Roy’s gaze lingered on the glowing red flower. Its light shimmered across the surface of the water, painting his reflection with a faint crimson hue. For a moment, he couldn’t resist he reached out, his fingers trembling slightly as they neared the mysterious bloom.
But before he could touch it, a sharp pain shot through his injured foot.
He hissed softly, wincing as he sank down onto the soft ground. When he lifted his pant leg and removed his shoe, his brows furrowed his foot was swollen and red, stark against his pale skin. The injury looked far worse than he’d realized.
Roy exhaled heavily, frustration flickering in his blue eyes.
“What should I do now…” he muttered to himself.
He glanced around the quiet grove tall trees, whispering leaves, and the gentle rippling of the pond were his only companions. There was no sign of anyone nearby.
Maybe someone will come looking for me… he thought. I should probably just wait here.
Leaning back slightly, he let his gaze return to the pond to the strange, blood-red flower glowing faintly like a crystal heart beneath the sun. Despite the pain throbbing in his foot, he couldn’t look away.
-------
The forest was draped in silence only the soft hum of the wind brushed against the leaves.
Roy wasn’t sure how much time had passed since he sat beside the glowing pond. The strange red flower shimmered faintly under the light, its reflection trembling across the blue surface like a living heartbeat.
A faint rustle broke through the stillness.
Roy stiffened, his pulse quickening.
There weren’t supposed to be any wild animals on this island Mr. Crimson had said so himself yet the sound of movement came again, soft but unmistakable.
He turned toward the bushes, his body tense, breath caught in his throat.
Then, through the parted leaves, a small head peeked out.
A long breath escaped his lips.
“…You again.”
It was the same little cat the one he had seen earlier from the villa window. Its fur looked even softer now, pure white streaked faintly with silver, and its golden eyes shimmered like drops of sunlight trapped in amber.
The cat tilted its head, meowing softly as if in reply.
The cat didn’t move. It only stood a few meters away five, maybe six watching him with those unwavering eyes.
There was something unnerving in its stillness, almost as though it understood him far better than a normal creature should.
Roy hesitated, glancing at his injured foot. The pain had dulled but not disappeared.
He sighed and bent to put his shoes back on.
The moment he did, the cat meowed again a clearer, sharper sound that echoed faintly among the trees.
Roy’s head lifted.
The cat had begun walking away, its tail swaying gracefully behind it. After a few steps, it turned, looked directly at him, and meowed once more.
Then it repeated the motion walk, stop, turn, meow almost like an invitation.
Roy blinked, confusion flickering in his blue eyes.
“…Do you want me to follow you?”
The cat meowed again softer this time, as if confirming it.
For a long moment, Roy simply stood there, torn between reason and curiosity. Then, with a quiet exhale, he pushed himself to his feet.
“Alright then,” he murmured, brushing the dirt from his clothes. “Lead the way.”
The cat turned and padded forward without hesitation, disappearing between the tall trees.
Roy followed, his footsteps light but unsteady, the faint gleam of his locket catching the sunlight through the leaves.
------
Roy followed the little cat through the forest, his steps uneven from his injured foot. The cat padded quietly ahead, tail flicking, as if it somehow understood his pace and slowed down for him.
He didn’t know why he was following it maybe because it seemed to know the way.
It’s probably a bad decision, he thought with a faint sigh, but I’ll trust you for now, little one.
The forest grew thicker the deeper he went. Sunlight barely reached the ground, breaking only through slits in the leaves, painting shifting patterns of gold. The sound of the sea had faded behind him, replaced by the quiet whisper of wind through tall trees.
Then
A sudden rustle broke the stillness.
Roy froze mid-step, his pulse quickening.
It wasn’t just a light sound it was heavy, close, moving through the bushes.
He clenched his hand slightly, scanning the shadows. There aren’t supposed to be wild animals here, he remembered Mr. Crimson’s words, but that didn’t stop the unease creeping into his chest.
The rustling grew louder. Roy’s breath hitched until, finally, a tall figure stepped out from the trees.
It was a man, tall and sharp-eyed, dressed in black clothes and a protective vest. his expression alert and cautious but when his eyes found Roy, the tension in them eased immediately.
“Roy…”
It was Liam.
Relief flooded through Roy’s chest, mixing with a trace of surprise.
Liam’s gaze swept over him noting his dirt-streaked clothes, the faint scratches along his arms, and the flicker of panic still lingering in his blue eyes holding traces of fear and relief all at once.
Seeing that Roy was at least standing and conscious, Liam exhaled softly, the stiffness in his shoulders loosening.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice calm but edged with concern.
Roy blinked, startled, then gave a small nod. “I’m fine.”
Then his eyes widened slightly he remembered him. The man from the garden.
Liam studied him again, reassured that he didn’t seem seriously hurt. “That’s good.” He reached for the walkie-talky on his belt and pressed the side button.
“Team A, I’ve found him—” Static crackled in response, followed by silence. Liam frowned, tapping the device a few times, but the signal refused to connect.
He looked at the trees around them. “We’re too deep in the forest. The signal’s blocked.”
Before he could speak again, a soft, quiet sound interrupted the silence.
Grumble.
Both froze.
It took a second for Roy to realize it was his own stomach.
A warm flush crept up his neck, his pale ears turning red. He quickly looked away, pretending nothing happened, but the heat on his cheeks betrayed him.
He hadn’t eaten lunch, and now it was showing at the worst possible moment.
Liam, momentarily stunned, stared at him. The contrast between Roy’s calm demeanor and his flustered reaction caught him off guard. For a fleeting second, he almost smiled.
That delicate face, those red-tipped ears. Something about it made his chest tighten unexpectedly.
He cleared his throat, checked his pockets, and finally found a small wrapped candy.
“Here,” he said, holding it out. “It’s not much, but bear with it for now.”
Roy glanced down it was the same candy Liam had given him in the garden.
He hesitated, then accepted it gently. Their fingers brushed, light and accidental, but enough to make Liam, heart skip.
“…Thank you,” he murmured.
Liam nodded once. “Let’s go. The rescue team isn’t far.”
Roy tried to walk, but a sharp pain shot through his ankle. He gasped softly, nearly stumbling.
Liam turned instantly, his tone shifting.
“What happened?”
Roy steadied himself, embarrassed. “I just… twisted my foot. It’s nothing serious,” Roy said quickly.
Liam crouched down, his voice steady but firm. “Which foot?”
Roy hesitated, then pointed reluctantly. Liam removed his shoe his expression darkened slightly when he saw the swollen skin and the deep red mark around his ankle.
“You call this fine?” he said quietly.
Before Roy could answer, Liam turned his back toward him.
“Get on.”
Roy blinked in surprise. “W-wait, there’s no need, I can—”
Liam’s tone left no room for argument.
“Your injury’s worse than you think. And we have to reach the others before dark. Don’t underestimate this island it might not have wild animals, but it has poisonous insects… maybe even snakes.”
Roy bit his lip, then sighed and nodded. Slowly, he leaned onto Liam’s back.
“Hold on tight,” Liam said as he gripped Roy’s thighs.
Roy’s arms wrapped gently around his neck, his soft breath brushing against Liam’s ear. His dark hair brushed the side of Liam’s face warm, light, and unexpectedly distracting.
Roy whispered, flustered, “Am I heavy?”
Liam’s lips curved faintly. “No… you’re light.”
A pause.
Too light, he thought, feeling the warmth against his back.
As Liam started walking through the forest, the air grew cooler. The rhythmic sound of his steps and Roy’s quiet breaths filled the silence.
Roy, resting his chin lightly against Liam’s shoulder, blinked at the trees passing by. Then, something crossed his mind the cat.
He lifted his head slightly, glancing around. The forest looked endless again, silent and still.
Where did the little cat go?
He searched the shadows, but saw nothing. Not even a trace of movement.
Strange… it disappeared again.
Roy lowered his gaze, thoughtful, as the faint golden light flickered between the branches.
*******
The night was heavy with the scent of smoke. Inside the warehouse, dim light spilled from a single bulb swinging above the table.
Noir sat in the shadows, one leg crossed over the other, cigarette balanced loosely between his fingers. The sharp smell of tobacco curled around him, framing his calm, cold presence.
Silas entered. He carried a small, sealed envelope the one that had arrived from the Black Viper leader earlier that evening.
“Noir,” he called, voice echoing softly against the concrete walls.
Noir didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes dark and sharp as a knife’s edge were fixed on something distant, like he was lost in a thought he’d rather not return from. Only when Silas stopped in front of him did he flick his gaze upward.
“I got the information,” Silas said, placing the envelope on the table and giving a short, deliberate tap on it. “The target’s details straight from the Viper himself.”
Noir stared at the envelope but made no move to take it. The faint glow of his cigarette lit the sharp line of his jaw.
Noir’s eyes lifted from the rising curl of smoke. “When does the Viper want the target taken?” he asked, voice low and even.
Silas stood across from him, one hand in his pocket. “He didn’t say,” Silas replied, tone casual. “Just sent the target’s information and told us to wait for his signal before moving.”
“You handle it,” Noir said finally, voice low and controlled.
Silas frowned. “What? You’re not taking this one?”
“No,” Noir replied, flicking ash into the tray. “You’ll manage the kidnapping yourself. I have another job to deal with.”
For a moment, Silas studied him the unreadable calm, the quiet exhaustion behind those eyes. Noir wasn’t the kind of man to delegate without reason.
“Fine,” Silas said, sliding the envelope back into his coat pocket. “I’ll handle it. But what’s this other job you’re suddenly so concerned about?”
Noir didn’t answer. Instead, he took another slow drag, exhaling smoke into the dim light. His silence said more than words ever could.
“Right,” Silas muttered, half-smirking.
“You and your secrets.”
Noir’s gaze shifted, colder now. “How’s Elin?” he asked, voice soft but edged.
Silas’s smirk faltered for a second. “She’s okay,” he replied casually, though there was a flicker of something sharper beneath the surface. Then, leaning slightly forward, he added, “Why don’t you go see her yourself?”
Noir didn’t respond. The cigarette burned lower between his fingers.
The silence stretched heavy, familiar, almost comfortable in its weight.
Finally, Silas sighed and turned toward the door. “Alright, boss. I’ll take care of the job. But don’t disappear into your shadows for too long.”
Noir didn’t move, didn’t look up. Only when the door creaked shut behind Silas did he let his gaze drop to the faint glow of the ashtray, watching the smoke fade into nothing.