The car stopped. Doors opened. Cold air rushed in.
Blitz stepped out first, then froze. "…Woah…" Her voice dropped slightly. "…What is going on?"
Bodies. Everywhere. Men lay across the deck. Some unconscious. Some are barely moving. No gunfire. No chaos. Just silence.
Specter moved forward quickly, kneeling beside one of them. Her fingers pressed against his neck. Checking. "…Still alive."
She pulled his collar slightly, revealing a mark. A necklace imprint. Her eyes narrowed. "…They're from the organization."
Blitz stepped closer. Looking around. "…Then who did this? " Silence.
The wind brushed across the deck. Something felt off. Too clean. No struggle marks. No scattered shots. Just perfect takedowns.
Noxis stepped forward, scanning the area. "…This wasn't a fight. " Raven tilted his head. "…More like…" A beat. "…A sweep."
Blitz frowned. "…What's the difference?" Noxis replied calmly. "…A fight is messy."
"…This…" A pause. "…is controlled. "Specter stood up slowly. "…Whoever did this…" A beat. "…is better than them."
Blitz suddenly crouched, touching the floor. "…Wait…" She looked at her fingers. "…Still warm."
Specter turned instantly. "…Recently?" Blitz nodded. "…Very recent." Silence. Raven's smirk faded. "…So we just missed them."
A faint sound. Footstep. Everyone froze. Noxis raised his hand slightly. Signal. Don't move. Another step. Slow. Measured.
Blitz whispered. "…Not funny…" Specter's eyes sharpened. "…Someone's still here."
From the shadows, a voice. Low. Calm. "…You're late."
Everyone turned. But they saw no one. Just darkness. Watching them.
The car stopped. Doors opened. Cold air rushed in.
Blitz stepped out first, then froze. "…Woah…" Her voice dropped slightly. "…What is going on?"
Bodies. Everywhere. Men lay across the deck. Some unconscious. Some are barely moving. No gunfire. No chaos. Just silence.
Specter moved forward quickly, kneeling beside one of them. Her fingers pressed against his neck. Checking. "…Still alive."
She pulled his collar slightly, revealing a mark. A necklace imprint. Her eyes narrowed. "...They're from the organization."
Blitz stepped closer. Looking around. "…Then who did this?" Silence.
The wind brushed across the deck. Something felt off. Too clean. No struggle marks. No scattered shots. Just perfect takedowns.
Noxis stepped forward, scanning the area. "…This wasn't a fight." Raven tilted his head. "…More like…" A beat. "…A sweep."
Blitz frowned. "…What's the difference?" Noxis replied calmly. "…A fight is messy."
"…This…" A pause. "…is controlled." Specter stood up slowly. "…Whoever did this…" A beat. "…is better than them."
Blitz suddenly crouched, touching the floor. "…Wait…" She looked at her fingers. "…Still warm."
Specter turned instantly. "…Recently?" Blitz nodded. "…Very recent." Silence. Raven's smirk faded. "…So we just missed them."
A faint sound. Footstep. Everyone froze. Noxis raised his hand slightly. Signal. Don't move. Another step. Slow. Measured.
Blitz whispered. "…Not funny…" Specter's eyes sharpened. "…Someone's still here."
From the shadows, a voice. Low. Calm. "…You're late."
Everyone turned. But they saw no one. Just darkness. Watching them.
Silence lingered. The wind brushed across the deck, carrying something cold with it.
Blitz clenched her fist. "…Show yourself!" No answer.
Specter's eyes scanned the shadows. Sharp. "…He's gone. " Noxis lowered his hand slowly. "...Or he doesn't want to be seen."
Raven smirked faintly, but his eyes were alert. "…I don't like this kind of opponent. " A distant rumble. Blitz turned. "...What now?"
From the darkness, a motorcycle approached. Slow. Controlled. Headlight cutting through the mist.
The rider stopped a few meters away from them. Face hidden. Entirely in shadow. Silence.
Blitz stepped forward slightly. "…Friend or enemy? " No answer. Then, a voice. Low. Unfamiliar. "…She already left."
Specter's eyes narrowed instantly. "…Who?" The rider tilted their head slightly. "…Vex."
Blitz stepped closer. "…Where did she go?" A pause. "…She boarded one of the ships. Wind passed between them. "…It's already moving."
Specter's grip tightened. "…Destination?" The rider turned their head toward the dark sea. "...Outer island. " A beat. "…KNSM Island."
Silence. Blitz clicked her tongue. "…Of course." Specter exhaled slowly. "…She's not running."
"…She's heading somewhere." Noxis stepped forward. "…Then we follow." Raven glanced at the rider. "…And you?"
The rider didn't respond. Just turned the bike slightly. "…You won't catch her easily." Blitz smirked. "…Watch us."
As they turned to move, Specter paused. Looking back. The rider was still there. Watching them. Something about that presence felt familiar…but wrong.
------------------
[HARBOR – SHIP DECK → LOWER DOCK]
Blitz turned, already thinking fast. "…We need a boat." A pause. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "...Ah hah." Specter narrowed her eyes. "…I don't like that look."
Blitz grinned. Wicked. "…I know where to get one." Raven smirked. "…Legal or illegal?"
Blitz didn't hesitate. "…We don't have time for legal." Noxis sighed quietly. "…Of course."
Dim lights. Several small boats tied to the edge. Quiet. Too quiet.
Blitz pointed, "...There." Specter crossed her arms. "…That belongs to someone."
"…Not anymore." Blitz hopped down onto the dock. Already moving.
Blitz jumped into one of the speedboats, pressing random buttons. "…Okay…" A pause. "…Which one is start? " The engine suddenly roared. LOUD. "…OH!
Water splashed. Specter quickly jumped in after her. "…Lower your volume!"
"…I didn't mean to! " Noxis and Raven followed, more controlled.
Raven sat back, relaxed. "…I like her style. " Noxis took the wheel, gently pushing Blitz aside. "…Move."
"…Oi!"
"…You'll crash us." Blitz crossed her arms. "…Fine." The boat sped forward, cutting through the dark water. Wind hit their faces. Cold.
Specter looked at the tracker again. "…Signal still active."
"…Good." Blitz leaned forward. "…We're coming, Ran…"
Raven glanced behind them. "…We're not alone." Everyone turned. Another boat. Far but following. Fast.
Blitz smirked, "...Good." A beat. "…I was getting bored." Specter's expression hardened. "...Stay focused."
Noxis tightened his grip, increasing speed. The chase had begun. The engine roared louder. Waves split beneath the boat, cutting through the dark sea.
Behind them, more lights appeared. Fast. Closing in. Blitz turned. "…Oi."
"…We got company." Specter looked back, eyes sharp. "…Not random." A pause. "…They're from the organization."
Raven tilted his head, smirk fading slightly. "…Persistent." Three. No, Four boats. All moving in formation.
Noxis tightened his grip on the wheel. "…They're trying to box us in." Specter stepped forward. Voice firm. "…Noxis." Noxis didn't look back. "…Yes."
"…You control the boat." A beat. "…Blitz. Raven." They turned to her. "…With me."
Blitz grinned instantly. "…Finally." Raven cracked his neck slightly. "…This is more like it."
Specter moved to the side, steady. "…We can't let them follow us."
Blitz jumped onto the edge of the boat, balancing easily. "…Say less." Raven followed, more controlled.
Noxis glanced once. "…Don't fall." Blitz rolled her eyes. "…That was ONE TIME."
The first enemy boat approached, Fast. Specter raised her weapon, aiming precisely. "...Now."
BANG. Engine hit. The boat swerved, losing control.
Blitz leaped, landing directly onto another boat. "…HELLO!" Chaos. She punched one, kicked another overboard. Raven moved in, clean. Silent. Two down. Three.
Specter covered from distance, every shot controlled. More boats split, trying to flank Noxis. "…Noxis, left!"
"…I see it." Noxis turned sharply, avoiding collision by inches. Water splashed violently.
Blitz stood on the enemy boat, hands on hips. "…NEXT!" Suddenly, the boat tilted. "…WAIT!" She almost slipped; Raven grabbed her collar. "…Seatbelt next time."
"…SHUT UP!"
Specter's voice cut in, calm but urgent. "…Finish it."
Raven nodded, kicking the last attacker down. Blitz jumped back onto their boat, slightly messy, but alive. "…We good?"
Noxis checked the rear. "…Clear." Silence. Only waves remained.
Specter lowered her weapon. "…They won't follow anymore." Blitz exhaled. "…Good." A pause. "…Now we go to her."
Ahead, in the distance, KNSM Island. Closer than ever.
TBC