The precinct was quieter than usual. Rain lashed against the windows, and the hum of computers filled the room. Arata leaned over his desk, staring at the series of crime reports and timelines that had been piling up for weeks. Something about the pattern gnawed at him—an instinctive chill he couldn't shake.
Someone inside… someone close…
Every Ribbon Reaper operation had a connection to the information he had access to. Every target, every criminal, had been flagged in reports he had personally handled. And yet, every time he tried to act, the Reaper was one step ahead.
Arata rubbed his temple. "It can't be coincidence… someone is watching my moves, my reports… they're anticipating everything."
Officer Raghav looked over nervously. "Sir… are you suggesting… it could be someone from the precinct?"
Arata's eyes narrowed. "I don't know… but I need to find out. Someone here knows things only an insider could know."
The thought made his stomach twist. Could it be someone I've trained with? Someone I trust?
Meanwhile, Lucian strolled down a busy street, golden hair catching neon lights, playful grin plastered on his face. But the laughter was hollow. Kane's cold, calculating voice whispered from the shadows of his mind:
"They're getting closer… act before it's too late."
Lucian froze mid-step. His playful persona tried to fight, to joke, to flirt, to keep the world thinking everything was normal. But Kane's dominance surged—sharp, ruthless, unstoppable.
A known human trafficker appeared in the street, one flagged in Arata's investigation. Lucian's hands twitched. Kane took over. The crimson ribbon appeared around the man's wrist, marking his crimes.
Lucian's inner voice screamed: "No! Not here! People are watching!"
Sera, hiding in the shadows, watched in terror. She had been following Lucian for weeks, noticing the subtle but terrifying shifts—the flicker of black in his golden eyes, the sudden precision in his movements, the cold aura that replaced his playful charm.
"Lucian… tell me what's happening inside you," she whispered softly, her voice trembling.
He forced a weak smile. "I'm fine… really."
But the truth weighed heavily in his mind: Kane was stronger than ever, and the balance between personalities was slipping dangerously.
Back at the precinct, Arata traced the timeline of Ribbon Reaper attacks again. A pattern emerged connecting locations, criminals, and police reports. His intuition screamed: the person responsible was someone close to him, someone he knew.
Could it be… Lucian? No… impossible…
But every thread pointed to the same terrifying possibility: the Reaper was closer than anyone had realized. And if Kane surged while Arata was on the case, it could all unravel catastrophically.
Outside, the city moved on, oblivious. Citizens whispered about the Ribbon Reaper, some seeing him as a god of justice, others fearing him as an unstoppable force.
Lucian stood drenched on a rooftop, trembling. Kane's dominance lingered in his mind. Sera approached, eyes wide with fear.
"You can't keep hiding this… it's going to destroy you," she said softly.
He forced a laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "I… I'm fine…"
But deep down, he knew: the city's fate, his own mind, and everyone around him were teetering on the edge.