Cross had only glanced casually toward the stained-glass windows of the church hall when he froze for a second, genuinely surprised. Outside, through the colored panes, the unmistakable figure of Rogue stood in the courtyard.
To Cross, Rogue was the kind of guy who scoffed at prayer, shrugged at anything resembling reverence, and had openly mocked the church more times than Cross could count. Someone like him showing up here of all places was already unbelievable.
But today, he was actually here.
And not alone.
Mara, quiet and ever-stoic, walked beside Rogue. But what truly caught Cross's attention was the third figure: a boy around their age, good-looking, bright-eyed, and unfamiliar.
Handsome too. Almost at Cross's level.
Who was he?
Why had he never seen him before? Rogue and Mara were inseparable, and no one had ever mentioned a new companion. Was he a new recruit? But earlier, during the chase, when they crossed paths with Finks and Fayden, this boy never appeared.
A dozen questions tangled in Cross's mind.
He didn't get long to think.
"Screening room is ahead, Cross," Father Rizor said gently, his voice echoing slightly in the hallway.
Cross stopped and refocused.
"But someone is already inside. If you want to study, you two will have to share the room."
Someone? Cross blinked. He reached for the door and pushed it open.
A familiar figure sat on the floor.
"Parker?"
"Hey, Cross."
Parker lifted her head with a bright grin. Her short hair brushed her cheeks, and though still young, she carried herself with a calm maturity.
"What are you doing here?" Cross asked, confused.
"I heard from Father Rizor that you sneak in often to watch tapes and study," Parker said, still smiling. Her nose was small and straight, not yet the sharp hooked shape she would develop in adulthood.
"Oh, so he told you…" Cross chuckled awkwardly as he stepped inside. "I thought I was being subtle."
"Not subtle enough," Parker teased. "Besides, none of the other kids like Father Rizor's preaching. They avoid this place completely."
She pointed a thumb at him.
"Except you, Cross."
Cross sighed knowingly. "Parker, you really know everything about us, don't you?"
"Not everything," she said quickly.
"But you did get one thing wrong."
"Huh?"
"I'm not the only one who comes here."
Cross pointed at the window.
Parker turned instinctively. Through the small glass square, they could both see the scene unfolding beneath the church: Rogue, Mara, and the unknown boy, walking toward a small grove near the churchyard.
"Wait. Rogue? And Mara too?" Parker blinked, startled.
Everyone in Meteor Street knew Rogue. Even more knew Mara, the girl always at his side. Their reputations preceded them everywhere.
But something was off.
"What are they doing here? And who is that guy with them? Is he new?" Parker asked.
"So even you don't know," Cross said dramatically, sighing with mock disappointment. "And here I thought Parker knew everything."
Parker puffed her cheeks.
"Maybe we'll find out soon."
Neither of them bothered with the tapes anymore. They pressed closer to the window, intent on watching whatever the trio planned to do.
And they weren't the only ones lurking around the church.
In a shadowed corner of the outer courtyard, another duo crouched behind cracked stone pillars.
"Ow… ow… ow…"
Finks hissed in pain, clutching his swollen face. Bruises in ugly blue and purple spread across his cheeks.
"That bastard Rogue. He really didn't hold back. Ow."
Every time he spoke, the bruised skin on his face throbbed violently, making him wince between each word. Yet his anger toward Rogue only grew stronger.
"Keep your voice down," Fayden muttered, his thin fox-like eyes narrowing. "If you keep yelling, someone in the church will hear you."
"Then getting inside quietly becomes impossible."
"I know…" Finks grumbled, lowering his volume but not his fury. "Once I fix my motorcycle, I'm going to hunt Rogue down and make him pay."
Earlier, Rogue had smashed his cherished custom motorbike to pieces during their fight. Some parts could be scavenged from Meteor Street's junk heaps, but rare components like engines? Only the luxurious church stockpiled things like that.
Normally, no one dared cause trouble here, because the church was backed by the Elder Council of Meteor Street.
But Finks and Fayden were anything but normal.
They lived for chaos.
"Whatever. We're thieves anyway," Finks growled, his grin stretching painfully across his bruised face.
The infamous two-man thief team flexed their fingers, ready to steal big from the most well-protected place in Meteor Street.
Steal the parts, fix the bike, then find Rogue.
Meanwhile, the man they were plotting revenge against was only a short distance away in the church grove.
Rogue's patience was running out.
He clenched and unclenched his fists as he stared at Mog, who was circling trees like he was searching for treasure. Rogue's stomach was rumbling loudly, and his eyes were full of hunger and anticipation.
"Hey Mog," Rogue finally snapped, barely keeping his voice steady. "Whatever you're planning, hurry up. I'm starving. If you don't feed me soon, I'm gonna eat the tree instead."
Mara nodded once in agreement.
Her expression was as calm as always, but her eyes silently expressed the same thing: I want my fried rice. Soon.
Mog finally stopped walking and clapped his hands lightly.
"I found the right tree. Alright. Time to start inventing."
His smile widened.
Rogue gulped in excitement.
Mara's eyes brightened ever so slightly.
Across the church, Cross and Parker watched with growing curiosity.
In the shadows, Finks and Fayden prepared to make their move.
No one knew it yet, but the churchyard was moments away from exploding into chaos.
And at the very center of it all…
Stood Mog, ready to invent something completely absurd again.