Rain drummed against the precinct windows like distant warnings. Arata sat at his desk, eyes scanning weeks of reports, timelines, and patrol logs. Something had been gnawing at him—an intangible feeling that something, or someone, was always just out of reach.
The Ribbon Reaper isn't random… the timing… the precision… it aligns with certain absences…
He frowned, tracing names and dates. Officer Raghav glanced nervously at him.
"Sir… you've been reviewing this for hours. Anything?"
Arata leaned back, jaw tight. "These attacks… they happen when someone isn't present. Someone close… someone I know… maybe even… me?"
The thought chilled him, but he pushed it aside. Could he truly suspect someone within his trusted circle—or himself?
Golden-haired Lucian walked along a rain-slicked street, umbrella shielding him from the downpour. His usual playful grin barely reached his eyes. Inside, Kane stirred, whispering:
"Tonight, the weak cannot decide. Act before they catch us."
Lucian tried to resist, his inner voice begging for restraint, but Kane's dominance surged.
A corrupt enforcer connected to a city-wide trafficking ring appeared. Lucian froze mid-step as Kane took over. Precision movements, calculated strikes, and within moments, crimson ribbons appeared on the man's wrist—evidence of his crimes.
Lucian's playful persona whimpered silently, powerless against Kane's ruthless control.
From the shadows, Sera watched, heart pounding. Every subtle flicker of black in Lucian's eyes, every mechanical motion, every precision strike screamed danger.
"Lucian… please…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
He forced a smile, masking the storm inside. "I… I'm fine…"
But deep down, he knew the balance was slipping. Kane's presence was growing stronger with each passing night, and the playful mask was faltering.
Back at the precinct, Arata plotted the timeline. A chilling realization settled over him: the Ribbon Reaper's attacks coincided perfectly with certain absences—certain individuals unaccounted for.
Could it be… Lucian? Or someone who shares a life with him?
He felt a knot of dread in his stomach. The patterns were undeniable. He didn't yet know the truth—that all three personalities existed in a single body—but his instincts screamed that someone he knew intimately was the Reaper.
That night, Kane executed another high-profile strike, targeting politicians and underground enforcers connected to trafficking and illegal organ trading. Every move was calculated, every step invisible to the law.
By dawn, the city buzzed with whispers of the Ribbon Reaper's godlike justice. Citizens marveled at the precision, while criminals feared the unseen force that punished the wicked.
Lucian returned to a rooftop, drenched and trembling. Sera approached cautiously, eyes wide with fear.
"You can't keep hiding this… it's going to destroy you," she said softly.
He forced a weak smile. "I… I'm fine…"
Deep inside, he knew the truth: the collision between Arata's investigation, Kane's dominance, and Lucian's faltering playfulness was nearing a breaking point.