Another day in this world.
I exhale slowly while staring at the ceiling of my room. There are still moments when all of this feels unreal, but thinking too much about it doesn't help anymore.
Today, I have two clear objectives.
The first is to find out what's happening in Redwood County, the neighboring county where the disappearances of young girls have become far too frequent to be a coincidence.
The second is to keep an eye on Vivian.
The second one I can take my time with.
The first… not so much.
I get ready and leave the house, heading toward Blackwood High School.
The neighborhood is quiet, as always. Too quiet. I walk while observing my surroundings, alert for anything out of place: a strange presence, an uneasy feeling, something that doesn't fit.
Nothing.
This place has nothing for me.
When I arrive at school, the atmosphere is the same as ever. Exaggerated laughter, closed-off groups, teenagers who think the world revolves around them. Guys with Discman players blasting Linkin Park in the hallways, the smell of cheap deodorant and cafeteria food, wrinkled posters of Saw and Final Destination taped to lockers, a Nokia flip phone ringing inside someone's pocket.
And, of course, the bullies.
"Ryan," I hear behind me. "Hey, idiot. Did you bring the money?"
Victor Langley.
I don't stop. I keep walking.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" he insists.
I feel his hand grab my shoulder, hard enough that everyone around us stops to watch.
"I told you to give me money," he says, wearing that confident smile of someone who has never been challenged.
The conversations die down.
Curious looks.
Expectant looks.
The rich kid versus the orphan.
The captain of the football team versus the quiet loser.
I slowly turn and look him in the eyes.
"What do you want, Victor?" I ask calmly.
The silence feels heavy.
He didn't expect that.
His friends laugh, thinking this is a joke, but Victor frowns. He doesn't like losing control.
"You're going to pay for this," he spits.
I throw a punch straight at his face, carefully controlling my strength.
Victor manages to dodge it, furious.
He attacks immediately, clumsy and impulsive. Easy to avoid.
People start shouting.
Not because they care about the fight.
Because they want to see blood… and they expect it to be mine.
I decide to end it.
I step forward and land a solid punch to his abdomen, using just a bit more force.
Victor doubles over, gasping for air, his eyes wide open.
The laughter stops.
Even his friends step back, staring in disbelief.
"Let's leave it at that," I say. "You're not worth it."
I pick up my backpack and head toward the classroom.
No one stops me.
From a distance, Madison watches the scene. Her expression isn't one of surprise, but of interest, as if she had just seen something unexpectedly entertaining.
"Are you interested in that guy?" Chloe asks as she walks beside her.
Chloe is pretty in a classic way: perfectly styled blonde hair, light blue eyes, well-cared-for skin. She wears expensive clothes without overdoing it, the kind of girl who knows she doesn't need to try to get attention.
"Ryan?" she continues. "He doesn't seem like much."
Madison doesn't answer. She just looks away and walks into the classroom.
Chloe watches her for a few seconds, intrigued, before following her along with the rest of the group.
I go into class.
My body is there, but my mind isn't. I think about the posters, the forest, the vision.
When the bell rings, I've already made a decision.
I leave school before the day ends and go home first just to make sure no one is following me. Then, I teleport.
Sussex County feels different from the very first step.
The streets are older, the atmosphere heavier. There's something uncomfortable in the air, like someone is watching from afar.
I walk around reading posters stuck to poles and shop windows. Photos of young girls. Smiles frozen on paper.
All of them pretty.
All of them missing.
This isn't random.
As I move forward, I notice something.
A tall man is following a young girl from a distance. He doesn't touch her. He doesn't speak to her. He just walks behind her.
I stop.
The man suddenly turns and looks in my direction. For a moment, I feel like he's sensed me.
I move.
After a few seconds, he continues following the girl.
She quickens her pace, uncomfortable, and enters a café.
The man stays outside.
Watching.
I go in as well.
The girl is sitting near the window. She's pretty, with soft features, dark brown hair, and big eyes. Her clothes are simple, but clearly well taken care of.
"Excuse me," I say. "Can I know your name?"
She looks at me cautiously, evaluating me.
"Ana," she says. "My name is Ana."
We talk for a few minutes. Her attitude is polite but distant. There's no real interest in her eyes. She's used to guys approaching her.
Every now and then, she looks toward the window, checking if the man is still there.
When she sees that he's gone, she relaxes a bit… then looks me up and down again.
"I'm not interested," she finally says, not rudely, but not kindly either. "I have things to do."
She stands up and leaves.
I hear a few quiet giggles from another table.
I don't care.
I pay and leave.
I head toward the nearby forest and explore for a while. I use magic carefully, searching for traces, signs, anything.
Nothing.
They change locations. Or they don't hunt here every time.
I return home with more questions than answers.
The next day, I keep an eye on Vivian at Blackwood High School.
I use magic.
And I see him.
The same man.
Watching her from a distance, blending in with the crowd.
He doesn't approach. He doesn't act. He just watches… then leaves, talking on the phone.
Vivian is surrounded by people: players, cheerleaders, friends.
Too many witnesses.
But now I'm sure of one thing.
This isn't an isolated case.
This isn't a lone madman.
Whatever this is, it's organized.
And if I want answers…
I'll have to force them to talk.