Julian lay on the hospital bed, bandages wrapped around his ribs and arm. His pale face contrasted sharply with the harsh white of the ward. He groaned every few minutes, half from pain, half from frustration.
Sebastian stood near the window, arms crossed, observing the quiet street below. Even here, his mind refused to rest.
"Healing nicely," the nurse said, adjusting Julian's IV.
"But no sudden moves."
Julian groaned again. "Sudden moves? Did you see me fly across the street? I think I qualify as a sudden move myself."
Sebastian didn't smile. "Your flying technique needs work. But I saw something important."
Wendy, notebook in hand, stepped carefully inside the room. Her eyes darted between Julian's pale face and Sebastian's intense gaze.
"I… took notes," she said softly.
"About the car. License plate… direction… everything I could remember."
Sebastian nodded slightly. "Good. You've been observant. That will help."
He walked over to the small hospital table, pulling out a pen and sketchpad. His hands moved quickly, sketching a face from memory. The woman in the car—the one he had seen for just a second—was coming into focus.
Julian squinted. "You draw her like a pro?"
Sebastian didn't look up. "Memory is sharper than people think. But this isn't about art. This is about recognition."
Wendy peered over his shoulder, fascinated.
"She… she looks familiar. Like someone I've seen in newspapers… or maybe a press conference?"
Sebastian paused. "Familiar? That's what I'm trying to figure out. I know her and the feeling tells me she knows me."
Julian groaned again. "Seb… you keep saying that. People knowing each other doesn't mean murder."
Sebastian's gaze was sharp. "No. But timing, location, and intent… this was deliberate and whoever she is, she's signaling someone. Maybe more than one person."
Wendy frowned. "So… she's doing this on purpose?"
Sebastian nodded slowly, keeping his focus on the sketch.
"Yes. And I want to know why. For now, we start with recognition,names, faces and connections. Everything."
Julian muttered from the bed. "Can we skip the ominous mysterious stranger part and go back to food next time?"
Wendy smirked. "You say that now, but you nearly died outside."
Sebastian ignored them both. He had finished the sketch. He held it up for them to see—lines sharp, eyes intense, expression almost cruel.
"She's the one," he said quietly.
"I don't know her name yet but she's connected to Raven and she wants us to notice."
Julian squinted at the sketch. "Raven again? Can't we just… not notice?"
Sebastian finally turned to Julian, expression deadly serious. "We don't have that luxury."
Wendy nodded. "Then we follow. Carefully."
Sebastian set the sketch down. His eyes shifted between Julian and Wendy.
"We move slowly. Observation first. No assumptions. One wrong move, and she'll disappear again. And the next time, we may not see her at all."
Julian groaned once more. "I feel like a prop in one of your deduction novels, Seb."
Sebastian finally allowed the hint of a smirk.
"Then play your part well. My dearest friends, Julian."
Julian groaned louder. Wendy, however, couldn't help but chuckle quietly.
The game had officially escalated and the shadow of the unknown woman loomed over them.