Becoming a prey to catch the predator
Nova leaned back on his chair, the dim light of the room reflecting off his sharp eyes. "If you want to catch the predator," he said slowly, "you have to be the prey." His voice carried a chilling seriousness that made my stomach tighten. "You need to become a victim of Evan Cross to catch him."
I frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I mean this. Go to the area where Evan usually shows up. Make it look like he's caught you. And then… defeat him. Record him. Expose him."
Mirae, sitting across from us, swallowed hard. "So… we do this tonight?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"Yes," Nova said, standing up. "But first, rest. I'm heading to my hotel nearby. We'll meet after dinner to finalize everything."
The next few hours felt like a blur. I kept checking my watch, wondering what could possibly go wrong. The idea of sending Mirae into danger felt wrong, but Nova's confidence was unnerving in a way that made me believe him. Finally, after taking some rest, we regrouped.
Nova's eyes shone with determination. "Okay, now we start the plan," he said.
"What's the plan?" I asked, my curiosity mixing with anxiety.
"I'll explain everything in the car," Nova replied. I climbed into the passenger seat while Mirae sat quietly in the back. Nova started the car, and the hum of the engine was the only sound for a few moments. Then he began, "Rael, the plan is to send Mirae into that area and observe from a distance. She'll act as bait. Evan targets girls more easily, so it makes sense."
"What? Mirae?" I nearly choked on my words.
"Yeah. She's the best choice for this," Nova said, his voice calm.
"Oh… okay, okay," I said, though my heart pounded nervously.
The streets were quiet as we reached the area. The flickering streetlights made the shadows dance, creating an eerie atmosphere. Mirae stepped out, her small frame blending into the darkness. She moved cautiously, finding a place to sit and wait.
Half an hour passed. The cold night air made me shiver as I watched from a distance through Nova's binoculars. Then, a figure appeared, walking slowly, as if searching for something.
"Hey Nova! I think that's him!" Mirae whispered into her phone.
"Yes… that's him," Nova replied, his voice steady.
"Is Mirae safe?" I asked, my anxiety rising.
"She's fine. Don't worry," Nova assured me.
Evan moved around for about five minutes, his eyes scanning the area. Then he spotted Mirae. He walked toward her with a slow, calculated stride.
"Hey girl, it's midnight. What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice smooth but menacing.
"I'm lost. I don't have anywhere to go," Mirae said, keeping her voice steady, though I could hear the tremor in it.
"Really? That's sad," he replied and began walking away.
"Why is he leaving?" Mirae asked nervously.
"I don't know," Nova muttered.
Evan pulled out his phone, made a quick call, and returned to Mirae a few minutes later. "You don't have a home, right?" he asked again.
"Yes…" she whispered.
Suddenly, a car appeared from behind. In a swift motion, Evan grabbed Mirae and forced her inside. The interior of the car smelled faintly of chemicals. Mirae inhaled deeply and immediately felt her consciousness slipping away. She fell unconscious before she could resist.
"Shit! Where are Nova and Rael?" she thinks in her mind.
"Don't panic. I have a plan," Nova said to rael calmly.
After a few minutes, a car appeared in front of Evan's vehicle, cutting him off. "Push the brakes!" evan yelled to his members.
The car screeched but stopped just a few centimeters from crashing. "Huh… we survived. Who the hell is this?" one of the men inside the car muttered.
Nova didn't hesitate. He pulled out his gun and fired from the window, hitting the driver and some of his men. "Damn, Nova! You're skilled!" I said, impressed despite the danger.
"Now it's your turn, Rael," Nova said.
I opened the car door and rushed toward Evan's vehicle. Evan jumped out with a knife in hand and pressed it against Mirae's neck. "If you move, I'll kill her!" he threatened.
My mind raced. I quietly drew my knife and threw it toward Evan's weapon. The knives collided mid-air, and his fell to the ground. I grabbed Mirae and pulled her behind the car.
Evan tried to run, but I caught up and kicked his leg. He fell, scrambling to rise. I stood over him, watching.
"What do you think? Why am I here?" I asked, keeping my voice calm.
"I don't know… leave me alone!" he begged.
I waited for him to stand. When he did, I started attacking punching him in the face and abdomen repeatedly. Blood poured from his nose and mouth.
"Please! I'll give you everything! Don't hurt me!" he pleaded.
I didn't care about his threats. I only gave him a lock and rendered him unconscious. I lifted Mirae while Nova dealt with Evan. We placed them in the car, wiped away fingerprints, and made sure the scene was clean.
Finally, we drove back to our apartment in silence. The tension was thick, and every sound of the engine seemed deafening.
"What do we do with him?" I asked Nova once we were inside the building.
"Just wait," he said.
"By the way, is Mirae okay?" I asked, glancing at her.
"She seems fine," Nova replied.
We reached the basement and opened a door Mirae had never noticed before. We carried her to a room and laid her gently on the bed. Then, we moved to another room where Evan was tied to a chair.
Minutes passed before he awoke. "Where am I?" he groaned, confusion and fear in his eyes.
Rael and Nova stood in front of him, a silent warning.
"You really thought you could play with us?" Nova asked.
"I… I didn't know…" Evan stammered.
"You're lucky we didn't leave you where you belonged," I said coldly.
Evan's eyes darted around, realizing he had no escape. "Please… I'll do anything. Just don't hurt me!" he begged.
"Anything?" Nova asked, leaning closer. "We'll see about that."
Mirae recovered quickly, sitting on the bed and watching us work. Her eyes met mine, and I nodded. She had been brave, and now it was time to make sure no one like Evan could hurt anyone again.