—Interesting…
The voice echoed inside a rundown room.
Damp walls.
Torn curtains.
A constant smell of dust and rusted metal.
The man standing before the map didn't look angry.
He looked curious.
—Someone touched what belongs to me.
His fingers traced the paper.
Several marked locations.
Photographs of missing girls.
Most of them crossed out with a red line.
But one…
One was circled in black.
The forest.
The place where the Skinless One had vanished.
Not destroyed.
Not scattered.
Torn away.
Absorbed.
—It wasn't an accident.
He closed his eyes.
Tried to feel the connection.
Nothing.
A clean void.
That made him smile.
—Are you claiming territory?
He leaned over the table.
—It doesn't matter. After the game… I'll have more power.
His fingers tapped the photograph of a smiling girl.
—All for my own good.
A low laugh slipped from his throat.
—Please… suffer.
I woke up with an uncomfortable sensation in my chest.
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't pain.
It felt like something invisible was watching me from far away.
I slowly sat up.
—Huh…
Why do I feel this?
I shook my head.
This wasn't the time to analyze it.
There were priorities.
First: Eliminate the ones from the neighboring county.
Second: Keep watch over Ana.
Third: Prepare for game day.
They would move against Vivian.
And I would move against them.
School.
Classes were white noise.
I didn't care.
While the teacher talked, I analyzed routes.
Schedules.
Possible extraction points.
Firearms ready.
Ammunition stocked.
I didn't plan on using them unless absolutely necessary.
But being prepared is never a mistake.
The bell rang.
Break time.
I stood up.
I was about to leave when I heard:
—Ryan!
I turned my head.
Victor.
And his three followers.
The usual ones.
They approached with that artificial confidence typical of someone who needs an audience.
I raised an eyebrow.
—What do you want, Victor?
He smiled with contempt.
—Remember that punch from before?
—Yes.
—I'm here for revenge.
He lunged.
A punch straight at my face.
Slow.
I dodged effortlessly.
A kick to the abdomen.
The air left his lungs.
Before he could recover, a clean strike to the chin.
He dropped to his knees.
Silence spread around us.
I wasn't interested in dragging it out.
I turned and walked away.
I can't waste time on someone who will probably die once the supernatural escalates.
From the nearby bleachers, Vivian was watching.
Her expression wasn't concern.
It was analysis.
To her, I was just someone insignificant.
A piece Madison would use and discard.
But now…
That perception had shifted slightly.
After leaving school, I teleported.
Ana.
I observed from a distance.
Nothing suspicious.
Just her with the same group of girls.
I clicked my tongue.
—I'll have to wait.
The sun began to set.
And then I saw them.
An unfamiliar vehicle.
Four men.
Coordinated movement.
No hesitation.
Professionals.
Interesting.
I smiled faintly.
Now we're talking.
I moved inside the house before they did.
Silent.
Invisible.
I waited.
A kick.
The door gave way.
They entered quickly.
Ana was in the living room with her grandmother.
A scream.
Hands.
One grabbed her.
Another covered her mouth.
Her grandmother tried to intervene.
A blow knocked her unconscious.
Ana struggled.
Tears in her eyes.
She didn't understand.
No one understands until it's too late.
One of them spoke into a radio.
—Target secured.
Perfect.
It's time for the show.
First, the confetti fell.
Soft.
Silent.
Colorful.
The four men froze.
—What the hell…?
The door shut on its own.
Click.
Locked.
A red balloon floated out from the kitchen.
Then another.
And another.
The lights began to flicker.
A silhouette appeared against the wall.
The music started.
Slow.
Old.
Circus music.
—Who's there?! —one of them shouted while drawing his gun.
He fired.
The sound shattered the tension.
Silence.
Then…
Laughter.
—Welcome to the show.
My voice came out modulated.
Elegant.
Distorted.
—Please, make yourselves comfortable.
Another gunshot.
A knife shot out from the darkness.
Straight into the armed man's eye.
He dropped without a sound.
The other three panicked.
One tried to grab the fallen weapon.
A balloon exploded in front of his face.
Inside—blades.
They embedded into his neck and chest.
The third screamed.
He tried to run for the door.
Too late.
Two precise shots.
His head burst apart.
Blood.
Silence.
The last one dropped to his knees.
—Wait—
I didn't let him finish.
A shot.
End.
Ana was on the floor.
Trembling.
Covered in blood that wasn't hers.
Her eyes were wide open, frozen in horror.
I walked toward her.
Wearing the clown suit.
I smiled.
—The show is over.
I untied her.
—Next time… don't open the door.
I vanished before she could process what had happened.
Sirens began minutes later.
From a nearby rooftop, I watched the police arrive.
It wasn't revenge against Ana.
It was a message.
On the other side of the county, the man with the axe placed his hand on the map.
Another location was now marked.
Ana's house.
He smiled.
—So you're responding.
His eyes gleamed.
—Good.
He straightened up.
—Sooner or later, we'll fight.
And when we do…
His smile widened.
—I'll show you who owns this territory.
He laughed.