Some say,

  “When Doom falls upon all, even monsters learn fear.”

  How did it all come to this ?

  I got punched in the face. Hard.

  My cheek throbbed, bruised and aching.

  Blood smeared my lips where the punch had split them open.

  And the one who caused it?

  Kaiden.

  He’s got quite the punch.

  I guess that much should’ve been expected.

  “So… not once did you consider telling any of us what was happening to you? You chose to hide it?”

  Kaiden’s words stung.

  More than I’d like to admit.

  “YOU FUCKIN’ COWARD!! FIGHT BACK!”

  Another punch came flying toward me. I raised my arms to shield my face, but the blow landed in my gut instead.

  The air rushed out of my lungs.

  It hurt like a bitch.

  “What do you even kno-?”

  And now I had to shield a kick to my head.

  This MotherFucker-

  He isn’t even gonna let me speak is he?

  It was one of those few times.

  Those few times where it’s better not to mess with Kaiden.

  Kaiden might be just an Apex, but he is one of those Dominant ones who was close to being an Enigma.

  An Enigma like me.

  And that in itself speaks for itself.

  How the fuck am i supposed to fight this monster in my state?!

  He isn’t even ready to listen!!

  Just a few hours earlier.

  My Surge.

  I knew how it felt.

  I had felt it before.

  My vision blurred as I staggered back. My fingers trembled, my breath uneven.

  Something inside me was rising.

  A surge.

  The very thing they had forced me to suppress.

  Fear crawled up my spine.

  But… Why?

  I didn’t know.

  I didn’t wait to find out.

  Before my father could stand, before I could see the look on his face, I ran.

  I could feel my heart burning up.

  Not toward my room.

  No.

  Mom.

  I needed to find my mom.

  I didn’t know when Michael saw me.

  Or how long he had been in the mansion.

  Somewhere behind me, I heard him shout.

  “ELI! WAIT! Listen to me! Eli!!”

  His voice sounded… strange.

  Almost desperate.

  Why?

  Why?

  Why?!

  Why me?!

  The world tilted, my vision fading as I lost consciousness.

  The last thing I remember—

  was Michael’s anxious voice calling my name.

  When I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar room.

  Machines beeped steadily around me, an IV line running into my arm. The sterile scent of disinfectant hung in the air.

  Panic surged through me.

  I sprang upright.

  A gentle hand immediately pushed me back down.

  For a second… I wanted to believe it was my mother.

  But I knew better.

  I turned my head.

  John stood beside the bed.

  His expression was tight—furious, yet perfectly controlled, like always.

  For a moment he just stared at me.

  Then he sighed, rubbing his temple before muttering,

  “Lay down and rest, you fucking fool.”

  “Can’t you try being a little nicer to a patient?” I huffed.

  The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how short of breath I actually was.

  Every inhale felt shallow.

  My chest rose and fell unevenly as heat spread through my body.

  I felt like I was burning from the inside out.

  Then John’s voice broke through my daze.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Eli… why didn’t you tell us anything?”

  I turned my head slightly to look at him.

  “Had you known”, I said quietly, “what would’ve changed?”

  John didn’t answer immediately. His fingers curled slightly against the railing of the bed.

  “You're right.” , he said quietly. “I can’t help.”

  John paused, then stood up.

  “But Kaiden would’ve tried to. You know-”

  “Tell Kaiden?”, I scoffed, “And what? Since he’s an Apex, will he be able to help me ?”

  John’s jaw clenched so tight, I could see his veins pop.

  “Right.” he muttered after a moment. “My mistake.”

  He let out a quiet sigh before continuing.

  “Take some rest, I’ll take my leave now.”

  I simply nodded.

  I dozed off , only to wake up in the evening.

  Dr. Damian was already there.

  He noticed the moment I stirred.

  “It’s a miracle no one died with the state you were in.”

  I couldn’t make out whether he was joking or being serious.

  “What do you even mean by that?”

  I asked him, trying to hide the skepticism in my voice.

  “Nope, Nothing you need to concern yourself with”. He paused before adding,

  “At least not while recuperating”

  Damian continued after glancing over the reports in his hands.

  “Honestly I’m surprised how well you are doing after all that”

  “Don’t you think you should be telling me what exactly happened?”

  I asked him. The irritation didn’t stay hidden in my voice this time.

  Damian simply shrugged.

  “For now, I suggest you stay put. You’re still having a fever and your metabolism hasn't returned to normal yet.”

  He paused before adding lightly,

  “ It could be dangerous if you died on me”

  I stared at him.

  Right.

  I didn’t have much to say to that, did I?

  For now, all I could do was wait for my body to settle.

  “What happened to my father?”

  I asked cautiously.

  Damian glanced over calmly.

  “He’s fine,” he said.

  Then he added almost casually,

  “Apart from the broken wrist… and the dislocated elbow.”

  I froze for a moment.

  A broken wrist… and a dislocated elbow?

  The memory of the last few moments before I lost consciousness slowly surfaced.

  Michael.

  He was the last person near me.

  “How is Michael?!” I asked quickly.

  Damian looked at me and let out a quiet sigh.

  “He’s fine too,” he said.

  Then he hesitated.

  “Just a dislocated jaw and… uh…”

  He seemed to consider his words for a moment before finishing.

  “…a few minor rib fractures.”

  My mind went blank.

  R–rib fractures?

  “You’ve got to be joking , I lost consciousness. There is no way i could’ve hurt him”

  Nothing about this made sense.

  Damian sighed again.

  “This is exactly why I asked you to stay put and recover first”

  I was pissed—this time, it was clear. I felt an uncontrollable rage rising within me.

  The heat in my body surged again.

  “Stop fucking with me, Damian.”

  Damian looked like he was hanging by the edge.

  Almost afraid.

  …of me?

  “Elijah calm down, you’re in neither the mental state nor the physical state to reason. Just rest”.

  I scoff as I brushed my hair back with my hand.

  “I’m leaving.”

  “WHA-?”

  As expected, Damian looked stunned by what I’d just said.

  I spoke before he could even respond.

  “Did I stutter, Damian?”

  I watched as Damian reluctantly agreed. He removed the IV and handed me a prescription instead—something that, according to him, would help with my cognition. Before I could get up from the hospital bed, he looked me straight in the eye and said firmly,

  “If you start feeling unwell, call me. Or ask William to call for me.”

  “Whatever”

  I wasn’t in the mood to listen to his nagging.

  “Kid, I’m serious”

  Damian continued.

  I sighed in annoyance. The small scowl on my face did very little to hide it.

  “Fine!”

  I asked William to get the car ready and told him we were leaving.

  As soon as it was prepared, I got in.

  But on our way home, I received a text from Kaiden.

  Text: Basketball ground. Do I need to specify the address?

  This was new. Kaiden’s tone didn’t sound right.

  I asked William to turn the car toward the basketball ground.

  Present….

  Little did I know what I was about to deal with.

  Shit.