COVELENT: XenoTrait

A low mechanical hum echoed above him, steady and cold, vibrating through the metal walls like a heartbeat.

Abel’s eyes opened slowly.

Pain followed immediately.

His head throbbed as his vision fractured into shards of light and shadow before finally settling. A single hanging lamp swung gently overhead, casting long, shifting shadows across the concrete floor.

He tried to move.

Metal scraped.

His wrists were bound behind a chair with thick industrial cables. His ankles were tied just as tightly.

Memory rushed back.

The warehouse... Amme tied to the chair... the knife... the voice behind him.

Abel’s breathing quickened.

"Amme!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty room.

No answer.

Only footsteps.

Slow. Measured. Unhurried.

Kade stepped into the light.

The hood was gone now. His expression was calm, almost relaxed, as if this were nothing more than a casual meeting.

"You’re awake," Kade said.

Abel strained against the restraints. "Where is she?!"

Kade tilted his head slightly, studying him.

"Alive," he replied. "For now."

Relief hit Abel for half a second before anger replaced it.

"You’re dead when I get out of this."

A faint smile appeared on Kade’s face.

"That confidence," he murmured. "Interesting... considering your situation."

Another man stood near the wall—the same one who had struck Abel earlier. Arms crossed. Watching like a guard dog waiting for permission.

Abel scanned the room.

No Amme. No windows. Cameras in every corner.

His stomach tightened.

"This isn’t about her," Abel muttered.

Kade’s smile widened slightly.

"Correct."

He dragged a metal chair across the floor and sat facing him.

"This," Kade continued, "is about Felix."

Abel froze.

So they know.

"So it was you following Amme," Abel said. "I should’ve known."

Kade didn’t respond. Instead, he placed two objects on the table between them.

A small metallic case.

And a hammer.

He opened the case.

Inside was a syringe filled with faintly glowing liquid.

"Serum X."

Abel’s pulse spiked.

Kade noticed.

"There it is," he said quietly. "Recognition."

"I don’t know what that is," Abel replied quickly.

The second man stepped forward and slammed his fist onto the table beside Abel’s head.

"Wrong answer."

Kade raised a hand without looking.

The man stopped immediately.

"No," Kade said calmly. "We need him cooperative... not broken."

He leaned forward slightly.

"You called Felix the moment you realized something was wrong," Kade said. "Normal people call the police."

Abel stayed silent.

"So," Kade continued, "either Felix is family... or he’s something more important."

Abel met his gaze.

"He’s my brother."

Kade laughed, " You are black and he is white how does that work....hahahhh" Kade continued, "You still don’t understand," he said. "You are not the target."

A pause.

"You are bait."

The words landed heavily. Abel’s chest tightened.

"You’re using me," he said quietly.

"Yes," Kade replied, without hesitation.

Snow fell endlessly outside massive glass windows overlooking a frozen city skyline.

Inside, warmth and technology replaced the cold. Screens displayed surveillance feeds, data streams, and encrypted communications.

Reina stood beside a long table, arms folded, as a monitor flickered to life.

Kade appeared on screen.

"Subject secured. Connection to Felix confirmed."

Reina’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Civilian?"

"Yes."

"Dispose of him after confirmation."

A figure seated in the shadows moved.

Markus stepped forward slowly, hands behind his back.

"No."

Reina glanced at him.

"He serves a purpose," Markus said. "Felix values him."

Kade remained silent.

Markus looked directly into the camera.

"Prepare the recording."

Back at the warehouse, a camera was positioned in front of Abel.

A bright light snapped on, blinding him.

"What is this?" Abel demanded.

Kade adjusted the lens.

"A message."

Another chair was dragged into frame.

"Are you going to cooperate," Kade asked, "or resist?"

"What are you talking about?"

"We want you to call Felix."

"...and lure him into a trap," Abel snapped.

Kade nodded.

"Yes. Exactly."

Abel paused.

"...No. I’d rather die."

Kade exhaled slowly.

"I tried."

He snapped his fingers.

The other man stepped forward, gripping the hammer.

"I was hoping you’d say that."

Abel swallowed.

"What are you planning to do?"

The man grabbed Abel’s hand and forced his fingers onto the table.

"To make you talk."

He raised the hammer.

And brought it down onto his fingers....Abel screamed.

The man smirked.

"You moved," he said. "I only meant to break one... but now it’s all five."

Abel gasped, shaking in pain.

"My name is Byronne," the man continued. "We’re going to be very good friends, Mr. Abel."

"Don’t go overboard," Kade warned.

"Relax," Byronne replied. "I’ll keep him alive."

Kade scoffed and walked out.

On the balcony, Kade lit a cigarette, listening to Abel’s screams mix with Byronne’s laughter.

Time passed.

Eventually, the door opened.

Byronne stepped out, blood splattered across his face and clothes.

"I’m done."

Kade flicked the cigarette over the edge.

"Good."

Inside, Abel hung limp in the chair, his body bloodied and broken.

Kade stepped closer, studying him.

"I told you not to go too far."

"He’s still alive," Byronne replied.

Kade crouched slightly.

"Ready to speak?"

Abel nodded weakly.

Kade stepped behind him, out of view.

"Speak naturally," he said. "Your friend needs motivation."

The recording light turned red.

Abel swallowed.

"Felix..." he said, voice rough. "They... they have me."

He hesitated, trying to warn him without saying it.

"Just come," he finished quietly.

Kade stopped the recording.

"Good."

He nodded.

The atmosphere shifted.

Lights dimmed. Equipment was rolled forward.

Abel’s heart pounded.

"What are you doing?"

Kade picked up the syringe.

"Phase two," he said. "The infection."

Abel struggled.

"Wait... is that....? I could die."

"Don’t worry," Kade replied calmly. "This version won’t kill you immediately. Even if you’re incompatible."

He examined the liquid.

"The real one isn’t even in this form. This... is blood from someone who was affected."

He stepped closer.

"You’re going to help us send a clearer message."

The needle pierced Abel’s arm.

Cold spread instantly through his veins.

At first, nothing.

Then—

Heat.

Sharp. Violent.

Abel gasped as pressure built beneath his skin, like something moving where it shouldn’t.

Monitors began flashing erratically.

Kade watched closely.

"Interesting."

Abel’s breathing became uneven as faint crystalline patterns shimmered beneath his skin, flickering in and out.

"Not stable," Kade murmured. "Not complete... just enough."

Abel screamed, his body convulsing.

The camera recorded everything.

Kade leaned closer to the lens.

"Perfect."

Hours later.

Felix entered the abandoned warehouse.

Too quiet.

A single chair sat in the center of the room. A phone rested on it, already playing.

Felix approached slowly.

The screen showed Abel restrained, bloodied, barely conscious.

Then it glitched.

Abel screamed as crystalline structures spread across his arm.

Felix’s eyes widened.

"No..."

The image shifted.

Markus stepped into frame, calm as ever.

"Hello, Felix."

Hands behind his back, composed.

"I believe this belongs to you."

Behind him, Abel struggled weakly.

"Loyalty is predictable," Markus continued. "And predictability... is useful."

A map appeared.

One location crossed out.

Another circled.

"I’ll be waiting."

The screen went black.

Silence filled the warehouse.

Felix stared at it, jaw tightening.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a small case.

Inside lay a prototype serum.

He closed it slowly.

"...You shouldn’t have touched him."

Outside, thunder rolled as he stepped into the street.

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