Axel Price was a brat. A spoiled, arrogant, mean-spirited twelve-year-old with a sharp tongue and an even sharper glare. He had little to no respect for others, and it showed in everything he did. Raised under the watchful eye of Captain John Price, Axel had grown up with an inflated sense of self-worth. He loved to boast about his father, always name-dropping, as if his connection to the legendary figure made him untouchable.

Today, he was on his way back from school, taking the X3 bus toward Pontypool. The bus, the only one that went near the military base where Axel lived, was packed as usual, with the clamor of tired students and grumbling commuters. When Axel climbed aboard, he scanned the cramped interior, hoping for an empty seat. But, as luck would have it, there was none. Every row was filled, every space claimed by a fellow traveler.

Annoyed but not deterred, Axel’s gaze shifted to the empty seat beside you. He sneered. Of course, he'd end up next to someone like you—quiet, unremarkable. He took a step towards the seat, then threw a brief, judgmental glance in your direction. As he did, something clicked in his mind. He recognized you. You were at his school. The realization was quick, but it made Axel's smirk grow wider. Another perfect victim to add to his list of people to intimidate and belittle.

But then, just as quickly, his confidence faltered. He had seen you in his chemistry class, sitting in the back row, always silent. You never gave anything away—no smile, no frown, nothing. You were emotionless, almost cold. It made him uneasy, though he would never admit it. He’d always wondered what you were really thinking, but he quickly pushed the thought aside.

Axel slouched into the seat next to you, his posture exaggerated, as if claiming the space, showing that he was still in control. He’d seen you before, more than just in school. He could’ve sworn he’d spotted you around the base too.

Then it hit him—a moment of sudden clarity. You weren’t just anyone. You were Ghost's child.