The warehouse felt colder now.
Aric sat with his back against the office wall, knees pulled close, trying to steady his breathing. Darkness pressed in from all sides, heavy and suffocating. The only light leaked faintly through the cracks in the boards they had shoved against the window.
However, for some reason Aric could see completely fine; he felt as though he was in his element.
Emily moved silently around the small office, double-checking their barricades. Wooden pallets pressed against the door. A table braced against the window.
It looked secure.
But Aric couldn't shake the feeling that nothing was secure anymore.
His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the shimmering blue screen floating before his eyes — the system.
_______________________
Aric Ness
Level: 1
Health: 10
Stamina: 10
Strength: 10
Speed: 10
Magic: N/A
Species: Chimera
Sub-species: Apex
Abilities: Apex
________________________
He tried to stay calm, but the words blurred together, refusing to make sense. He glanced up at Emily — she hadn't noticed the screen. She continued securing the room, her movements quiet and precise.
Does she see this? Can she see it?
Aric shifted slightly, tilting his head like he was stretching his neck — really just checking if Emily reacted to the holographic window floating in front of him.
Nothing.
Not even a glance.
She didn't see it.
Aric exhaled slowly.
So this thing… it was only visible to him.
Aric stared at the shimmering blue screen, confusion twisting in his chest.
What kind of system is this?
In every story he'd ever read, systems talked, gave quests, offered rewards.
But his? It just sat there — cold and quiet exposing his weaknesses in sterile numbers.
He tried clicking, tapping and even mentally forcing something to open.
"System".
"Apex".
"Ability activate. Come on! Just work already!"
Nothing.
"This is stupid i just feel like an idiot" he thought.
Aric dragged his fingers through his hair and rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to think. But his mind was blank.
Why won't anything make sense?
A fresh surge of irritation burned through him. He wanted answers. He wanted control. He wanted that bastard dead. But all he had were questions and a useless glowing screen.
A loud creak echoed from the warehouse outside.
Aric flinched — heart lurching — but Emily didn't even look up.
Just the building settling…
Hopefully.
Emily returned to sit beside him. Her breathing was calm. Controlled.
Everything about her felt like the opposite of him right now.
Aric cleared his throat, trying to shake off the nerves.
"Emily," he whispered. "Can I ask a question?"
"Okay, but make it quick."
"Who are you and why are you helping me?"
Emily stared at him without a word until finally she spoke.
"It's my mission. You're a person of interest to the Order. That's all I know."
Aric kept silent. What's this Order she spoke of? He wanted to ask more, but from the way she answered the first question, he doubted he would get more information on that topic.
"Emily… how did you do that? The transformation. One moment you were — well… you — and the next… you were a giant wolf."
"A direwolf," she corrected quietly, her eyes scanning the shadows. "Not a normal wolf."
"Right," Aric nodded. "A direwolf."
"Whats the difference?" He asked.
"A direwolf is more ancient and more powerful." she replied.
"Right." Aric nodded.
She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, her expression softening — just a little.
"It's a type of magic," she said. "We Animorphs are sorcerers who can transform into animals at will."
Aric blinked. "So you can become any animal you want?"
Emily shook her head.
"No. Our animal form is decided from birth. Mine is the direwolf — because of the full moon on the night I was born."
Aric tried to absorb that. Magic. Sorcerers. Direwolves. The Order.
It sounded insane — yet he had literally seen her transform into a massive wolf with his own eyes.
"So… does that mean I can do it too?" he asked quietly — hope tinged with desperation.
Emily's eyes lingered on him, studying him like he was a puzzle even she couldn't solve.
"We don't know what you are yet," she said. "But you seem different. You're probably not an Animorph."
Different.
Aric wasn't sure if that was comforting or terrifying.
Silence settled between them. Outside, the warehouse groaned again — wood expanding in the cold night.
Aric clenched and unclenched his fists.
He hated this.
Hiding. Weak. Useless.
He wasn't stupid — he knew if that vampire found them… he would die. Again, utterly powerless. His throat tightened.
I couldn't avenge mother. And now Emily is risking herself for me.
He swallowed the thought, anger twisting deep inside him.
He needed power.
He needed his ability.
But how?
Aric leaned back against the wall, staring at the system again. Apex. What did that even mean?
His mind raced for answers…
Until everything went silent.
Too silent.
Even the wind outside seemed to stop.
"…Emily," Aric whispered.
Her head snapped toward him instantly — senses sharpened.
"What is it?" she murmured.
"I heard something," he breathed. "Outside."
No footsteps.
No breathing.
Just a crushing stillness.
Emily rose slowly into a crouch, muscles coiled, eyes narrowing.
Aric strained his ears, heart thudding against his ribs—
SCRAAAAAAPE
A long, dragging sound…
Like claws… across wood.
Aric's blood turned to ice.
Emily mouthed a single word:
"Vampire."
Aric's skin prickled.
The sound moved — circling the warehouse, slow… deliberate…
TAP… TAP… TAP…
Like fingernails knocking… searching…
Aric fought the urge to scream.
Emily put a finger to her lips, warning him not to make a sound.
Silence.
Then…
A chuckle.
A low, spine-chilling laugh that slithered through the boards.
"Ohh, little lambs…"
The vampire's voice oozed mockery.
"…I know you're in there."
Aric's lungs froze.
His heart stopped.
"We can wait all night," the vampire whispered, voice playful and cold.
"I don't mind the game. In fact… I enjoy it."
THUD
A heavy impact slammed somewhere against the warehouse's outer wall — causing dust to sprinkle from the ceiling.
Aric squeezed his eyes shut, terror clawing up his throat.
Emily positioned herself between Aric and the office door, her stance low, ready.
SCRATCH… SCRATCH… SCRATCH…
Slowly…
Right outside the office wall.
The vampire dragged his fingertips along the wood, caressing the building as though savoring their fear.
"You can run. You can hide. But in the end…"
He tapped twice — each knock echoing like a death sentence.
"…I'll find you."
Emily's eyes glowed faintly — golden, fierce.
Aric's hand gripped the edge of the table beside him until his knuckles whitened.
The vampire's voice slithered through every crack, like poison smoke.
"Aric… Aric…" he sang softly.
Aric nearly stopped breathing.
"Heard your little screams earlier. I was hoping you'd cry more. I do so love that sound… it reminded me of your dear old mother."
Emily shot Aric a sharp look — warning him not to react.
The vampire's footsteps creaked purposefully across the roof.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Aric's mind raced — what if he found the emergency exit?
Emily suddenly reached down, grabbing Aric's wrist. Her voice was barely a breath:
"Stay behind me. No matter what."
Emily inhaled softly, and the air around her shimmered like heat over pavement. Silvery light pulsed from her skin, and soft white fur flowed outward as if painted by invisible hands. Her form shifted smoothly, gracefully — arms reshaping into powerful limbs, her silhouette lowering into that of a great beast. Her amber eyes glimmered, bright and calm, as her muzzle formed and her ears sharpened. When the light faded, a direwolf stood in her place — majestic, silent, and ready.
A final scrape of claws…
Right above them.
The vampire giggled.
"Sundown may have taken longer than I liked…"
He leaned close enough that Aric could feel his voice vibrating through the wall.
"…But the hunt has only just begun."
Emily tensed, claws digging into the ground.
Aric's heart shook his entire body.
The vampire inhaled deeply, savoring the moment.
"Peek-a-boo… I found you."
BOOM