"10 million dollars credited!"
Nate read the notification on his phone as day by day, his money kept piling up. However, he didn't even let out a smile, knowing the one person he cared about was nowhere to be found.
Even though Claire had assured him she was back home, he still felt very uneasy.
He walked out of the school, staring at his phone and another notification came in.
"Hello, Nate Williams. Your package is being delivered to your address. We would like…"
He froze for a moment, thinking back to the car he had bought on a whim. All this while, he realized he should have gotten a befitting house and had his car delivered to it.
Nevertheless, he could do that later. He rushed out, stopping a cab and going down to his house. As expected, he had his brand new car waiting.
The sleekness, and the luxurious feel it gave made him smile and the next second, he took a picture and sent it straight to Nyx.
"I got a car. When are you getting back so we can test run it?"
Again, his messages went unanswered and he wasn't even sure if they were getting delivered. As he paced around the car, trying to call Nyx again, he felt a tap on his shoulders.
"Nate…"
The voice was all too familiar, and as he turned around, he came face to face with Aria. She was still so pale, and frail even after he had healed her. But then, she wasn't supposed to be here.
"What are you doing?" He snapped. "You are supposed to lie low."
"I didn't…" She shrugged. "I had to start the mission you gave me. There is no reason why I should rest. See, I'm very strong."
"Why?" Nate pinched his nose, clearly irritated by her presence and the smug smile on her face. "What if Rick sees you?"
"Don't worry, he didn't." She rested her back on the car. "However, I have something to report. As soon as I saw it at Rick's house, I had to come find you."
"What is it?" He glanced at her suspiciously. He wondered if she was really a loyal ally, smart enough to spy on Rick for him.
"Nyx…" Aria said calmly.
"What about Nyx?" He stood upright, with a serious gaze.
"She is at Rick's house." She tilted her head, as she tapped on her chin softly. "At first, I thought she was there voluntarily, not until the moment she got into a fight with him."
"What?" Nate fisted his hands, his face turning red from rage. "Is Nyx harmed? That bastard better not touch her…"
"I think you have to save her quickly then." She stepped away from the car and opened it directly for him.
Quickly, Nate got in but then he had doubts as he glanced back at Aria.
"How were you able to know this? Is there anything else I should know?" He asked.
"Nothing, I think…" She shrugged. "Other than them trying to find my body and also covering their atrocities at school. You know all that, right?"
"Yes, I expected it." He nodded.
"Good, off you go then." She said. "I will keep the house safe for you…"
She turned to walk back into his house, but then stopped, with a small smile blooming on her face.
"You don't need to know how I know…" Her shoulders were raised as if this were a proud moment for her. She then tapped on her temples, "I have my ways."
"Ever since you saved me, it seems I was reborn with something else inside me. I can't explain it…" She waved her hand nonchalantly as she walked into the house.
On the other hand, Nate also couldn't explain what was happening. The concept of Aria becoming his ally, and smart enough to sneak into Rick's house without detection was too surreal for him.
He wondered if she would snap one day and turn back into her old self?
Or was this the system's way of making her pay for hurting him?
But then, he had no time to think as he stepped on the gas pedal and shot out of the neighborhood. As his car sprinted down the road, he had almost every student around looking at the rear of the car, amazed by the beauty.
And in no time, he reached Rick's house. Bypassing the gate was easy, however, as he approached the front door, he noticed drops of blood on the floor.
"Nyx…" he rushed toward the door, pushing the unlocked door and the sight before him was horrific. A pool of blood was right in the middle of the sitting area, and his heart dropped, wondering if it was his girl.
"Nyx!" He called out, with his voice bouncing off the walls.
However, he quickly realized the house was empty and he dashed right outside, following the trail of blood on the floor.
He reached the garden, where he saw Rick standing in between the rows of flowers, with Nyx at his feet.
Their eyes met, and the wry smile that crossed Rick's lips made him snap. Nate craved to spill Rick's blood at that moment, break his neck, and feed him to the dogs.
He was a vile bastard who didn't need to live amongst humans.
"Activate combat assistance!" He ordered.
[Activated!]
"Welcome, Nate…" Rick's words reached him, with his arms spread as if asking for an embrace.
"I never knew you would get here this fast..." He started to approach Nate, with his face stained with Nyx's blood.
"Tell me, how did you know she was here?"
He was just a few inches away from Nate, still grinning and reeling in the deed he had just done.
Nate glanced at Nyx who lay lifeless on the floor and he seethed, "You are dead!"
He rushed at Rick, with his iron-like fist, but the unexpected happened.
Rick pulled out his gun from behind him and cocked it in the blink of an eye.
Bang!
He pulled the trigger.