PREDATOR

chapter six

Blackthorn Academy had changed overnight. The news of what happened to Kyle had spread all through Blackthorn Academy.

Most students whispered more quietly now.

Hallways that were usually filled with arrogant laughter carried something different instead.

Fear.

“Kyle still can’t use it?”

“I’m serious! I heard he tried three times during combat class and nothing happened.”

“That’s impossible…”

“Unless his awakening burned out.”

"I heard he bought it for a large sum of money."

“No way. That only happens during ability collapse.”

“Well, something definitely happened.”

Miles walked past the students silently, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black uniform.

Conversations died almost instantly whenever his cold gaze drifted toward them.

He noticed it wondering why they seemed to be scared of him.

People moved out of his way without realizing they were doing it.

“Interesting,” he murmured.

Inside his head, the mechanical voice answered immediately.

[ Observation acknowledged ]

Miles ignored it. He is used to this strange voice now.

At the far end of the hallway, Kyle Vane sat alone on a bench outside the infirmary.

His face looked pale, exhausted and terrified.

A professor stood in front of him with visible frustration.

“Again,” the professor ordered.

Kyle swallowed nervously and raised his trembling hand.

But nothing happened. Not even a spark.

His breathing became uneven.

“I-I don’t understand,” Kyle whispered weakly. “It was working before.”

“Focus,” the professor snapped. “Your Pyro affinity didn’t simply disappear overnight.”

Kyle’s eyes darted around nervously and then they landed on Miles.

For a split second, all color drained from Kyle’s face.

“No…”

The word escaped him instinctively.

The professor frowned. “Mr. Vane? Are you alright?"

Kyle immediately looked away.“I-I’m tired,” he muttered quickly. “Can we continue later?”

The professor sighed heavily. “Unbelievable.”

Miles continued walking but he could still feel Kyle staring at his back.

Miles’ footsteps slowed slightly.

“That wasn’t me,” he whispered under his breath.

[ Clarification unnecessary ]

His jaw tightened.

By the time he reached the academy gates, a sleek black car was already waiting.

Lilith leaned against it with folded arms.

“You’re late,” she said immediately.

Miles opened the passenger door calmly. “I didn’t realize you cared.”

“I don’t, Miles. You should know that by now."

“Then why are you here?”

Lilith rolled her eyes. “Because if you disappear again, your father starts calling me every five minutes.”

Miles paused slightly.

“Father?”

Lilith frowned at him. “You really are acting strange. Are you seriously asking me that?"

He entered the car without answering. The ride home was quiet at first.

Miles stared out the window silently while the city lights reflected faintly across the glass. Everything felt unreal.

The wealth,the car and expensive clothes.

This life. None of it belonged to Dennis Lawson.

“So who exactly is Miles Robertson?” he asked suddenly.

Lilith glanced sideways at him. “That’s a weird question coming from you." she said laughing.

She sighed softly.

“You’re rich. Powerful family. Your father owns half the corporations funding Blackthorn Academy.” She paused briefly.

“And you’ve been a problem since you were thirteen.”

Miles looked at her. “A problem? You are my mother and yet you think I am problematic."

“You break things,” she replied flatly. “Rules, people and even yourself.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “What does that mean?”

Lilith gave a short laugh. “See? That right there is creepy. It seems like you are different?"

Miles gaze shifted from the streets and landed back on his mother. “How?"

“You sound calm today.”

Miles said nothing. He knew he had to start acting more like Miles rather than Dennis Lawson.

Lilith’s expression shifted slightly.“Usually you’d be screaming at someone by now or breaking things."

“Maybe I got tired.”

“That’s somehow worse.”

The mansion gates slowly opened ahead of them.

Miles stared silently as the massive estate came into view.

It didn’t look real. It looked nothing like the home he knew.

It had tall black gates and a nearby fountain.

Dennis Lawson had spent most nights worrying about hospital bills but now he was living inside something that looked like a billionaire’s fantasy.

The moment he stepped inside, servants lowered their heads respectfully.

“Welcome back, Young Master.”

Miles froze briefly.

“You okay?” Lilith asked quietly.

Miles looked away quickly. “I am fine.”

But he knew he wasn't.

Later that night, Miles sat alone inside his room.

A laptop glowed faintly in front of him. His fingers hovered above the keyboard briefly before typing:Dennis Lawson.

Several articles appeared immediately. His chest tightened.

He clicked the first one.

[SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT DIES IN CAMPUS ACCIDENT]

Miles stared silently at the screen. There was no investigation and No suspicion.

Just a short article. Like Dennis Lawson had never mattered.

His eyes moved lower.

“survived by his ill mother…”

His breathing slowed as he clicked another article.

[CLASSMATES HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICE]

There was a picture attached. Jack Voss stood at the center wearing black.

Maya beside him looking sad.

Miles laughed quietly.“You’re even pretending to mourn me now?”

His gaze shifted downward again on the comment pages.

“Sad situation.”

“He seemed quiet.”

“Never really knew him.”

“Tragic.”

That was all.

Months of suffering and years of humiliation. And the world reduced him to tragic.

His fingers clenched tightly around the edge of the desk.

Then he found another image. His mother's face was captured in tears.

Miles held the edge of the table tightly and he could feel the heat surging through him again.

[ Emotional instability detected ]

The system activated instantly. A low mechanical hum echoed through his mind.

[ Stabilization initiated ]

Miles’ eyes narrowed.“Don’t.”

[ Efficiency required ]

“I said don’t touch my emotions.”

The room fell into silence and then another interface appeared.

[ Request denied ]

Miles suddenly slammed the laptop shut. “YOU DON’T CONTROL ME!”

The room fell silent again.

His chest rose and fell heavily but slowly the pain dulled again.

Artificially suppressed. Miles stared into the darkness.

“What are you turning me into?”

But no answer came. Minutes passed by and then suddenly—

[ New Objective Available ]

Miles froze.

The glowing blue text slowly appeared before his eyes.

[ Consume the Apex ]

His expression hardened slightly. “What does that mean?”

Several names appeared beneath the message. Some were unfamiliar while Others weren’t.

Kyle Vane.

Marcus Reed.

Professor Hale.

Then—

Jack Voss.

The moment the name appeared, the heat inside Miles’ chest returned instantly.

His pain, his cries and how his flesh melted off his body.

Jack smiled calmly while he begged for his life.

“You were never coming back from this anyway.”

Miles’ fingers curled slowly. The air around him grew warmer.

A tiny flame flickered unconsciously above his palm.

This time, he didn’t extinguish it immediately.

[ Apex Target Identified ]

[ Jack Voss ]

[ Threat Level: High ]

[ Recommended Consumption ]

Miles stared at the glowing words silently. A tear dropped from his eyes and a smile formed on his lips.

It was pay back time. He clenched his hands in the dark with this gaze hardened.