"Where are we going again?"
"Mai told us yesterday."
"Yeah, but I already forgot."
Lazzir yawned, neglecting to cover her mouth as she stretched her arms over her head. It had been another sleepless afternoon, the shock from what had happened with Todotori still torturing her every thought. Not only had he been acting abnormally all day, but his reaction to seeing her mark was one she could have never predicted, leaving her with an inexplicable feeling of regret and suspicion.
"And I thought Tilluan was the one who was bad at memorizing plans." Spoons let out a long, slightly disgruntled sigh. "You'll see when we get there."
Walking down a deserted twilight street, the two strolled through one of the poorer sides of town. There wasn't a cloud in sight, and the stars and moon lit their path where defective street lights could not, creating shade between the forbidding, desolate buildings around them. Every once in a while, Lazzir caught a glimpse of inky creatures dancing in the black crevices of the night. Shadows that were too afraid to step out of the dark.
It was something she would never grow used to.
"You okay?" Spoons glanced down at her, an expression of concern on his face. She must have looked strange, her mind wandering off in a million different directions.
"I'm fine," she lied, still on high alert.
"Don't worry about the Shadows. You learn to ignore them," he assured. "They're completely harmless, unlike the real monsters we're about to encounter."
Turning to look at him, Lazzir observed his perpetually solemn eyes. Though the colors in each were bright, something unsettling rested deep behind.
"What do you mean?"
"We're about to enter scum territory. I'm sure you know this already, but such criminals are about as predictable as wild animals," Spoons explained. "Mai wants us to gather information without attracting attention, but that's easier said than done."
Not attracting attention was something Lazzir lacked expertise in, especially when it came to dealing with scum. She never picked fights with them like Todotori did. In fact, it was the opposite. Because of her popularity as an underground fighter, she was friends with many local villains, some even considering her an idol.
If she had told Spoons this, he would likely have called off the mission. So, she brushed it aside and kept it to herself.
It would probably be fine.
"So, what do we do?" Lazzir raised a brow, still unsure how the whole secret mission thing worked.
She knew they needed information about this new, murderous Angel, but that was about it. Heading to find the only two survivors of the recent massacre, they were hoping to get specific details on the killer and their motives. That was if the scum were willing to talk to outsiders about something as domestic as the eradication of their entire ring.
Tilting his head indifferently, Spoons shrugged. "Bribes usually work," he stated. "We can't just go in there asking questions. That's how you get killed."
"And whose money are we going to use for a bribe?" She nearly laughed, knowing she had about as much financial leverage as a beggar.
"Not mine," Spoons replied with a slight smile. He pulled his jacket open, tapping on one of the inside pockets and revealing a neatly tucked wad of cash. "When it comes to that kind of stuff, Mai's usually got us covered."
Lazzir rolled her eyes, scoffing. "What do you know, the doctor actually comes in handy."
Watching as Spoons readjusted his jacket, she caught a glimpse of something else poking out from his pocket. It looked like a cutout photograph, the top of a woman's head barely visible over the lip of the patch.
"What's that?" she pointed, nosey.
"Hm?" Spoons followed her finger, glancing at his pocket only for an instant before quickly pulling the jacket back over his chest. "It- It's nothing," he insisted, turning his face away.
"Oh, come on," Lazzir urged, pouting. "What is it? A picture of your mommy?"
"Jessie."
"Huh?"
"It's a picture of my wife, Jessie," Spoons corrected sharply, his face going cold.
Stunned, she blinked. "You have a wife?"
"I had a wife," he responded, reluctantly digging into the pocket and pulling out the image. With a sigh, he handed it over. "I had a daughter, too."
Taking the thin print from his fingers, Lazzir observed the pictured faces closely. The woman in the image was beautiful, with long braided hair and chestnut eyes. Her beaming smile and caramel complexion were radiant, creating the impression of a bubbling personality.
In the woman's arms sat a toddler. The small girl wore her dark hair in two adorable puffs atop her head, held together with bright bows that matched her dress. She looked displeased to be sitting for a picture, her scornful grimace a perfect reflection of Spoons.
Mesmerized, Lazzir ran a finger over their faces. "What's your daughter's name?"
"Her name was Kade," he answered, taking back the photo as he cleared his throat. "She was a wild one, full of humor like her mother. I miss them both."
Watching as he gently tucked the image away once more, she fell gravely quiet.
"What happened to them?"
Spoons took in a deep breath, his face unchanging. "I wish I knew. They were taken from me a long time ago. After searching for years, I don't think I'll ever get them back."
"They were taken?" Lazzir repeated, trying to understand.
"Taken, stolen, kidnapped. Whatever you want to call it," Spoons's eyes went dark. "It's not something I like to talk about."
Nodding, she took that as her warning to stop with the questions. It was shocking that he would open up about something so painful. Perhaps he'd grown to trust her more than she thought. Or maybe he'd always been this open, and she just couldn't see it.
"Anyway, we're here," Spoons announced, cutting her thoughts short.
A faint, red light shone down onto the street from above, and a neon bar sign buzzed lightly, flickering over the pub door. There were no sounds coming from the inside and no lingering customers outside. Compared to most spots around town, it appeared very dull. Lazzir recognized it immediately.
"Oh, I've been here before," she said, relieved.
"You have?" Spoons glared at her skeptically. "That's not good."
She could have slapped herself in that moment, completely forgetting that she was supposed to keep her familiarity with the scum a secret.
"Well, it's been a very long time. I used to be friends with the bartender." Grinning sheepishly, she tried to wave him off her trail. "He probably doesn't work here anymore."
"Probably?"
"It'll be fine, I promise."
"I don't like the sound of that."
"I promise," she said, trying to sound reassuring. Tugging on Spoons's sleeve, Lazzir implored him to keep moving. "Come on, let's hurry up before the guys we're looking for sneak out. You want to catch this Angel, don't you?"
Hesitating, Spoons watched her begging eyes. With a sigh, he finally continued forward.
"Fine," he relented. "As long as you stay focused on the task and don't raise any alarms, we can suffer one familiar face."
"Perfect," Lazzir beamed, tugging on the bar's front door handle. "Let's do this thing."
Stepping into the bar, they found that it was packed, distrustful faces and secretive whisperings filling the ill-lit room. Each character hung about the bar, dressed in a similar, brooding expression, their dark clothes matching the eerie aura surrounding them. She'd never seen so many there before. It was odd.
Spoons found two seats at the end of the counter and waved for the bartender. The man who appeared was one that Lazzir didn't recognize—young, skinny, and particularly hideous.
"What can I get for you?" the bartender asked, his voice unpleasantly squeaky.
"I'll just have a coffee," Spoons replied dryly before looking to Lazzir.
"Just give me a draft beer. Whichever is the lightest."
Spoons tapped on the counter and raised a brow. "Careful," he warned. "Don't forget why we're here."
Dismissing him, she huffed. "It's one beer. If you don't want people looking at you weird, you have to order something other than coffee."
"Coffee is a normal thing to order at a bar."
"If you're old."
After a moment, the bartender returned with their drinks, silently placing them on the counter before turning away again.
"Hey," Lazzir beckoned for the man to come back. "Does Weber still work here?"
"The big guy? He actually quit last night," the barman replied, gathering empty bottles. "He came in here rambling about how this place was going to give him a heart attack one day, then left."
Sulking in her seat, she turned to Spoons as the bartender sauntered away. "Well, I guess we don't have to worry about running into friendly faces anymore," she grumbled. "That stinks."
"It's probably a good thing," Spoons responded, casually blowing into his cup before taking a sip. "The fewer friendly faces, the better."
"I guess you're right," she glowered, crossing her arms.
Part of her was hoping Weber would still be around. He was usually a good source of information, constantly rubbing his nose in everyone else's business. It was amusing watching such a rugged man gossip at the bar like a schoolgirl at the lunch table, and most of what he knew was also unexpectedly trustworthy.
However, looking around the room, Lazzir could understand why Spoons had been so nervous about being recognized. The men who packed the place seemed to create a more hostile ambiance than the usual crowd. Though none of them paid attention when the two walked in, there was a clear air of caution, every eye on high alert.
"Do we even know who we're looking for?" Lazzir questioned, skimming the room.
"Mai didn't give us a specific description." Spoons was discreetly monitoring every person who came in and out of the front door. "However, we do know that they are a particularly rowdy pair. If we hang tight, we might be able to spot them out of everyone. Hell, we might overhear them spouting the details from right here if we're lucky enough."
"So, we're looking for the loudest guys in the room," Lazzir rephrased, taking a drink of her beer. "I think we can handle that."
Just as she sat her cup back down on the counter, a booming shout came from directly behind her.
"Is 'at Laz?!" the voice screamed. "Are we 'n the presence of Miss Untouchable herself?!"
She knew who it was instantly.
Mortified, Lazzir turned around with a brittle smile as a beefy hand landed on her shoulder, shaking her eagerly. "Barney, it's you," she said through gritted teeth.
"O' course it's me, silly!" Barney yelled, dragging out the words with a thickened accent. "What're you doin' here? Don't you have a fight tonight?"
Becoming tense, she shook her head. "No, not tonight. I'm taking a break."
The plump man chuckled, slapping her violently on the back. "Well, ain't that a coincidence? Guess who else's here! I brought Gio with me!" Looking through the crowd, he began searching for someone along the bar. "Where'd he go? Gio?!"
Barney began to call for his friend, and Lazzir turned in her seat, hiding her face as her worst nightmare became reality. "Oh, shit," she grumbled.
"Who is that?" Spoons asked, a suspicious expression on his face.
Burying herself in her palms, her embarrassed mumblings were muffled. "They're fans."
"You have fans?"
Ignoring him, she moaned at the ceiling, dragging her fingers down her face in annoyance. "This couldn't have happened at a worse time. Dear god, why?"
Usually, Lazzir loved being doted on and admired by strangers, enjoying the perks of being well known, even if the people she was known by weren't exactly upstanding citizens. However, Barney and Gio were the exception.
"I'm right here, dammit! Will you quit shouting my name?" A short man waddled toward them, wielding a half-empty beer in each hand.
"I'll do what I want, ya idiot!" Barney sassily declared, snatching one of the bottles from his friend's hand. "Look who I found!" He grabbed Lazzir by the shoulders again, forcing her upright.
Grinning falsely, she forced a stiff welcome. "Hey, Gio. How have you been?"
"Laz! You're the last face I expected to see!" Gio shrieked. "Here, have a drink!" He placed the other, already-consumed beer on the counter before her.
"Take mine, too!" Barney insisted, shoving his drink directly into her hand.
"Wait a minute, you can't give her that! It's half empty!" Gio exclaimed.
"So is yours!"
"But mine has more!"
"No, it don't!"
"Yes, it does, you bonehead! Do you want to measure?!"
Peeking around the room, Lazzir realized how quickly the two morons were attracting unwanted attention. Eyes that were once oblivious to their presence were now staring dead in their direction, and the glances were alarmingly disapproving.
Grabbing each by the arm, she compelled them to look her way. "Guys, it's fine," she beckoned. "I don't need either of your drinks. What I need is some peace and quiet while I finish my own drink."
They turned to her, both falling silent. Slowly, their expressions twisted into betrayal.
"Oh, I get it!" Gio scoffed. "You're too good for us now, huh? And to think I was just about to tell you about our near-death experience the other night."
Lazzir rolled her eyes. They were always finding ways to earn her pity.
"What are you rambling about?"
"We almost died!" Barney blurted, several people turning their heads to stare at his outburst. "This man showed up 'n the dead o' night while we were working at the warehouse. He came in an' murdered everyone! Everyone! The bodies he left behind were mortifyin' an' he-"
Gio slapped his hand over his blabbering friend's mouth. "Keep it down!" he warned. "I told you not to go spouting like that. We already got in trouble once."
"Wait, you guys were the survivors of the massacre?" Lazzir went wide-eyed.
Leaning in closer, Gio checked his surroundings as his voice became a murmur. "Technically, we aren't supposed to be telling people. But you're our friend, so... yes."
"Did you see the guy who did it? What did he look like?" She was nearly falling from her seat in anticipation.
It should have been obvious that they were the ones she was searching for the whole time. After all, the rowdy pair description was a spot-on characterization of the two. It was also known that Gio and Barney were contract workers for one of the larger rings within Renu, so it made sense that they would have been around when the buildings were attacked.
Gio shook his head and signaled for her to lower her tone. "I can't tell you right here. We've already been told to keep our mouths shut about it once, though I don't understand why," he said. "Meet in the back in ten minutes. I'll tell you everything I know."
With that, Gio stepped into the crowd and vanished, Barney wobbling close behind. Mouth gaping, Lazzir turned to Spoons, still perplexed. He tilted back his cup, listlessly sipping away as if he hadn't heard a word of their conversation.
"Were you listening to any of that?" she asked.
"It was hard not to."
"Well, what do you think?"
"If you want to meet two strange men in the dark back room of a sketchy bar, then who am I to stop you?" Spoons quipped, inclining his head.
Narrowing her eyes at him, Lazzir huffed. "You've been letting Tilluan rub off on you."
Standing from her seat, she gave him one last glance before stepping away. For whatever reason, he didn't seem concerned that she was pursuing the lead on her own. It was perplexing that he trusted her so much; however, it was better than Mai, who didn't trust her at all.
Walking into the curtained back room, it took her eyes a moment to adjust to the shadows. Several booths and tables were scattered about, though barely anyone occupied them, and the stained, carpeted floors looked like they hadn't been washed in years. It smelled of cigars and illegal substances, the air covered in a tainted fog that suffocated as she made her way to the corner booth.
It wasn't lost to her that this room was a place for dealers and thugs. Nothing good ever entered the curtains that hid what was within, and nothing good ever came out.
Sliding into the seat across from Gio and Barney, Lazzir surveilled the room's entrance.
"I know this whole thing is crazy, but you have to understand that we can't talk about this in the open anymore," Gio scratched his head, looking nervous.
"Just tell me what happened," she demanded plainly, getting straight to the point.
The two men exchanged wary looks before Gio nodded and leaned in closer, whispering. "Well, it all started about a week ago when one of the old meeting houses got hit. Nobody saw who did it or how they got in, but the place was completely wiped out. There wasn't a single soul left to tell the tale.
"The next day, several men were instructed to unload the warehouse on the riverfront. There were concerns about the place being raided since the old boss died and left the rest of us to fend for ourselves, so we had to get everything out as quickly as possible. The next thing we knew, some guy showed up and started attacking. Barney and I were the first people he got, but we were knocked out before we could see the rest."
"So, you didn't actually see this guy kill anyone?" Lazzir questioned.
Gio bobbed his head and pursed his lips. "Well, not really, no," he admitted. "But, when we woke up, we saw everything he'd left behind. There were piles of bodies, every face left completely unrecognizable due to peeling skin and cancerous welts. It was sickening."
"Did you see his face?" she adjusted in her seat, ready to get into the real details.
"Kind of," he rubbed his chin, thinking. "He had blonde hair and-"
"No, he didn't," Brantley suddenly objected. "He was brown-headed."
"He was not!" Gio argued.
"Was, too! An' he had blue eyes!"
"His eyes were brown!"
"Nuh-uh!"
Lazzir tapped her foot on the floor, growing impatient. "Okay, never mind," she waved her hands, dismissing her previous question. "Do you have any idea why he did it? That's the real question."
"No idea," Gio shrugged. "He didn't look to be from a rival gang. Though, there is the thing with the-" He stopped himself abruptly, staring at her for a moment before turning away. "Actually, I forget."
"What? Spit it out, Gio. Don't get shy on me now," she exhorted.
"He's talkin' bout the Ralet Tower deal," Barney explained.
Immediately after he said it, he was nudged by Gio, who started to look around the room in a sweat. "That's going too far," he scolded. "Nobody can know about that."
"Nobody can know about what?" Lazzir pressed, threatening him with her gaze.
"Forget it. I won't tell you," Gio stubbornly stuck his nose in the air.
Refusing to take no for an answer, she leaned over the table, speaking softly yet menacingly. "You mentioned Ralet Tower. What do they have to do with it?"
He still declined to answer.
She was familiar with the Ralet family and their many scandals. They owned many run-down properties around the city, buying out local shops and self-sustained businesses that fell into too much debt and then doing nothing with the space once they got ahold of it. Thanks to them, much of Renu was left to ruin, and crime was able to run rampant. In the last few years, they were the sole perpetrators of negative change within the city.
"He's just bein' a scaredy cat," Barney grumbled. "It ain't anythin' serious. It's just that Ralet bought out both places after they were raided. Nobody knows why, but there're theories. I think-"
Suddenly, an earth-shattering sound rang out, vibrating the walls and bouncing from the ceiling. Lazzir winced, ears ringing. As she blinked, Gio and Barney were struck in the head with something imperceptible, both of their skulls instantly splitting with blood.
Before she could turn her head to find where the piercing noise originated, a voice rumbled from across the room.
"I think that's quite enough talking."
----
He glared up at the towering apartment building before him, drained and jaded as he walked under its stretched shadow. It rested on the corner of an unlittered street, surrounded by businesses and similar apartments. The trees and shrubbery were well kept and trimmed along the sidewalk, functioning street lights lining the road every so often. It was completely different from any other locations Halo had ever sent him to.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Todotori questioned. He pulled the hood of his jacket over his head, feeling vulnerable as he stepped into the light above the building's entrance.
"This is where Rene's minions have tracked the Angel, yes," Halo stated, crossing her ebony arms. "As you can tell, she is a wealthy one. Possibly a lawyer or doctor or something of the sort."
He didn't really care who this Angel was or how they'd found her. He simply wanted to get it over with. The opponent's powers and skills weren't a concern. Where they came from and what their goals were didn't matter. The fact that they were an Angel in the first place meant that they were a killer and that they were a criminal. He had no problem facing people like that.
Still, Todotori felt hesitant.
It was because his best friend was now one of them. She wasn't a killer, and she wasn't a criminal. He didn't understand how Lazzir had gotten her mark, but it couldn't have been the same way he got his. There was no way she was as selfish as Rene or as violent as Chihara.
What if the Angel he was about to slaughter was the same? What if he was hunting down someone innocent?
"What are you thinking about?" Halo chirped, leaning in by his side, her ghostly hair flowing even without any wind. "Are you having second thoughts? I promise your ability far surpasses anything most other Angels are capable of. This task should be a piece of cake."
"It's fine," Todotori muttered, closing his eyes. "Just tell me which room to find."
He had to force his mind quiet. Dwelling the situation would only make it more complicated.
For now, he would simply do as he was told.
"Oh, I'm not sure which one she lives in." Halo smiled as if it should have been obvious. "You will have to go inside each room."
"What?" he sputtered, his expression shifting. "You're not serious. How could you expect me to-"
"Todotori," she interrupted.
Her grin widened perilously as her eyes became deranged and impure, staring into him demandingly. A cloud seemed to form around her, creating an air of fierce and nefarious desire. Lifting her arm slowly, she pointed to the front door of the apartment building.
"I want you to go inside each room," Halo commanded, "and kill everyone you see."
She didn't allow even a moment for protest. The control she seized over Todotori was immediate. A murky, domineering hand grabbed him by an invisible string and forced him toward the door. A shuddering feeling overtook his body, panic and terror filling his mind, with nowhere to release. His vision became dim, and all authority was stripped away in an instant.
Entering the building, he started up the stairs to the first floor of rooms. There was no use in fighting. There was no such thing as resisting. Todotori merely watched from inside, unable to escape himself as he broke through the first apartment door.
Standing in an unfamiliar living room, he looked around for signs of life.
"What the hell was that?!" a man's voice shouted, emerging from around a corner. When he spotted Todotori standing there, his face turned to fear. "Who are you?! How did you get in here?!"
There was too much noise coming from his mouth.
Todotori lifted his hand, pointing a finger at the man's face. Not even a moment passed before his head was incinerated, blood spilling out onto the floor as what remained of his body fell to the ground.
There was no hesitation in Todotori's movements. He found his way to the bedroom, where a woman lay in bed. As he stepped closer, she stirred awake, squinting into the darkness.
"Honey? What was that sound?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Grabbing her by the face, he made sure to stifle her screams as her skin began to blister and burn white. She kicked and wallowed, clawing at his arm to escape, but his strength was too much.
He moved on as soon as the bellowing stopped and the struggling ceased.
Todotori's mind had gone blank. He felt empty. His judgment was fading. It was a different kind of emptiness than when he'd murdered the scum. With every person he killed, with every face he mutilated, he could feel himself falling deeper and deeper.
One innocent face after another.
And there was nothing he could do.
Standing in one of the rooms on the top floor, he figured his mission would soon be over. There was no sign of this Angel he was supposedly searching for, and he was starting to think that there was no Angel to begin with. The woman lying before him certainly wasn't who he was seeking, her body still twitching on the ground as her life slipped away silently, just like all the ones before her.
Turning to exit the room, Todotori could hear tiny footsteps echoing behind him.
"Tori?" a sleepy little voice mumbled.
No.
No, no, no, no.
He knew that voice.
"What are you doing here?"
He didn't want to turn around. He wanted to keep walking. He wanted to pretend he never heard it, but he had no choice. Spinning around, his worst fear was confirmed.
Corey looked up at him with curious eyes. One of the three boys from Misu's gym, a child that he'd trained and played with several times in the last few years. Someone he was supposed to protect.
Todotori took a step forward, and he tried to pull himself back. Reaching for the small boy, he tugged in the other direction. He pulled, and he tugged, and he fought, and he fought.
He struggled within himself, attempting to stop his hands as they wrapped around Corey's throat, but he couldn't do anything.
"Tor- ri-" the boy squirmed. "That- hurts-" His small hands squeezed Todotori's fingers as his face reddened.
No. Please.
Stop.
Stop. Stop.
Many seconds went by as he screamed within, watching as Corey's body finally went limp. The sound of the body falling was nauseating. The sight of it was even worse. Turning away without hesitation, Todotori continued pressing on to the next room, the shell he was trapped within showing no remorse or emotion.
He didn't know what to do. There was nothing to do. What he'd just witnessed, what he'd just done, was far beyond anything he could comprehend. He refused to believe it, convincing himself it was all a nightmare, though the blood on his hands and the pain in his heart reminded him that it was not.
The next door was the last, and there was no time to process anything as he kicked it in. Stepping inside, he was welcomed by an utterly bare apartment room, no furniture or decorations in sight. A light curtain of dust trickled around the room and coated the hardwood floors, every speck made visible by the moonlight that shone brightly through the uncovered windows. It was clear that nobody had lived there for a long time.
As he looked around, Todotori noticed a small blue light flashing on the ceiling. A round device stuck to the smooth surface of the roof where the light originated, and it looked very similar to a smoke detector. However, walking closer to investigate, he could hear a faint ticking sound inside the instrument.
It ticked, and it ticked, the blue light flashing along with the sound. Gradually, the ticking grew faster. Then, it grew faster.
Ticking. Ticking.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
And then, it stopped.