The tea room was dead silent.
The air thickened until William could hear his own frantic heartbeat. We're caught.
William glanced at Lynn. Her face remained impassive, but her mind raced:
If Officer Huang is a Rage Beast, I can't win.
Killing one is possible, but exposing my powers before a hundred other "humans" means death.
Escape?
Pointless. Once marked, I'd last days at best.
Her last partner—stronger than her—had died from a single slip.
Only one gamble left.
"Officer Huang, what brings you here?" Lynn asked after three taut seconds.
Huang strode to the water cooler, back fully exposed as he filled a cup. He turned, leaning against the table. "Vivian's case. Interviewing her inner circle at the memorial."
"Found anything?" William feigned concern.
"Leads. Can't share details." Huang sipped water. "But that 'Beast' talk earlier... Sounded intense."
William's stomach dropped. No dodging this.
"Just gushing about a survival game," he blurted, glancing at Lynn. "Called... Beast BFF Bonanza?"
"Sounds fun." Huang smiled mildly. "Youth have all the leisure. Us wage slaves? None."
He set down his cup and ambled out.
William's shirt clung to his sweat-drenched back.
"What now?"
Lynn's brow furrowed. "Two options. One: he's a Rage Beast testing us. Two: a Delusion Beast."
"Delusion?"
"'Lost Ones.' They believe they're human. Ignore contradictions, rewrite memories. Harmless to us."
"So if he's deluded, we're safe."
"I never gamble." Lynn peered through the door crack at Huang mingling in the chapel. "Rage Beasts are greedy. They hunt alone to feast solo."
William recalled Vivian's bone-crushing grip. "I've seen that hunger..."
"Exactly. A chapel packed with Beasts? Sharing prey isn't their style." Her eyes glinted. "We strike first."
10:00 PM, Mountain Green Police Station
After the memorial, Huang drove back to HQ. William and Lynn tailed him by cab, sliding into a café booth across the street. They ordered fries and milkshakes, textbooks open as camouflage.
William had initially refused the hit job. But if Lynn fails, I'm dead anyway. If I die, let it mean something.
"Got questions," he said, swirling his straw.
"Go." Lynn dissected her burger with surgical precision.
"Other allies?"
"Two before you. Both dead."
"Just you and... Lynette?"
"Worry about yourself." She wiped ketchup off her knife. "If this goes south, I run. No dead weight."
William flushed. I'm not useless!
...But maybe don't argue with the girl holding cutlery.
Near midnight, Huang emerged. His patrol car's front tire sagged—Lynn's hidden blade strike. Unfazed, he crossed the street, bought cigarettes, and cut through a dimly lit park.
"Now." Lynn quickened her pace.
"Trap?"
"Only one way to know."
They masked up, trailing Huang into the park's heart. Lynn raised a hand toward a streetlamp camera. A faint click echoed; the red light died.
"Distract him," she hissed. "I'll handle the rest."
William stepped from the bushes. "Officer Huang?"
Huang turned. "Who's there?"
William yanked down his mask. "Me. Thought of a clue about Vivian."
"Oh?" Huang stepped closer, eager—then froze.
He whirled, drawing his service pistol.
"BANG—"
Three shots rang as one. Three sparks flashed mid-air—bullets meeting blades.
But the knives were decoys.
A shadow lunged from his blind spot.
"SWISH—"
White steel flashed. Huang's gun split like clay. Two fingers flew.
The blade halted at his throat, drawing a hairline of blood.
Lynn lowered her katana. "Not a Beast."
Huang clutched his bleeding hand, pale but calm. "How?"
"A Beast would've blocked with its arms. Humans trust weapons." Her blade vanished into her sleeve.
"Guilty." Huang managed a pained smile. "Thanks for the restraint."
2:00 AM, Mountain Green ER
Bandages secured, Huang joined them in the waiting room. "Report's done: rescued you from muggers, took a slash."
William and Lynn exchanged glances.
"Hungry? My treat."
Outside the ER
A neon-lit food truck glowed in the alley. A spry old man waved tongs. "Huang! Hand okay?"
"Occupational hazard. No beers tonight, Lou."
"Usual?"
"Yep." Huang nodded at the teens. "Order up."
Lynn scanned the menu board. "Double cheeseburger. Extra pickles. Fries. Chocolate shake. No onion."
Damn, she's committed, William thought. "Same."
They hunched on foldable stools. Huang bit into his burger, eyes closed. "Nothing like cheating death to make food taste divine."
Lynn nibbled a fry, silent.
William eyed the cook. "Safe to talk here?"
"Lou's a Lost One." Huang waved a fry. "He filters what he hears. Right, Lou?"
Lou turned. "Hmm?"
"These pickles are gold! More!"
"Comin' up!"
William exhaled. "Tonight was a test?"
"Knew you were Awakened." Huang nodded at Lynn. "Didn't expect her."
"Not dating," Lynn said, peeling pickle off her bun.
"That 'patient' I killed last week?" Huang's smile faded. "He was Awakened. Sequence No. 175: [Scent]. Could smell Beasts. Drove him mad."
He stared at the sizzling grill. "He smelled you, William. Warned you to run. I ended him fast so they wouldn't trace you."
"...Thank you."
"We're crew now."
"These Sequences..." William leaned in. "Everyone's different?"
"Mine's No. 41: [Gunslinger]. Perfect aim, lightning draw." Huang eyed Lynn. "Hers is No. 20: [Metal]. Controls any metal. Probably also No. 32: [Blade Master]."
"Multiple talents?"
"First awakens with one. More can manifest—no one knows how."
"How do you know all this?"
"Police access. Long survival." Huang tapped his temple. "Memorized the full Sequence List. 199 talents. Lower numbers mean rarer power."
He whistled at Lynn. "You're elite."
No. 199. Rock bottom, William died inside. "Lucky"? Screw that.
Lynn set down her shake. "List. Now."
"It's all up here." Huang grinned. "Sharing's possible... for a price."
"Conditions?" William guessed.
"Naturally." Huang winked. "But these burgers? Free."