The streets of their neighborhood were buzzing with the usual evening energy—vendors calling out their wares, kids playing soccer on the sidewalk, and the occasional reckless biker weaving through traffic like they had nine lives. The sky was starting to turn orange, the sun lazily sinking beyond the buildings.
Utibe walked with his hands in his pockets, sore as hell from his training session (read: one-sided beatdown) with his mom. His muscles ached, and his pride? Completely shattered.
He spotted Tega first, leaning against a street pole, scrolling through his phone. The moment Utibe approached, Tega looked up, took one glance at him, and—
"PFTTTT—BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Tega collapsed into laughter, doubling over, slapping his knee like he just heard the funniest joke in the world.
Utibe scowled. "Yo, what the hell is funny?"
Tega barely got a breath in before laughing harder. "You—bro, you look finished! Like a washed-up gladiator who just lost a fight to a senior citizen!"
Utibe clicked his tongue. "First of all, watch your mouth. Second, my mom is built like a damn war general. Ain't nobody walking away from that unscathed."
Tega wiped a tear from his eye. "Bruh, you should see yourself right now. You limping, shoulders all slouched like somebody folded you into a pretzel—oh wait, she did, didn't she?"
Utibe sucked his teeth. "I don't recall asking for a live commentary."
"Nah, but you did walk into my personal comedy show," Tega teased, still grinning. "So tell me—what move did she get you with this time? The spine realignment or the soul evacuation technique?"
Utibe rolled his eyes. "Laugh it up now, but when I finally win one of these days—"
Tega cut him off. "—One of these days?" He shook his head. "Bro, that ain't ever happening. Your mom treats you like a punching bag with a mouth, and you just keep coming back for more."
Utibe rubbed his neck. "It's called training, dumbass. She's making me stronger."
"Nah," Tega snorted. "She's making herself feel better after a long day."
Utibe groaned. "Whatever, man. Let's just go."
Tega smirked but fell in step beside him. "So, what's the plan? You gonna cry about your L over some snacks, or are we actually getting into some real trouble tonight?"
Utibe arched an eyebrow. "What kind of trouble are we talking?"
Tega's grin widened. "The best kind."
After an afternoon of trash-talking and button-mashing at the game shop, Utibe and Tega wandered through the quieter streets of the city. The sun had set, and the streetlights flickered to life, casting long shadows against the buildings.
"So, remind me again why we're doing this?" Utibe muttered, stepping over a pile of broken bricks as they made their way into an abandoned warehouse.
Tega grinned. "Because, my dear dumbass friend, people leave good stuff behind in places like this. Old cash registers, forgotten safes, maybe even some high-end junk we can pawn off."
Utibe scoffed. "Yeah, or we'll find a nest of crackheads and get stabbed."
Tega rolled his eyes. "Relax. Worst-case scenario? We run."
The warehouse smelled of rust, dust, and something faintly metallic. Stacks of old wooden crates lined the walls, some half-broken and spilling out their forgotten contents. The air was thick and stale, making every sound seem louder than it should be.
Utibe was about to crack a joke about horror movie settings when Tega suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.
"…Tega?"
His friend wasn't moving.
Utibe followed his gaze and felt his stomach drop.
A girl stood a few feet away, half-hidden in the dim light. She was leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, her lips curved into a lazy smirk. Blood—fresh blood—dripped from her mouth, a slow, lazy trail against her pale skin. Her deep red eyes gleamed like molten rubies in the dark.
She licked her lips.
"Long time no see, Tega."
Utibe barely had time to process what she said before Tega spoke, his voice tight.
"Utibe. Run."
Utibe blinked. "Huh?"
"I said run, now!"
Something in Tega's tone made Utibe's instincts scream at him to listen. Without a second thought, he turned and sprinted toward the exit. But instead of running all the way out, he ducked behind a half-collapsed shelf, keeping himself hidden.
His heart pounded in his chest.
What the hell is going on?
From his hiding spot, he peeked through the gaps between the broken shelves.
Tega was standing firm, his usual cocky grin wiped clean off his face. His fists clenched at his sides, tension rolling off his body in waves.
The girl—Isdis, apparently—tilted her head, eyes flicking toward where Utibe had run. She let out a soft chuckle.
"You told him to run? Cute."
She took a step forward, then another, moving in slow, deliberate strides. She walked like a panther, graceful and predatory.
Tega didn't move.
"I don't have time for your games, Isdis," he said.
"Oh, but I do."
She suddenly vanished—one second she was standing there, the next, she was right in front of him. Utibe barely suppressed a gasp.
Isdis ran a finger down Tega's chest, stopping at the collar of his shirt. "You look tense," she purred. "I could help you relax."
Tega didn't flinch. "Yeah? By sucking me dry?"
She chuckled. "Depends on how you mean that."
Tega's jaw tightened. "Back off."
"Why?" she mused, circling him slowly. "Are you scared?"
His eyes flickered—just for a second—but Utibe saw it. That glow.
A dim, eerie golden light flared in Tega's irises.
What the fuck?
Isdis saw it too. Her smirk widened, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ohhh, I knew there was something different about you."
Tega exhaled sharply. "Last warning, Isdis."
She laughed—a low, sultry sound. "You're adorable when you try to act tough."
Then, her playful expression darkened, just slightly. "But let's be honest, Tega… you're alone."
Utibe felt his skin crawl at the way she said it.
Isdis leaned in, lips close to Tega's ear. "And a lone wolf?" She smiled. "Is easy prey."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Utibe swallowed hard. He had no idea what was about to happen, but he knew one thing for sure.
Tega was in deep shit.
The moment the words left Isdis' lips—"A lone wolf is easy prey"—something snapped in Tega.
A low growl rumbled in his chest, deep and primal. His fingers twitched, his breathing slowed, and then—
Crack!
His body jerked violently as bones shifted and realigned. His muscles tensed, stretching unnaturally, his nails lengthening into sharp, curved claws. His jaw extended, teeth sharpening into fangs.
A golden glow flared in his eyes, but this time, it wasn't a flicker. It was alive.
Isdis stepped back, her smirk widening. "Oh?"
In a blink, Tega was gone—no, not gone. He had moved.
Faster than Utibe's eyes could follow, he lunged at Isdis, claws slashing toward her throat.
SHRIIIP!
She dodged at the last second, but not fast enough. A clean tear appeared on her sleeve, a thin red line forming on her pale skin beneath it.
Her eyes flashed with something close to excitement. "Oh, this just got fun."
She struck back instantly. Her form blurred—one second she was in front of Tega, the next she was behind him, her leg swinging in a vicious arc toward his ribs.
BAM!
Tega barely managed to block, sliding back a few feet from the impact. He snarled, baring his fangs.
The air between them grew heavy.
Then, without another word, they clashed.
Tega struck like a beast unleashed—claws tearing through the air, each swipe fast and precise. Isdis weaved through his attacks effortlessly, her movements fluid, almost lazy, as if she were toying with him.
But she wasn't untouchable.
Tega's next strike grazed her cheek, drawing a thin trail of blood.
Isdis' smirk faltered, just for a second. Then she laughed.
"Oh, sweetheart," she purred. "You really are something special."
Then she moved.
No more teasing.
No more games.
One second she was in front of him, the next, she was above him, twisting midair before slamming her foot down toward his skull.
BOOM!
Tega dodged at the last second, the sheer force of her strike cracking the floor where he had just been standing. He rolled back onto his feet, but Isdis was already on him again.
They clashed over and over—Tega's brute strength against Isdis' unnatural speed. Each impact sent shockwaves through the warehouse, crates toppling, dust filling the air.
Utibe, still hidden, watched with wide eyes. His heart pounded in his chest.
What the fuck am I looking at?!
He had always known Tega was weird, but this?!
Tega wasn't just strong—he was inhuman.
And Isdis?
She was playing with him.
For all his strength, for all his speed, she was still smiling, still calm, still in control.
Then—
She stopped.
Not because Tega had overpowered her. Not because she was tired.
Her crimson eyes flickered, shifting slightly.
She turned her head.
Directly toward Utibe.
Utibe's breath caught in his throat.
She smiled.
"Ah."
Tega's eyes widened. "No—"
Isdis vanished.
Utibe barely had time to react before she was right in front of him.
"Found you."