A Step Too Deep

Anna looked at Hanna with determination. Her words echoed in Hanna's head as she looked down at her hands which were trembling even at the thought of such a thing.

"I can't…" Hanna said as she lowered her head, she looked defeated.

Anna regarded Hanna for a moment before she spoke.

"You have to." Her tone was serious.

Hanna lifted her head and looked at Anna with a puzzled look.

"What do you mean, Anna?" Hanna asked.

"This party… it's a trap." Anna revealed in a grim tone, her expression soured as she said it.

"A trap?" Hanna asked as she tilted her head in confusion.

"Yes." Anna replied as she nodded her head.

"For who?" Hanna questioned.

And her question froze Anna. Did she not know who this trap is for? Of course she did, it was for her.

The words she had heard when she walked in the wall once again resurfaced.

'Take her away.'

That same ambiguous, authoritative voice filled her mind. Her body unknowingly started to tremble as she remembered that.

"Anna?" Hanna called out worriedly as she walked forward and placed her hand on Anna's shoulder.

Snapped out of it by Hanna's voice, Anna shook her head as she tried to calm herself. Anna looked at Hanna and spoke.

"They are here for me." Anna said, her expression solemn and her tone laced with guilt.

"What?" Hanna questioned with a frown on her face.

"I'll explain later." Anna replied with a serious expression on her face.

Hanna didn't ask anything else and just stood there gazing into Anna's eyes which had already returned to their usual emerald-green colour.

Anna fell deep into thought as she tried to find out ways to stop the massacre which was about to take place.

'I have to contact White.'

Anna took out her phone as she thought to call him but she stopped when she noticed that there was no signal.

"No signal?" Anna mumbled in a confused tone.

"It's been like that for some time now." Hanna said with a tone.

Anna gritted her teeth as she spewed the words out of her mouth.

"It must be those pests."

Hanna was shocked for a moment when she heard that and finally asked what was on her mind as she called out.

"Anna, why are you acting like this? What's going on?"

Anna looked at her with a grim expression and revealed.

"They are coming to catch me and they are going to massacre everyone in the hotel."

Hanna, who heard that, froze but still managed to speak.

"M-Masscare? What are you even talking about?"

Anna, however, didn't explain it further and just nodded at her words. Hanna, seeing that, fell on her sofa with a glum look. Her body trembled as Anna's words made her remember that fateful night, once again. A few moments later Hanna shook her head and asked Anna.

"How do you know that?"

"I saw it…" Anna answered truthfully.

"You saw it?"

"I'll explain later, for now just believe me." Anna requested with a solemnly.

"It's hard to believe." Hanna lowered her head as she said that.

"You trust me, right?"

"Of course, I do." Hanna lifted her and replied with a determined tone.

"Then, trust me on this one too."

Hanna looked at Anna for a few moments after which she nodded.

Anna took a deep breath as she thought of ways to contact White.

Soon, she looked at the bracelet Damien had given her previous evening as her eyes started to glow golden.

[Eyes of Divination.]

As soon as she did so she could see a thread of white colour leaving the bracelet and flowing above her as it phased through all ceilings and walls.

Anna could guess where it was going.

'You knew something was wrong with the party, huh?' Anna thought as she shook her head, her lips involuntarily forming a small smile.

Anna began channelling her star essence in the bracelet but it was hard to do so after all, Anna was still only a Refined-Seeker no matter how good her combat skills or star essence control is, she can't brute force in terms of purity.

A few moments passed as she continued to flow her star essence into the bracelet. Beads of sweat started to form on her forehead.

'Why is this so hard? ugh…'

Anna gritted her teeth and continued to flow her star essence in it and finally, the bracelet lit up with a green glow for a few seconds and dimmed down. Anna who had her main skill active could see how the white thread started to turn green as soon as it lit up.

Anna fell back on her sofa as she breathed heavily.

"Come fast… White."

***

The third floor of the Melbourne hotel was abuzz with activity, it was illuminated by soft coloured lightning, music was being played at the centre where a stage was situated on which many could be seen dancing. A bar with various beverages was situated at the left corner, and the sitting area was situated at right.

Neo sat at one of the sofas placed at the sitting area as he chatted with his friends.

Suddenly, his watch started to pulsate with a low green glow. Neo, seeing that, raised an eyebrow.

'Miss Anieal? Why is she using the artifact?' White contemplated.

Neo stood up from the sofa as he said.

"I am going for a leak."

"Don't take too long." Adam replied as he looked at Neo.

Neo nodded and started walking out of the room.

"Excuse me." he said as he passed the crowded floor.

Neo left the floor and started walking the stairs but just as he did so a guard stopped him.

"Where are you going?" the guard questioned as he blocked Neo's way with his arm.

"What?" Neo said, puzzled by the guard's action.

'Something's wrong here.' Neo thought as he looked at the guard.

"You can not leave the floor till the party ends." the guard said, his tone sharp.

Neo, hearing that, nodded as he turned around to leave. The guard too lowered his arm and Neo turned back as he threw a punch to the face of the guard, but the guard had already anticipated that and blocked it with his arms as he said with a snicker.

"You think I'd fall for that, Huh?" the guard said, his tone full of mockery.

Neo, however, didn't say anything and just twisted his leg and planted a roundhouse kick to the guard's head, knocking the lights out of him.

Neo sneered at the unconscious guard.

Neo started to go down the stairs as he rolled up the sleeves and spun the dial of his watch. A purple glow started to emanate from the watch and covered the whole body of Neo. His body changed, scars appeared all over his skin and his face aged dramatically. Neo walked stealthily as he looked in front of him with vigilance.

 A guard stood at the door of the second floor which caused Neo— who was now disguised as White—to stop in his tracks but the guard had already heard his steps.

"Who is there?" the guard called out as he looked up the stairs. Soon, his eyes glowed red as his skin started to harden like a rock.

'A Midnighter?' White questioned himself as he looked at the guard.

He started to climb the stairs as he vigilantly looked in front of him. Seeing that, White started to climb up and reached the unconscious guard. He picked up the unconscious guard and made him stand while looking out of the window. The second guard saw the unconscious guard and walked up to him.

"Liam, what are you doing there?" the guard asked in a solemn tone but Liam didn't respond, he was unconscious after all.

The guard furrowed his brow and walked towards Liam as his body started to turn normal again, he placed his hand on Liam's shoulder and shook him causing Liam to fall down.

"What?!" the guard blurted out with an expression of shock on his face.

Right then, White, who had hid himself behind the door of the third floor, jumped onto the guard from behind and placed him under a chokehold. He made sure to close the guard's mouth with his arm so he couldn't make any noise. White gritted his teeth and tightened his grip with all of his strength.

'Sleep, sleep.'

A few moments later, this guard as well fell unconscious. Due to all of that Liam started to wake up.

"Ugh…"

White, who had heard his groan, walked towards him, Liam opened his eyes only to see a fist enlarge in his view.

"Huh?" Liam said before getting knocked out once again.

"Both of them are Midnighters." White mumbled to himself as he looked at the unconscious guards.

White turned around and descended the stairs, his expression solemn.

"I hope Miss Anieal is alright." White mumbled as he moved.