The silence gnawed at Ray's patience, tightening around his chest like a vice. It wasn't just her absence. The shadows creeping around their headquarters, the growing number of suspicious figures lurking in the city—those were troubling signs. Yet, every time one was dealt with, another would take their place. A never-ending cycle. He knew Esme had been handling them, eliminating threats before they could strike. But now, she was gone, leaving behind no trace.
That was, until they found it.
A bloodstained alley, just a few streets from their base. No body. No clear signs of a struggle. Just a pool of blood seeping into the cracks of the pavement. And when Ray had it tested, the confirmation struck him like a blade to the gut.
Esme's blood.
Not just a few drops. Too much. Enough to tell him she had been gravely wounded. And yet, no matter what he tried—no signals, no messages, not even his divine beast powers—he couldn't reach her. It was as if she had vanished.
