"Hey, wait!"
The girl's voice rang out again, closer this time. I slowed my steps, gulping down the last bite of the sandwich, I saw her running toward me, her breathing uneven. She stopped a few feet away, bending over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
Her appearance caught my attention almost immediately. Dark blue hair framed her face, with a fluorescent blue hue shimmering inner side whenever it caught the sunlight. Her oversized, off-shoulder grey sweater hung loosely on her, one bra strap visible, which gave her an oddly charming, almost playful air. She wore long stockings with straps that lined on her thighs, paired with black boots that clunked against the ground. Her whole look radiated a mix of casualness and subtle seduction.
"Hey, Hii!" she muttered between heavy breaths, brushing stray strands of hair from her face.
"Yes? How can I help you?" I asked, my voice a little hoarse, still getting used to speaking after years of silence.
She straightened up, her breathing steadying, and studied me with curious eyes. "Who are you? I've never seen you around here before."
I hesitated for a moment. The truth wasn't something I could just say out. "I'm new here," I finally said, keeping my tone neutral. "Just passing by and… seeing stuff around."
Her fingers went to her chin as she tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… newly arrived, huh? That must mean you're from one of the neighboring countries. Hades, maybe?"
"Yes, you're right." I nodded quickly, not wanting to arouse suspicion. Hades? What is that? I sighed internally.
Her expression brightened as she extended a hand toward me. "It's nice to meet you! I'm Hina. And you are…?"
For a moment, I found myself caught in her gaze. Her eyes held a spark of warmth and mischief that seemed to be opposite sharply with my own guarded demeanor. Her hand remained outstretched, waiting. Finally, I reached out, taking her hand in mine.
"I'm Esther," I said.
"Esther…" she repeated, smiling. "That's a nice name."
As I pulled my hand back, I started walking again, hoping to end the conversation there. But Hina had other plans. She fell into step beside me, her cheerful chatter filling the air.
"So, where are you going? What's your plan? Are you staying here long? Do you have friends here?"
Her endless questions made my head spin. I kept my answers short, trying not to encourage more. "Nowhere. No plans. Not really."
Hina wasn't satisfied. "You're really quiet, huh? That's fine. But you can't avoid me forever!" She grinned, practically bouncing as she walked.
I sighed, deciding to deflect. "Enough about me. There's not much to say. What about you? What do you do?"
She stopped suddenly, spinning around to face me. With a dramatic flourish, she placed her hands on her chest, a wide smile spreading across her face. "I'm from the Third Division! The next hero-in-training. Someday, I'll be serving alongside the Queen as her knight!"
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Oh, so… you're nobody right now."
Her face fell, and she pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "Don't say it like that! That's so mean!"
She smacked my back lightly, though her expression was more hurt than angry. I didn't respond, choosing instead to keep walking.
Unbothered, she continued, her voice rising with determination. She raised her hands high above. "Someday, you'll see! I'll be famous, strong, and then I'LL BECOME THE NEXT QUEEN OF THIS COUNTRYYYYYYY!!"
Her declaration was loud enough to make heads turn. People nearby stopped to glance at us, murmuring among themselves. My chest tightened with panic as I spun around, quickly covering her mouth with my hand.
"Okay, okay! You'll be the Queen, I get it! Now stop yelling," I hissed, glancing nervously at the gathering eyes.
Hina pulled back, grinning as if nothing had happened. "Hehe. You're fun to mess with,"
I sighed deeply, feeling a headache coming on. "Why are you following me, anyway?"
"You are making me curious," she said simply, her ever-present smile firmly in place. "And I have nothing to do today, that's all."
She paused to pet a stray cat that had wandered onto the path. The small animal purred, rubbing against her leg as she crouched down to stroke its fur. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and before I knew it, she was gesturing me to join her.
"Come on, he's friendly!" she said, holding the cat up for me to see.
I hesitated, but her persistent smile left me no choice. Reluctantly, I reached out, my fingers brushing against the cat's soft fur. It wasn't as bad as I expected.
"See? Not so bad, right?" she teased, her laughter is carefree.
I gave a small nod, trying to mask the faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
"Hmm..He's cute." I said.
As we walked further, the lively chatter of the streets began to shift. A growing crowd was gathering near a coffee shop, their attention fixed on a large TV screen displayed in the window. The murmurs of the people were hushed but urgent, their faces tensed and filled with worriness.
"What's happening there?" I asked, looking at the crowd there as I tried to catch a glimpse of the screen.
Hina gently placed the cat back on the ground, brushing off her hands as she straightened up. Her expression turned curious.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's see."
Without another word, we moved toward the crowd, the atmosphere around us thick with unease.
The crowd is filled with anxious murmurs as we got closer to the screen. A large television mounted inside the coffee shop played a live news broadcast. The footage was shaky, probably recorded by someone hiding in the mall, and the reporter's voice trembled as she described the situation.
"A gang has taken control of the Skyview Mall," the reporter announced, her tone grim. "They're holding hostages and demanding a substantial ransom from the officials. So far, negotiations have failed, and—"
The camera feed switched, showing a horrifying scene inside the mall. Two bodies lay lifeless on the marble floor, a pool of blood forming beneath them. The reporter's voice wavered. "Two civilians have already lost their lives."
Heavy voices filled with fear and sympathy rippled through the crowd.
"What the fuck..." Someone cursed under their breath, while others muttered prayers.
Hina stood beside me, her hands to her mouth as her eyes widened in shock.
"Oh no…" she whispered, barely audible.