Back to present.
After seeing the message, I took a moment to go over everything I knew. I didn't want to slip up and reveal something I shouldn't when talking to Alice. I couldn't trust her that easily — not yet.
It wasn't about paranoia. Just caution.
I didn't know what faction she belonged to. I didn't even know what these "academies" really were, or why she had been there last night in the first place.
I refused to believe that kind of timing was a coincidence.
Either she had been there for me…
Or she had just happened to run into me.
Both possibilities raised more questions.
If she was after me — why?
And if she wasn't — then what had she been doing there before we crossed paths?
Either way… I was getting answers today.
I shared my live location with Shane, along with where I was going and who I was meeting. I told him that if anything felt off, even slightly, he should go straight to the police unless I told him otherwise.
He didn't reply.
That was normal. He already knew how I operated.
After that, I checked myself in the mirror.
Pitch-black hair. Red eyes.
White hoodie. Grey shirt underneath. Blue jeans. Nike shoes.
And hidden at the back of my waist… a small knife.
That was all I had.
Guns?
Yeah, right.
No one was home, so I locked up and checked the time.
11:00 AM.
It would take around forty minutes to reach Central Plaza. That left me about twenty minutes to scout the area.
Perfect.
I headed to the bus stop and got on the next bus. The ride was slow, so I put on some music — one earbud in, the other left out so I could still hear everything around me.
Outside the window, buildings passed by one after another. Trees, traffic, people living normal lives.
Somewhere behind me, a kid laughed. Someone was talking on the phone.
Everything felt… normal.
Almost too normal.
After about forty minutes, I reached Central Plaza.
The moment I stepped off the bus, my mindset shifted.
I moved toward a shaded structure, scanning everything — exits, blind spots, possible escape routes. I took my time, mapping the area in my head.
Ten minutes later, I was satisfied.
I sat down on a bench and waited.
Right on time.
At exactly 12:00, I saw her.
She appeared from across the street, walking toward me after a quick glance around. She was dressed casually — denim shorts, a white T-shirt, hair tied up in a high ponytail. A clean, simple summer look.
She sat beside me.
After a moment, she spoke.
"You're early."
"I like being punctual," I said. "Doing things last minute isn't my style."
She studied me for a second, like she was trying to catch something.
I spoke before she could.
"Why did you want to meet me?"
That caught her off guard.
"I thought you had questions about last night."
"I do," I said calmly. "But that could've been handled over a call. If the info is sensitive, you could've waited. Calling me out the very next day means you're in a hurry."
I turned slightly toward her.
"So tell me."
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. I'm investigating a case. I work with… government-backed operations."
Convenient wording.
"Since you're a local," she continued, "I thought you might have some useful insight. If you help me, I'll answer your questions too."
So that was her angle.
I smiled.
"Sure. What do you need?"
She got straight to it.
"There have been disappearances in the city. People are being taken from crowded places — parties, gatherings, public areas. Same pattern for all victims."
She looked at me.
"Do you know anything about it?"
The moment she said that, my expression changed.
Because I remembered.
Two years ago.
So they're active again…
Last time, the city had cracked down hard on that kidnapping syndicate.
I looked at her, my tone turning serious.
"How many people? And for how long?"
"About eighty," she said. "And the frequency is increasing. The strange part is… local law enforcement has no leads."
I let out a slow breath.
Then I told her about what had happened two years ago. She listened carefully.
When I finished, she asked, "You think it's the same group?"
"No," I said. "I made sure they couldn't operate again."
She frowned, confused, but didn't press.
"So if not them," she said, thinking out loud, "then someone else using the same method…"
I nodded.
"Last time, the victims were all female," I added.
"This time it's different," she said. "They've expanded."
I thought for a second.
"They're probably using an abandoned building again."
She shook her head.
"I already checked. That was the first thing I did."
I went quiet.
Then I asked, "You were tracking those people when you ran into me last night, right?"
"No," she said. "I had a few suspects under watch. I was following them… then I came across you."
I pulled out my phone and opened the map.
I marked the location from last night and started scanning nearby areas.
Nothing unusual.
Just residential zones…
And then—
The mayor's mansion.
My eyes widened.
My mind kicked into overdrive. Everything started connecting faster than it should have.
I was always sharp.
But this… was different.
Wasn't the mayor the one who handled the last incident too?
I looked at her.
"I think I know what's going on," I said. "And if I'm right… this never stopped."
I stood up.
"Come on. I'll explain on the way."
"Wait—what?"
She hurried after me.
"Take my bike," she said.
I paused, then nodded.
Faster.
We reached the parking area, and I saw it.
BMW M1000RR.
…Yeah. Nice.
She got on, and I sat behind her to guide the way.
I need a bike.
We sped through the streets, and I had to admit — she knew how to handle it.
After about twenty-five minutes, we reached the outskirts of the mansion.
I quickly sent Shane an update.
We hid the bike nearby.
"So what's the plan?" I asked.
"We're working on suspicion," she said. "We sneak in. No direct confrontation. We don't know what kind of backup he has."
Fair.
"Got a weapon for me?" I asked.
She nodded and pulled out a Desert Eagle .44 Magnum.
I stared at her.
She smirked.
"Who said I can't use a gun just because I use a bow?"
"…Fair."
"Where's your bow?" I asked.
In the next second, it appeared in her hand in a flash of light.
"…I'm not even going to question that."
We moved over the boundary wall and made our way toward the mansion.
I led her to a back entrance.
She gave me a look.
"Why do you know this place so well?"
I shrugged.
"You try growing up in a boring city. You find ways to keep things interesting."
Even then… I'd never gone inside.
We hid in the bushes, observing.
The mansion looked empty.
Alice suddenly activated something — her eyes glowing white for a brief second.
"There's no one inside," she said quietly. "But… I'm detecting multiple heat signatures underground."
That was enough.
"There must be an entrance nearby," I said. "Too many people for this to be normal."
We split up and searched the area.
A few minutes later, near a large tree, I found it.
A hidden latch door.
Fresh tire marks nearby.
I messaged Alice. She arrived almost instantly.
"This is it?" she asked.
"Let's find out."
I checked the gun.
"Do you even know how to use that?" she asked.
"I know the basics," I said. "I learn fast."
We opened the hatch.
And climbed down.
Not knowing what was waiting for us below.