CHAPTER 9, "THE AWAKENING OF INSTINCT"
Jay couldn't shake the feeling.
Even after returning home… even after sitting alone in his room… even after the sky outside turned completely dark—
That presence lingered.
Mr. Arvind.
The way he looked at him.
The way he spoke.
"So… it has started."
Jay clenched his fist slightly.
"What has started…?"
No matter how many times he replayed that moment in his head, the answer didn't come.
Only more questions.
Jay stood near the window, staring outside into the night. The street below was quiet. A few dim lights flickered in nearby houses, and the occasional sound of a passing vehicle broke the silence.
Everything looked normal.
But Jay didn't feel normal anymore.
Not after today.
Not after yesterday.
Not after everything that was happening inside him.
He slowly turned away from the window and sat down on his bed.
His eyes drifted toward the mirror again.
For a few seconds, he just stared at his reflection.
Then, quietly—
"Show me," he whispered.
Nothing happened.
No red glow.
No change.
Jay exhaled.
"Of course…"
But just as he looked away—
A faint flicker appeared.
So quick that it almost felt like imagination.
Jay froze.
His gaze snapped back to the mirror.
This time—
He focused.
Really focused.
His breathing slowed.
His thoughts cleared.
And then—
It happened.
A thin red glow formed in his eyes.
Faint.
Unstable.
But real.
Jay's heart started beating faster.
"…I can do it."
The glow flickered slightly, like a flame struggling to stay alive.
Then suddenly—
It disappeared.
Jay blinked.
The normal darkness of his eyes returned.
He leaned back slightly, breathing heavier now.
"That wasn't random…"
He had triggered it.
Even if just for a second.
Even if he didn't understand how.
Jay looked down at his hands.
Slowly, he clenched his fist.
Something inside him was waking up.
And this time—
He could feel it.
—
The next day at school felt even more intense.
The whispers hadn't stopped.
They had grown.
Students didn't even bother hiding it anymore.
Some looked at Jay with curiosity.
Some with fear.
And a few with something else—
Respect.
Jay ignored all of it.
But the moment he stepped into the classroom—
His eyes moved instinctively.
Searching.
And they found him.
Mr. Arvind.
He was already there.
Standing near the window.
Watching.
The moment their eyes met—
That same heavy feeling returned.
Jay walked to his seat slowly.
Aisha leaned closer and whispered, "He came again…"
"I can see that," Jay replied quietly.
Mr. Arvind didn't speak at first.
He simply observed.
Then, after a few minutes, he addressed the class.
"Today," he said calmly, "we will do something different."
The room fell silent.
"A small evaluation."
Students exchanged nervous looks.
"What kind of evaluation?" someone asked.
Mr. Arvind smiled faintly.
"Nothing difficult."
He paused.
"Just a test… of instinct."
That word made Jay's chest tighten.
Instinct.
Before anyone could react, Mr. Arvind continued.
"I will call students one by one."
"And you will simply respond to a situation."
No one fully understood what he meant.
But no one dared to question him further.
One by one, students were called.
Each student stood in front of him.
Mr. Arvind would say something—
Sometimes a sudden command.
Sometimes he would drop a book.
Sometimes he would move unexpectedly.
And he would watch how they reacted.
Some flinched.
Some stepped back.
Some froze completely.
Mr. Arvind observed everything carefully.
Then—
"Jay."
The entire class went quiet again.
Jay stood up slowly.
Every eye followed him as he walked forward.
He stopped a few feet away from Mr. Arvind.
The man looked at him for a moment.
Then—
Without warning—
He moved.
Fast.
His hand shot forward toward Jay's shoulder.
Not to hurt.
But sudden enough to trigger a reaction.
And Jay reacted.
Instantly.
Without thinking.
His hand moved up and caught Mr. Arvind's wrist mid-air.
Perfect timing.
Perfect control.
The entire class gasped.
Jay himself froze.
"…What?"
He hadn't thought.
He hadn't planned.
His body had just… moved.
Mr. Arvind's eyes sharpened.
For a split second—
A faint smile appeared.
"Interesting," he murmured.
Jay quickly released his wrist.
"I didn't—"
"You didn't think," Mr. Arvind finished.
Jay went silent.
"That," the man said softly, "is instinct."
The room remained completely still.
Mr. Arvind stepped closer.
Lowering his voice so only Jay could hear—
"You're waking up faster than expected."
Jay's eyes widened slightly.
Before he could respond—
Mr. Arvind stepped back.
"You may sit."
Jay returned to his seat slowly.
His mind was racing.
That reaction—
It wasn't normal.
It was too fast.
Too precise.
Aisha looked at him, eyes wide.
"Did you even see him move?" she whispered.
Jay shook his head slightly.
"No…"
And that was the truth.
He hadn't seen it.
His body had reacted before his mind.
—
The rest of the class passed in a blur.
Jay couldn't focus.
Something had changed again.
Something important.
When the final bell rang, students rushed out as usual.
But Jay stayed seated for a moment.
Thinking.
Then—
"Come."
Jay looked up.
Mr. Arvind was standing near the door.
Waiting.
Jay hesitated.
Then stood up and followed him.
The hallway outside was empty.
Silent.
Mr. Arvind walked a few steps ahead.
Then stopped.
Without turning, he spoke.
"You've started seeing it, haven't you?"
Jay's breath slowed.
"…Seeing what?"
Mr. Arvind turned.
His eyes locked onto Jay's.
"The shadow."
Jay froze.
For the first time—
Someone had said it out loud.
Not guessed.
Not hinted.
Said it.
Jay's voice dropped.
"…Who are you?"
Mr. Arvind didn't answer directly.
Instead, he asked—
"Do you want to know what you are?"
Jay didn't hesitate this time.
"…Yes."
A faint smile appeared on Mr. Arvind's face.
"Good."
He stepped closer.
And said quietly—
"Then stop running from it."
Jay's heart pounded.
"Because soon…"
That word again.
"…you won't have a choice."
Silence filled the hallway.
And in that silence—
Jay understood something clearly.
This wasn't just the beginning.
This was a warning.
Because whatever was inside him—
Was no longer staying hidden.