Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Silas scanned the entire hall with a serious expression, his eyes sharp as he tried to locate Vic. He was nowhere to be found. Vic had been standing right beside him just a few minutes ago, but now he had disappeared. There wasn't a single trace of him left behind.

"He probably just went to the restroom or something. You don't have to worry," Angelica remarked, noticing Silas's restless glances.

But Silas wasn't convinced. Letting Vic wander off alone didn't sit right with him, especially considering the circumstances. He still had no real idea what was happening to Vic, or if he was truly okay like he had claimed. Silas was certain that keeping a close eye on Vic was the only smart option.

Yet now, Vic was gone without a trace.

"I'll see you guys later," Silas stated, his voice firm as he started walking toward the hall's exit door.

"Is everything okay, Silas?" Angelica asked, concern softening her features.

"Yeah. All good, don't worry," he replied without turning around, his pace steady as he exited the cafeteria.

"He's definitely hiding something from us. Do you want me to go check it out?" Sebastian whispered as he approached Angelica.

"No, that would be inappropriate. Besides, you heard Sir Dominic—we're all supposed to return to our dorm rooms and stay there until we're told otherwise," Angelica responded, her tone resolute.

"What about those two? I can tell they're definitely not heading to their rooms. What if they get caught?" Sebastian inquired, his brow furrowed with worry.

"Vic's a Hardcastle. I doubt he'd face any punishment. And Silas... well, let's just say he'll find a way to slip through the cracks," Angelica replied with a sigh. "Come on, let's go; everyone else is leaving," she added, motioning for him to follow.

The hall, once packed with bustling students, was now steadily emptying. Faces were drawn with frustration as students trudged toward the exits. They had meticulously planned their day, only for everything to unravel. Their schedules were scrapped, their plans ruined. Now, they had no choice but to sit in their rooms and wait.

---

While most students were making their way back to their dorm rooms, three individuals slipped away unnoticed, heading toward the backyard.

The group consisted of one boy and two girls, all of them radiating an air of defiance. Each of them looked rough and unkempt.

The boy's black hair was a tangled mess, falling in unruly strands across his forehead. Black cross tattoos marked both his cheeks, stark against his pale skin. His uniform was filthy, stained with streaks of dried blood and patches of dust. Around his waist, a Grade 3 skill slot was strapped securely, gleaming faintly.

The two girls walking beside him were just as striking. Both had sharp, angular features, framed by short black hair cropped close to their heads. Tattoos curled around their necks in intricate, serpentine designs. Silver nose rings glinted under the fading light, and their ears bore five earrings each, the metal catching the dim glow. Their skirts were deliberately shorter than regulation length, flaunting their legs—legs that bore more inked designs, a canvas of rebellion.

They walked with confidence, their presence crackling with raw defiance, ready to break rules and challenge anyone who dared to stop them.

"Alright, bring it out, Cat," Jerry ordered, his voice low and commanding. His dark eyes glinted with a mix of excitement and rebellion, a wicked grin curling at the edges of his mouth.

Cat smirked in return, a glint of mischief in her eyes. With a slow, deliberate motion, she slid her right hand into her bra. Her fingers fished around for a moment before pulling out three tightly rolled brown cigarettes. The paper was rough, slightly crinkled, and the smell of the contraband herb was strong even from a few feet away.

"Now this is what I like," Jerry chuckled, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He plucked one from her fingers and rolled it across his knuckles before placing it between his lips, savoring the gritty texture against his mouth.

"You know we shouldn't be out here," Josie muttered, her voice tense and wary. Her eyes darted nervously to the building's shadowed windows. "We were ordered to stay indoors. If we get caught, we're screwed."

Jerry snorted, a puff of disdain escaping his nose. He cocked his head, his expression a mixture of defiance and mockery. "Do you see any staff around here, Josie? Because I sure as hell don't." He leaned closer, his breath hot with impatience. "If you don't wanna be here, you know where the door is. Cat and I'll gladly smoke yours." He turned to Cat, his lips twisting into a smirk. "Ain't that right, Cat?"

Cat's eyes sparkled as she nodded, her grin stretching wider. She loved the thrill, the danger, the feeling of being untouchable.

With a flourish, Jerry yanked a lighter from his pocket. He flicked the wheel repeatedly, the sparks stubborn until finally a tiny flame danced to life.

He leaned in, igniting his cigarette. The tip glowed orange-red, the paper curling into ash as smoke drifted upward. He passed the lighter to Cat and Josie, each girl lighting their own sticks, their faces momentarily illuminated by the tiny flame.

The air thickened with the musky scent of the jelly weed. They inhaled deeply, smoke snaking into their lungs and swirling out in slow, lazy plumes. The three of them stood there, basking in the rebelliousness of it all, eyes scanning the perimeter for any sign of authority.

But their little bubble of indulgence was punctured when Cat's eyes caught a movement a few meters away.

"Who the hell is that?" she hissed, her voice tight with suspicion. Her hand shot out, pointing toward a figure emerging from the darkness.

Jerry squinted, his brow creasing. The figure moved slowly, the gait unsteady yet deliberate. A faint crunch of gravel accompanied each step. The student's head was bowed, long strands of snow-white hair falling like a curtain over his face. The pale locks glowed faintly under the dim light, ghostly and unsettling.

Jerry's lip curled. "No need to panic. He's not staff—just some freak." He exhaled a plume of smoke through his nostrils, his confidence returning. He took a step forward, the cigarette smoldering between his fingers.

"Stay here," he muttered, more to himself than to the girls. He took a long drag and blew the smoke out in a thin stream before striding toward the figure. His shoes scraped against the gravel, the sound oddly loud in the tense silence.

"You want something, freak?" Jerry spat, his voice dripping with contempt. The figure didn't react. His head remained down, his white hair hanging like a shroud.

Jerry's jaw tightened. "I asked you a question!" His steps grew more aggressive, his body leaning forward as if challenging the other to respond. "What the hell's your business here?" Smoke curled from his mouth, swirling around his face like a coiled serpent. "Look at me when I'm talking to you. Raise your damn head!"

Suddenly, without warning, the figure's hand shot out. Cold fingers clamped around Jerry's neck with inhuman speed and force. A strangled gasp escaped Jerry's throat, the cigarette falling from his fingers and hissing as it landed on the ground. His feet left the earth as the figure lifted him effortlessly, Jerry's legs kicking, his shoes scuffing the air.

His eyes bulged with panic, and his hands clawed at the iron grip around his neck. His breath came in frantic, ragged gasps, each one shallower than the last.

Cat and Josie stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief and terror. Their cigarettes dropped, forgotten, as they watched Jerry flail helplessly.

The figure finally tilted his head up. Black eyes stared out, empty and cold as voids. Shadows curled like dark veins beneath his pale skin. Black fur and jagged scales crept across his cheeks, glistening like wet obsidian. His lips peeled back, revealing rows of sharp, glistening fangs.

Jerry's body went rigid, his mouth opening in a silent scream. The cold dread that filled his chest made his limbs heavy.

"W-what... what are you?" he choked out, his voice barely a whisper.

The figure—Vic—didn't answer. His grip tightened. Clawed fingers sank deeper into Jerry's flesh. Blood welled up in thick, crimson streams. With a final, brutal squeeze, there was a sickening crack. Jerry's head tore free from his body in a spray of blood.

The severed head hit the ground with a dull thud, rolling to a stop as lifeless eyes stared into the void. His body slumped a moment later, crumpling like a broken marionette.

A scream shattered the silence, raw and desperate. Cat and Josie's faces were masks of horror, their eyes wet and wild. The smell of blood and smoke mingled in the air.

They turned and bolted, their feet pounding frantically toward the academy building, screams still tearing from their throats.

---

Silas's boots thudded against the hallway floor, his jaw set, eyes sharp with determination. He was searching, scanning every shadow. Then a scream ripped through the air, high-pitched and terrified.

He stopped dead, heart pounding. The sound came from the backyard.

Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the source, his body a blur of motion. The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly, shadows swallowing him whole.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As he neared the door to the backyard, two girls burst through it, their faces pale, streaked with tears, their bodies trembling.

"Hey, hey! What's going on?" Silas demanded, his voice firm but edged with concern.

Josie's eyes met his, hollow with terror. "There's a mutant… It killed Jerry. Don't go there!" she choked out, her voice raw with panic. She grabbed her sister's hand, and they disappeared down the hallway, their sobs fading into the distance.

Silas clenched his fists, knuckles cracking under the pressure. His eyes narrowed, dark with fury.

"Vic. Dammit."

He spat the words like a curse and charged forward.