PREDATOR

chapter eight

The night air outside Blackthorn Academy felt colder than usual.

Not because of the weather but because of what Miles had just heard.

“Research project…”

The words kept repeating in his mind like a broken recording.

He walked without direction at first, his footsteps slow against the empty road leading away from the academy gates.

For the first time since waking up in this body, he wasn’t thinking about power.

Or Jack Or the system. He was thinking about his mother.

“I need to see her,” Miles muttered under his breath.

[ Suggestion: Proceed with caution ]

“I didn’t ask for your fucking permission." he yelled into the night.

There was a brief silence. No more system responses.

Just the sound of his footsteps.

*

The old Lawson apartment building stood at the edge of the lower district like it had been forgotten by time itself.

Broken streetlights flickered above the narrow walkway.

Miles stood at the entrance for a long moment, staring upward. He remembered everything.

This was home to him.

His chest tightened slightly. Memories that didn’t belong to him Miles began surfacing.

Working extra time, trying to get his mother's medicine and hassling to pay rent.

A tired woman waiting at the door with worried eyes.

“Stop,” Miles whispered.

But the memories didn’t stop. He climbed the stairs instead.

Step by step.

Second floor.

Third floor.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

By the time he reached the door, his hand hesitated in the air.

Knock.

Knock.

Silence.

Then, a faint voice answered from inside.

“Just a second…”

His breath stopped. The door slowly opened and there she was.

His mother stood before him looking tired.

Eyes swollen from crying too many nights in a row. She looked at him without recognition at first.

“Yes? Are you looking for—”

Her words stopped because Miles said nothing. He just stood there.

Something in his eyes made her freeze. He had his looks.

“Dennis?” she whispered.

Miles didn’t answer. His throat tightened painfully.

“I…”

His voice broke slightly. “I just… wanted to see—”

He stopped himself. Telling her he was Dennis was going to be unbelievable for her.

His mother frowned softly, shaking her head.“I’m sorry… you look like someone I know.”

Miles forced a small nod. “I get that a lot.”

He stepped inside before she could stop him.

The apartment was exactly the way he remembered.

Or maybe he was just different now. On the table sat a framed picture of Dennis smiling and looking alive.

.

Miles stared at it for a long moment.“Why is this still here?” he asked quietly.

His mother turned away.“I can’t throw it out,” she said softly. “Not yet.”

She walked past him into the kitchen. “I was just packing some of his things,” she added. "Who are you? Are you a friend of my son?"

"I am a friend of your son." Miles said scratching his arms.

His gaze landed on a half-open box.

In it were clothes folded neatly. His school books stacked carefully.

They were his life.

“Mom…” Miles said before he could stop himself.

She froze and slowly turned.

“What did you just call me?”

Miles’ eyes widened slightly. “I didn’t—”

But she had already stepped closer. Her eyes narrowed.

“You said ‘mom.’”

The room went still.

Miles forced a breath. “I… I’m sorry. It slipped.”

Her expression softened slightly, but suspicion lingered.

“You really do look like him,” she whispered.

Miles looked away. “I’m not him.”

The words came out sharper than intended making his mother flinched slightly.

Then forced a small smile.“Of course not.”

She turned back to the box. “I just… I keep thinking maybe if I say his name enough, he’ll answer me.”

Miles’ fingers clenched.

She pulled out a folded Blackthorn Academy uniform.

“I worked so hard for this,” she whispered. “Every hospital bill… every night I couldn’t sleep… I told myself it was for him.”

Her voice cracked.

“But now…” She stopped.

Miles stepped forward slightly. “I can help you,” he said quietly.

She turned back again confused. “What?”

“I can take care of the debts.”

She blinked. Then let out a tired laugh. “You? Why would you—”

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

The sound interrupted her. Both of them froze.

Miles turned his head slightly toward the door. His instincts sharpened immediately.

Footsteps outside.

He shut his eyes and tried to hear. Two familiar footsteps.

His mother frowned. “I wasn’t expecting anyone…”

She walked toward the door.

Miles followed slowly behind her.

“Stay back,” she muttered as she opened the door.

Two men stood outside both dressed in dark coats with a grin on their faces.

“Mrs. Lawson,” one of them said smoothly.

Her face tightened instantly. “What do you want?”

The second man stepped forward slightly. “Just here to collect what’s owed.”

Her expression darkened. “I already told your company—I need more time.”

The first man chuckled.“Time is something your son already used up.”

Miles’ body went still.

He knew why they were here.

The man leaned casually against the doorframe. “Funny thing about debts,” he continued. “They don’t disappear just because someone dies.”

Miles stepped forward behind her.

“Leave,” his mother said firmly.

But the man ignored her.

“We’re not here to cause trouble,” he added. “Just pay up what you owe.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have it. Please give me more time. I just lost my son." she said falling on her knees.

The second man sighed. “Then we take what’s left.”

Miles’ eyes narrowed slightly. “What does that mean?” he asked.

Both men finally noticed him. The first man tilted his head.

“And you are?”

Miles hesitated for half a second.“Someone who’s leaving.”

The man smirked. “Smart answer.”

He stepped inside without permission. The second man followed.

His mother stepped back immediately. “Get out of my house!”

“Relax,” the first man said. “We’re not robbers. We’re creditors.”

He pulled out a digital tablet.

“Your son borrowed quite a bit before he passed.”

Miles frowned. “Borrowed?”

The man nodded.

“Medical funding. Experimental research support. Blackthorn scholarship extensions. All of it was under collateral agreement.”

Miles’ eyes sharpened slightly hearing the word again.

The second man looked around the apartment.

“Not much to take here.” The first man smiled faintly.

“Not true.”

His gaze slowly shifted to Miles. “Sometimes debts can be transferred.”

Miles’ mother stepped forward. “No. He has nothing to do with this.”

The man shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Law’s the law.”

Miles stepped forward slightly. “I said leave.”

His tone was calm.

The man raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Or what?”

A faint pressure filled the room and even Miles felt it.

Something inside him reacted but he forced it down.

His mother placed a hand on his arm. “Please… don’t.”

That stopped him for a moment.

The first man sighed “Look, we’re not here to fight. Just pay what’s owed and we’ll go. Or we could break a few things."

Miles spoke quietly. “How much?”

The man smirked. “Enough to make this place disappear.”

His mother’s breath caught. Miles stared at him.

Then nodded slightly.“I’ll pay it.”

She turned to him instantly. “What? No—”

Miles didn’t look at her. “Give me a number.” he said thrusting his phone forward.

The man tapped his tablet and a figure appeared.

Her knees almost buckled.

“That much…?” she whispered.

Miles didn’t react. “I’ll transfer it. You don't have to worry."

The man raised an eyebrow. “You have access to that kind of money?”

Miles pulled out the phone he found in this body.

He transferred the amount without delay.

"Done." he said looking up.

“Payment received,” the man said, surprised.

He smiled again. “Pleasure doing business.”

He turned to leave but then he paused and slowly looked back at Miles.

“You know,” he said casually, “you remind me of someone.”

Miles didn’t respond.

The man studied him longer then narrowed his eyes.

“No,” he muttered.

“That’s impossible.”

Miles’ mother frowned. “What are you talking about? You have your money. Leave us alone!"

The man ignored her. He stepped closer again.

“What’s your name?”

Miles hesitated.

For the first time he felt telling the world he was not dead but he was indeed Dennis Lawson.

“Miles.”

The man’s expression shifted slightly. “Miles… Robertson?”

Miles said nothing.

A slow silence filled the room.

Then the man chuckled softly. “That’s funny.” he tilted his head.

“Because I swear the way you just spoke…”

He paused.

“is exactly how Dennis Lawson used to beg.”

The room froze with Miles hand clenched in anger. He could feel the heat surging inside of him.