venturesome visit

Ava's eyes deepened as she stared at Nerya.

"Nerya, what are you doing here?"

Nerya smiled as she sipped her tea, her presence unnerving yet strangely familiar.

"Can't I at least be welcomed? It has been two years, Ava," she said smoothly. "That is, if we are still friends."

Ava's lips curled into a smirk, but there was no humor behind it. "Looking for a way to escape from jail? You know you're supposed to rot there."

Nerya let out a soft chuckle, setting her teacup down. "I'm not afraid if they capture a few who disappeared from prison. We both know you belong there as well as your masters."

Ava's expression darkened. She stepped closer, gripping Nerya's face tightly. "Watch your mouth. The Shadows are not people you mess with."

"They promised me protection, and I've been enjoying that for a long time now."

Nerya held Ava's gaze, unshaken. "Let's see how long that lasts. With the new enforcement, the police are on the lookout for people with abilities committing crimes... It won't be long before they catch you, Ava."

Ava's fingers dug into Nerya's chin before she shoved her back. "Don't ever come here again."

---

A police officer walked into the commissioner's office, holding a stack of files.

"Sir, this is the report on the murders this week," he said. "Seems they were all killed at night."

The commissioner took the file, flipping through the gruesome details. His fingers tightened on the edges of the papers. "We have a serial killer with high powers."

The officer stood still before speaking again. "I believe these people have been working for the so-called Shadows."

The commissioner leaned back in his chair. "We already know some of their assassins. What about the girl I told you to spy on—Lila?"

The officer's expression became serious. "Lila was at home throughout, sir. I don't suppose she's part of this."

The commissioner swirled his chair to face the window, deep in thought. "Good for her, I suppose."

As the officer left the room, he bumped into Ryu and Lila.

Ryu immediately asked, "Good evening, Detective Marsh. What did the commissioner say?"

Detective Marsh held onto his remaining files, glancing through them. "The unit for investigation will continue searching the city. The three murders committed this week must have left some clues for us."

His gaze settled on Lila. "But in the meantime, good news, Lila. You might just be cleared from last night's events."

Lila looked at him awkwardly.

The detective smiled. "The commissioner won't be able to keep you in custody if he has no proof or evidence against you."

Lila exhaled slightly in relief, thinking to herself, "This was why Kai told me to leave the area of the circus that night."

-

Three days later, as Lila walked out of the police station, a young boy wearing a mask called out to her.

"Miss, miss! This is for you."

He handed her a small folded note.

Lila frowned and was about to ask who he was, but before she could speak, the boy sprinted away at an unnatural speed.

She slowly unfolded the note and read:

"Meet me under Lawrence Bridge, tonight."

Her grip on the paper tightened.

---

Lila handed the photos over to Jin, watching as he flipped through them with a smirk.

"These are the only copies as far as I know," she said.

Jin nodded. "Good. I think they recently recruited someone new."

He placed the photos down and crossed his arms. "Her name is Nerya. She's living in the 11th District. I'm very sure she's working with the Shadows."

Lila absorbed the name. "Nerya, huh."

She folded her arms and leaned against the wall. "So, have you figured anything else apart from that? When do you plan on exposing Kai?"

Jin lit a cigarette and exhaled. "By the end of this month... if I live until then."

Lila's brows furrowed. "Do you plan on killing him?"

Jin took another drag before answering. "He hasn't proven himself to be a threat—yet. I say we keep him, even though he's been manipulated as we assume... We need him as our greatest tool against James."

Lila stared at him. "You wanted to murder him that night. What changed?"

Jin stopped, his gaze lifting toward the moon. "Funny you ask what changed."

He exhaled. "Well, I've been thinking. We assume Kai loves Mei and would never hurt her. But we also assume the Shadows manipulated him into what he's doing. And if he was truly manipulated, then wouldn't that mean..."

Lila's heart pounded as she waited for him to finish.

Jin's voice lowered. "Mei may be dead as we speak."

Lila's eyes widened in shock. She shook her head, trying to deny the possibility.

Her mind flashed back to that day—

---

Jin had spoken to Kai.

"It's better we look at it like she's dead, so that when we finally find out, it won't be..."

Lila's breath hitched. "It all makes sense now."

She looked at Jin. "So you've been investigating this since Kai and Ryu came back from the past?"

Jin nodded. "Still, we can't conclude that she's dead. Mei is the greatest weapon the Shadows could ever have."

He paused before continuing. "But then again, they may as well kill her so no one else can have such power. With Mei gone, the Shadows have a stronger hand in this battle."

Lila and Jin walked together until they parted ways, their minds heavy with thoughts.

---

Meanwhile, in the sanctuary, Kai sat alone, deep in thought.

A rustling sound caught his attention.

A letter had slipped through the door.

Kai frowned, picking it up.

His hands tightened as his eyes ran through every detail written inside.

---