It starts with an explosion!

Looking to his side and then back at Sylvester, Rai pulls on his hood.

They had been offered a table at the far end of the restaurant. With the privacy of their booth, they can talk without being overheard by anyone else in this place that seemed like it is made for couples or groups who want some quiet time together while enjoying good food and drinks.

Sylvester narrows his eyes and points at Rai. "That's the worst disguise you could think of?"

"At least I tried," Rai replies, glancing back to remind himself of how far away the others were.

Turning back, he continues. "You two on the other hand look like you own this place."

Leaning forward, he says in a whisper. "Tell me, does the owner know about you two being..."

"How does that relate to having some food in a restaurant?" Sylvester interjects with a frown.

Relaxing, Rai lowers his head and asks in a whisper. "How the hell are you two so calm after what you did?"

Sylvester raises a brow in response to his question, caressing Lila's hair as she munches on a cupcake.

Sylvester lowers his voice as he calls Lila's attention, leaning to his side. "Rai is accusing us of something evil."

'Accusing?!!' Rai yells in this thought.

"That's what you two did. I thought you'd just break their minds, perhaps take a limb or two, and probably make them mute or torture them until they begged for death!" Rai hisses, poking the table repeatedly as he speaks.

"You do realize who you are speaking to, right?" Sylvester deadpans, folding his arms in displeasure.

'Ah... that's right, a psychopathic murder without a soul.' Rai notes, nodding his head.

"I had hoped that at the very least your parents would be different, that you would make them suffer. Not an easy death." Rai replies.

Sylvester stares at him in silence. Slowly, a wicked grin spread on his face. With him and Lila being the only ones present before their mother's death, his method had been far worse than Rai had imagined.

'You wouldn't understand even if I told you.' He remarks in his thoughts.

Closing his eyes for a moment, his thoughts wander to the number of lives he had taken in the days following their escape. All murders had one thing in common: the thrill of seeing the fear in their eyes and hearing their screams of pain was like music to his ears.

Rai cast a worried look on Lila, wondering if she was also present while Sylvester was killing their mother.

Licking off the crumbs from her fingers, Lila smacked her lips before responding. "Uncle Rai..."

Sylvester cringed and was quick to point out in disdain, "uncle?"

Lila nods her head and continues. "... do you want some cake?"

Rai had wanted to shake his head but was forced into obliging due to the death glare from Sylvester.

Opening his hand, he forces a smile. "If it would make you happy, little one."

Rai looks at his hand and mutters. "I had risked bypassing the defenses of our base to meet a psycho-killer duo. What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Please eat it." Lila urges with her large eyes staring up at him.

She had no idea how much of a rift her words had caused in Rai's mind... but she knew food always made people feel better, and since she couldn't think of anything else to say other than 'eat,' she simply waited for him to take a bite.

"Trust me, it will be this way until you 'eat'," Sylvester affirms.

It seemed like an eternity passed by when finally, Rai took a bite of his slice. He chewed slowly and swallowed hard; trying not to think too deeply over all the uncertain vibe he was getting from being in a restaurant.

Lila grins while she watches him.

Before she took another from the table, she reveals a bit of what had transpired two days ago.

A tear falls onto Lila's cheek which causes her to quickly wipe it away. "Mommy didn't care if I died, she looked happy if I was truly gone."

"That's enough, Lila. We owe no one any explanation." Sylvester chastises sternly.

He places a comforting arm around Lila who hadn't realized she had zoned out.

The room fell silent again except for the sound of chewing and plates clattering coming from the others at their table.

"So why don't we talk about your plans now that you're here?" Sylvester's tone changed abruptly causing Rai to flinch slightly.

"My plan is simple," Rai begins without directly looking at them. "I convince Dahlia to let you join the team, you'd have access to our technology and a proper place to train and unlock your true ability."

Sylvester leans forward and beckons Rai to do the same.

Despite his unusual request, he tilts his head forward.

With a firm nod, Sylvester smiles broadly as he says in a whisper. "That is a load of bullshit."

A slight hint of surprise shows through Rai's face as he looks down at the table, contemplating his next words.

"I know you're powerful and all, independent shit too. But it would interest you to know, unlike our awakener rank, yours is limited by your thinking capability." Rai hissed as he looked straight into the eyes of Sylvester.

Lila switches her gaze from Sylvester to Rai, sensing the tense atmosphere.

Tugging at Sylvester's sleeve, Lila whispers. "Are you two going to fight, here?"

Both of them freeze upon hearing that sweet innocent yet curious voice. The tension breaks apart instantly as they chuckle awkwardly at themselves.

Turning toward Lila once more, Sylvester takes her small hands within his and holds them tightly.

"It wouldn't even be a fair one, to begin with." Sylvester mocks with a grin.

'You pompous bastard!' Rai curses as he leans back into his chair.

"I heard that," Sylvester replies.

"I know, it was intentional. I only want it to be kept from the little one, idiot!" Rai snaps.

Steepling his fingers, Sylvester sighs loudly. "I need an answer from you, it's best you go into detail, it will determine if I accept your offer or not..."

Rai's mood instantly lightens up as he prepares for the mind-boggling question. His anger towards Sylvester vanished completely, replaced instead with curiosity.

"... why are you hell-bent on ruining Collux Haven?" Sylvester finishes with a serious expression.

This question alone makes Rai pause briefly. After pondering for several seconds, he speaks calmly. "They had mu–"

Boom!

"Aaaaahhhh!!!!"

Crash!

A fire was set to the main entrance, its flames can already be seen razing parts of the furniture as smoke fills the air.

Screams erupt throughout the building, making everyone jump out of their seats.

People scramble everywhere to put out fires. Within moments, The ground is littered with half-burned bodies. Most are charred beyond recognition, leaving nothing left of them. Those still alive scream and wail. Some ran to the window to see what had caused the explosion. Others rush towards the second exit.

Rai punched the table, angered by the distraction which could ruin his chance to have Sylvester on their team but also irritated that his hunch on the perpetrator is right.

"They discovered us!" In response to the bulk of an unidentified predator on the roof, he warns in hushed tones as he stares at the ripple effect in the cup of water in front of him.

Staring at the reflection of rising smoke in the cup, Rai looks up to the ceiling to find it spreading rapidly.

Cough!

Cough!

All except the trio had taken shelter underneath their tables as soon as they saw what had happened.

A few minutes pass by and everything settles. People began moving cautiously inside the dining hall, checking each other to ensure none has sustained injuries during the chaos.

As Rai's vision gets cleared from all the smoke, he sees that a mechanical arm with a machine gun attached to it is aiming at the back of Lila's head.

Before he could think of anything, it shoots, spraying bullets in her direction.

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Author's note

¶ Any idea on what happens next?

¶ Do check out the weekly auxiliary chapter[Bonus chapter task] to know how you can participate.