren't too late. They pushed harder, every second slicing closer to that old, abandoned building.
But at that exact moment, the vampire had attacked before Parker had fully disappeared into the confines of the portal!