Roca raised the Saiga-12K shotgun and aimed at Jason, who was drifting in the water, but held off on firing.
First, the distance was too far. Second, a bullet wouldn't be fatal to Jason underwater; it would only alert him.
Jason, after all, was cunning.
They'd need to strike in one decisive moment.
"Are you alright?" Roca asked, finally turning his attention to Tina, who looked ready to faint from the strain of using her powers.
"I..." Tina murmured, slowly coming to her senses. She glanced around, her eyes darting to the lake. "Where is he?"
"He went to the other side," Roca replied, nodding toward the distant shore.
Tina sighed in relief.
"I'll take you back," Roca said, then scooped her up gently.
"Thank you," Tina replied, a bit embarrassed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She was stunning—blonde hair, a graceful figure, the classic image of beauty. But Roca had no distractions; his mind was set on dealing with Jason. If they didn't act quickly, things could take a deadly turn.
At the villa entrance, Tina's mother, Amanda Shepherd, rushed over, worried.
"Tina! Are you okay?" she asked frantically.
"I'm fine, Mom." Tina reassured her.
"Thank you for bringing her back," Dr. Cruise added, nodding gratefully at Roca.
"No problem," Roca replied, gently setting Tina on the sofa before taking his leave.
"Where were you, Tina?" Amanda asked, unable to hide her concern.
Tina explained what happened as best as she could. "I...saw him, coming out of the lake. But I can't even explain it. Luckily, Roca was there..."
She recalled the moment Roca had carried her back, feeling an unusual sense of security that she hadn't experienced before.
"You said 'him'? A strange figure came out of the lake?" Dr. Cruise raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
Tina's frustration caused a slight tremor to ripple through the room, as if a minor earthquake had struck. Dr. Cruise quickly backed down.
Meanwhile, Roca stayed alert, unwilling to sleep. Jason was out there, resurrected, lurking, and any wrong move could prove fatal. He couldn't forget that Jason had a strange, teleportation-like ability, slipping silently behind targets to launch deadly attacks. Jason's combination of regeneration, superhuman strength, and relentless endurance made him a formidable threat.
But Roca knew he'd have a bit of respite during the day, as Jason typically acted at night. So he allowed himself a few hours' sleep until noon, then prepared for the battle that was sure to come as night fell.
As expected, evening approached, and a knock sounded on Roca's door.
"Tina?" he asked, opening the door to find her and a young man named Nick standing beside her.
"Nick invited me to his birthday party," Tina said with a smile. "Would you like to come too?"
"It's for my cousin Michael," Nick added, though his body language suggested he wasn't thrilled to see Roca. But with Tina there, he had no choice but to extend the invitation.
"Alright," Roca agreed, figuring it would be safer to stay close. Jason's whereabouts were unpredictable, and using the group as bait might provide the right opportunity to ambush him. Tina's powers, too, could come in handy.
"Great! Let's go!" Tina beamed.
"Just a moment," Roca said before disappearing into his room. When he returned, he was fully armed.
"Wow," Tina said, her eyes widening.
"It's safer this way," Roca replied with a smile. "You don't mind, right?"
"Not at all," Tina replied, while Nick looked uneasy, visibly disturbed by Roca's heavy weaponry.
The three of them headed to the neighboring villa, which had been decorated festively for Michael's surprise birthday party. Roca took a seat quietly, observing the room while everyone else mingled. Though his weaponry drew a few curious looks, nobody commented; his serious demeanor discouraged questions.
Tina, meanwhile, enjoyed chatting with friends, but her mood soon shifted. She seemed to tense, her eyes darting around, as though she'd seen something terrifying. Instinctively, she drifted back toward Roca.
"Tina, are you alright?" Nick asked, puzzled by her sudden change in behavior.
"I…" Tina hesitated, unable to explain what she'd seen—visions of her friends' deaths were flashing through her mind.
"You saw 'him,' didn't you?" Roca asked calmly.
"You know?" Tina looked at him, surprised. She hadn't expected anyone to understand.
"Don't be afraid." Roca put an arm around her, offering reassurance.
Standing nearby, Nick clenched his fists in jealousy, though he didn't dare say anything.
The night deepened, and Roca knew that with Jason out there, time was running out. Every instinct warned him that danger was close. He tightened his grip on his weapon, ready for the showdown.