The immediate aftermath of their encounter with Instructor Thorne settled into a simmering unease. Leon and Jasper navigated the daily routines of the DAM Academy, but a palpable tension clung to them, a constant reminder of the subtle threat that Thorne represented. The casual camaraderie they once shared with their fellow cadets now felt strained, repced by a guarded awareness.

  Csses that once seemed challenging but engaging now felt like exercises in paranoia. In anomaly containment strategies, Instructor Bellweather discussed the importance of identifying and neutralizing potential threats, but Leon's mind kept drifting back to Thorne's seemingly innocuous questions about Jasper's system. Was Thorne genuinely curious, or was he subtly probing for weaknesses?

  He gnced at Jasper, who was diligently taking notes, his screen dispying complex diagrams of energy fields. But even in his focused demeanor, Leon could sense a subtle anxiety. Jasper's cheerful facade had been repced by a quiet vigince, a heightened awareness of his surroundings.

  During a break, Leon found Jasper hunched over a console in the academy's computer b, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he ran diagnostics on his system.

  "Everything alright, Screen?" Leon asked, his voice low.

  Jasper startled, his screen fshing a brief error message before returning to its normal dispy. "Just being cautious, Pool Ball," he said, forcing a smile. "Making sure everything's shipshape."

  Leon frowned, unconvinced. "You think Thorne did something to your system?" he asked.

  Jasper hesitated, his screen dispying a conflicted emoji. "I don't know," he said. "It's probably just my imagination. But I can't shake the feeling that something's not right."

  He sighed, running a diagnostic program. "I'm just being paranoid, aren't I? But I can't let this instructor get to us."

  Leon pced a hand on Jasper's shoulder, his touch reassuring. "We both are. Being ready is what matters most when the need arises".

  Later that day, during physical conditioning, the tension ratcheted up another notch. Instructor Thorne oversaw the training session, his presence casting a long shadow over the proceedings. He moved through the ranks of cadets, offering critiques and encouragement, his eyes constantly scanning the group, as if searching for a sign of weakness.

  As Leon struggled through a grueling obstacle course, he couldn't shake the feeling that Thorne was watching him, scrutinizing his every move. He pushed himself harder, determined to prove that he wasn't intimidated, that he wasn't going to let Thorne get to him.

  But as he neared the end of the course, he stumbled, his foot catching on a loose wire. He crashed to the ground, his body wracked with pain.

  Thorne approached him, his expression a mixture of concern and amusement. "Careful there, Woods," he said, his voice smooth. "Wouldn't want you to get hurt. We need you in top form for the upcoming simution exercises."

  Leon gritted his teeth, his fists clenching. He knew that Thorne was mocking him, that he was enjoying his discomfort. But he refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing him break.

  "I'm fine, sir," Leon said, his voice strained. "Just a little slip-up."

  Thorne chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with something that looked suspiciously like malice. "Of course, you are," he said. "Just remember, Woods, in this academy, we're all here to help each other. But some of us are more helpful than others."

  He walked away, leaving Leon lying on the ground, his body aching, his mind racing. He knew that Thorne's words were a veiled threat, a subtle reminder of his power and influence.

  As he limped back to his dorm room, he couldn't shake the feeling that he and Jasper were being targeted, that they were being drawn into a dangerous game, a game that they didn't understand, and that they might not be able to win.

  The shadows of suspicion were closing in, and Leon knew that he and Jasper had to find a way to break free, before it was too te.

  The dim lighting of the dorm room seemed to amplify the tension as Leon and Jasper tried to decipher the events of the day. Leon's body ached, a tangible reminder of his encounter during the physical conditioning, but the unease in his mind was far more persistent. The numbers on Jasper's screen swam before his eyes, and that made him uneasy with his powers.

  "You're right, Pool Ball," Jasper said softly, breaking the silence. "We cannot be rash."

  "I'm afraid I am Reynolds", Leon said.

  Just then, a sharp knock echoed through the room, cutting short their whispered conversation. Leon's breath hitched, and he exchanged a look with Jasper. The knock was too firm, too deliberate to be a casual visit.

  "Who is it?" Leon called out, his voice strained.

  "Sergeant Reynolds. Open up, Woods."

  A wave of conflicting emotions washed over Leon. Relief that it wasn't Thorne, but apprehension at having to face Reynolds, who was not always receptive to their concerns. They couldn't avoid him forever.

  "Give me a moment," Leon said to the door before turning to Jasper, a silent question in his eyes.

  Jasper's expression was unreadable, his screen dispying a static pattern, as if he were trying to shield his thoughts. After a beat, a single word materialized: "Cautious."

  Leon nodded, steeling his resolve. He opened the door to find Reynolds standing in the hallway, his arms crossed, his gaze unwavering. The Sergeant's presence filled the small space, and that may be to their accord now rather than ter.

  "Woods," Reynolds said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "Can I come in?"

  It wasn't a request. Leon stepped aside, allowing Reynolds to enter. The Sergeant's eyes scanned the room, taking in the cluttered desk, the unmade beds, and Jasper standing silently in the corner, his screen still dispying the static pattern.

  "What's with the bckout, Screen?" Reynolds asked, his gaze lingering on Jasper. "Trying to hide something?"

  Jasper's screen flickered, and a simple smiley face appeared. "Just conserving energy, sir."

  Reynolds snorted, unconvinced. "Right. Well, Woods, I wanted to talk to you about something. I've been keeping an eye on you and Screen tely, and I have to say, I'm concerned. There is worry to be had. Something isn't adding up. "

  Leon's heart pounded in his chest, but he maintained his composure. "What do you mean, Sergeant?"

  Reynolds sighed. "I've heard rumors. Whispers about you two and Instructor Thorne. About some kind of incident. You know something?"

  Leon hesitated, knowing that his next words could have serious repercussions. He gnced at Jasper, who remained silent, his screen dispying a single question mark.

  "With all due respect, Sergeant," Leon said carefully. "I wouldn't want to bring you in for the stress that has been weighing on our shoulders."

  Reynolds stared at Leon for a long moment, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched out between them, heavy and suffocating. He'd have to see for himself.

  The Sergeant studied him once more before finally leaving, "Very well, Woods. But if I find out you're withholding something, there will be consequences."

  Reynolds exited the room, his footsteps echoing in the hallway. Leon let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, and turned to Jasper, the uncertainty heavy on his chest.

  "What do we do now?"