As Percy drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, the city's underbelly stirred to life. In a forgotten quarter, where neon flickers battled the encroaching dark, vice thrived in the cracks of society. Crushed cans and cigarette butts littered the sidewalks, prostitutes loitered beneath buzzing street lamps, and rowdy bars lined the alleys, each a haven for the desperate and the damned. Thugs prowled the dimly lit corridors between buildings, their eyes hungry for an easy mark.
But amid the chaos, a small hooded figure moved with quiet determination. Cloaked in nothing but a simple hoodie, they strode toward a decrepit building, one that to the untrained eye seemed abandoned. Yet, to those who knew the city's shadows, this was an illusion—a carefully constructed deterrent, hiding something far more insidious.
Their fingers traced the cracked stone wall, searching. A moment later, they pressed into an unseen mechanism. The structure groaned as a section of the wall slid open, revealing a dim passageway. Without hesitation, the figure stepped inside.
The desolation of the exterior gave way to the pulse of a hidden world. Heavy bass beats thrummed through the floor, the air thick with sweat, smoke, and indulgence. Neon lights cast the writhing crowd in chaotic hues, bodies moving in a rhythmic frenzy. Dancers swayed under flashing strobes, their faces lost in the high of the night.
The hooded figure pushed through the throng, their small frame jostled by the taller patrons. They weaved toward the bar, where a sassy bartender leaned over, smirking.
"What'll it be, sweetheart?"
"Bloody cosmopolitan. Hold the ice," the figure replied, their voice barely rising above the din.
The bartender arched a brow, tapping a manicured nail on the counter. Instead of responding, he turned away, tending to other customers.
The hooded figure was about to leave when something caught their eye—a dark drink placed discreetly at their usual spot. A silent acknowledgment.
Without hesitation, they claimed the drink and made their way past the bar, toward an imposing black door flanked by skeletal guards wreathed in shadows. The eerie hallway beyond was lined with glass-like walls, revealing monstrous forms imprisoned within. Emaciated ghouls huddled in corners, their sunken eyes reflecting only hunger. Chains rattled as creatures twitched at the presence of life.
The figure ignored the horrors and pressed forward until they reached a massive crimson door at the corridor's end. Their gut twisted with unease, but they steeled themselves and pushed it open.
Inside, two towering guards stood motionless, framing an alabaster-skinned figure seated at a sleek desk. Silver hair cascaded over his shoulders, and a wine glass twirled between his fingers. His expression was one of amusement, as if he had been expecting this visit.
The hooded figure stormed forward, slamming their hands onto the desk.
"You said the last mission was the end of our contract!"
The boss's smirk widened. "And it would have been—had you actually finished the job."
The hooded figure stiffened. "What the hell are you talking about? I killed him! No one survives a lightning strike from a four-star spell."
The boss let out a soft chuckle, then scattered a series of files and photographs across the desk. "Oh? Then explain this."
Their heart pounded as their gaze fell upon the images—Percy, alive and well. Leaving a hospital. Visiting a café. Returning to his old academy. Entering that old man's domain.
The figure's blood ran cold. "Impossible," they whispered, rifling through the documents. "I made sure—there was no way—!"
The boss stood, leisurely strolling toward a liquor cabinet. "Clearly, you miscalculated," he mused, pouring himself a drink. "Our deal was simple: eliminate the boy, and I release you from the soul bind."
With a flick of his wrist, an unseen force yanked the figure to the floor. Their breath hitched, an invisible chain constricting their throat.
"You failed," the boss stated coldly.
The figure clawed at their neck, gasping. "Wait! Look at this—his sister visited him right after the accident. The reports say she awakened some unknown power. What if she saved him?"
The pressure vanished. Coughing, the figure staggered to their feet.
The boss swirled his drink, considering. "You're suggesting that her ancient magic—one older than time itself—interfered? Hmph. Speculative at best."
The figure wiped their mouth, their mind racing. "Let me handle her first. If she's the reason he survived, she has to be eliminated. Then, I'll finish what I started."
But the boss only chuckled, shaking his head. "No."
The air in the room grew heavier.
"You've already failed once. You don't get to change the target. The deal remains. Kill the boy."
Frustration flared in the figure's eyes, but they knew better than to argue. "Fine. But how am I supposed to get close now? He's back under his protection."
The boss sighed, exasperated. "Must I think of everything for you?" He downed the rest of his drink before turning back with a glint of amusement. "Four months from now, the entrance exams will be held. You will register. You will excel. And once you're inside, you will gain the boy's trust. When he lets his guard down—"
A cruel smile curved his lips.
"—you will finish the job properly this time."
The figure clenched their fists, then nodded. "Understood."
As they turned to leave, the boss delivered a final warning.
"Fail again... and you'll be added to my ghoul collection."
The figure stiffened but said nothing, disappearing through the door.
As they vanished into the night, another presence emerged from the shadows. A silent, hooded figure knelt before the boss.
"What are your orders, sir?"
The boss's silver eyes gleamed in the dim light. "Find the girl. Eliminate her." He swirled his empty glass idly. "As for the boy... leave him to that child. If they fail—"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"—kill them both."
The kneeling figure bowed. "As you wish."
And with that, they, too, disappeared into the darkness.
The boss let out a low chuckle, swirling his glass one last time before setting it down.
A sly smirk stretched across his face as he murmured to himself, "Things are finally getting interesting again."