Page 77 of Nitro

The elevator doors opened on the familiar floor, and I swiftly made my way to my old apartment.

The door was slightly ajar, and an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

I pushed it open cautiously, half expecting the worst.

My heart pounded in my chest as I surveyed the chaotic scene in the apartment.

A cold draft from the open window sent shivers down my spine. Furniture lay overturned, and the room looked like a battleground.

I hesitated, taking cautious steps toward the overturned coffee table.

As I approached, I noticed the telltale signs of a struggle. The scattered items and the blood on the surface of the table made my stomach churn.

It was unmistakably Marc's blood, and panic welled up inside me. What had transpired in my absence?

Fear clenched my chest. I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed Marc's number, but it went straight to voicemail.

Panic intensified, and I rushed to the window, looking out to the streets below.

There was no sign of Marc. I looked around my apartment again.My hands trembled as I picked up a piece of paper from the floor.

It was a hastily scrawled note, written in blood, like the first note I received. I quickly scanned the words.

"Tommy, meet us at 8 Blue Jay Road if you want to see your brother again.”

The message was clear – Marc's life hung in the balance, and I needed to act swiftly.

Unlike last time, there was a name signed below the note. Killian Hicks. Killian Hicks – why did that name strike a chord?

The connection with Gregory Hicks sent shivers down my spine. The past had caught up with us, and Marc was now paying the price.

Without dwelling on the note's details, I dashed out of the apartment.

As I reached the street, a guttural croak caught my attention. I turned to find a raven perched nearby, its gaze fixed on me.

It was the same raven I had noticed yesterday, the one that seemed to shadow Marc at the cafe.

In that moment, I wondered if Nitro had sent one of the raven shifters to watch over me. I approached the bird cautiously.

"Marc's been taken. I'm going after him," I declared.

The raven shuffled closer, perching on a nearby bench, his eyes still fixed on me.

He emitted a shrill call, almost like a protest or a warning.

"I need to do this. My brother's life is at stake. Don't worry, I don't intend to keep Nitro in the dark," I assured the raven.

After updating Nitro about the situation, I hailed a ride, entering the address given on the note.

19

NITRO/TOMMY

NITRO

The truck engine roared to life as Spike and I settled in.

“Glad you controlled your temper and didn’t kill anyone by accident,” I joked, to lighten the mood.

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