Collapse was sitting in his palace overlooking the Volcanic Dock.
Above, the sun glowed bright, like a blazing fireball. Clouds scattered across the sky, with rays of light filtering softly through.
He had spent a million Yev for this breathtaking view.
The world record he broke in armored diving had revived his life. Along with all the touristy landscapes.
"What's up?" A hand landed on Collapse's shoulder.
Collapse shifted a little in the chair he was sitting in on the balcony. "Got any wine?"
"Of course," said Lina. She was wearing only underwear and a long robe thrown over her shoulders.
As Collapse stared out, he thought of her.
The darkness reminded him of Grace's eyes.
"What's wrong with you?" Lina asked, walking her fingers down Collapse's shoulder.
Collapse let out a strained breath. As if pouring out everything inside, he asked for more wine.
Lina paused her fingers, twisted her waist, and sat down on Collapse's lap. "If you won't tell me, I'll have to guess."
Collapse grew irritated at her tilted smile and bewitching voice.
"Leave me alone for a while."
Lina smirked. "But you'll want the opposite once we're in bed," she said, glancing at the third man of the day.
Collapse couldn't resist the presence of the woman in his lap.
"Did you hear about Grace Huyger's death?"
"I did. Unless... was it you who killed her?" Lina asked casually, tilting her head down.
Her hair fell across her shoulder. Her face pointed toward the floor.
"Why are you so calm then?" she asked mockingly.
Collapse gave up pretending. "Alright, if we're being honest—yeah, I heard. You know, bad news always finds its way to me."
He gave a subtle nod.
A notification sound dropped into the silence like a single raindrop.
Lina quietly got up from his lap and walked to the dresser to check her phone.
Notification!Emma: Lina, if you're free, come to the place you know! I need to tell you something!
Frank Cut pulled out old newspaper clippings buried in time.
One of them contained his pale, black-and-white photo.
Life was speeding by.
He looked at the news about his own death.
People had always hoped for a miserable end for him—Suicide or being shot full of holes.
A sea of blood and hatred.
He immediately opened his children's K-Instagram account.
They had a huge follower base.
Anna was filming videos with her dog, making people laugh. Despite all the years without her father, she hadn't lost her smile.
Hans had grown into a free-spirited young man. He was into car racing and fixing motorcycles.
Mrs. Cut had passed away. It had been four years now.
The children had managed on their own.
While sipping his vegetable soup, Frank picked up a pen and wrote:2047. Then scratched in 2048. He drew an arrow between them.
Then circled the number 10,290.
"Time travel."
Frank looked at the livestream playing on the screen.
The images kept flashing—Scenes from the ring.
If he could go back to that year… would he still be the man he is now?
The answer was simple: No.
Emma walked, stumbling through the bushes.
Thorns pierced her bare feet.
When the pain hit, she just clenched her teeth hard.
She felt a powerful rage.
She remembered the marks on her body, the traces of bindings, and the days of torture under Lutte's surveillance.
She had to find Magnus immediately. She could only do that through her connections. She glanced again at the message she had sent.
Cars sped by on the street, trailing exhaust behind them.
The smell of fuel burned her lungs.
Dust and smoke filled the air.
The volcano deep underground rumbled softly, spreading only a gentle warmth. Her cold heart no longer boiled with molten lava—She was like a person who had lost their anger.
She heard a sound behind the bushes.
Footsteps were approaching.
Thinking of every possible danger, she ducked behind the trunk of a brown tree. Thorns dug into her palm. A caterpillar crawled across the bark. She quickly pulled her hand back.
But when the expected face appeared, she stepped out."I'm here!"
Lina lifted her black eyes. Her bangs ended just above her brows."Where were you? For a second I thought you ghosted me!"
Emma glanced back and watched another car disappear from view."I was kidnapped!"
"Pffft!"
"For real," Emma said, looking directly at Lina."They're looking for Magnus. And Meyer too."
"Meyer's in the Tower," said Lina, lowering her head. She flicked her tongue piercing."Magnus couldn't handle Meyer challenging him over and over again. He's searching for him everywhere." She pulled out a chocolate bar and opened it.
Emma snatched it from her hand and took a bite.
Lina stared at her in surprise. "You hungry?"
"Let's go eat somewhere," Emma said.
The two women stepped out from the grass.
Emma nearly inhaled the chocolate. After ten seconds, a silence fell between them.
"I had a date today," Lina said.
Emma replied, "You always have dates. They're usually pointless."
"It was my third one today," Lina said, smacking her lips.
"Alright," Emma said. "But that's not the point."
"Tell me everything about this kidnapping thing," Lina said, forming a circle with her thumb and forefinger. She looked genuinely curious.
Emma took a deep breath. Her stomach ached even more. Or maybe it was just hunger. She couldn't tell.
"It all started on that cursed night."
"Which one?"
"The night Grace Huyger was murdered," Emma said, her eyes narrowing.
I know that night like the back of my hand. Because killers never forget their victims.
"And what's your connection to that night?" Lina asked, kicking a rock by the roadside.
They were walking down a deserted street.
It was far from the houses—completely isolated.
Everywhere was like a sketch made of basalt.
They redirected toward Burg Café nearby.
Emma spoke, "The black horse."
"The black horse?"
"The horse's DNA carries unevolved genes from decades ago. That makes me think..."
"Wait—are you saying the horse is time traveling?"
"Exactly," Emma said.
"Pffft!"
"Come on, Lina! I'm not lying to you!"
"But you're not telling the whole truth either," Lina said, stuffing her hands into her coat pockets. She was wearing a purple fur coat.
"Truth," Emma insisted. "Where do you think the horse should be now?"
"I don't get it," Lina said, giving up.
"Listen. What I'm trying to say is..."
A car sped past with a whoosh.
"Ugh!" Emma said, stomping her foot. "People are going to think I've lost my mind!"
Lina didn't respond. "The black horse case... Isn't that the son of the guy who died in 2047?"
"Frank," said Emma. Now Lina was listening more seriously. She chewed her nails and opened her mouth slightly.
"The man who died out of grief a few years after the horse. The one whose name remains in the records..."
"Exactly. Don't you think Grace Huyger's horse might be the same one?"
"Oh come on," Lina laughed. "There must be a thousand black horses. How's that even connected?"
"It's totally connected. We need to look at the horse's genetic code. But the horse disappeared. Why do you think that is?"
"How do you even know all this? How do you get involved in such messes?" Lina asked nervously.
"And you don't?" Emma shot back.
"Fair point, but..." Lina hesitated. Something didn't sit right. "Tell me a few more things."
Emma wanted to change the topic. Unsure if she could, she fell silent.
"Well?" Lina pressed, shooting her an inquisitive look.
They had reached the front of the restaurant. The smell of burgers filled the air.
As soon as they walked in, a smiling waiter greeted them. He had appeared very quickly.
They both ordered double-patty burgers.
Lina still waited eagerly for her answer—like a tenant ready to wring rent from her landlord.
Emma froze. "I suspect the man who lives upstairs."
"Suspect him of what?" Lina asked, resting her arms on the table.
"I hear hoofbeats coming from above," Emma said, pressing her lips together. "I'm serious."
"No way. Is the man neighing?"
Emma grinned just as the waiter approached. "Or maybe it's his horse?"
End of Chapter