The Ties That Bleeds

e walls. Adrian sat on the worn couch, legs crossed and a textbook balanced on his lap. He wasn't rea

top students across the city. All victims have been described as exceptionally talented and academical

d from the kitchen, her voice car

as the reporter's voice droned on about the latest victim: a 19-year-old valedict

o the living room. She wiped her hands on

switching off the TV. The s

beneath her. "You've been watching t

ide. "I just can't stop thinking about it. Three to

studying his face. "You think th

his eyes. "I'm not exactly the valedictorian type. J

rther. Instead, she changed the

still needs more hands. They're always short on

I don't know. Hospital

ides, it's better than wait

emind me. My manager is a nightmare. If one more cust

Then it's settled. I'll talk to Dr. Morris tomorrow and see if he c

ng. "You're always looking out for me, Adr

he quickly looked away. "It's no

on the coffee table. She reached for it, f

it?" Adr

d, declining the call

ong-not just with the killings, but with the world around him. The memory of his early years in the lab or

said, snapping her finge

d, startl

he said, her brow furrowi

ile. "Yeah. Just t

et it slide. "Well, get some rest. Yo

ching as she stood and

plied, heading

ifting back to the blank TV screen. The image of the lates

ts, a cold knot for

ngerous game. And Adrian couldn't shake the f

rtops and the chrome appliances in the kitchen. Despite its pristine and luxurious appearance, the condo felt unsettling-s

d in shadowy hues, and the dim lighting created a flickering effect that danced across their faces. On the sc

ged at his victim. "I mean, come on. She just

ouch, chuckled softly. "It's always the same. Scre

se silent room, a chilling contrast

ost mechanical, as he layered slices of avocado over perfectly toasted bread and garnished it with a spri

voice calm but command

s head back against the couch. "Why d

slowness. His sharp gaze landed on Kai. "Because you don't appr

e. "That hurts, 001. Real

ing up from the couch. "Y

ass table set against the backdrop of a panoramic view of the city skyli

he said simply, p

atically. "Ezra, you've got to stop playin

ing against the counter. "Yo

. The screen illuminated her face, casting a cool glow over her sharp fea

d Dead in String o

ed through it. The details were explicit: the victim was a 19-ye

er. "Oh, another one? Geez, someone's bee

d, her focus stil

they're creative. Bet they're aiming for a record." He laughed at his o

bruptly. "I'm starving," he announced, heading to the kitchen.

ng to Nyx. "You'll have to ex

, her fork hovering over her plate. "It's too clean,

g upward. "Perfection is an art," he said, his tone lo

there was an unspoken understanding between them, a

chair with a dramatic sigh. "This," he said, holding

d, their attention still lock

into his mouth. "You two are so weird so

y looking away from Ezra. "

aybe next time I'll make you lunch, Kai

around his s

a spoon clinking against a plate or the faint hum of the city below. Bu

d. But the shadows of their pasts and the