I finally understood why Callisto’s bookworld’s Likeness felt so bleak—so hollow.

It wasn’t just because it was incomplete. It was practically empty.

My god. This wasn’t what I’d signed up for. I thought today was going to be a relaxing session—a chance to sit back, chit-chat, and indulge in some harmless curiosity. Instead, I’d walked straight into another disaster. Had I maxed out on my misfortune, or was there still more waiting to rain down on me?

Callisto’s gaze snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. He was staring at us, his sharp, expectant eyes practically pleading—without actually saying it. And something in my gut told me I wasn’t going to like what came next. “Are you guys going to help me capture those back?”

I froze. For a solid five seconds, my brain short-circuited trying to process his words. Then, finally, I managed a flat, unimpressed, “What?”

Jade perked up immediately, her eyes practically gleaming with excitement. “Oh, wow. That’s a big ask, Callisto. Huge, actually. Monumental.” She leaned back, tapping her chin like we weren’t discussing something ridiculously dangerous.

Callisto didn’t back down. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need help.” His voice carried a hint of desperation, his usually composed expression strained. “You guys are strong—capable. I can’t do this alone anymore.”

I crossed my arms, my tone dry as a desert. “Clearly.” Then, I shook my head. “But you’re forgetting one key detail. We didn’t cause this mess. You did. And now you want us to risk our necks to fix it?”

Callisto flinched, but he held his ground, “I didn’t say it would be easy. But who was it that forced me to reveal all this? If you two had just minded your own business, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. And I wouldn’t be asking you for help.”

Serves us right.

I stared at him, deadpan. Then, slowly, I let out another long, exhausted sigh and dragged a hand down my face. “Great. Just great. It was exactly what I was missing.”

My voice was dripping with sarcasm, every word soaked in regret.I turned my glare toward Jade, who was still grinning like this was the most exciting thing to ever happen to her. Her reaction? She actually tried to hide behind my arm. As if that would somehow shield her from my judgment. I blinked at her in disbelief.

What the fuck, bro?

I leaned down slightly, and accused. “Why are you always collecting problems like they’re achievements?”

She peeked out sheepishly, her wide eyes making her look more guilty than innocent.

“I didn’t mean to…” she mumbled, barely audible.

Her tone was so pathetic, I almost laughed. Almost. I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to summon every ounce of patience I had left.

“Well,” I exhaled, long and slow, “let me think about it. As of lately, my plate is already full.”

Callisto frowned, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed tightly. “We don’t exactly have the luxury of time.”

His voice was edged with urgency. “The longer these characters stay loose, the harder they’ll be to find—and to stop.”

I stared at him, unimpressed. “Yeah, I get that.” My tone was flat. “But in case you missed it, I’ve got my own set of problems to deal with. Adding two dozen evil overpowered fictional characters to the mix? Not exactly high on my priority list right now.”

Before Callisto could argue, Jade perked up, her excitement spiking again. “Can we go in and take a look inside?”

She pointed at the book, her curiosity practically dripping off her words.

Callisto nervously chuckled, tapping the cover of the book. “Oh, this?” He smirked. “That’s impossible.” His expression was almost regretful. “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t take you there.”

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. “And why’s that?”

“Because the new world isn’t a physical place.” Callisto’s gaze darkened slightly, his expression distant. “It exists… between.”

His answer came slowly, “Between what is written and what is remembered.”

He turned the book slightly, running his fingers across the aged pages.

“Between ink and thought.”

Jade let out a dramatic sigh, throwing her hands in the air, “That’s poetic, but not helpful.” She shot him a flat look. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”

Callisto groaned, his face twisting into an expression of pure frustration. He wasn’t annoyed at us, exactly—it was more like he was annoyed at himself for being so brilliant and at us for not understanding. Honestly, watching him sulk was infuriating, but also a little funny.

“Alright,” Callisto said, feeling annoyed. “In simple terms, it’s not complete yet. The world’s structure is still unstable. I need to finish writing the book. That’s the only way it’ll fully exist.”

“You mean…” Jade interrupted, her eyes lighting up as realization struck. “Worldbuilding.”

Callisto froze mid-rant, clearly caught off guard by her sudden interruption. “Uh… yeah,” he stuttered, blinking. “Precisely. I’m still… worldbuilding.”

Jade leaned back in her chair, “Why didn’t you just say that?”

“Because,” Callisto grumbled, “I assumed it was obvious.”

“It wasn’t,” Jade and I said in unison.

Callisto looked at us, his expression a mix of exhaustion and exasperation, before finally sighing in defeat. “Okay, fine. You’re right. I should’ve just said worldbuilding.”

“See?” Jade shot him an obvious look, “Was that so hard?”

“Painfully,” Callisto muttered, waving his hand.

Thereafter, He closed the ancient looking book sprawled open on the table and dragged it inside the bag which took a lot of force as book was quite heavy. I leaned back in my chair. The idea of hunting down two dozen powerful, rogue fictional characters wasn’t exactly on my to-do list. I had enough problems as it was. But then I glanced at Jade. She was looking at me with that earnest, expectant expression that I could never quite ignore. And then there was Callisto. He wasn’t saying anything, but his pleading eyes spoke volumes.

I sighed. “Alright,” I said finally, my voice reluctant. “I’ll help.”

Callisto’s face lit up, relief washing over him. “Really?” he asked, sitting up straighter. “You’ll do it?”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, waving a hand. “But not right now. My plate’s full. You’re going to have to wait.”

Jade perked up beside me, clearly pleased with my answer.

I ignored her, “I’m not jumping into this mess headfirst. Callisto, you’ll get my help, but it’ll have to wait at least two weeks. Maybe more.”

“Two weeks?” Callisto echoed, his voice carrying a hint of disappointment.

“Look, my hands are tied right now,” I said, crossing my arms. “We’ve got a lot going on. I’m not throwing all that aside to go chasing Santa Claus and friends. You’ll just have to be patient.”

Jade nodded in agreement. “He’s right, Callisto. We’ve got to finish what we’re working on first. But once things settle down, we’ll help you.”

Callisto hesitated, then sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Alright,” he said, his voice resigned. “Two weeks. I can work with that. But… don’t make me wait too long, okay? Because recently, I’ve been piecing together clues from the news—stories popping up all over the world. Many of the evil characters have already started to appear, creating chaos wherever they go.”

Jade and I exchanged a glance, her brow furrowing as I leaned forward.

“Chaos?” I asked, my tone skeptical but curious.

Callisto nodded, his expression darkening. “It’s not just random destruction. Some of them have even started collaborating, forming alliances. And I’m pretty sure they’ve figured out that I’m the one who trapped them in the first place. They’re planning something. Either to attack me… or worse, kill me. To root out their problems permanently.”

Jade’s eyes widened. “Kill you?” she repeated, her voice rising slightly. “That’s… that’s insane.”

“Of course it is. But these characters don’t play by sane rules. They’re powerful, and they’re angry. And if I don’t stop them, they’ll come for me. They’ll destroy everything I’ve been working on.”

“Good,” I sighed. “Now we’ve got rogue supervillains plotting murder.”

“What else are you hiding?”

“That’s all”

"Doesn't feel like it."

…

…

…

It was undeniably funny—Callisto had Santa Claus on the run and a dozen supervillain-level characters plotting to kill him, yet he still liked to boast like he was untouchable.

We ended up conversing for the next hour, discussing his world, the contracts, and the mechanics of his summoning meta nature. I learned that the characters brought out from the book could only last for about a dozen minutes before fading. It turned out that keeping them in the real world wasn’t just a casual flex of his meta nature—it required his life force to sustain them. The longer they stayed, the more it drained him, which explained why he rarely summoned them for extended periods.

“It’s taxing,” Callisto admitted, looking slightly paler than when he started. “But worth it, when needed.”

Jade, of course, didn’t care about the technicalities. She was too thrilled to have her wish granted: getting to speak with a fictional character brought to life. She had spent most of the time chatting with her favorite characters, her eyes sparkling with the kind of happiness I rarely saw. It was clear that, for her, this was a moment to remember.

Eventually, the characters began to fade one by one, dissolving into shimmering particles of light before disappearing entirely. Callisto sat back with a satisfied sigh, looking drained but pleased. “Not bad for a day’s work,” he said.

Jade and I stood, stretching after being seated for so long. “Thanks, this was amazing.”

Callisto gave a small nod, his usual smug grin replaced with something almost genuine. “Don’t mention it. Just remember what I said—no promises about the ones on the run.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, waving him off. “Try not to get yourself killed before we decide to help.”

He chuckled softly, picking up his heavy bag. Despite his lanky build, he managed to sling it over his shoulder with practiced ease. As he strolled toward the door, he gave us one last wave, his usual air of confidence returning. “See you two around,” he called, disappearing down the hallway.

Jade turned to me, still glowing with excitement. “That was incredible,” she said, clutching her bag tightly. “Don’t you think so?”

“Yeah,” I nodded, staring absently at the end of the table. I was feeling a little tired, like the day had stretched longer than it should. At the same time, I had this strange sensation, like time was slipping rapidly through my fingers. It was an odd, fleeting feeling, and I couldn’t quite place it.

Before I could sink too deep into my thoughts, Jade’s hands grabbed my face—

Firm, but not rough, tilting my head upward until I was staring into her eyes.

"Focus," she whispered, her silver gaze locking onto mine.

I blinked. "What—?"

"Why are you always drifting off into your own world?" Jade asked, tilting her head, her brows furrowing slightly. "You do it so much these days, it’s almost a hobby at this point."

I scoffed, shoving my hands into my pockets. "I don’t daydream always."

The words felt hollow even as I said them. We both knew I was full of shit. Jade narrowed her eyes, skeptical.

"Hmm." She studied me like she was trying to catch me in the act right then and there.

Then, her lips pressed into a pout, and she let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Alright, fine. From now on, I’ll keep track."

I blinked. "Keep track?"

"Yep."

She whipped out her phone with dramatic flair, thumbs flying across the screen.

I leaned over, curious, and my eyes landed on the screen just as she typed: My Boyfriend’s Overthinking List.

I stared. "You’re joking."

"Oh, I’m very serious," she said, holding up the phone like it was a legal document.

A mischievous grin spread across her face. "Every time you zone out, I’m making a note. Receipts, baby. We’ll settle this once and for all."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You’re actually ridiculous?"

Jade gasped, placing a hand over her chest dramatically, "Ridiculous? No, no, no—thorough. Unlike you, I don’t just sit there and overthink—I make decisions backed by data."

I snorted. "Oh, of course. How could I forget? Scientific method and all."

She stood a little taller, lifting her chin like she was giving a advice of the lifetime on proving me wrong, "Exactly. And soon, I’ll have hard evidence. The ultimate proof that you’re an overthinking menace."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

I rolled my eyes, "You do realize this means you’ll have to stare at me constantly, right? Just to catch me zoning out?"

Jade paused, then smirked, "Oh no. What a tragedy. I have to stare at my cute boyfriend. Whatever will I do?"

I felt the warmth creep up my neck before I could stop it. She winked and grinned, victorious. Then, she stuck her tongue out at me, but the sparkle in her eyes gave her away. Moments like this reminded me why I couldn’t stay stuck in my head for too long—Jade always found a way to pull me back to reality. And honestly? I didn’t mind.

Jade was too cute for me to argue with anyway.

Which was exactly why I knew I was about to lose this battle before it even began. Because the moment she opened that list again, her expression shifted—That sly look she got when she knew she was about to catch me off guard. Her fingers hovered over her phone keyboard, her silver eyes locked onto me like she was hunting a confession.

"Alright," she said, her voice soft, but insistent. "Tell me what you were thinking about just now."

I paused, letting my gaze linger on her for a few moments longer than usual. Not to answer right away. But to memorize this moment—The curve of her lips, that amused, teasing smile. The way her eyes flickered with curiosity, waiting, expecting. Moments like these always felt fleeting. Like they could slip away if I didn’t hold onto them tightly enough.

Finally, after a long pause, I said, "How to find you if you ever got lost in time."

Jade blinked, her lips parting slightly as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard me right. Then, after a beat, her smile widened—and she let out a soft giggle. “That’s such a silly and cute thought to have.” She murmured, tilting her head, studying me like I was some rare, curious thing she wanted to keep forever.

Then, her voice dropped slightly, playful but touched with something deeper. “Do you love me that much?”

My heart did a weird little thing in my chest—like it had tripped over itself and decided to keep running anyway.

“…Wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t.”

"Well, if I ever get lost in time..." she mused, her fingers brushing lightly against my wrist, "...then I guess you'll just have to chase me through eternity, won't you?"

But I saw it, that small shift in her expression, the way her eyes flickered just slightly, her mind latching onto the thought instead of brushing it off. She was thinking about it. And the way her gaze went distant for a second, like she was trying to solve the puzzle herself, told me she liked the thought more than she was letting on.

"Let me think," she murmured, her fingers drumming against her phone, her brows furrowing slightly. "So you'd have an easier time finding me... How could someone lost in time?.... That's seem impossible...."

She muttered but, her eyes suddenly lit up, like she’d just solved an equation, and before I could blink, she clapped her hands together, beaming.

"We have a heart connection!" she declared triumphantly.

I chuckled softly. “Technically true,” I said, leaning closer. “Or at least, that’s what we like to call it.”

The resonance between our meta natures—that invisible, unbreakable tether that tied us together—was as close to a ‘heart connection’ as anything else. It was real, even if it sounded too romantic to admit out loud. But still, I shook my head. “Let’s ignore that for now. Something else.”

She frowned in mock frustration, her lips pursed as she tapped her chin, clearly lost in deep contemplation. “My smell?” she suggested, her expression serious.

I shook my head again. “It could be recreated,” I replied, my voice calm but decisive.

She tried again, her brow furrowing as she considered. “My face?”

I circled around her chair, resting my hands gently on her shoulders. “There could be thousands of other Jades,” I said quietly, my voice carrying the weight of my thoughts. “If we follow multiple timeline theories… technically, they’d all be you.”

Jade gave me a side glance, her eyes curious. “And yet?”

I let my hands press deeper into her shoulders, my fingers working in slow, absentminded motions. I wasn’t even thinking about it. Touching her was as natural as breathing.

"And yet," I murmured, letting the words settle between us, "how could I be sure that they are you? What makes you you?"

“What makes you you?” I murmured, more to myself than to her.

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn’t answer right away. She thought about it, really thought about it. My mind turned inward, spiraling down the same endless, maddening question that had been troubling me more than I cared to admit.

What truly makes someone unique? What would tether me to Jade…

No matter the river of time…

No matter the countless multitudes of possibilities…

I exhaled softly, my voice dropping into something softer, quieter, almost too intimate, "What makes you you?"

Jade reached up, placing her hand over mine,“You’re overthinking again,” her voice kind.

“Maybe,” I admitted, my lips quirking into a faint smile. “But it’s worth overthinking about.”

Jade let out a small breath of amusement, turning slightly so she could meet my eyes directly. She whispered, "But in the end, the answer is easy. What makes me me—is the fact that I’m yours."

The fact that I’m yours.

Something inside me clenched. My fingers stilled on her shoulders as a thought wormed its way to the forefront of my mind. A whisper, an old conversation, one from a past too far.

There is one who claims to exist in all possible timelines at once.

Jade’s fingers curled slightly over mine. “What?”

Was she even reading my thoughts now? “Nothing. Just… thinking.”

Her lips pressed together. “No, tell me,” she insisted. “You get this look on your face when you’re lost in thought. Like you’re drifting somewhere I can’t follow.”

“There’s someone I know,” I admitted slowly. “Or knew. He claimed to exist in every timeline at once. Every possible version of himself, coexisting, aware of each and every iteration of reality.”

Jade’s brows lifted, her fingers tapping lightly against my hand. “That sounds… impossible.”

“Exactly,” I murmured. But, it was true. I had seen his meta in work.

I should fish him?

I immediately let go of the strange thought that emerged, though the shadow of it remined unable to to be wiped clean. I adjusted my jacket, the leather creaking slightly as I pulled it tighter. “Last night, Henry sent over a list of three underground stations I need to check out,” I said, keeping my voice casual.

Jade tilted her head, watching me from her seat, “Let me come,” she said without hesitation, jumping to her feet with a fluid motion. “I’m free.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have community service today?”

Jade’s lips curled up, the kind that always made me second-guess whether I was about to be outmaneuvered. “I told the academy I’m in no condition to complete my community service because of the accident,” she said smoothly, flicking a loose strand of hair over her shoulder.

Her tone was too casual, too perfect—which meant she had planned this down to the last detail. I blinked, caught off guard. “…You got a doctor’s note?”

“Of course,” she said casually. “They waived half of my punishment for ‘saving you people,’ and the rest of the hours? I can complete them slowly… over the next four years.”

“Four years?” I exclaimed.

“Yep!” she jumped cheerfully, brushing imaginary dust off her shoulders. “Why rush when I can pace myself?”

For a moment, I just stared at her, my mouth slightly open, trying to process what I’d just heard. “You what?”

Jade shrugged nonchalantly, grabbing her jacket. “It’s called strategy,” she said, clearly enjoying my stunned expression. “You should try it sometime.”

I couldn’t close my mouth. “How… how do you even think of things like that?” I finally asked, still reeling.

Jade laughed, “If you stick with me long enough and maybe you’ll pick up a trick or two.”

I stood there, speechless, shaking my head as I silently marveled at her ability to outsmart the system so effortlessly. Why wasn’t I this good at thinking up ideas like that? Perhaps I should change my diet. Because the arrogant dragon was clearly getting smarter and smarter every day, and now—It had even started to outmaneuver me.

Just as we were about to leave, Jade suddenly pulled me back. I barely had time to react before she leaned casually against the table, her fancy purse set neatly to the side. Her silver eyes locked onto mine, sharp, unwavering, Intense. I raised a brow, silently asking if she’d forgotten something. But she shook her head, her expression—Unreadable.

"We still have thirty minutes before their room is available."

I shrugged, not quite understanding where this was going.

"So?"

Jade let out an exasperated groan, her fingers twitching at her sides.

"Ugh! You’re so dumb," she muttered, punching me lightly on the shoulder.

Her cheeks were flushed, but it wasn’t just from annoyance. Before I could respond, before I could even think, She grabbed the collar of my jacket, her grip tight, commanding.

And then—

Her lips crashed into mine. Not a soft kiss, not a hesitant brush, but a kiss with purpose. With aggression. With every bit of frustration she had bottled up until this very moment. I stiffened for half a second, caught completely off guard. But then, her lips moved against mine, her tongue sliding in, and—

Oh.

The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning, striking straight through my thick skull. Her intensity. Her frustration. It wasn’t about thirty minutes. It wasn’t about forgotten plans. It was about this.

----------------------------------------

The air breezing from inside was filled with dampness and decay as Jade and I arrived at the entrance of one of the tunnels in our list.

This was our third underground station stop for the hidden auction site investigation. It loomed before us, a jagged mouth of concrete and rust, half-consumed by creeping ivy and crumbling stone. The faint smell of urine and rat shit clung to the air, mixing with the metallic tang of old rails and machinery. The faint noises of the city above were muffled by layers of earth and silence. But still could be felt through the vibrations under our feets.

Jade tilted her head, peering into the shadows as she flicked on her flashlight. T

The beam pierced through the dark, revealing jagged cracks in the walls and scattered debris along the floor. An old train sat motionless on the tracks, its body battered and scarred from years of neglect. Graffiti splashed across its sides in wild colors.

“This is... spooky and oldly charming,” Jade muttered, her voice echoing faintly in the hollow space. Her eyes gleamed in the flashlight's beam as she turned to look at me. “What do you think?”

“It’s on Henry’s list,” I said, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder. “Abandoned station, matches the coordinates he sent. If something’s here, we’ll find it.”

At one point in time, it used to be a very busy station, but right now it was eerily quiet with no one in sight.

Jade let out a low whistle, stepping cautiously onto the cracked concrete platform. The sound of her boots against the ground seemed too loud, like an uninvited guest breaking the solemn quiet. She paused by the train, brushing her fingers along its rusted surface.

“You think anyone’s been here recently?” she asked.

I scanned the area, my flashlight sweeping over the yawning black tunnel ahead. “Hard to say,” I replied. “Doesn’t look like it. But with places like this, you never know.”

After the incident, I had developed a very specific kind of distaste for underground tunnels. The kind of distaste that came with clenched fists and an irrational, bubbling unease that sat like a rock in my stomach. Just stepping near the edge of the platform felt too close.

She crouched near a pile of discarded trash, poking it with the toe of her boot. “Yeah, well, let’s hope we’re alone. And this place is nothing but an abandoned station.”

I nodded, exhaling slowly as I shifted my perspective to the Likeness. The world around me shifted, its edges softening and blending into the familiar overlay of vibrant threads and subtle pulses. My eyes scanned the tunnel with heightened focus, but nothing extraordinary came into view.

Well, almost none.

A few areas near the train were painted in sharp rainbow hues, rippling faintly like heat waves. Sudden danger, but nothing immediate. It was more of a quiet warning: Be cautious. Something’s off.

If there was anything significant about this location, the Likeness wasn’t showing it.

Then, “Oh!” Jade’s voice broke through my thoughts. She suddenly dashed a few steps ahead and crouched down. “What’s here?” she asked, her tone curious but alert.

I sighed and strode toward her, my boots crunching against the gravel-strewn ground. A pile of refuse half-buried in the dirt—at first glance, just another heap of urban decay. But as Jade prodded at it with a stick that she had found from somewhere, something glinted beneath all the filth. I leaned in, only for my stomach to twist in disgust. Used syringes lay scattered like dead, brittle twigs, condom wrapper were scattered across the dirt—filthy, questionable, and definitely biohazard material.

"Jade—" I grabbed her by the arm, hauling her back before she could dig further into the biohazard minefield.

"Ouch!" She let out a small yelp, stumbling slightly before regaining her balance. When she turned to me, her expression was equal parts indignant and defensive.

"What?" she huffed, brushing imaginary dust off her mid-skirt. "I wasn’t touching anything, I was just looking!"

"Looking at what? A free tetanus shot?" I shot back, my nose wrinkling in disgust.

I crossed my arms, giving her the most exasperated look I could muster. The kind of look that said: I’m not here to babysit you, and your overflowing curiosity does not give you a free pass to poke at every questionable thing you find in the dark.

Jade exhaled dramatically, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I won’t poke the suspicious garbage pile! You happy?"

“Ecstatic,” I muttered dryly, giving the pile one last wary glance before turning away. “Let’s focus on the actual reason we’re here, yeah? Not on... that, okay.”

“Fine,” she said, falling into step beside me.

But not before sneaking one last glance at the needles. I caught her. And shot her a warning glare. She grinned, eyes gleaming mischievously, completely enjoying how easy it was to get under my skin.

The tunnel swallowed us as we stepped inside, our flashlights cutting weak, flickering paths through the heavy darkness. I kept Jade close, occasionally glancing her way to make sure her light was steady and her curiosity wasn’t leading her to do something reckless. My own flashlight moved with purpose, tracing the walls, the floor, the ceiling. Every surface was worn and cracked, layers of grime clinging to old tiles that probably hadn’t been cleaned in decades.

“We’re looking for anything that stands out,” I reminded her. “Marks on the wall, grooves on the floor, even fresh footprints. If someone’s using this place for something as elaborate as a secret auction, there has to be evidence.”

Jade nodded, her expression serious for once. “Got it. So, hidden entrances? Tracks? That sort of thing?”

“Exactly.” I stopped to examine a jagged seam along the tunnel wall. Running my hand along the rough surface, I checked for unusual textures or gaps—something that might indicate a concealed door.

Meanwhile, I adjusted my perspective again, letting the Likeness filter over my vision. The colorful overlay flickered faintly in the darkness, highlighting faint paths of recent movement.

“There’s been traffic here,” I said, motioning for Jade to join me. “Recent, too. We’re not the first ones down here.”

She crouched beside me, her silver eyes narrowing as she inspected the same area. “Footprints? Could be workers. Or…”

We pressed on, searching meticulously. I ran my hands along the edges of rusted panels and inspected the way certain pipes intersected with the walls, looking for discrepancies. Jade worked the other side of the tunnel, her flashlight catching details I might have missed—a faded emblem painted high on the wall, the faint outlines of what looked like old signage.

After about thirty minutes of cautious exploration, our footsteps slowed as the tunnel ahead widened, only to split into three narrower pathways. We stopped at the junction, our flashlights sweeping over the branching paths like cautious explorers at a crossroads.

“Well, this is... convenient,” Jade said, her voice echoing faintly in the emptiness. “Three tunnels, all equally creepy. Which do we take?”

I didn’t answer immediately, stepping forward to examine the floor and walls more closely. My flashlight illuminated the uneven edges where the tunnels diverged. The middle one had the faintest streaks of what looked like tire marks trailing into the distance—thin and faded but still visible if you knew what to look for.

The Likeness hinted at subtle flows of fortune moving through the left tunnel, the colors faint and erratic, as though someone—or something—had passed through recently. The right tunnel seemed almost void of anything, its shadows heavier, its stillness unsettling.

I crouched, brushing my hand lightly along the faint tire tracks in the middle tunnel. “This one’s seen the most use. If we’re looking for a secret auction, they’d need to move supplies, equipment… maybe even people.”

“This could also be some villain occupying part of the tunnel,” Jade suggested.

I glanced back up, brushing the dust from my hands before pulling a handkerchief from my jeans pocket to clean them properly. “Wouldn’t be the first time,” I muttered.

I took a step toward her, falling beside her.

Her hair was a little messy, stray strands falling from her usual shoulder length waves. I shook the thought away, focusing on the tunnel stretching ahead of us. The faint tracks on the ground had all but disappeared, and the silence was beginning to stretch too thin. Wandering aimlessly wasn’t getting us anywhere. If there were answers here, we needed a different approach.

I turned to Jade, her flashlight beam dancing along the cracked walls. “We’re not going to find anything just by walking. We need to flush them out.”

She stopped, tilting her head toward me with curiosity. “Flush who out?”

“The rats,” I replied, sweeping my flashlight over the dark expanse of the tunnel. “Whoever’s hiding here—villains, smugglers, whoever. If they’re lurking in these tunnels, we have to force them to show themselves.”

Jade blinked, her silver eyes lighting up with excitement. “You want me to do it?”

I nodded. “If you think you can. It’s better than wandering in circles hoping we stumble onto something.”

She immediately shifted her stance, her flashlight lowering slightly. “I can do it. But are you sure you want to meet these people? They could be real trouble.”

I let out an exaggerated sigh. "That’s the point," I emphasized, "We need information. If someone’s down here, they’ll know what’s going on. We won’t get anything unless we talk to them directly."

Jade gave me a slow, dramatic shrug, "Alright, your call," she said, her voice light.

Then, she smiled, "But don’t blame me if the rats bite."

I scoffed as I fired back. "They can’t bite harder than you."

For a split second, I thought I'd won.

A well-placed jab, smooth delivery—a clear victory.

But then—

Pain.

Sharp fingers bite into my forearm, making me flinch on instinct.

"Ow—! Hey!" I hissed, jerking my arm back, but it was too late.

Jade had already huffed in triumph, turning away as if she hadn’t just assaulted me like a rabid squirrel.

She dusted her clothes, stepping back slightly “Give it a few seconds,” she said confidently, “They’ll come.”

Well, this was going to be fun.