I still don’t understand… why does Cana and Mist side with a known Curio’s relative? People may like him, but he has Curio blood in his veins… I process before a muttering person passes the window.

  Speak of the devil. Ross the devil.

  I watch him pass Ms. Soliel’s home through the window. I slip through the door swiftly and follow behind him. He keeps a consistent, slow pace ahead of me as I do. When I start gaining speed, so does he.

  I won’t fail now. I will kill this man.

  After a long chase, I follow him into an overhang type building. He turns around fearfully, in the evening light I glimpse his eyes widening.

  “You’re finished.” I growl, imagining faint hook-punching him, a sharp bone blade hitting him instead before I lunge.

  K-KRAK

  I hear the sound of breaking bone as I see Cana holding a firm pose, crossing her arm in an X-shape. My blade injecting itself into her now grotesquely positioned arm. “No, you’re finished.”

  I shake my head, clearing it of the vision. The plan is going well on their part. Now… how do I get these people’s attention? I go through idea, shouting about a fire, throw stuff at the walls, burst in yelling about a manical laugh coming from the stables, the sound of torture and cries for help? That’d bring attention for sure.

  Why not just tell them you have the “RTU Killer”? They won’t believe that.. “Oh we found the killer nobody can identify a week after his last murder! Come follow me!” That’s more sketchy than Knives coming up and confessing. Saying, “help! Someone tried to murder me and my friends tied them up! Follow me to them,” might work. But do I just walk in? It might not feel as urgent if I walk up and ask for an officer. Plus they won’t take me seriously.

  Or would they just capture me for being suspicious? I do look suspicious. But I have my clips in, I’ll be fine.

  Right?

  I tossle a lock of my hair. Solid black on the bottom fades to white on top, fading with thinner strips of black.

  Should I even go up there? What’s the point if Knives breaks free afterward? He’d just make us his next targets when he does. Ross would still be killed, along with everyone else.

  “Hey.” I jolt, locking eyes quickly with a male about Ross’s age. “Do you… are— do you need help with anything?” He asks as I quickly notice a large pale spot between his hair and his left eyebrow. I pull my gaze away before responding.

  “Uh, my friend has gone missing and we’ve been hearing noises from the shed behind–”

  “Come inside, we can talk in here,” he offers. I nod quietly, walking in. I try to keep myself from staring at the pale splotch and how everything in its radius –including hair– white or close to it. I stop just before the entrance, causing the man to quickly turn and face me quizzically.

  “Oh! And the noises need immediate attention, I can show you where the kill- shed is.”

  He hesitates, “I’m just an assistant officer. I’ll need to get a higher-up’s permis—”

  “Officer Alan Brenard! You know that you follow your superior officers and only stray if instructed or absolutely necessary!” A woman starts lecturing, startling the male.

  “Sorry ma–”

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  “God, and I thought you’d be easy to manage… this new generation is doomed.”

  “Ma’am! But this girl’s in need of police assistance, and right away.” “Officer Alan Brenard” replies.

  The woman growls, “then she should know to talk to a higher-up.” She prods him irritably before turning to me. “Miss, please understand that we aren’t obligated to just go up and help you we need permis–”

  “This is an emergency right? If you can’t help immediately, what’s the phrase ‘this is an emergency’ for? A play?” I snip in response, “if you can capture people, then let me lead you to someone in need of being captured.” I swiftly turn around to go half way out before turning back to glare at the lady.

  “Alan” looks to her, “she has a fair point, officer.”

  “Oh shush! If this is a wild goose chase I’m quitting. . .” “Carol” huffs before following me.

  “I’m blaming this all on you newbie.”

  “So I get all the credit too?”

  “Don’t get cocky.”

  ??????

  We arrive at the stables and I dive for some overgrown brush and hide from sight. The two officers look around, puzzled about where I went before officer Alan points to the stable.

  “I think I hear something… over there.”

  “If this is a trap I’m using you as a meat shield.”

  “Why? ‘Cause I have one an….” The two’s banter dilutes to unintelligible mutters as I stalk back to the front of the inn and enter.

  None of the others were in sight, I catch Fareed’s eyes and sign to him.

  Three fingers, point to Fareed, tilt head.

  Point behind, shrug, wave me off.

  Thumbs up to Fareed.

  I slip into the back, behind the bar where Elena and some other waitresses loiter and cook. I weave through the area and search for the three others. I quickly spot a blond haired figure sticking out from behind a corner.

  I dash over, “gottem. Di–”

  Ross jumps a bit into the air, startled by my entry as Jyrasck stifles a laugh. When Ross glares back, the maroon-haired male bursts out in laughter.

  It takes a minute before they die down, “did you capture K?”

  Cana nods slowly, “yup. Really interesting discovery.”

  “I never would’ve– well kinda would’ve guessed it was K. Do the other Tested at Amara’s know?” Jyrasck pipes in.

  I shake my head, “nope. Not until Ms. Soliel tells them tomorrow morning upon getting the newspaper.”

  “Did you know?” Jyrasck raises an eyebrow.

  “After a while, yeah.”

  “Why didn’t you—”

  “They’re coming to the front–!” Ross cuts him quickly off, scrambling away from the window he was peering through. Jyrasck quickly jumps up to see before darting away from the swollen part of the wall we all idled in. Another moment of silence rings out before I speak up.

  “How did your side of the plan go?” I ask.

  “Good,” Cana replies. “Ross lured him in and before he got oofed I stepped in. K broke my arm really good before—”

  “A trap I set up beforehand ensnared him.”

  “And then Jyra came on scene and started interrogating him and—”

  “Then Jyra accidentally knocked him out.”

  “Yeah, and then we all went back inside.”

  I nod. “Interesting..”

  “Seems like everything went to plan on your side as well.” Ross smiles, “though you did take your time to get the officers here.” He raises an eyebrow towards me.

  “It took them a second to believe me.”

  “Mmhmmm,” he hums disbelievingly.

  Cana’s eyes light up for a milimoment as if realizing something, “that dude–”

  “You’re weirder than an AD newspaper,” I retort, assuming them to be teasing.

  Jyrasck came back after a while, telling us about what the officers Alan and Carol said before they left. We walked out from the hall and went about our own duties afterward while I was left to wonder in my room.

  Why did Ross start picking at my choice in officer?