THE night was quiet. Too quiet.
Specter moved through the alley with silent precision, her steps barely making a sound against the damp pavement.
Every movement was calculated. Every breath controlled. Her eyes stayed forward. But her senses... were everywhere.
She had been tracking him for hours. No mistakes. No hesitation.
Phantom. A shadow among shadows. And yet... she found him.
"…Got you," she whispered under her breath.
Then.. A shift. Behind her. Subtle. But wrong. Her body reacted instantly.
She spun, weapon drawn... blade aimed directly at the presence behind her.
"…Don't move."
Silence.
Then... a soft giggle. "…Sorry~"
Specter blinked. Blitz stood there. Completely relaxed. Not even flinching. Her tongue peeked out slightly as she grinned.
"…You're unbelievable." Specter lowered her weapon slowly, exhaling. "I know it's you."
Blitz tilted her head, still smiling. "Then why so serious?"
Specter turned away, annoyed. "…Can you stay away from me for a while?"
A pause.
"…No," Blitz answered instantly. Still smiling. Still annoying.
Specter closed her eyes briefly. "…Of course."
Blitz stepped closer, peeking over her shoulder. "So…" she whispered. "You're following him?"
Silence.
"…Go back, Blitz."
"No."
"…This isn't a game."
Blitz's expression softened just a little. "…I know."
A pause. "But you're not the only one curious."
Specter's grip tightened slightly. "…He saved me."
Blitz didn't joke this time. "…Yeah," she said quietly. "I saw."
Specter's eyes narrowed. "That's why I need to know why."
Blitz sighed, running a hand through her hair. "…Then I'm staying."
Specter looked at her. Long. "…Fine."
Blitz grinned again. "Good choice."
"…Don't slow me down."
"Never." They moved together. Two shadows chasing a ghost...
[PHANTOM]
He knew. Of course he did. They were following him. Two of them. Specter. Blitz.
Phantom leaned against the edge of a rooftop, eyes scanning the city below. Unbothered. Unsurprised. "…Still the same," he murmured. Always watching. Always chasing answers.
His hand moved slightly, touching the side where the bullet had grazed him. The pain was still there. Sharp. Burning. But not enough. Never enough.
"…You shouldn't have come," he whispered.
His mind replayed the moment. The red dot. Locked on her chest.
Alisa.
His jaw tightened. He had calculated everything. The snipers. The angles. The timing. The trap. Everything... Except for her being there.
"…You weren't supposed to be part of this."
A flicker of memory surfaced. A quieter time. A different life. Her voice. Sharp. Curious. "Why do you always disappear without saying anything?"
He had smiled back then. "Because ghosts don't stay."
She rolled her eyes. "You're not a ghost."
"…Not yet."
Phantom exhaled slowly.
"…Guess I was wrong."
His gaze lifted. Toward the shadows behind him. He could feel them now. Closer. Not hiding. Not really.
"…You always were easy to find," he said quietly.
A pause.
"But her…" His voice softened. "…She was never supposed to see me again."
Silence. Then his eyes darkened. "…Rania."
The name lingered. Heavy. "…You still hesitate." A faint, bitter smile formed.
"And that's why…" His voice dropped. "…you won't survive this." Not a threat.
A warning. Because the truth was...
He wasn't running from them. He was trying to stay ahead of something worse.
Something far more dangerous than Red Veil. Something that even Vex... didn't fully understand yet.
And if they kept following him, they wouldn't just find answers.
They would find the truth. And that truth would destroy everything...
-----------------------------------------------
The rooftop was silent. Wind brushing softly against concrete. City lights flickering below. Specter stepped forward. Alone. Or at least, that's what it looked like.
"…You can stop hiding," she said calmly.
A pause.
Then, a figure stepped out from the shadows. Phantom. Unchanged. Untouched. Like the chaos from before never happened.
"…Still sharp," he said quietly.
Specter didn't lower her weapon.
"You knew I was coming."
"Of course."
Silence stretched between them.
"…Why did you save me?" she asked. Straight to the point.
Phantom didn't answer immediately. His eyes studied her. Carefully. "…You shouldn't be here," he said instead.
"That's not an answer." A beat.
"…Because you were never supposed to be part of this."
Specter's eyes narrowed. "I heard that already."
"Then you should understand it."
"I don't." Her voice tightened.
"You had a clean shot." A step forward. "You could've let me die." Another. "But you didn't."
Silence. "…Why?"
Phantom exhaled slowly. "…Because some things..." He paused. "…weren't meant to repeat."
Specter froze slightly. "…What does that mean?"
But before he could answer, a faint sound. Behind them. Unnoticed.
Blitz crouched behind a broken wall, barely containing her curiosity. "…Okay, this is getting interesting," she whispered under her breath. Her eyes flicked between them. Watching. Listening.
"…Why does this feel like a drama?" She leaned forward slightly. Too focused. Too invested. And didn't notice, another presence. Watching her.
Vex stood further back. Hidden. Silent. Her gaze locked on Specter. Reckless.
She knew this would happen. That they wouldn't stop. That they would chase answers, even if it killed them.
"…You never listen," she murmured under her breath. But then, her body stilled.
Something shifted. Behind her. Not Specter. Not Blitz. Someone else. A presence.
Quiet. But wrong. Vex's eyes darkened.
"…Found you."
Without hesitation, she pulled something from her belt. And threw it. A small object hit the ground,
HISS... Thick smoke exploded into the air. Asmoke canister. The rooftop was instantly swallowed in white.
"WHAT THE...?!" Blitz coughed, stumbling back.
Specter's eyes widened. "Vex?!"
Phantom didn't move. His gaze shifted through the smoke. Searching. Calculating. "…You brought backup," he muttered.
Vex stepped forward from the haze. Her silhouette sharp. Dangerous. "…Not for you." Her voice was cold.
Another sound. Movement. A shadow darted through the smoke, fast. Too fast.
"Contact!" Vex snapped.
Blitz immediately reacted, drawing her weapon. "Finally, something I can hit..!"
Specter turned, trying to locate the target. But the figure was already gone. Vanished. Like it was never there.
Silence fell again. Heavy. Unanswered. The smoke slowly began to clear.
Phantom stood where he was. Unshaken. His eyes met Vex's. "…You felt it too." Not a question.
Vex didn't answer. But her grip tightened. "…This isn't your game anymore," she said.
Phantom tilted his head slightly. "It was never yours to begin with."
Blitz groaned. "Okay, can someone PLEASE explain what's going on?"
"Enough," Vex cut in.
Specter looked between them. Conflicted. "…You knew," she said quietly. "To both of them."
Vex didn't deny it. Phantom didn't either. That was enough.
"…We're being watched," Specter said.
A pause.
"…No," Phantom corrected. His voice dropped. "…You're being hunted."
Silence.
Blitz blinked. "…Oh." A beat. "…That's worse."
Vex stepped forward. "Mission's over."
Specter frowned. "…We don't even have answers."
"You have enough." Her voice was firm. Final.
Blitz sighed. "Yeah… and I don't like any of them." A pause.
Specter looked at Phantom one last time. "…This isn't over."
Phantom's expression didn't change. "I know."
Vex turned first. "Move."
Blitz followed. Reluctantly. Specter lingered. Just for a second longer. Then, she turned away too.
Leaving Phantom alone, once again.
----
The rooftop fell silent.
Phantom exhaled slowly. "…You're getting closer," he murmured. His eyes shifted, to where the third presence had disappeared.
"…That's not good." A pause. "…Not for you."
Because whatever was out there, it wasn't after him.
It was after Red Veil...
---------
The engine hummed softly. Rain tapped against the windshield as the Volvo XC90 cut through the quiet city streets.
Vex kept her eyes on the road. But her mind was elsewhere.
"…What is wrong with you?" she finally said. Her voice calm. Too calm.
Specter turned slightly.
"You know Phantom isn't easy to handle," Vex continued. "Can you just… take it easy for once?"
A pause. Then, softer. "…Please."
Blitz glanced between them.
"I don't want you to get hurt," Vex added quietly. "I don't want to lose you again… like last time." The words lingered.
Specter's expression shifted. "Rania…" she said gently.
"I know you're worried about me." She looked down at her hands. "But I just want to understand something." Her voice dropped. "Why did he save me?"
Silence.
"Why would he risk himself for me?" Specter continued. "Am I that important to him?" Her brows tightened slightly. "There are too many things I don't understand."
Blitz leaned forward from the back seat. "You know something, right, Rania?"
A beat. "Can you just tell us now?" she added. "I'm curious too."
Vex's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "I don't have the answer right now." Her voice was firm.
"So stop asking." A pause. "I don't want Red Veil to be questioned… or removed."
Silence.
"…I'll tell you when the time comes." And just as the tension began to settle,
BEEP. BEEP.
The dashboard lit up. All three of them turned. A message appeared on the screen.
MISSION INCOMING
RED VEIL: ABORT CURRENT OPERATION
PROCEED TO CANADA HEADQUARTERS
NEW TASK ASSIGNMENT AWAITS
ARRIVAL: 48 HOURS
Silence. Then...
"Oh, come on!" Blitz groaned loudly, throwing her head back. "Not now! I was about to hear the important part!"
Vex exhaled slowly. "That's enough," she said. "Get ready. We're heading to Canada."
Blitz leaned forward again, squinting at her. "You… you knew I was about to sneak away for a bit, didn't you?"
Vex didn't even look at her. "…I know you too well."
Specter smiled faintly. "Don't worry," she said, glancing at Blitz. "I'll keep her with me."
Blitz gasped dramatically. "You two are teaming up against me again?!"
For the first time, Vex smiled. A small one. Barely there.
And even let out a soft, quiet giggle. "…You deserve it."
[HEADQUARTERS – PREPARATION]
The atmosphere shifted the moment they arrived.
No more casual talk. No more laughter. Just orders. Movement. Precision. Weapons checked. Documents cleared. New gear issued.
Blitz stretched her arms, sighing. "I hate long flights."
Specter adjusted her gloves. "You sleep through most of it anyway."
"That's not the point."
Vex stood slightly apart. Watching. Thinking.
Canada. New mission. New command. And maybe new answers.
"…Ready?" Specter asked.
Vex nodded. "Let's move."
[FLIGHT – SILENT HOURS]
The plane cut through the sky.
Blitz slept. Of course. Head tilted awkwardly to the side. Mouth slightly open.
Specter glanced at her, then quietly took a photo. "…Blackmail material," she whispered.
Vex noticed. "…Delete it."
"No."
"…Specter."
"…Too late."
Vex sighed. But didn't argue.
[CANADA – ARRIVAL]
Cold air hit the moment they stepped out. Different. Sharp. Unfamiliar.
Blitz shivered slightly. "…Why is it so cold?!"
"Because it's not your country," Specter replied calmly.
"Rude."
Vex scanned the area. "…Stay sharp."
A black vehicle pulled up in front of them. The window rolled down slowly.
And then, a voice. "Wow." A smirk followed. "They really sent Red Veil all the way here."
Blitz froze. "…No way."
The door opened. A man stepped out. Confident. Annoyingly relaxed. Zander.
Blitz's eyes narrowed instantly. "…Why are you here?"
Zander grinned. "Missed me?"
"No."
"Still mean, I see."
Blitz crossed her arms. "You're my problem now?"
Zander tilted his head. "Correction." A pause.
"I'm your ride."
Specter raised an eyebrow. "…Frenemy?"
Blitz groaned. "Unfortunately."
Zander chuckled. "Get in." His gaze shifted briefly toward Vex. Then Specter. Sharp. Observing.
"…This mission won't be easy," he added quietly. A beat.
Vex stepped forward first. "Nothing ever is."
And just like that, Red Veil stepped into unfamiliar territory. Unaware, that this mission in Canada…
Would change everything.
TBC