( ARC 2 PH: 2 : Questioner )
Even the way the rain fell that day
felt restless.The drops didn't fall straight to the ground they clung,to roads and buildings,to people's shoulders,as if the city itself didn't want to let go.
Anie stood near the window.Far away, on mega screens,advertisements glowed in shades of blue and green.
Smiling,Eyes acting out complete happiness.But down below,on the roads,the city wasn't smiling at all.
She felt it something had changed.Not suddenly Quietly.
1: Morning – An Unusual Normal,,
As Anie got ready for college,the radio was on.
"Last night,
power outages were reported again
in the industrial zone.
Officials state
this is only a technical issue."
She smiled,
It wasn't really a smile more like letting out a breath.
A technical issue.""""
The same answer for everything happening in the city.The bus was crowded,People packed close together.
But conversations were few.Everyone stared into their phones.News feeds,
Videos,Endless comments.
"Hunters exist.",,"The city is lying."
"They're killing people like us."
Anie switched her phone off,
"Did you see that?"
a woman behind her said to another.
"At the metro station one of the cameras was apparently off."
Anie looked out through the window.
It felt as if the city was listening to her breathing.
As she passed through the college gate,the first thing she noticed was a police jeep.Two of them,Investigation officers were speaking to students.
The campus was still green Trees soaked in rain.Water droplets slipping off leaves.Everything looked beautiful.
But Anie knew this calm would not last long.
"Anie." Mira's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"You're late?"
"No,",,,,
"The city's moving fast today." Mira looked at her.
There was a question in that look.They walked toward the library.
"I heard classes might be cancelled today," Mira said.
"Because of the investigation."
Anie nodded.
"Are you scared?" Mira asked suddenly.Anie stopped.
"Tell me honestly," Mira continued.
"These Hunters…are they real?"
Anie took a moment before answering.
"I don't know,"...,"But if they weren't
the city wouldn't be this afraid."
Mira's face tightened.
"Why are they hunting us?" she asked.Anie searched for words.
"Not everyone,"finally said.,"Only some people."
"Do you think you're one of them?"
Mira's voice dropped Anie looked at her.For a moment,she couldn't hide it.
"I don't know," ,,, "But something is happening around me."
canteen was crowded as usual.Plates clattering.Laughter Conversations overlapping.
Suddenly,,
a cup fell to the floor.A sharp sound Then a student clutched his chest and collapsed.
People rushed in Some screamed Anie stood frozen.In her chest that pressure again.With her eyes open,she saw it.
The air slightly bending.A wave,like heat distortion.Just for a second Anie stepped back.
"Are you okay?"...,
"Yes,"
But even to herself,her voice sounded unfamiliar.The student was taken away
in an ambulance.
"That's the third incident," someone said.
"This week."
"That wasn't a normal faint,"
another replied.
"It was something…different."
Anie held onto that word,
"Different"
2:Evening – The Old Part of the City
After college,Anie didn't go straight home.She walked toward the old city zone.The lights here were dim Buildings aged.Roads narrow,The rain grew heavier.Under a bridge,there was no crowd.Graffiti covered the walls.
THE CITY SEES YOU
NOT ALL OF YOU BELONG HERE
Anie stopped.Thoughts collided inside her head.Then she saw him On the other side of the bridge,inside the rain,
a man.Black jacket His face unclear But he was looking.
Straight at her Anie's heart began to race.She tried to move He moved too.
Her breathing became uneven.The air
trembled slightly.A streetlight flickered
for a second.Anie closed her eyes.
"Not here," she whispered to herself.
"Not now."
When she opened them he was gone.
But his presence was not,
Back home,Anie stood by the window.
The city was still awake Sirens,Traffic
A distant explosion.Her phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
"You felt it today." "So did we."
Anie's hand shook She deleted the message.But the words did not leave her mind.She sat on her bed
this was no longer just suspicion.Hunters,The Called,The city.
Everything was closing in on her.She could hide But she knew the city catches those who run.Anie closed her eyes.There was fear But beneath it a decision.If the city finds her This time,
she will not disappear completely.
3Another Pair of Eyes
Far away,on top of a building,the man stood.In his hand,a small device.On its screen,a single line glowed.
"Subject confirmed."
He smiled At last,the city had found the right sound.