Erik, clad in his training gear, made his way through the corridors of the Red Palace. Benedict was with him, and they were both headed toward the cafeteria to have breakfast before the training started. The others were on their way, so they were probably bound to meet them there.
As he arrived at the first-floor cafeteria, Benedict's and Erik's stomachs rumbled with hunger. They quickly sat at a table, and soon a waiter arrived to take their order. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sounds of sizzling pans filled the air, creating an inviting atmosphere. The menu had a wide variety of options, from classic breakfast dishes to more unique creations. As they perused the menu, their stomachs growled in anticipation of the delicious meal to come.
Erik and Benedict made their choice and requested a hearty breakfast to replenish their energy, and the attendant swiftly prepared their meal with expert precision.
As they savored each bite, they had some small chats. The bustling ambiance of the cafeteria provided a refreshing contrast to the rigorous training halls, and Erik appreciated the opportunity to relax and refuel before the next training session.
However, they couldn't help but overhear a conversation from a group of students sitting at the table next to them as they ate.
"It looks like another dead body has been found," one of the students exclaimed, looking visibly shaken. "It was Natasha's this time. She adds to Karl's one, whom the police found dead a few days ago. It's all over the news."
Erik and Benedict exchanged a glance, recognizing the names as members of the Red Palace as well as former Thornton High School students.
"What happened? Did they say how they died?" another student asked, looking equally shocked.
"I heard they had been killed," another student replied, her voice tinged with anxiousness.
"Karl had been found in an alley while Natasha was on a rooftop; the authorities are investigating, but they have nothing solid on their hands. Though the news of their deaths didn't shock everyone, and some students are already speculating about the possible motives behind the killings. The principal had called for an emergency meeting to address the situation."
Erik and Benedict listened intently, their breakfast momentarily forgotten as they absorbed the news. Natasha and Karl were well-known members of the Red Palace, and their sudden deaths were unexpected and shocking.
"Weren't Natasha and Karl Nathaniel's friends?" Benedict asked. Erik looked at him and then replied, "Indeed, since high school."
He couldn't help but wonder what could have happened to them and why they had met such a tragic fate that didn't make sense.
Why should someone have targeted two Red Palace students? The students at the neighboring table continued to speculate and discuss the news, with various theories and rumors swirling around.
Erik and Benedict exchanged solemn glances, both realizing that the Red Palace would be deeply affected by this event, as two Red Palace students' deaths were no simple matters.
Benedict looked at his friend, his expression mirroring the concern that was etched across his face. "What do you think, Erik? Could this be related to the Crystal Cross gang?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.
Erik furrowed his brows, deep in thought. He had no concrete answers, but a gnawing suspicion began to form in his mind. "I don't know, Benedict," he replied slowly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"I doubt they would target them. There was no reason to do so and they even where Nathaniel's friends…" Erik said.
"So?"
"So, Nathaniel was the son of the Mambas' leader, and they are an organization under the Crystal Cross Gang…" Erik replied.
"I didn't know that…" Benedict replied, "Then it could have been something related to Nathaniel?" the man casually asked.
"That would be plausible," Erik said. "I mean, they fought during the last period and stopped being friends, but I doubt someone would kill them for this reason."
<Unless…> Erik thought. <Yeah, unless this is retribution for Nathaniel's death, and they targeted them because they thought they had something to do with his death.> Immediately, the situation became much more serious.
If revenge for his death was the reason, then he was in grave danger once again. <But they do not have proof against me; something must have made these guys think they were responsible.>
Benedict nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Do you think someone may be targeting us too?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Erik sighed, feeling a weight of responsibility on his shoulders. "I don't think you and Martha should have problems since you rarely involved yourself with them. But the others may be targets. This is all a conjecture, though," he admitted, his mind racing with possibilities. "It's hard to ignore the pattern. It's too weird and coincidental."
As Erik spoke, he couldn't help but recall the recent events and incidents that had been happening around the city. The deaths, the increasing tension inside New Alexandria, and the rumors swirling about. It was all too unsettling to ignore.
<I need to find out the truth,> Erik thought, his resolve hardening. <I can't let this go unanswered. Especially if this will be dangerous to Amber and the others.>
"Let's go ask them some questions," Erik said, pointing at the talking students. Benedict nodded in agreement, showing his support.
The awakener couldn't shake off the feeling that, somehow, he was connected to it all, and he was determined to find out why.
The two students approached the group, which was discussing the recent deaths of Natasha and Karl. They looked up at them with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, knowing that Erik and Benedict were known for their skills in martial arts and that their rank was very high, especially Erik's.
"Hey, have you guys heard anything more about what happened to Natasha and Karl?" Erik asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the growing unease inside him.
One of the students, a young man named Mark, nodded solemnly. "Yeah, we were talking about it, and it's been all over the news," he said, his tone somber. He didn't know what Erik had heard about their conversation, so he told him again what he knew. "They were both found dead, probably assassinated. The police are investigating, but people are already blaming the underworld. It is not that uncommon after all."
Benedict furrowed his brows, and his jaw clenched. "Do you know if they had any enemies inside the Red Palace or if there was any indication of who might have done this?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
The students shook their heads, exchanging worried glances. "No, nothing like that," replied one of the girls, Sarah. The girl was average-looking, with a simple charm that drew people to her. The girl's complexion had a warm, medium-brown tone that complemented her features. Her eyes were kind and expressive, with a gentle sparkle that reflected her inner warmth.
While her nose was unassuming, and her lips were of moderate fullness, they often curved into a sweet, friendly smile. She had dark, wavy hair reaching down to her shoulders. It had a natural bounce and volume, which she often left down in a casual style.
"Natasha and Karl tended to be on their own and didn't interact with people often; they didn't seem to have had any enemies despite mingling with Nathaniel. It's all so sudden and shocking."
Erik's mind raced with possibilities, but he kept his thoughts to himself. However, this indicated that someone from the outside had killed them, which was far more problematic than someone from the Red Palace itself doing it.
If Erik had to deal with some first-year Red Palace student, he might be able to do it, but if they were trained adults, or some assassin part of one of the many gangs around the city, then things would be much more complicated. The more he pondered about this matter, the more he thought he was connected to it.
"How were they killed?" Erik asked firmly. The girl, Sarah, was taken aback by the question; it was too direct, and since the scene was gruesome, she didn't really want to talk about it that much.
"Whoever killed them used a blade, apparently the same kind of blade, further suggesting that this has been the work of some organized groups. The problem is, who would target some Red Palace students?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, I agree, and I would like to know exactly that. It doesn't make sense to target someone here, as the students here are usually the sons and daughters of important people," Erik replied.
Sarah, who was apparently the most knowledgeable of the bunch, looked at Erik with a contemplative look. "Yeah. I must also add that there weren't any other bodies on the crime scenes, but multiple blood traces were around, especially in Natasha's case. This made the police believe that, at least in her case, she was assaulted by multiple people," Sarah added.
At that moment, Amber, Martha, Aaron, Mikey, Anderson, Gwen, Floyd, and the others arrived at the cafeteria. They scanned the room, searching for their friends, and immediately noticed them talking to some guys with serious expressions on their faces. They wasted no time and immediately walked toward them. Amber was the first to speak up.
"Hey, what's going on?" she asked, her usually confident smile faltering as she looked at Erik and Benedict.
Erik and Benedict exchanged a nervous glance before Erik finally spoke up, "We have some bad news to share." Erik replied, "Karl and Natasha died."
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