### **Chapter 9: Departure and Preparation**
August 30th dawned with a clear sky, the sun casting its warm light on the day that marked Emily's departure to the 3rd Awakeners Academy. The Hale house, usually quiet, was filled with an uneasy stillness, the air thick with the unsaid words between the two siblings. Jason sat in the living room, his eyes fixed on the clock as it ticked away the minutes. He could hear Emily moving around upstairs, the sound of her packing echoing through the house like a final farewell.
Jason's mind drifted back to the day of the awakening ceremony. The day everything changed. He had walked into the hall with hope, believing that he, too, would awaken some power and be able to protect his little sister, just like their parents would have wanted. But as the ceremony ended, and the reality of his failure set in, something broke inside him. Emily had been there, eyes wide with concern, but her voice had been distant, neutral—full of sympathy he didn't want. Since that day, they only spoke when necessary, their once-strong bond reduced to strained conversations and forced interactions.
---
**Status Window**
**[Name: Jason Hale]**
**[Level: 3]**
**[Experience Points: 50/400]**
**[Strength: 5]**
**[Dexterity: 4]**
**[Endurance: 10]**
**[Energy: 40/120]**
**[Health: 100/100]**
**[Skill: Heart Rush]**
**[9 Days Until Full Moon]**
---
Emily's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Jason, can you help me with this?" she called from upstairs.
Jason took a deep breath, pushing aside the wave of emotions threatening to overtake him. He stood up and made his way to her room, pausing at the doorway. Emily was kneeling by her suitcase, trying to fit one last item in. She didn't look up as he entered, her focus entirely on her task.
"Sure," Jason replied, his voice as neutral as hers had been. He walked over, taking the item from her and carefully placing it in the suitcase. There was an awkward silence between them, one that had become all too familiar.
"Thanks," Emily said, finally looking up at him. There was a flash of something in her eyes—regret, maybe?—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "You know I'll be back during breaks, right?" she added, almost as if she were trying to reassure herself as much as him.
"Yeah," Jason muttered, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I know."
They were interrupted by the sound of a car horn outside. Emily stood up, zipping her suitcase shut with a finality that echoed in Jason's chest. "That's my ride," she said, grabbing the handle and dragging the suitcase towards the door.
Jason followed her downstairs, his feet feeling heavy with each step. He knew this was coming, knew she would leave eventually, but it didn't make it any easier. At the front door, she paused, glancing back at him. For a moment, Jason thought she might say something, something that would make him feel like he wasn't completely alone. But she didn't. Instead, she gave him a small, tight-lipped smile and walked out the door, the sound of her suitcase wheels scraping against the pavement until it was drowned out by the closing car door.
Jason stood in the doorway, watching the car disappear down the road. A deep sigh escaped him, a mixture of relief and sadness. Emily was gone, off to a new life, and he was left behind to figure out his own path, a path that seemed to grow darker with each passing day.
The house felt emptier without her, the silence pressing in on him from all sides. He wandered back to the living room, collapsing onto the couch. His thoughts drifted back to their parents, and the life they had before everything fell apart. Their deaths had left a gaping hole in his heart, one that no amount of time seemed to heal. Emily had been his anchor, the one person he felt responsible for. But now she was gone too, leaving him adrift in a sea of uncertainty.
---
**Status Window Update**
**[Name: Jason Hale]**
**[Level: 3]**
**[Experience Points: 50/400]**
**[Strength: 5]**
**[Dexterity: 4]**
**[Endurance: 10]**
**[Energy: 40/120]**
**[Health: 100/100]**
**[Skill: Heart Rush]**
**[9 Days Until Full Moon]**
**[Current Task: Continue Training and Survive Until the Full Moon]**
---
The day passed in a blur. Jason tried to distract himself with mundane tasks—cleaning, organizing, anything to keep his mind occupied. But no matter what he did, his thoughts kept circling back to the same things: the ceremony, his failure, and the looming full moon. The weight of his new reality pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.
As the afternoon turned into evening, Jason decided to go for a walk. He needed to clear his head, to get away from the oppressive silence of the house. He grabbed his jacket and stepped outside, the cool evening air a welcome change from the stifling atmosphere inside.
The streets were quiet, most people already home for the night. Jason walked aimlessly, his feet carrying him through familiar streets as his mind wandered. He thought about the fights he'd been in recently, the strange power that had awakened within him. It was nothing like what the other awakeners had. This was something primal, something dangerous. And it scared him.
He turned down a narrow alley, barely noticing where he was going until it was too late. The sound of footsteps echoed behind him, and he turned to find himself face-to-face with a group of five familiar bullies. Derek, the leader, stood at the front, a cruel smirk on his face.
"Look who we have here," Derek sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "All alone, as usual."
Jason's heart sank. He had been hoping to avoid trouble tonight, but it seemed trouble had found him regardless. "Just leave me alone, Derek," Jason muttered, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm not in the mood for this."
Derek laughed, a harsh, grating sound that set Jason's teeth on edge. "Not in the mood, huh? Well, too bad. I've been itching for a good fight, and you're just the punching bag I need."
Jason's hands clenched into fists, his anger bubbling up inside him. He knew he couldn't win against Derek and his gang, not in his current state. But he wasn't about to let them beat him down without a fight.
"Leave me alone, Derek," Jason repeated, his voice firmer this time. "Or you'll regret it."
Derek's smirk widened, clearly amused by Jason's attempt at standing up to him. "Regret it? You? That's hilarious, Hale. What are you gonna do, cry?"
The other bullies laughed, their cruel laughter echoing off the alley walls. Jason felt his blood boil, his vision narrowing to focus solely on Derek. The taunts, the laughter—it was all too much. The rage he'd been suppressing for so long erupted, and before he knew it, he was moving.
He lunged at Derek, throwing a punch with all the strength he could muster. It connected with Derek's jaw, sending him stumbling back in surprise. The laughter stopped, replaced by angry growls as the other bullies surged forward to protect their leader.
The fight was brutal, and Jason quickly found himself outnumbered. Derek recovered from the initial punch and retaliated with a vicious strike to Jason's ribs. Pain shot through his body, but he ignored it, driven by a desperate need to fight back.
He ducked under another swing from Derek, retaliating with a jab to the ribs that made Derek grunt in pain. But Derek was relentless, and Jason's energy was quickly draining. The other bullies attacked from all sides, each blow chipping away at his strength.
One of the bullies, a wiry student with quick reflexes, managed to land a hit on Jason's shoulder, causing him to stumble. Another grabbed him from behind, trying to pin him down, but Jason twisted out of the hold, delivering a series of punches that forced the attacker to back off.
But there were too many of them. Jason could feel his stamina waning, his movements slowing as exhaustion set in. He knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. Desperation clawed at him, and without thinking, he activated his Heart Rush skill.
---
**[Skill Activated: Heart Rush]**
**[Effect: Strength Increased by +2]**
---
A surge of strength flooded through him, his stats temporarily boosted by the skill. He felt the fatigue lift slightly as his body moved with renewed vigor. With a burst of energy, he knocked one of the bullies to the ground, then turned to face Derek once more.
But Derek wasn't done. His eyes were filled with hatred as he spat out vile, disgusting comments about Emily, each word more venomous than the last. Jason's anger reached a boiling point, his vision tinged red as a primal rage consumed him. He could feel something inside him snap, something dark and dangerous.
---
**[Skill Unlocked: Berserk]**
**[Effect: All Stats Doubled for Duration of Skill]**
**[Penalty: Health Halved Upon Activation]**
---
Jason's breath hitched as the notification appeared in front of him