Leo kept running close behind Draven, his breath steady despite the pounding of his heart. The narrow streets around them were dimly lit, the flickering glow of old streetlights casting shifting shadows on the cracked pavement. The cold night air stung his lungs as he ran, but he barely noticed.
The sound of boots hammering against the pavement echoed behind them, a constant reminder of the heavily armed men on their trail. They moved with unnerving precision, closing in like wolves herding prey.
Leo spared a glance at his friends ahead of him. Draven led the way, his movements smooth and calculated, as if he'd done this a hundred times before. The guy's something else, Leo thought, his admiration tinged with relief. Draven had always been calm under pressure, but this situation was far beyond anything they'd ever faced in their normal lives. Yet somehow, Draven was keeping it together, thinking two steps ahead like it was second nature.
Then there was Xenon, who ran with an intensity that matched her unnatural speed. She moved like a shadow, her every step silent and fluid. Leo wasn't sure what to make of her yet. She was sharp—too sharp—and there was an edge to her that made him uneasy. But her confidence was undeniable, and there was something oddly reassuring about having her on their side. For now, at least.
The men chasing them hadn't fired yet, and that fact gnawed at Leo's mind. Why do they want us alive? he wondered. Why do they want to capture us in the first place? His eyes darted to the silhouettes behind them. The faint gleam of their helmets and weapons under the dim light made his stomach churn.
"Faster!" Draven called out, his voice steady but urgent.
Leo gritted his teeth, forcing his legs to push harder. The answer to his questions would have to wait—right now, survival came first.
"Why aren't they using that vehicle they brought?" Xenon asked, her tone calm despite the urgency. She had barely broken a sweat after running almost five hundred meters.
"You want them to chase us on wheels?!" Leo shot back, his tone incredulous. "Seriously?"
Draven glanced back, his expression thoughtful. "She has a point. If they want to catch us, why waste time running after us instead of driving?"
Leo hesitated, then shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "Probably because someone messed with the vehicle's main system," he said, avoiding their gazes. His attempt at innocence didn't quite land.
Xenon raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, really? And who might that 'someone' be?"
Leo grinned despite himself. "No idea. Must've been one heck of a genius, though."
Despite the seriousness of their situation, all three managed to share a fleeting laugh, their steps never faltering. But the moment of levity shattered as the distant roar of an engine reached their ears.
The military-grade vehicle they had seen earlier rounded the corner, headlights piercing through the dark street as it sped toward them.
"Well, genius," Xenon said, her tone edged with a mix of annoyance and sarcasm, "looks like whatever you did wasn't enough."
Leo simply grinned, unfazed by her jab. He glanced at Draven, who was still leading the way. "We're close to the subway station," Leo said, his tone suddenly serious. "We need to make them slam the brakes on that thing—fast."
Draven turned to him, suspicion creeping into his usually calm expression. "Why?" he asked, his gaze narrowing. Then it clicked. "You did something else, didn't you?"
Leo's grin widened, the mischief in his eyes impossible to miss. "Let's just say I left a little surprise for them earlier. But we need them to stop hard for it to work."
Draven stayed silent for a moment, before he Finally spoke, his voice calm but decisive. "I think it's possible. But we need to lose these soldiers before the next turn ahead."
His tone carried no doubt, just a matter-of-fact determination that made both Xenon and Leo instinctively nod. Draven's ability to stay composed, even with danger bearing down on them, was something both of them were beginning to rely on.
The soldiers were within arm's reach now, their heavy boots pounding dangerously close behind. Without hesitation, Leo dropped low, spinning on his heel to sweep the legs out from under two soldiers who had gotten too close. They hit the ground hard with muffled grunts, and Leo didn't waste a second. He grabbed the gun from one of them and, with a swift motion, slammed the butt of it into another soldier attempting to close the distance.
Meanwhile, Xenon darted into the fray, her movements almost otherworldly. She blurred like a mirage, weaving between the soldiers with inhuman speed. Each strike was precise, taking them out one by one before they could react. The metallic clang of armor hitting the pavement and the muffled groans of fallen soldiers filled the air as she cleared the path ahead in seconds.
Draven wasn't far behind. His sharp gaze scanned the chaos with cold precision as he moved into action. Slipping between the soldiers, he disarmed one with a swift motion, taking the man's laser gun. The soldier barely had time to react before Draven used his momentum to twist the man's arm behind his back and fire at the remaining soldiers. The shots hit their marks, forcing the soldiers to scatter.
Xenon moved with unparalleled speed, her attacks fluid and relentless. Despite their advanced armor, the soldiers stood no chance against her. One by one, they fell, leaving the trio standing amidst the wreckage.
"We need to move—now," Draven muttered, his voice unwavering. He knelt beside the last conscious soldier, unclipping a tool belt from the man's hip and fastening it around himself. With the immediate threat neutralized, Draven glanced at Leo, who was catching his breath. "Good work. Let's go."
Leo wiped the sweat from his brow, looking between Draven and Xenon. His gaze lingered on Xenon, his confusion plain. "How the hell did you move like that?" he asked, still trying to process what he'd seen.
Xenon didn't answer, her sharp eyes focused on the surroundings, her demeanor unreadable.
Draven gave a faint smirk, not breaking stride. "We'll talk about that later," he said curtly, leading the group away from the scene.
As they moved through the shadowed streets, Leo's curiosity only grew. His gaze kept drifting to Xenon, still impossibly composed despite everything. Finally, he couldn't hold it in any longer.
"You know," Leo began, his voice laced with skepticism, "you've been way too good at this for someone who just 'showed up.'" He narrowed his eyes at her, his tone probing. "I've got a few questions. How did you move like that? How did you take out those soldiers so easily? They were wearing armor, for god's sake. What are you, some kind of superhero?"
Xenon shot him a sharp look, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she smirked, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "Maybe I'm more than what you see on the outside."
But Leo wasn't letting it go. "Yeah, but give me a clue, okay? You're strong, fast—at a rate that's not even remotely normal. Are you an alien? A super-soldier experiment? What are you?"
Xenon's smirk faded, and she paused mid-step, turning to face him. Her expression softened, but there was a shadow behind her eyes. "I'm half-vampire," she said quietly, her tone almost matter-of-fact. "And as for my family... even if I told you now, you wouldn't understand."
Leo froze, his jaw slack as he stared at her. His mind raced, trying to piece together what he'd just heard. Before he could say anything, Draven placed a firm hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of his daze.
"Leo," Draven said evenly, "we don't have time for this. Let's move."
Leo nodded slowly, still reeling, and followed, stealing glances at Xenon, who had already resumed her steady pace.
They ran until they reached the turn, and Draven quickly guided Leo and Xenon into a shadowed alley where the storming vehicle couldn't spot them. Leo shook his head, trying to shake off the lingering shock of Xenon's revelation. "What are we—"
Draven cut him off, his voice calm but laced with urgency. "See those barriers?" He pointed to the metal structures just ahead, painted in bright yellow with bold black signs reading STOP. "I noticed those on my way home after school. We need to move them before they take the turn."
Leo's eyes lit up as he caught on. "They'll slam the brakes when they see them," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "But it'll be too sudden for them to stop in time. Perfect!"
Xenon glanced at the barriers and then at the road, assessing the situation with sharp focus. "Won't they just drive through them?" she asked, her tone skeptical.
"They can't—it's directly in front of the subway station," Draven explained, his gaze steady. "It's our best shot at forcing them to stop. If we're lucky, Leo's little surprise will throw them off completely."
Leo nodded, already moving toward the barriers. "Alright, let's do this!" he said, his energy surging as he grabbed the edge of one of the structures.
Xenon followed without hesitation, her supernatural strength making it easy for her to lift the heavy barrier into place. "You've got guts, smarty," she said, glancing at Draven with a smirk. "Let's hope your plan works."
Draven joined in, helping to position the final barrier. His movements were precise but slightly shaky, the weight of the situation clearly bearing down on him. "It will," he said firmly, his confidence steady. "It has to."
As soon as the barriers were in place, the trio darted back into the alley, their breaths quick and shallow as they pressed against the cold wall. They didn't have to wait long.
The low growl of the armored vehicle's engine grew louder, echoing through the narrow streets. The headlights cut through the dimness as the vehicle hurtled around the corner. The driver spotted the barriers too late.
The screech of brakes pierced the air as the front wheels locked up, skidding against the pavement. But the momentum was too great. The back wheels lifted off the ground as the massive vehicle flipped forward, its front smashing into the road with a deafening crash. The sheer force of the impact sent it careening into the subway entrance, where it slammed into the stairs, the metal groaning and bending under the weight.
The trio watched from their hiding spot, their breaths held as the echoes of the crash reverberated through the area. Dust and smoke billowed into the air, mingling with the faint scent of burning rubber.
The one most shocked was Leo. He had never imagined his trick would turn out so destructive—and deadly. Though he'd done it to save his friends and himself, the sight of the aftermath tightened his chest. Panic and guilt churned within him like a storm, threatening to pull him under. He clenched his fists, forcing the emotions aside with an effort that left him almost breathless. If he didn't, he knew his voice would crack.
"Well," Leo whispered, breaking the silence, "that went better than expected."
"You messed with their brake system?" Xenon asked, her sharp gaze locking onto Leo. Despite the incredulous tone in her voice, a grin spread across her face. "How in the world!?"
Draven, still catching his breath, turned to Leo with a rare hint of approval. "Leo, I never thought I'd say this, but... nicely done. The messing I meant. " He gave Leo a firm pat on the back, his tone lighted but sincere.
Leo grinned, clearly proud of his handiwork. "What can I say? I have my moments."
But his moment of pride didn't last long. As his eyes drifted to the wreckage, something—or someone—began crawling up from the twisted remains of the tunnel entrance. At first, it was hard to make out through the smoke and debris. Then, the faint glow of orange eyes pierced through the haze, and a long, sinewy tail flicked into view.
Leo froze as his breath caught in his chest. His mind struggled to process what he was seeing—a creature, but not human. Its movements were disturbingly fluid, its elongated limbs bending at unnatural angles. A scaled, reptilian body gleamed under the dim streetlights, each step deliberate and unnervingly smooth. And it wasn't just the sight of it that made Leo's stomach churn—it was the uniform it wore, identical to the soldiers' leader.
Then there was the emblem on its armored chest: a crown perched over an open eye, glowing faintly, as though alive. The symbol seemed to pulse in sync with the creature's movements, its faint light casting eerie shadows around them.
What is that thing? Leo's mind screamed as panic coursed through him.
He barely had time to react as the creature lunged forward, claws extended toward him. Acting on instinct, he shoved Draven out of the way, his voice cracking as he yelled, "Move!"
Xenon darted in front of them with terrifying speed. She didn't hesitate, her nails flashing as she charged at the creature. For a moment, Leo felt a flicker of hope—she could handle this, couldn't she?
But that hope was short-lived. The creature lashed out with a massive, clawed limb, striking her square in the chest. The impact sent her hurtling backward, slamming into a wall with a loud crash. She crumpled to the ground, coughing, though her fiery glare never left the creature.
"Xenon!" Leo shouted, his voice cracking again. His heart pounded as he watched her struggle to rise.
The creature didn't pause. It turned its glowing eyes on him, its long tail swaying behind it like a serpent ready to strike. Leo froze as it raised its massive claws, poised to rip him apart.
Time seemed to slow, and for the first time in his life, Leo felt truly powerless. Is this it? Is this how it ends?
But before the creature's claws could reach him, a blur of movement caught his eye. Draven leaped forward, his body twisting mid-air as he landed on the creature's arm. His grip was firm, his jaw clenched as he held on despite the creature's violent thrashing. The scaled limb beneath him writhed like a living whip, but Draven didn't let go.
"Get back, Leo!" Draven yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Leo stumbled backward, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His mind was a storm of emotions—fear, disbelief, and something close to awe. Draven, his calm, quiet friend, was clinging to a monster like it was just another problem to solve.
Leo's eyes darted to Xenon. She was on one knee now, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. Despite the hit she'd taken, her gaze was sharp, locked onto the creature. Her determination was palpable, and for a moment, Leo felt reassured.
He turned his attention back to Draven, who was still holding on to the creature's arm. The glowing emblem on its chest pulsed brighter now, casting an ominous light that made the air feel heavier.
"What the hell is that thing?" Leo muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His fists clenched at his sides as he tried to steady himself. This wasn't normal. None of this was normal.
"Hang on, Draven!" Xenon's voice broke through his thoughts, sharp but unwavering.
Draven didn't respond. His eyes were locked on the creature's every movement, his expression calm but focused. To Leo, it looked as if Draven had flipped some internal switch, shutting off everything around him to focus entirely on survival.
As the battle unfolded before him, Leo couldn't help but feel like he was falling behind. Draven's quick thinking and Xenon's inhuman strength were carrying the fight. And here he was, frozen, barely able to keep up.
"Get it together, Leo. You're better than this," he thought, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists, frustration bubbling under his skin.
Leo had never been the strongest or the smartest among his peers. As a kid, he'd been an easy target for bullies—scrawny, shy, and always outmatched. He could still remember the bruises he used to carry home, hidden under long sleeves. Back then, it felt like no one noticed, or worse, no one cared.
He spent years working hard to change his life, developing defensive traits in his mind, and gradually climbing the social ladder. But what truly changed everything was Draven. When Draven first came to Cloverden last year, Leo thought he was an odd one—always reading books, getting good grades, and most surprisingly, despite being new and lonely, the bullies seemed to fear him.
Leo's curiosity about Draven slowly grew into admiration. But he never had the courage to approach him. That is, until one day, when Leo found himself cornered by bullies, and it was Draven who stepped in and saved him. Draven wasn't at all like Leo or the others had imagined—he wasn't distant or unapproachable. Surprisingly, it was Draven who asked Leo to be friends.
Now, two years later, Leo was the only person Draven considered a true friend. And the changes Draven brought to Leo's life over those years were countless, more than he could ever imagine.
Now, the one friend who truly cared for him was risking his life to save Leo. Anger burned inside Leo as he prepared to spring into action. But just as he was about to move,
Draven, fighting with nothing but his bare hands, was no match for the creature. It moved with the ferocity of a rabid predator, its claws slashing and teeth snapping with deadly precision. Despite all the focus and effort he poured into his movements, the battle was slipping out of his control.
Suddenly, the lizard-like creature lunged, its clawed hand seizing Draven by the jacket. With terrifying ease, it hoisted him into the air and flung him aside like a discarded rag doll. Leo's heart skipped a beat as he bolted toward his friend.
A familiar voice rang out behind him. " so, What do we have here?!"The voice was casual, almost mocking.
The creature didn't care about the running boy. Its gaze was locked on Seth, who had just arrived.
"Youuu're one of thoooose," the creature hissed at Seth, its voice cracking and stretching, like wind slipping through a broken seal between every word.
Leo knelt beside Draven, panic bubbling beneath the surface as he tried to assess his friend's condition. Was it a broken bone? A concussion? He didn't know. All he could tell was that Draven was unconscious, his face pale and unmoving.
His gaze darted to Xenon. She was back on her feet, her posture steady but tense. One arm was clutching her ribs, and her wince betrayed the pain she was trying to suppress. Still, she stood her ground, eyes locked on the creature, ready for what might come next.
Finally, Leo turned his attention to Seth. He stood there, calm and collected, as though the danger meant nothing to him. He was still wearing the hand-ripped red hoodie from earlier, but now Leo could see the faint outline of a red bodysuit underneath. It clung to Seth like a second skin, its surface reflecting a faint, metallic sheen in the dim light. His left shoulder bore a badge—a sword piercing through an open eye, with a shield framing the symbol.
"What's a lowly Bionic like you doing here?" Seth asked, his voice calm but laced with disdain as he glanced around. "What do you think you're trying to pull?"
"It'sssss none of yooourrrre businesssss, agent!" the lizard-like soldier hissed, its words slithering out with venomous intent.
Leo's eyes flicked toward the destroyed vehicle a little ahead. His mind raced. Maybe I could grab one of those guns, he thought, his grip tightening on Draven's jacket.
Before he could move, the creature let out a guttural roar and sprang toward Seth. Its claws extended, ready to tear through him in one brutal strike. But Seth didn't flinch. He barely moved.
With a simple flick of his finger, the creature's momentum stopped abruptly, as if an invisible wall had slammed against it. Its own claws were driven backward into its chest, piercing its scaly flesh. A piercing screech filled the air as it crumpled to the ground, twitching violently.
Leo didn't fully understand what was happening, but it was clear that Seth was no ordinary person—and definitely not an ally of the lizard-like creature. That much was enough for Leo to focus on what truly mattered. His gaze shifted to Draven, unconscious and lying limp beside him, and his chest tightened.
Xenon approached cautiously, her movements slow as she glanced between the crawling creature and Leo. Her face, though still carrying traces of pain, was calm but serious.
"Is he okay?" she asked, her voice low but steady.
Leo nodded, his movements stiff. "I think so. He's breathing, at least."
"Listen, Leo," she began, her tone more measured now. "I know none of this makes sense right now, but—"
"What's your name?" Leo interrupted, cutting through her explanation. His voice was firm, not angry, but there was a determined edge to it. "How do you know Draven?"
Xenon blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Of all the questions she had expected, this wasn't one of them. Her gaze softened slightly, recognizing that Leo wasn't going to let the situation overwhelm him. His concern for Draven outweighed his confusion.
"Xenon," she answered simply, her voice calm but careful. "I met him earlier tonight."
"Earlier tonight," Leo repeated, his expression unreadable as he processed her words. "And now all this is happening. Seems like a lot for just meeting someone."
Xenon opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Before she could decide, a low growl from the creature shifted their attention.
The lizard-like creature lay sprawled on the road, its chest oozing a dark, greenish-black blood that pooled around it. The once-bustling street was eerily silent, save for the distant crackling of flames from the wrecked vehicle and the faint groans of the fallen soldiers scattered along the pavement. The air hung heavy with the acrid smell of burning metal and scorched earth.
Seth stood tall in front of the creature, his expression unreadable, but his glowing eyes showing a deep displeasure. His posture was calm, almost casual, but there was a tension in the air around him that made it clear he was anything but at ease.
Raising one arm slowly, Seth's fingers curled slightly, as though commanding unseen forces. The dark blood seeping from the creature began to ripple unnaturally, defying gravity as it rose into the air. It twisted and coiled, forming a jagged, glistening blade that hovered menacingly by Seth's side.
The lizard-like creature hissed weakly, its glowing orange eyes narrowing as it struggled to lift its battered body. But Seth took a deliberate step closer, his movements slow and purposeful, his gaze never leaving the creature.
The blade of blood sharpened, its edges shimmering faintly in the dim light. The sheer unnaturalness of the scene made Leo's breath catch in his throat as he knelt beside Draven, who remained unconscious. Even Xenon, who had seen her share of strange events, seems trying to hide the flicker of unease that crossed her face as she watched Seth wield the blood with precision.
"You shouldn't have come here," Seth said, his voice low and cold, each word cutting through the silence like a knife. "You should have stayed in the shadows where you belong.
Leo closed his eyes tightly, unable to watch as Seth sent the blood-forged blade hurtling forward. The sound of the lizard-soldier's skull cracking under the blade's force was sickening, followed by a wet, grotesque squelch as it pierced through its neck bones. A sharp hiss escaped the creature's throat before it slumped lifelessly onto the bloodstained pavement.
For a moment, the street was silent, except for the faint dripping of liquid pooling beneath the now-still body.
Leo hesitated, his heart pounding in his ears, but finally cracked his eyes open. Seth stood over the corpse, the blood-blade dissipating into the air like mist. His glowing eyes dimmed slightly as he straightened, brushing his hands together as if ridding them of invisible dust. The air around him seemed to shift, and the eerie tension that had filled the scene moments ago lifted.
"Whew, that takes care of that," Seth said, his voice suddenly light, casual, and disarmingly friendly-the tone Leo had grown used to hearing from him. "You guys okay? I hope I didn't freak you out too much."
Leo blinked, struggling to reconcile the Seth standing before him now with the one who had just executed the creature without hesitation.
Behind him, Xenon's expression tightened, her sharp eyes fixed on Seth with a mix of caution and curiosity. "You've been tracking me since yesterday," Xenon said, her tone sharp and accusing.
Seth gave a nonchalant shrug, his expression calm but unreadable. "I was doing my job. You left a strong scent of blood behind—hard not to notice."
Before Xenon could respond, the hum of engines broke through the tense air. Two sleek luxury cars with tinted windows rolled to a stop nearby, followed closely by a pair of ambulances. The doors of the cars swung open, and black-suited men poured out, moving with precision and purpose.
They hurried toward the unconscious soldiers sprawled on the ground and the wreckage of the crashed vehicle, carefully extracting the injured survivors. Leo watched, his breath hitching for a moment before relief washed over him. No one had died because of them—or at least, not anyone innocent.
The suited men worked quickly, some inspecting the scene while others transported the injured to the waiting ambulances. As they passed Seth, they paused momentarily, straightened, and saluted him with a crispness that caught Leo off guard. Seth acknowledged the gesture with a simple nod, his demeanor as casual as ever, as if this was just another day on the job.
Leo's gaze darted between Seth and the men, his mind spinning. Who is this guy? he wondered. Seth's eyes softened slightly as they landed on Draven, his expression laced with concern.
"I came to pick up you and Draven," he said, his tone calm but carrying an undertone of urgency as he turned to Xenon, nodding toward one of the sleek black cars. "That car will take us."
Leo's stomach twisted with unease. Not only was his best friend injured and unconscious, but now this guy—seth with powers and authority Leo couldn't begin to understand—was talking about taking Draven away. The thought set his nerves on edge. Before Leo could voice his concerns, Seth's sharp gaze turned to him, assessing him briefly before speaking.
"You're a Behemoth, right Leo ?" he said casually, his tone carrying a faint hint of familiarity. "You can tag along too. I'll explain everything properly."
Leo tensed, his fists balling as he tried to process Seth's words. The idea of leaving Draven—or letting someone take them away —made his chest tighten. But Seth's mention of an explanation gave him pause. For all his mistrust, he couldn't deny he needed answers.
Xenon looked at Leo, reading the conflict in his eyes. "We don't have much of a choice," she said, her voice steady but firm. "If Seth wanted to hurt us, he wouldn't have saved us back there."
Leo glanced down at Draven's unconscious form, his resolve hardening. "Fine," he said, his voice low but resolute. "But I'm not leaving his side."
Within minutes, they were all seated in the luxurious car, its electric engine emitting only a faint hum as it glided smoothly through the streets. The interior was so plush and comfortable that Leo almost felt like the chaos of the last thirty minutes had been nothing more than a bad dream. The soft leather seats cradled his exhaustion, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to breathe deeply, though his mind remained restless.
Xenon leaned back slightly, her expression calm but alert as she began explaining the sequence of events. "It started with that Para-Beast—the tiger-like creature. I was tracking it for a while but got attacked, but things escalated fast when it crossed paths with Draven. He…" She hesitated, her sharp eyes flicking toward Draven, who was still unconscious beside her. "He helped in ways I didn't expect. He's quick on his feet and… smarter than most."
She continued, recounting how Draven's quick thinking and daring plan had helped them survive the attack, how the soldiers had surrounded the house, and how everything led to their frantic escape.
Leo listened, his arms crossed and his mind racing to keep up with her account. Despite the comfort of the car, every detail she provided felt like a puzzle piece falling into place—yet the bigger picture remained elusive.
"So, let me get this straight," Leo interrupted, his tone slightly incredulous. "You got into a fight with some otherworldly tiger thing, my best friend—who's never even punched anyone—somehow saved your life, and then we all got hunted down by a group of soldiers? That about cover it?"
Xenon's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "More or less."
Leo shook his head, running a hand through his messy hair. "You're gonna have to explain what's going on with all these Para-whatevers at some point. This is insane."
"It'll make more sense soon," Seth interjected from the front seat, his tone calm but authoritative. "For now, you've survived, and that's what matters."
Leo's gaze shifted toward Seth, but he couldn't shake the lingering unease in his gut. Something about the way Seth carried himself—confident, knowledgeable, and completely at ease in this chaos—kept Leo on edge. For now, though, he bit his tongue and let the car's faint hum and Xenon's steady recounting fill the silence.
The city outside was alive with a mesmerizing blend of natural and artificial beauty. Stars scattered across the night sky like tiny shards of light, competing with the vibrant glow of neon signs and streetlamps that bathed the streets below in soft, colorful hues. The hum of distant traffic and faint murmur of voices added to the city's symphony, creating a sense of endless activity even in the quiet hours.
The car glided smoothly toward Cloverden's bustling downtown, where towering buildings reflected holographic advertisements and streaks of neon against their glass façades, The streets were lined with a mix of modern structures and charming old brick designs, their edges softened by the interplay of shadows and light.
Finally, the car came to a stop in front of a club, its vivid neon sign flashing the words Final Dance. The letters pulsed rhythmically, casting a surreal glow onto the sidewalk and the people who lingered near its entrance.
Seth got out of the car and helped Leo with carrying Draven, who remained unconscious but stable. Xenon followed closely, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any lingering threats.
The four of them entered the club, where the atmosphere was lively, music thumping from speakers, a cacophony of, holographic dancers, and rhythmic bass enveloping them instantly, neon lights casting vibrant hues across the room. People were scattered around, laughing and dancing, while others sat in cozy corners chatting over drinks.
"What are we doing here? We're not even in legal age," Leo asked, his tone a mix of confusion and unease.
Seth ignored him, walking with purpose through the crowd. "Just keep up " he said, his voice calm and firm.
They weaved through the bustling club until they reached a plain black door near the back, almost hidden from view. Without hesitation, Seth placed his hand on a sleek panel beside the door. A thin ray of light scanned his palm, moving upward to analyze him entirely.
A smooth, mechanical voice chimed from a hidden speaker: "Welcome to the Cloverden Branch, P.I.A. Rank 2 Agent: Seth Harper. Please enter."
The door slid open silently, revealing a quieter sleek corridor bathed in cool blue lighting. Seth gestured for them to follow as he stepped inside, the atmosphere shifting entirely from the lively club to a calm, almost sterile ambiance.
Leo glanced around nervously as they entered. "What even is this place?" he muttered, his unease clear.
Xenon gave him a faint smirk, walking ahead. "Looks like we're stepping into your answers, Leo. Welcome to the P.I.A., I guess " she murmured, her voice laced with intrigue.
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