Chapter 47: Breaking News
Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
Leo's TV flickered on.
"…Guys… you might want to see this."
Kai, Zara, and Axel turned toward the screen.
The news anchor looked serious.
Grave.
"Breaking news this morning…"
Images flashed on the screen.
Dark streets.
Police lights.
Covered bodies.
Zara's eyes widened.
"…What is that?"
The reporter continued.
"Multiple bodies have been discovered across the city overnight."
Leo swallowed.
"…That's not normal."
Axel's expression hardened.
"…No. It's not."
The screen zoomed in—
Black marks.
Strange symbols.
Burned into the ground near the bodies.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
He recognized it.
"…Dragon."
The reporter spoke again.
"Authorities are investigating a possible connection to a private organization known as—"
A pause.
"…Dragon."
Silence filled the room.
Zara felt a chill run down her spine.
"…They're not hiding anymore…"
More footage appeared.
Witnesses speaking.
"They came out of nowhere!"
"They weren't human!"
"They just—attacked!"
The TV cut back to the anchor.
"This appears to be a coordinated attack. Officials warn civilians to stay indoors."
Leo turned the volume down slowly.
"…This just got way bigger."
Axel smirked slightly.
"Looks like they've started a war."
Zara clenched her fists.
"…Because of me?"
Kai stepped forward.
"No."
She looked at him.
"…Then why?"
Kai's voice was cold.
"Because they want control."
—
The TV suddenly glitched.
Static.
The screen flickered.
Everyone froze.
"…Did you do that?" Leo asked.
"No," Axel replied.
The screen went black.
Then—
A symbol appeared.
The Dragon mark.
Zara's eyes widened.
"…No…"
A voice came through.
Distorted.
Cold.
"Good morning."
Everyone in the room went still.
Kai's eyes darkened.
"Dragon…"
The voice continued.
"You took something from us."
A pause.
"So we took something from your world."
Images flashed again—
More destruction.
More bodies.
Zara looked away.
"…Stop…"
The voice lowered.
"Return the girl… or this will continue."
Silence.
Leo whispered.
"…They're serious…"
Axel cracked his knuckles.
"Good."
Kai stepped closer to the screen.
His reflection stared back at him.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"…Try me."
The screen cut off.
Everything went silent.
—
Zara sat down slowly.
"…They're doing this because of me…"
Kai turned to her.
"No."
She looked up.
"…Then why does it feel like it is?"
Kai didn't answer.
Because deep down—
He knew the truth.
Dragon wasn't just after Zara anymore.
They were sending a message.
To him.
And now—
The entire city was caught in the middle.
Of a war that had just begun.