"This is Central City—we're right in the heart of it," Zhao said quietly.
The statue before Yamile, Zhao, and Tora marked their arrival in the city center. While the statue itself wasn't particularly terrifying, it radiated a disturbingly strong demonic energy. Its presence felt like a silent terror, ready to enchant anyone who looked at it.
Before they could discuss it further, someone knocked on their car window—a neatly dressed elderly man who looked like an ordinary local.
"Are you working for Master Bajang? Did someone here forget to pay their tribute?" the old man asked.
"Oh no, sir, we're just visitors," Yamile replied politely.
The old man smiled warmly. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Is there any place to stay around here? We need accommodation," Tora responded to the offer of help.
Tora's question made the old man's expression light up. "I have an apartment for rent—you can stay there."
Yamile, Tora, and Zhao looked at one another and nodded in agreement. They decided to follow the old man to the apartment, which was not far away. But to reach it, they had to enter a narrow alley only wide enough for one car.
When they arrived, the apartment building—ten stories tall—looked severely neglected from the outside. Seeing this, Yamile felt uneasy. To her, the apartment didn't look livable.
"Even the outside looks unfit to live in. We should find somewhere else," Yamile whispered to Zhao.
Zhao looked at his sister flatly. "Don't be spoiled—we're here for a battle, not a vacation," he replied softly.
Their car entered the apartment lot, and Tora parked in the basement. Then they followed the old man to the elevator and went up to the ninth floor.
The old elevator creaked slowly as it moved. Metal groaned with each passing floor. Frosted glass, cracked in several places, lined its walls. The flickering fluorescent light inside added to the eerie atmosphere, sending shivers down their spines. Yamile stood closest to the floor buttons, occasionally glancing at the glowing numbers.
"Has this elevator not been serviced in a while?" Tora asked, trying to sound casual, though he felt uneasy.
"No, sorry. But I promise the room itself is comfortable," the old man replied.
The elevator arrived at the ninth floor with a screech. The corridor was dim, lit only by a single bulb at the far end. Mold covered the walls, along with scratch marks. The old man pulled out a key and opened a door on the left side of the hall.
"Please, come in. This is the unit for rent," he said.
Surprisingly, the unit was fairly spacious. The living room was tidy, though the furniture looked aged. A small kitchen sat in the corner, its appliances seemingly rarely used. There were two bedrooms and one bathroom—enough for the three of them.
Yamile and Zhao entered first, while Tora stayed outside to pay the old man. "I'll rent this place for a month," he said.
The old man gladly took the money, his eyes sparkling. "This is more than enough. Thank you so much for choosing my place."
After he left, Tora went inside and walked straight to the window, pulling back the curtain. The statue was clearly visible, standing tall and frightening.
"What exactly is that statue?" he asked.
"That's what we need to find out," Zhao replied firmly.
"Let's split up tomorrow to search for information about the mysteries of this city," he added.
"I agree!" Yamile said.
---
Morning came, welcomed by sunlight shyly peeking through the gaps in the apartment's worn-out curtains. From the ninth floor, Central City still looked peaceful—but Yamile knew this calm was only an illusion. There was an unsettling presence, imperceptible to the untrained eye.
Zhao was already up, cleaning his weapon at the dining table. Tora was cooking with canned food they had brought from their base. The smell of eggs and smoked meat filled the room, bringing some warmth to the otherwise eerie place.
"What's your plan for today, Zhao?" Tora asked while flipping an egg in the pan.
"I'm heading to the market to talk to some vendors. They usually know a lot about unusual happenings in the city," Zhao replied without looking up from his weapon.
"I'll just roam around nearby," Yamile said while staring at the sky through the window.
"Good. I'll stay near the statue. Watching it might give me some kind of sign or strange feeling," Tora added.
They nodded at one another, then distributed communication devices and synced them to the same frequency. After breakfast, they left the apartment and split up according to plan.
Yamile walked through narrow alleys on the east side of the city. Her steps were quick yet light, like a shadow passing silently. She passed by dilapidated buildings, much like the apartment they were staying in. But as she exited the alley, towering and luxurious buildings suddenly stood before her. They were breathtaking.
In front of her was a multi-story complex that housed entertainment and shopping centers. Here, famous brands with steep price tags adorned the shelves. It was a popular spot, especially among young people.
She cautiously entered the upscale mall. The security guards at the door didn't seem to notice her—probably because of her inconspicuous outfit: a gray hoodie and long pants, her face mostly hidden under a cap.
Yamile noticed a clothing store just a few steps in. Without thinking, she walked toward it. Her eyes scanned the adorable and colorful collection of crop tops, hot pants, and mini skirts.
A friendly shopkeeper approached her. "Which one would you like?" she asked warmly.
Yamile pointed at a mini skirt, some hot pants, and a white t-shirt. "Please get those for me," she said.
The shopkeeper smiled broadly and fetched the clothes. Yamile tried them on one by one in the fitting room. In front of the mirror, she saw herself in the new clothes and gave a faint smile. After trying them on and paying, Yamile left the store. She packed her purchases into her bag and headed to the upper floor of the mall, which seemed much quieter.
But as she passed a corridor, she unexpectedly saw the same shopkeeper from earlier. The woman entered a very suspicious-looking store. It was closed, but a small side door was open. To enter, the woman had to crouch low.
"Why is she going in there?" Yamile muttered.
She approached the store. From outside, she could faintly hear the woman speaking with a man.
"This is my sales from earlier, a total of 50 dollars," said the woman.
"Good! Here's your share. Make it enough," the man replied.
"Only five dollars, sir? It's enough… This money is enough for me," the woman said, her voice breaking as she began to cry.
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