Squad 0 gathered in the living room, the atmosphere thick with shock and tension. Kimberley, Ren, and Ata lounged on the couch, their jaws agape. Udo, sitting on the side, seemed unbothered, munching on an apple. Standing before them was none other than Alko, who had just dropped a bombshell.
"Yeah..." Alko trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.
Ata shook her head in disbelief. "There's no way."
"You're trolling again, aren't you?" Ren added, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Kimberley's voice trembled with surprise. "Y-you basically grew up with her?"
Alko nodded. "Uh-huh."
Ren's gaze shifted to Udo, who took another bite of his apple, seemingly indifferent to the revelation. "Wait, why are you so calm about this?"
Alko scratched his head. "I kinda told him before this..."
Kimberley's eyes widened. "Huh? You knew about this, Udo?"
Udo shrugged, voice muffled from the apple. "Come on, like ten minutes ago."
Kimberley's mind raced, her eyes lighting up. "Wait... but this changes everything. Didn't you literally meet up with her the other day? You could just call her up and say you want to meet her again, then BAM!"
Alko hesitated, rubbing his arm. "Um... I'm not sure. I told her I was a Dove host, and she basically walked off."
Kimberley facepalmed. "Ahhh, why would you tell her that!"
"I-I didn't know she was a Herd member! Look, I'll try anyway, but I can't guarantee anything," Alko defended himself.
Ren leaned back, concern etched on his face. "You sure you're okay with this?"
"With what?" Alko asked.
"Setting up your childhood friend," Ren clarified, his voice filled with worry.
Alko scoffed, a hint of false confidence in his tone. "Sure I am.
His tone suddenly shifts to a calmer one.
"Plus, she may be a childhood friend, but she's also a member of the Herd. I know where my priorities lie."
Ata, Ren, and Udo exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the conflict within him. Kimberley, however, smirked as she got up from the couch and sauntered towards Alko.
"That's my Alko," she said, tapping him on the shoulder. Struggling to maintain eye contact, she added, "Sorry for the way I acted earlier. Missing out on capturing them just hurt. But this... this could be our turning point."
She looked straight into his eyes, her expression softening. "Thanks, Alko."
Alko forced a smile. "My pleasure, Kim."
Kimberley clapped her hands, trying to rally the group. "Alright, off to planning, guys!"
As the team began discussing their next steps, Alko couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his gut. He had made his decision, but the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty and emotional turmoil.
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Lukas Kroll lounged on his couch, fixated on the football game blaring from the TV, while his mother, Ella, bustled about in the kitchen doing laundry.
"Fucking hell, Toni, pass the fucking ball," Lukas yelled at the screen.
"Language, Lukas," Ella chided gently.
"Yeah, yeah," Lukas muttered under his breath.
A sharp knock interrupted the tense match.
"Lukas, can you get that? My hands are full," Ella called from the kitchen.
Lukas sighed, pausing the game reluctantly, and dragged his feet to the door.
"Who the hell's out here knocking on our door at 9 pm?" he grumbled to himself.
He swung the door open and was met with the sight of two police officers standing solemnly on the doorstep.
"Good evening. Are you Lukas Kroll?" one of the officers inquired.
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The room was cold and shadowy, illuminated only by a single flickering overhead light. Lukas sat at a metal table, his expression unreadable, while an uncomfortable chair sat opposite him, waiting. The door creaked open, and in walked Jurgen, his older brother, a familiar face that elicited a scoff from Lukas.
"Jurgen," Lukas muttered disdainfully.
Jurgen's gaze was cold and steady as he pulled the empty chair back and seated himself across from Lukas. Silence hung heavily between them until Jurgen spoke, his voice controlled but with an undercurrent of emotion.
"Did you do it, Lukas?"
Lukas leaned back in his chair, smirking slightly at Jurgen's question.
"You already know the answer, don't you? Always the detective," Lukas replied, his tone mocking.
Jurgen's jaw tightened, but he kept his composure.
"Six people, Lukas. Why?" Jurgen asked, his voice tinged with disbelief and anger.
Lukas's smirk widened, enjoying the tension that filled the room.
"Why not? They were... fun. You should have seen their faces," Lukas taunted, his words chilling.
Jurgen's composure faltered for a moment, his eyes betraying a flash of anguish, but he quickly regained control.
"You're sick. This isn't a game," Jurgen said firmly, his voice tinged with frustration.
Lukas leaned back further in his chair, dismissing Jurgen's words with a wave of his hand.
"Look, we both know how this goes. You've got your Dove reputation to protect. I'm just a pawn in your little game," Lukas retorted, his tone mocking.
Jurgen's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin.
"This isn't about us. This is about the innocent lives you took!" Jurgen snapped, his voice rising.
Lukas laughed coldly, leaning back as if enjoying the confrontation.
"Innocent? No one's innocent. Especially not you and your Dove buddies. Sitting in your high towers, judging everyone, thinking you're above it all," Lukas spat back, his words cutting.
Jurgen's face flushed with anger, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Are you kidding me? You've murdered six people, and you are somehow making this about Dove hosts? What about the families? What about our family? After everything Dad put her through, do you think this is fair to her?" Jurgen demanded, his voice trembling with emotion.
"Mum's tough. She'll be fine; she's been through worse," Lukas replied callously, his smirk never fading.
Jurgen took a deep breath, visibly struggling to contain his emotions.
"Do you hear yourself, you fucking-" Jurgen started, but caught himself before he finished the sentence.
He stood up abruptly, glaring down at Lukas with a mixture of anger and disappointment.
"You're going away, Lukas. For good," Jurgen said firmly, his voice resolute.
As Jurgen turned to leave the room, Lukas's voice cut through the tense air, filled with defiance.
"You think this is over, Jurgen? There are more guys like me out there. I'm just a product of the system," Lukas called after him, his tone defiant.
Jurgen paused at the door, his back still turned to Lukas.
"You're not a product, Lukas. You made your choices," Jurgen replied firmly, his voice filled with finality.
Lukas smirked to himself as Jurgen left the room, his words lingering in the air like an ominous warning.
"Don't worry," Lukas muttered to himself, "they'll make theirs too."
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Alko stood in front of a mirror, adjusting the collar of his jacket. The sleek, dark material of his jacket contrasted with his jeans, giving him a look that balanced casual comfort with a hint of purpose. Atamai was beside him, carefully fixing a small earring onto his earlobe. Kimberley sat on Alko's bed, her eyes following Atamai's precise movements.
"Aaaaand... all set!" Atamai announced, stepping back to admire her work.
Alko did a playful spin, showing off his outfit. "How do I look?"
Atamai smiled, her eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and amusement. "Looking great as always."
Alko grinned, teasingly. "Ooo, she said 'as always.' Someone's been checking me out."
Atamai rolled her eyes, unable to hide a small smile, while Kimberley giggled from the bed.
"How'd you get her to meet up with you anyway?" Kimberley asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Alko chuckled, a hint of sheepishness in his voice. "Uhhh."
Flashback
Alko held a phone to his ear, pacing back and forth. On the other side of the line was Leah. Her voice was distant, guarded.
"Come on, I just want to talk," Alko pleaded, his tone earnest.
"I'm listening, talk," Leah responded curtly, the skepticism clear in her voice.
"You know I mean in person," Alko pressed, his frustration growing.
"I'm not meeting up with you, Mr. Dove. I don't know if I can even look you in the eye anymore," Leah retorted, her words sharp.
Alko sighed, running a hand through his hair. "H-how about we go out on...a date?"
"Date? You think that's what's going to make me want to meet up with you—" Leah started, her disbelief palpable.
"Fun fair date," Alko interrupted, desperation creeping into his voice.
Leah's tone shifted, a hint of reluctant interest breaking through. "I'm in! I-I mean, yeah sure, whatever."
Alko sighed warmly, relief washing over him. "Great. See you then."
Back to Present
Kimberley cackled, the sound filling the room as Atamai looked at Alko with disdain, her arms crossed over her chest.
"You two are going on a date?" Atamai asked, her voice laced with slight annoyance.
"It was the only way!" Alko defended himself, holding up his hands in a gesture of innocence.
"No, it wasn't. You're just using this as an excuse to go out with her!" Atamai accused, her eyes narrowing.
Kimberley smirked, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Someone's jealous."
"What? No!" Atamai denied, her cheeks flushing a light shade of pink.
Ren strolled into the room, his casual demeanor contrasting with the tension in the air. "What's up with you guys?"
"Ata's being jealous again," Kimberley teased, her grin widening.
"I'm not jealous!" Atamai insisted, her voice rising in pitch.
Ren joined Kimberley in laughing, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ata, stop. It's not like they're going on a date or anything."
Kimberley cackled even harder, tears of laughter forming at the corners of her eyes. "That's the best part—they are!"
"What!?" Ren's eyes widened in surprise, his laughter fading.
Ren and Kimberley continued laughing as Atamai stormed out, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. "Ugh."
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As Alko headed towards the front door, Udo's voice called from the side, firm and resolute. "Don't do it."
Alko paused, his hand on the doorknob, and turned to face Udo. "Do what?"
"Whatever you're thinking. Don't. You'll only make it worse," Udo warned, his eyes serious.
Alko stared at him with cold eyes but then suddenly chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Don't worry, Udo, I won't do anything stupid."
He pulled the door open and stepped out into the night, the weight of the upcoming encounter pressing on his mind. The cool air hit his face, a stark contrast to the warmth inside, and he took a deep breath, preparing himself for what lay ahead.