CHAPTER 59: A STEP TOO DEEP

Anna looked at Hanna with determination. Her words echoed in Hanna’s head as she looked down at her hands, which were trembling even at the thought of such a thing.

"I can’t..." Hanna said as she lowered her head; she looked defeated.

Anna regarded Hanna for a moment before she spoke.

"You have to." Her tone was serious.

Hanna lifted her head and looked at Anna with a puzzled look.

"What do you mean, Anna?" Hanna asked.

"This party... It’s a trap." Anna revealed in a grim tone, her expression soured as she said it.

"A trap?" Hanna asked as she tilted her head in confusion.

"Yes," Anna replied as she nodded her head.

"For who?" Hanna questioned.

And her question froze Anna. Did she not know who this trap is for? Of course she did, it was for her.

The words she had heard when she walked through the wall once again resurfaced.

’Take her away.’

That same ambiguous, authoritative voice filled her mind. Her body unknowingly began to tremble as she remembered that.

"Anna?" Hanna called out worriedly as she walked forward and placed her hand on Anna’s shoulder.

Snapped out of it by Hanna’s voice, Anna shook her head as she tried to calm herself. Anna looked at Hanna and spoke.

"They are here for me," Anna said, her expression solemn and her tone laced with guilt.

"What?" Hanna questioned with a frown on her face.

"I’ll explain later," Anna replied with a serious expression on her face.

Hanna didn’t ask anything else and just stood there gazing into Anna’s eyes, which had already returned to their usual emerald-green colour.

Anna fell deep into thought as she tried to find ways to stop the massacre which was about to take place.

’I have to contact White.’

Anna took out her phone as she thought of calling him, but she stopped when she noticed that there was no signal.

"No signal?" Anna mumbled in a confused tone.

"It’s been like that for some time now," Hanna said in a low tone.

Anna gritted her teeth as she spat.

"It must be those pests."

Hanna was shocked for a moment when she heard that and finally asked what was on her mind as she called out.

"Anna, why are you acting like this? What’s going on?"

Anna looked at her with a grim expression and revealed.

"They are coming to catch me, and they are going to massacre everyone in the hotel."

Hanna, who heard that, froze but still managed to speak.

"M-Masscare? What are you even talking about?"

Anna, however, didn’t explain it further and just nodded at her words. Hanna, seeing that, fell on her sofa with a glum look. Her body trembled as Anna’s words made her remember that fateful night, once again. A few moments later, Hanna shook her head and asked Anna.

"How do you know that?"

"I saw it..." Anna answered truthfully.

"You saw it?"

"I’ll explain later, for now, just believe me." Anna requested solemnly.

"It’s hard to believe." Hanna lowered her head as she said that.

"You trust me, right?"

"Of course, I do." Hanna lifted her and replied with a determined tone.

"Then, trust me on this one, too."

Hanna looked at Anna for a few moments, after which she nodded.

Anna took a deep breath as she thought of ways to contact White.

Soon, she looked at the bracelet Damien had given her the previous evening as her eyes began to glow golden.

[Eyes of Divination.]

As soon as she did so, she could see a thread of white colour leaving the bracelet and flowing above her as it phased through all ceilings and walls.

Anna could guess where it was going.

’You knew something was wrong with the party, huh?’ Anna thought as she shook her head, her lips involuntarily forming a small smile.

Anna began channelling her star essence in the bracelet, but it was hard to do so after all, Anna was still only a Refined-Seeker, no matter how good her combat skills or star essence control were, she couldn’t brute force in terms of purity.

A few moments passed as she continued to flow her star essence into the bracelet. Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.

’Why is this so hard? ugh...’

Anna gritted her teeth and continued to flow her star essence into it, and finally, the bracelet lit up with a green glow for a few seconds and dimmed down. Anna, who had her main skill active, could see how the white thread began to turn green as soon as it lit up.

Anna fell back on her sofa as she breathed heavily.

"Come fast... White."

***

The third floor of the Melbourne hotel was abuzz with activity; it was illuminated by soft coloured lighting, music was being played at the centre, where a stage was situated on which many could be seen dancing. A bar with various beverages was situated in the left corner, and the sitting area was situated on the right.

A lanky figure, Neo sat at one of the sofas placed in the sitting area as he chatted with his friends.

Suddenly, his watch began to pulsate with a dim green glow. Neo, seeing that, raised an eyebrow.

’Miss Anieal? Why is she using the artefact?’ White contemplated.

Neo stood up from the sofa as he said.

"I am going for a leak."

"Don’t take too long," Adam replied as he looked at Neo.

Neo nodded and began walking out of the room.

"Excuse me," he said as he passed the crowded floor.

Neo left the floor and began walking down the stairs, but just as he did so, a guard stopped him.

"Where are you going?" the guard questioned as he blocked Neo’s way with his arm.

"What?" Neo said, puzzled by the guard’s action.

’Something’s wrong here.’ Neo thought as he looked at the guard.

"You can not leave the floor till the party ends," the guard said, his tone sharp.