Ken awoke to the muted glow of dawn seeping through the cracked windows of the abandoned warehouse. The air was cool, carrying the scent of rust and old machinery. He stretched stiffly, the hard floor doing no favors for his back. Pushing himself up, he moved quietly toward the door, careful not to disturb the silence.

Peering through a gap in the door, his heart skipped a beat. Peacekeepers. More than he'd ever seen in one place, their black cloaks adorned with stark white crosses, moving methodically through the streets like shadows with purpose.

Ken's throat tightened. "This isn't good," he whispered to himself.

He turned back toward Krista, who was still fast asleep amidst a makeshift bed of old blankets. For a moment, he simply watched her. In sleep, she seemed so different—peaceful, almost delicate. Strands of her snow-white hair cascaded over her face, rising and falling gently with each breath. Her eyelashes rested softly against her cheeks, and her lips—soft and unguarded—parted slightly as she breathed.

He hesitated. There was an innocence to her now that made it hard to reconcile with the crazed killer he'd seen in action. How can someone so dangerous look so... serene? he wondered. A part of him didn't want to wake her, to let her linger in that peaceful state a little longer.

But the Peacekeepers were closing in.

Taking a deep breath, Ken knelt beside her and placed a tentative hand on her shoulder. "Krista," he whispered, giving her a gentle shake. "Wake up."

She stirred, eyelids fluttering open to reveal those deep blue eyes. She yawned softly, stretching like a contented cat. "Morning already?" she mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Yeah," Ken replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "We've got a problem."

She sat up, tilting her head curiously. "What's up?"

He gestured toward the door. "There are a bunch of Peacekeepers outside. More than usual. They're all over the blocks."

Krista raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her expression. "For real?" She pushed herself up and moved beside him to peek through the door. Her shoulder brushed against his, and he tried to ignore the warmth that spread up his neck.

She observed the scene outside, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Huh," she said lightly. "Didn't think there'd be so many."

Ken stared at her incredulously. Didn't think there'd be so many? he echoed in his mind. What did she expect? What did you expect—just a couple of guys with clipboards?”

"Do you... have a plan?" he asked, hoping for some reassurance.

Krista leaned back, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Well," she began, "I was thinking we could just wing it."

Ken felt his stomach drop. Wing it? His mind raced. Fantastic. We're surrounded by heavily armed Peacekeepers, and Miss Let's-Just-Wing-It here thinks improvisation is the way to go. He resisted the urge to facepalm.

"You're kidding, right?" he said, a strained smile on his face.

She grinned. "Nope."

He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just great."

She nudged him playfully. "Relax, Ken. It'll be fine."

He gave a weak chuckle. "Define 'fine.' Because my version doesn't include being captured or, you know, killed."

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Krista shrugged. "We'll figure it out as we go. Besides, you're with me. What's the worst that could happen?"

Ken opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. There were so many ways to answer that question. Instead, he shook his head. "Remind me why I agreed to this?"

"Because you couldn't resist my charm," she teased, winking at him. “You found me soooooo pretty, you had to tag along!”

He felt his cheeks warm. "More like I have a death wish," he muttered under his breath.

She laughed softly. "Come on. Let's get moving before they decide to check in here."

Just as Krista said that, the warehouse door burst open with a thunderous crash. Ken spun around, his heart leaping into his throat. A group of Peacekeepers strode in, their black cloaks emblazoned with white crosses, eyes scanning the dim interior until they locked onto Ken and Krista.

Ken's blood ran cold. Of course they'd find us here. White hair isn't exactly common, he thought, glancing nervously at Krista's stark locks. The Peacekeepers exchanged quick glances; the descriptions matched—white-haired girl, unremarkable guy with black hair. Their hands hovered near their weapons.

Krista stepped forward casually, a disarming smile on her face. "Good morning, officers," she said smoothly. "Is there something we can help you with?"

One of the Peacekeepers, a tall man with a scar slicing through his eyebrow, eyed them suspiciously. "There was an incident last night," he said, his voice flat. "We're asking all civilians to cooperate with some routine questioning. We'd appreciate it if you'd come with us."

Ken noticed another Peacekeeper subtly raising a walkie-talkie to his lips, whispering urgently. Krista's eyes flickered, catching the movement. Time seemed to slow.

In an instant, before Ken could blink, Krista sprang into action. Her right arm transformed, flesh twisting and hardening into a gleaming, clawed gauntlet. With a fluid motion, she swept her arm across the room. The air whistled with the speed of her strike.

A blur. A flash of steel.

The whispering Peacekeeper's eyes widened in shock as his head separated from his shoulders, a look of disbelief frozen on his face. Blood arced through the air as his body crumpled, the walkie-talkie slipping from his grasp and clattering onto the concrete floor.

Silence hung for a heartbeat.

Then chaos erupted.

"Enemy Blighted!" one of the remaining Peacekeepers shouted, drawing his sword with a metallic hiss. "Take her down!"

They charged at Krista, blades gleaming under the dim light filtering through the grimy windows. Krista stood her ground, a fierce smile playing on her lips. Her tentacles unfurled from her back, dark and writhing like serpents ready to strike.

The first Peacekeeper lunged, sword aimed straight for her heart. She sidestepped effortlessly, her clawed hand catching his blade mid-thrust. Metal screeched against her gauntlet as she twisted, snapping the sword in two. Before he could react, a tentacle whipped around, striking him across the chest and sending him crashing into a stack of crates.

The second Peacekeeper circled behind her, attempting to catch her off guard. Krista's tentacles lashed out, but he dodged, rolling to the side and slashing at her legs. She leapt above his sweep with inhuman agility, flipping backward and landing atop a rusted metal beam.

From his corner, Ken watched in awe and terror, pressing himself against the wall. This is insane, he thought, his heart pounding so hard it threatened to burst from his chest. She's taking them all on by herself.

A third Peacekeeper fired a grappling hook toward Krista, the metal claw whistling through the air. She swung her clawed arm, deflecting it effortlessly. With a swift motion, she yanked the cable, pulling the Peacekeeper off balance. He stumbled forward, and Krista descended upon him like a hawk, her claw striking down. He fell, unmoving.

The remaining Peacekeepers hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes. One of them reached for a device on his belt, a walkie-talkie. "We need backup!" he shouted.

Krista wasn't about to let that happen. She darted forward, her movements a blur. The Peacekeeper barely had time to raise his sword before she was upon him. Their blades met with a resounding clang. Sparks flew as they traded blows, but Krista's strength was overwhelming. She disarmed him with a swift strike, her claw shattering his sword. A tentacle wrapped around his waist, lifting him off the ground before hurling him across the room.

The last Peacekeeper stood frozen, his gaze darting between his fallen comrades and the unstoppable force before him. Dropping his weapon, he turned to flee.

Krista's eyes narrowed. She raised her hand, and a tentacle shot forward, snaking across the floor. It coiled around the fleeing man's ankle, yanking him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him.

"Please," he gasped, terror plain on his face. “Have mercy!”

Krista approached slowly, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Ken thought she might spare him.

"Mercy?" she said softly, tilting her head. "No thanks!"

She withdrew her claw, and with a swift motion, struck the Peacekeeper, rendering him unconscious.