Darkness had settled over Crimosa Lake.
The lights along the bridge had come on one by one, their reflections trembling across the black water below. Cars passed on the road behind them, their tires whispering over the pavement.
Irin stood beside the railing with her white cane resting against her leg.
Yemir leaned against the railing a few steps away, watching the lake.
After everything that had happened at the café, neither of them had spoken much.
Finally, Yemir broke the silence.
"Why did you take such a risk today?"
Irin turned her head toward his voice.
"When the bomb was discovered, you could have stayed back. You knew there was danger, yet you still came looking for me."
A small smile touched Irin’s lips.
"What do you think?"
Yemir looked at her.
"What were you thinking if the bomb actually exploded?"
Irin lowered her head.
"I went there because I didn’t want to lose my room again after the owner died."
For a second, Yemir stared at her.
Then he laughed.
Irin smiled too.
"I was joking."
"I know," Yemir said.
She tapped the tip of her cane against the bridge floor.
"I just didn’t want to stand there and do nothing."
Yemir looked toward the lake.
"There’s something I forgot to ask you."
"What?"
"Do you have parents? Relatives? Anyone at home?"
Irin’s fingers tightened around the handle of her cane.
"There is someone."
She paused.
"I call her Lina Mom. She’s my foster mother."
Yemir turned toward her.
"She lives in another city?"
"She travels a lot for business."
Irin’s voice remained steady.
Then Yemir asked, "What about your real parents?"
Her lips pressed together.
The wind moved the black ribbon covering her eyes.
"I don’t know them."
She rubbed her thumb across the handle of her cane.
"I don’t even know what they look like."
Yemir immediately looked away.
"Sorry. I asked the wrong question."
"You didn’t do anything wrong."
A stronger breeze crossed the bridge. It lifted the loose end of Irin’s black ribbon before letting it fall against her shoulder.
Yemir glanced at her.
For the first time that evening, she looked smaller than usual.
He was about to say something when a bright display caught his attention.
Across the road, a street vendor stood beneath a small lamp. Several packets of colorful Spica Lolly hung from a metal frame beside his stall.
Yemir’s eyes lit up.
"Irin."
"Hm?"
"Come with me."
He reached for her cane and lightly guided it in the direction of the stall.
"Where are we going?"
"It’s right ahead."
"I still don’t know where."
"Just keep walking."
The vendor smiled when they stopped in front of his stall.
"Looking for something?"
Yemir pointed toward the hanging packets.
"Those."
"Oh, Spica?" The vendor picked up a packet. "These just arrived in this city. They’re new. The price is a little higher because they come from another city."
Irin tilted her head.
"What are you two talking about?"
Yemir didn’t answer.
He bought a packet and handed the money to the vendor.
Then he opened it and pulled out two lollies.
He gave the remaining packet to Irin.
"What is this?"
"Something you should try."
He unwrapped one.
"Open your mouth."
Irin froze.
"What?"
"Just do it."
She hesitated.
"Why are you talking like that?"
Yemir laughed.
"Come on."
Irin slowly opened her mouth.
Yemir placed the lolly between her lips.
She immediately pulled her head back.
The taste was unfamiliar—sweet at first, then slightly sour.
Her eyebrows lifted.
"What is that?"
Yemir laughed again.
"Good, right?"
"I don’t know."
"You’re still eating it."
Irin touched the lolly with her tongue again.
"It’s different."
Yemir unwrapped his own.
"That’s the point."
He popped it into his mouth and leaned against the stall.
Irin shook her head.
"You’re strange."
"So I’ve been told."
They thanked the vendor and walked back toward the road.
After a few steps, Yemir said, "Let’s go home."
"Now?"
"Yeah."
"What about your job?"
Irin stopped.
"The woman at the store?"
"I’ll handle it later."
"You’re sure?"
"I’ll manage."
Yemir opened his umbrella as they reached the bus stop.
Several people were already waiting.
A bus rumbled somewhere down the road.
Irin stood beside him, slowly finishing her lolly.
A woman nearby glanced at them, then whispered to her friend.
"Look at them. That blind girl has a boyfriend, and I’m still single."
Her friend covered her mouth.
"And the guy is handsome too. He looks perfect."
Irin heard them.
She immediately pulled her veil farther forward.
Yemir noticed.
He said nothing.
He simply kept looking toward the road.
A bus appeared around the corner.
The brakes squealed as it stopped.
The doors opened.
"Come on," Yemir said.
He guided Irin inside.
The bus was crowded enough that several passengers had to stand. After moving through the aisle, Yemir found two seats together.
Irin took the window seat.
Yemir sat beside her.
The bus jerked forward.
Irin’s shoulder bumped his.
She quickly moved closer to the window.
Outside, shops and streetlights slipped past.
Irin turned her face toward the glass.
"What does it look like outside when the bus is moving?"
Yemir watched the road ahead for a few seconds.
He rubbed his thumb against the edge of his lolly wrapper.
"Imagine seeing a beautiful scene for only a few seconds."
Irin listened.
"Then another one appears."
"And another?"
"Yeah."
The bus passed a row of brightly lit shops.
"After a while," Yemir continued, "you stop thinking the bus is moving forward."
"Then what do you think?"
He smiled.
"It feels like the whole place is moving backward."
Irin smiled.
"That sounds strange."
"Maybe."
The bus stopped at a stand.
Several passengers got off. Others climbed aboard.
The conductor shouted the next destination while the engine vibrated beneath their feet.
After the bus moved again, Irin asked, "Have we arrived?"
"No. Still a little farther."
"Oh."
She rested her hand on the cane across her lap.
"It’s night now, right?"
"Yeah."
"What does everything look like at night?"
Yemir glanced at her.
"Why?"
"Someone once told me that night is probably what my world looks like."
Yemir thought about it.
"You could say that."
He looked through the window.
"But I prefer the night to bright sunlight."
Irin turned toward him.
"You’re actually foolish."
"Why?"
"If I could see, I’d stay in the light all the time."
Yemir laughed under his breath.
"How do I explain this to you?"
"Try."
"Light has value because darkness exists."
Irin was quiet.
"I don’t know," she said. "I’m looking for the light."
Yemir looked at her for a moment.
The bus slowed.
"We’re here, Irin."
He stood and reached for her cane.
"Follow the cane."
Irin stood beside him.
The doors opened.
They stepped down together.
Neither of them noticed the dark figure watching from the opposite side of the street.
Across the city, a bell rang inside a private boxing gym.
Dongo stood inside the ring.
His dark suit was gone. A black training shirt clung to his shoulders, and his expensive watch rested on the bench outside the ropes.
Fizo stood opposite him with his gloves raised.
"Again," Dongo said.
Fizo moved first.
He stepped forward with a quick jab.
Dongo slipped outside the punch.
Fizo followed with a right cross.
Dongo blocked it with his forearm and stepped to the side.
"Too slow."
Fizo shifted his feet and came forward again.
Left jab.
Right.
A short hook.
Dongo ducked beneath the hook and drove a punch into Fizo’s guard.
The impact forced Fizo back two steps.
"Your feet," Dongo said. "You’re giving me the same opening every time."
Fizo adjusted his stance.
"Understood, Sir."
"Then stop giving it to me."
Fizo attacked again.
This time his footwork was sharper.
He moved left, changed direction, and threw a combination.
Dongo blocked the first punch.
The second slipped through.
It struck his cheek.
Dongo’s head turned with the impact.
Fizo froze.
"Sir..."
Dongo looked back at him.
Fizo lowered his gloves slightly.
"Did I hit too hard?"
Dongo stared at him.
"Why did you stop?"
Fizo swallowed.
"I thought I might have—"
"Get up."
Fizo blinked.
"I’m already standing."
"I said get up."
Dongo stepped toward him.
Fizo understood.
He raised his gloves again.
Dongo attacked.
A jab.
A body shot.
A quick hook.
Fizo blocked two and took the third against his shoulder.
Dongo pressed forward, forcing him toward the ropes.
Fizo slipped away and countered.
The two exchanged punches for several seconds.
Then a small notification appeared across the device covering Dongo’s left eye.
His movement stopped.
A news alert.
BREAKING NEWS: Two explosions reported at separate locations in Dosha City. Three suspects detained at one location.
Dongo stared at the message.
Fizo lowered his gloves.
"Boss?"
Dongo didn’t answer.
His expression changed.
"Unknown Z..."
Fizo waited.
Dongo looked toward him.
"Two explosions."
He tapped the side of his eye device.
"One location is already under police control."
Fizo frowned.
"Could it be connected to the café?"
Dongo didn’t respond.
He stepped forward and punched Fizo.
Fizo barely blocked it.
"Boss!"
"Why did my men get arrested?"
Fizo backed away.
"I don’t know."
Dongo kept walking toward him.
"The Hevix case already drew enough attention."
He threw another punch.
Fizo blocked.
"Now Unknown Z appears again."
Dongo’s fist slammed into Fizo’s guard.
"And my people are the ones standing in front of the police?"
Fizo struggled to maintain his stance.
Dongo suddenly stopped.
"Has the news about Hevix been pushed down?"
Fizo nodded.
"Yes. The explosions are taking some of the attention."
Dongo’s mouth twitched.
"Good."
His phone rang.
Fizo reached for it.
"Hello..."
A familiar voice answered.
"Inspector Goffy speaking."
Fizo glanced at Dongo.
"Inspector Goffy. He says—"
Dongo took the phone from his hand.
"Tell me."
There was a pause.
Goffy’s voice came through.
"Sir, I saw today’s news. Three separate incidents have caused trouble across Dosha City. I wanted to ask whether you had anything to do with—"
Dongo cut him off.
"You think I caused this?"
"No, Sir. I only wanted to warn you. Things are getting difficult. The police are under pressure."
Dongo leaned against the ring ropes.
"I’ll deal with the police."
Goffy hesitated.
"I understand, but Inspector Nelson..."
Dongo’s eyes sharpened.
"What about Nelson?"
"He’s handling the investigation."
Dongo gave a short laugh.
"That won’t last."
Goffy rubbed his moustache on the other end of the call.
"Sir?"
"Inspector Nelson has two choices."
Dongo looked at the bloodless red mark on Fizo’s glove.
"He either finds the truth..."
He paused.
"...or the truth finds him first."
Goffy went quiet.
Dongo smiled.
"I’ve heard enough warnings."
He ended the call.
Fizo watched him.
"What now, Boss?"
Dongo placed the phone on the edge of the ring.
"If Nelson keeps digging..."
He picked up his gloves.
"...we use Plan B."
A slow smile appeared on Dongo’s face.
Outside the gym, another news alert flashed across a television screen.
UNKNOWN Z SUSPECTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECENT INCIDENTS.
Dongo glanced toward the screen.
His smile remained.
"One hides Another ."