The streets were drenched. The sounds of the festival were all around—laughter, shouting, and the occasional water balloon splashing against the pavement. The morning haze had lifted, and the air was thick with the scent of wet asphalt, barbecue smoke, and the stench of cheap cologne. By now, it was nearing noon—late enough for the hangovers to settle, but early enough that the chaos still felt fresh.
Kyaw Lin, Ko Aung, and Ko Zay were sitting at a makeshift plastic table outside a small food stall, picking at oily rice and grilled meat. They ate in silence, trying to shake off the weight of the previous night, trying to forget about Min Zaw.
It was Ko Zay who broke the silence first, glancing at his watch. "I need a smoke. Be right back."
Ko Aung didn't look up from his meal. "There's a shop just past the corner. Don't take too long."
Kyaw Lin gave a lazy nod and stood up, stretching his legs. "I'll be back in a minute."
He didn't notice the woman at first. She was just one face in the crowd—just another festival-goer, moving in the same direction as everyone else. She wore a long-sleeved shirt and a wide-brimmed hat, blending in with the swarming mass of people. The moment Kyaw Lin passed her, though, something clicked in Ko Zay's brain.
"That's her," Ko Zay said under his breath.
Ko Aung raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer. "Are you sure?"
"I'm certain." Ko Zay's voice was tight, a note of panic creeping into it. "That's the woman from before. She's too close. Too focused."
Ko Aung didn't need to ask any more questions. He just nodded. "Let's follow."
Ko Zay quickly fished out his phone and typed a short message.
"Kyaw Lin. Turn left at the alley past the cold drinks stall. Play along. She's behind you."
They both watched as Kyaw Lin continued walking, oblivious, weaving through the crowd, making his way toward the cigarette shop. A few seconds later, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it mid-step—nothing obvious, just a brief look, then he slid his phone back into his pocket, turning left as instructed. He didn't miss a beat, keeping his casual pace, but Ko Aung and Ko Zay knew the woman was still following him.
Kyaw Lin didn't notice her closing in, her steps quickening as she tracked him into the narrow alley. Her intentions were clear, but he still had no idea. The two boys, however, were already planning their next move.
They cut through the back of a food cart, quickly slipping out of sight, then circled around to the side alley, positioning themselves to block her escape.
Ko Zay was the first to speak as they reached the entrance of the alley. "We have her now."
Kyaw Lin was ahead, standing still at the alley's end. There was nowhere to go but back, but he hadn't noticed yet. She hadn't noticed them. Not yet.
Ko Aung, Ko Zay, and Kyaw Lin moved into position. The three of them stepped into the narrow alley, closing in behind the woman. The sound of the festival grew fainter here, muffled by the surrounding walls. Everything felt tense, like the seconds were dragging.
"Who the fuck are you?" Ko Zay's voice cracked through the silence, his tone sharp and demanding.
The woman froze, her eyes snapping to them. She didn't panic at first. No, this was the moment when everything in her shifted—the realization that her plan had been thwarted. She reached into her bag, a swift motion that was unmistakably familiar.
Ko Aung saw it before the others. His hand shot out to grab Ko Zay's arm. "Watch out."
But it was too late.
She flung the acid in a wide arc, its liquid shimmering in the air like water in the sunlight. Ko Zay and Ko Aung reacted immediately, turning away, shielding their faces with their hands. The burning sting hit them both at once—sharp and searing. Ko Zay yelled, stumbling back, while Ko Aung grit his teeth to hold back the pain.
Kyaw Lin jumped back in shock, his eyes wide as he saw the liquid splash across their arms. The acid burned through the fabric of their shirts, but they managed to cover their faces with their arms just in time. The skin on their exposed arms was red, but the burns were manageable.
The woman screamed, a wild, desperate sound, and without warning, she shoved past them, her body charging forward with a terrifying urgency. She made it to the end of the alley, slipping between the boys as they stumbled to recover.
Ko Zay moved quickly, trying to grab her, but she was already out of reach. She broke free, slipping into the crowd, her figure disappearing into the swirling mass of people. The chaos of the festival swallowed her whole.
Kyaw Lin, still reeling, rubbed his face, feeling the burn of the acid even through his clothes. "What the hell just happened?"
Ko Aung took a few steps back, trying to steady his breath. His face was grim, his mind already spinning. "That was too close. She's dangerous."
"She tried to kill us," Ko Zay said through clenched teeth, his hand still stinging from the acid. "She could've—" He cut himself off, shaking his head.
Kyaw Lin looked at his friends, his voice low, almost in disbelief. "Who the hell was she?"
"She's the one who's been attacking," Ko Aung said, voice steady but with an edge to it. "The woman who's been targeting us."
Ko Zay nodded slowly, his face pale from the burns and the shock of the attack. "She's not just some random person. She's got a plan. And we're in the middle of it."
Kyaw Lin rubbed his shoulder absently, trying to ease the sting. "We had her. I can't believe she slipped away."
"She won't get away again," Ko Aung said, his voice low but hard. He was already thinking ahead, piecing the situation together. "We'll track her down. We'll make her regret this."
The festival raged on around them, people still dancing, still shouting, still enjoying the day. But the boys were no longer part of that carefree world. The weight of what had just happened hung heavy over them, and they knew it was only going to get worse from here.
Kyaw Lin looked at his two friends, his eyes narrowing. "She won't get away again."
Ko Zay flexed his burned hand, grimacing as he felt the heat radiating from his skin. "She's not going to stop. We need to be ready."
Ko Aung's gaze was already scanning the crowd, sharp and calculating. He was already two steps ahead, his mind working overtime to figure out what the next move would be. "We'll find her. And we'll make her pay."