Jay woke to the sensation of a soft mattress beneath him and the cool whisper of air conditioning brushing his skin. The room was warm in its simplicity, with muted colors and clean lines. Yet, something about it felt strangely familiar, like a dream half-remembered.
He stirred, groaning softly as his eyes adjusted to the light. A figure stood beside the bed, arms crossed.
"So, you're awake now, huh," Alina said, her voice sharp but carrying an undertone of relief.
Jay blinked at her, still groggy. "What... happened? What did you do?"
Alina's gaze dropped to the necklace hanging around Jay's neck, its once-innocuous charm now dull and lifeless. "It wasn't me. It was this." She pointed at it, her expression a mixture of suspicion and concern. "That thing started glowing and... it was like it sucked everything in. When we got to you, everyone in the apartment complex was gone. Every. Single. Body."
Jay's head spun, trying to process her words. "Gone?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Like you took a clean-up," Alina said bluntly.
He stared at her, utterly confused. "Huh?"
She sighed, her frustration evident, but then shook her head. "Never mind. You were unconscious the whole time anyway." She turned away, her arms still crossed, hiding the unease in her eyes.
In another room, Victor leaned back against a wall, recounting the events of the night to Leno. His voice was calm, but the weight of what he had seen was unmistakable.
"...and that's everything," Victor concluded. "I don't know how to explain it, but it was... otherworldly."
Leno, seated on a chair with a faint smirk playing on his lips, seemed unbothered. He nodded slowly, a spark of intrigue in his eyes. "Just as I thought," he murmured.
Victor tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
Leno stood, stretching lazily. "It's great that we have him under our care now."
Victor frowned. "Who is he, really?"
Leno glanced at him over his shoulder, his grin widening. "You'll know soon enough." Without another word, he left the room, leaving Victor standing there, uneasy and filled with questions.
Back in the main house, Alina led Jay on a tour. He couldn't help but marvel at the place. The gloomy streets he'd seen before were nothing like this. This base was huge, almost luxurious, with sprawling rooms and well-maintained hallways.
"Didn't think your group stayed in a place like this," Jay muttered, his awe evident.
"We don't. This is a temporary base," Alina replied curtly. "Our real one isn't as... comfortable."
They walked into a dining area where the sound of plates clinking filled the air. At the long wooden table, Leon looked up, his face lighting up when he saw Jay.
"Oh, Jay! You're awake! Thank God!" Leon exclaimed, setting a plate down. "Here, I made you breakfast."
Jay glanced at the food, his stomach grumbling despite the confusion still clouding his mind. He sat down hesitantly, glancing between Leon and Alina, unsure of what to say.
"Eat," Leon urged with a grin. "You'll need your strength."
Jay nodded slowly, picking up his fork.
Victor walked out of the room, his thoughts a tangled mess after the conversation with Leno. Shaking his head, he made his way to the dining table, where Jay was already eating, Leon chatting animatedly beside him.
Victor approached, offering a small nod. "Hey, Jay. Glad to see you up."
Jay glanced up from his plate and gave a faint smile. "Thanks, I guess."
Victor's eyes locked onto the necklace around Jay's neck. The memory of its glowing light from the night before sent a chill through him. Without thinking, he leaned closer. "That necklace... can I see it?"
Jay blinked in confusion but hesitantly removed it and held it out. Before he could hand it over, Victor reached out to grab it.
The moment Victor's fingers made contact, a surge of energy coursed through him. "Argh!" he yelped, pulling his hand back as if burned. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his tingling palm.
Alina, having watched the scene unfold, frowned. "What the—let me try." She reached for the necklace, her fingers brushing its surface. A sharp, electrifying shock jolted her as well, making her let go with a hiss.
"What is this thing?" Victor muttered, shaking his hand to rid himself of the lingering sensation.
Before anyone could answer, the door to the dining room swung open with a loud bang. Leno strode in, his expression calm but his tone commanding. "That's his. No one can touch it now—not even me."
Victor turned to Leno, his confusion deepening. "What is this necklace?"
Leno waved a hand dismissively as he took a seat. "Just a protection necklace. He's new to all this, so it's only right to protect him properly." He leaned back, smirking.
"Besides, didn't I give each of you something too? Victor, I gave you a bracelet that helps you control your tricks better. Alina, you got those earrings—though you never use them."
Alina crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. "They don't match anything I wear."
Leon, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "What about us? Kahanna and Reign didn't get anything."
Leno chuckled, a sly grin forming on his lips. "That's because you three don't need anything."
The room fell silent for a moment before Leno clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough of this. Let's eat."
As everyone settled into their seats, Jay couldn't help but steal glances at Leno. The man seemed to know far more than he let on. Mustering some courage, Jay finally spoke up.
"So... what's really going on here? Why do I need protecting?"
The room stilled as everyone turned to look at Leno, waiting for his response. Leno smiled, his expression enigmatic. "Eat first, Jay. Answers will come later."
Jay frowned, feeling the weight of the unanswered questions growing heavier.
Jay's curiosity boiled over as he bombarded Leno with questions. "Why do I need protection? What happened back there? Why can't anyone touch the necklace?"
Leno, who had been calmly eating, set down his fork with a sigh. "You're persistent, I'll give you that." He turned his gaze to Kahanna, who had been quietly observing. "Kahanna, would you mind shooting Jay in the chest?"
The room went silent. Kahanna's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why would I do that?"
"You'll see," Leno replied, his voice even, almost casual.
Alina shot to her feet, slamming her hands on the table. "You've lost it, Leno! You'll kill him!"
Leno leaned back in his chair, laughing softly. "Kill him? No. Trust me."
Jay, however, wasn't reassured. He pushed his chair back, his breathing quickening. "What are you talking about? You're not seriously going to—"
Kahanna hesitated, glancing between Leno and Jay. "This is insane," she muttered, but the weight of Leno's gaze bore down on her. With trembling hands, she drew one of her pistols and pointed it at Jay.
Jay backed against the wall, his voice breaking. "No, don't! Please! Don't do this!"
The tension in the room was suffocating as Kahanna's grip on the gun faltered. Seconds stretched into eternity.
"Forget it," Victor said suddenly, standing. "I'll do it." He grabbed a pistol from a nearby rack, his face unreadable.
"What are you doing?" Alina shouted, trying to grab his arm.
Victor shrugged her off. "If Leno says it's fine, then it's fine." Without hesitation, he leveled the gun at Jay.
Jay's knees buckled as he slid to the floor, his voice cracking. "Please, no!"
Victor didn't wait. He pulled the trigger.
Time seemed to slow as the bullet hurtled toward Jay. Just before it made contact, the necklace around Jay's neck erupted in a blinding red light. The bullet ricocheted with a deafening clang, ricocheting wildly. The room erupted in chaos as everyone ducked for cover.
The bullet zipped past Alina, grazing her cheek before embedding itself in the wall. She hissed in pain, pressing a hand to the shallow cut.
The room fell into stunned silence, save for Jay's ragged breathing. The necklace dimmed, its glow fading as if nothing had happened.
Leno stood, clapping his hands once to draw everyone's attention. "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why no one can touch that necklace."
Victor was still holding the pistol, his hand trembling slightly. "What... just happened?"
Leno smirked. "That necklace isn't just for protection. It's alive, in a way, and it's chosen Jay. That's why it reacted to the threat."
Jay, still slumped against the wall, stared at Leno in disbelief. "What do you mean, it's alive?"
Before Leno could answer, a sharp alarm blared throughout the base. The lights flickered ominously, and a voice crackled through the intercom.
"Leno, we've got company. Hostiles incoming."
Leno's smirk vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "Looks like playtime's over."