NEXT STOP

"It's your turn next, lucky guy," Adrian declared nonchalantly, paying little mind to the curious onlookers. He casually brushed off the dust from his attire and walked purposefully toward his next destination.

After Adrian's departure, two individuals dressed in full white suits arrived at the scene where the lifeless body of the bald man lay, his head severed and brain matter scattered. They noticed another body nearby, headless.

"What went down here?" inquired one of the two men from the gathering crowd. Shortly after, a hunched-back security guard approached, recounting the gruesome events: how the now-deceased man had assaulted the girl, and another man intervened, engaging in a fierce brawl that resulted in the bald man's death. Upon hearing this, the well-dressed men in white appeared taken aback.

"What did this other guy look like? The one who took out the bald guy?" asked one of the white-clad men, curiosity piqued.

"He...he had on a complete black suit, along with a black long coat, and he was holding a cane in his right hand. He was as handsome as you, but his charm had this unique, refined quality, like it was something genuinely original," the girl stammered, still captivated by the memory of the man who had come to the rescue of them all.

The man didn't particularly appreciate being assessed based on his charm, but he chose to hold his thoughts in check as he noticed the other man's scrutinizing gaze from the corner of his eye.

"Thanks for the info. We'll handle things from here. You folks are free to go now; we don't want you to get caught up in something you're not responsible for," the guy asserted with a stern tone that effectively conveyed the seriousness of the situation.

As they were both contemplating their next steps, a piercing scream shattered the silence. Their heads snapped in the direction of the scream, and they immediately sprinted toward it. Upon arrival, they were confronted by a gruesome tableau: two girls, one headless and the other with her head barely attached to her body, lay there in cold blood.

"So, he took three lives and then got dealt with by that man in the black suit," the man in the white suit grimly stated, and the other simply nodded, at a loss for words.

"We need to launch an investigation. We can't rule out the possibility that the other guy might be involved," he suggested. With those words, he extended both his arms, closed his eyes, and an intense brilliance emanated from his outstretched hands. His hair danced in the unseen wind, and an invisible wave of warmth rippled throughout the alley before branching out into different corners.

Gradually, the waves moved in a specific pattern, forming shapes in the heated air. Observing this, the other man's eyes became red, and he watched the entire scene with intense concentration. After a while, the man lowered his arms and inquired, "So, did you uncover anything?"

The man's eyes returned to their normal state, and he explained, "The murders began right here. The man in the black suit arrived and engaged in a brawl, which allowed the murderer to escape into the crowd. The rest of the events match what we've been told. I could make out some of his facial features, so I think I'll recognize him if we come across him again. But, for now, we should let the police do their work; they might discover something in the CCTV footage."

"Let's hope it's nothing too serious," the discussion concluded as they both waited for the arrival of the police.

.....

As the fifth person met their fate, the red-haired man mused aloud, grappling with the decision of whether to continue this macabre act or await some other sign. Boredom weighed on him, tugging at his patience. But before he could dwell further, he sensed an approaching presence at the park's entrance.

"Seems they've arrived earlier than expected," he muttered to himself, considering the consequences of his recent actions. "Was five too many, or just enough? Regardless, it's time for my swift exit." It was as though this eerie ritual had become routine for him.

Contemplating the unusual situation, he wondered, "Should I confront them, testing the distinct nature of these relics against a pure blood? While this wasn't originally part of the plan, no one instructed me to steer clear of trouble. It's a chance to satisfy my own curiosity." These thoughts raced through his mind as the man steadily advanced through the shadows, summoning a tempest of serpentine flames in readiness for the impending clash.

"Strange, though," he pondered, "why's it just one man this time? They usually travel in pairs. Odd, but it might work to my advantage; I can add his life to my tally."

Adrian couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Who actually vocalizes such thoughts?" He'd been enduring this stranger's incessant chatter ever since setting foot in the park. He couldn't help but contemplate the audacity of anyone staying in the park at such a late hour. "These folks were practically begging for trouble," he mused silently as he looked at the five corpses.

Finally, the red-haired man spotted the approaching figure, sauntering toward him with a nonchalant air. "Adrian, what brings you here?" He inquired, a hint of uncertainty in his voice, unsure whether Adrian had a purpose for seeking him out or if their encounter was merely coincidental.

Adrian's voice trembled with sorrow as he confessed, "You know, I wasn't exactly thrilled when you decided to fix your face. I had put so much effort into misfiguring it, and then you just went and reversed it. Didn't you feel any sympathy for me, even the tiniest bit?"

The red-haired man, baffled by Adrian's presence, retorted, "I'm not entirely sure why you're here, but my patience isn't boundless. I'd advise you to reconsider your visit, as I'm not known for my patience." His confusion regarding Adrian's motives remained unresolved.

"I'll take my leave once I've collected what's rightfully mine," Adrian declared. As he finished speaking, his form blurred, and he reappeared mere inches in front of the red-haired man. The sudden movement caught the latter off guard, but he managed to conjure a translucent shield of flames just in the nick of time.

Grimacing from the intense strain on his inner reserves caused by the impact, the red-haired man grumbled through clenched teeth, "I had my suspicions that you were a formidable adversary." The energy-draining force of Adrian's punch was evidence enough.

"You've willingly welcomed this formidable adversary into your midst," Adrian said as his smile widened, thinking about another exciting battle.