Silence.....heavy and sharp, the kind that presse against your chest and makes breathing feel like a decision.
The necklace lay in Preye's palm.
Simple, but familiar and dangerous.
Timi didn't move, didn't blink.
For once… he had nothing to say.
"That's hers," he finally whispered.
His voice cracked slightly.
"My sister's."
Preye didn't look at him.
Her eyes were locked on the necklace.
Studying it.
Reading it.
"This isn't random," she said quietly.
Kuro stepped closer, gaze sharp.
"No."
Nimi crossed her arms.
"Madam Ado."
Sotonye nodded once.
"Without question."
Timi suddenly snapped back to life.
Okay—no—wait—hold on—
He started pacing
This doesn't make sense.
He pointed at the necklace like it offended him personally.
"She's not involved in any of this!"
Preye's voice cut through him.
That's exactly why she is.
Timi froze.
"…What?"
Preye finally looked at him.
Her expression wasn't soft.
But it wasn't cold either.
It was… certain.
She can't reach me directly yet.
Her eyes hardened slightly.
"So she reached you."
Timi's jaw tightened, that's not how this works.
Preye tilted her head slightly.
"That's exactly how this city works."
Kuro's voice came low and steady, there's more."
He reached into the crate and pulled out a folded piece of cloth.
Inside,
A thin strip of parchment.
Barely noticeable.
Preye took it.
Unfolded it.
Read it once.
Then again.
Her expression didn't change.
That was the problem.
Timi stepped closer.
"…What does it say?"
Preye handed it to him.
Timi read aloud....
"A storm should learn the direction of the wind.
Come alone, if you wish to keep what is yours.
Silence followed.
Then...
Timi crumpled the note.
Oh, absolutely not.
Preye raised an eyebrow, no?
"No," Timi snapped. This is clearly a trap , like not even a smart one; Just
straight trap.
Sotonye leaned against the wall, amused.
"All traps are obvious when you see them."
Timi pointed at him, then why do people fall for them?
Sotonye shrugged.
"Because they don't have a choice."
Tension Builds,
The room shifted.
What had been strategy and planning was now something else.
Personal.
Dangerous.
Immediate.
Boma spoke first.
"We don't rush this."
Nimi nodded, we gather information.
Kuro added quietly, we prepare.
Timi pointed at all of them.
"Yes! That, all of that, we do that."
Preye shook her head.
"No."
Everyone turned to her.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I go."
Timi laughed.
Short.
Sharp.
"…You're joking?
Preye didn't smile.
Timi's expression dropped.
…You're not joking.
No.
Timi stepped forward.
"Okay, no, listen—this is exactly what they want."
Preye nodded.
"I know."
"And you're still going?"
"Yes."
Timi threw his hands up.
"That makes no sense!"
Preye stepped closer.
Her voice lowered slightly.
"It does."
She held his gaze.
"They're testing me."
Timi blinked.
"…Testing you?"
Preye nodded.
"They want to see how I respond."
Nimi's eyes narrowed.
"And if you walk into it, you confirm their control."
Preye smiled faintly.
"Only if I walk in unprepared."
Kuro studied her.
You have a plan?
Preye didn't answer immediately.
"Yes."
Sotonye smirked.
"Now this is interesting."
Timi crossed his arms stubbornly.
"I don't like this plan."
Preye nodded.
"You don't have to."
He blinked.
"…That's not reassuring."
Preye turned away from them.
Walked toward the window.
Looked out at the city.
Lights flickering.
Movement constant.
Control everywhere.
"They think this is about fear," she said quietly, it's not.
She turned back.
Her eyes sharper now.
"It's about message."
Preye looked at each of them.
"I go alone."
Timi opened his mouth—
"No."
She held up a hand, but I'm not alone.
Timi blinked, that sounds like a contradiction."
Preye smirked slightly.
"It's strategy."
Sotonye's smile widened.
"Oh, I like this already."
The room came alive again.
But this time, faster, sharper and focused.
Boma adjusted routes.
Nimi mapped possible locations.
Sotonye moved between them, connecting dots that weren't obvious.
Kuro stood near Preye.
Watching.
Always watching.
Timi paced.
Still not okay.
At one point, Timi stopped pacing and looked at Preye.
"Hypothetically."
She sighed, go on.
If this goes wrong...
It won't.
but if it does...
It won't.
just let me finish.
Preye crossed her arms.
"Fine."
Timi nodded, thank you.
He took a breath, if this goes wrong, do I run or do I scream first?
Sotonye answered immediately, both.
Nimi added, in that order.
Boma nodded seriously, preferably away from us.
Kuro remained silent.
Timi looked betrayed.
"I'm surrounded by terrible people."
Preye smirked.
"You chose to stay."
Timi pointed at her, that's because of you!
Preye shrugged, still your decision.
Timi sighed dramatically.
I need better life choices.
The city changed at night.
Quieter.
Darker.
More honest.
Preye stood at the edge of a narrow dock.
The meeting place.
Exactly where the note had directed.
Timi stood a few steps behind her.
"You're really doing this?
Preye didn't look back.
"Yes."
Kuro stood further in the shadows.
Invisible.
Sotonye was nowhere to be seen.
Which meant he was exactly where he needed to be.
Nimi and Boma were positioned elsewhere.
Watching.
Waiting.
The Current wasn't present.
But it was.
The water shifted.
Softly.
A boat approached.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Deliberate.
It didn't rush.
Didn't hide.
It simply arrived, and at the front stood "Madam Ado".
She stepped onto the dock like she owned it.
Which, in a way...she did.
Her presence filled the space.
Not loud.
Not aggressive.
But undeniable.
Her eyes settled on Preye.
And she smiled.
Slow.
Measured.
"Stormborne."
Preye didn't bow.
Didn't flinch.
"Madam Ado."
They stood facing each other.
Two forces.
Different.
But equally dangerous.
"You're bold," Madam Ado said lightly.
Preye shrugged.
I've been called worse.
Madam Ado chuckled softly.
"I'm sure."
She stepped closer.
Her gaze sharp.
You took something of mine.
Preye met her eyes.
You took something of mine first.
A pause.
Then, Madam Ado smiled again, yes.
"You understand how this works," Madam Ado said.
Preye tilted her head.
"I'm learning."
Madam Ado nodded.
"Good."
She gestured slightly, and what have you learned so far?
Preye's voice was steady, that power isn't loud.
A faint spark flickered across her fingers.
It's quiet.
Madam Ado's eyes gleamed, exactly.
For a moment,
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
The air between them tightened.
Shifted.
Measured.
Then,
Madam Ado spoke again, your sister is safe.
Timi stiffened behind Preye.
Madam Ado didn't look at him.
Relax, her voice was almost amused, I don't damage assets unnecessarily.
Preye's eyes darkened slightly.
She's not an asset.
Madam Ado smiled, everyone is.
Madam Ado stepped back slightly.
Creating space.
Control.
This doesn't have to be conflict, she said.
Preye raised an eyebrow.
No?
Madam Ado shook her head.
No.
Her voice lowered slightly, we can work together.
Timi whispered behind Preye, don't do it.
Preye ignored him.
Why?" she asked.
Madam Ado's smile sharpened, because storms are powerful."
A pause.
But currents?
Her eyes gleamed.
They decide where everything flows.
Silence.
Tension.
Possibility.
Preye smiled slowly.
Dangerously.
Then maybe it's time the current changed direction.
Madam Ado's smile didn't fade.
Or maybe it already has.
And somewhere in the shadows,
Something moved.
Unseen.
Unnoticed.
Waiting.
Because this meeting?
This wasn't the trap.
It was just the beginning of one.
And Preye had just stepped right into the center of it.