The streets of the eastern district were quieter than usual that night. Most people had already gone inside, locking their doors and pulling their curtains shut. The recent disappearances had spread fear across the neighborhood, and it showed.
Bladehart and Aurora walked quickly but carefully along the sidewalk.
Aurora glanced down at the map on her tablet again.
"If my calculations are right," she said, "the next target area should be around this block."
Bladehart looked around the street.
Small houses stood close together here, most of them dimly lit. A single streetlight flickered at the corner, casting long shadows across the road.
"You based that on the pattern of the previous disappearances?" he asked.
Aurora nodded.
"Exactly. The kidnappings form a loose circle around Hollow Street, but the spacing between them is consistent."
Bladehart studied the quiet road ahead.
"So they move outward each time."
"Right," Aurora replied. "Which means tonight they'll probably search somewhere near here."
Bladehart stopped walking.
Aurora noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
He pointed across the street.
A boy stood near a bus stop, scrolling on his phone. He looked about fifteen or sixteen, wearing headphones and a jacket that was slightly too big for him.
Aurora lowered her voice.
"You think he's the target?"
Bladehart watched the street carefully.
"He fits the pattern."
Aurora glanced around.
"No one else is nearby."
The boy didn't seem to notice anything unusual. He leaned against the bus stop pole, occasionally glancing down the empty road as if waiting for a ride.
Aurora whispered, "If those guys from the warehouse are coming, this is the perfect place."
Bladehart nodded slowly.
"Stay alert."
Aurora stepped closer to him.
"You think they'll use the van again?"
"Most likely."
Aurora folded her arms, watching the road.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
The wind rustled the leaves of a nearby tree. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked.
Then headlights appeared at the far end of the street.
Aurora stiffened.
"Bladehart…"
"I see it."
The same dark van slowly turned the corner and began moving down the road.
Aurora whispered, "That's definitely them."
The van slowed as it approached the bus stop.
The boy looked up briefly but didn't seem alarmed.
The vehicle stopped about ten meters away.
Aurora muttered under her breath, "Here we go."
The side door of the van slid open.
Two men stepped out.
Bladehart moved immediately.
"Stay behind me," he said quietly.
Aurora nodded but followed close anyway.
The men began walking toward the boy.
One of them called out casually.
"Hey kid, you know if the bus already passed?"
The boy pulled off one headphone.
"Huh?"
The second man moved closer.
Aurora whispered sharply, "They're surrounding him."
Bladehart stepped forward from the shadows.
"Leave him alone."
The two men froze.
The boy looked confused, glancing between them and Bladehart.
One of the men squinted.
"You again."
Aurora crossed her arms.
"Miss us?"
The second man cursed under his breath.
"Boss said these two might show up."
Bladehart stepped closer to the boy.
"Go home," he told him quietly.
The boy hesitated.
"What's going on?"
"Just go," Aurora added quickly.
The boy didn't need more encouragement. He grabbed his bag and ran down the street toward the houses.
The first man glared at Bladehart.
"You're getting really annoying."
Aurora smiled slightly.
"We hear that a lot."
The second man cracked his knuckles.
"You should've stayed out of this."
Bladehart didn't respond.
The first man glanced back toward the van.
"Grab them."
The second man lunged forward.
Bladehart dodged the attack and pushed him aside with a quick movement. The man stumbled but stayed on his feet this time.
Aurora stepped backward, keeping distance.
"Okay," she said nervously, "they learned from last time."
The first man rushed forward with surprising speed.
Bladehart blocked the strike and pushed him back, but the second man grabbed Aurora's arm suddenly.
"Got one!" he shouted.
Aurora struggled.
"Let go!"
Bladehart turned instantly and grabbed the man's wrist, forcing him to release her.
Aurora stumbled free.
"Thanks," she said quickly.
The first man reached into his jacket again.
Aurora groaned.
"Another knife?"
But instead of a knife, he pulled out a small radio.
"We've got a problem," he said into it.
Bladehart's eyes narrowed.
Aurora whispered, "That's not good."
From inside the van, another door opened.
Two more men stepped out.
Aurora blinked.
"Oh come on."
Bladehart's expression hardened.
Four against two.
The men began spreading out, slowly surrounding them.
One of them smirked.
"Now the odds look better."
Aurora leaned closer to Bladehart.
"You got another brilliant escape plan?"
Bladehart scanned the street quickly.
"Maybe."
Aurora sighed.
"I hate that word."
The first man spoke again.
"Boss will be very happy when we bring you in."
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"Bring us in?"
Bladehart's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
The man smiled.
"Because he wants to meet you."
Aurora looked at Bladehart.
"See? You're popular."
Bladehart stepped slightly forward.
"Tell your boss he can meet me another time."
The man laughed.
"Oh, he will."
Suddenly—
A loud engine roared from the end of the street.
Everyone turned.
A police car sped around the corner, its headlights cutting through the darkness.
Aurora blinked.
"Wait… what?"
The kidnappers cursed.
"Police!"
Bladehart frowned.
"I didn't call them."
Aurora whispered, "Me neither."
The men quickly jumped back into the van.
"Move!" one of them shouted.
The vehicle sped away just as the police car stopped nearby.
Two officers stepped out.
"Is everyone alright?" one of them asked.
Aurora looked at Bladehart quietly.
"That was… very convenient."
Bladehart watched the van disappear into the night.
"Yes."
Aurora narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Too convenient."
Bladehart looked down the empty street.
Something about the situation felt wrong.
Because deep in his mind, a thought had already formed.
Someone else had called the police.
Someone who was watching everything.
And somewhere in the city, that same quiet whisper seemed to return again…
"…Bladehart…"