The kings Avater

Somi stepped back from Sparrow, blinking in disbelief as she glanced between the two masked men. The situation was surreal.

"What is this? A reunion?" Grayworm asked sarcastically, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at the group.

Somi's cheeks turned crimson as she realized how quickly she had embraced Sparrow without thinking. Embarrassment overtook her as she tried to redirect attention. She turned sharply to Omega, pointing an accusatory finger at the taller man who had just joined them.

"Omega, what are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice tinged with frustration.

"I could ask you the same thing," Omega replied smoothly, tilting his head slightly. "Didn't you say you were coming here alone?" His eyes briefly flickered to Grayworm, who defensively raised his hands in the air.

"Don't look at me!" Grayworm said quickly. "She said I could come along." He smirked, ignoring the glare Somi shot at him.

Somi exhaled, massaging her temples. This wasn't going the way she'd planned. She turned to the others and gestured between them. "So... you're all here for Everstay?" Her voice rose slightly as her eyes darted between Sparrow and Omega.

"Well, duh!" Grayworm replied with exaggerated emphasis. "Our team leader has been MIA for days. and I'm pretty sure you are not the only worried one." He folded his arms, " we are all worried somi."

Somi sighed deeply, rubbing the back of her neck. "Fine. Have you guys seen him yet?" she asked, turning her focus to Omega.

"No," Omega admitted, his voice deep and measured. "We've been knocking for what feels like ages."

"And his door's locked," Sparrow added, glancing at the entrance as if it were mocking them.

"So, I was thinking," Omega began, his tone casual, "we break in."

"Break in? You guys are seriously considering breaking into someone's apartment?" Grayworm asked, incredulity dripping from his voice.

"You got a better plan?" Omega retorted, raising an eyebrow. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that suggested he wasn't about to waste more time debating.

Grayworm opened his mouth to reply, but after a moment of hesitation, he shrugged. "Nope."

Somi pinched the bridge of her nose, mumbling something under her breath before they all exchanged glances. The group seemed to reach a silent consensus as they turned toward the door. Without another word, Sparrow moved first.

He crouched low, assessing the exterior wall of the building. Using small ledges and cracks for support, he began climbing with practiced ease, his movements quick and agile. The others watched in tense silence as he reached the second-floor window. He produced a small tool from his pocket, expertly popping the latch and pushing the window open. With a swift motion, Sparrow disappeared inside.

Moments later, the sound of the front door unlocking echoed down the hall. The group instinctively stiffened before Sparrow opened the door, his expression as calm as ever. "Well? Are you coming in, or do you want to keep standing out there like lost puppies?"

Omega was the first to step in, followed by Grayworm and Somi. The air inside the apartment was stale, carrying the faint scent of unwashed clothes and takeout containers. The curtains were drawn tightly, and the dim lighting barely illuminated the cramped living space.

When they walked into Everstay's apartment, their senses were immediately assaulted by the overwhelming disarray. The room was a battlefield, a chaotic mess of broken furniture and scattered belongings. Grayworm stepped cautiously over a shattered laptop, his eyes widening at the state of the living room.

"I wouldn't doubt for a second if someone told me World War II happened here," he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "What the hell, Everstay?"

The others exchanged uneasy glances as they took in the scene. The sitting room was unrecognizable. Smashed devices, torn cushions, and crumpled papers were strewn everywhere. A once-impressive gaming setup lay in ruins, monitors cracked and keyboards overturned. The chaos wasn't just confined to one area; it seemed like every inch of the apartment had been affected.

"Was there a fight here?" Somi asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she stepped over a toppled lamp.

"Or maybe a tornado," grayworm added his eyes scanning the wreckage.

Despite the mess, it was clear this wasn't the home of someone struggling financially. High-tech appliances peeked out from the clutter: a state-of-the-art coffee machine, a sleek, oversized fridge that hummed quietly in the corner, and a cutting-edge sound system covered in a thin layer of dust. The fridge door hung slightly open, revealing it was fully stocked with expensive imported foods and drinks.

As they cautiously moved through the apartment, they called out, their voices echoing in the eerie silence. "Everstay? Ye Qiu? Are you here?"

No answer.

Omega, always the one to take initiative, pushed open the door to another room. The bedroom was just as chaotic. The bed was unmade, sheets tangled, and more broken devices were scattered across the floor. "He's not here," Omega called out, his voice carrying a note of frustration.

Suddenly, a faint buzzing sound broke the silence. Everyone froze, their ears straining to locate the source.

"What's that?" Grayworm asked, glancing around the room.

The sound persisted, growing louder. Somi followed it to a pile of broken devices in the corner of the living room. "Here!" she exclaimed, dropping to her knees and beginning to sift through the debris. Broken screens, tangled wires, and shattered casings clinked as she pushed them aside. Finally, she unearthed an old android phone, its screen vibrating with an incoming call.

The group huddled around her as she held up the phone. The name on the screen read Lin Yue.

"What are you waiting for? Pick it up," Grayworm urged, his voice tense.

Somi hesitated for a moment, then swiped to answer the call. She put it on loudspeaker, and a frantic female voice immediately filled the room.

"Oh, thank God!" the woman exclaimed, her tone shaking with relief. "Ye Qiu, why weren't you answering your calls?! I've been trying to reach you all morning! What's this I'm hearing about the police?!"

"Police?" Somi repeated, her voice rising with alarm.

The woman paused. "Wait… who is this? You're not Ye Qiu."

Somi didn't give her a chance to finish. "What do you mean, police? What's going on?" she demanded, her voice urgent.

"Who am I speaking with?" the woman asked again, her tone sharp with confusion.

Omega stepped in, taking the phone from Somi. His voice was calm but firm. "We're Ye Qiu's friends. We came here to check on him, but he's not here. Is there something we should know?"

The woman hesitated before answering, panic kicked in__one can tell through her voice . "I got a call from the police station this morning. They said he's… he's being held there. I'm on my way now, but it'll take me about three hours to get there."

"Please," the woman said her voice breaking. "Please help him. He doesn't have anyone else there. I don't know what's happening, but he's all alone. You have to help him."

"Calm down," Omega said, trying to steady her. "Just tell us the name of the police station."

The woman quickly rattled off the name, and Somi scribbled it down on the back of an old receipt she found on the coffee table.

"Thank you," Omega said, his tone resolute. "We'll take care of it. Just get there as soon as you can."

The call ended, leaving the room in heavy silence. Somi wiped at her eyes, taking a shaky breath. "How could this happen? Why would the police have him?"

Sparrow scratched the back of his head, his brow furrowed. "I don't know, but we're not going to figure it out standing here."

Omega slipped the phone into his pocket, his expression unreadable. "Let's go. The sooner we get to that station, the sooner we'll get answers."

Without another word, they filed out of the apartment, the tension between them thick as they braced themselves for what lay ahead.