Section 18. 9:30 pm.
6. Phanda Ave.
Foxville, a small township tucked into Section 18, is quiet yet never dull. Compared to the chaos of San El Zorro, it was almost serene; its peace stood out like an oddity. Adriana strolled along 6. Phanda Avenue. The sidewalks were sparse, and a handful of people roamed past. Buildings of uneven height leaned into one another. Traffic lights and streetlamps painted the street in a soft glow, while storefronts shut down one by one, their bright signs withered away like dying stars. The muffled city hum faded behind her as she entered her apartment. She paused briefly outside her room on the second floor. Eventually, she pushed the door open—only to be caught off guard. "BOO!" Luis jumped out. Adriana stumbled back. "¡Ahhh! Luis, coño! You almost gave me a heart attack!" she clutched her chest. "Ha! How was your day, Mana?" he asked. Adriana went into the kitchen. "Ugh, same shit, different day." she sighed. "What about you, Luey?"
"So boring. I wish I could get out of here for once." he muttered.
"Well, you can't, Luis. Not after your dumb ass chose to break the law." she remarked. "Hey, don't blame me! It's not my fault the old lady has eyesight of a mole." he complained. "You ran a red light, Luis—and somehow the old lady's the one at fault?" she argued."It was yellow—If anything, I was helping traffic flow, and the old lady's fine—she's not dead, just a little injured." Luis pleaded. "Helping traffic flow? So cliché. Luis, you almost turned that señora into roadkill. It could've been worse! What if they charged you with attempted murder?" Adriana snapped. She rubbed her temples. "But guess what? They didn't." he replied. Luis always had a way of twisting things, but something about his carelessness stuck with her. "Helping traffic flow…" she whispered. Luis flopped onto the couch. "What? It's true. People get too uptight about rules anyway." Adriana smiled. "I'm going out tonight." she said. Luis had a skeptical look on his face. "Where?" he asked. "Six-Nine Mimic." she replied. Luis whistled with a smirk on his face. "Now that… that's more like it. I always knew you had a little fire under all that serious crap, lucky you." Within minutes, she'd swapped her work clothes for something sharper, something that felt like armor and invitation all at once. "Have fun, don't kill anyone!" Luis shouted sarcastically, but she left without a word. At last, into the night she went, by the time she reached the heart of Section 18, the dull weight of Foxville had burned away, replaced by a pulse that lived in her chest.
Meanwhile…
West District.
Amber Valley. 9:55 pm.
Situations always lead to breaking points. Lucas, as young as he was, found himself caught in one of those phases. His mind refused to sit still, and tonight it threatened to overwhelm him. He strolled calmly down the street. Every step carried a twitch of thought he couldn't quite silence. Amber Valley looked like a utopia; the world here was polished, almost unreal. Lucas stopped at the corner. He stared at the building ahead, and he drew a deep breath and steadied himself. Once he reached the building, he knocked softly against the door… No response. He knocked again. Then a muffled voice answered from inside. "Hold on! I'm coming!" she called out. A sigh of relief escaped him. The door opened, and there she was. For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke. They stood there, caught in the gravity of the moment. Her eyes met his, and his chest tightened. The silence stretched—thick with everything they had not said yet, everything they wanted to. "Hey." Ashley greeted softly. He held her gaze. "I came through as promised." Lucas replied. "I see that— though you still have another promise to fulfill." she smiled. The way she said it was not just a reminder, it was a challenge, laced with unspoken tension. "Then we'd better get started." he said.
"Yeah… come inside." She invited him in. The click of the door behind him sealed them in. The air seemed too thick with cheap promises. The late-night study session had begun, charged with the weight of destinies already written and those yet to unfold.
CRYSTAL AVENUE. 10:10 pm.
Jason stood in the backyard, a cigarette dangled between his fingers and a glass of bourbon in the other hand. He stargazed, their brilliance scattered across the night sky. Inside, Katherine prepped dinner for her family. Tears slid down her cheeks, caught by the kitchen light as if reluctant to be seen. Mila and Akirá rocked gently in their chairs, their eyes glued to the cartoons that flickered on the TV. The room smelled like dinner, a stark contrast to the quiet storm washing over their mother. Katherine pressed herself against the kitchen counter, then gripped its edge as if it could anchor her spiraled thoughts. 'What's taking so long? What is Toni doing?' Her mind looped in anxious circles. She picked up her cellphone and opened her contacts. Her heart hammered. 'Should I call him?' she wondered. Then she dialed Stephen's number. The phone rang for a few seconds before it cut into voicemail. Katherine redialed as she wept silently. Unfortunately, the call went to voicemail once again, then she called Antonio, the ringtone barely had time to echo before an answer came on the other end. "Kathy." He answered. "Toni—where the fuck is Stephen, and why isn't he answering his phone?" Her voice cracked between fury and fear. "Hey, where'd your manners go?" Antonio drawled. "Antonio, don't you dare start! I don't know what you're planning, but you'd better stop now!" she threatened. "What am I planning?" he repeated. "Don't act stupid, just tell me where Stephen is?" Katherine asked. "Oh, like I said—don't worry about him… his having fun playing a game of snooker." he responded. "Put him on the phone!" she demanded. "Can't. He's in the middle of a game, plus he won't be able to talk. But we can talk." Antonio replied swiftly. "We have nothing to talk about, you mother fucker." Katherine cussed. He chuckled, "Why so mad? I thought you said not to ruin the moment?" he teased. "All you men are the same." she stated boldly. "Uh, connection is breaking up—gotta' go, Kathy, we'll see you soon, Ciao." Antonio cut the call. "What! no, you can't just…" Katherine could not finish her words. Katherine switched off her cellphone and threw it on the couch. She pulled out two small bowls from the cupboard and dished out supper for Mila and Akirá. Unexpectedly, a faint sound of a car stopped at the front gate. The red sensor light blinked in the corner of the living room. 'Who could be outside?' she thought.
The car soon drove away. Yet the red sensor light remained lit. Someone was still outside her mansion. She stood still, and knew only a family member would dare approach—but who? Katherine's thoughts churned heavily.