Chapter 2 Hunter

The drive wasn't very long, but as we made our way to Zane's house, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the road. By the time we turned into Zane's neighborhood, the rain started to come down in steady sheets, the sound of it hitting the windshield rhythmic and soothing. The world outside felt muted, the heavy cloud cover blocking the usual brightness of the evening sky.

As I pulled into Zane’s driveway, I glanced over at Jade. She was staring out the window, her arms crossed tightly in front of her. I could tell she was deep in thought.

I parked the truck and cut the engine, the sound of rain still drumming against the roof. The driveway was narrow, flanked by tall trees that loomed over the small house, their branches swaying with the gusts of wind. It wasn’t much, but it was home for Zane, the oddball genius of the family.

Zane was Jade’s younger brother—16 years old, a couple of years younger than her, but he’d already skipped ahead in ways most kids his age wouldn’t even dream of. He was in his second year at Louisville, and it was clear to anyone who met him that his brain worked differently. He wasn’t just smart—he was weird smart. He had a knack for figuring things out that didn’t make sense to the rest of us. It wasn’t unusual to walk into his room and find walls covered in hand-drawn blueprints and schematics for projects that were, to be honest, hard to even comprehend.

I pushed open the truck door and hopped out, reaching back to grab my jacket from the backseat. Jade followed behind, pulling her hood over her head to shield against the rain.

“Zane’s going to be as zany as usual,” I joked, my voice muffled by the sound of the rain.

Jade shot me a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m sure he’ll have something bizarre to show us.”

We walked up to the porch together, where the sound of Zane’s voice filtered through the front door before we even knocked. “I’m telling you, it’ll work. Just trust me on this, guys. I’ve been testing the schematics all week!”

I knocked twice, and the door swung open almost immediately. Zane stood there, looking the same as always—messy hair, eyes wide with excitement, and a grin that always made you wonder what he was up to next.

“Hey, hey, hey!” he exclaimed, stepping aside to let us in. “You made it right on time. I’ve got something big to show you.”

Zane’s enthusiasm was infectious, even if it was usually a bit... out there. “Let me guess,” I said, raising an eyebrow as I stepped inside. “A new project, right?”

Zane’s grin widened. “Of course! You two have got to see this. I’m telling you, it’s going to blow your minds.”

I glanced at Jade, who was already scanning the room. The walls were covered with sheets of paper, some pinned up and others scattered haphazardly across the floor. Blueprints, drawings, and ideas—most of them looked like they came from another world entirely.

“What’s all this?” I asked, picking up a random sheet of paper from the floor.

Zane bounced over and snatched it from my hands, almost knocking over a pile of tools in the process. “That? Oh, just a minor concept I’m working on for a personal project. You know, nothing special.” His voice was playful, but there was a flicker of seriousness behind his eyes, something I knew well enough to pick up on.

Jade raised an eyebrow, though she was silent for a moment, taking everything in. “Is this... a prototype?”

Zane nodded enthusiastically. “A prototype for something bigger! I’m telling you, this thing is going to change everything.”

I exchanged a look with Jade. Zane’s projects weren’t like anyone else’s—he had a knack for inventing things that seemed to exist in a different dimension, pushing the boundaries of what was possible. If he said this was going to change things, I had no reason to doubt him.

Zane’s eyes gleamed as he led us to a workbench at the back of the room, where a half-finished model of some kind of vehicle sat. It looked like a cross between a high-tech off-road vehicle and something that could have come out of a sci-fi movie. The frame was mostly assembled, but there were parts missing, and the whole thing looked like it had been cobbled together with whatever Zane could get his hands on. But it was clear—this wasn’t a simple toy or project. It was serious.

“This is what I’ve been working on,” Zane said, his tone dropping just a bit. “It’s a hybrid—part vehicle, part survival system. I’ve got a bunch of modifications to make, but once it’s done, it’ll be ready for anything. I’m talking, anything.”

I whistled low, impressed by the design. “This is... wild, Zane. How did you even come up with this?”

Zane shrugged, his grin returning. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. With everything going on... I just wanted to make sure I was ready for whatever came next.”

Jade stepped forward, studying the vehicle closely. “You really think something like this could be useful?”

Zane looked at her with that ever-present intensity, nodding slowly. “I don’t know if we’ll need it, but I’d rather be over-prepared than under-prepared.”

I watched them both for a moment, the weight of the world outside creeping back into my thoughts. Whatever was happening, whatever was coming, it felt like Zane was already one step ahead of it all.

“Alright,” I said, breaking the silence. “So, what’s next?”

Zane’s grin widened. “I gotta finish this model, so y'all lovebirds sit tight, and toss me those UHaul keys.”

I obliged, “Better get it in their office by 8.”

He turned, smiled, and flipped his finger at us. Jade returned the gesture, “We aren’t lovebirds.”

“Whatever you say sister dearest.”