After finishing his meal, Kai stood. "Thanks for dinner," he said to Leilani.
"It was good." Without waiting for a response, he excused himself and retreated to his room.
Inside, the room was dimly lit, and the weight of the day pressed heavily on his shoulders. Kai changed into his training gear, his mind replaying the events. Each push-up, sit-up, and jump carried the frustration of unanswered questions.
'Who were the real players behind the chaos in Apex Grove? And why did they target him so relentlessly?'
Sweat dripped down his face as he completed his workout. Just as he lay back to catch his breath, his phone buzzed. The message was from Ethan, his old comrade stationed on the other side of the country. The message was short but packed with information: