The walls of the command room were cold and sterile, screens flickering with maps, surveillance feeds, and intelligence reports. The smell of electronics and recycled air clung to the room like a second skin. I watched Alex tap furiously at the console, highlighting locations, patterns, timelines. Every dot on the map told a story—abductions, sightings, weak points, and patterns. Noel sat quietly in the corner, legs folded, shadow coiling faintly around him like a protective aura, his eyes sharp and curious.“Here,” Alex said, pointing to a cluster of dots on the map. “Most recent abductions occurred along the eastern industrial sector. Warehouses, abandoned factories, places with low visibility and minimal civilian oversight. Kidnappings always happen at night. No witnesses, no cameras, minimal chance of interference.”I nodded, leaning against the wall. “And the targets?”Alex’s fingers flew across the console. “All evolved children, ages ranging from six to fourteen. Powers range f

The training room was dark, but not blindingly so, just enough shadows for Noel to feel comfortable moving, while still keeping his senses alert. Multiple figures moved around, their silhouettes shifting, practicing their own drills. Tonight’s session was different: no single target, no predictable pattern, just chaos. I wanted to push Noel past the limits we’d reached before, to see if he could coordinate, anticipate, and react while under pressure.I stood at the edge of the room, metal fingers flexed, watching him. “Remember, Noel,” I said, voice low but steady, “it’s not just about stealth or attacking. It’s about observation, timing, and coordination. Multiple targets at once. One mistake and they’ll overwhelm you. Understand?”He nodded quickly, shadow flickering around his hands like restless smoke. “I… I think so,” he said, but I could see the eagerness in his eyes. He wanted action. He wanted to jump straight in and prove himself. That eagerness would be a strength if we coul

The city smelled different at night. Not the usual burnt exhaust or street food but of something sharper, metallic, electric, like danger itself had a scent. I kept my hood low, my metal fingertips flexing, watching Noel beside me. His shadow shifted subtly, flickering over the ground, attuned to every patch of darkness around us. Tonight, we weren’t training in a room. Tonight, the streets were the classroom, and the Revolution’s hideouts were the syllabus.I glanced at him. “Stay close, move with the shadows, and remember... eyes on everything, body in shadows, ears open. No sudden attacks unless it’s absolutely necessary.”He nodded, eager, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. He wanted to prove himself, wanted to strike, wanted to show that he was more than the scared kid who had collapsed in that white room weeks ago. I didn’t doubt his ability, not anymore, but field conditions were different. People moved unpredictably, and stakes weren’t measured in drills, they were

I should’ve told someone. Alex, Cassandra, even Noel. But the truth was simple... I didn’t want extra voices in my head. Not tonight, not for this. The report had already been sent, the aide had already approved an undercover op, and my instincts were screaming for groundwork. I’ve led missions that required a whole boardroom of strategists, but sometimes one person slipping into the dark, quiet and unnoticed, gave more intel than ten drones and a satellite feed combined.And right now, the Revolution’s bases were breathing like living things across the map, pulsing with quiet activity, and I needed to feel the heartbeat myself.So I left.No announcement, no briefing, no backup. I walked out of the facility like someone heading for a late dinner. Doors closed behind me with the same softness they always did, but the silence hit sharper than usual. Every instinct kept whispering that I was making a mistake, but instincts can be dramatic. Mine especially. They act like every sidewalk c

Noel's POV I noticed it almost immediately.Seth wasn’t there.Not in the usual places, not at training, not lazily leaning against the walls like he always did, observing us. Not in the operations room where he spent hours reviewing intelligence and planning missions. Not even in his room.At first, I thought maybe he had gone to make a call, or grab some food. But as the minutes passed, that explanation stopped making sense. My stomach twisted with a feeling I didn’t want to admit... worry... Genuine worry.“Alex…” I called, my voice unsteady. I didn’t even realize I was pacing back and forth in the small briefing room. My hands gripped the edge of the table like I could anchor myself if the panic took over. “Seth… he’s not here.”Alex looked up from the tablet he was scrolling. His expression, normally so unreadable, hardened in an instant.“What do you mean ‘not here’?” His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.“I mean… I don’t feel him. He’s not anywhere in the facil