Okay, so some of you may remember a fanfiction I was working on back when I first started that involved hunters and the supernatural on Academy Island. I ended up taking it down due to overloading myself with stories and having a change in interests.
I recently decided to bring back the Hunter Jaden idea from that story but I gave it a major face-lift in the process. So, here's the first chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Yu-gi-oh GX or anything in this story that sounds like it came out of Charmed. I only hold claim to this story idea.
Note: I may be using Avenger4Life's story as a template for mine, but it was not done with plagiarism in mind. (I encourage you to go check out their stories when you have the chance)
Without further adieu, enjoy the first chapter.
A full moon was out that night at Duel Academy and everybody was asleep in their dorm rooms. In the red dorm, Jaden was snoring so loud that Syrus couldn't fall asleep. He tried and tried but it wasn't happening.
"Man, why does Jaden have to snore so loudly?" Syrus asked himself.
He looked up at Hassleberry sleeping in the top bunk and noticed that he was snoring, too. Sighing, Syrus tried to go to sleep and eventually succeeded.
Chazz was sleeping in his "mansion" built into the red dorm. He had earplugs in because the Ojama brothers were annoying him again. Although the earplugs weren't always the best idea because Jaden had snuck in several times to steal food from him.
Atticus was sleeping like a baby in his room at the blue dorm. If he wasn't dreaming about the girls at school, he was dreaming about his younger years with his sister, Alexis.
Speaking of Alexis, she was asleep in her room at the girls' dorm along with her friends Jasmine and Mindy. Normally, Jasmine and Mindy slept in their own rooms, but sometimes they would have slumber parties in each others' rooms. Tonight, they had one in Alexis' room.
Meanwhile, outside, a mysterious woman was running through the forest. She was faster than a normal human, similar to an animal. Behind her were about ten wolves, but they weren't chasing the woman. They were following her.
The woman came to a stop and so did the wolves. She looked ahead and saw the Obelisk girls' dorm.
"Perfect." She smirked before the wolves behind her started to howl.
Back at the red dorm, Jaden woke with a start, feeling a chill go through him. He thought he heard something just on the edge of his hearing, but it was gone just as soon as he noticed it. Instincts on alert, he sat up and looked towards the window, moonlight shining in.
"Something's not right." He whispered, with only the shadows of his room hearing him.
(The next day)
The following morning, everyone was in class as usual. Those who knew Jaden were surprised to see him actually awake in class, but that was only because he had things on his mind. Ever since last night, Jaden had felt jumpy and on edge. It was like he felt eyes on him at all times, constantly stuck in the sight of a predator.
'Something happened last night, I'm sure of that. But what…?'
He was startled out of his thoughts when the bell rang. Sighing in relief, Jaden stood up to leave.
"Little jumpy today, aren't ya, slacker?" Chazz asked, getting the brunette's attention.
Jaden laughs nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Guess I'm a little off right now."
Chazz eyed his behavior for a moment before shrugging and moving to leave.
(Later that evening)
When classes were done for the day, the gang went to Chazz's place to hang out. Jaden was still on edge, unable to shake off the uneasiness he had been feeling all day. Atticus had brought over three bags of chips and popcorn from Chazz's kitchen.
As he passed the stuff out, he noticed Jaden's dazed look. "Hey, Jaden, something wrong?"
Jaden was started for a minute before forcing a weak smile on his face. "Nah, I'm fine, really."
"You've been acting like you have a secret to hide." Chazz countered bluntly.
"Chazz!" Alexis scolded the other.
"Well, he has!"
Neither of them noticed Jaden stiffen before laughing off Chazz's comment. "What, me? No! There are no secrets here, just average-joe me!"
"Jaden, there's nothing average about you." Alexis looked at him, making Jaden laugh again.
"You think so?" He asked sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
Relieved a little at the supposed uplift in his mood, Alexis smiled before turning serious again. "On an unrelated note, did anyone see April today? I couldn't find her."
"Not me," Jaden answered.
"Nope." Chazz shook his head.
"I didn't see her." Atticus included.
"Me either," Syrus added.
"Negative, Private Lexi," Hassleberry reported.
Alexis sighed. "Oh, well. I'm going to go back to my dorm now, guys."
"I'll come with you, Lexi," Atticus said as he got up.
"See ya tomorrow, guys," Jaden said to both of them.
With that, Alexis and Atticus left the room. When the door closed, Jaden's expression turned serious again. "Be safe…"
As the siblings walked back to their respective dorms, Atticus started to hum a song to himself. Alexis looked at him and sighed. "Why do you always have to sing?"
"Because I was born to sing!" Atticus replied, giving her a thumbs up.
Suddenly, they heard a rustle coming from the bushes. Then someone, or something, ran past them.
"Um, Atticus? What was that?" Alexis asked, a little afraid.
"I don't know," Atticus answered, looking around for whatever they saw. Then, the rustling happened again as whatever it was fled by them. "Stay here. I'll go see what it is."
"Okay, but be careful."
Atticus nodded before heading in the direction of the noise. He didn't see anything immediately near the bushes and trees, so he decided to go in further. Suddenly, he stopped. "Um, Alexis. I think I found April…"
"What do you mean you found–!" Alexis started to ask but stopped when saw what her brother was talking about.
Just inside the treeline was April.
On the ground.
Dead.
"How did she…" Alexis didn't even wanna finish that question.
"I don't know, but from the look on her face, whatever happened was fast and terrifying," Atticus analyzed before something caught his eye. "What's that?"
He turned over April's arm and found some very distinctive wounds. 'Claw marks?' He thought for a moment before turning to his sister. "Call Chancellor Sheppard and tell him what happened."
Alexis nodded and pulled out her PDA.
Atticus looked back at April, wondering who or what could've done this. Definitely not anything human.
"Yes, Chancellor," Alexis put her PDA away and looked back at her brother. "The chancellor said he'll send some teachers to pick her up. He also said that we should go back to our dorms."
"Alright." Atticus nodded before he stood up, walking with his sister back to the Obelisk dorms.
(The following morning)
By the time classes started, everyone was talking about what happened the night before.
Jaden was walking down the hallway when he suddenly heard Atticus' voice. "I don't know what happened. Like I said, we found her and there were claw marks on her arm."
The brunette almost stopped breathing when he heard the older boy mention claw marks. Looking around the corner, he saw Atticus talking to Dr. Crowler.
"Alright, you may go now."
Atticus left immediately, nearly colliding with Jaden when rounded the corner.
"Whoa! Hey, Atticus!" The underclassman greeted him, trying not to look scared by what he just heard.
"Hey, Jaden." The older teen sighed.
Now Jaden's concern reached his face. "'The accident still bugging you?"
"Yeah. I just don't get who or what could've done this and why?" Atticus went deep in thought, not noticing Jaden's concern growing.
He looked like he was having an internal battle with himself. He wanted to ask questions, dig deeper and deal with the threat when he found the answers. At the same time, he knew if he did, he'd be going back to a life he wanted to leave behind.
Despite his inner debate, he knew what he had to do. "Did April have any enemies?"
Atticus thought about it for a minute before shaking his head. "No. From what Alexis told me, she was friendly and nobody really hated her."
Before they could talk further, Chazz suddenly came running up to them. He couldn't talk right away because he was panting so hard, but he was able to speak again after a minute.
"Hey, Chazz, what's up?" Atticus asked.
"Geez, Chazz, you need to start working out," Jaden smirked.
"Shut it, Jaden."
"Chazz, what's wrong?"
The black-wearing Slifer looked at Atticus. "It's Serena. Mindy and Jasmine found her dead this morning."
Atticus and Jaden looked at each other with wide eyes.
"Wait, did you say Serena?" The older boy asked.
"Yeah, why?" Chazz responded, confused.
"April and Serena were best friends," Atticus explained. "Maybe there's a connection."
"There is a connection." All three turned around to see Bastion walking up to them.
"What do you mean, Bastion?" Jaden asked, wanting to hear the other's theory.
"It's simple. April, Serena's best friend, was killed last night. So, it would be logical to reason that Serena would go out looking for the person who killed her or at least some indicator as to who did it. Either she found something or she was making the culprit nervous enough to kill her, too."
"Yeah, that explains Serena, but not April!" Chazz stated.
Atticus seemed to be thinking things over. "I don't think it was a person who killed April…"
The younger students turned to him with questioning looks.
"What are you saying, Atticus?" Jaden asked, a sharpened look passing over his face for a brief moment.
"Well, when Alexis and I found her, there were claw marks on her arm, and the look in her eyes was one of shock. So, either there's a person with really long, sharp fingernails running around or she was killed by an animal."
"But still, why April?" Chazz asked.
"I have no idea," Atticus answered.
"Even so, if whatever it was that killed Serena this morning, then more than likely they will strike again." Bastion warned them.
"We should be careful," The older brunette instructed. "It would also be best if no one goes anywhere alone."
"Especially at night," Jaden added as an afterthought before leaving. "I'll tell everyone else."
"Right!" The others nodded, heading to their own classes.
Checking over his shoulder, once he saw the guys leave, Jaden deviated from his route and left the building. As he walked outside, his demeanor changed ever so slightly, from his posture to his expression. He stood straighter, eyes alert, walking with a purpose.
Remembering what Atticus said about where they found April, Jaden made his way to that spot. Staying calm yet on guard, he moved slowly towards the bushes, parting the shrubs to check the ground for clues. He found what he was looking for around the flattened ground where the body was discovered, confirming his worst fears.
Tracks. Pawprints, unseen in the darkness, stuck out when someone knew what to look for.
"I was afraid of that," Jaden said grimly, looking around one last time before heading back to the school building. "Looks like I'm coming out of retirement tonight."
Two people are dead. How or by what is unknown, but Jaden seems to have an idea of what's going on.
The question now is who was that mysterious woman and who will the next victim be?
We'll find out next time. Until then read, review, and stay tuned.