PREDATOR

chapter five

Miles stood still as Kyle’s body hit the ground with a dull, lifeless thud. For a moment, he didn’t move, didn’t think. Just… stood there.

His gaze remained fixed on his hand. His fingers trembled slightly as faint embers flickered across his skin—then faded into nothing.

“What did I just do?” he whispered.

His voice sounded unfamiliar, even to himself.

Behind him, one of the boys staggered back, his face pale.

“H-he just—” his voice shook violently. “Kyle… Kyle’s not moving. Is he dead?”

The other didn’t respond.

He turned and ran. His footsteps echoed loudly down the hallway until they disappeared completely.

Miles didn’t chase. He was still in shock and was still processing what just happened. He only wanted to make him feel it. Just a fraction of it.

His brows furrowed slightly as a thought crossed his mind.

Does taking someone’s ability… kill them?

“—ngh…”

His body suddenly gave out.

Miles dropped to one knee, clutching his chest tightly.

Heat surged inside him.

“MAKE IT STOP—!” he gasped, his body trembling as sweat formed across his forehead.

His veins throbbed beneath his skin like molten metal had replaced his blood.

His vision flickered and then he heard it. A voice screaming and begging.

“NO—NO, STOP—!”

Miles froze.

“Kyle?” he whispered.

The voice echoed inside his head. Not around him but right inside him.

Fragments crashed into his mind—fear, panic, desperation.

Not his own but Kyle’s.

“I don’t want to die—!”

Miles flinched violently, grabbing his head.

“GET OUT!” he shouted. “GET OUT OF MY HEAD!”

But the memories didn’t stop. For a split second he wasn’t Miles. He was Kyle.

He looked helpless and choked with fears.

“—AAHHH!”

Miles slammed his fist into the floor, gasping as the sensation finally began to fade.

After a while, he felt at ease as the silence took over. Beads of sweat formed on his head as he tried to stabilise himself.

Kyle’s body lay motionless a few feet away.

“That wasn’t just power,” Miles muttered hoarsely. “That was…”

He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to. He already understood what was happening.

He hadn’t just taken the ability. He had taken something else.

Something that was never his.

[ Stabilizing host… ]

[ Foreign memory fragments detected ]

[ Processing… ]

[ Integration: Partial ]

Miles’ breathing slowly steadied, though his hands still trembled.

“You didn’t tell me that,” he said coldly.

[ Response: Irrelevant ]

His jaw tightened. “I felt him,” Miles said. “His fear. His thoughts. His last—”

[ Clarification: Consumption requires absorption ]

[ Efficiency increased ]

Miles let out a hollow breath. “So that’s what I am now.”

But no answer came.

Behind him, a quiet sound broke the silence. A whimper.

Miles turned.

The last boy was still there. He was rooted to a spot and he was shaking.

His eyes were wide with terror as he stared at Miles like he was looking at something inhuman.

“I—I didn’t see anything,” he stammered quickly. “I swear… I won’t tell anyone. Not a word.”

Miles said nothing.

He simply watched him. Then he stepped forward.

Slowly.

The boy flinched hard.

“Please…” he whispered. “I don’t want to die…”

Miles stopped in front of him. For a moment, he just looked at him.

And then the memory returned. His own voice. Begging. Crying. Burning.

His eyes closed briefly.

[ Target available ]

[ Compatibility: Low ]

Miles’ gaze darkened slightly.

“Are you… going to hurt me?” the boy asked weakly.

Miles opened his eyes. “No,” he said quietly.

The boy blinked in disbelief. “Y-you’re letting me go…?”

Miles turned away. “Go,” he said. “Before I change my mind.”

That was enough.

The boy scrambled to his feet and ran—faster than the first.

Miles stood alone again.

“I’m not him,” he muttered under his breath but even as he said it—

He wasn’t sure he believed it. He looked down at his hand.

A small flame flickered to life above his palm. It was unstable but alive.

He stared at it. “So this is what power feels like…”

The flame danced slightly, reacting to his thoughts.

[ Ability: Pyro-Type ]

[ Control: 12% ]

[ Warning: Instability detected ]

Miles clenched his fist and the flame vanished instantly.

“I need control,” he said quietly.

A faint movement caught his attention. He stared at the supposed dead body of Kyle and saw him move.

Kyle groaned.

Miles stopped dead in his track. He takes a look at Kyle.

He wasn’t dead. Kyle rolled slightly, coughing weakly as he struggled to breathe.

Miles stepped closer, looking down at him.

Kyle’s eyes widened in fear the moment he saw him.

“Stay back!” he rasped, trying to crawl away.

Miles crouched slightly, his gaze steady. He needed to be sure.

“You tried to kill someone,” Miles said calmly.

Kyle shook his head frantically. “I—I didn’t have a choice! You don’t understand—”

“Don’t I?”

His voice dropped.

Kyle froze.

“You think following orders makes it better?” Miles continued.

“You think that excuses what happened?”

Kyle’s lips trembled. “It wasn’t my idea… Jack—he—”

Kyle raised a hand slightly to attack but nothing happened.

Kyle’s eyes widened in horror.

“…What did you do to me?” he whispered.

Miles studied him for a moment. Then he stood up, satisfied.

He turned his back and began to walk away.

Kyle’s voice cracked behind him. “W-wait—who… who are you…?”

Miles didn’t answer. He didn’t stop. There was only one thing left in his mind.

Revenge.