WEREWOLF SYSTEM

Ethan's POV

The forest was alive with sound—leaves crunching underfoot, the rapid pounding of my heartbeat, and the hum of the hunters' drones slicing through the air. The faint glow of their searchlights flickered between the trees, growing brighter with each passing second.

"Jason, keep moving!" I hissed, glancing over my shoulder. My younger brother was struggling to keep up, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. He clutched his side as though the pain might split him in two.

"I'm trying!" he wheezed, stumbling over an exposed root.

I slowed just enough to grab his arm and yank him upright. The moment I touched him, a sharp pang of guilt shot through me. His face was pale, his dark hair plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his eyes—those wide, terrified eyes—kept darting around as if he expected one of the hunters to spring out of the shadows.

"We can't stop," I said, my voice firmer this time. "They're close."

Jason nodded, but I could see it in his posture—he was at his limit. And the hunters knew it.

The distant mechanical growl of their machines grew louder, reverberating through the forest. I caught a glimpse of one of them, its sleek, metallic frame reflecting moonlight as it glided through the trees. It looked almost human, but the glowing blue lines running down its arms and legs marked it as something else entirely.

Cybernetic hunters. Government lapdogs designed to track and capture people like us—people who didn't belong.

"Ethan, they're coming!" Jason cried, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I gritted my teeth, scanning the terrain ahead. The forest was dense, but there was a steep incline up ahead that might slow them down. If we could just make it over the ridge, we might have a chance.

"Up there," I said, pointing. "We'll lose them in the thicker brush."

Jason nodded, but his pace was slowing. He stumbled again, and this time, he didn't get back up right away.

"Jason!" I crouched beside him, grabbing his shoulders. "Come on, you can do this. Just a little further."

"I can't," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "I can't, Ethan. I'm too tired."

The sound of footsteps—heavy and deliberate—sent a chill down my spine. I turned, my breath hitching. They were closing in.

Jason's POV

Every muscle in my body ached. My lungs burned as if they were filled with fire, and my legs felt like they'd been replaced with lead. Ethan's voice was sharp and urgent, but it felt distant, like he was yelling from the other side of a canyon.

"I can't..." I murmured again, shaking my head.

Ethan pulled me to my feet, his grip strong but desperate. "Yes, you can. We have to keep going!"

I wanted to believe him, to push through the pain, but my body refused to cooperate. The forest around us seemed to blur, the trees melting into shadows that swayed and reached for me.

Then I heard it—the low hum of the hunters' drones, a sound that made my blood run cold. It was coming from all directions now, like a swarm closing in.

"Ethan..." My voice broke, but he didn't let go of me.

"We're not giving up," he growled. His determination was fierce, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He wasn't as sure as he sounded.

A sharp beam of light cut through the trees, illuminating us like a spotlight. My stomach dropped.

"They've found us," Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The Hunter's POV

Target acquired.

My HUD displayed two figures: Subject 02 and Subject 07. Their profiles flashed across the screen—young, untrained, but undeniably special. The directive was clear: capture them at all costs.

The taller one—Ethan—moved with purpose, his body tense and ready to fight. The younger one, Jason, was faltering. Weakness. It would make this easier.

The other units were already moving into position, their movements synchronized and precise. The forest provided some cover, but it wouldn't be enough. They couldn't outrun us.

"Proceeding with tranquilization," I said, my voice transmitting to the other hunters.

Ethan's POV

The first dart flew past my head, embedding itself in a tree trunk with a soft thunk.

"Move!" I shouted, grabbing Jason's arm and pulling him forward. The incline was just ahead. If we could get there, we might be able to dodge their line of sight.

But Jason stumbled again, his foot catching on a root. I caught him before he hit the ground, but it was too late. The drones were closing in. Their lights danced through the trees, casting eerie shadows that seemed to reach for us.

I turned to face them, my heart pounding. I wasn't going to let them take us without a fight.

"Jason, run!" I shouted, pushing him toward the incline.

He hesitated, his eyes wide with panic. "What about you?"

"Just go!"

I spun around, searching for something—anything—I could use as a weapon. A fallen branch caught my eye, thick and sturdy enough to swing. I grabbed it, gripping it so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

The first hunter emerged from the shadows, its glowing eyes locking onto me. It moved with inhuman speed, its metallic limbs glinting in the moonlight.

I swung the branch with all my strength, aiming for its head. The impact jolted up my arms, but the hunter barely flinched. Its head snapped toward me, and I felt a pang of dread.

Before I could react, it raised its arm. There was a hiss, and then—

The dart hit me first. I felt the sting, the cold burn of the needle sinking into my skin. My world tilted, spun, and then—darkness.