At dawn, my school bag still hung across my shoulders. I had barely slept through the night, and my eyes felt heavy with exhaustion.

While Professor Duncan was halfway through preparing for school, a sudden ding-dong echoed from the front door.

Tightening my grip on my school bag, my mind raced. Could it be my father’s enemies? Maybe they had already discovered where I was hiding. Since they hadn’t found the virus in our house the night before, it made sense they’d be searching for whoever had taken it — and that person was me.

The doorbell rang again, sharper this time, followed by a faint bang on the door.

Professor Duncan rushed into my room, his face pale with unease.

“Are you expecting anyone?” he whispered.

I shook my head nervously.

“Did you tell anyone where you were going?” he asked again, voice low and urgent.

I swallowed hard and shook my head once more. The next bang on the door made both of us jump.

“My father’s enemies?” I muttered under my breath, blinking rapidly in fear.

Professor Duncan crouched beside me. “Your father’s enemies? Who are they?”

Sweat gathered in his palms as he gripped my shoulders.

“I don’t know much about them,” I whispered. “They’re the same ones who raided our home last night—the shape-shifters who murdered my parents.”

“Shape-shifters?” His brow furrowed. “Why would shape-shifters kill your parents? What did they want? And why are they here now?”

He was asking too many questions. I couldn’t tell him about the virus. My father’s final words echoed in my head—

Never expose this virus to anyone.

Before he could ask another question, the doorbell sounded again, followed by another loud bang.

Professor Duncan straightened up, snorted, and went to his wardrobe. He pulled out a rifle, his face set with grim determination.

“This staircase leads to the copy room,” he said quickly. “If anything happens to me, run into the penthouse and don’t look back. Do you understand? Run for your life.”

I was already trembling uncontrollably. My hands shook. My heartbeat thundered in my chest. Could they have tracked me here already? What’s happening?

Before I could think much further, I began tiptoeing up the staircase.

Then I heard voices—familiar ones.

Julius.

Relief washed over me. Without hesitation, I ran back down to my room and hurried to the sitting room.

Professor Duncan’s face turned from fear to anger the moment he saw me.

“I thought you said no one knew you were here,” he growled, eyes darting toward Julius.

“I didn’t!” I said quickly. “No one knew where I was!”

“Really?” he shot back. “Then why is Julius here? How did he know?”

I turned to Julius. His expression was cold and unreadable. How was I supposed to explain to Professor Duncan that Julius wasn’t ordinary—that he knew things no one else could? Everything he had ever told me had come true.

I stayed silent, my lips tight as I fought to hold back my words.

Professor Duncan sighed. “I’ll be leaving for school. Are you boys joining me in the car?”

Julius gave me a quick, subtle wink — a signal not to go.

“No,” I replied. “I’m… not feeling well after what happened to my family last night.”

Professor Duncan’s face softened. He stroked my hair gently. “It’s okay, Darius. Everything will be fine.” Then he turned to Julius. “Take care of him while I’m gone.”

He handed Julius the rifle. “Protect yourselves if anything happens.”

With that, he grabbed his briefcase, nodded at us, and left in his saloon car.

The moment he was gone, I turned on Julius in frustration.

“Who the hell are you?” I barked. “Everything you’ve ever told me has come true! If you don’t tell me what powers you have—who you really are—then please, use the door. Our friendship is over!”

I snatched my school bag. “If you won’t speak up, I’ll just go to school—and I don’t want to ever see you again!”

Julius’s eyes changed—bleaching into a chilling, fish-like gray. He stared into space, his voice low and grave.

“Don’t you dare go to school,” he warned. “Your bullies are waiting for you on the school field. The moment they see you, they’ll kill you.”

He sat back on the sofa, his gaze steady and knowing.

“Sit down, Darius. If you really want to know who I am—and what happened to your family that night—then listen.”