The night air was thick with the scent of gasoline and distant rain.
Elias leaned against the dented cab, still catching his breath from the ridiculous water fight earlier.
Tasha was towel-drying her hair, muttering about catching a cold, while Jaxon sprawled across the hood like he owned the world.
Joyce was the only one who stayed serious.
She was sharpening a pocketknife against a small whetstone, her eyes flickering up every few seconds to scan their surroundings.
"You had your fun," she said at last. "Now it's time for real business."
---
Elias stiffened.
He knew it couldn't last—this temporary bubble of laughter and normalcy.
Joyce pointed to a folded-up newspaper in Tasha's hand.
Big bold letters screamed across the front page:
"Surge in Missing Persons – Authorities Baffled."
"It's getting worse," Tasha said quietly.
"Kids. Old folks. Homeless. Even businessmen."
Joyce nodded grimly.
"And guess who's somehow always nearby when it happens?"
They all turned to look at Elias.
He shook his head in disbelief.
"I didn't do anything!"
Joyce's voice softened.
"We know. But the Watch… it's attracting attention. And not just from thugs."
---
The Watch buzzed against Elias' wrist, almost in response.
[New Task Generated]
Task: Investigate the Disappearances Without Getting Caught.
Reward: Enhanced Memory Recall + Stealth Ability.
Perfect, Elias thought grimly.
He'd have to learn how to move like a shadow.
Because the monsters weren't hiding under the bed anymore—they were walking the streets.
---
At that moment, another car screeched to a halt nearby.
Out tumbled a woman in a sparkly purple dress, heels in one hand, phone in the other.
Character Introduction:
Name: Bianca Velasquez
Age: 27
Profession: Event Planner / Party Girl
Appearance: Caramel-toned skin, fiery red lipstick, luscious curls, curvy figure, constantly overdressed for every occasion.
Personality: Loud, dramatic, quick-witted.
Flaws: Trusts too easily, drinks too much, too impulsive sometimes.
"Y'all hiring?" she slurred, staggering toward them.
Tasha burst out laughing.
Even Joyce cracked a reluctant smile.
Jaxon jumped off the cab and mock-bowed.
"We always need someone to distract security, Princess."
Bianca grinned.
"Good. 'Cause I am very distracting."
---
The moment was ridiculous and hilarious... but it also mirrored something deep about real life.
How sometimes, the strangest friendships are formed from the messiest moments.
How even in a world falling apart, people cling to each other to survive.
---
Meanwhile...
In a dark underground lab, Vincent Marek set the corrupted device into a slot under a microscope.
"It's nearly ready," he whispered.
"Soon, the Watch will turn him into my puppet."
Behind him, shadowy figures murmured and nodded—corporate giants, politicians, and mercenaries.
All with their own stakes in Elias' failure.
---