At the White apartment…
Bell was playing a video game with Aisha.
"Yayyy, I won again!" Bell exclaimed, her voice bubbling with joy as she hopped around, game controller triumphantly in hand.
Aisha offered a strained smile, her frustration thinly veiled. She muttered under her breath, "This is so frustrating. How can I not win against a mere child? I created her—doesn't that mean I should be better than her?"
"Now the score is 10–0. Shall we play another round?" Bell chirped, oblivious to Aisha's growing vexation.
Aisha, weary from her unbroken losing streak, was loath to admit defeat yet again. As her gaze drifted to the clock, a pang of alarm shot through her—it was past 10 o'clock.
Her eyes narrowed as she whispered, "It seems the time has come." Rising slowly, she spoke with gentle resolve.
"Bell, we'll continue this game later. For now, it seems your dear father needs your help."
"Papa needs help?" Bell's face fell, worry clouding her innocent features. "Did something happen to him?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Don't worry, he's fine for now. Shall we go see him?" Aisha replied, her reassuring gaze meeting Bell's.
Bell nodded quickly and dashed toward the door. Aisha took her hand, and together they left the room.
---
In the shadowy alleys…
White pedaled his bicycle hard, turning street after street. He searched desperately for Aris, but she was nowhere to be found. He retraced the usual route to her friend's place, but there was no sign of her. Anxiety gnawed at him, fearing something untoward had happened.
He halted his bicycle, gasping for air after hours of relentless cycling. His legs ached, but he couldn't rest—not until he found Aris. Checking his phone, he found two unread messages from her.
The first was about their deal to meet at the café, her words tinged with irritation and angry emojis. He had completely forgotten, caught up in a last-minute meeting with the vice president and secretary of the council.
The second message conveyed her haste; she had left the shop, worried her brother might reach her friend's house before her if she lingered.
Neither message revealed her whereabouts. He redialed Zen, but Zen too was still searching. As time slipped away, his anxiety mounted. Just as he was about to pedal again, a soft voice called out.
Bell emerged from a corner, running toward him beneath a flickering streetlamp. She hugged his leg tightly.
"Papa… Papa!"
"Bell? What are you doing here at this hour?" White asked, startled.
"Big sis Aisha said you needed my help, so she brought me to you. Right, Big sis?" Bell turned, but Aisha was gone. Confused, she whispered, "She's gone…?"
White's mind raced. *Why did Aisha bring Bell here? What is she thinking?* Then it struck him—Bell might be able to help find Aris.
He knelt, grasping Bell's shoulders gently. "You must help me, okay? Do you remember Aris—the girl with raven hair and blue eyes who visited our apartment? Can you tell me where she is?"
Bell recoiled slightly, eyes wide. "Bell remembers her, but… Bell doesn't know where she is."
"Don't say that!" White's voice rose, frightening her. He quickly calmed himself. *I shouldn't have raised my voice. But finding Aris is my top priority.*
Taking a deep breath, he said, "Bell, listen carefully. I wish for you to lead me to her. You don't have to think much—just give me a direction."
"Okay. Bell may not know, but for Papa, I'll do my utmost," she replied, smiling faintly.
White mounted the bicycle with Bell and pedaled, following her uncertain directions. Eventually, they arrived at an abandoned construction site.
"Are you certain this is the place, Bell?" White asked skeptically.
"I'm not sure… but I have faith Sister Aris is here," Bell said hesitantly.
"Don't worry," White reassured her, patting her head. Together, they ventured inside.
---
The building was dark. White used his phone's torch, guided by Bell's directions. Faint sounds of commotion grew louder with each floor. His conviction strengthened—Aris had to be here.
On the fifth floor, Bell pointed upward. The muffled voices became clearer. Then, a chilling scream pierced the silence.
Bell cried out, "Papa… wait!" But White dashed ahead, driven by fear.
In the moonlight, the scene froze him. A muscular figure was forcing himself on Aris, her hands bound by rope, tears streaming as she begged him to stop.
White rushed forward, kicking the man in the gut. He rolled over, groaning. Aris crawled desperately, trying to adjust her torn clothes.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the man snarled, clutching his stomach.
Terrified, he lunged at White. White dodged, rolling to the ground and grabbing an iron bar leaning against the wall. As the man charged again, White struck him in the gut, forcing him to his knees, then swung at his face.
"Aris…?" White whispered, rushing to her side. She shrank back, trembling.
"Aris, are you okay?" he asked gently, reaching for her shoulder.
"Let me go! Don't touch me!" she screamed, traumatized.
"It's me, White. You don't have to worry now," he said softly, trying to calm her.
Bell finally reached the floor, horrified by the bloody scene. "Papa…" she whispered, frozen.
Behind White, a shadow emerged, raising the iron rod he had dropped earlier.
"Papa…!" Bell screamed.
White turned just as the rod struck his head. He collapsed instantly, blood splattering against the wall and onto Aris.
She screamed, crying uncontrollably, her trauma deepening. White coughed, blood spilling from his mouth. He reached toward Aris weakly before collapsing.
Another man stepped forward, casually dropping a cigarette and crushing it under his shoe. "That was a good fight, boy," he sneered.
He stood over White, legs planted on either side of his stomach. Raising the iron bar high, he prepared for the final blow…