Rooftop – Nova Moves
Nova's eyes narrowed from the base of the school.
The man in the gray coat stood near the fence again. Watching. Taking notes. Calm — too calm for a school environment. Sunglasses at dusk. Creepy smile.
She tapped her earpiece.
"Target confirmed. He's not a parent, teacher, or cop."
Mai's voice replied, calm but cold.
"Get close. Don't let him leave without finding out who he's with."
Nova was already gone.
---
Upper Floors – The Chase Begins
She cut through the school building with military precision — three flights up in seconds, no wasted steps, coat fluttering behind her.
Outside, the man turned and walked. Not rushed — but he knew.
Nova reached the rooftop door and yanked it open—
Empty.
No one there.
She stepped out slowly.
Then—
A shadow moved on the other rooftop.
"Got you," she whispered.
---
Rooftop to Rooftop – The Escape
The man darted across the rooftop with surprising agility for someone in dress shoes. He didn't look back. He knew he was being followed.
Nova was already in motion. Leaping the gap between buildings like a trained assassin, eyes locked on him.
She landed in a roll. Came up running. Closed the distance.
"STOP!" she shouted.
The man turned — and smiled faintly.
Then he dropped a smoke bomb.
FOOF.
Thick gray smoke flooded the rooftop.
Nova coughed, vision blurred.
A second later — silence.
She swung blindly.
Nothing.
The smoke cleared… he was gone.
---
The Aftermath
Nova stared at the empty rooftop, fists clenched.
Then she spotted it.
A business card, tucked beneath a loose brick. Only one thing written on it:
> "See you soon, Keon."
Nova's face darkened.
She tapped her earpiece.
"He left a message."
Mai's voice: "That's no scout. That's a messenger."
---
Keon's Apartment – Late Night
Keon held the card in his hand, reading the words over and over.
Nova stood by the window, silent.
"What do they want?" Keon asked.
"We don't know," she replied. "But they know who you are. And where you are."
Keon exhaled slowly.
"This normal life thing," he said, "isn't working out."
Nova didn't answer.
Because they both knew the truth.
---