{ Mia }
A sharp wind blew through the alley, but all I could hear was my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. The cat's eyes still glowed, its small body unnaturally rigid. A low, guttural growl echoed from its throat, deep and unnatural for something so small.
"Ace…" I barely whispered his name, my fingers curling into fists.
Hunter stepped forward cautiously. "That's not normal."
The cat suddenly let out a growl, its body jerking before it ran down the alley, moving faster than any cat should. It was running in a straight line, like it knew exactly where to go.
My stomach twisted. "Ace, I think it's leading us to him."
He cursed under his breath. "We need to follow it."
We ran after the cat ignoring the strange stares we got from passersby.
" Ace... Do you think he knows..." I panted.
" I don't think so. I think that signal was meant for you... I think once you wore the pendant it would control your mind and you would run straight to him..."
Then, the man's last words echoed through my mind.
" You're mine." " You'll come to me...they always do."
I shivered.
Hunter turned to me his eyes softening. " It's going to be alright cupcake... You'll be fine."
" Don't worry Mia, I'll rip this man to pieces!" Ash growled. " If you let me..."
I nodded." Of course I'll let you Ash, I'll never try to stop you!!"
Hunter turned to me and smiled though it didn't quite reach his eyes. " We need to settle a mind link before we enter his part of the city."
" What? He has a part in the city?"
Hunter nodded. " He's not just powerful, Mia. He controls half the city from the shadows ."
My eyes widened. " What kind of shady stuff?"
" I'll tell you through the mind link, I can't speak out loud about this, people can hear me."
I nodded." How exactly do we establish this link?"
" Alright... Just close your eyes, and think of me. Think about the connection that links us... Now breathe."
I nodded slowly doing as I was told then, suddenly Hunter's voice echoed through my mind.
****
" Testing testing can you hear me?"
I chuckled and replied in my mind." Yes Ace, I can hear you."
" Good."
" Now, can you tell me what kind of shady business this guy is in?"
" Well he's involved in the mafia for one and—"
I inhaled sharply. " The mafia?"
Hunter nodded." One of his men, the one in charge, has a scar running down his face, and—"
" Wait!! A scar?! " I came to a stop. " Ace! He's the one who kidnapped my dad and tortured him! He's also the one who attacked our house!"
Hunter looked at me and took a deep breath. " Calm down cupcake..."
" Cupcake, scars don't always mean the same man. We need to be sure before we act. You know what? Why don't you imagine the man and send me his image through this mind link?"
I took a shaky breath, my fingers curling into fists. What if it really is him? The man who destroyed my family, the one who made my father disappear.
Hunter placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. "Cupcake, listen to me. We need to be sure. Try to send me the image."
I hesitated. How do I even do that?
"Close your eyes. Focus on the memory—every detail. Then, instead of holding onto it, push it toward me, like passing a note under a door."
I swallowed hard and did as he said. My mind flickered back to that night—the dim light, the glint of a knife in the man's scarred hand, my father's broken voice, pleading.
The weight of the memory was suffocating. My stomach twisted as I pushed it forward, shoving it through the invisible thread connecting me to Hunter.
A sharp gasp echoed in my head.
"Mia…" Hunter's voice was tight, strained. He had seen it.
My eyes snapped open, locking onto his. His face was paler than before, his jaw clenched.
"It's him," he confirmed. "The same bastard."
My hands trembled. " What do we do?"
" He's after you Mia, I think the best thing we can do is to get rid of him."
I nodded feeling a burst of energy coursing through my veins.
The cat suddenly stopped in the middle of the alley, its eyes glowing even brighter. It turned its head slowly, before letting out a sharp ear piercing hiss.
"Ace, something's wrong," I whispered, my body instinctively tensing.
Hunter's hand brushed against mine, a silent reassurance, but even he seemed tense. He looked at the alley in front of us. "We need to be ready for anything."
The cat's eyes flickered once more, and then, without warning, it bolted down the alley, moving faster than it should. My heart raced as I watched it disappear into the shadows.
"We're close," Hunter muttered under his breath. "Stay close, Mia."
We moved quickly, the sounds of our footsteps echoing in the alley. And then, just as we turned a corner, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
It was him. The scarred man.
His presence was like a cold wind, a sense of dread that I couldn't shake. His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt the weight of his gaze, like he was already one step ahead.
"You shouldn't have come," he said, his voice smooth, but laced with a hint of menace.
My breath got stuck in my throat, but there was no time to hesitate.
Before I could react, the cat, that was standing beside the scarred man, let out another low growl. It shifted unnaturally, its body twitching as if it were being controlled by some dark force. The air around us crackled with tension.
Hunter's hand went to the dagger at his side, his body tense. "Move, Mia!" he barked.
I didn't need to be told twice. I pushed past him, running toward the man. But just as I was about to strike, the cat lunged forward, its glowing eyes flashing dangerously.
Hunter's voice rang out. "Get back!"
I dodged, barely avoiding the cat's claws as they slashed through the air with terrifying speed.
The scarred man laughed softly, taking a step forward. "You really think you can defeat me, Mia?"
I felt the power surge within me, my instincts taking over. I focused on the energy around me, on the darkness that seemed to respond to my every thought. A bubble of energy formed in my hands, and without thinking, I threw it at the man.
The bubble exploded in a burst of light, sending the scarred man stumbling back. But before he could regain his balance, he snapped his fingers, and the cat lunged again, faster this time.
"Ace!" I yelled, fumbling, trying to run away.
Hunter moved in front of me, his body tensing as he drew his blade. "I've got this," he said through clenched teeth, stepping forward to confront the cat.
I swallowed hard, turning my attention back to the scarred man.
" Ash..." I muttured." It's your time to shine."