SCARS

Dark Revelations

Throughout the day, Vi had been itching to explain the details of her encounter with Calypso and the otherworldly man in the alley to Vander. But every time she broached the subject, Vander made it clear that he wouldn't speak to Vi while the bar was bustling full of listening ears, and Vi knew better than to argue with him. The old bartender was wise enough to know that important information should not be shared in a crowded room, where loose lips could spell disaster for those involved.

So, Vi had spent the day behind the bar, busying herself with menial tasks like cleaning glasses and restocking shelves, all the while stealing glances at the clock, willing the minutes to pass faster.

Finally, as the last of the patrons stumbled out into the night and the bar fell silent save for the clinking of glasses and the occasional creak of the floorboards, Vi seized her chance.

"Vander," she called out, her voice tinged with urgency as she approached him behind the bar.

Vander glanced up from where he was wiping down the counter, a knowing gleam in his eyes. "Ah, there she is," he said, a hint of amusement in his gruff voice. "Been waiting all day to spill the beans, haven't you?"

Vi leaned against the bar, she had no time for Vander's stale jokes tonight. "This is serious," she said, her voice low but urgent.

Vander raised an eyebrow, setting down the rag he had been cleaning with. "Alright, kiddo," he replied, his tone casual but attentive. "What's on your mind?"

Vi took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before launching into her tale. "So, Calypso and I were heading back from training earlier today," she began, her words measured as she recounted the events of the day. "And we stumbled upon this alley where we ran into this fight. There was this man-"

Vi hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words to convey the gravity of the situation. "When he was fighting he's not like anyone I've ever seen before," she said, her voice low but intense. "He moved like he's not even human, and there was this power he had. It was unnatural."

Vander's expression darkened, a shadow passing over his features. "Unnatural?" he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't mean-"

But before he could finish his thought, Vi shook her head, cutting him off. "I don't know what I mean," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "But I know what I saw, and it wasn't normal."

Vander sighed, rubbing a hand across his tired eyes. "Alright," he said, his tone resigned but determined. "Tell me everything."

And so, Vi launched into her tale, recounting every detail of her encounter with the otherworldly man in the alley. She spoke of his unnatural strength, his otherworldly aura, and the sudden draining of his power. How he had turned into a paranoid unsettling man and hit Calypso. She told him about the 'shimmer' and the 'shipment' the man had mentioned.

As she spoke, Vander listened intently, his expression growing increasingly grave with each passing moment. He asked questions, probing for more details, but Vi could sense that he was taking her words seriously.

"And then after he mentioned 'shimmer'-" Vi hesitated, her tone growing more somber. "He brought up Calypso's father."

Vander's brow furrowed in concern, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. "Her father, you say?" he mused, his voice low and thoughtful. "That's... troubling."

Vander leaned back against the counter, a heavy sigh escaping him as he mulled over Vi's words. "Calypso said her father wouldn't have been distributing the drug," Vi interjected, desperation edging into her voice. "She said something about how he stopped once he realized it was harmful."