STRANGULATE | Markicest

5 | POISON

The Tear Stealer gazed at the screens, face illuminated with the blue static of security footage. Eyes, a stout figure, hunched over the screens, pushing up her glasses.

"That's him?" he asked, staring at the human on the screen walking down the sidewalks. Eyes nodded, using her ability to keep the cameras focused on the target's frame.

"Ethan Nestor," she said, his figure sharpening at the sound of his name. "He hasn't said a word since he left his house." A flash of Ethan's house glitched across the screen, mimicking Eye's thoughts. "No texts yet, either."

"If he gives any sign of the other human, tell me," said the Evolved, rising to his full height and glaring at the screens. "I'm bringing Xilef with me."

"He'll identify the human," said Eyes confidently, and a flash of his face simmered on the screen. "I'll keep you updated every time there's a change, Mr. Edwards."

He gave a small, twisted smile, nodding and patting Eyes' shoulder. "Thank you," he said. "I'll be heading out now."

Eyes merely nodded, and he left to fetch his accomplice.

———

Ethan glanced around the block, trying to shake off the unnerving feeling of being watched. He looked over his shoulder, down the sidewalk, through the alleyways, yet found nothing. The occasional people would walk past him, walking their dogs or chatting on their phones.

    He sighed and shook his head. "You're just paranoid," he told himself, continuing his way to Mark's house. Still, despite his words, he glanced around and snuck around the backway—out of sight from cameras and average people. A route that he and Mark planned in case either of them were in danger; not to be used often.

    Ethan deeply sighed as he let the darkness wash over him, looking up to see the sky fading with sunset. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and continued down the alleyway, ducking under a tear in a chain fence once the walls opened up. His feet rustled through grass, and he sped across three lawns before sprinting up Mark's backdoor. He knocked, glancing around, and waited.

    The door swung open, revealing Mark's raised brow and tight lips.

    "Everything alright?" he asked, tipping his head out the door and glancing both ways. Ethan pushed past him, and Mark closed the door.

    "Just—paranoid," said Ethan. He added the lie: "I get skittish before I kill sometimes."

    "You're sure?" asked Mark as they made their way into the kitchen, coming to a stop in front of the island counter.

    "Yeah," he said, pausing to stare Mark in the eye. "Don't worry—it's not going to affect tonight."

    Mark nodded, and Ethan smiled, pulling out items from his pockets: a baggie of pills, some powder, folded bits of paper, and a syringe. When Mark blinked at the last device, Ethan chuckled.

    "In case things go wonky," he said, patting the daunting needle. His eyes trained over to the paper. "This is for you. The Tear Stealer's most visited places."

    Mark took it from his hands, stowing it away in his pocket with a grin. "Thanks."

    Ethan nodded, turning back to the marble counter. "Now," he said, hands hovering over the pills and the powder. "Depending on how things go tonight determines which drug we use." He pointed to the pills.

    "This dissolves in seconds, but it's visible before that—unless our guy has a dark drink. If he's too close, we won't use this. This is when he's gone or completely distracted from his drink." Ethan pointed to the powder, its white contents resembling a much more fun drug. "We'll use the powder when he's too close—not my favorite method, but it has its pros."