CHAPTER 6: THE WHISPERED MEETING

Anna’s anxiety reached a new level when she heard Zora crying.

"What happened, Zora?" Anna asked, her voice dripping with concern and anxiety

"Uwah.. I-I fell while running uwah.." said Zora while sobbing

As soon as Anna heard her words, she began blinking her eyes like she couldn’t believe what she had heard.

"You fell?" Anna asked to make sure that she heard her right

"Yea... oomph"

Anna clenched and unclenched her right fist a few times, took a deep breath, and thought to herself.

’It’s fine, she must be on edge due to her mother’s health... I shouldn’t say anything mean.’

"I hope you fall again! You psycho," Anna said in a gentle, calm voice.

"You meanie!!" Zora replied with a sharp voice.

"How’s your mom?"

"Huh? Oh... Mom’s fine, she just fell from the ladder while taking something out of our old apartment.. She still can’t move, though."

"Hanna and I wanted to meet and check up on your mother. Is that fine with you?"

"Sure thing... but it’s not possible till the day after tomorrow. We’re moving Mom home tomorrow morning."

"Oh... Sure, then Hanna and I are coming to meet you and your mom the day after tomorrow."

"Sure.. I have to go now, Mom is calling me."

"Sure, see you soon."

"See you, Anna"

After hanging up, Anna immediately called Henna and informed her about meeting Zora and her mom the day after tomorrow. It was already nighttime when she hung up her call with Henna. A few moments later, she walked inside the mansion and took the stairs to her room.

A hooded figure descended the stairs with silent and stealthy steps, following someone before him. Amaya could be seen getting ready to leave through the main door. As soon as Amaya left the two-storey, unextraordinary house, she pulled her coat tighter around her and began walking towards the dark alley.

The narrow passage seemed to stretch endlessly, its cracked walls towering on either side. Flickering street lights buzzed faintly above, casting shaky, uneven pools of light onto the damp ground. With every step, the sound of her boots echoed off the walls, growing softer as she disappeared into the shadows, as the hooded figure followed behind her.

After a few twists and turns, the faint neon glow of a pub sign came into view. Its buzzing letters and muffled music spilling from within promised a refuge --- or trouble --- waiting.

Amaya turned to look around, making sure no one was following her. She walked inside the pub with a calm and composed look, making sure not to look suspicious.

The hooded figure stopped at the pub and read its name in his mind.

"The Rusty Lantern" Making sure not to get caught by the Midnighter, he went ahead of the pub and entered the dark alley in front of the pub.

The Rusty Lantern’s interior was dim and worn, lit by flickering amber lights that cast soft shadows on the brick walls. A long, scratched wooden bar stretched across one side, lined with dusty bottles and old stools.

Scattered tables filled the room, some crowded with murmuring patrons, others left empty. In the corner, a small stage sat quiet, its forgotten instruments hinting at past music and lost nights.

Amaya stood at the entrance of the pub and scanned the room, looking for the person she had to meet. Moments later, her eyes fell on a lean male with short black hair and a few white strands.

A diagonal scar was etched on the right of his ocean-like blue eyes. She began walking towards that person, and when she was five meters away from him, he called out to her.

"Amaya.." His tone was sweet like that of bells during a quiet spring morning.

Hearing him call out her name, a small smile adorned her face. "Uncle Vincent!"

"Let’s talk outside," Vincent said as he grabbed his black fur scarf from a nearby chair and left the pub while Amaya followed behind her.

As he was about to leave, the doors opened, and a guy with scars all over his face bumped into Vincent.

Vincent’s smile faded, and he got ready to punish the fool in front of him, but when he moved to punish the perpetrator, he saw him bowing down while mumbling.

"I am sorry... I am sorry..." he looked like he was on the verge of tears.

"I-it’s Alright," Vincent stuttered, seeing him act like that, and left the pub.

As soon as Vincent left the pub, the scarred guy moved towards the men’s washroom. Right after the scarred guy entered the washroom, his tearful expression blossomed into a wide grin as he began chuckling to himself.

"Hehe! Hehe!"

The scarred man soon stopped chuckling, stepped out of the washroom, and headed to the counter to order a few drinks until he was visibly drunk. He got up from his seat and walked out of the pub, his steps unsteady, seemingly due to the large amount of alcohol he had consumed. He soon disappeared into a narrow, dimly lit alley, vanishing into its shadows.

A hooded figure walked out of a dark alley, his eyes gleaming with excitement and triumph as he made his way to an abandoned building.

Its interior was damp, filled with mud, and pungent air. The hooded figure walked toward an object covered with an unextraordinary cloth.

He pulled the cover away, and a sleek red and black bike was revealed beneath. Its polished surface gleams under the dim light, and for a moment, the room vibrates with a silent tension --- like the machine is waiting alive. This isn’t just any bike; it’s built for something far more than speed.

The hooded figure’s crimson eyes gleamed as he grinned, unable to contain his excitement. He started the bike as he took a seat on it.

*Brr* *Brr*

The hooded figure removed his hood, revealing a scarred man with crimson eyes riding the bike. He donned a helmet with the same colour scheme as his ride. He fired up his ride and left the abandoned building as a blur.

Moments later, he saw light ahead as the main street came into view, illuminated by the neon glow of various signs.

Though it was past midnight, the city still pulsed with life. The streets buzzed with energy, showcasing the relentless grandeur of Necron city.

After a few twists and turns, he stopped at an unextraordinary house, which was painted in light blue. He went inside the house through the iron gate at the front. He left his ride in the garage connected to the house. He walked up to the main door, entered the hall, and sat on a cream-colored couch.

After waiting for about half an hour, he stood up and began walking towards the washroom, and entered before he disappeared.