The night felt different.
Not quieter.
Not darker.
But wrong.
Adam moved through the streets of New Orleans with one purpose—find her.
Every instinct inside him was screaming.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Something deeper.
Something pulling him forward.
Lia.
He stopped suddenly.
His gaze dropped to the ground.
A dark stain.
Fresh.
Blood.
Adam crouched slightly, his fingers hovering just above it.
Still warm.
His jaw tightened.
"…Lia."
He stood up instantly.
Eyes scanning the area.
The trail wasn't clean.
Drops.
Smears.
Signs of struggle.
She wasn't just running anymore.
Something had happened.
Adam followed.
Fast.
His senses sharper than before.
Every sound amplified.
Every movement in the shadows suspicious.
The city felt alive tonight.
Watching.
Waiting.
A distant noise.
A weak cry.
Adam froze.
Then moved.
Faster.
He turned into a narrow alley.
And stopped.
A man was on the ground.
Barely conscious.
His body shaking.
Blood covering his neck.
His chest rising weakly.
Alive.
But not for long.
Adam approached slowly.
"Hey… can you hear me?" he said.
The man's eyes moved slightly.
Barely focusing.
"…m-monster…" he whispered.
Adam's expression hardened.
"Where did she go?"
The man tried to lift his hand.
Failed.
"…eyes… gold…" he breathed.
A pause.
Then:
"…she didn't… stop…"
Silence.
Heavy.
Adam stood there.
Processing.
Then slowly clenched his fists.
"She lost control…"
A sound.
Behind him.
Soft.
Almost nothing.
But enough.
Adam turned.
Slowly.
At the end of the alley—
A figure stood.
Still.
Watching him.
Lia.
Her head slightly lowered.
Her hair falling over her face.
Blood on her hands.
On her lips.
On her clothes.
For a moment—
She didn't move.
Neither did he.
Then slowly—
She lifted her head.
Her eyes met his.
Not gold.
Not fully.
Darker.
Hungrier.
Adam felt it instantly.
This wasn't the same Lia.
Not completely.
"…Adam," she said softly.
Her voice calm.
Too calm.
He didn't move.
Didn't step back.
Didn't run.
"You found me," she added.
A faint smile appeared.
But it wasn't warm.
Adam's voice came out low.
"…what did you do?"
Silence.
Then—
She looked at her hands.
At the blood.
"I tried to stop," she said.
A pause.
Then:
"I really did."
She took a step toward him.
Slow.
Controlled.
Adam stayed still.
Watching.
Measuring.
"You should leave," she said quietly.
He shook his head.
"No."
Her smile widened slightly.
Dangerously.
"That's what I was afraid of."
She moved.
This time…
she wasn't running anymore.