Hex POV
The house was unusually quiet.
I sat cross-legged on the living room couch, controller in my hand, staring at the TV screen while a racing game blasted loud engine sounds through the speakers.
"Come on… come on…"
My car drifted around the final corner.
First place.
I smirked slightly.
"Yes."
Behind me, Aries groaned.
"You cheated."
I didn't even turn around.
"You just suck."
Angelo burst out laughing from the other couch.
"That's the tenth time you've lost, Aries."
Aries threw a pillow at him.
"Shut up."
Aunty Gemma walked past the living room carrying a tray.
"You boys are still playing games?"
"Yes," I answered calmly.
She shook her head but smiled.
"Dinner will be ready soon."
I nodded, still focused on the screen.
Truthfully, I was trying to distract myself.
Jay had been busy all day.
She hadn't called.
Not even one message.
I tried not to think about it, but something felt off.
My phone suddenly buzzed on the table beside me.
I glanced at the screen.
Yuri calling.
I paused the game.
"That's rare," I muttered.
Aries leaned forward.
"Who is it?"
"Yuri."
Aries whistled.
"Ohhh drama incoming."
I ignored him and answered.
"Hello."
There was no greeting.
Just heavy breathing on the other side.
Then Yuri spoke.
"Hex… where are you?"
His voice sounded wrong.
Cold.
Sharp.
"At home," I replied slowly.
"What happened?"
Silence.
Then he said the words that made my stomach drop.
"Jay is missing."
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
I stood up slowly.
"…What ."
Aries and Angelo immediately looked at me.
Yuri spoke quickly.
"She was with keifer a few minutes ago. Then she disappeared. keif found her phone on the road."
My chest tightened.
"Did he search the area?"
"Yes."
"Camera footage?"
"Working on it."
My mind started moving faster.
Jay wasn't careless.
If she disappeared, it meant someone planned it carefully.
"Hex," Yuri said quietly.
"Yes."
"…She was texting someone before it happened."
That was enough.
My eyes darkened.
"The hacker."
Yuri didn't reply.
Which meant he thought the same.
Aries stood up.
"What's going on?"
I grabbed my jacket.
"Jay is missing."
Angelo nearly dropped his drink.
"What?!"
I was already heading toward the door.
Aries ran after me.
"Where are you going?"
"To find her."
"But how?!"
I stopped briefly.
My voice was calm.
Too calm.
"If someone took Jay…"
I opened the door.
"…they made the worst mistake of their life."