The full moon (3)

[A/N: check out author's thought at the end of this chapter.]

"I'm heading out for some air, don't stay up for me." Xavier stated rather authoritatively before heading for the door.

"It's getting late already should-" before she could even finish her sentence, Xavier had already exited the house.

"Sigh…"

'He's probably upset with me for not being around' Hayley thought with worry as she resumed the book she was reading.

Xavier walked down the street solemnly as he gazed up to the almost apparent moon in the sky.

[58minutes: 28seconds- Till full moon]

'Let's get this over with…' he thought while reaching the street Jayden's studio was located.

'The more things change, the more I fear losing parts of myself I've come to cherish.'

Right before he reached the building, Xavier noticed a group of police officers who seemed to be patrolling the area.

"Hey kid." The officer called out to Xavier, to which he pointed to himself surprised.

"Yeah you, if you're going any further down this street, make sure to follow another route or better still just turn around and head home because a gang war is threatening to break out and it's going to be nasty." The officer explained with a displeased expression to which Xavier nodded in acknowledgement before they continued with their patrol.

Gangs had a certain level of control over the city they occupied law enforcement included, and silver mist wasn't any different. So police had a tendency of looking the other way when such things of this scale happen, damage control being the best they could manage. Most times, when the law enforcement decides to fight back against the gangs it doesn't end well for the civilians and in worst cases it could even spell the end of the city.

'Silver Mist is slowly turning into a cesspool, and there's nothing anyone could do about it.' Xavier thought with displeasure.

He was tempted to head towards the direction of the gang war to which he would have done any other day but not today, his gazed at the moon partially covered by clouds once again.

Not long after, Xavier finally reached Jayden's studio as he walked into the quiet and desolate building filled with various cosplay equipment which seemed to be gathering dust as a result of its owner's absence.

The interior of the studio was dark and the only source of illumination was the small ray of light the moon provided through the partially opened windows. Nevertheless, Xavier had no problem navigating himself through the dark environment as he could see clearly in the dark.

Finally reaching the basement, the subtle sound of footsteps was picked up by Xavier's enhanced hearing instantly giving away Jayden's presence. He entered the basement only to be met with Jayden who was pacing back and forth, worry riddled all over her face as she bit her fingernails.

She finally noticed his presence immediately revealed a relieved which quickly transitioned to that of anger as she glared at him with a questioning gaze, to which Xavier immediately understood the meaning as he quickly defended himself.

"I-I had to follow a longer route because of an ongoing gang war." Xavier explained nervously.

"Whatever, we're running out of time let's just get this over with." Jayden responded with a tired tone as she felt she was on the verge of getting a migraine.

Xavier quickly took off his jacket revealing a black T-shirt he wore inside and without hesitation he laid on the gym bench as Jayden proceeded to restrain him using the chains she prepared beforehand.

A few minutes after thorough restraining, Xavier was seen in a lying position restrained by chains that covered half his torso, and attached to his ankles were shackles connected to more chains and lifting weights. He was utterly impressed as even with his full strength he concluded he could barely squirm around not to talk about breaking them.

'Makes you wonder where she got these from.' He thought inwardly.

[10minutes: 12seconds- Till the full moon]

The air had gotten tenser as a couple minutes passed after Xavier was restrained whiles the full moon slowly but surely approached.

Xavier glanced at Jayden who sat a couple feet away from him was busy typing away on her laptop seemingly researching something. Jayden had revealed her intention to stay in the same room with him at the full moon, to which he protested against but she still did anyways and since she was restrained he could do nothing but watch.

"Jayden…" Xavier's voice echoed in the once quiet room grabbing her attention from what she was initially doing. "Hm?" she hummed in response.

"Promise me that if you see the slightest sign of trouble, you'll make a break for it." He said in a solemn voice.

"You don't really thin-"

"Promise me…" he interrupted her reply with an even more intense and pleading gaze causing her to finally back off.

"Fine…" she answered in a defeated voice, she could see it in his eyes, he was scared.

The wait continued and quiet ensued only the sounds of Jayden typing on her keyboard filled the room.

[60seconds- Till full moon]

The final sixty seconds of the countdown had finally arrived as the duo became tense, the full moon almost in full bloom.

[10seconds…]

The level of stress and nervousness Xavier felt rose as his eyes subconsciously resumed their red glow while the full moon finally revealed itself.

*Beep*

*Beep*

*Beep*

[The full moon is out.]

The timer indicated after a few consecutive beeps.

'It's here.' Jayden thought with fearful anticipation.

'Please don't lose it.' Xavier pleaded with his subconscious with tightened fist.