NEVER ALONE

Chapter 1: The Boy No One Noticed Rain poured heavily over the quiet city of Brookhaven, turning the streets into shining mirrors of neon light and passing headlights. Most people had already rushed home to escape the storm. But one young man was still walking alone. Ethan Cole pulled his worn hoodie tighter around his head as he walked along the empty sidewalk. His shoes were soaked, his hands were cold, and the rain dripped down his face. Still, he kept walking. Ethan was twenty-four years old, but life had not been kind to him. No family. No real friends. No one waiting for him at home. Just a tiny apartment and a job at a small convenience store where customers barely noticed he existed. Sometimes Ethan wondered if he could disappear completely and no one would realize it. He gave a tired laugh to himself. “Yeah,” he muttered quietly, “that sounds about right.” Thunder rolled across the sky. Ethan stopped at a red light, even though there were no cars on the road. Old habits. He glanced at the bright windows of a café across the street. Inside, a group of friends were laughing loudly, sharing drinks and stories. For a moment, Ethan watched them. Then he looked away. Moments like that always reminded him of the same painful truth. He had always been alone. Not just physically. But in every way that mattered. --- The Strange Feeling The rain began to fall even harder as Ethan turned into a narrow street behind several closed stores. This shortcut usually saved him ten minutes on the walk home. But tonight, something felt… different. The streetlights flickered above him. Once. Twice. Then suddenly— Darkness. Ethan stopped walking. “All right,” he sighed. “That’s not creepy at all.” He pulled out his phone to turn on the flashlight. But before he could press the button— He heard footsteps. Behind him. Slow. Heavy. Ethan frowned and turned around. “Hello?” No one. The street behind him was empty. He shook his head. “Probably just my imagination.” He turned back toward the end of the street. Then a voice spoke. “Ethan.” His heart skipped a beat. He froze. Very slowly, he turned around again. This time… someone was standing there. A woman. She stood beneath the faint glow of a dying streetlight. Her long black coat moved slightly in the wind, and her dark hair clung to her face from the rain. But what caught Ethan’s attention were her eyes. They were glowing faintly blue. His breath caught in his throat. “Do… do I know you?” he asked. The woman studied him carefully, as if confirming something important. “No,” she said calmly. “But I know you.” Ethan blinked. “That’s… not reassuring.” She stepped closer. “You shouldn’t be out tonight.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “I live here.” “That’s not what I meant.” The woman looked toward the sky briefly, almost like she was listening for something. Then her expression changed. Concern flashed across her face. “They’re here already.” “Who?” Ethan asked. Before she could answer— A loud engine roared at the end of the street. A black SUV skidded around the corner and stopped suddenly. The doors opened. Four men stepped out. Each wore dark tactical gear and moved with cold precision. And every single one of them was staring directly at Ethan. Fear tightened in his chest. “Do you know those guys?” he asked nervously. The woman shook her head. “They’re not here for me.” Ethan swallowed. “Please don’t say they’re here for me.” The woman didn’t answer. One of the men raised a strange metallic device and pointed it toward Ethan. “Target located,” he said into a small microphone. Ethan’s brain struggled to process what was happening. “Okay,” he said slowly, “this feels like a serious misunderstanding.” The woman grabbed his arm suddenly. “Run.” “What?” “RUN!” --- The Chase Before Ethan could argue, she pulled him into the dark alley beside the buildings. Behind them, one of the men shouted. “Don’t let them escape!” Footsteps pounded against the pavement. Ethan’s heart raced as they sprinted through the narrow streets. Rain splashed beneath their feet. “Who are you?!” he shouted breathlessly. “My name is Raven,” she replied. They turned another corner sharply. “And right now,” she added, “I’m the only reason you’re still alive.” Ethan almost slipped on the wet ground. “I didn’t do anything!” “I know.” “Then why are they chasing me?!” Raven looked back at him, her glowing blue eyes serious. “Because you’re special.” Ethan stared at her in disbelief. “That is the worst possible explanation.” Before she could respond— The ground trembled. Just slightly. But enough to make both of them stop. A deep, unnatural growl echoed through the street. Ethan felt a cold chill crawl down his spine. “Please tell me that was thunder,” he said quietly. Raven slowly turned toward the darkness behind them. Her expression hardened. “They brought one.” “Brought what?” The growl came again. Closer. Much closer. Then something enormous stepped into the faint light at the end of the alley. Ethan’s eyes widened in horror. The creature looked like a twisted mix between a wolf and something far more monstrous. Its body was massive. Its eyes burned red in the darkness. And its claws scraped against the pavement like metal blades. Ethan whispered, “That… that can’t be real.” Raven stepped in front of him protectively. “Oh,” she said softly. “It’s very real.” The monster growled again. Ethan’s voice shook. “What is that thing?” Raven didn’t take her eyes off the creature. “It’s called a Hunter.” The creature lowered its body like a predator preparing to attack. “And it’s been searching for you.” Ethan’s mind raced. “For me?! Why?!” Raven glanced back at him for a brief moment. Her voice was calm. But the words sent chills through his entire body. “Because you’re not supposed to exist.” The monster lunged forward. And Ethan realized something terrifying. His quiet, lonely life had just ended.