The photograph was still in Ethan’s hand when he pulled into Raina’s driveway.

His grip had wrinkled the edges without him realizing it.

Himari.

The name wouldn’t leave his head.

Neither would Susan’s words.

Why not ask your girlfriend? She knows her best.

The more he thought about it, the less it sounded like an insult and the more it sounded like a warning.

He got out of the car and headed straight for the front door.

The house was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Raina?"

No answer.

He knocked once.

Twice.

Nothing.

A knot formed in his stomach.

He tried the handle and the door was Unlocked.

"Raina?" he called again as he stepped inside.

Still nothing.

The living room was empty.

The kitchen was empty.

Even Yuki was nowhere to be seen.

"Raina!"

His voice echoed through the house.

No response.

He took the stairs two at a time and headed for her bedroom.

It was empty and the bed was untouched.

The lights were off.

The room felt like no one has slept in there for sometime .

A feeling he couldn’t explain settled over him.

Something was wrong.

He pulled out his phone and called her.

The line connected.

Then a recorded voice answered.

"The number you’ve dialed is not reachable at the moment. Please try again later."

Ethan stared at the screen.

"No..."

He called again.

Same result.

Again.

Same result.

Again.

Nothing.

His jaw tightened.

Then he opened their messages.

Where are you?

We need to talk.

Then he hit send.

No reply.

Five minutes passed.

Still nothing.

His patience finally snapped.

I know everything.

If you could answer the fucking phone I’d appreciate it.

The message delivered.

No response.

Ethan lowered the phone and exhaled sharply.

The entire day felt like a puzzle that’s too complicated to solve .

The photograph.

Susan.

Himari.

Raina disappearing.

None of it fit together.

He left the house and got back into his car.

The engine had barely started when his phone buzzed.

A text.

From raina’s phone number.

Ethan frowned and opened it.

A lot of weird things have been happening lately and I’m sorry about it.

But I want to come clean.

If you want the truth, come to the abandoned storage warehouses in Vanderson.

His eyes narrowed.

The message continued with an address.

For a moment he simply stared at the screen.

Then he turned the steering wheel.

And without thinking his car changed direction immediately.

If there was even a chance Raina had sent that message, he wasn’t ignoring it.

Twenty minutes later he arrived.

The warehouse district sat on the edge of the city where abandoned industrial buildings stretched for blocks.

Most of them hadn’t been used in years.

The place looked dead, except for some cars packed around ...and also he had just drove pass two vans packed just about a mile from the warehouse

That isn’t suspicious at all

Ethan parked.

Then sent a message.

I’m here.

A minute passed.

Then two.

Suddenly one of the warehouse doors rolled open.

Several men emerged.

None of them looked friendly.

One motioned toward him.

"This way."

Ethan’s pulse quickened.

"What the hell is this?"

Nobody answered.

He followed anyway.

The moment he stepped inside he knew something wasn’t right.

Computers.

Monitors.

Streaming equipment.

Cables running across concrete floors.

Industrial spotlights.

The entire warehouse looked like someone had built a broadcasting studio inside an abandoned building.

"What is going on here?"

His voice echoed through the room.

A laugh answered him.

Slow.

Amused.

Then a familiar figure stepped out from the shadows.

"Relax, Ethan."

Ethan froze.

"Kuro?"

"The one and only."

Kuro gave a small theatrical bow.

For a second Ethan genuinely thought he was hallucinating.

"Kuro..."

His eyes moved around the room again.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Working."

"Kuro."

The smile remained on his face.

Then realization struck Ethan.

His expression darkened.

"Wait."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

"The texts, you sent those didn’t you ?"

Kuro’s smile widened.

"I did yeah "

"The pictures too " kuro added ...

"What the fuck is going on?"

Kuro merely turned and started walking.

"Come."

"I’m not playing games here kuro , explain quickly ."

"Neither am I."

Kuro glanced over his shoulder.

"There’s someone you need to meet."

The confidence in his voice unsettled Ethan more than the warehouse itself.

Against his better judgment, he followed.

They crossed another section of the building before entering a smaller room.

The moment Ethan stepped inside, the world seemed to stop.

"Raina."

She sat beneath a spotlight.

Her wrists tied behind a chair.

Ropes around her body.

Exhaustion written across her face.

For a split second Ethan couldn’t process what he was seeing.

Then instinct took over.

"Raina!"

He rushed forward immediately.

"Oh my God."

He dropped to one knee beside her.

"Raina."

Her head lifted.

Relief flashed across her face.

Then fear replaced it.

"Ethan..."

Her voice sounded strained.

"You shouldn’t be here."

"What?"

"You need to leave."

His hands were already working at the ropes.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ethan—"

"No."

He pulled harder.

"What happened?"

His heart was hammering now.

"Who did this?"

His head turned sharply.

"Kuro."

The name came out like a warning.

"What the fuck is this?"

Kuro leaned casually against the wall.

"Trust me."

His voice remained calm.

"You’re going to want her tied up."

Ethan stared at him.

For a moment he couldn’t even find words.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"No."

"Then untie her."

"I can’t."

"Why?"

Kuro’s eyes shifted toward Raina.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

For the first time since Ethan arrived, Raina lowered her gaze.

She couldn’t look at him.

A chill ran through Ethan’s chest.

Not because of Kuro.

Because of her.

Because suddenly she looked guilty.

And Ethan had no idea why.

"Ethan..."

Her voice barely rose above a whisper.

"You need to go."

The room felt smaller.

The air heavier and none of this made any sense.

Not the warehouse, not the ropes or the streaming setup , and certainly not Kuro.

Not even Raina being here makes sense

Kuro straightened and pulled out a chair.

Then placed it directly opposite her.

"Ethan."

His voice lost its humor.

"Take a seat."

Ethan didn’t move.

Kuro’s expression hardened.

"The show," he said quietly, "has only just begun."