Kamikawa – 3:48 AM
The forest was too quiet.
The trees blurred past Ryouma's eyes as he ran, blood splashed across his uniform shirt, shoes slick with frost and soil. His breath came in broken wheezes, lungs burning. The cold air cut at his skin, but it couldn't reach the fire inside him.
Katarina's body still haunted his periphery—her hand still holding the cigarette, that quiet smile on her face even in death.
He clutched the walkie tight, her blood on the antenna.
crk—kkk—pshhhh—
"Any unit—this is—this is Ryouma—Kurokawa—reporting a Code Red—Code Red—my guardian is dead—my sister's been taken—Katarina Yoon is dead—"
He choked.
"She's dead and my mother's going to kill my sister—send someone to the north valley trailhead—FAST—send everyone."
Silence.
Then:
"This is Officer Nam—standby, Saigeru—we're sending units. ETA fifteen minutes. Hold your ground if you can."
Hold your ground?
There was no ground to hold.
Only revenge.