"How long has it been?"

Claire strolled through the lively streets of Kanugo city, her mind filled with thoughts of the person she had spent years searching for. Vivid memories of their time together began to unfold before her, playing like scenes in an old movie. She remembered every detail, from the sound of his laughter to the way his eyes lit up when he smiled.

Claire Hoover, a striking beauty in her twenties, elegantly draped in a long grey jacket over a crisp white top and sleek black jeans paired with high boots. She tucked her hands into the pockets of her jacket to shield herself from the biting cold. Her luscious blonde locks cascaded like liquid gold, swaying gracefully in the wind as she navigated the bustling street towards the inviting haven of 'Coffee and Cookie Day' cafe.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the passersby couldn't help but steal glances at her, captivated by her graceful beauty. She stepped into the cafe, her heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. Her father had arranged this date, hoping to expedite her marriage and help her move on from the shadows of her past.

Spotting her date sitting at a corner table, a genial man with thick-rimmed glasses, she mustered an uneasy smile. He greeted her with an amiable grin and waved enthusiastically. Despite her inner turmoil, she endeavored to maintain a facade of composure throughout the encounter.

"Hey, Claire!" James greeted her warmly as he pulled out a chair for her to sit.

"Hi James," she responded with a forced smile, taking her seat. She had reluctantly gone on numerous arranged dates orchestrated by her father, rejecting each one for various reasons, whether due to their shortcomings or simply her lack of interest.

Ever since her first love, Alex, had abruptly departed, she had remained emotionally guarded. He had been her sole companion since childhood, and their bond had been incredibly strong. However, one day he vanished without a trace, leaving her bewildered and heartbroken.

Despite her exhaustive efforts to locate him, Alex had seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. It had been three long years since his sudden departure, and despite her deep yearning to find him, she was beginning to contemplate giving up the search and moving forward with her life.

James took the lead by signaling a nearby staff member, dressed in a black and white uniform, to come over as he raised his hand to get their attention. "Would you care for a cappuccino?" he asked Claire. She responded with a smile and a nod. "Okay, two cappuccinos," he ordered, to which the staff member nodded and left.

The television at the counter desk was reporting on the heightened alert in Kanugo city after the sighting of a masked killer. The people present were watching with fear evident in their eyes.

"Nobody knows who his next target is. No one knows what this masked killer looks like. No one has seen his face, but a survivor has mentioned he was a young man. Although his face was not seen, he was described as having brown hair."

"Hey, Claire," James called to her to get her attention, as he noticed she was lost in thought. She snapped out of her reverie upon hearing his voice.

"Oh, yes?" She uttered, haphazardly.

"You seem tensed about something." He declared, noticing a bit of stress on her face.

"Ah, no. It's nothing." She denied.

"Claire, I know it's difficult for you to forget Alex and move on, but don't you think that guy didn't deserve you?" He stated his concerns.

Claire sighed as her father did it again. He again told a stranger about her past life, which she hated. "James, I don't want to talk on this topic." She rebuked gently.

While watching the news on TV, the anchor advised people to report any suspicious individuals to the police and to avoid wandering around alone at night, especially in secluded areas of the city.

As the staff placed their cappuccinos on the table, Claire's expression turned stern as James probed her about Alex.

"James, stop it!" Claire rebuked loudly, causing the cafe patrons to glance their way. She composed herself and spoke softly, "I don't want to talk about him."

"Okay, if you say so. We won't talk about him," James acquiesced. "Let's discuss something pleasant."

Claire had already made up her mind about James. Who brings up another person on a date anyway?

At another table, a man was settling the bill. "Keep the change," he said to the staff.

The staff's face lit up with joy upon receiving the tip. "Thank you very much, sir!" he said.

The gentleman rose from his seat and made his way out of the cafe. As he passed by Claire and James, he purposely ensured that she caught a glimpse of him.

"Let me confess something, Claire," James said, shyly.

"What is it?" Claire asked.

"When I first saw you..." James trailed off as he noticed the man passing by their table. Claire's sudden shock was evident as her eyes widened, and she seemed oblivious to everything else.

"Alex?" she uttered, standing up.

"What!?" James couldn't fathom how Alex had become involved. Claire had mentioned not wanting to discuss him, yet she brought him up again. Following her gaze, he saw a young man clad in a black leather jacket with a red scarf around his neck, sporting brown hair.

The description in the news corresponded precisely to the features of the individual exiting the cafe. Claire dashed after him without a second thought.

"Claire!" James called out to her, but she paid no heed and departed. He was unable to pursue her as he still needed to settle the bill for the cappuccino.

"Alex!" She shouted and ran outside, her eyes frantically scanning the surroundings, but he seemed to have vanished into thin air. The street bustled with vehicles and passersby, adding to her sense of urgency. Her heart raced as she looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

She couldn't be certain if the person she saw was Alex, but he was nowhere to be found. "Claire?" James called as he approached her. "What happened? Why did you suddenly leave?"

She was unable to find the words to explain and simply managed to utter, "I think I saw him."

"Are you sure?" James asked. "Maybe it was someone else. You are just thinking too much about him."

Claire was torn between James' rational words and her own instincts. Her eyes continued to dart around, uncertain of what to do or think.

"Hey, let's go somewhere else to lift your spirits," James suggested, as he gently held her arms near her shoulders.

Reluctantly giving up on the search for Alex, Claire nodded. James offered a comforting smile and led her away.

"Two skeletons were discovered in the backyard of central minister Garrison Black during the income tax raid yesterday. Black has denied any knowledge of the skeletons found in his backyard. According to sources, an investigation team will be assigned to look into the matter," reported the news anchor on the TV in the cafe.

From behind a wall in a dark alley, someone observed Claire and James walking away. It was the individual in the red comforter who had left the cafe earlier.

As James and Claire went away the guy took out a white faceless mask with blood splatters on it. He wore it and vanished in the alley.

As the evening descended, Claire made her way back to her home, the memory of James's unwelcome advance still fresh in her mind. The encounter had left her feeling unsettled, prompting her to hastily depart from the park.

While walking down the street, she noticed an odd figure - an elderly man clad in a somber black suit and hat, scurrying into an alley with an air of palpable unease. Although she found his behavior peculiar, she decided to pay it no mind. Little did she know that she would soon be unable to disregard the situation any longer.

Startled, Claire glimpsed the very same man who had earlier left the cafe, now heading toward the same alley she had witnessed the elderly gentleman enter.

"Alex?" The name involuntarily slipped into her thoughts, propelling her forward. 

"Alex!" she called out as she swiftly traversed into the shadowy alley.

"Alex!" The darkness concealed any sign of him. "Are you there, Alex?" Despite her fear of such obscure places, she steeled herself and continued to call out into the night.

"Mm...argh...ackk..mmm..." As she stood on the verge of leaving out of fear, a series of muffled groans from a man caught her attention. Claire's curiosity piqued, prompting her to cautiously move forward toward the bend in the alley. "Alex? Is that you?" she inquired with a glimmer of hope, yearning to find her beloved. Little did she anticipate that what she was about to witness would forever alter the course of her life.

Claire put her hands on her mouth in shock, her eyes filled with terror after she witnessed the old man getting stabbed to death on the ground.

A masked man had been stabbing him continuously in his gut without pausing. She noticed that the masked man was wearing the same clothes as the man she thought was Alex, and his comforter was lying on the ground nearby.

"Mmm..." The old man found himself unable to make a sound as the assailant firmly covered his mouth with one hand. With his last ounce of strength, the old man managed to remove the mask from the assailant's face before succumbing to his fate.

As the mask slipped from the stranger's grasp and fell to the ground, Claire was left in stunned silence. "Alex? But...but why?" she murmured in disbelief, struggling to catch her breath.