King's lips curled into a smirk, amused by Fleur's boldness. "My help?" he echoed, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Fleur, why? Tell me, do you believe you have the right to ask for my help? Do you truly think you can order the mighty King around?"

He leaned forward, face to face with Fleur “You do remember how I got this beauty don’t you?” he said making his scar over his eye apparent.

Darius stepped forward, ready to intervene, but Fleur held up a hand, silently urging him to let her handle the situation. I knew to stay back too as I could tell she knew who she was dealing with. It wasn’t a matter for me to deal with at all.

With a steady voice, Fleur responded, "This isn't a personal matter, King. Lives are at stake—the civilians, the orphans of Leode, and the possibility of a working false artifact getting loose. We don't have the luxury of petty rivalries or power plays. We need your knowledge."

King tilted his head, considering Fleur's words. "Oh, well, you're right. That wouldn't be good now, would it?" he mused, blowing another puff of smoke. "But why come to me? What makes you think I'd care about the lives of the common folk? What's in it for me?"

"You oversee all of the underground markets, King. You know of all that comes in and goes out. Someone who could orchestrate something like this must have connections here. Information is what we need, and we believe you might have some knowledge that could help us," Fleur stated calmly.

A wicked grin spread across King's face, revealing a glint of maniacal pleasure. "Ah, so you come to me not out of trust or camaraderie, but out of desperation," he said, leaning in closer to Fleur once again. "You're in dire need of my assistance, aren't you? But remember, my dear Fleur, everything comes at a cost."

Fleur's eyes narrowed, and she took a step forward, meeting King's gaze unwaveringly. "We're willing to pay the price, King. But this isn't just about me; it's about the people of Leode. Innocent lives are in danger, and we can't afford to turn a blind eye."

King let out a sinister laugh, the sound echoing through the underground market. "Very well," he said, savouring the tension in the air. "I do have information that may be of interest to you. But know this, Fleur, the cost will be steep. And let's not forget, you already owe me a considerable debt."

Fleur's jaw tightened, her fingers clenching into fists. She glanced back at us briefly, her expression conflicted. I could see the weight of the decision on her shoulders.

But then, unexpectedly, she turned away from King. "Let's go," she said to the rest of us, her voice resolute. "We won't be getting anything out of him. We’ll focus on looking ourselves."

I was confused by her sudden change of heart. We could have obtained crucial information right then, even if it meant fulfilling a steep cost.

As we walked away from King, he couldn't resist having the last word. "Run along little rabbit, for I will see you again real soon. The King will have what he's owed in time," he called out, his voice laced with threat and ego.

Outside the underground market, the fresh air was a relief from the tension within. Fleur's decision still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't help but question her choice.

"Fleur, why didn't you agree to King's terms?" I asked once we were out of earshot. "We could've obtained valuable information."

Fleur paused, her gaze focused and serious. "You have to understand, Elias, that King is not to be trusted. He’s a twisted, psychotic, monster."

Darius nodded in agreement. "As much as we need information, we can't afford to be at the mercy of someone like King. I know that all too well.”

I understood their reasoning, but part of me still wanted to try.

"Fleur's right," Jo said. "I say we check near abandoned buildings. They would be good spots to hold captives without being seen."

Fleur started walking. "Then I guess we're going to the Theatre."

The four of us continued walking together, I couldn't help but observe the four of us in our sleek suits. I inwardly chuckled to myself. It did look kind of like something right out of a gangster movie.

As we continued our investigation, Fleur led us past the Theatre—a majestic building with grand architecture that stood tall and proud in the heart of the city. Citizens going in and out.

Stolen story; please report.

“Are you sure this is the place,” I said slightly confused.

Darius turned to me shaking his head. "No, this isn't the place. We're going to the old Theatre, the one that isn't used anymore," he explained. "Nobody would dare to hide hostages in a still active building like that, heh. We're heading to the one that's been abandoned for decades."

We continued walking until we arrived at the old Theatre surrounded by various dilapidated buildings. It was a stark contrast to the bustling and lively Theatre we had passed earlier. The once grand and beautiful building now stood dilapidated and worn, as if it hadn't seen life in hundreds of years. Vines and creepers had overtaken its faded red facade, and the windows were boarded up, blocking any glimpse of the interior.

Darius spoke about the history of the building as we approached. "This used to be a lively and thriving Theatre a long time ago," he said, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "But during the uprisings and riots, it was torn down and left abandoned. People tried to rebuild it, but by then, the new entertainment district had already begun to thrive, thanks to King's family's influence."

As we entered the building lobby, the air inside was thick with dust and a musty odour. The grandeur that once defined this place was now obscured by layers of neglect and decay. The walls, adorned with intricate designs, were faded and peeling, and the once-polished wooden floors were now stained and worn.

The main theatre hall was even more haunting. The doors creaked open, revealing rows of empty seats covered in dust. The stage, once alive with vibrant performances, now lay deserted and forgotten. Tattered curtains hung on either side, like ghosts of the past.

Jo closed her eyes, and a cool chill swept through the hall. "There shouldn’t be any hostiles nearby, but still keep your guard," she said, her voice serene. "But we should still be cautious. Let's split up and cover more ground. Elias, you come with me. Fleur and Darius, you two search the upper levels."

I nodded, grasping at my gun. My hand tightened in this tense atmosphere. I recognised that chill too, a similar one that Lucas and Mar had both demonstrated with the Hollow Marbles. Did Jo have some kind of spacial abilities as an arcanist? She didn’t use any Marbles did she?

“Very well,” Darius said. “We’ll come to meet you two if we find anything. Fleur, let's go.”

As both Jo and I reached the center of the theatre, I couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. My hands brushed over the fabric seats as I walked down the centre aisle and I couldn’t help but recall the same theatre I had seen in my vision—the one where I stood in the future, holding my gun with a sense of dread and foreboding. That memory sending a shiver down my spine. Was it possible I could change it or was it set in stone?

I decided to take a chance and attempt to use my ability again. It was possible that just the future could’ve changed already. I focused my mind and closed my eyes, reaching out to touch the Theatre seat in front of me. As I opened my eyes, the familiar webbed fractures appeared, and I felt a sense of trepidation as I peered into the potential future.

A haunting scene appeared before my eyes. Much more foreboding than what I had seen previously.

The Theatre was in ruins, consumed by fire and darkness. Panic and despair gripped my heart as I saw myself behind a row of seats kneeling over a limp body, blood covering my hands and staining my clothes. The face of the person was obscured, hidden in shadow, leaving me in agonizing uncertainty.

I gasped and stumbled back, a cold sweat forming on my brow. The intensity of the vision was overwhelming, and I couldn't bear to see more and quickly stopped my ability. What did it mean? Was this the same vision I had seen before, or was it a different outcome?

Jo turned around, her brow furrowed with concern. "Elias, are you alright? Did you find something?"

I hesitated, trying to find the words to express what I had seen. But I couldn't reveal the details of my vision to Jo or anyone else. I couldn't risk altering the course of events, especially when I had no idea how my fractures might impact the future.

"No, it's nothing," I replied, forcing a smile. "I just got caught in a spider's web, but I'm okay."

Jo studied me for a moment, but she didn't press. "Alright, let's keep moving then. We need to be thorough in our search."

Jo and I continued our investigation, meticulously scouring every inch of the main hall and backstage. But no matter where we looked, we found no traces or clues of the missing people.

After what felt like an eternity, Jo called out from the basement. Her voice carried a sense of urgency that made my heart race. I hurried down the stairs to find Jo standing near a small hidden room.

"Look," she said, pointing to the floor. My eyes followed her finger, and horror washed over me as I saw what she had found.

The room was a grisly sight. It was littered with clothing and small pools of dried blood. My mind tried to make sense of the scene, but the implications were too terrible to comprehend.

“What? Did you two find something” Fleur called out as both Darius and her walked down the stairs to meet us.

Jo's face remained stoic, but I could see the pain and anger in her eyes. She was just as affected by the sight as I was. "Whoever they are they've been using this place to hold their hostages. To experiment on them," she said, her voice cold and controlled. "I wonder if there are any even left at this point."

“Jo, have you looked all around here yet,” I asked as began to look around the horrific sight that was the basement.

“No, not yet,” she replied.

All four of us began to look around the dark and dim basement which was when I entered one of the smaller rooms. The sight that greeted me was utterly horrifying.