Clues

The gang stood in the park under the dim glow of the moon, the air tense with anticipation. Gizo was up ahead, scanning the area with sharp eyes, her movements cautious and deliberate. Behind her, Hito, Akuro, and Maxwell watched in silence, waiting for some signal.

Hito leaned in toward Akuro and whispered, "What's with her? Why's she just standing there?"

Akuro shrugged, his eyes never leaving Gizo. "She's thinking. She's careful, Hito. Trust me, if we rush in without a plan, things could go south fast."

Maxwell glanced between them, his nerves building. "Do you think this is going to work?" he asked quietly.

"Let's hope so," Akuro muttered, keeping his gaze fixed on Gizo as she continued to scan the dark surroundings.

Suddenly, she turned around and motioned them closer. "Alright," she said in a low voice, "it's quiet... too quiet. But we have time to investigate."

Hito sighed in relief, his tense shoulders finally relaxing a bit. "About time," he muttered, stepping forward with Akuro and Maxwell behind him.

Gizo shot him a sharp glance. "Don't get too comfortable," she warned. "Quiet doesn't mean safe."

They moved cautiously into the park, the shadows cast by the trees stretching long under the moonlight. The usual sounds of the night—crickets, rustling leaves—were oddly absent. It was as if the entire park was holding its breath.

Maxwell, keeping close to Akuro, glanced around nervously. "So, what exactly are we looking for?"

Gizo, still scanning the area with sharp eyes, responded without looking back. "Anything out of place. Tracks, signs of a struggle, or..." She paused, her eyes narrowing. "Movement."

As they advanced deeper into the park, Hito growled low. "I don't like this. Something feels off."

Suddenly, a faint rustling sound echoed from the bushes up ahead. The gang froze.

Gizo clenched her fists, her voice steady but tense. "Stay close. We're not alone."

Suddenly, a crow swooped down, startling the group for a moment.

Hito rolled his eyes. "By 'we're not alone,' you mean an animal?"

The crow cawed loudly before flying off into the distance, its wings flapping against the still night air.

Gizo sighed, shaking her head. "False alarm. Just a bird. Let's keep moving." Her tone was annoyed, but she quickly resumed her focus, scanning the area for anything unusual.

Maxwell glanced up at the crow as it disappeared into the sky, then turned his attention back to the search, still feeling a strange sense of unease. "Right," he muttered, walking alongside the others as they continued searching the park for any clues.

The moonlight illuminated their path, but the tension in the air remained thick.

--

Maxwell glanced over at Gizo as they continued searching the park. She moved with a quiet, almost calculated air, and her mysterious demeanor made him curious.

"Hey, uh… how are you feeling?" he asked, trying to break the silence and maybe understand her better.

Without looking up from what she was doing, Gizo responded curtly, "Good."

Maxwell blinked, a little thrown off by her bluntness. He scratched the back of his head, feeling the awkwardness creep in. "Right... cool. Just thought I'd ask."

Gizo finally glanced at him, her sharp gaze assessing. "Focus on the task, Maxwell. This isn't the time for chit-chat." There was no malice in her tone, but her seriousness was unmistakable.

Maxwell: I know but...can we know a little bit of eachother?

Gizo paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Maxwell. "You're not here to get to know me, Maxwell," she said, her tone cool but not entirely dismissive. "We're here because you need to stay alive. The White Plumes, the ghouls, the rangers—they're not going to wait around for you to make friends."

Maxwell frowned, his shoulders dropping slightly. "I get that, but... it's not just about surviving, right? I mean, we're in this together, and if we're going to work as a team, it wouldn't hurt to know a bit more about each other. You know, trust and all that."

Gizo's expression softened slightly, though she kept her usual guarded demeanor. She let out a small sigh. "Fine. I'm Gizo. I deal with problems people don't want to deal with. I've been doing this long enough to know the dangers, and I don't get close to people because of that. Satisfied?"

Maxwell gave a small smile. "A little."

Gizo rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Now get back to work, newbie."

Maxwell chuckled. "Newbie? Really?"

Gizo smirked, crossing her arms with a sharp glance. "Yeah, newbie. You've got one monster under your control and you're stumbling through this whole situation like a deer in headlights. You've got a lot to figure out."

Maxwell raised an eyebrow, still grinning. "Hey, I'm learning! Besides, I didn't see you out there fighting those ghouls."

Gizo shot him a quick look, her tone cutting but playful. "If I'd been out there, those ghouls wouldn't have lasted two seconds. But sure, keep thinking you're doing great." Her lips twitched into a half-smile, but her gaze remained sharp.

Maxwell shook his head, still amused. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're the expert here."

Meanwhile, Akuro and Hito watched the exchange from a few steps away.

Akuro chuckled softly. "Look at them, acting all buddy-buddy."

Hito crossed his arms, grumbling under his breath. "More like annoying. She's still a pain."

Akuro gave Hito a knowing smile. "Jealous much?"

Hito shot him a glare. "Not even close."

Suddenly, a bone-chilling roar echoed through the park, sending a shiver down the gang's spines. They turned in unison, eyes widening as a group of ghouls emerged from the shadows, their grotesque forms illuminated by the pale moonlight.