Adrian walked out of the office and paused for a moment, leaning against the wall as he waited for Blinks to return. The office hallway was quiet, the hum of air conditioning the only sound as he glanced around, lost in his thoughts. After what felt like an eternity, Blinks came back, casually strolling down the corridor with a cold canned drink in his hand. It was his mom’s favorite brand, the kind Adrian used to see stocked in their fridge all the time. Blinks gave him a quick wink, before heading inside to deliver the drink. He reappeared a few minutes later, a satisfied look on his face.Once they were ready, they headed out of the entire office, they descended in the elevator, a small confined space that allowed them a brief moment of silence before they stepped out into the parking lot. As they approached the car, Blinks turned to Adrian with a curious look. “So you’re not staying around?” he asked, breaking the silence.“No,” Adrian replied firmly. “We have work to do,” he adde

Adrian glanced up at his mom and smiled, she was in a serene mood. She had a cup of coffee by her side and she had a magazine in her hand. This was the kind of magazine that she usually read when she was at peace with herself. Adrian guessed coming back to town with an elevated purpose made her feel more at home. She usually came to the haughty remarks of the lady Barbara but that woman dare not try any nonsense with his mom now. He would bury her far down the seven hells… he stopped thinking and then smiled at his mom."Yeah," Adrian replied, taking a seat across from her. "Rose is heading out of town for a racing competition."Hailey raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Racing, huh? She always was full of surprises."Adrian nodded, feeling a sense of pride in Rose's adventurous spirit. But there was a heaviness in his chest, an unease that he couldn't quite shake off."Mom, there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk about," Adrian said, leaning forward.

Adrian and Blinks drove to the police station with both of them silent, they were both pondering about the day's events. Soon enough they arrived at the station and they stepped inside.. Officers moved about, phones rang, and the low murmur of voices filled the air. It was business as usual.Ramsey rushed towards the receptionist desk and led them to the Captain's office immediately without speaking. The office was weirdly decorated and Adrian noticed this as soon as they entered. It was almost empty, save for the cupboard at the edge of the room and the fridge at the other end. Then the rest of the room was filled with feathers. "Ramsey, Blinks," she said, her voice firm and no-nonsense. “Adrian?” She rolled her eyes. “ Let's get to the point.""Of course," Ramsey replied, his tone respectful but tense. He turned to Adrian and Blinks. "We've been tracking Kevin's movements, but it seems he left town a day ago. We managed to talk to a few neighbors, and they said he was in a hurry. A

Adrian watched as Ada’s face contorted in rage. She walked towards Adrian in shock and anger as if she hadn't expected him to say something like that. She expected it all to go smoothly with her controlling the narrative but she realized that this man wasn't one to be trifled with. When she looked into his eyes, there was barely any sign of life present. “If anything happens to my child,” she hissed, her voice sharp and venomous, “I will kill you, Adrian. I swear it.”Adrian’s expression remained calm, even as her words hung heavily in the air. “And if anything happens to Rose or my mother,” he replied evenly, “you’ll die too. Simple as that.”For a moment, they stood there, their eyes focused on each other, the tension between them thick as ice. Ada’s breathing was heavy and uneven. She didn't expect this from him so she was trying to process what the hell was happening. Adrian, on the other hand, was composed, his mind working quickly to assess the situation. He had just improvised

Adrian, Blinks, and Anthony waited in silence as the elevator hummed, ascending several floors. Anthony led the way, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a sense of urgency. The fact that there was a chance that Mr Brooks could come back was enough to get everyone on edge. When they reached the secret floor, Anthony pressed a series of buttons on the wall, revealing a hidden door that slide open with a soft hiss. Inside, Mr. Brooks' hibernated body lay suspended in a transparent tank filled with a light-blue fluid. Multiple monitors were connected to him, their rhythmic beeping the only sound in the room.“This is it,” Anthony said quietly, his voice tinged with the gravity of the situation. “He’s been in this state since the incident. We’ve done everything we can to keep him stable, but with that antidote, we might actually be able to speed up his recovery rate.”Adrian’s eyes scanned the setup, taking in the wires, tubes, and medical equipment. His father looked peaceful, almost a