The house trembled with lingering energy from the attack. Melly's breath was steady now, her mind sharper than ever. The revelation had shattered everything she thought she knew—but it also gave her a new purpose. No more doubt. No more hesitation.
Arkins paced near the broken window, his fangs still extended, his body tense as he listened to the night. "They'll come again," he muttered. "Whoever that was, they weren't alone."
Melly grabbed the flash drive, shoving it into her pocket. "Good," she said coldly. "Let them."
Arkins turned to her, his brows furrowed. "Melly—"
She cut him off. "We're done hiding, Arkins. If they want a war, we'll bring it to their doorstep."
Arkins exhaled sharply but didn't argue. Instead, he nodded, his lips curling into a smirk. "Then we make the first move."
The First Clue
They relocated to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. It wasn't much—rusted metal, broken windows—but it gave them cover. Arkins stood near the entrance, keeping watch, while Melly hacked into the encrypted files from the flash drive.
She ignored the shaky feeling in her hands as she worked. The video of her grandmother still played in the back of her mind, her voice echoing like a curse. Then we begin the next phase.
Her jaw clenched. Not anymore.
The screen flickered, finally granting her access. A list of names appeared. Scientists. Researchers. Executives. Some were already dead. Others… still active.
Her fingers tightened around the mouse. "We have a lead."
Arkins leaned over her shoulder. "Who?"
She pointed at a name highlighted in red. Dr. Leon Vance.
"He's still alive," she murmured. "And according to this file, he's one of the few people who worked on Project Rebirth from start to finish."
Arkins straightened. "Then we pay him a visit."
The Interrogation
Finding Dr. Vance wasn't hard. He lived in a high-rise penthouse in the city, under a false identity.
Breaking in was easier than expected. A few well-placed spells from Melly disabled security, and Arkins took care of the guards.
They found the old man in his office, pouring whiskey into a glass like he didn't have a care in the world. His hair was gray, his suit crisp—but the moment he saw them, he knew.
"You shouldn't be here," Vance said calmly, setting his glass down.
Melly stepped forward, magic humming at her fingertips. "Neither should you."
Vance sighed, shaking his head. "I figured you'd come eventually." He gestured to the chairs in front of him. "Sit. Let's talk."
Arkins growled lowly. "We're not here to chat."
Melly's voice was ice. "Tell me about Project Rebirth."
The doctor tilted his head, studying her. "Ah. So you've seen the footage." He smirked. "Then you already know the truth, don't you? That you're not just some ordinary girl with magic."
Her fingers twitched, but she forced herself to stay still. "Explain."
Vance chuckled, sipping his whiskey. "Project Rebirth wasn't just about studying magic. It was about creating something… greater. A being that could wield power without limit. Something beyond human. Beyond witch or vampire. The perfect evolution."
Arkins stiffened. "And you experimented on children to do it."
Vance didn't even flinch. "And look at the results." His eyes gleamed. "You, Melly, are the masterpiece."
Melly's vision darkened at the edges. "You made me into this?"
Vance leaned forward, his voice soft. "No, my dear. You were always this. We just… uncovered it."
Something inside Melly snapped. Her magic surged, and with a flick of her wrist, Vance was lifted off his feet, choking on invisible force. His whiskey glass shattered against the floor.
"You destroyed my life," she whispered.
Vance gasped, struggling. "No… I gave you purpose."
Melly tightened her grip. She wanted to crush him. To erase every last piece of Project Rebirth from the world.
But then Arkins spoke. "Melly. Not yet."
Her head snapped toward him, but his expression was unreadable. He nodded toward Vance's desk. "We need more than just revenge. We need answers."
Melly's pulse hammered. She held Vance in the air a moment longer before releasing him. He collapsed onto the floor, coughing.
"Where's the main facility?" Arkins demanded.
Vance chuckled, wiping his mouth. "You think you can just walk in and burn it down?" He smirked at Melly. "They're waiting for you."
Melly crouched beside him, her voice a deadly whisper. "Then they'll get exactly what they want."
Vance's smirk faltered.
Melly stood, turning to Arkins. "We end this. No more running."
Arkins nodded. "Then let's finish it."
They walked out, leaving Vance gasping on the floor.
The hunt had begun. And this time, they weren't the prey.
They were the storm.
Later on.
The night air was thick with the scent of rain, but Melly barely noticed. Her mind raced with every step she took, each thought sharper than a blade. Arkins walked beside her, silent, his expression unreadable. The city lights flickered in the distance, but their destination lay in the shadows—the last known location of Project Rebirth's main facility.
They stopped in front of an abandoned research building on the outskirts of town. The windows were shattered, vines creeping along the cracked walls. It looked deserted. But Melly knew better.
Arkins flexed his fingers, his fangs slightly visible. "You ready for this?"
Melly's magic pulsed beneath her skin, waiting. "I was born for this."
Without another word, they pushed forward.
The Trap
The entrance was unlocked. Suspicious. They stepped inside cautiously, the air heavy with dust and decay. Old papers and broken monitors littered the floor. But the deeper they went, the more obvious it became—this place wasn't abandoned.
Melly's eyes scanned the walls, spotting hidden cameras in the corners. "They know we're here."
Arkins smirked. "Good."
A flickering monitor caught Melly's attention. The screen glowed with a single message:
"Welcome home, Subject Zero."
Her breath hitched.
A metallic click echoed through the room. Arkins cursed, grabbing her arm—
Then the floor dropped.
They plummeted into darkness.
The Chamber
Melly hit the ground hard, her body rolling on cold concrete. Arkins landed beside her, groaning. Dim red lights flickered on, revealing the massive underground chamber. The walls were lined with glass tanks—each filled with a thick, glowing liquid. Figures floated inside, motionless.
Melly's stomach twisted. Experiments.
A slow clap echoed through the room.
She spun around.
At the far end of the chamber stood a tall figure in a pristine white lab coat. His face was hidden beneath a metallic mask, but his voice was smooth, confident.
"Welcome," he said. "You've finally returned to where it all began."
Melly's fists clenched. "Who the hell are you?"
The man tilted his head. "You don't recognize me? Ah, but you were just a child back then." He stepped closer, and the overhead lights revealed something chilling—
Golden runes glowing along his arms.
The same as hers.
Arkins stiffened. "You're like her."
The man chuckled. "Not like her. Before her." His eyes gleamed behind the mask. "I was the first."
Melly's blood turned to ice.
The first experiment. The first attempt at Project Rebirth.
He gestured toward the tanks. "They tried to perfect me. But I was… unstable. A failure." His voice darkened. "Then they created you."
Melly's hands shook. "No…"
He smiled beneath the mask. "You replaced me."
Arkins moved in front of her, muscles tense. "So what? You want revenge?"
The man spread his arms. "Oh, no. I want balance. I want what was stolen from me." His voice turned cold. "And that means eliminating you, little sister."
Melly barely had time to react before he lifted a hand—
And the entire room exploded into chaos.
The Fight
A wave of force slammed into Melly, sending her crashing into a tank. Glass shattered around her, thick liquid spilling onto the floor. She barely had time to gasp before the figure lunged.
Arkins intercepted, fangs bared. He struck fast, but the man dodged with inhuman speed, countering with a blast of raw energy. Arkins grunted, skidding backward.
Melly scrambled to her feet, heart pounding. Magic surged through her veins, golden runes igniting across her skin.
No more running.
She raised her hands, summoning a blast of energy—
But he was faster.
He vanished in a blur, reappearing behind her. Cold fingers wrapped around her throat.
"Do you feel it?" he whispered against her ear. "The power they put inside you? The same power they stole from me?"
Melly struggled, magic crackling at her fingertips. "Let go of me!"
His grip tightened. "They made you strong, but they made me a monster."
Arkins roared, tackling him from behind. They crashed against the ground, rolling in a blur of motion.
Melly gasped for air, coughing. Her vision swam, but she forced herself up. This wasn't just a fight. This was war.
Her magic surged again, brighter, stronger.
She wasn't their experiment.
She wasn't their weapon.
She was their end.
The Awakening
The masked figure lunged for Arkins, but Melly moved first. Her hands shot forward, golden chains of energy wrapping around him. His body seized, his movements jerking unnaturally.
His mask cracked. His eyes—golden, like hers—locked onto her.
"You don't understand," he rasped.
Melly's hands trembled. "Then make me."
His body stilled. "There's another."
Melly's heart pounded. "Another what?"
His lips curled into a chilling smile. "Another experiment."
The words crashed into her like a tidal wave.
She barely had time to process before the entire chamber shook.
Alarms blared. The tanks ruptured, liquid spilling across the floor. And from the shadows… something else emerged.
Something worse.
A figure stepped forward—taller, broader, eyes glowing like fire. Their presence made the air hum with power.
And then Melly knew.
This wasn't just another experiment.
This was the final weapon.
The real war had only just begun.