Riko's mind wandered as she sat at the vanity, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the carved edges of the wooden frame. The news of Arisa's pregnancy had brought her a strange mix of joy and worry. They had spent hours talking the night before, their voices hushed but excited as they shared their hopes and fears for the future. Yet, beneath the surface, Riko couldn't shake the nagging sense that something darker loomed on the horizon, a storm she couldn't quite see but could feel growing closer.
A knock on the door broke her reverie. Riko turned, her heart leaping in her chest. Illuminada stood in the doorway, her face pale and her lips tight, as though she were physically holding herself together by sheer will. Her usually sharp eyes were wide, darting nervously around the room before settling on Karl, who had been sitting quietly on the couch.
"Karl," Illuminada's voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with urgency. "Katrina... she's been kidnapped."
The room fell into a sudden and thick silence. Riko's breath hitched, her eyes widening as she shot a glance toward Karl. He rose from the couch slowly, his tall frame looming in the small room, though his expression remained eerily calm—too calm, Riko thought. A muscle in his jaw twitched.
"What did you say?" His voice was low, barely restrained, but the undercurrent of rage was unmistakable.
"Katrina," Illuminada repeated, stepping fully into the room now. Her fingers twisted nervously at the hem of her sleeve as she continued, "She was taken early this morning... Leonard's people. They're demanding that you come to the wedding. They're using her as leverage."
Riko stood, feeling her legs wobble beneath her. She reached out, steadying herself against the vanity. "A wedding?" Her voice was incredulous, a mix of disbelief and fear seeping through her words. "What wedding?"
Illuminada glanced at Riko briefly, before turning her full attention back to Karl. "Leonard's wedding. He's forcing this... show. He wants everyone there—Ricardo, Riria, Akiko, you, and Riko. But he specifically mentioned you, Karl."
Karl's fists clenched at his sides. His breathing had deepened, nostrils flaring slightly. "Of course he did," he muttered, his voice thick with disdain. "The bastard always loved theatrics."
Riko moved toward Karl, placing a tentative hand on his arm. "We have to go. Katrina—she's family," she said softly, her eyes pleading with him.
For a moment, Karl didn't respond, his gaze hard and distant, as if he were already planning his next move. Finally, he exhaled sharply and nodded, the decision made. "Fine," he growled. "We go to the wedding. But this time, we finish it."
-----
The air was thick with tension as they arrived at the church. The sky above was gray and overcast, reflecting the unease in their hearts. Riko stepped out of the car, pulling her coat tighter around her shoulders as the chilly wind swept past. The imposing stone facade of the old church loomed before them, its large wooden doors shut tight, the windows dim and uninviting.
Illuminada walked ahead, her steps quick and purposeful. Ricardo, Riria, Akiko, Karl, and Riko followed closely behind. The silence between them was heavy, the unspoken fear that this was a trap hanging over their heads.
"Stay close," Karl murmured to Riko, his hand brushing lightly against hers. His eyes never left the church entrance, his body tense and ready for whatever waited inside.
They moved up the steps, the ancient stone cold beneath their feet. Ricardo was the first to reach the doors, pausing only briefly before pushing them open with a heavy creak. Inside, the church was dimly lit, the soft glow of candles casting flickering shadows along the worn stone walls. Pews lined the aisle, but the church was empty save for a handful of men standing near the altar. At the center of it all stood Leonard.
Dressed in an all-black suit, Leonard cut a striking figure against the pale backdrop of the church's stone interior. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous satisfaction, a smug smile pulling at his lips as he watched them enter. Beside him, kneeling on the ground, was Katrina. Her hands were bound, her face streaked with tears, and her once-vibrant wedding dress was torn and dirty. She looked up at them, her eyes wide with desperation.
"Karl!" she gasped, struggling against the ropes that bound her. "Please, help me!"
Karl's eyes flickered with a brief flash of pain, but he said nothing, his gaze locked on Leonard.
"Welcome," Leonard's voice echoed through the church, cold and mocking. "I'm glad you could make it. It wouldn't be a proper wedding without the whole family here, now would it?"
"You've crossed a line, Leonard," Karl growled, stepping forward. His entire body was coiled like a spring, ready to lash out. "Let her go, and maybe I'll consider giving you a quick death."
Leonard's laugh rang out, sharp and bitter. "Oh, Karl, always so dramatic. But you're not in control here. I am." He gestured to the men standing beside him, who were armed, their guns clearly visible. "This isn't just about Katrina. This is about ending things once and for all."
Riko felt her heart pound in her chest, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her coat. She glanced toward the others—Ricardo's face was impassive, his jaw set in determination, while Riria stood slightly behind him, her eyes narrowed in focused rage. Akiko's hands were at her sides, but Riko knew she was ready to draw her blade at any moment. Illuminada, standing at the back, was watching Leonard intently, waiting for the right moment to act.
Karl took another step forward, his gaze never leaving Leonard's. "If you think you're walking out of here alive, you're a fool."
For a brief second, the entire room seemed to hold its breath.
Then, all at once, chaos erupted.
A gunshot rang out, echoing through the church as Katrina screamed. The men beside Leonard raised their weapons, firing into the crowd. Karl lunged forward, grabbing Riko and pulling her behind a nearby pew just as bullets ricocheted off the stone walls. Ricardo and Riria dove for cover, while Akiko moved swiftly, her blade flashing as she took down one of Leonard's men with a swift, precise strike.
"Katrina!" Riko cried, her voice lost in the cacophony of gunfire. She peered over the edge of the pew, her heart clenching as she saw Katrina lying on the floor, blood pooling beneath her. Her eyes were wide, unblinking.
"Karl, she's been shot!" Riko's voice broke, her hands shaking as she tried to reach for Katrina, but Karl held her back, his expression grim.
"Stay down!" he ordered, his eyes flashing with fury.
Leonard, seeing the chaos unfold, made his move. He dashed toward the back of the church, disappearing into the shadows as his remaining men continued to fire at Karl and the others. Ricardo and Riria moved quickly, taking out the guards one by one, their movements precise and deadly.
But it was too late.
Katrina's body lay motionless on the floor, her white dress now stained with red.
As the last of Leonard's men fell, the church fell silent once more, the echoes of gunfire fading into the distance. Karl stood slowly, his chest heaving with anger and grief as he stared down at Katrina's lifeless form. Riko knelt beside her, tears streaming down her face as she gently cradled Katrina's hand in her own.
"She's gone," Riko whispered, her voice trembling. "Karl, she's gone."
Karl's face hardened, his jaw clenched so tightly that Riko could see the muscles twitching beneath his skin. He turned toward the back of the church, his eyes narrowing. "Leonard," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "He's not getting away with this."
Ricardo stepped forward, placing a hand on Karl's shoulder. "We'll find him," he said quietly. "But right now, we need to get out of here. There might be more of his men outside."
Karl didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the door where Leonard had fled. After a long moment, he nodded, his eyes still burning with rage. "Let's go," he muttered.
Riko wiped at her tears, standing slowly as Ricardo helped her to her feet. She glanced one last time at Katrina, her heart aching with grief. They had come to save her, but they had been too late.
As they left the church, the cold wind biting at their faces, Riko's mind raced with thoughts of what was to come. Leonard had escaped, and there would be no peace until he was found.
But for now, all she could feel was the weight of loss pressing down on her chest.
Katrina was gone, and nothing would ever be the same again.
----
The gray skies had not lifted in the days following the chaos at the church. The clouds hung low and heavy, mirroring the somber mood of those gathered at the cemetery. A cold wind swept through the open field, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and freshly fallen leaves. It was the kind of day that seemed to absorb sound, making everything feel muted and distant, as though the world itself were in mourning.
Riko stood near the back of the crowd, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, though not entirely because of the cold. Her heart still ached from the loss of Katrina, the image of her lifeless body lying on the church floor seared into her mind. The funeral had drawn in many faces—some familiar, others less so—but the grief was shared by all. Katrina had been a beloved figure, a beacon of light in a world too often shrouded in darkness. And now, that light had been snuffed out far too soon.
At the head of the gathering, near the open grave, stood Bishop Julio Marino. His face was a mask of sorrow, the deep lines etched into his skin seeming even more pronounced in the dreary light. He was dressed in his formal robes, the white and gold vestments fluttering slightly in the wind as he spoke, his voice low but steady.
Bishop Marino was no ordinary priest. He was Katrina's older brother, a man who had dedicated his life to the church but had never fully distanced himself from the tangled web of family loyalty and the violence that often accompanied it. His voice cracked as he spoke the final prayers, his grief palpable in every word.
"Katrina Marino was not only my sister," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion, "but she was a friend to so many, a woman of kindness, strength, and grace. She loved deeply and fiercely, and she gave everything she had to those she cared about. Her life was stolen from us by cruelty, by malice—by the hand of evil. And though her light has gone out, her memory will live on in our hearts."
The crowd was silent, heads bowed in respect. Riko's eyes flicked toward Karl, who stood at the front, his face unreadable. He hadn't said much since the day of the shooting, his grief hidden beneath a hardened exterior. But Riko knew him well enough to see the storm brewing inside. Katrina had been more than just his sister—she had been his best friend, his confidante. They had grown up together, side by side, and Karl had always been fiercely protective of her. Now, that fierce protectiveness had turned into a simmering, barely contained rage.
As the bishop finished his eulogy, a heavy silence hung in the air. The soft clink of shovels followed as gravediggers began the solemn task of burying Katrina. Riko could feel the weight of it all pressing down on her, suffocating in its finality. She turned her gaze toward Illuminada, who stood a few steps away, her face pale and gaunt. The grief etched into her features made her look older, more fragile. She had always been a strong woman, but this loss had broken something deep inside her.
After the ceremony, people began to drift away, offering quiet condolences to Bishop Marino, whose eyes seemed far away, lost in a sea of memories. Riko lingered, watching as Karl stood by his mother's side. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the barely contained fury simmering beneath the surface.
Illuminada reached out, her fingers trembling as she clutched Karl's arm. Her voice was barely audible, but Riko could hear the strain in it.
"Karl," she whispered, her voice heavy with pain. "You have to avenge her. You must."
Karl's jaw tightened, and for a long moment, he said nothing. The wind picked up, rustling the leaves and making the scene even more surreal. Finally, he turned to face his mother, his eyes dark and full of resolve.
"I will," he said, his voice like steel. "I swear it."
Illuminada's hand trembled as she released him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "She deserves justice," she murmured. "Leonard... Leonard cannot be allowed to walk free after what he did to her. He took my daughter from me, and now, Karl, you must take him from this world."
Karl nodded, his face hardening even further. "He'll pay, Mother. I'll make sure of it. I won't stop until Leonard is dead."
There was a silence between them as they both stood there, staring down at Katrina's freshly covered grave. Riko could see the pain etched into every line of Karl's face, but it wasn't just grief. It was fury, the kind of rage that could only be born out of loss. A slow-burning fire that wouldn't be extinguished until the person responsible was gone from the world.
Riko approached them cautiously, not wanting to intrude but feeling compelled to be there for Karl. She placed a gentle hand on his arm, squeezing it lightly.
"Karl, we'll find him," she said softly, her voice carrying a quiet strength. "You're not alone in this."
He glanced at her, his gaze softening for just a moment, but only just. "I know," he replied, his voice low. "But this... this is something I have to do."
Riko nodded, understanding. She knew Karl well enough to know that there was no talking him out of this. Leonard had taken too much from him—from all of them. And Karl wasn't the type to sit idly by while justice went unserved.
----
The house was eerily quiet as Karl sat in his father's old study, the dim light from the lamp casting long shadows on the walls. His hands rested on the desk, his fingers absently tracing the grain of the wood as he stared out the window. The weight of the day pressed down on him, the image of Katrina's lifeless body still fresh in his mind.
There was a knock on the door, and without looking up, he muttered, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and Illuminada stepped inside. She moved with a quiet grace, but her grief was evident in the way her shoulders slumped and her steps seemed heavier than usual.
"Karl," she said softly, her voice breaking the silence. "I know this isn't easy for you. I know how much you loved her. She wasn't just your sister—she was everything to you."
Karl exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment before speaking. "She didn't deserve this. She was innocent. Leonard... he didn't just kill her. He destroyed a part of all of us."
Illuminada nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "That's why you have to stop him. You're the only one who can."
Karl opened his eyes, turning to look at his mother. "I will. But this won't be quick. Leonard's careful, and he's been planning this for a long time. He'll have protections in place."
"I don't care how long it takes," Illuminada replied, her voice gaining strength. "As long as he suffers for what he did. As long as Katrina's death isn't in vain."
Karl stood from the desk, moving toward the window and staring out into the darkness. "He'll suffer," he said quietly. "I'll make sure of it."
Illuminada crossed the room and placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch light but grounding. "You're your father's son, Karl. He would've done the same."
Karl's jaw tightened at the mention of his father. The man had been many things—strong, ruthless when necessary—but above all, he had been a protector of the family. And now, it was Karl's turn to step into that role.
"I know," Karl said, his voice low. "And I won't stop until Leonard's blood has paid for what he's done."