Kaylen replayed the fight in his mind as he weaved through the dimly lit streets of the Lower Quarter. The rush of victory still lingered, but it was tainted by the throbbing pain in his head and the cryptic warning from the hooded stranger. He clutched the artifact in his pocket, its warmth steady but unsettling.
For years, he'd been invisible. Now, he'd stepped into the light, and it felt like every shadow carried a pair of watching eyes.
---
The streets grew quieter as he neared his apartment, the cacophony of the city fading to distant echoes. His body ached from the fight, but his thoughts kept him awake. The artifact's power was incredible—almost intoxicating—but it wasn't without limits. Each use seemed to drain him, not just physically but mentally.
As he reached his building, a faint sound caught his attention. Footsteps. Close, deliberate. Kaylen stopped, his pulse quickening. He glanced over his shoulder, but the street behind him was empty.
He quickened his pace, his instincts screaming at him to get inside. The artifact's warmth flared in his pocket as if reacting to the growing tension. Reaching his door, he fumbled with the key, his hands shaking. The footsteps were louder now, echoing unnaturally in the narrow alley.
The key finally turned, and Kaylen pushed the door open, slamming it shut behind him. He pressed his back against it, breathing heavily, and strained his ears. The footsteps stopped just outside.
Silence.
Kaylen's heart pounded. Whoever it was, they weren't just passing by. He slipped the artifact from his pocket, its faint hum grounding him. If they came through the door, he'd be ready.
A knock shattered the quiet. Three sharp raps.
"Kaylen Moore," a voice called. Calm. Measured. "We know you're in there."
Kaylen's blood ran cold. He said nothing, gripping the artifact tightly.
"We only want to talk," the voice continued. "You've done something extraordinary. But extraordinary things come with consequences."
Kaylen stayed silent, his mind racing. They knew his name. They knew what he'd done. The hooded stranger's warning echoed in his head.
The voice sighed. "If you won't come willingly, we'll have to come in ourselves. And I promise, that will be much less pleasant for you."
Kaylen gritted his teeth. He wasn't about to let himself be cornered. The artifact pulsed in his hand, and he felt the faint spark of a connection. Closing his eyes, he focused, pulling at the energy within. The warmth spread through his body, sharpening his senses and steadying his nerves.
A crash shattered the stillness as the door splintered inward. Two figures stepped into the room, their movements fluid and precise. Each had glowing marks on their arms, their Signatures crackling with energy. Hunters. Enforcers of the system he'd just begun to defy.
"Last chance," one of them said, their tone cold. "Come quietly, and we won't have to hurt you."
Kaylen's instincts screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere to go. He clenched his fists, the artifact's power surging. A flicker of flame ignited in his palm, growing brighter as his fear gave way to determination.
"Guess we're doing this the hard way," the second Hunter said, lunging toward him.
Kaylen dodged, barely avoiding the strike. The first Hunter moved in tandem, cutting off his escape route. They were coordinated, relentless. His flame flared, forcing one of them back, but it wasn't enough. Their Signatures were stronger, more refined.
He ducked under another swing and retaliated with a burst of fire, but the first Hunter's Signature—a shimmering barrier—absorbed the attack effortlessly. The second Hunter closed in, their glowing blade slicing through the air. Kaylen stumbled back, the artifact pulsing wildly as if urging him to act.
"Give up!" one of them barked. "You can't win this!"
Kaylen's mind raced. He couldn't overpower them, but he didn't need to. He just needed to escape. He reached deep into the artifact's energy, drawing on more than he ever had before. His vision blurred, and his body screamed in protest, but he felt it—a new Signature, fleeting and unstable, but enough.
The air around him shimmered as he vanished in a burst of light. The world twisted and warped, and for a moment, he felt weightless, untethered. Then he landed hard on cold pavement, gasping for air.
He looked around, disoriented. He was in another part of the city, far from his apartment. The artifact's glow had dimmed, and his entire body ached as if he'd run for miles.
Kaylen staggered to his feet, leaning against a wall for support. The Hunters would find him again—it was only a matter of time. But now he knew the artifact's potential went far beyond copying Signatures. It could save him.
For now.
As he stumbled into the shadows, Kaylen couldn't shake the feeling that his fight had only just begun. The Hunters wouldn't stop, and every step he took with the artifact would draw more enemies. But for the first time in his life, he wasn't running away.
He was fighting back.