Crystal Avenue. 1:47 am.
The neighbourhood was awfully quiet, only the distant sound of El Zorro CBD hummed down the streets, Stephen's mansion was darkly lit—the sprinkler's quenched the grasses thirst, as the streetlights shined unto the lawn. Inside, Tokyo sat in Akira's bedroom, she comforted him back to sleep, Tokyo did not really know what to do or say—she thought of how Katherine had the audacity to commit an unforgivable stunt. She pondered for a while, eventually she brushed the thought and tended to Akira. her cheek pressed against his head softly; she felt the soft beat from Akira's top head—thud against her cheek. For the first time in a few years, Tokyo felt affection and a single tear slid from her eyes.
Stephen slept like a baby until his body twisted beneath the sheets, he opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. The light shined from the bathroom, his vision blurred as he turned his head. Then he noticed Katherine was not in bed, but Stephen ignored it, he thought she could not sleep. But deep within him, he felt something was not right, he laid in the bed but this time he was not sure, so he waited for her to return.
Spaghetti junction Highway. 1:52 am.
Route 47.
The highway sprawled ahead like a riddle—wide and nearly deserted. No steady stream of headlights flowed through the highway. No familiar rhythm of traffic, just a long stretch of asphalt swallowed by darkness. A few figures lingered along the roadside—silhouettes drifted in and out of the glow under broken streetlights. People who belonged to the night more than the day. Adriana's sedan cut through the silence, her windows rolled down as she felt the midnight breeze brush upon her. The breeze did nothing to calm her. If anything, it fed the urgency that burnt in her chest. Her foot pressed harder on the accelerator. She looked frantic "What could he possibly be planning?" she thought, her grip tightened on the steering wheel. The speedometer climbed. The engine growled in protest, but she did not ease up. She wanted distance—answers, she wanted to reach wherever this road had dragged her. "Please…" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind. "Please wait for me, Steph." Up ahead, the highway curved sharply into darkness—no cars, Only the road.
South Border 1:57 am.
23 Miles. Vinniger Lane.
Mila's cries cut through the desert like a siren, it echoed across the empty stretch of road. Both vehicles sat mangled and silent, their warning chimes pulsed in uneven rhythms, steam slowly rose from Antonio's car, the other one blinked red and amber into the dark. Antonio and Katherine were still unconscious, but Mila wasn't. Her tiny lungs burned as she screamed, strapped helplessly in the back seat. Then— a car door creaked open from the overturned vehicle off-road, a body spilled onto the sand, they rolled once before they got up. The woman groaned, then laughed softly as she pushed herself upright. She wore practical nothing—only an erotic lingerie clung to her skin, her long braids patterned neatly down her back and blood slid from her hairline. Mbali Legato. She snapped her neck side to side—her muscles popped like fireworks. Calm and Methodical. Suddenly a tiny fire crackled behind her as she reached back into the smoked wreck, she retrieved a burner. Then she walked toward Antonio's car, her heels crunched over glass and she dialing as she modeled. The line rang… Once… Twice. "Max." she said flatly. "I found your two love birds."
"Good job." Max replied. "You know what to do." Mbali's eyes flicked to the back seat—to Mila. "So, what about the bitch… and her baby?" she asked. "They're not my concern right now, Katherine was just a puppet in the plan—but Antonio… Toni has some things to confess about." Max replied. "Do what you're told and meet me at the Lake Naidoo. You can piece him up—but don't kill him. Not until I get there." Mbali smirked. "Yeah. Whatever." The call ended. She crushed the burner beneath her heel; the plastic snapped under pressure. Mila's cries filled the silence again loud and desperate. The taillight flared, it bathed Mbali in red. Then she drew a Glock nine from her thigh, blood still slick on her palms. Deliberately, she dragged her tongue across the crimson blood on her skin—then laughed under her breath. Step by step, she cat-walked closer to the car. The cries didn't stop. And inside the wreck—Antonio stirred.
Crystal Avenue. 2:00 am.
Meanwhile back in the Mansion, Stephen was up and he wandered down the hallway— he barged into every room he passed. He walked up to Tokyo's bedroom door, "Tokyo." he called out as he knocked on the door. Unfortunately—no respond, Stephen left down the hallway towards the stairs. As he neared, a glimpse of a side eye— spied into Akira's room, cornered down the hallway. The door was open, and Tokyo was in sight… she sat on a rocker—half asleep as she carried Akira. "Tokyo." he muttered. Stephen crept closer and closer, until he almost reached the door… When suddenly… the gate ringer went off, it caught his attention. Stephen stopped at the door— his gaze lingered on Akira and Tokyo, both of them slept cozily together. Then he went to the ringer, once he reached the CCTV footage—he saw a man, dressed in an amber suit and dark sunglasses hid his eyes. Stephen pressed the intercom "Who are you?" he asked. "Wow, is that how you greet your old compadre? Is it that hard to remember me?" the man asked, satire imbued in his tone. Stephen frowned "What are you talking about? just answer my question." he said. The man smiled faintly "I'm unimpressed… Ghost." the replied. Stephen eyes widened a little—he sighed slightly "Look man, you've got the wrong house…"
"Wait!" the man chipped in "Jupiter's creeper." he added. Stephen stood stun struck, then it clicked to him… a memory he thought he had forgot, a past he sworn to forget. "M—" his voice caught "Max." Stephen said, he stared at him through the camera. Max adjusted his hair "How's it been, Ghost?" Max said.