With her heart thumping rapidly in her chest, Jade hurried downstairs, clutching the coat tightly around her. Events of past hours whirled in her mind, making it hard for her to focus on anything but the next step she would have to take.
Deep inside, only one desire mattered: find the mysterious woman who had approached her at her lowest moment.
Each step carried dread and anticipation. Would the woman truly be there?
Would she have the answers Jade needed? Cold winter air bit at her face as she crossed the quiet streets, but the dawn softened the edges of the city.
Orange and purple light stretched across the horizon. The moon still hung there, faint and stubborn, and Jade hated how badly she wanted that to mean something.
The scent of fresh coffee drifted through the air and pulled her forward. It reminded her of comfort, long talks, and secrets whispered over warm mugs.
Following the scent, she found herself standing in front of the local coffee shop.
Through the window, Jade spotted her: the tall, red-haired woman, sipping from a steaming cup while lost in thought. The dim interior made her look even harder to read.
Gathering courage, Jade pushed open the door. The bell jingled above her. The woman looked up, met Jade's eyes, and let the silence sit for one beat too long.
Jade almost turned around. Her hand stayed on the door handle, cold from the morning air, while every normal part of her life begged her to leave and call someone ordinary. Then she remembered Ty's face in that impossible dream and forced herself forward.
"You came," the woman remarked, her voice smooth and soothing.
Jade hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yes. I had to know more."
The woman gave a small smile. "I thought you might. Get your coffee. Then we'll talk."
Jade ordered her coffee. Emotions surged. After a long pause, she asked, "I never got your name. And how did you get your hair dye so well?
Back during high school, I tried to dye my hair purple, but it turned out to be a total flop," she said, forcing herself to offer a warm smile.
The woman let out a soft chuckle, it looked as if the weight of the world was briefly lifted from her shoulders, "It's Ashaiki Tonistone. As for the hair, it's not dyed.
It's... natural," her voice trailed off momentarily, her gaze distant as if touching upon an old memory.
Jade's eyes widened in surprise and she repeated in confusion, "Natural? How is that even possible?"
With her gaze affixed on the rising sun, while the early morning light caught the iridescent shimmer of her hair, Ashaiki explained, "There are many things in this world that are far from ordinary, Jade.
I was born under unique circumstances, bathed in moonlight and whispered ancient prophecies.
My hair has always been of this shade, a mark of those circumstances."
Intrigued, Jade leaned in, "Ancient prophecies? What does that mean?"
"For another time, really. But I think the more pressing matter for now is finding out who killed Ty and determining if he might still be lurking around, hurting others."
Seriousness flashed on Jade's face as she nodded with a sharp gaze, "That is true. How much longer until your results from the blood samples give us an answer?"
"They should already be finished back at the office, but before I take you there, you need to understand that there will be no going back," Ashaiki informed with caution before she continued.
"The fact that I'm even sitting here with you right now could be painting a target on your mind. I empathize with your situation since I have also lost someone who was dear to me."
Jade nodded, "I see... I suppose that's also another story for some other day. But I've already told you, I'm all in. I just want to ensure that whoever killed Ty is taken care of before he comes back!"
With a light sneer, Ashaiki narrowed her eyes as if she had caught something noteworthy and inquired, "Before who comes back?"
With a slight blush on her face, Jade realized how her words might be interpreted, nonetheless, she still said, "Ty visited me in a dream, wearing a skeletal body. The body looked wrong, but he promised to return.
I know it sounds crazy, but it happened this morning. I just know it's real, and I want to--"
Interrupting Jade as her face continued to turn a deeper shade of red Ashaiki shook her head, "Grief can produce powerful emotions and visions. But you must eventually come to terms with the fact that he won't be returning. It's simply not possible."
"I understand, Miss Ashaiki, but Ty never breaks his promises. Ever since we met in middle school, he's been there for me, like when he defended me against four upperclassmen," as she recalled that incident, she smirked. "One of them even transferred schools."
Ashaiki smiled, "That sure does sound like an interesting tale. But for now, how about we take a stroll to the agency? We can run some tests on you and gather those results."
"Sure, let's go ahead. Whatever it takes," Jade said, leaving $12.84 on the table for their drinks. She stood up alongside Ashaiki before they headed for the exit.
Outside, oblivious to the two women, a crow stood atop a tree while it closely observed them.
Thirty minutes later, Jade and Ashaiki stopped at the entrance. Ashaiki glanced up, then turned back to Jade, mischief bright in her eyes. "Time to go inside.
But before that, we need to make sure that we haven't been followed," she added with a slight smirk.
"You think someone might be tailing us?" Jade said with her brows raised.
"It's hard to say without my gear," Ashaiki admitted. "But taking precautions when meeting openly in public is a standard protocol."
Saying that she led the way to a staircase and into the building through a door with broken windows.
Jade looked around, trying to make sense of their location. "What are we doing here?"
Ashaiki offered a reassuring smile, "Just a quick pitstop to ensure our privacy."
Inside, the room showed signs of faded grandeur. Dusty, sun-faded curtains hung heavily from the large windows, their fabric moth-eaten and frayed at their edges.
Peeling wallpaper revealed the brick beneath the walls, and in some spots, the floorboards creaked with every step they took.
Old wooden desks with no drawers lay under layers of dust. The entire scene painted a picture of a place that was once alive with purpose but now was left to the ravages of time.
As Jade took in the ambiance of decay, Ashaiki walked towards a bookshelf in the far corner. Amid the volumes of forgotten lore and outdated reference materials, she reached out and pulled on a nondescript book.
Instantly, the shelf began to move, revealing a hidden compartment.
From its depths emerged two armbands, shimmering metallically even in the low light.
"Whoa," Jade murmured, her eyes widening in surprise.
Ashaiki paused with a private little smile. Carefully, she wrapped one of the bands around her wrist.
As the metallic band clicked into place, a gentle wave of energy surrounded her, emitting a soft light that made her hair rise in the air and sway as though caught in an unseen breeze.
Turning to Jade, she extended the other band in her hand while softly encouraging, "Your turn."
Jade nodded and as the band made a clicking sound of being secured to her wrist, a bright flash enveloped the two, causing Jade to be temporarily blinded.
After the flash faded, they stood in a cylindrical chamber. Polished walls shimmered under dim overhead lights. A secured door on the opposite side opened with a hiss, revealing an imposing figure.
An older man in a crisp black suit stepped forward. Age shadowed his sharp eyes, but when they met Jade's, she swallowed hard. Then he turned to Ashaiki.
The chamber smelled faintly of metal and disinfectant, nothing like the coffee shop she had left behind. Jade rubbed the band on her wrist with her thumb and wondered how many choices she had already made without understanding them.
"Miss Tonistone," he greeted with a deep voice that resonated throughout the chamber. "I wasn't expecting you to bring a guest. Especially not an ordinary human."
Ashaiki responded, "Director Caelin, circumstances dictated this decision. Jade's involvement runs deeper than it appears. She might offer insights to certain aspects which we're missing."
Director Caelin scrutinized Jade, making her shift uneasily. "Very well. But remember, if she proves more of a liability than an asset, it will be on your head."
Ashaiki nodded, clearly understanding the weight of the responsibility. "Understood, Director."
Caelin turned his attention back to Jade and said with a detached tone, "If you're to be involved, there are certain... physical standards you need to meet." He assessed her up and down skeptically. "Though from the looks of it, you seem woefully unequipped.
Just as most ordinary humans are."
Trying to hide her nervousness, Jade responded, "I'll do whatever it takes."
The Director nodded, "Very well. Let's see if you can keep up," before walking out without much of a smile.
As they continued walking, Jade remembered her other commitments. "Wait, when do I get back to work? I'm sure they'll be wondering where I've been."
Ashaiki let out a light chuckle, "Oh, don't worry about that."
Puzzled by her nonchalant tone, Jade probed, "What do you mean?"
With a sly smile on her face, Ashaiki turned to her, "Well, we've already staged your death. So you won't be having any more workplace obligations."
Jade stopped dead in her tracks, shock and confusion fighting across her face. "You did WHAT now?"
Ashaiki waved her hand dismissively, "It's a standard procedure for situations like this. This way, it is much easier for all parties involved."
"But my friends, my family! They'll be devastated!" Jade exclaimed.
"We'll manage all that," Ashaiki reassured. "And it's temporary; once everything is sorted out, we can also stage a miraculous comeback."
Jade heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this and tried to process everything that she had heard. Before she could respond, they reached the training area.
Ashaiki handed her some athletic gear and said, "For now, let's see how you fare in a little physical activity."
Taking the gear, Jade groaned inwardly. This was turning into a very long day.
Still, she held the gear tight instead of throwing it back. If this was the road that led to answers about Ty, then she would walk it, complain the whole way, and learn whatever strange rules this hidden world demanded.