Coming clean

Lila walked briskly down the dimly lit street, her thoughts clouded with uncertainty. She was heading to the sanctuary, hoping to find Kai. It had been a while since their last real conversation, and after everything that had transpired, she needed answers.

Yet, Jin's words echoed in her mind:

"If Kai is brainwashed, he'll try to kill me first before coming for you."

Lila clenched her fists. She wasn't sure what she was about to walk into. Would Kai still see her as a friend? Or had he truly become one of them?

She exhaled as she reached the old wooden doors. She hesitated only for a moment before pushing them open. The familiar scent of damp wood and old books greeted her, along with the quiet, rhythmic sounds of—

Stab!

Stab!

Knives embedded themselves into a dartboard across the room.

Kai stood in the dim light, his figure tall yet strangely still. His hoodie was loose, and the shadows made his face unreadable. He hadn't even turned to look at her.

Lila removed her veil, revealing her sharp gaze.

"I'm here," she announced.

Kai's hand stilled mid-throw. He finally sighed and muttered, "It's been a while, Lila."

His voice carried something unfamiliar—weariness, perhaps. Or something darker.

He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Why are you here?"

Lila walked further into the room, her voice steady.

"Take off your shirt."

Kai's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of amusement dancing across them.

"What?"

"I said, take off your shirt."

Kai let out a short laugh, tilting his head. "Come and do it yourself, Lila."

She didn't hesitate. She grabbed the collar of his hoodie, yanked it over his head, and peeled back his shirt with the fabric of her veil masking her hands. What she saw made her breath hitch.

His torso was covered in bruises, bandages, and fresh wounds—marks of recent violence. Some of the wounds still looked raw, barely healing.

Lila stepped back. "This is because you haven't completed their mission."

Kai's lips pressed into a thin line. "How did you know?"

Lila folded her arms. "You've been acting strange, Kai. You're stiff in your movements, your knuckles are swollen, and your eyes are sunken. If I had to guess, you can barely throw a punch right now. You're running on borrowed time."

Kai's expression darkened, but before he could speak, Lila added, "So why don't I kill you right now before you try to kill me?"

Silence.

Kai blinked. His fingers twitched slightly, but he didn't move.

Lila kept her stance firm. "You really think I haven't figured it out? I work with the detectives now, remember?"

Kai exhaled slowly and raised his hands as if surrendering. "Well, what can I say? Touche, Detective Lila."

Lila's grip on her hidden dagger tightened. "I was beginning to wonder when you'd drop the act. I'm standing right here, Kai. No one else is here. If you want to kill me, now's your chance. No witnesses."

Kai studied her for a long moment, then smiled.

"So you did overhear my conversation with Ava that night," he murmured.

Lila's chest tightened. "Why did you do it?"

But a more pressing thought entered her mind—how was he still standing? The wounds, the bruises, the exhaustion... the pain he had to be enduring must have been severe. Yet he stood, as if unaffected.

Kai ran a hand through his messy hair, sighing. "Since you already know, I might as well stop pretending."

Lila took a step back, her guard up.

Kai's voice was quiet but firm. "You're not wrong to suspect me. But you are wrong about one thing."

Lila narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"I'm not being manipulated."

Lila's stomach dropped. "Then that means…"

"I'm doing this because the Master told me Mei was alive," Kai admitted, his voice colder now. "And if I completed the mission, I'd get to see her again."

Lila's mind raced. So Mei is alive?

Kai glanced at her, as if reading her thoughts. "I can't be sure," he added. "I haven't seen her myself. But that's what they told me."

Lila searched his face. Was this the truth, or another trick?

"And killing me… was that part of the mission?" she asked, voice steady.

Kai exhaled sharply. "No. I only played along for Ava's sake. She had to believe I was really one of them."

Lila sat down, processing everything.

"You're not stupid, Kai," she muttered. "But you're not very smart either."

Kai let out a short laugh, rubbing his face. "It was the only way."

Lila looked away, her expression darkening. "The detectives jailed some of the ability users. My sister was among them."

Kai stiffened.

Lila continued, her voice breaking slightly. "If the Shadows helped them escape, then that means they've already been brainwashed."

Silence settled between them.

Lila clenched her fists. "I don't even understand anymore."

Kai looked at her, his voice softer than before.

"You can't blame yourself, Lila. The Shadows are always one step ahead of the detectives."

Lila turned to face him again. "I believe you now. But Jin won't."

Kai frowned.

Lila straightened. "I feel like, eventually, you'll have to kill me. But when that moment comes, it will be part of a plan."

Kai held her gaze for a long time before finally saying, "You have to be careful. They told me about an operation tonight near the docks."

Lila smirked slightly. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." She adjusted her veil, concealing her face once more. "For now, stay hidden. I won't tell Jin or Ryu anything. If am going to die, it has to look real."

Kai hesitated, then nodded.

Lila raised her hand. "We are going to find Mei, alright?"

Kai clasped her hand in agreement. "Right."

---

Ocean Docks

The night was cold, the scent of salt and damp wood heavy in the air.

A man staggered near a stack of crates, grumbling to himself as he cradled a stolen bottle of liquor.

"Alcohol… heheh… who knew a place like this would have such treasures?"

He took another swig before something caught his attention—voices.

He tensed, quickly shoving the bottle into his coat. His heart pounded as he tried to slink away, but in his drunken state, he stumbled.

CRASH!

A glass bottle fell from his grip, shattering against the ground.

The voices stopped.

Then—

Footsteps.

Slow. Intentional. Getting closer.

The man barely had time to react before a hand clamped over his mouth. A blade pressed against his throat.

"Stay quiet," a voice whispered, low and dangerous.

The man whimpered, nodding rapidly.

From the shadows, figures emerged—dark silhouettes against the moonlight. The dock was no longer empty.

And the real mission was only beginning.

-