The helicopter hadn’t gone far.
It hovered in the distance for a brief second longer than it should have.
Then—
It exploded.
A violent bloom of fire tore through the night sky.
The shockwave rolled outward like thunder, shaking the ground beneath them.
Aluna flinched.
Ren instinctively stepped forward.
Arka didn’t move.
His eyes stayed locked on the burning wreckage falling from the sky.
Pieces of metal rained down across the dark industrial district.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
Ren exhaled sharply.
“…That’s one way to clean up loose ends.”
But Aluna’s fingers tightened around her phone.
Her breath came fast.
“No.”
Arka looked at her.
Her voice trembled.
“He’s not dead.”
Ren frowned.
“You just saw that thing explode.”
She shook her head quickly.
“No, you do
