At dawn, my school bag still hung across my shoulders. I could barely shut my eyes all night, and now my eyelids felt heavy with slumber.
While Professor Duncan was midway through preparing for school, the doorbell rang — ding-dong.
With my hands tightly gripping my school bag, I froze, wondering if it was my father's enemies. Perhaps they had somehow discovered my whereabouts and decided to come after me. Since they hadn't found the virus in our house the previous night, they might have guessed that I was the one who had it.
The doorbell rang again, this time followed by a sharp bang. Professor Duncan hurried into my room, his face clouded with fear. He leaned toward me and whispered urgently, "Are you expecting anyone?"
I shook my head quickly, my heart pounding.
"Did you tell anyone where you were going?" he asked again, still whispering.
Again, I shook my head and swallowed hard. The bell rang once more, louder this time, and I flinched.
"My father's enemies?" I muttered, blinking rapidly in fear as Professor Duncan crouched beside me.
"They raided my family's house yesterday night," I whispered. That was all I knew about them.
"Your father's enemies?" he asked, his palms damp with nervous sweat. "Who are they?"
I didn't know much about the battalion of shape-shifters that attacked our home. All I could call them were my father's enemies.
"Yes," I said quietly. "They're the same shape-shifters that murdered my parents the other night."
"Shape-shifters?" he repeated, shocked. "Why would shape-shifters murder your parents? Are we enemies? And what are they doing here now?"
He was asking too many questions — questions I couldn't answer. My father's last warning still echoed in my mind: Tell no one about the virus.
Before Professor Duncan could speak again, the bell and banging came once more, cutting through the silence.
He sighed, his jaw tightening. "Stay here," he ordered. Then he strode to his wardrobe, pulled out a rifle, and handed me quick instructions. "This staircase leads to the copyhouse. Go there and wait. Should I die, run into the penthouse and save yourself."
My whole body trembled. I was shaking uncontrollably — the weakling I'd always been.
Could it be that they traced me here?
What's happening?
Without giving my thoughts much room to run wild, I started tiptoeing toward the staircase.
Before I could slip away, I heard voices — familiar ones. Julius's voice.
Relief washed over me. I turned and ran back to my room, reaching for the door.
When I dashed into the sitting room, Professor Duncan looked furious. "I thought you said no one knew you were here!" he snapped, glaring at Julius.
I nodded quickly. "Yes, of course! No one knew I was here!"
His eyes widened in disbelief. "Really? Then why is Julius here? How did he know?"
I glanced at Julius, who stood with a calm, unreadable expression. How could I possibly explain that Julius had a rare ability I didn't understand? Everything he ever said always came true.
My lips tightened as I held back my reply.
Professor Duncan's voice softened. "I'll be leaving for school. Are you boys joining me in the car?"
Julius gave me a quick wink — a silent signal to refuse.
"No," I said. "I'm not feeling too well after… the tragedy that befell my family."
Professor Duncan sighed, then gently stroked my hair. "It's okay, Darius. Everything's going to be fine." He turned to Julius. "Take good care of him while I'm away."
He handed Julius the rifle. "Protect yourselves while I'm gone." Then, with a final nod, he left in his saloon car.
As soon as he drove off, I turned to Julius, anger boiling in me. "Who the hell are you?" I barked. "Everything you've ever said happens! If you don't tell me the truth about these strange powers you have — and what I need to know about you — just leave! Our friendship is over!"
I picked up my school bag and continued, "If you don't speak up, I'm leaving for school. I don't ever want to see you again!"
Julius's eyes suddenly turned pale — a ghostly, fish-like grey. He stared into space for a moment, then spoke quietly but firmly.
"Don't you dare go to school," he said. "Your bullies are waiting for you at the school field. The moment they see you, they'll kill you."
He sat down on the sofa, his voice growing more serious. "Sit down, Darius, if you really want to know who I am — and what truly happened to your family that night."