Hana gripped the Soul Ledger tightly in her pocket, her fingers tracing its edges as if reassuring herself it was real. The weight of it pressed down on her, a constant reminder of the darkness that still clung to her existence.

Her mind raced as she stepped out of the alley, blending into the crowd on the bustling city street. She could feel eyes on her, but whether it was paranoia or something more, she couldn’t tell. The man's words replayed in her mind: *"You weren’t supposed to come back."* She had returned, but why? And what did the Ledger still want from her?

Her breath hitched when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She hadn’t noticed it there before, but now the vibration felt like a siren. She pulled it out, her thumb hesitating over the screen.

An unknown number flashed on the display. She bit her lip before answering.

"Who the hell is this?" she snapped, already tired of surprises.

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a familiar voice. "Hana... it’s Sato."

Her heart skipped a beat, anger bubbling up instantly. "Sato? You have a lot of nerve calling me after what happened." She clenched her fist, her body tensing at the sound of his name.

"Listen to me," Sato’s voice was calm but urgent. "I don’t have much time. There are people looking for you. More powerful than you realize."

"Gee, thanks for the heads-up, Captain Obvious," Hana snarled, her mind spinning. "Why do you care? You’re the one who shot me, remember?"

Sato sighed, the frustration in his voice evident. "You’re still alive, aren’t you? I didn’t kill you then, and I won’t now. But I’m not your enemy. You need to understand that the Ledger—"

"I don’t need you to lecture me about the Ledger!" Hana interrupted. "You think I don’t know what this thing does? What it wants from me? I lived through it all!"

There was a long silence on the other end. When Sato spoke again, his voice was low, almost a whisper. "It’s not just you, Hana. It’s bigger than you think. There are others like you... others who have died and come back. The Ledger isn’t just a tool. It’s a curse. And it’s spreading."

Hana froze, her breath catching in her throat. "What do you mean ‘others’? Are you saying there are more people like me?"

"Yes. And they’re dangerous. The Ledger has chosen you for a reason, but it’s chosen others too. You’ve been marked, Hana. That’s why I called you. You need to get ahead of this before they find you."

Hana’s grip tightened on the phone. "Why should I believe you? How do I know this isn’t some kind of trap?"

"You don’t," Sato admitted. "But I’m risking my life just to warn you. If you don’t want to trust me, fine. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re safe. They’re coming for you, Hana. And when they do, you’ll wish you had listened."

Hana’s chest tightened as the words sunk in. She hated Sato, but deep down, she knew he wasn’t lying. The Ledger had brought her back for a reason, and now it seemed there was an entire world of death and resurrection she hadn’t even begun to understand.

"Where do I start?" she asked, her voice softer now, the edge of anger dulling with fear.

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Sato’s voice was steady. "Meet me at the old warehouse. You know the one. Midnight. I’ll explain everything then."

Before she could argue, the line went dead.

Hana stared at her phone, her pulse pounding in her ears. The old warehouse. Of course. That was where everything had started between them. She shoved the phone back into her pocket, her hand brushing the Soul Ledger as she did.

*More like me.*

The thought terrified her. She had killed so many people with the Ledger, thinking it was the ultimate power, the ultimate weapon. But now, it seemed the Ledger had its own agenda, and she was just a pawn in a much bigger game.

"Son of a bitch," she muttered under her breath, kicking at the sidewalk as she walked. "Just when I thought I was free."

She continued walking, weaving through the city streets, her mind racing. If what Sato said was true, then she wasn’t the only one the Ledger had chosen. There were others, and if they were as dangerous as he implied, she needed to be ready.

By the time she reached her apartment, it was already dark. The city lights flickered outside her window as she paced the floor, her thoughts swirling like a storm.

Sato was right. She had no choice but to meet him. If there were others out there with the same power as her, she needed to know what they were capable of. But trusting Sato? That was a bitter pill to swallow.

She glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight.

"Fuck it," she muttered, grabbing her jacket and the Ledger. She wasn’t going to sit around waiting to be hunted. If Sato wanted to talk, fine. But she was going to be prepared for whatever came next.

The old warehouse loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the night sky. Hana’s heart raced as she approached, her steps quick and deliberate. The air was thick with tension, every sound amplified in the quiet.

She pushed open the door, her hand resting on the Ledger in her jacket pocket. The warehouse was just as she remembered—cold, empty, and filled with too many memories.

"Sato?" she called out, her voice echoing through the vast space.

"I’m here."

Sato stepped out from the shadows, his face grim. He was alone, which eased some of her anxiety but not all of it. She didn’t trust him, but she needed answers.

"You’re late," he said, crossing his arms as he eyed her.

Hana snorted. "Traffic. Now, are you gonna start talking, or am I wasting my time?"

Sato sighed, glancing around the warehouse before stepping closer. "I don’t have much time, so listen carefully. The Ledger is a lot older than you think. It’s been passed down through generations, choosing people, binding them to its will."

"Yeah, I figured that much," Hana cut in, rolling her eyes. "Tell me something I don’t know."

"There’s a group—an organization—that’s been hunting down people like you. People who’ve been brought back by the Ledger."

Hana’s stomach churned. "Why?"

"Because they believe anyone who’s touched by the Ledger is cursed. They see you as a threat, something that needs to be eliminated before you become too powerful."

"And these people? Who are they?"

Sato hesitated before answering. "They call themselves the Reapers. They’ve been around for centuries, watching, waiting for people like you to show up."

Hana’s mind reeled. The Reapers. It sounded like something out of a nightmare, but then again, her whole life had become one. "So what? They just kill anyone who gets in their way?"

Sato nodded. "Exactly. And they’re coming for you."

"Let them come," Hana said, her voice filled with defiance. "I’ll be ready."

Sato looked at her, his expression unreadable. "It’s not that simple. You’re powerful, but the Reapers have been dealing with people like you for centuries. They know how to stop you."

Hana felt a chill run down her spine, but she refused to show fear. "So what do you suggest, Sato? Run and hide?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "You fight back. But you don’t fight alone."

Hana stared at him, her pulse quickening. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying we work together. You and me, against the Reapers."

Hana blinked, her mind spinning. Sato had betrayed her before. Could she really trust him now?

"Why the hell would I trust you after everything you’ve done?" she asked, her voice filled with skepticism.

"Because if you don’t," Sato said, his voice deadly serious, "you’re already dead."

Hana hesitated, weighing her options. She didn’t trust Sato, but if the Reapers were as dangerous as he claimed, she couldn’t take them on alone.

"Fine," she said finally, her voice hard. "But if you screw me over again, Sato, I’ll make sure you regret it."

Sato smirked. "I wouldn’t expect anything less."