The path to the Crimson Apartments led through one of the city's ordinary neighborhoods. Old buildings lined the narrow streets, with small grocery stores and cafes dotting the corners. Street lamps cast pale light while the sidewalks were cracked and poorly maintained in places.

  There were a few people walking on the street, most looking tired and heading home. Several people waited at the bus stop for the last bus of the late hour. The headlights of passing cars occasionally illuminated the dark street. The buildings looked even more gloomy and monotonous in the darkness of night.

  The street where the Red Apartment was located wasn't much different from the others. There were a few trees along the sidewalk, most looking unkempt.

  The apartment itself stood as an ordinary structure on the street. Its exterior was painted red but poorly maintained. There were several small shops on the ground floor. A simple sign above the door read 'Crimson Apartments'.

  Most of the windows were broken or boarded up, with rainwater seeping through the edges of some leaving marks on the walls. The cracks and peeling plaster on the building's exterior showed it hadn't been maintained for a long time. The intercom system by the entrance door wasn't working, its buttons rusted and some missing.

  "Fourth floor." the man muttered, pushing the door. It opened with a creak. Inside was dark and smelled of moisture.

  As they climbed the stairs, the wooden steps creaked with each step. The walls were blackened with moisture, plaster peeling in places. Half of the ceiling fixtures weren't working, and those that did cast flickering light. On each floor, pale streetlight filtering through the windows illuminated the stairwell.

  On the first floor, an old bicycle leaned against the wall, its chain rusted, looking abandoned. Beside it, stacked newspapers and magazines had been there for who knows how long. Muffled music came from an apartment at the end of the corridor.

  When they reached the second floor, a middle-aged woman opened her door. She wore a dress with faded flower patterns. Upon seeing them, she narrowed her eyes, examining them suspiciously. She put down her garbage bag and quickly entered her apartment, locking the door. The sound of the lock echoed in the corridor.

  There were cigarette butts on the stairs leading to the third floor. Empty beer bottles were lined up in one corner. The stair railing was loose. The walls were covered in graffiti; names, dates, meaningless shapes...

  On the third floor landing, five children sat playing with an old model holo-game console they shared. The oldest couldn't have been more than twelve. They all wore pale-colored, old clothes. The virtual reality images of the game flickered in the air. The children would occasionally shout excitedly, then giggle in whispers.

  Looking out the landing window, they could see the city lights. The Mist flowed between buildings as usual, softening the streetlight. A siren sounded in the distance. A door slammed several floors below.

  Someone walking with a rhythmic pace passed behind them on the stairs to the fourth floor. They wore a black jacket and had their face hidden by a hat. They quickly descended to the lower floor, their footsteps gradually fading away. For a moment, there was a tense silence in the stairwell.

  Each floor held a different slice of life, a different story. The Red Apartment held yet another of the city's thousand secrets. And now, in pursuit of one of these secrets, they were heading to the fourth floor.

  When they reached the fourth floor, they saw a brass nameplate reading "Dr. E. Frost" on the door at the end of the corridor. The man paused and called out to Geminga in his mind: "What do you think?"

  "We must be cautious." Geminga replied.

  "You're right." the man thought. "But maybe she's just a frightened scientist."

  "Or she's part of a dangerous experiment." said Geminga. "It's no coincidence the Mist Thieves are looking for her. She's just as dangerous as they are."

  The man sighed and approached the door. As Geminga's words echoed in his mind, he gently knocked on the door.

  There was no response from the door. The man turned to the narrow window at the end of the corridor. This window, opening onto the building's fire escape, looked onto the side of Dr. Frost's apartment. When he opened the window, the rusty metal stairs creaked. The cold night air hit his face.

  He carefully stepped onto the fire escape. The metal construction made dangerous sounds with each step. When he reached the side window, he looked inside. It was dark, but the pale streetlight illuminated part of the room.

  "The lock looks quite old and poorly maintained. Its frame has loosened from metal fatigue. With a little effort, you can open it easily, won't need much force."

  "Are we going in?"

  "Yes."

  The window lock was old and poorly maintained. With a few movements, he managed to open the lock and silently slipped inside.

  Ran hesitantly followed him. "Sir, is what we're doing right?" he whispered.

  "In detective work, there is no right or wrong," said the man. "There are only results."

  When they entered, they faced an unexpected scene. The apartment resembled a complex laboratory more than a home. The holographic screens mounted on the walls were off, but various scientific instruments were arranged on the tables. Microscopes, analysis devices, and data terminals were visible even in the dark.

  A large work desk stood in the center of the room. The desk was covered with papers, notes, and diagrams. Some papers had complex formulas and diagrams on them. A computer terminal in one corner was blinking slightly.

  On one of the walls, glass cabinets extended to the ceiling. Hundreds of bottles and tubes were arranged inside. Each had labels, but they were hard to read in the dark. Some of the liquids in the bottles glowed faintly, casting a ghostly light in the room.

  On another wall hung a map of the city. The map had colored pins and markings. A complex network formed by strings connecting the pins resembled a spider's web. Small notes were attached beside the map.

  On another table, microscope slides were arranged neatly. Hand-written notes lay beside them. Some of the notes appeared to have been written in haste, with some words illegible.

  In front of one of the windows stood a large tank filled with liquid. Something seemed to move inside the tank, but it was hard to see clearly in the dark. Numbers and graphs changing at regular intervals appeared on the monitor beside the tank.

  In another corner of the room, a rest area had been set up. There was an old armchair, a small table, and a half-finished cup of coffee on it. The coffee was cold.

  The man began examining the papers on the desk. Most were scientific articles and research notes. Some were about the chemical structure and effects of the Mist. Others dealt with darker subjects: experiments conducted on human subjects, the effects of the Mist on the human body, consciousness alterations...

  Ran headed to the cabinets in the other corner of the room. Inside the cabinets were medical supplies, medicines, and various chemicals. Labels on some bottles were erased, while others had warning signs.

  In one of the desk drawers, they found a diary. As they quickly flipped through the pages, they noticed notes indicating Dr. Frost had been acting paranoid lately. She suspected someone was following her. She thought her research had reached dangerous dimensions.

  The man examined a tablet on the desk. On the tablet's screen was an unfinished report. The report contained results of an experiment investigating the effects of the Mist on human DNA. However, he couldn't understand what was written in the results section. There were too many words he didn't know.

  The rooms outside the laboratory looked like an ordinary home. There was a small kitchen, a simply furnished living room, and a minimal bedroom. The furniture was old and the house didn't look much used. There were some dirty dishes in the sink, some food remnants and delivery boxes in the trash. The bed in the bedroom was unmade and clothes in the closet were carelessly hung. Clearly, Dr. Frost spent most of her time in her laboratory.

  While shuffling through papers on the desk, Ran found an interesting note. "Sir, look at this note... Some abnormalities were observed in the latest experiment results. Unexpected changes occurred in the subjects' nervous systems."

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "Show me." said the man, taking the note. There were dates and numbers in the margins. "Subject 23... Increased neural activity... Telepathy-like abilities after exposure to the Mist... This is interesting."

  "Look at Subject 19's file." said Ran, extending another note. "Developed ability to control light. Recorded as able to manipulate photons after exposure to the Mist."

  "And here, Subject 31... Ability to direct thermal energy... Control body temperature... Interesting." The man quickly reviewed the notes. "Subject 42 developed the ability to detect and direct electromagnetic waves."

  "Check it out - all these people got totally different powers," Ran said under her breath. "Looks like the Mist does something unique to everyone."

  "Or maybe Dr. Frost tried different things." the man added while scanning other notes on the desk.

  The man approached the tank and examined the liquid inside. The liquid appeared denser than normal water and emitted a slight blue glow. The monitor beside it read "Subject 27 - Day 15".

  "This tank..." said the man. "There's something inside. But I can't see what it is."

  Ran turned to the computer terminal. "Last login date was three days ago. Dr. Frost must have recorded her final experiments before going somewhere." then turned on the room's light.

  Ran picked up a file from the desk and began reading. "Interesting... According to what's written here, Dr. Frost developed a special component to enhance the effects of the Mist. A small, capsule-like structure... She called it 'Catalyst'. When the Catalyst is taken orally into the human body, it dissolves in the throat and directly enters the bloodstream. This dramatically increases a person's interaction with the Mist."

  "According to the notes," Ran continued, "each individual's genetic structure and mental state responds differently to the Catalyst. This explains why different abilities emerged in each subject. The liquid in the tank... this must be it. The raw form of the Catalyst."

  Ran looked at the tank with concern. "So this liquid makes people more sensitive to the Mist and causes them to develop superpowers... Isn't that dangerous?"

  "Not just dangerous, but also illegal." said the man.

  "According to Dr. Frost's notes, the Catalyst has side effects too. Some subjects became overly aggressive, some started having hallucinations. Some subjects even... lost control." said Ran worriedly.

  Just then, footsteps were heard from outside. The man and Ran looked at each other. The door lock had started to turn.

  "Quick, hide!" whispered the man, pushing Ran behind the large cabinet in the corner of the laboratory. He himself withdrew to the dark corner in the adjacent room.

  The door opened and Dr. Frost entered. She was a middle-aged, tall woman. Her gray hair was tied in a messy bun and she wore a stained laboratory coat. She looked tired. She put her bag on the table and let out a deep sigh.

  The man stood in the darkness, watching Dr. Frost while speaking with Geminga in his mind: "What should we do?"

  "Turn off the lights." Geminga responded in his mind. "Let's interrogate her in the dark. A frightened mind talks more easily."

  "What if she has a weapon?"

  "Don't worry." said Geminga. "She's unarmed and tired."

  As Dr. Frost sat at her desk, preparing to turn on her computer, the man followed Geminga's instructions in his mind. He pressed the electrical switch and suddenly all the laboratory lights went out.

  "What's happening?" Dr. Frost jumped from her seat. "Damn it, the power again..."

  Before she could finish her sentence, the man had already moved behind her in the darkness. She felt a cold metal barrel against her neck.

  In reality, the man had no weapon. He had just pressed the back of Ran's flashlight against her neck.

  "Don't move." said the man in a low voice. "Just answer my questions and no one will get hurt."

  Dr. Frost froze. "Who... who are you?"

  "I'm the one asking questions, Dr. Frost. Where is the Crown of Cintara?"

  The woman's breathing quickened. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."

  "Don't lie!" said the man, pressing the flashlight harder. "We've seen everything in your laboratory. The experiments on the Mist, the Catalyst... All of these are connected to the Crown of Cintara, aren't they?"

  Dr. Frost started trembling. "Please... You don't understand. I'm just trying to help humanity."

  "By conducting human experiments? By using innocent people as guinea pigs?"

  "No, it's not like that!" Dr. Frost's voice cracked. "It was like that at first, I admit. But then... then everything changed."

  "Tell me what changed." said the man, repeating the questions Geminga was whispering in his mind.

  Dr. Frost took a deep breath. "Initially, I was only researching the effects of the Mist. I was trying to understand the impact of this mysterious phenomenon surrounding the city on people. But then... then the Mist Thieves contacted me. They said they would soon possess something that would direct all my research. And I agreed to work with them."

  "What did you do with the Crown?"

  "At first, I couldn't understand what it was. It looked like an ancient artifact, but inside... Inside it had incredible levels of magical energy. I analyzed the Crown's structure and tried to correlate its energy with the Mist. Using the magical essence I obtained from the Crown's power, I developed the Catalyst. To strengthen people's connection with the Mist... But the results... the results got out of control."

  "What do you mean out of control?" asked the man, feeling Geminga's growing concern in his mind.

  "Some subjects... they changed. They didn't just gain powers, their personalities changed too. Some became aggressive, some became paranoid. And a few... a few transformed into completely different beings."

  "Where are these subjects now?"

  Dr. Frost's voice trembled. "Most of them died. The survivors were used to enhance other subjects. But... believe me, this wasn't my intention. I only wanted to develop a medicine to protect people from the effects of the mist. They deceived me! When I wanted to leave, they said it was already too late."

  "And the Crown of Cintara? Where is it now?"

  "The Boss wears the crown."

  "Tell me about the Boss. Who is this man? Also, the last time I saw him, he wasn't wearing any crown. Don't you dare lie to me!" The man pressed the flashlight harder. "Speak!"

  "I don't know his name!" Dr. Frost said quickly. "A strange man... I only get to see and talk to him when he comes to ask me questions."

  "Tell me where the crown is!" said the man harshly.

  "In the Boss's eyes!"

  "What?"

  "In his eyes... I saw the crown in his eyes."

  "What nonsense are you talking about?" shouted the man, pressing the flashlight even harder. "Speak clearly! How can you see the crown in his eyes?"

  "The Boss's eyes... they're not normal." whispered Dr. Frost, her voice trembling. "Every time I look, I see the crown's reflection in his pupils. It's as if the crown has become a part of him. I don't know anything else, I'm sorry!"

  Geminga spoke in the man's mind: "She's telling the truth... But how is that possible?"

  "The crown... the crown is just the beginning! The real danger is what's inside the-"

  At that moment, a bright beam of light flooded in through the laboratory window. Dr. Frost tried to get up in panic.

  "They're here!" she screamed. "They found me!"

  As the man tried to hold onto Dr. Frost, the light from the window grew increasingly intense. Ran emerged from his hiding place and drew a small gun from his wrist. The laboratory was now as bright as day.

  "Who's here?" shouted the man, still holding onto Dr. Frost.

  "Two days! In two days-" Before Dr. Frost could finish her words, the light became bright enough to blind everyone. Then came an ear-shattering explosion sound, followed immediately by the explosion itself.

  The powerful blast wave instantly engulfed the laboratory, violently shaking the walls and floor. The windows first cracked, then shattered into thousands of pieces, scattering everywhere. Chemical bottles exploded, their dangerous contents mixing with the air while sharp odors filled the room. Heavy metal cabinets toppled over, their contents hurled in every direction. Everything in the room was thrown uncontrollably into the air - papers, files, laboratory equipment were flying about as if dancing in the air.

  Dr. Frost's body was torn apart by the force of the explosion. First her legs were severed, her torso split in two, then her arms were thrown in different directions. As her blood and internal organs scattered everywhere, the look of horror remained frozen on her face - as if she had seen something terrifying in her final moment, but now no one would ever know what it was. Her dismembered body was scattered to different corners of the laboratory; one arm rolled under the table, other parts flew to various places. Her blood, splashing like red rain on the walls and ceiling, transformed the laboratory's white walls into a bloody canvas. Her shattered organs and tissues mixed with the exploding glass bottles, spreading to every corner of the room. She hadn't even had the chance to scream in her final breath.

  Ran's lifeless body was crushed under the falling heavy metal cabinet, her bones breaking and internal organs rupturing. She remained motionless among the shattered metal and glass debris, her face frozen in pain, her eyes fixed on the ceiling with an empty stare. Sharp metal and glass pieces scattered by the force of the explosion had pierced her body, and her body crushed under the heavy cabinet had become unrecognizable.

  The man was thrown to the ground by the explosion, his head hitting the hard concrete. Hundreds of glass shards had pierced his body, each deeply embedded, their sharp edges buried in his flesh. With each attempt to breathe, the sharp pain in his chest increased exponentially, as if thousands of needles were piercing his lungs with every breath. Blood loss was increasing steadily, the red liquid seeping through his torn clothes and spreading across the cold floor beneath him. The smell of burning filled his nostrils, scorching his throat, making it even harder to breathe. Even Geminga's voice, his only consolation in his mind, was growing weaker, more distant, becoming indistinct as if coming from the end of a tunnel.

  When he turned his head, he saw Ran's lifeless body. Crushed under the metal cabinet, it had become unrecognizable. The metal pieces piercing her chest, her broken bones, and the frozen expression of pain on her face... Her eyes were still open, staring at the ceiling with empty gazes. Something inside him shattered completely. He couldn't protect Ran. Again... He groaned in pain, not just physical, his soul was burning too. As tears mixed with blood and soot rolled down his cheeks, he looked at Ran's lifeless body one last time.

  Only flames and wreckage remained of the laboratory. He tried to move but couldn't. Blood was seeping from every part of his body. Pieces falling from the ceiling continued to rain down on him. He tried to rise with one last effort.

  At that moment, the second explosion came, much more violent and destructive than the first. As the remaining walls of the laboratory were razed to the ground, the blast wave violently hurled the man's body. As hot metal pieces and burning chemicals rained down on him like rain, his entire body remained in an infernal fire. The pain was so unbearable that he didn't even have the strength to scream. As every cell, every nerve ending died burning, his consciousness slowly sank into darkness.

  Then everything went dark, the world slowly turned to black. All that remained of the laboratory was burning wreckage, its smoke rising to the sky. In the darkness of night, the rising crimson flames tinted the thick mist over the city to a blood-like color. The crackling of the fire and the metal creaks from among the ruins broke the silence of the night.