Kai opened the loudspeaker on his phone so that Kiera could hear the conversation clearly.
"Kai! We need your help here at Kuller Town!" Kenneth's voice was frantic, panicked.
Kai froze for a moment, his pulse accelerating. "What… what happened?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"I don't know… something's wrong with my father. He's… he looks sick, Kai. Really sick. And we don't know what to do," Kenneth's words came out in a rush, each syllable filled with dread.
Kai's mind immediately jumped to the news he had seen—the mutilated bodies, the missing children, the horrific images from Kuller Town flashing in his mind like a bad dream. "Why not take him to the hospital?" he asked, trying to think rationally.
"The hospital… won't take anyone else anymore. They're overwhelmed—or maybe… something else. I don't know," Kenneth admitted, the fear in his voice palpable.
Kai's chest tightened. He ran a hand through his hair. "Alright, calm down. I'll come there tomorrow. I'll find a way to help your family, okay?"
"Thanks… just please hurry. Before something happens to my dad. I don't know what I'll do if…" Kenneth's voice cracked, and the line went silent for a moment.
Kai clenched his fists. "I'll get him out. Don't worry. I'll find somewhere safe for your family to stay, away from Kuller Town. I promise."
Kenneth let out a shaky breath. "Thanks, Kai… and Kiera, too. I… I don't know what I'd do without you." Then, almost abruptly, the call ended.
Kiera, listening on the speaker, turned to Kai with wide eyes. "Wait… did he just… thank me? I don't even know who that is."
Kai shook his head, equally unsettled. "I didn't tell him about you, Kiera. I don't know why he mentioned you. It's… random, maybe?"
Kiera frowned, shivering slightly. "It can't be random. How would he even know about me? He doesn't even know I exist."
Kai swallowed hard, a cold knot forming in his stomach. "Yeah… I don't think he does. But what matters is that your help is… appreciated in the situation, apparently."
Kiera's voice dropped to a whisper, her usual confidence faltering. "This is… strange. And scary. How does someone thank you if they don't know you? And why now?"
Kai rubbed his face, trying to steady his own nerves. "I don't know. Maybe it's a coincidence. Maybe it's fate. But right now, we need to focus on helping Kenneth and his family."
Kiera took a deep breath, glancing at the street outside. "I mean… I don't know this guy at all. But if he's your friend, then… I'll help. I guess."
Kai smiled faintly at her. "Yeah. We need to be careful, though. Kuller Town… it's not safe. Not anymore."
Kiera's grin returned, albeit nervously. "That's fine. Short trip, right? We help your friend and his family, and then we leave."
Kai nodded, though he could feel the weight of dread settling over him. The news, the missing children, the deaths—they were all warnings. He couldn't ignore them. "Alright. Let's get you home first, then we'll plan the trip."
After ensuring Kiera returned safely to her house, Kai went back to his own. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The images of the previous day's news burned in his mind: faces eaten beyond recognition, children torn apart, the alleyways of Kuller Town filled with something unexplainable. How could he go there and think he could keep his friend safe?
Sleep finally claimed him after hours of restless thinking, but the dreams were far from restful. Shadowy figures loomed over alleyways, whispers echoed through empty streets, and every turn seemed to lead him deeper into Kuller Town's twisted horrors.
Morning came too soon. Kai sat up, heart hammering. Kenneth's father's condition—his friend's desperation—left no room for hesitation. He moved through his morning routine with mechanical precision: showering, eating, brushing his teeth, checking his gear. He paused when his hand fell on the knife his father had given him long ago. A familiar weight in his palm brought a small sense of comfort. Carefully, he placed it in his backpack.
Outside, the air was crisp, tinged with the faint smell of smoke from nearby chimneys. His motorcycle waited, gleaming in the morning light. As he loaded his gear, Kiera appeared, stretching slightly and squinting against the sun.
"Hey, where are you going?" Kai asked.
"I… don't know," Kiera admitted. "I'm tired of grinding games all day. Thought I'd get some fresh air. Maybe explore a bit."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "I'm going to Kuller Town. It's… dangerous."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Uh-huh. But you said it's just a short trip—help your friend, then come home, right?"
"Yes. But it's still risky," Kai said, concern threading his words.
"Then I'm coming," Kiera said firmly. "I don't know this Kenneth guy, but if he's your friend, I'm in. Besides… curiosity won't kill me."
Kai sighed, exhaling slowly. "Alright. Just… stay close. We'll be cautious."
Kiera nodded and quickly typed a short message to Cyric, explaining she wouldn't be gaming today. She shrugged at Kai. "I need a break anyway. After all that tournament hype yesterday, I need something real, something different."
Kai smiled faintly, tension still knotting his stomach. "Hop on. I brought a jacket in case it gets cold."
Kiera's grin widened. "How thoughtful." She swung onto the motorcycle, and Kai fastened her helmet securely before donning his own. The engine roared to life, a low vibration running through them both, and they sped toward Kuller Town.
The road stretched long and quiet, punctuated by the occasional car or pedestrian. Every mile closer, Kai felt a tightening in his chest. Kuller Town wasn't just a town—it was alive with menace, rumors, and something darker than anyone could explain.
Kiera, sensing his tension, leaned slightly closer. "We'll get there, help your friend, and leave. Simple," she said, voice soft but firm.
Kai nodded, trying to ignore the chill crawling up his spine. Every shadow along the roadside, every distant figure, seemed to twist in his imagination. Kuller Town loomed in the distance, a silent predator waiting.
Meanwhile, Cyric's phone buzzed repeatedly with messages from Kiera. Each buzz made him clench his fists. Furious, he muttered under his breath, jealousy and irritation mixing together. "Kuller Town… and Kai? If anything goes wrong in the next tournament, it's his fault. Stealing her focus… her energy… I won't let this slide."
For Kai and Kiera, the road stretched ahead—long, uncertain, and filled with shadows. Each passing mile brought them closer to danger, to the unknown, and to the horrors that awaited in Kuller Town. And neither of them truly knew what they would face when they arrived.