BOOM...
Thunder cracked across the night sky.
Heavy rain hammered against the rooftop as darkness swallowed the silent house. The bedroom remained dim, illuminated only by flashes of lightning leaking through the half-open window.
Creeeak... creak...
The loose window panels slammed open and shut violently while cold wind rushed inside. The curtains danced like pale ghosts in the storm.
On the bed, Eyrx suddenly opened his eyes.
His breathing was heavy.
For a moment, he stared blankly at the ceiling before slowly sitting up, pain spreading through his body. White bandages wrapped around his arms and shoulder, irritating him with every movement.
"Tch… these bandages are annoying."
He slipped into his slippers and stood carefully, his weakened legs trembling beneath him. Step by step, he walked toward the window.
The freezing wind brushed against his face.
Outside, rain poured endlessly beneath the silver glow of the streetlights.
Eyrx smiled faintly.
"What a beautiful night…"
Then he pressed two fingers against his forehead.
"…though this headache is killing me."
He reached for the window—
—but suddenly froze.
Two figures stood outside near the gate.
Both wore long black coats beneath the rain.
One of them removed their hood.
A flash of green hair appeared beneath the storm.
Eyrx's hazel eyes sharpened instantly.
"Hazel…?"
From the shadows, another man handed her a thick envelope.
Hazel quickly took it before silently entering the house.
Eyrx narrowed his eyes.
"What is she doing outside at this hour…?"
Before he could think further, he slowly closed the window and returned to his bed.
He grabbed the glass beside him and tried pouring water from the jug.
Empty.
"…Great."
With a tired sigh, he picked up the jug and headed downstairs toward the kitchen.
The house was silent except for the sound of rain.
Tap… tap… tap…
His weak footsteps echoed through the staircase.
But suddenly—
SLIP—!
"Ah—!"
His foot missed the final step.
CRASH!
The jug shattered across the floor as Eyrx fell hard against the stairs.
Pain shot through his body.
Immediately—
CLICK.
The lights turned on.
Hazel rushed toward him in panic.
"Eyrx!"
She knelt beside him quickly.
"Are you alright?!"
Eyrx winced in pain before forcing a small nod.
"…Yeah. I'm fine."
Hazel helped him sit on the sofa nearby.
"If you needed something, you should've called me."
"The jug was empty," Eyrx muttered. "I just wanted water."
Hazel handed him a glass with slightly trembling hands.
Eyrx noticed.
"…Thanks."
He drank quietly before looking at her carefully.
"By the way…"
Hazel stiffened.
"What were you doing outside?"
For a second, silence filled the room.
Rain continued hitting the windows.
Hazel looked away.
"I think you misunderstood something."
"I saw you," Eyrx said calmly. "Black coat. Green hair."
Hazel forced a smile.
"No. I wasn't outside."
Eyrx stared at her for a few seconds.
Then he leaned back slowly.
"…Maybe I misunderstood."
Hazel immediately changed the topic.
"Come on. I'll help you back to your room."
As they walked upstairs carefully, Hazel warned softly,
"Be careful. There's broken glass behind us."
When they finally reached his room, she stopped near the door.
"If you need anything, call me."
"I'll survive," Eyrx replied with a faint smirk.
Hazel rolled her eyes before switching off the light.
"Goodnight."
The door closed.
But as Hazel walked downstairs—
she froze.
Her grandmother stood in the darkness waiting for her.
The old woman's sharp eyes immediately locked onto Hazel.
"What were you doing?"
Before Hazel could answer, her grandmother grabbed her arm and pulled her aside.
"You're working for them again, aren't you?"
"Grandma—"
"I told you to leave that life behind!" the old woman hissed angrily. "Those people will destroy us!"
Hazel lowered her eyes.
"I'm doing this for you… and for Eyrx."
The grandmother's expression darkened.
Hazel continued quietly,
"He deserves to know the truth about his past."
"Shhh!"
Her grandmother immediately silenced her and glanced nervously toward the stairs.
"Not another word."
Only the sound of rain remained.
Morning arrived beneath grey clouds.
Eyrx sat on the edge of his bed, repeatedly trying to call Grace.
No answer.
Again.
And again.
Still nothing.
His frustration grew.
"She always picks up…"
He stood up, grabbed his coat, and headed downstairs.
As soon as he opened the front door—
"Stop."
Hazel's voice came from behind him.
Eyrx looked back.
"Where are you going?"
"Outside."
"You still haven't fully recovered."
Eyrx frowned.
"And?"
"And that means you're not leaving."
He sighed.
"I'm fine."
"First eat breakfast," Hazel ordered while grabbing his arm and pulling him back inside. "Then you can think about acting stubborn."
A few minutes later, all three sat around the dining table.
Hazel's grandmother silently ate breakfast while Hazel stared at Eyrx suspiciously.
"What's so important that you'd risk your health for it?"
Eyrx placed his phone on the table.
"Grace isn't answering my calls."
"Maybe she's busy with a case."
"She never ignores me."
Hazel smirked slightly.
"You like her, don't you?"
Eyrx nearly choked.
"What? No."
Hazel laughed softly.
"That reaction says otherwise."
"She's just an old friend."
"You never told her?"
Before Eyrx could answer, Hazel's grandmother suddenly spoke.
"Grace…?"
Her voice sounded strangely serious.
Hazel nodded.
"Yeah. Grace."
The old woman fell silent instantly.
Tension filled the table for a brief moment.
Hazel quickly continued,
"Then why exactly are you going outside?"
"I'm going to her office," Eyrx replied. "Her boss is my friend."
Hazel raised an eyebrow.
"Ohhh. Now I understand."
Later that day…
Rainwater reflected across the city roads as Eyrx's car stopped outside a detective agency building.
He stepped out and entered quickly.
Inside, cigarette smoke filled the air.
Darven stood near the window holding a cigarette between his fingers.
"Oh?" he said casually. "Eyrx. You're still alive."
Eyrx ignored the joke.
"Where's Grace?"
Darven exhaled smoke slowly.
"She's working."
"She's not answering my calls."
"You know how she gets when a case interests her," Darven replied calmly. "And this one…"
His expression darkened.
"…isn't normal."
Suddenly—
BRRRR.
Eyrx's phone vibrated.
Both men looked down.
Grace was calling.
Darven smirked.
"Pick up before she hangs up."
Eyrx immediately answered.
"Grace?" he said quickly. "Why weren't you answering my calls?"
voice spoke nervously.
"Hello, sir? I'm calling from the hotel where Miss Grace was staying."
Eyrx remained silent.
The woman continued carefully,
"Ma'am did not return to the hotel last night. She left in a hurry… and she seemed frightened."
Darven's expression slowly turned serious as he watched Eyrx's face.
"She kept talking about shadows following her," the woman said. "Honestly… she sounded disturbed."
A cold chill crawled down Eyrx's spine.
The employee continued,
"She also left her luggage behind. If you know her personally, please collect it soon. Otherwise, we'll have to remove it by tomorrow."
Click.
Eyrx ended the call without saying a single word.
Rain outside crashed violently against the office windows.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Darven stepped closer.
"What happened?"
Eyrx lowered the phone slowly. His face looked pale.
"She wasn't at the hotel."
Darven frowned.
"The employee said Grace left last night in a hurry… carrying a gun."
His voice became heavier.
"She kept saying shadows were chasing her."
Darven cursed under his breath.
"…Damn."
Even he looked unsettled now.
"But listen," Darven said quickly, trying to stay calm. "Grace is strong. She's not someone who goes down easily. She's a professional fighter."
Eyrx clenched his fists.
"I need to go there."
"No." Darven immediately blocked him. "You can't. It's too dangerous."
Eyrx's eyes darkened.
"Dangerous?" he repeated coldly.
Darven sighed heavily.
"You still haven't recovered. And whatever Grace found… it's bigger than we thought."
Suddenly—
"THEN WHY DID YOU SEND HER?!"
Eyrx's furious voice echoed across the office.
Darven froze.
For the first time, real anger appeared in Eyrx's eyes.
"I didn't send her," Darven replied sharply. "She forced me to give her the case. I warned her it was dangerous."
Breathing heavily, Eyrx grabbed the edge of the table to steady himself.
"I don't care."
He started walking toward the door.
"I'm going."
But after only a few steps—
his vision blurred.
The room spun violently.
Darven's eyes widened.
"Eyrx—!"
THUD!
Eyrx suddenly collapsed onto the floor.
The impact echoed through the office.
His breathing became unstable as darkness slowly swallowed his vision.
The last thing he heard before passing out completely—
was thunder roaring across the city sky.