Undying Resolve

Katherine and I used every moment we had, tirelessly asking around to trace the location of the pastor's hideout. Unfortunately, everyone we spoke to—supporters handing out posters and campaign workers—seemed clueless about the so-called "celebration." All they knew was that they were being paid by the pastor for their services, with additional bonuses for securing promises from voters to support him in the election.

As the day turned into night, the weight of our fruitless efforts began to take its toll. Even though our determination remained strong, fatigue started creeping in. Katherine suggested we stop for a quick meal to regain some energy before continuing. I agreed, realizing we couldn't afford to lose focus, and we found a small, unassuming canteen nearby.

The food was simple but comforting, and Katherine did her best to keep my spirits up. She smiled as she spoke, her words reassuring. "Don't worry, Daniel. We'll find it. I know we will. These things take time, but we're close—I can feel it. Don't lose hope."

I nodded, grateful for her optimism, though a lingering frustration gnawed at me. We had the determination, the tools, and even a few leads, yet the celebration's location remained elusive.

After eating, we stepped back out into the night, the streets quieter now as most people had gone home. The air was cooler, and a sense of urgency hung between us as we resumed our search.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a familiar face. Sir Niel.

The elderly man stood a short distance away, his posture weary and defeated. His clothes hung loosely on his frail frame, and dark circles under his eyes hinted at sleepless nights. It was painfully clear that he had been neglecting himself, likely consumed by his relentless search for his missing daughter, Patricia.

My chest tightened at the sight. Guilt washed over me. I hadn't done enough—anything, really—to help him find Patricia or avenge what had been done to her. My resolve faltered, and I couldn't bring myself to approach him. Instead, I watched silently as he moved through the dimly lit street, his steps slow and unsteady.

Katherine noticed my change in demeanor and looked in the same direction. She saw Sir Niel but didn't say anything, her expression softening as she likely understood the weight of my emotions.

Katherine and I continued walking in the opposite direction to avoid crossing paths with Sir Niel. The silence between us was comfortable, the weight of our shared mission keeping us focused.

But then, my phone buzzed, breaking the quiet, and I froze mid-step. I glanced at the screen and saw Lara's name flashing. She was calling me—at this hour.

I frowned, unsure why she would be trying to reach me now. My mind was already consumed by our current task, and I didn't have the mental space to deal with anything else. Reluctantly, I decided to ignore the call.

Katherine noticed the ringing and peeked at my phone's screen. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she read the name.

"Ohhh, Lara, huh?" she teased, her tone playful. "Calling you at this hour? Who's she? I didn't know the mighty The Fool had a special someone! Is this why you've been so serious lately?"

I sighed, shaking my head at her antics. "She's just a coworker," I explained firmly. "Probably calling about work or to check in. That's all. I just… I don't have the time or headspace for this right now."

Katherine didn't say anything for a moment, but her smirk deepened as she walked beside me. It was clear she wasn't going to drop the teasing anytime soon.

"Alright, coworker," she said, dragging out the word mockingly. "But you know, ignoring someone who seems eager to talk to you might not win you any points."

I rolled my eyes, doing my best to brush off her teasing. "Focus, Katherine. We've got more important things to deal with."

She let out a small laugh but didn't press further, though her playful grin didn't fade. It was a fleeting moment of levity amidst the seriousness of our mission—a moment I'd normally appreciate, but right now, my mind was set on what lay ahead.

As we continued walking, I spotted another familiar face. Why are there so many unexpected encounters tonight? I thought, my mind already weighed down by everything that had happened so far. It was Mark, one of my officemates. He waved at me and quickly walked over.

"Daniel! What are you doing here at this hour? What's going on?" he asked, his voice curious. But then, his gaze shifted to Katherine, scanning her from head to toe, and a sly grin spread across his face. "Ahh, I see now! No wonder you've been absent from work so much. You've got yourself a stunning girlfriend, huh?"

Another tease, I thought, sighing inwardly. Katherine, however, was loving the situation. She leaned into my shoulder, a mischievous smirk on her face, and decided to play along.

"Well," she said in an alluring voice, "we've got a lot planned for tonight." Her tone and her playful antics made Mark's face flush red, and I could sense the pang of envy in his demeanor.

"Uh, sorry," Mark stammered, stepping back awkwardly. "I didn't mean to interrupt your… evening plans. I'll leave you two to it."

But just as he was about to walk away, he stopped and added, "Oh, by the way, Lara's here too. I saw her wandering around earlier. Are you all meeting up tonight or something?"

Lara's here? My heart skipped a beat. Could she have seen me here with Katherine? Was that why she was calling me earlier? My thoughts raced as I quickly asked Mark where he last saw Lara. He pointed me in her direction, and I immediately headed off to check.

When I reached the spot Mark had indicated, Lara was nowhere to be found. She must've left, I thought. Maybe she was just passing through.

As I turned to leave, something on the ground caught my eye. I bent down and picked it up. It was a pepper spray canister. Why would this be here? I wondered, frowning as I examined it. It wasn't something you'd usually find lying around in an alley.

Katherine spoke up, her voice calm but serious. "There's only one reason for that, Daniel. Someone—likely a woman—used it to fight back or escape from something… or someone."

Her words sent a chill down my spine as the pieces started clicking together. "Maybe this is the lead we've been waiting for," she added. "If someone struggled here, it could be connected to the celebration we're trying to find."

My grip on the pepper spray tightened. This wasn't just coincidence. This was a clue—and potentially a sign that we were closer to uncovering the twisted event than we thought.

As doubt gnawed at me, I couldn't shake the possibility that the pepper spray belonged to Lara. My heart raced with worry, and I silently prayed that it wasn't hers. I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed her number, hoping desperately that she'd answer.

Katherine noticed the urgency in my actions. For once, she held back her usual teasing, her expression growing serious as the weight of the situation sank in. The call rang a few times before cutting off abruptly. When I tried calling again, her phone seemed to have been turned off entirely. My chest tightened, a sinking feeling settling in my gut.

"She's not answering," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

A tense silence hung between us, broken only by the sound of tires screeching. A white van suddenly sped past us, its engine roaring as it tore through the quiet streets. Though I couldn't see inside, there was an odd metallic clanging noise coming from within. Something about it felt… off.

I had no evidence, no concrete reason to suspect the van, but my instincts screamed at me to follow it. Without hesitation, I turned to Katherine and gestured sharply, signaling her to act fast. She caught on immediately, raising her hand to hail a passing taxi. The vehicle skidded to a stop beside us, and we jumped in without a moment's delay.

"Where to?" the driver asked, glancing at us through the rearview mirror.

My mind was racing, overwhelmed by possibilities. I couldn't think clearly, let alone decide on a destination. With a trembling hand, I reached for my Tarot card. Activating its effect, I leaned forward and spoke firmly to the driver.

"Follow that white van. Don't ask questions, just keep up with it."

The card's power took hold, and the driver's hesitation vanished. He nodded wordlessly, gripping the wheel as he pulled into the lane behind the speeding van.

I exchanged a glance with Katherine, who was already focused on the road ahead. Her jaw was set, her expression serious. Though she said nothing, her presence was a silent reassurance. For now, all we could do was follow—and hope we weren't too late.