This chapter includes scenes involving violence, supernatural conflict, emotional distress, and tense confrontations.
Some moments may be uncomfortable for sensitive readers.
Please read with awareness.
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He stared in pure shock.
Crimson red eyes. Long black hair.
It's Miss Jenne. No… I am not dreaming.
He looked at the dead body. The ground covered in blood.
"Urk—"
He threw up.
Huff… huff…
Jenne smelled the blood on her hand.
"His blood smells disgusting," she said.
"By the way, Noor, you never should have come here." Her eyes glowed red.
Gasp.
Noor sweating.
"What do you think about this, wolf?" she asked the other one.
Noor's gaze shifted.
"Whatever, you're right. He is an idiot after all."
The other person took off the hood.
"Ri… Ria?" Noor froze.
Eyes glowing yellow. Hands covered in fur. Large fangs.
She was in her true form.
His heart began aching.
(Am I going to die? I already knew Ria's true identity…)
"Well, Noor, I guess I won't be needing you anymore."
She grabbed his throat and crushed him into the side of a van.
Smash.
"Grk— ghhk—"
He gasped for air as her grip tightened around his neck.
"I should never trust humans like you. I should kill you," she whispered.
Whoosh.
Whip.
Ria attacked using her claws.
Noor dropped to the ground, grabbing his throat, coughing.
"Wolf, what are you doing?" Jenne asked.
"Just paying him back."
"What?"
"Well, I told you before—he protected my identity. If he wanted, he could've easily exposed me. I'm not an ungrateful vampire like you."
"V… vampire?" Noor pushed himself away in fear.
"But humans can change, don't they? They are selfish, greedy. How can you trust them when it comes to your identity and existence? They will betray you one day."
She looked at Noor.
"Eeeek—"
"Can you stop doing this, Jenne? You'll give him a heart attack. Also, you've lived with him nearly a year now. Don't you have a little trust in him?"
"Trust? Humph. His father left him here despite knowing everything. He knew if his son made a mistake, he would get ripped to shreds. He pushed his son into the face of death to save his own skin. If the tree is like that, the fruit won't be much different."
KRRRRAAAA-THOOOOOM
Thunder roared.
"No… no… you're lying. It's not true. My father can't do this to me… you're lying… it's not true…" Noor broke down.
"Lying is the nature of humans, Noor. I have no reason to lie to you." Jenne spoke softly.
Noor looked down.
"Do whatever you want with him, wolf. I'll be going. If he makes a mistake, I'll kill him anyway."
Woosh.
"Sobs… hic… my father can't… hic…" Noor cried.
"Noor, listen to me—"
"My father can't… hic…"
Smack.
Ria slapped him.
Noor froze in shock, his ears ringing.
"Ri… Ria… why did you…"
"I really can't stand crybabies like you.
You know, in our race, weak males have no place. They either get killed by others or abandoned by their own pack. Nobody chooses them. Nobody cares about them.
"And there are pathetic people like you who can't do anything about their problems. Always hiding behind people's shadows.
"You are nothing more than a burden, Noor. Maybe that's why your father left you."
"Ria… what are you saying? You are nothing like before. Even yesterday in school you acted different." Noor said.
"School and this? That's different. In school we learn how to live a good life. And here… how to end one.
"I was also abandoned by my own as a child. I was pathetic too. But I got stronger, learned how to live by myself.
And there's you… just a crybaby."
"Yes… I am a crybaby. Because I am just a human. I don't need fancy powers.
And at least I don't fake my feelings to others… unlike you, Miss Ria." Noor forced a weak smile.
He began walking, drenched in rain.
"Oi! Don't do anything stupid! Jenne won't go easy on you. If you want to stay alive, keep your mouth shut!" Ria yelled.
Noor left silently.
—
Sometimes later
Noor entered the mansion.
Rosy ran to him after noticing.
"Sir Noor, you're drenched in rain! Please change your clothes fast—you'll catch a cold."
"Miss Rosy… can I get your phone? I want to talk to my father."
"Yes, of course, but you should ch—"
"I want to talk to him now." Noor's voice was broken.
Trrwp.
Trrwp.
Groomm.
Thunder roaring.
"Hello."
Noor's father, Arman, picked up.
"Father."
"Who?"
Humph… Noor laughed weakly.
"You can't recognize me?"
"Noor?"
"Yes… it's me. Alive."
"Why did you call me? I'm busy."
"I just wanted to ask a small thing."
"What is it? Be specific."
"Did you know…" Noor whispered, "Did you know… about their true identity?"
Arman stayed silent for a second.
"So you did find out," he replied.
"You used me as a sacrificial lamb, didn't you? Haha…" Noor laughed brokenly.
"Yes. I did. I don't need you anymore. You and your mother… please let me be in peace. I couldn't think of a better way than this. Kevin wanted me as a sacrifice and I brought him you. To save myself. I don't care what you think. Just go die. Don't call me again."
Disconnected.
Noor stood in the empty corridor for a second.
"Oh… what about mom?"
Trrwp.
Trrwp.
"Hello."
"Mom…"
"Noor, what happened?"
"No… I was just missing you."
"I'm working on a project. I told you I'm busy these days."
"But mom—"
"What?"
"Well—"
"What about the results of the past exam?" she asked.
"I failed two subjects."
"As expected from the father's son. Not different from the tree, aren't you? I wasted my life for you, and there's you doing nothing."
"But mom—"
"Don't talk to me from now on."
Hangs up.
Sigh.
Noor entered his room silently.
Outside heavy rain with thunder.
"Hah… hah—sniff—haah…
Haha… haha—ha…"
His unstable laughter echoed while tears rolled down his eyes.
His agony was buried under the sound of heavy rain.
—
It's past midnight.
Noor sat on the floor.
Punching the wall slowly.
Murmuring to himself:
"My father hates me.
My mother hates me.
I'm just a weakling.
Everybody hates me."
He repeated the same thing for hours.
—
The night passed.
Later at school.
Noor walked silently at the entrance.
It was decorated heavily.
"Hey Noor!" Ashraf ran to him.
"Did you get home safely last night? At least you could've given me a call!"
"Oh… I'm sorry. Won't happen again." Noor replied quietly.
"What's with your hand?"
"It's nothing."
"Well, do you know today famous psychologist Dr. Abir Ajad is coming to our school? He'll give a speech about that recent book he wrote — the one I gave you in the library!"
"I didn't read that," Noor said.
"Oh! Also the famous musician group SURR is performing today! Their music mixes orchestra and metal with traditional instruments—this is so exciting!
"If only Suvro was also here…" Ashraf added sadly.
"What about Suvro?" Noor said loudly.
"Oh—he's okay, calm down! You want to visit him?"
Noor's expression darkened.
"No… I'll meet him later."
—
Couple hours later
Noor stood on the rooftop.
"Noor!" Ashraf yelled, panting. "Huff… huff… ouch, my arm…
I was looking all over for you! Come on, the speech is going to start! If we're late, there won't be any seats left!"
Noor walked silently.
—
Sometimes later
"We got seats at the front! Yay! Noor, Abir Ajad is my idol! Seeing him in person is a different experience!" Ashraf wiped tears.
Noor remained silent.
"Ahem, ahem… well, you already know my name, haha!"
Crowd cheered.
"So, recently I wrote a book about THE UNKNOWN CAPABILITIES OF THE HUMAN BODY…"
"Well, most people know the popular folklore of this state — I guess everyone knows his name…
Modhu."
The crowd screamed.
"Damn, Noor, do you know about Modhu? His story is amazing! Many people believe he was real! What do you think?" Ashraf asked excitedly.
Noor stayed silent.
The doctor continued his speech.
"Well, Modhu was known as a 'Pure Human.' It was a given name — I couldn't think of anything better, haha."
Everyone laughed.
"Haha, he's funny!" Ashraf clapped.
Noor remained unfazed.
Suddenly his gaze shifted.
Is that… Roy?
Far away, about to leave the hall.
"Noor, where are you going?"
"Washroom," he replied.
Noor began following Roy.
Roy was with his full gang of 15 members — wrestlers from different places.
They headed toward the construction site behind the school.
They entered the big storeroom where materials were kept.
Shut.
Should I go inside?