The four agents walked toward Jayden, their boots crunching against the scorched earth. As they got closer, Jayden's eyes widened beneath his hood. The leader at the front… tall, broad-shouldered, with an air of command—it was Fred. One of the two EVA agents who had tried to interrogate him after the intraschool tournament.
Jayden's mind raced, trying to process the sudden turn of events. Him being alone and hunting in the forest was enough to raise suspicion. And if Fred found out who he is, it would only make things worse.
But luckily, Fred didn't seem to recognize him. The hood from Jayden's jacket cast deep shadows over his face, and he kept his head angled down, using the darkness of night to his advantage. His heart pounded, but he forced himself to remain still, to appear like nothing more than a scared teenager.
"You okay, kid?" Fred asked, his voice carrying both authority and genuine concern. He stopped a few feet away, his sharp eyes scanning Jayden.
