Joe Ninja stood on the rooftop, his silhouette blending into the night, only his eyes gleaming under the moonlight, a shadow among shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Below, Konata walked through the alley, her steps casual, completely unaware of the hunter watching from above.
He adjusted his grip on the rope coiled at his side, his body tense but controlled. The neon glow of the city flickered below, but up here, Joe was invisible—just the way he liked it. He'd been following Konata for days, watching, waiting for the right opportunity. Tonight, she was alone, and tonight was the night.
Konata turned a corner, disappearing from the main street and into a quieter alleyway. Joe's muscles coiled like a spring. It was time.
With a swift, silent movement, Joe leapt from the rooftop, descending like a shadowed bird of prey. The world blurred around him as he free-fell, landing softly on the ground, rolling with the impact to avoid detection. His movements were smooth, fluid, like the night itself had willed him there.
Konata, unaware of the danger, paused to check her phone, her face illuminated in a soft blue glow. Joe moved closer, the faintest whisper of his steps masked by the hum of the city.
Suddenly, he was behind her.
In one swift motion, Joe wrapped his arm around her neck, yanking her backward. Before she could scream, he slapped a hand over her mouth. His grip was firm but controlled, the years of training making his every movement precise. She struggled, her phone clattering to the ground, but it was futile. Joe was stronger, faster.
"Shh," Joe whispered into her ear, his voice cold, calm. "Not a sound, Konata."
Her eyes went wide with fear as she recognized the voice, her body tensing in panic. She tried to kick back, but Joe's arm tightened, pinning her against his chest. She was stuck, trapped in his iron grip.
Without another word, Joe hoisted her up effortlessly, dragging her toward the alley's shadows. He moved quickly, his senses heightened, always aware of his surroundings. Every shadow was an ally, every corner a blind spot. He knew how to disappear, how to make it so no one would ever see her again.
They reached his black SUV parked just around the bend, the vehicle blending seamlessly into the darkness. He opened the back door with one hand, shoving Konata inside. She fought, her muffled screams barely audible against the thick cloth of his glove.
"Save your breath," Joe muttered, tying her wrists together with zip ties. He pulled a blindfold from his jacket pocket, securing it tightly around her eyes. "You won't need it where we're going."
He slammed the door shut, moving around to the driver's seat in a flash. The engine purred to life, and with one smooth motion, Joe hit the gas, the vehicle merging into the night, leaving nothing but the faint scent of fear and exhaust in its wake.
Kaiden sat across from Konata, his face hidden in the dim light of the basement. She was tied to a chair, her eyes wide with both defiance and fear, the bruises on her wrists from Joe's zip ties still fresh.
He stared at her in silence, the weight of the last few days pressing down on him like a vice. Everything had unraveled since Davey's death. The apple. The silence. The blood. And now Konata, sitting in front of him, looking every bit the manipulator he knew she was.
He leaned forward, his voice low but cold. "Tell me the truth, Konata. What do you know about Davey?"
Konata's eyes flickered with something—nervousness? Guilt? Kaiden wasn't sure. She smirked, but there was a tremble in her lip that betrayed her. "What are you talking about, Kaiden? I didn't have anything to do with that."
Kaiden slammed his fist on the table, causing her to flinch. "Don't lie to me! I found the apple. You knew he was involved with something. You were always playing us all, so what is it? Who are you working with?"
Konata's smirk faded, replaced by something darker. She shifted in her seat, glancing toward the door as if she were calculating her next move. "I don't owe you anything, Kaiden," she spat. "You think you can just interrogate me like I'm some kind of criminal?"
Exhausted, Kaiden finally stood up and stretched. "We'll continue this in the morning," he said, heading toward the door. "Get some sleep. Maybe then you'll decide to cooperate."
Konata didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the floor. Kaiden left the room, shutting the door behind him with a loud thud. The lock clicked into place, sealing Konata in.
In the hallway, Kaiden dragged himself to a makeshift bed in a nearby storage room. The exhaustion from the last few days finally catching up to him, he collapsed onto the thin mattress. He barely had time to close his eyes before sleep claimed him, the weight of his exhaustion pulling him into a deep slumber.
Hours later, a soft sound disturbed the quiet of the basement. The faintest scraping noise, like someone trying to unlock a door. The darkness was pierced by a dim light that filtered through the cracks in the doorframe. The sound grew louder, the scraping accompanied by soft, deliberate footsteps.
The door creaked open slowly, and a shadow slipped into the room. The figure moved with careful precision, a pair of bolt cutters glinting in the dim light. The ropes around Konata's wrists were sliced through swiftly, and the blindfold was pulled away. Konata blinked, her vision adjusting to the dim light.
"Let's go," the figure whispered, helping her to her feet.
Konata nodded, her eyes darting nervously toward the door. She glanced back at her rescuer, her face showing a of relief.
They moved silently through the hallway, avoiding the creaking floorboards and any sign of Kaiden. The figure led Konata, glancing back occasionally, making sure no one was following. As they neared the exit, the door to the basement swung open, and Kaiden, roused from his sleep, stumbled into the hallway, his eyes wide with confusion.
The basement hallway was cloaked in darkness, the only light coming from a single flickering bulb overhead. Kaiden, still disoriented from his nap, stumbled out of the room, rubbing his eyes and trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. As he turned the corner, he froze. In the dim light of the hallway, he saw two figures standing together. The first was unmistakably Konata, her blue hair just visible in the faint illumination. But it was the second figure that made Kaiden's heart stop.
Standing beside Konata was a person he had only seen from afar—Apple Boy..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
note: is this enough dots? no okay
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