𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙨 || 𝘑𝘢𝘺𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘯 & 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘬𝘪

5

Jay and Ni-ki began their trek back to the Hunter's Center, a sprawling complex hidden deep within the forest nearby to the town. 

The center served as a base of operations, housing hunters, training werewolves, and imprisoning vampires. It was a fortress of secrecy and power, a place where the balance of supernatural forces was maintained through strict control and ruthless measures.

Ni-ki walked beside Jay, his mind heavy with the events of the night

The werewolf they had captured, now in his human form and unconscious, was draped over Jay's shoulder. The werewolf's name was Sunghoon, a name Jay had learned only moments before the battle ended, because the vampire called him so.

"I'm sorry," Ni-ki said, breaking the silence. "I should have been faster. I let the vampire get away."

Jay glanced at him, a mix of frustration and understanding in his eyes.

 "Variant-22 vampires are not like the others, Ni-ki. They're faster, stronger, and more cunning. It wasn't your fault. We'll get him next time."

Ni-ki nodded, though the guilt lingered.

His thoughts drifted to the vampire, Jungwon, and the fleeting moment of surprise when his wound had healed almost instantly, Ni-ki knew who he was and now that other vampire did so too.Ni-ki just hoped and prayed in his mind that this secret dosen't get out, atleast in the Hunter's centre. 

He pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.

As they approached the center, the imposing gates loomed before them, flanked by guards who nodded in recognition. 

The werewolf on Jay's shoulder stirred slightly, but remained unconscious.

"He really is something," Jay muttered, more to himself than to Ni-ki.

"What do you mean?" Ni-ki asked, curious.

Jay shifted the weight of the werewolf. "Sunghoon. He's. . . .pretty, in a way. But it's infuriating to think he was siding with vampires. Werewolves and vampires are natural enemies. It's against everything we've been taught."

Ni-ki looked at Sunghoon's face, now peaceful in unconsciousness, and felt a pang of sympathy. "Maybe he had his reasons. Maybe things aren't as black and white as we've been led to believe." 

Jay's expression hardened. "It doesn't matter. He chose to side with them. He'll have to face the consequences."

They won't even spare a werewolf, how will they ever spare a vampire? Ni-ki felt himself getting a little scared, his secret was out in front of someone he didn't trust a bit.

They passed through the gates and made their way to the holding cells. 

The center was a hive of activity, with hunters coming and going, preparing for missions or returning from successful hunts. The cells were a grim reminder of the war they fought, each one housing a supernatural creature awaiting their fate.

Jay and Ni-ki laid Sunghoon in one of the cells, the heavy door clanging shut behind them. Sunghoon stirred again, but remained asleep.

"Ask Jake to come treat his wounds." Jay mentioned to one of the guards who nodded and left to finish the task.

"Welcome to your new home," Jay said coldly. "You'll be staying here until we figure out what to do with you." even if the werewolf was unconsious, Jay was sure he heard him.

Ni-ki watched in fear.

He had always seen the world in black and white—hunters were the good guys, and supernatural creatures were the enemy. But now, seeing Sunghoon's vulnerability, he couldn't help but question that narrative.