Continue reading for Chapter 22, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Paranormal activity, panic attacks, discussion of past violence and murder

Last time on TSA

Finn went back to work at the org and sent some intel—Anna’s location for tomorrow. Viktor and the rest of the squad planned the attack.

“I think this plan can be improved,” Rue said.

“I think this plan is stupid,” Kira said.

“Well, we don’t have much information to go on. We’ve got a three hour drive early in the morning. We’ll have more time to plan on the way.”

A dead graveyard shouldn’t feel this alive. Viktor can feel its pressure the moment they pull up. The squad rolls in with a plan held together by hope and stubbornness. But the denizens of the cemetery are caught up in plans already.

Chapter 22

On the three-hour drive over, we came up with nothing. Absolutely nothing better than the Kira-as-a-distraction plan. I didn’t like putting them in harm’s way, but I couldn’t confront Anna head-on and get the upper hand. Anna wouldn’t be alone since Finn had to assign her a security detail. Distraction and surprise seemed to be the best bet.

Kira rode up front and Chai sat beside me in the back. He probably didn’t need to actually be present and sit, but I figured it helped him feel normal and like part of the team.

I looked at the cemetery on satellite and street views while Rue drove us in her Jeep. The cemetery was from the Civil War era and the last plot was sold seventy-something years ago. I’m not sure who Anna could be going to see that was buried so long ago. I suppose someone could have bought the plot back then and was only buried in the past decade or so.

A good place to start our search would be around the most recent burials. Unfortunately, no one knew Anna’s surname to guess where her family might be buried—assuming it was actually family. There was no dedicated new section for us to home in on. Newer interments were scattered throughout old family plots.

It was a couple hundred acres—not huge, but it had no clean sight-lines. All the roads were winding, mausoleums covered the grounds, and hills broke up the landscape. That would be a problem for Rue and her sniper rifle. We’d have to narrow down the location so she could get set up.

We parked on the street just outside the cemetery. Before we even parked, I felt it. The pressure—an invisible blob that oozed from the graveyard, spilling over into the street, touching me, changing me. I did my best to ignore it.

Chai transformed into the crow. The cloth roof was up because of the winter chill, so I had to roll down the window to let the crow out. I think. I still didn’t understand how that worked. This time, I waited for the crow to get airborne before looking through its eyes, hoping that would be less disorientating. It wasn’t.

I dropped pins in my map app for recent interment sites I found on some public grave databases online. I thought it would be easier to line up the satellite image with the bird’s-eye view of the crow, but crow eyes worked way different from maps.

They could see things on the ground in great detail, but not everywhere at once. It was hard for me to get a complete picture. It was also nauseating switching from my eyes to the crow’s eyes.

“I can’t make sense of this map from the crow,” I spoke aloud in the Jeep.

“Try following the roads,” Rue suggested, her voice still audible to my human body sitting in the Jeep. “This is a dead graveyard, so there shouldn’t be a lot of visitors. Mostly people enjoying the park and history.”

There were many cars in parking spaces and a few on the roads. Security escorts always had a type. The crow flew low and slow in line with the roads, looking for dark SUVs idling on the shoulders. They wouldn’t park in case they needed a quick exit.

The colors the crow saw were wrong. Maybe not wrong, but different. Shadows were darker, but some areas were brighter—like the contrast was cranked up in a photo. Its eyes kept focusing on well-worn footpaths that broke off from the road.

The crow spotted a suspect vehicle and landed on a branch with line of sight. A black Suburban, standard-issue corporate subtlety, standing out like a sore thumb. It idled on a road curve at the top of a hill—a bad angle for sniping.

Through the heavily tinted windows, I could see a driver in a dark suit, but no one else. The crow’s sensitive eyes caught movement and jerked its head toward it, nearly sending me into vertigo. A man in a hoodie and joggers stood by a headstone, face obscured, hands in pockets, head swiveling. A woman in a leather jacket and jeans, dark hair, leaning against a mausoleum, smoking.

Neither looked familiar to me nor had the blonde hair Rue described Anna having nor was a ten-year-old boy. But they looked the type—acting like they were just visiting a hundred-and-fifty-year-old grave while constantly looking around.

This had to be it. I couldn’t see any other figures in the SUV. Maybe Anna was in the mausoleum.

“Rue, they’re at pin echo on the map. Find a spot where you can keep an eye on the SUV and the thugs. Call me when you’re settled.”

“On it.”

While Rue got in position, Kira and I waited.

“So, we’re just going to kill these people?” Kira’s voice pulled me away from the crow.

“Not if we don’t have to. I don’t want to. But they probably wouldn’t hesitate to kill us to keep us silent.”

“That doesn’t make it okay.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Have you ever killed anyone?”

I hesitated. I hadn’t told them all the details about the meat locker. I’d tried my best to block out that night.

My throat was hoarse—not sure if it was because of flying with the crow, the souls bearing down on me, or the memory of that night. “I have.”

Kira turned, peering around the headrest in the front seat, locking with my eyes. They didn’t say anything.

“I told you about Klaus. I killed him. I drowned him in a ditch. He was trying to kill me, but I killed him first. Then, the night Chaus died, when Klaus died again, I killed two other men. They were also trying to kill me, but it felt—it feels—so fucking wrong.” I lowered my head, no longer able to look into their eyes. They were peeling me apart. I choked back a sob.

“Viktor, you’re alive. You’re safe. You killed because it was either them or you. I’d choose you every time.”

“Thanks,” I sniffed. “I’d choose you too.”

We sat in silence for a moment. I was about to say something about how I didn’t feel safe right now when Rue called. I answered through my earbuds.

“Hello.”

“I’m in position. I see the two thugs, the SUV, the driver. No other souls.”

“Could you use a different word?” I groaned.

“Oh. Sorry. No one else.”

“What are the thugs doing?”

“The woman is circling the mausoleum. She’s fidgeting with her ear, she might have comms in an earpiece. The guy turned around, but he’s still in position.”

“Wait one.” I muted the phone.

“Rue doesn’t see Anna,” I told Kira.

“Okay, I’ll go and draw her out,” they replied.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. We don’t know where she is and there’s too many of her people out there.”

“Oh, now you think it’s a bad idea to use me as bait? Rue will take care of them. This is our chance to get Anna.”

“There will be others.”

“We don’t have time.” Kira undid their seatbelt, slipped out the door, and ran through the entrance gate before I could say anything.

“Kira! Get back here!” I clambered over the front seat to get out of the Jeep, chasing after. Immediately, I regretted stepping into the cemetery, but I had to go after them. “Rue, Kira’s running over there, what do you see?”

“Nothing yet.”

“Okay, Kira’s heading your way. I’m following.”

“The thugs are moving.”

“Don’t let them touch Kira!” I shouted.

“What the hell?” Rue exclaimed.

“What? What is it?”

“They jumped in the SUV and it’s driving off.”

I tuned into the crow again. I saw the SUV driving off and Kira running up the hill. No sign of Anna. Did we misread the situation? Were those people not with the org? I kept running, trying to catch up to Kira.

They were just ahead of me. I was almost at the top of the hill when a force pushed back. The vague, oozing blob I sensed earlier thickened into a swamp. My feet dragged as I tried to catch up to Kira. I tried to yell their name but my mouth was blocked, as if dozens of hands were clawing their way inside.

The swamp turned into an ocean. I was shoulder-deep, trying to walk to the shore. Invisible waves crested and fell on my face, pressing on my eyeballs. My eye sockets throbbed, my head ached like it was being squeezed. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I fell to my knees. I heard Kira scream my name.

✹✹✹

I saw the waves then. Thousands of people were struggling in the currents, all reaching above the water’s surface. They were choking, but all swimming towards me, trying to use me as a life raft. They clawed at my face and shoulders, pulling me under with them.

The crow flew in circles around me, trying to help but it couldn’t land on anything. It transformed into Chai who fell into me—us becoming one. For a moment.

Then the head of his apparition was pulled, stretched from my core. He reached out a translucent hand. I grabbed for it, fingers brushing before he was yanked away, thrown into the deep.

“Viktooooor!”

All I did was watch. I couldn’t close my eyes. The focus brought clarity. We weren’t under water—we were under bodies. Masses of people struggling to be on top of one another—swimmers becoming waves, waves becoming swimmers. Untold bodies undulating, crashing, reforming.

I thrashed against the flow, but it was too much. I was choking on bodies of water that reached up, climbing over one another for air as they dragged me under. They invaded my nostrils, my mouth, my lungs. I realized then that these weren’t bodies at all—they were souls. Every creature still haunting this graveyard swarmed on top of me, pulling me down into their graves.

✹✹✹

Kira

I reached the top of the hill just in time to see the SUV drive off. I spun around, looking for the thugs, but didn’t see anybody. Where was Rue? I didn’t have my phone. How could I be so stupid to run off like this? Where was Viktor? I looked down the path I came from. Viktor was there. He fell to his knees, gripping his head, screaming.

I called to him. “Viktor!”

He started waving his arms in a frantic rhythm. Was he trying to swim? I started running down the hill toward him, then halted in my tracks. The slight red aura that surrounds Viktor when Chai is present turned darker. It was purple, like a bruise. It began to grow as if a tsunami was pouring out from him. Then it collapsed back upon him before expanding again, writhing. I swear it looked like bodies. I couldn’t see Viktor under all that.

“Rue, where the fuck are you?”

This had to be Anna, some sort of ghost bullshit. Where was she? I looked around for something—anything. We were surrounded by mausoleums. How can one place have so many fucking mausoleums?

I saw another aura. Could that be her? One of the mausoleums had a human-shaped green aura standing in front of it. Wait—no. It was inside. I was seeing it through the walls. I ran to it.

The rotten wooden door of the mausoleum broke free as I pulled the handle. Without the walls blocking it, the green aura was brighter. I tackled it, yelling, “Leave my brother alone!”

I hit something solid. A woman. She screamed and hit the concrete with a thud as I fell on top of her. Her wind was knocked out and my chest hurt like a son of a bitch. I rolled off of her onto my back, focusing through the stars in my vision, looking up into a different face.

The cold blue eyes of a boy stared down at me.

Editor’s Note

Well, damn. Fuck ‘em up, Kira!

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⚠️ Content Warning: Discussion of death, paranormal activity, planning violence

Last time on TSA

“Don’t be such a scaredy-cat, Viktor. You know we’re in.” Chai chided.

With a sigh, I stood. For both of us, I clanked my sword with the others, glancing at each of them.

“That settles it. Tomorrow we go on the attack.”

“Wooh! Spectral Squad! Let’s gooo!” Chai exclaimed to no one but me.

Coffee, vertigo, a plan. Viktor pushes his connection with the dead until the world tilts sideways. A lead arrives fast, pointing somewhere that makes his skin crawl. The squad has a target and a plan—one of those is solid.

Chapter 21

I awoke in the cabin, Kira sleeping soundly beside me. I was breathing heavily and drenched in sweat. I pressed my face into my hands, sliding them back towards my ears like I was putting on a mask. My hand brushed against the earring, awakening Chai.

“Man, Viktor, that was a wild dream.”

“You—you saw that?”

“Um. I dreamt I was alive and it was Christmas. Everyone was there and could see me.”

“Yeah. That’s what I dreamed too. I didn’t know you could experience my dreams.”

“Man, I didn’t either. I haven’t before. I don’t really sleep anymore. It’s more like I hallucinated whatever you were thinking. It must have been strong enough to bleed over.”

“That’s disturbing on so many levels. Wait—what do you do while I’m sleeping?”

“Stand around mostly. I don’t get tired, but I sit or lay down just to try and remember what it’s like to rest. It never works. But in your dream, I could feel. We’ve got to try that again.”

“Hold on a minute. What if I don’t want you in my dreams?”

“I don’t know, man. I’m stuck with you and you’re stuck with me. Sometimes when you sleep, I’m just gone. Like, I don’t know where I am or what I’m thinking, but I’m not here. Being in your dream gave me presence for the first time since I died.”

“I’m happy for you, really—even though it creeps me out.”

He grinned. “Thanks, man.”

“Are you able to go somewhere else? Walk around?”

“If I get too far away from you—the cross pendant—I sort of fade into the crow. I can’t keep my human form. And if I do it too long, I start thinking like a crow again. So, I mostly just stay by you while you sleep.”

“That’s not helping my unease.”

“Sorry, man.” He shrugged.

“Alright, time for coffee.”

Chai facepalmed. “Of. Course.”

I walked into the kitchen. No one else was awake yet, at least no one was in here. Rue seemed to always rise early and was probably stalking something or someone in the woods. I started a pot of coffee, hoping to relax and ease into the morning before it filled with busybodies.

Sitting in the leather chair, I considered the rally cry from last night and what go on the attack meant. Who do we attack? The Contagion for sure, but I wasn’t even sure who or where he was. Where do we attack? The office building with the lab was gone. The entire thing burnt down from the thermite. When do we attack? That at least was decided. It had to be now. We couldn’t stay on the run forever.

Kira stumbled out of the bedroom still in sleep shorts and T-shirt. “Oh thank gawd, coffee.” They poured a mug and plopped down on the couch, bringing the mug to their face with two hands, inhaling, then sighing. We both liked quiet mornings and just sat there, sipping, saying nothing.

“Morning folks, what’s up?” Finn walked out, dressed in the only clothes he had with him, suit slacks and his undershirt. He had his dress shirt, tailored coat, and tie on a hanger. He was getting ready for something.

“Where are you headed?” I asked.

Before he could answer, Rue walked in the front door, shaking snow off her boots. She hung her jacket on the hook by the door. “Good morning. It’s cold out.”

Finn made a toothy grin. “We can see that. Great. Now that we’re all here, big news.”

Yeah, this can’t be good. We all stared at him, waiting. He continued to hold his grin, relishing the attention.

Kira had enough. “Don’t just stand there with that stupid grin. Get on with it!”

“Okay, okay. So I’m going to work.” He looked at each of us, noticing that only Kira looked shocked while Rue and I continued to stare. I was shocked, of course, but that would never show on my face.

“Are you fucking stupid?” Kira blurted.

“No, I—” Finn started.

“Aren’t you burned?” Rue interrupted.

“No, you see—” Finn started.

“They’ll just murder you,” I interjected.

“Look, detective—everyone—shut up and listen,” he scolded. “I’m not burned. They told me to take off. They had a plan for Klaus and they didn’t want me anywhere near that. They don’t know how much I hated him and thought I’d stop them. Of course, I didn’t know what they had planned.”

“So, you’re just going back to them?” Rue crossed her arms.

“No, I’m going to spy. We need information on where Anna is. That’s still the best plan. Find Anna, find Ben. Attack.”

“Okay. Fine. We do need information. Why today?” I stood, unable to shed the nervous energy building up.

“Anna just called to tell me my brother is dead.” His grin had faded. “And, they told me Viktor Levitsky killed him.”

“Oh, uh. What did you say to that?” I held his gaze.

“That I would kill Levitsky the next time I saw him.” He frowned, but he couldn’t hold back his sharkiest grin.

“So then you’re not burned?” Kira asked.

“Seems not. I’ll go there a few days, see what info I can dig up, and come back this weekend. I’ll bring some more supplies—” he held up his hanger, sniffing, “—maybe some clothes.”

Finn grabbed a coffee to go, then headed out. The rest of us discussed what we should do next over breakfast, but no one had a better idea than to wait and see what Finn could dig up.

With nothing better to do, I wanted to ask Chai about something I had nearly forgotten about.

“Hey Chai, remember when Klaus almost shot me?”

Chai appeared when I touched the earring, his grin forming before the rest of him as if he was the Cheshire cat. “Yeah man, that was a fun day.”

I stared. “Fun? Me almost getting shot and drowning Klaus was fun?”

“No. But I got to play Frogger.”

“You— You— You know what, never mind. Remember when you took crow form and showed me that Klaus was pointing a gun at the back of my head?”

His grin didn’t falter. “Oh yeah, right… right, that was badass of me, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah... Can we try again?”

“No way! Let’s go!”

“Wait, I—”

But before I could stop him, Chai was already taking flight to the back door. He landed on the ground, tapping the glass. I didn’t know if he actually needed me to open the door or if he was guiding me. Aren’t ghosts supposed to be able to walk through walls? I grabbed my coat and walked out onto the back deck.

The crow flapped up to the rail, cawed, then leapt into the air. “No—wait!”

My vision warped, expanded, elongated, and zoomed in. The sudden shift made me stumble, I felt my foot hit the deck hard to steady myself, and I saw my body flailing through the crow’s eyes. I felt like I was standing on a surfboard. I couldn’t deal with this proprioception misalignment.

I pushed the crow’s visual feed out of my mind. I imagined turning a dial on an old TV to change the channel. I was dropped back in my body, causing me to fall flat on the deck. While I was sprawled out, the crow landed on the rail and cawed.

I sighed. “Yeah yeah. I’d like to see you do better.”

I started crawling to an Adirondack chair and vomited before I made it.

“Bleh—hold on.” I waved both hands at the bird and walked into the kitchen. After cleaning myself up, I walked out with a fresh insulated mug of coffee and sat in the chair. I took a sip.

“Okay, now that I’m sitting, let’s try that again.”

The crow continued to stand on the rail. I laid my head back, closed my eyes, and imagined changing the channel in my mind. The crow’s eyes blinked, and I blinked at a person sitting in a chair, wearing all black.

“This is crazy.”

The crow didn’t respond. I tried to flap my wings, but I didn’t think I could control the crow.

“Fly!” I said.

The crow stood.

Fly! I thought.

The crow took off and my stomach turned as the forest dropped beneath me. The trees below were draped with snow. The sun was above us. I couldn’t hear the wind or feel the chill that I’d expect the crow to experience. I only felt the hard, cold chair on my back.

What does flying feel like? I thought to the crow. The crow did not reply.

I saw a lake on the horizon. Can we fly over the lake?

The crow turned left and headed towards the lake, arriving after a few minutes. Dark water reflected dancing shards of sunlight as the crow landed on a branch. I suppose it needed to rest. My head was splitting in two, so I tuned out, returning to my body.

A few minutes later, the crow landed on the seat across from me, then transformed back into Chai. “That was awesome, let’s do it again!”

“I think I need to rest after that.” I brought my hands up to rub my temples with circular motions.

“Ah, you’re a buzzkill.”

“I’m going to nap.”

I lay in my bed and was out the minute my head touched the pillow.

✹✹✹

My phone vibrated in my jacket pocket. I guess I was still wearing it in my sleep. A call from Finn’s burner phone.

“Hello?” I mumbled.

“Hey, I know where Anna will be tomorrow,” Finn responded.

“Oh?”

“She wants me to take Klaus’s place. She wants me to lead the thugs.”

“Congratulations...?”

“No, not really. But it does mean that I know where she’s going to be because I have to assign the security detail.”

I wasn't sure what to think about that. "Where's she going to be?"

“You’re going to have to come back to Brooklyn. Tomorrow, she’s going to Cypress Hills.”

My heart filled with a familiar sense of dread. “The cemetery?”

“Yeah.”

“Is there a funeral there or something? Didn’t they stop burying people there a hundred years ago?”

“No, not a funeral. It’s the birthday of some old relative or something. I dunno.”

Were they having a birthday party at a cemetery or was she bringing gifts to the dead? One of those probably made more sense than the other. “Will you be there?”

“No, I’ve got to go to the med supply store and figure out what the hell everyone is doing.”

“Alright. Thanks for the info.”

We hung up. I stayed there in bed, trying to formulate a plan. I’ve always hated cemeteries. Every time I go near one, I feel like I’m drowning. I guess I was fidgeting with the earring because Chai spoke.

“Don’t worry, Vik. I’ll be there with you.”

“I’m more worried about the other ghosts that haunt those places...”

“You can’t see them, right? Why do they bother you?” Chai questioned.

“I’m not sure. I think I can feel them. I think I can feel all ghosts around me. Crowded places press in and push down on me. Sometimes I feel like there’s more there than I can see.”

“I don’t feel that. I haven’t seen any other ghosts.”

“Really? I just assumed all ghosts could see all other ghosts.”

“Guess not, man.”

At dinner, we discussed the plan with the rest of the squad.

“Is she really going to see someone’s grave or is this another setup?” Rue asked.

I frowned. “Maybe. But I don’t think we have much of a choice. We need to get to her.”

“What about Finn?” Kira said between bites.

“He can’t be there. It’s just the three of us.”

“And me, duh,” Chai corrected.

“And Chai,” I amended.

“Okay, so we just pull up in a graveyard, guns a blazin’—pew pew pew.” Kira mimed two pistols shooting around the table.

“Perhaps something more subtle,” Rue recommended.

“Right, Rue, you take overwatch.”

“Naturally.”

“Chai and I will do recon. Chai will turn into crow form and I’ll watch through his eyes. We’ll find Anna before entering the graveyard.”

Kira blinked. “Wait, what? Crow form?”

“Yeah, did I not tell you all that? Chai can turn into a crow, and I can see through his crow eyes. We practiced this afternoon. Ghost physics.”

“Ghost physics? Viktor, I don’t think you know what those words mean.” Kira did not look amused.

I ignored the remark. “Kira, you’ll be the distraction. You walk up to Anna, get her talking, then I walk up behind, tase her then tie her up. Rue can snipe anyone that comes to her aid.”

Kira’s eyes went wide. “Um, doesn’t she know who I am? They tried to kidnap me, remember?”

“Maybe. But that will make her even more distracted.”

“I think this plan can be improved,” Rue said.

“I think this plan is stupid,” Kira said.

“Well, we don’t have much information to go on. We’ve got a three-hour drive early in the morning. We’ll have more time to plan on the way.”

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With a sigh, I stood. For both of us, I clanked my sword with the others, glancing at each of them.

“That settles it. Tomorrow we go on the attack.”

“Wooh! Spectral Squad! Let’s gooo!” Chai exclaimed to no one but me.

While visions of friends and sugar plums danced in his head, Viktor went to sleep.

A Very Spectral Christmas

I awoke in the cabin, Kira sleeping soundly beside me. Opening the curtains, I saw it was snowing. There were already a few inches on the ground. I love snow and the crisp chill it brings. This was a great start for what would surely be a perfect day.

In the living room, the Christmas tree’s lights were emitting a yellow glow. It would otherwise be dark with the late sunrise. We always kept the tree lights on, giving the cabin warmth and holiday spirit.

Chai was still curled up on the couch, appearing to be asleep. Under the tree, I saw only four presents. One was still missing.

“Morning sunshine, how’d you sleep?” Chai asked, yawning.

“It’s Winter, the sun isn’t up yet.” I corrected.

“Viktor, I don’t think you know what sunshine is.”

I smirked. “Morning. Have you seen Rue? She hasn’t put a present under the tree yet.”

“She slipped out an hour ago, all tacticaled up.”

“Alright. I need some—”

“Coffee. Yeah, yeah, I’ll get it.” Chai offered, already moving toward the small kitchen to make a pot.

I sat down in the big leather chair, day-dreaming about the feast we would have later. My family stuck with the Russian traditions. I can taste the sweet kutya now. With the five of us, we’d have quite the mix of traditions. I wonder what everyone will bring to the table.

Chai handed me a cup, I took a sip. “Thanks, it’s great.”

“Yep, just like you like it, black and brooding.” he said, proceeding to scoop six spoonfuls of sugar into the milk-swirled brew in his cup. I wanted to gag—instead, I inhaled the steam rising from my mug.

The door to Finn and Rue’s bunk room opened, and Finn stepped out, still wearing silk pajamas. “Morning folks, what’s up?”

“Nothing, just wondering how Chai stays toned with that sugar intake.” I replied.

“Hey man, you can eat whatever you want as long as you work it off.” Chai proclaimed.

Finn’s face twisted in horror. “Actually, that stuff will kill you. To pack on and keep muscles you need to—”

“Oh gawd, can you guys shut up?” Kira interrupted. “Pour me some, please,” they said, sitting on a stool in their sleep shorts and narwhal tee. They plopped their elbows on the counter, dropping their chin into palms.

I passed them a fresh cup. “So, Finn, where should we look for Anna first?”

“Hey man, it’s Christmas, no shoptalk,” Chai gently admonished.

I nodded.

“How does everyone like their eggs?” Finn took orders and fired up the stove. I started cracking eggs while Chai cut strawberries and Kira made toast. We all got into a silent rhythm.

After breakfast, I washed dishes. We didn’t have a dishwasher, so I did them by hand, and Chai dried them. He was babbling about something, but the white noise of the faucet drowned him out.

“Did I miss breakfast?” a voice said from behind, making us both jump.

“Jeezus Christ Rue, you almost killed me!” Chai exclaimed.

“Yes. But there’s still some fruit in the fridge,” I replied.

“Good enough.” Rue headed to the fridge.

I sat back down by the fire, watching the snow fall. The sounds of the crackling fire, dishes clinking, and pleasant conversation calmed my mind.

“It’s for ammm-beeee-onnce,” Chai said, lighting candles on the table.

“But it will catch the tree on fire,” Rue cautioned.

“That’s like thirty feet away.”

“It will be fine,” Kira said, setting dishes on the white table cloth.

knock knock

We all looked at each other.

“Who could that be?” Finn asked.

I was closest to the door, so I got up and walked over, pulling the door open. “Oh, Olivia, I didn’t think you could make it.”

“Hi, yeah, they didn’t need me anymore so I hurried over,” she said, handing me a dish. “Macaroni—my mom’s recipe.”

She leaned in for a hug, a shopping bag on her arm bumping into my back. I held the heavy glass dish out and used my free arm to return the hug. She looked over my shoulder and whispered into my ear. “Who’s that—what is she doing here?”

“Oh, Rue, she’s mostly harmless.”

“mmhmmm”

Before I could comment, she held her hand, flat, palm down, in front of my eyes, a short string looped around her middle finger. “Here, this is for you.”

A small brass cog 1 dangled in front of me, slowly spinning, glinting light from the tree. “It’s to remind you that you’re still just a cog in the machine.”

“Um. Thanks.” I went to hang it on the tree. I kept reaching for ornaments to make more room, but none were there. Finally, I decided to hang it on all the branches. Soon, it reflected a thousand points of golden light throughout the cabin.

“Dinner’s ready!” Finn announced.

Everyone gathered around the table and started pulling out chairs.

“Hey, hey, guys. Read the placards, find your place.” Chai called out.

The rest of us glanced at each other, then down at the table looking for our own name. Collectively we began side-stepping over one another to get to our assigned seats. We all began passing dishes, scooping food on to our plates, and commenting on what we brought. All of it smelled and looked delicious. I couldn’t decide what to bite into first.

Tamales wrapped in corn husks, stuffed with pork schnitzel. Sautéed collard greens with fish sauce over rice. Olivier potato salad with pickles and peas. Sauerbraten, beef marinated for days, smothered in sweet-sour gravy. Kutya, mother’s old recipe with walnuts and raisins. Macaroni, four-cheeses lightly browned. Crusty bread and soft rolls.

Sitting next to me, Olivia and I caught up. It had been a while since we last spoke.

“So, which guy are you gunning for?” she asked, glancing between Chai and Finn.

“Gunning for?”

“Don’t be coy, Vik. Which one do you like? The tallest one has edgy blue hair. The other guy has a charming, yet goofy grin. They both have tattoos. Is tall, goofy, and handsome your type Vik?”

“Oh, uh—”

Rue laughed, loud and sharp, saving me from answering. Have I heard her laugh before?

Olivia shot her a glance. “Why did you invite her?”

“She kind of invited herself, but I like her.”

“Alright, time for dessert.” Finn sat more plates in front of me.

Strudel, flaky with soft spiced apples. Buñuelos, crisp with cinnamon sugar. Pryaniki, dense with honey and ginger. Pecan pie, gooey beneath a toasted shell. Black Forest cake, dark with rich cherries. New York cheesecake, creamy with a graham cracker crust.

I had one scoop of everything. All with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and a cup of espresso.

With a glass of red wine, I got comfortable by the fire. Everyone else followed with their own drinks in hand.

“Okay, so explain this again, this ‘Dirt Santa’,” I said to Chai.

“No, no. Dirty Santa,” he corrected. “We each brought one gift, now one of us picks a present from under the tree—”

“Can you pick the one you brought?” Rue interrupted.

“Nah man. That wouldn’t be in spirit.”

Rue frowned slightly.

“Alright, so you open the present, show it to everyone, and keep it,” he continued. “The next person can either open a new present or steal one from someone else.”

“Oh, like White Elephant?” Finn asked, snapping his fingers in Chai’s direction, to which Chai nodded.

“You steal their presents?” Kira’s jaw dropped. “That doesn’t sound very Christmasy.”

“Hey, it’s all good. That’s part of the fun,” Chai retorted.

“Doesn’t sound fun,” Kira muttered. “Who goes first then?”

I pulled my deck of cards from my pocket. “We can use these. We go in order of highest-to-lowest card drawn.” Rue won first pick.

“Shoot first, ask questions later,” she said, swiftly rising off the floor in one fluid motion. She came back and sat down with a small box.

She took out her knife, flipped it open, then gently moved it between a flap, cutting the tape without slicing into the paper. Then she proceeded by peeling back each corner, leaving no trace.

“C’mon c’mon c’mon” Chai couldn’t contain himself.

Rue ignored him, folding the last sheet open.

Before she could hold it up, Chai blurted out, “It’s my movie. The role of a lifetime. Special edition. Listen to the commentary, I tell all about—”

“I don’t have a Blu-ray player,” Rue interrupted, deflating Chai, and setting it aside.

“My turn!” Chai rushed to the tree, shaking boxes until Kira shouted, “Don’t shake that!” He set the big box down, chose a different one, and came back to the circle.

“This one’s nice and heavy,” he said, ripping the paper off to reveal a re-used shipping box. He opened the box, pulling out a Glock. “Uh, this is way more than the twenty-five dollar limit.”

“It was free,” Rue retorted.

“This looks used... You stole this?”

“They weren’t going to use it anymore.”

“I don’t really need one.”

“You never know when you will need protection.”

“Yoink!” Kira swiped the Blu-Ray from beside Rue, who didn’t blink, but said, “You still have a Blu-ray player?”

“I don’t trust those oligarchs with my data,” they replied. “Anyway, I like Chai’s movies.”

Chai beamed. “Thanks Kira. Okay Rue, you get to go again.”

Rue methodically dismantled the wrapping of a new present, like she was breaking down her rifle for cleaning. “A doll?”

“Yeah, I made it myself. Don’t you like it?” Olivia’s voice was bright, but her eyes weren’t.

“Did you forget to paint the eyes on?” Rue held it up for everyone to see. The small wooden doll had dark hair, the spots where eyes should go as smooth as the rest of its light brown body.

Olivia shrugged and picked up the smallest gift. She untied the string, unrolled the brown paper surrounding it, and held the clear crystal up to see the Christmas tree lights refracted inside.

“Thanks Vik, I love it.”

“How did you know it was from me?”

“I always knew.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I said, “I found it in the woods around the cabin. It struck me as odd since its sides were smooth instead of the hexagonal shape they normally have. The pointed ends seemed great for channeling energy, which made me think of you.”

She smiled, eyes crinkling, wise beyond her years.

It was finally my turn. Clearly, Kira brought the big box and I know from past experiences to be wary of their gifts. So I went for a small cube and opened the simple box. A coffee mug, perfect under normal circumstances.

“World’s best detective. Seriously?”

“Of course, detective.” Finn laughed. But he wasn’t done, he walked over to me, putting his hand out. “I’ll take that.”

“But it’s your gift, you brought it.”

“It’s a nice mug—got it from Scar Flucks 2. Chai said I couldn’t pick my gift, he didn’t say I couldn’t steal it.”

I handed it over gladly. Unfortunately, that left the big box from Kira. I went to pick it up, and when I did, it meowed.

“Oh no, you didn’t.”

“Open it!” Kira said with glee.

Inside the box, a black cat with red eyes peered out at me. “But I’m allergic...”

“This cat won’t affect your allergies, and its black hair won’t show on your dreary clothes. They had a special for the holidays at the adoption agency—twenty-five dollars exactly. I thought it was perfect for some lucky person.”

I sat back in the leather chair. The cat climbed into my lap and laid down. Finn poured coffee into his new mug with a toothy grin on his face. He took a sip, as he did, the heat-activated color change mug faded to “World’s worst detective”.

Everyone noticed and laughed. Finn, startled, then caught on. He saw the new phrase and his grin got even wider. The cat began to purr as I looked around at my friends, my family. Outside, snow fell on the dark night as I drifted off into comfortable slumber.

I awoke in the cabin, Kira sleeping soundly beside me. I was breathing heavily and drenched in sweat. I pressed my face into my hands, sliding them back towards my ears like I was putting on a mask. My hand brushed against the earring, awakening Chai.

“Man, Viktor, that was a wild dream.”

Editor’s Notes

You might have noticed a bit of a style difference on this, well other than the obvious dreaminess of it. That’s because yours truly () wrote it. I proposed the idea to and took a swing. I had fun writing it and Jan had fun listening to it. We hope you enjoyed it.

If you made it this far, it’s obvious this was all a dream. But in dreams Viktor’s sleep-deprived subconscious is working overtime. So there’s probably a lot more truth in this dream world than it seems.

Next Chapter

Continue reading for Chapter 20, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Discussion of murder, paranormal activity

Last time on TSA

Viktor, Chai, Rue, Kira, and Finn settle into the cabin safe-house.

I shook my head. Finn flicked his lighter open, the flame momentarily lighting up his face in the shade of the trees. His eyes were frustrated. Fractured.

He smoked in silence for a while. The only sound was the faint crackle of the fire in the pit. Finally, he turned to me.

“Why did you kill him?”

A single question cracks the fragile calm, forcing Viktor to explain the impossible. Finn’s anger isn’t just about death—it’s about what’s left behind. The air tightens as proof replaces doubt. Some secrets, once shared, change everyone.

Chapter 20

“Why did you kill him?”

Finn’s question broke the silence.

I knew what he was talking about without even having to ask. “Self-defense,” I said. Not a threat, just a fact.

Finn’s grip on his cigarette twitched. “Yeah? That easy, huh?”

I turned my head slightly. “He was trying to kill me.”

Finn flinched. Then anger split him open.

“Oh, yeah?” he snapped, stepping toward me. “And you had to kill him, right? No other choice? Just boom, problem solved?”

I met his gaze head-on. “He would’ve put a bullet in my head if I hadn’t.”

Finn let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Right, right.” He ran a hand through his hair, fingers shaking. “You know what’s fucking hilarious? I hated him.”

“I hated him, Viktor,” he hissed, then spoke venom with every uttered sentence. “Hated what he became. Hated what he did. Hated the way he looked at me like I was just some dumb kid who didn’t get it.”

I stayed silent, not knowing what to say.

Finn’s breath was coming faster now, his whole body tense. “You know, I didn’t think I’d care if he died.”

His hands clenched, cigarette nearly snapping between his fingers. “But now he’s gone, and I—” He stopped himself, jaw locked so tight it could crack teeth.

I exhaled slowly. “You’re mad at me.”

“No shit,” Finn snapped, spinning to face me. “I don’t even know if it’s at you, or at him, or at myself. But yeah, I’m more than a little mad.”

I nodded. “I get it.”

Finn scoffed. “No, you don’t.”

“I do, in some ways. More than you know.”

He stared at me, like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to try to believe me or throw a punch.

“I told myself I wouldn’t care if my father disappeared one day when I was a kid,” I confessed. “That if he drank himself to death, it wouldn’t matter to me.”

“But when it happened—” I began, dragging a hand down my face. “When it happened, I realized I was wrong. I wasn’t sad for him. I was sad for me. For what I lost, even if I didn’t want it in the first place.”

I tilted my head. “That’s what you’re feeling, isn’t it?”

Finn inhaled sharply, turning away again, shoulders rising and falling with uneven breaths. This time, his fingers dug into his scalp as he ran a hand through.

“Maybe,” he said under his breath.

Silence stretched between us. I didn’t push him. Didn’t tell him it would be okay, because I wasn’t sure it would be.

After a while, Finn let out a long, slow breath. “You really believe that? That it’s not about him but about me?”

“Yeah.”

Finn nodded absently. “That’s fucked up.”

I huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah.”

Finn exhaled again. “I hate you,” he said, but there was no venom behind it.

I let out a small smile. For the first time since we got here, he looked at me like he actually saw me.

Not as the enemy, not as the guy who killed his brother—just me.

“Who was it?” Finn asked after a moment of silence.

“Chai Saetang—he jumped into Klaus, from me.” I touched the earring as I remembered that moment of emptiness.

“That idiot lock picker?”

“That idiot lock picker is with me right now.”

“Not cool, man!” Chai blurted, but only I could hear it.

Finn winced. “Oh... my bad. How does that work, anyway?”

I looked back to the cabin. “Now that’s something I should probably explain to the whole group.”

He shot me a skeptical glance but didn’t argue. He dropped his cigarette to the ground and snuffed it out. “Alright. Let’s go.”

✹✹✹

We gathered in the safe house’s living room. Finn leaned against the counter. Rue sat on one end of the couch, flipping her knife between her fingers. Kira sat stiffly at the other end, arms crossed.

I sighed. “Okay, here’s the deal.” I looked at Kira. “You’re gonna have to have an open mind for this one.”

They frowned. “That’s not reassuring.”

I reached for the earring, fingers brushing against the metal. Chai’s presence warmed me, telegraphing his recovery.

I breathed deep. “My friend and neighbor, Olivia, was murdered a few weeks ago. That’s what started me on this wild ghost chase.”

“Ghost?” Kira interjected.

“Yeah... I’ll catch you up on all the details later, but for now, this is the important part. When I touched her body, I felt a... presence. It took me a few days to realize it was Chai. A ghost—a soul that possessed me.”

“The tea guy?” Rue asked. She was looking off in the distance, but her focus snapped to me at that.

I stared at her and sighed. “Klaus, Finn’s brother—er, half-brother, was a gang member—an org member. He’s dead now. At least at the time, he should have been.”

I looked to Finn. He nodded.

“When Klaus died, his body was empty—a husk. And Chai’s soul—it jumped into it.”

Kira looked at me like they were a deer in headlights. “That’s not how death works.”

I shrugged. “I didn’t think so either.”

Kira raised an eyebrow. “And you’re sure Klaus didn’t just survive?”

I shook my head. “It wasn’t Klaus anymore. It was Chai. When a body has no soul left, I guess you can think of it like—like certain other souls can slip in. Chai was already dead, that’s how he was able to get there in the first place.”

“Chaus,” Rue muttered in recognition. I nodded at her, though she was looking down, deep in thought.

Kira paled. “So, he was a ghost? That just took over another person’s body?”

“Not exactly,” I corrected. “Klaus just drowned. He was braindead, but not dead-dead. Maybe it can only happen then. Chai said he couldn’t choose who he possessed. He was stuck in Olivia until I came along.”

At that, Kira started laughing obnoxiously. “What a great joke, Viktor. Now are you going to tell me the truth or what?”

I scowled. I knew they wouldn’t believe me. Suspicion’s in our nature.

Rue spoke up then. “Listen to him, Kira. It sounds accurate.”

Finn nodded in agreement.

“You really believe this?” Kira was incredulous.

“I’ve seen some weird shit,” was all Rue had to say in response.

Finn pressed further. “So what happened to Klaus—or Chai, whoever—at the meat-locker?”

“Chaus,” Rue said with conviction this time. Finn tilted his head as if it would help him hear better.

“Chaus died... again... at the meat-locker,” I fumbled. “Then Chai jumped back into me when I touched the body.”

Finn’s expression darkened. Then he let out a sharp laugh. “That guy won’t just leave you alone, will he?”

Kira stiffened. “You’re still possessed?”

“Yes,” I shrugged, already reaching for the earring.

“Viktor! Hey! Hey! Are you even listening?” Chai’s voice reverberated throughout my head.

“Prove it,” Kira demanded.

“VIKTOR!”

“What?!” I snapped.

The room fell to silence. Everyone stared at me.

Kira frowned. “Okay, so he is losing it again.”

I sighed, rubbing my temple. “I was responding to Chai.”

Finn tilted his head further. “How do you talk to the dead guy in your head?”

“The dead guy possessing me,” I corrected. “He’s really loud.”

Kira shook their head. “This is insane.”

I didn’t think Finn needed much more convincing, but he put on a show for Kira. “Alright, if Chai is really in there, then tell me something only he and I could know. Who led the mission he died on?”

Chai appeared as an apparition, standing next to the fridge. His semi-transparent form lightly flickered. “C’mon Vik, that’s too easy.” He told me the name.

“Vinny Krüger,” I relayed.

Finn stiffened before nodding. “Yep, good ol’ Vinz—” He coughed. “I mean, bad ol’ Vinzent.”

Kira looked nervous. “Could’ve been a lucky guess.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Let’s try something else to prove it.”

I searched through the shelves and cabinets in the cabin, earning confused looks from the rest of the group. I finally found what I was looking for and handed it to Kira—a deck of cards.

“Hold up a card. Don’t show me.”

“What am I, a party clown?” Chai whined, then grinned. He loved this shit.

Kira hesitated, then pulled a card from the deck, gripping it between their fingers. I turned my head away for good measure.

Chai, standing behind them, was smug. “They’re holding a seven of spades.”

“Seven of spades,” I repeated to the group.

Kira’s mouth fell open as they revealed the card.

“Lucky guess?” I asked, amused.

They shuffled the deck before handing it to Finn. He pulled out a card. “Ace of hearts,” Chai said to me. When I turned around, I saw his ghost still looming over Finn’s shoulder.

“Ace of hearts.”

Finn’s expression changed for a moment, but he said nothing. He passed the deck to Rue. She tested me twice. Both times, I got it right.

By the end, Kira’s arms were crossed so tight they looked ready to snap. “Okay. So you’ve got a dead gang guy whispering in your ear. I guess that explains why I keep seeing a dark red aura around you?”

Rue blinked. “What?”

“I didn’t want to say anything because I thought I was losing my mind. But for weeks now, sometimes when I look at Viktor, I see this faint, red glow.”

“You told me at the diner, but I didn’t know you were seeing—” I stared at them. “Seeing Chai?”

“You didn’t tell me you were possessed,” they said, which was a fair point. “But I can’t see this Chai, only the aura.”

“You saw Klaus at the diner, did you see an aura around me or him?”

“No, you didn’t have one then, and he looked like a regular funeral director.”

Finn snorted and Chai’s laugh cut through the static.

“Chai was possessing Klaus’s husk then, so it makes sense you wouldn’t,” I said, not making any sense to myself.

“You both can see or sense ghosts.” Rue looked between me and Kira. “Sounds genetic.”

I felt my stomach twist. “Mother.” I swallowed hard. “She used to talk to things no one else could see.”

Rue frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Our mom would have entire conversations with people who weren’t there. She’d laugh, talk, even argue with them. Everyone thought she was crazy.”

“She wasn’t,” Kira murmured, looking down. “She probably had some kind of... um... ability too.”

“I grew up with a diagnosed psychosis, before all of this even happened,” I revealed. “I got it from mother. Maybe we both had hallucinations and abilities.”

Kira nodded slowly. “She was probably confused too. Maybe she couldn’t tell the difference between the real ghosts—and the fake ones.”

I closed my eyes, nodding, my head stuck in a rhythm. For years, I thought my mother was just sick. That whatever she saw wasn’t real. But what if part of it was? Maybe Mom had never been just crazy. Like how nobody listened to me, maybe nobody ever listened to her.

I opened my eyes and looked around the room. Kira had loosened up and was talking to Rue, who barely spoke back. Finn was flipping through the card deck and Chai was over his shoulder looking. Why? I have no idea why Chai does anything.

Why did Rue accept this ghost business so easily? She saw me kill Klaus, and now she knows it was possession. Finn saw Klaus become not-Klaus, so that’s enough, I guess. But still, they both have to know more.

“I’m hungry, what’s for dinner?” Finn said, pushing off the counter and walking to the fridge.

“Oh. I forgot about food.” Rue joined him in scrounging through the kitchen for something edible.

✹✹✹

The fire crackled, embers flickering in the cool night air. The sky had turned dusky purple with the last slivers of orange light stretching across the horizon. The scent of burning wood mixed with the smell of cheap hotdogs, charring over the open flame.

Finn and Rue had found them in the freezer, along with questionably old groceries. Kira had been horrified at the discovery, but Finn had shoved a skewer in their hand anyway, grinning like this was some kind of family camping trip.

I was sitting on the edge of my Adirondack chair, absentmindedly turning a hotdog over the fire. Rue lounged beside me, one leg stretched out, her eyes half-lidded as she stared into the flames. Finn sat across from us, smirking. Kira was eyeing their hotdog like it might kill them.

“This is disgusting,” Kira said, poking it with their finger.

“It’s protein,” Finn shot back. “Take it or leave it.”

“I’d rather starve.”

Finn snorted. “Your loss.”

Kira groaned but begrudgingly took a bite, then immediately gagged. “Oh my God, this tastes like it’s been in there for a century.”

“Possibly,” Rue remarked.

Finn chuckled, tossing a small stick into the fire. “Hey, if you don’t like it, Valentine’s Day is next week. Maybe your secret admirer will bring you something better.”

Kira looked disgusted. “Why the hell would you bring that up?”

Finn just grinned, and Kira buried their face in their hands, groaning.

I stayed quiet. My birthday will be next week. I hadn’t even thought about it. It wasn’t something I ever looked forward to.

Back in school, kids had always assumed I’d be excited. “Oh, you must love getting chocolates and extra gifts on your birthday, huh?” they’d say, expecting me to laugh along.

But I had never wanted chocolates. Or flowers. Or confessions written on pink paper. Because I was supposed to want them from girls.

I tensed, fingers tightening slightly around the skewer. No one noticed. I exhaled slowly and shoved the thought away.

I wasn’t celebrating my birthday this year. I wasn’t even acknowledging it. I was too busy anyway. It was just another day.

“Oh, it’s your birthday?” Chai exclaimed, too damn cheerful. “I’ve got to tell everyone!”

“Don’t you dare!” I said reflexively.

Everyone looked at me. Shit. “Uh... we’ve got to stop the Contagion. He best not dare mess with us.”

“Smooth, Viktor. Real smooth.” Chai smirked.

Finn stood. “You’re right. We will stop him for taking away the family I should have had.” Then he pointed his hotdog stick up and over the fire.

He looked ridiculous. Was he expecting everyone to jump in? No one else is that corn—

Kira bolted up, connecting with my eyes. “No one kidnaps me and gets away with it. And no one gets to kill my big brother before I do!” They popped their stick against Finn’s.

I am not doing that. I haven’t finished my hotdog and Rue would never do something so impuls—

“I can’t live my own life until he’s dead,” Rue stated, lifting out of her chair, cryptic as ever, then joined stick-swords with practiced motion.

All eyes turned to me expectantly. The fire crackled, sending embers into the night air. I slid the rest of the hotdog off my stick, popped it into my mouth, and chewed.

“Don’t be such a scaredy-cat, Viktor. You know we’re in.” Chai chided.

With a sigh, I stood. For both of us, I clanked my sword with the others, glancing at each of them.

“That settles it. Tomorrow we go on the attack.”

“Wooh! Spectral Squad! Let’s gooo!” Chai exclaimed to no one but me.

Next Chapter

Viktor Levitsky has been a person in my head for a very long time, so seeing him actually get out there and be seen means more to me than I or anyone could ever know. I want to thank all of my readers from the bottom of my heart!

Hundreds of you have read or listened since the first episode was published in May 2025. Most of you have listened, with nearly 2,000 downloads of the audio rendition.

Even though the community is relatively small, it feels like a dream come true to have my passion project out in the world. For something I’ve poured so much of my soul in, to be admired is euphoric.

I’ve struggled with getting traction for my work from even peers in the past, so I really do appreciate every positive interaction you guys have made with the series so far.

I want people to be able to connect with my stories on a deeper level. I want someone to see themselves in my character’s shoes. To not feel so alone in how they feel, because even if fictional, someone still understands them.

I’m so glad that I was able to inspire to write The Flucks. I would be so happy if The Spectral Agent ever became that for someone else, too.

This story means so much to me, each sentence I write feels like it has purpose. This book is quite literally the result of if my brain spilled onto the page.

That’s why all the feedback means so much to me. I’ve wanted to write an article or a thank you note for a long time, but I felt like everything I wrote couldn’t express exactly how I felt about this project. Now though, I feel more ready than ever to express my gratitude!

Thank you for sticking with Viktor and his companions for the journey so far. I hope you’ll stick around for the events yet to come, too!

Continue reading for Chapter 19, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Discussion of murder/violence, medical care, abduction

Last time on TSA

Viktor escaped death, but Chaus did not. After Kira was nearly kidnapped, Viktor asks Rue for a safe house.

Finn slowed the car. A cabin sat at the end of the road, quaint, hidden between the trees. It was the kind of place that no one would find unless they were looking for it.

We got out and walked up to the Jeep.

“This,” Rue said, stretching as she stepped out, “is your new home.”

The cabin offers shelter, but not peace, as Viktor and his motley quartet battle exhaustion and each other. Kira treats Finn like a loaded weapon, and Rue guards her secrets. When morning comes, Viktor must face the past he thought he’d outrun.

Chapter 19

The forest smelled like damp wood and dirt. The cabin was old, but sturdy. The floors creaked under our weight, dust stirring with every step. It wasn’t much, but it was safe enough.

The four of us had situated ourselves as best we could in the small space that was half sitting area, half kitchen.

I plopped down in a leather recliner, trying not to jostle my leg. Finn leaned against the kitchen counter, looking as chill as always. Rue had claimed the armrest of an old couch, looking through a bag she had brought with her.

Kira stood near the side window, stealing glances at Finn like he would pull a knife out on them at any moment.

Nobody spoke. Even the dust seemed unwilling to settle.

Kira was the one who broke the silence first. “So,” their gaze snapped to Rue, “why are you helping us?”

Rue barely glanced up. “Because you all are in danger, obviously.”

Kira frowned. “That’s it?”

Rue nodded. Kira waited for more, but she didn’t elaborate. They didn’t let it go. “Why Viktor? You don’t seem like someone who goes out of their way for people.”

Rue sighed. “We both want them gone. What more is there to it?”

Kira narrowed their eyes. “You’re talking about the ‘gang’.”

Rue didn’t answer.

Kira scoffed, folding their arms. “So you just hate them for no reason?”

I tried to find the reason, Rue’s connection to the org. I found zero information. None. Even after texting Zoe with her name and physical description. It was suspicious, sure. She should have at least had a fake identity, but there was nothing.

Rue finally looked up, meeting Kira’s eyes. “You ever get treated like you aren’t your own person? Like you’re just a tool, a pawn for the people who have the power?”

Kira didn’t reply.

Rue leaned back, her expression unreadable. “The org needs to be dealt with. Viktor’s trying to do that. Leaving loose ends is not in my nature.”

For a moment, Kira looked like they were going to press harder. But then their eyes flicked to me, waiting to see if I’d push. My fried brain prevented me.

Eventually, Kira let out a sharp breath and backed off, but I could tell they weren’t satisfied.

The quiet stretched on for too long. I could hear the faint rustle of trees outside, the distant hoot of an owl.

〜〜〜

“Viktor!” Kira nudged my shoulder.

“I’m fine, I’m fine—just dozing.”

“Detective, you’re gonna need to get some rest after the night you’ve had—all of us do.” Finn was now standing behind my chair.

“I’m not sleeping with these two psychopaths around to kill me in the night—no way,” said Kira, kneeling beside me, staring daggers at him.

“You two can take the big room and bed, Rue and I will take the bunks. You can lock your door if you think we’ll stab you in the night,” Finn suggested.

“Fine, but I’m taking the knives.”

Kira went to the kitchen, yanked the drawer of knives out, and walked to the room. “You coming, Viktor?”

With a shrug, I limped to the room and fell face first on the bed. I turned my head to lay on my cheek and saw Kira pushing a dresser in front of the door. “That won’t stop bullets.”

If they had a reply, I don’t recall it.

✹✹✹

Sunlight pierced my eyes. I awoke, still lying on my stomach and cheek. My mouth tasted like the culmination of a hundred mistakes. I should have grabbed a bottle of Jägermeister for mouthwash.

I felt like my head was in a vise and my leg had slept on a bed of nails. I rolled my legs off the bed. A strawberry patch bloomed on my bandages—I would need to change them.

“I need coffee,” I said to Kira’s sleeping body. They had a terrifying and exhausting night too—better to let them sleep.

I found a drip coffee maker on the counter and a can of ground coffee in the pantry. I turned it on and sighed. It would be horrible, but it would be coffee.

“Unnnnggghhh... Viktor...” I looked around to see Chai, lying across the couch, rolling to sit up. He rubbed his face with his palms. He looked like he just woke from an all-night bender.

I walked over, touching the earring, speaking low to avoid anyone hearing me. “Hey... uh... buddy, how do you feel?”

“Like I died.”

“You kind of did.”

“Who’s the redhead? She looked kind of familiar.”

“Rue.”

“Roux, like the sauce in Étouffée? Name doesn’t ring a bell.”

“I don’t think so. I don’t know what that is.”

“What about you man, how do you feel?”

“I feel like I almost died last night. Yet, it was all too easy—too neat. A fucking movie with a meat locker trope.” My shoulders sagged and I let out a breath. “It was as if someone wanted me to go there just to get you—the ghost you—and leave Klaus behind.”

“Dude! I died—again. That wasn’t easy.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I’m just busting your balls Vik. I know what you mean. Calm down. You survived.”

I didn’t want to calm down, but it was good to hear him joking again.

“Why are you talking to yourself?” Kira tugged on my sleeve. “And why are you holding your earring like that—are you talking with god?”

“Huh? Oh. No.” I looked back—Chai was gone.

“Come with me.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“I need to tell you something.”

“Ok, but first, let me pour us some coffee.”

Kira nodded and went outside to the firepit to start a fire. It was cold, but the afternoon sun was out and the fire would take the edge off.

I set two mugs on the table and slid into an Adirondack chair, fearing I may never be able to get out of it.

Kira was standing, shifting on their feet, arms crossed tight over their chest.

I gestured to the other chair. “You’re agitated. What’s wrong? I know you were almost kidnapped, but—”

They rolled their eyes and looked down, taking a breath.

“Father’s dead.”

For a second, I didn’t process it. Then, the words hit like a truck.

“What?” My voice was devoid of life.

Kira looked away. “It was a few days ago. You know what happened. He was sick and drank the rest of himself to death.”

I felt my fingers twitch. I forced them to stay still. “You didn’t tell me sooner?” My voice was tighter now, restrained.

“I didn’t think you really... cared.”

My jaw clenched. “It doesn’t matter. He was still my father.”

Kira let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah? Could’ve fooled me. You left.”

I wanted to pace around, but I was stuck in this goddamned chair. “You know why I left.”

Kira went quiet. “I know... I’m sorry.”

I took a deep breath, then let it out through my nose. “Have you told mom?”

“She’s not doing well. The dementia’s worse. So is her schizophrenia.”

My stomach twisted. “I need a second.”

Kira didn’t say anything.

I thought about when I was a kid. The way mother would slip into a world no one else could see. Father had never understood. He called her crazy. And Kira had always taken his side.

I stared at the fire. I wasn’t angry at Kira. Not really. I forced myself to breathe.

I thought about the good times. My mother humming while she brushed her fingers through my hair. The times she would talk about things that no one else could understand, and I would nod along, pretending I could see what she saw.

I knew what she was going through, because I had gone through the same thing. We weren’t in the same stage of it, after all, I was only a child. But I knew. The guilt, the fear—the terror of being an outcast. Of everybody looking at you like you’re insane. Like you can’t be trusted.

But then, the times of clarity. The times of love. When our family was happy. Through the harsh winters, when we would bundle up all together. Even though Kira didn’t get it, maybe if I tried to explain, they could.

I breathed in... then out.

I looked at Kira. Their expression was guarded, unsure. I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded. Kira nodded back.

“Morning,” Finn said as he stepped outside, steaming mug in hand.

“It’s afternoon,” Kira corrected. “Where’s that psycho-assassin?”

“Right. Rue woke up at sunrise and stepped out, checking the perimeter or something. Me, I went right back to bed—that’s too damn early.”

Finn took a seat on one side of me, Kira, the other. The three of us silent, sipping our burnt coffee. The cool breeze ruffling our bedheads.

“You know,” Finn began, crossing his arms, “I get why you don’t trust us.” He glanced at Kira. “I wouldn’t either.”

Kira stared at him. “And why are you saying this?”

Finn exhaled, rubbing his face. “Because you should at least know why I hate these bastards.”

I turned my head slightly, watching him. Finn didn’t seem like the type to talk about himself. Not like this.

“Why do you hate them?” I asked.

“Because I saw what they did to Klaus.”

At that, I could feel Chai perk up, but he didn’t appear.

Finn stared at the fire, lost in thought. Then he shook his head. “Klaus was my older brother, well, half-brother. Different fathers, different last name.”

His last name was Federman, so I assumed he was German. He already told me they were brothers, but Klaus didn’t look like Finn—not really.

In my research, I had found minor criminal charges on Finn, but not much. They definitely didn’t cover everything he’s done.

Finn continued, interrupting my thoughts. “Klaus wasn’t always like that. He was a good kid, once. Happy, energetic, loving. The kind of kid who laughed too loud and got attached to things too easily.”

He looked up for a moment. “I remember when we were kids, he had this beat-up old stuffed dog. He loved that thing. Carried it everywhere. Even after the other kids made fun of him, he wouldn’t let it go.”

I couldn’t picture it—Klaus smiling, laughing, and carrying around a stuffed animal like an actual child. The man I knew had been ruthless, unrelenting.

“What happened?” Kira asked. There was a look of sympathy on their face then.

Finn’s expression darkened. His gaze moved back to the ground. “I don’t know exactly what broke him. I was too young. But one day, he just... changed. Stopped smiling. Stopped caring. Started looking at the world differently.”

“Kill or be killed,” Rue interjected. When did she get here?

“The only way to survive was to be stronger than everyone else,” she added.

Now I understood. Why Klaus had tried so hard to kill me. He saw me as a threat. A challenger in a game of survival he’d been playing since he was a kid.

Finn let out a bitter chuckle. “I kept thinking maybe—just maybe I could’ve stopped him. If I had just said something different. Done something different.”

His fingernails tapped against the arms of the chair. “But by the time I was the age he had been when it happened, it was too late.”

I watched him carefully. “You were born into the family business, right?”

He nodded.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-six.”

I froze. I hadn’t realized the org had been operating that long—at least that long. That meant it wasn’t some new organization—it had deep roots.

Finn suddenly stood up, brushing his hands off. “Gotta take a piss.”

“We didn’t need to know that,” Kira spoke all our thoughts.

Finn disappeared behind the side of the cabin. I watched him go.

I had noticed it on the drive over. The way his hands trembled when he thought no one was looking. The way his jaw clenched like he was trying to hold something back. The way his eyes kept darting, unfocused, like he wasn’t really here.

I slid to the seat’s edge, leaning on the arms for support, pressing up. No good.

Kira saw me struggling and stood to help. “Where are you going?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I followed the path that Finn left in the leaves.

✹✹✹

I found him leaning against the side of the cabin, a cigarette already between his fingers. His free hand clenched into a fist, shaking. He took a long drag, staring out at the trees.

“You know that will kill you, right?”

“Jesus,” he muttered, exhaling smoke, “you really are a shadow. In my line of work, I’ll probably catch a bullet before I catch cancer.”

I leaned against the wall next to him. “You’re shaking.”

Finn scoffed, bringing the cigarette back to his lips. “Yeah? So what?”

He shook his head, laughing humorlessly, like he always did. “You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?”

“Yeah.”

Without looking at me, he held the cigarette pack out. “Want one?”

I shook my head. Finn flicked his lighter open, the flame momentarily lighting up his face in the shade of the trees. His eyes were frustrated. Fractured.

He smoked in silence for a while. The only sound was the faint crackle of the fire in the pit. Finally, he turned to me.

“Why did you kill him?”

Continue to Chapter 20.

Continue reading for Chapter 18, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Discussion of murder/violence, medical care, abduction

Last time on TSA

Viktor, Finn, and Rue’s plan to help Chaus escape fell apart.

I exhaled sharply, then lifted my hand to touch the earring. Chai’s presence was still there, lingering inside me like a dull ache. My hands shook, exhaustion hitting all at once.

That’s when Finn saw the blood. “Oh shit, you’re bleeding.”

“What?! Was Levitsky hit?” Rue burst into both our ears over the phone.

My body finally registered how close I was to dying and collapsed.

Pain barely keeps Viktor half-conscious as Finn drags him toward safety. Chai is silent. Plans to confront the Contagion crumble the moment Kira calls in terror. Now Viktor’s fight isn’t just his own. It’s personal.

Chapter 18

The pain hit hard on the way to the hospital. I awoke in Finn’s car, him driving, convincing me to go—that I needed it. I protested. If we went to a hospital in the city, someone in the org would hear about it. So, he decided to drive south to an urgent care in northern Jersey.

The stinging in my leg eventually settled into a dull, throbbing ache that spiked with every slight movement. I kept my eyes half-lidded, focusing on my breathing. I felt everything more now that the adrenaline was gone.

“You’re not dying on me, are you, detective?” Finn asked after a while.

I opened my eyes to stare at the rolling hills. The bright city lights had already faded into a memory.

“Not yet,” I muttered.

Finn took that as his cue to turn on the radio. He switched the channels before giving up and playing some crappy Korean hip-hop—K-pop?—from his phone. I reached for the earring, feeling the cool metal out of habit. Waiting for Chai’s inevitable sarcastic comment or dramatic gasp about our escape.

Nothing.

But I could still feel him. Faint. Distant. A smoldering ember. After being beaten nearly to death, killed in Klaus’s body, then jumping back into me, he was utterly drained.

When we finally pulled into a dimly lit urgent care parking lot, Finn got out first. He went around the front of the car to open my door. “You gonna make me carry you?”

“Shut up,” I grumbled, forcing myself to move. My leg screamed in protest, but I managed to get out of the car. I leaned on Finn heavily as we made our way inside.

The waiting room was mostly empty, save for a tired-looking receptionist and an old man flipping through a magazine. Finn got me signed in, and within minutes, a nurse ushered us into a small room. Must not be a busy night for them.

I sank onto the exam table while Finn leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “So,” he said once the nurse left, “what’s the plan?”

I stared at the ceiling for a minute, realizing that I didn’t really have a plan. Not yet. “Rue said to find Anna. Then through her, we find Ben and get to the old man.”

“The Contagion...” Finn trailed off. I looked over to him. He was trembling slightly, I could see it in his fists. Was he scared, or just angry?

The room was silent for a moment, interrupted every second by the ticking of a tiny clock on the wall. I decided to say something to try to calm him. “When we find him, we’ll end this.”

“We have to kill him,” Finn blurted. A beat of silence filled the room again.

“I know,” was all I could say.

I wasn’t sure how we were going to get to The Contagion, or even Anna, but I knew one thing. If I didn’t stop them, the disease would keep spreading. “But how? That’s the question.”

“I got it—we could use you as bait,” Finn suggested.

I frowned. “And then what? Let them take me in and hope I can get close enough to the Contagion before they put a bullet in my head?”

He shifted. “Essentially. But I’ll be there too. The org still thinks I’m on their side. We could use that.”

“That won’t be enough. What about Rue? If we could get her help—”

Before I could finish, the door swung open. A doctor stepped in, clipboard in hand. A pair of glasses perched on her nose.

“Viktor Levitsky?” she asked. I nodded. “You have quite a lot of injuries,” she observed. “Let’s take a look at your leg.”

She pulled on a pair of gloves, sat on a stool, and wheeled over. I tensed as she began assessing the damage, probing around the worst of the glass wounds, but I kept quiet.

“You’re lucky,” she said after a bit. “No major arteries hit, but you’ll need stitches. And–” she chuckled “—just how did this happen?”

I looked over to Finn, panicking for a second. Then I calmed and fabricated a response, “Just dropped a bottle of liquor.”

“Yeah, he’s real clumsy. Could never shake it from his childhood,” Finn added, earning a glance from me.

The doctor sighed before getting to work, first cutting my pant leg off at the thigh. I kept my gaze on the ceiling, trying not to flinch as she stitched me up. Finn was quiet, but I could tell he was watching.

Eventually, the doctor finished, patting my uninjured knee lightly. “That should do it. Take it easy for a few days. Keep the wounds clean and change the bandages regularly.”

I nodded. “Got it.”

She stood up, turning to the door. “And by the way, try to be more careful next time.”

The door closed. I let out a slow breath, rubbing my hand over my face.

“That was fun.” Finn pushed off the wall.

“Yeah. Let’s never do it again,” I muttered. He smirked but didn’t argue.

I was about to slide off the table when my phone buzzed in my remaining pocket. I pulled it out. Kira.

I hadn’t talked to them in a week, was too busy investigating. I expected them to scold me about being distant when I picked up, but something entirely different happened. “Hello?”

Their voice came through, slightly breathless. “Viktor.” Something was wrong. I could hear it in the way they said my name.

“What happened?” I stood, ramming pain into my leg.

Kira exhaled shakily. “Someone tried to kidnap me.”

The words sent ice down my spine. “Are you safe?”

“Yeah, I–I got away. But they almost got me, Viktor.”

Finn’s gaze snapped to me, his body tensing at the shift in my expression.

“Who did it?” My voice was low, my jaw tight.

“I don’t know. I didn’t see their faces. But they knew my name. They knew where to find me.”

A cold rage settled in my chest. I had already realized that the org knew exactly who I was, but I never expected this. I never expected them to go this far. The org had tried to take Kira. That meant this wasn’t just about me anymore.

“We’re coming to you. Stay put.”

Kira hesitated. “Wait—”

“Stay put,” I repeated. I ended the call and shoved my phone back into my pocket.

When I looked up, Finn was already walking out the door. “Let’s go.”

Neither of us needed to say it. We both knew this wasn’t just a fight anymore.

This was war.

✹✹✹

The long drive to Kira’s location was more nerve-wracking than I expected. I noticed the smell of Finn’s car even more now. The old leather and cheap cologne scents filled my nose. I’ve always hated strong smells. I leaned my head against the cool window, watching the rain fall over the city.

Every second of the forty-five-minute drive felt dire, like at any moment Kira could be taken. I couldn’t stop fumbling with the exposed threads on the side of my cut-off pant leg.

Finn glanced at me, one hand on the steering wheel. “You’re quiet.”

I laughed sharply. “I’m always quiet.”

“Yeah, but usually you look like you’re gonna kill someone.”

That made me smirk, just a little. “I don’t have the energy.”

Finn drummed his fingers against the wheel. “Seriously, are you okay?”

I answered how everyone does. “I’m fine.”

✹✹✹

By the time we pulled into the emptying parking lot on Coney Island, my body had stiffened from sitting too long. I winced as I stepped out of the car. Finn got out to stand leaning against the hood, arms crossed, watching.

Kira sat on the edge of a bench near the entrance. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as soon as I saw them. I figured they must have come here because the crowd of Luna Park was a better choice than hiding out on some random street.

A red blur fluttered past me. Chai, the crow, less vivid. As he landed on Kira’s shoulder, their head snapped up, squinting in confusion. “What the hell are those pants?”

I followed their gaze down to my leg. More specifically, to the pant leg that had been cut off at the clinic. It looked ridiculous, like I had gotten into a fight with a lawnmower and lost.

Kira’s expression shifted from confusion to something closer to concern. “Wait. Are you covered in bandages?”

I shrugged. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

The white bandages wrapped around my leg blended into my skin almost perfectly. I guess I didn’t realize how pale I’d gotten since Chai possessed me. Must have been a side effect. I glanced at their shoulder, but the crow was gone.

Kira scoffed, standing up. “No, Viktor, you look like you’re about to pass out.” Their eyes flicked from my face to my exposed arms.

“Why are you so pale? Were you in a hospital?” Their voice sharpened. “You don’t have a car. How did you get here?”

I felt Finn’s gaze burning into my back, but he didn’t say anything. I sighed. “It’s complicated.”

They crossed their arms. “Oh, great. Because nothing in my life has been complicated lately.”

I exhaled, tired out of my mind, and turned towards the car. “Look, I’ll explain later. We need to leave. Now.”

They didn’t move. Their eyes darted to the car, then to Finn. “Who the hell is that?”

Finn just gave them a lazy half-smile. I ran a hand through my hair, hesitating before speaking. “That’s Finn. He’s—helping.”

Kira narrowed their eyes. “You get kidnapped or something? Blink twice if you’re being held at gunpoint.”

That almost made me laugh. “No, look—”

Kira took a step back. “Okay, nope. No way. You show up in a stranger’s car, looking like you just crawled out of a tomb, and now you want me to get in?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Kira, I don’t have time for this. We don’t have time for this. You ran here after almost getting kidnapped. You don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Kira looked between me and Finn again, then back at me. “I swear to God, if this is some weird undercover cop shit—”

I raised a hand. “I’ll explain later. In the car.”

They waited for another second before groaning loudly and stomping toward the car. “Fine. But if either of you end up pulling something insane, I will grab the wheel and crash this vehicle into the ocean.”

I turned to face the car. Finn was finally grinning. “Damn. I like them.”

I glared at him. “Don’t you dare think of hitting on my little sibling.”

✹✹✹

Once I got in the car, I glanced in the rearview mirror. Kira slid in behind me and sat with arms crossed. Next to them, Chai’s apparition slumped against the window, eyes closed, pale, fading in and out with bad reception.

I dialed the number Rue gave me.

“I can’t believe you’re alive,” Rue said when she picked up.

I exhaled. “Good to hear your voice, too.”

“Levitsky.” Her tone was sharp. “I thought you were dead.”

I looked to my bandages, then to Kira from the mirror. “Not quite.”

She let out a long breath. “What do you need?”

“A safe-house. Somewhere for me, Finn, and my sibling.”

“Three people?” She made a strange noise. “That’s pushing it.”

“I know.”

Rue cursed under her breath. “You need it immediately?”

“Yes.”

I heard something rustle on her end of the call. “Fine. But if I’m giving you a place, I’m coming too.”

I wondered why she would need the safe-house. Then I remembered she left the org. I hadn’t thought about what that might mean for her. “Won’t that be pushing it even further?”

“I’ll make it work.”

I glanced at Finn, who was watching me. He raised an eyebrow, waiting. I exhaled. “Where?”

“Come to me, then I’ll lead you there.”

She gave me an address then hung up the phone. Kira’s voice came from the backseat, confused and concerned. “Who was that?”

“Rue,” I said simply. I still needed to investigate Rue, so I decided to do that while we were on the way to her.

“Are you finally gonna tell me what the hell is going on?”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I made enemies. Bad ones.”

“Enemies. Yeah, that’s not gonna cut it.”

“A gang. I was investigating them. Undercover.”

Kira’s eyes were still on me. I could feel the suspicion radiating off of them. I guess that was a family trait. “That doesn’t explain why you look like you got thrown in a blender.”

“Things got messy.”

Kira let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Wouldn’t have guessed. How does Finn figure into this then?”

Finn, to my surprise, answered before I could. “I work with the gang. Well, not really.”

Kira sighed. “And you trust him?”

“...Yes,” I confirmed with my own sigh.

“This is insane.”

I didn’t disagree.

The conversation died out after that, so I started digging, first with Zoe’s dossier I had saved on my phone. Nothing. I texted Zoe for info while we traveled.

✹✹✹

We met up with Rue. She was in a matte black Jeep.

“Where’s the bike?” I asked.

“It won’t make it up the rough road to the safe-house, and I needed more... gear.”

We followed in silence—the night’s events had exhausted everyone. Eventually, the city lights faded, replaced by dark trees. The road narrowed, twisting into gravel paths.

Finn slowed the car. A cabin sat at the end of the road, quaint, hidden between the trees. It was the kind of place that no one would find unless they were looking for it.

We got out and walked up to the Jeep.

“This,” Rue said, stretching as she stepped out, “is your new home.”

Continue to Chapter 19.

Continue reading for Chapter 17, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Torture, gunfire, violence, murder.

Last time on TSA

Viktor escaped a brush with death by Joseph and Mei, only to be found by Rue. On org member who seems to want to help him.

“Detective,” Finn’s voice came through, tense. He would have only called if it was important, so what was wrong? “They have your boy. Whoever—dammit! They have Klaus!”

Viktor goes to save Chaus with a little help from his “friends”. The meat locker is freezing and Chaus is hanging by a thread. It’s unlikely they will both make it out alive.

Chapter 17

My grip tightened around the phone. “Where?”

Finn’s voice came through, weak and distant. “A butcher. In the freezer. They’ve been at it for hours.”

My chest grew tight. I immediately understood what he meant. Since they didn’t have me, they’d just torture Chaus instead.

He continued, voice strained. “They want you to go after him. That’s the point—it’s a trap.”

My throat was dry. “Then why are you telling me this?”

Silence.

Then, “Because you’re gonna go anyway.”

I looked over to Rue, who was standing in the corner of the room. “Damn right I am.”

Finn’s voice dropped lower. “Don’t go alone.”

I almost laughed. “I don’t have much of a choice.”

“Hey—” he started, but it was too late. Static cut through the line, then silence. I pulled the phone back, checking the screen. The call had dropped. I cursed under my breath. Chaus was running out of time.

“Let me guess,” Rue said. “That was Finn.”

I didn’t bother asking how she knew. “Chaus is being held as bait.”

Rue exhaled sharply. “Who—Chaus?”

“You knew Klaus—you know that’s not him. You heard of Chai. Put Chai in Klaus’s body, you get ‘Chaus’”.

She looked puzzled. “You’re shipping a person and... what, a soul?”

That’s interesting—she said ‘soul’, whereas most people would assume ghost. I didn’t have time for a ghost-physics lesson, though, so I said, “Trust me, there’s no romance in that relationship.” I didn’t wait for her response and moved toward the door.

“Wait,” she commanded.

I turned. Her expression had shifted. It was no longer detached. It was serious.

“You know this is what they want, right?” she asked. “They want you to be the hero and go save him.”

I pressed my hand against my face instinctively. “I know.”

“And you’re still going?”

“I don’t have a choice,” I pressed harder. “I can’t just let Chaus die.”

Rue stared at me for a long moment. Then, finally, she exhaled and shook her head.

“You’re either the bravest person I’ve ever met,” she muttered, “or the dumbest.”

My phone buzzed. Finn had texted his GPS coordinates. “I’m going.”

“I’ll drive.”

“What?”

“I said I’d tell you how to stay alive—that’s by doing what I say, let’s move.”

✹✹✹

We walked outside to her vehicle—a motorcycle. Of... course.

“Does everyone in this so-called gang have a motorcycle?” I exclaimed.

“Everyone who knows how to get in and out quickly.”

I slid my hand down my face. “Fine.”

She hoisted her leg over and sat on the motorcycle, reached for her helmet, and started putting it on. “Shoot, I don’t have another helmet.”

“It’s fine. We—Chaus doesn’t have time for this.”

“But you need a helmet. We might get pulled over and get a ticket. Or we might crash, and you’ll die from a head injury.”

“You kill people for money, and your biggest concern right now is a citation? I’ll be fine, we need to go now!”

“Fine. If you get a head injury, you’re not claiming it on my insurance.”

I sat behind her on the bike. She twisted the throttle, the acceleration nearly threw me off—I held on to her for dear life. It was electric, sleek, silent, and deadly—like Rue.

✹✹✹

Rue pulled into an alley a couple of blocks away from the butcher shop with barely a sound. I got off the bike and looked around the corner. The building looked more like a warehouse than a shop.

I looked back—Rue was gone. I heard soft metal clanks and looked up to see her scurrying up the fire escape. How did she get up there so fast?

My phone started buzzing—unknown number. At a time like this, it probably wasn’t a spam call.

“Do you have any earbuds? Put one in.” Rue commanded over the phone.

I did, so I did. “Done.”

“I’m patching in Finn.”

“Yo, I’m Finn.”

“I know who you are. What’s happening?”

“Nothing much, how about you?”

“Sit-rep.”

“You’re no fun. About fifteen minutes ago, four goons left the building, got in a black SUV, and drove off. Haven’t seen any movement since.”

“Finn, go to the back of the building and make sure no one goes in or out. Stay out of view of the cameras. You’re still clear with the org, and we need to keep it that way.”

“Good idea—on it.”

“Levitsky, approach the building slowly, I’ve got eyes and your back.”

“Roger,” I clipped, finally getting to use my radio discipline for the first time in weeks.

I could imagine her lying flat on the roof up there, sniper rifle peeking over the edge, looking through the scope. Just like when she saved me from Joseph and Mei.

I reached the building—inside reeked of blood. I didn’t see anyone on my way in. The whole place was one giant meat locker. Clear plastic strips blocked every doorway, blinding me and making a swooshing, crinkly sound each time I pushed through.

Hunks of meat dangled from the ceiling, forming a frozen jungle. The place was a gang cliché—like they were putting on a show for me. I gripped my gun like a lifeline as I crept forward. I tried to keep my footsteps light, though my exhaustion dragged me down, ragged breaths puffing out in wisps.

I weaved through meat pillars, then I saw him. Chaus hung from bound wrists on a meathook. His head sagged forward, bare feet limp below him. Blood soaked into his shirt, freezing over. His entire body was covered in purple and black bruises. Finn wasn’t lying when he said that they had been going at it for hours.

I moved fast. “Chai,” I whispered, gripping his arms. His skin was cold to the touch. A groggy groan left him as his swollen eyes cracked open. His mouth moved, but no words came out. I didn’t have time to talk to him.

The hook was too high up. Being short sucks sometimes. I followed the chain up with my eyes to a motor at the top. The down button was on a nearby column—I pressed it, lowering him just enough that I could rest him on my shoulder.

I grabbed his arm and heaved, his body collapsing against mine in a fireman’s carry. Shit, tall people are heavy. He was entirely dead weight. My muscles screamed in protest, but I forced myself to move. His feet still dragged behind me as I moved to exit the building.

I hesitated as I saw a card table in the corner, two chairs pulled out, a bottle of Jägermeister sitting on top. Seriously? They are pushing the German gang trope so hard here. They must have been warming themselves up with swigs between punching sessions while Chaus froze to death.

“Levitsky—what’s—hold—” Rue’s voice crackled in my ear. Cellphones shouldn’t sound like radios, but the metal walls of the meat locker were degrading the signal.

“I’ve got Chaus—Hello?” No reply.

I couldn’t keep carrying Chaus. He was too heavy for me. I started towards the table to sit him down and try to get a signal to Finn. I didn’t get very far before I heard a voice from behind.

“Drop him, Levitsky!”

An org member who looked more like a typical skinhead stepped out from behind a frozen cow.

I crashed to the floor behind a crate, half-dropping Chaus. Seriously? A crate of Jägermeister. I guess a meat locker is a great way to keep it chilled.

“Come out!” Hitler’s minion said.

I adjusted my grip on my gun, sweat slicking my palm despite the cold air. Crouching, I reached around the crate and fired a couple of rounds in his direction. I peered through the gaps between bottles, but could not see him.

A reign of bullets crashed into the wall behind me. I whipped my head around just in time to see Chaus jerk violently, his body spasming. Blood spurted from his side.

“Nooo!”

They weren’t aiming for me, but bullets went wide, shattering the crate of liquor bottles. Glass exploded in every direction. A bullet graced my thigh as shards sliced through my pants and skin. A cry escaped through my lips.

I clenched my teeth and fell flat to the floor. Under a hunk of meat, I could see the bald minion’s legs. I fired until he screamed and dropped. My bullets slammed into his exposed side as he let out a gargle and his gun spun to a stop on the ground.

I looked back at Chaus. My breath caught. I scrambled toward him, knees sliding on the tile. I put my hand against the wound, pressing down hard. His lips moved, but nothing came out except a wet, choking sound. Blood pooled underneath his body, too much, too fast.

His fingers twitched once. Then he was still.

✧✧✧

A familiar weight pushed in. Cold seeped into my veins, filling every inch of me like ice water. I reached for the cross earring.

“Viktor…”

I went rigid. Chai was back in my head. I stood up from behind the crate, my thigh screaming fire and spitting hot blood.

“Lev—ski—you—company—SUV” Rue said in my ear as I heard her rifle bark. It sounded like the SUV was back, now that they had me. And with me, they had Chai too—that’s probably what they wanted all along. I had to get us out of here.

Rue was taking care of them, though. If she and Finn weren’t here, I’d probably be captured or dead right now. The org didn’t plan on them being here to support me.

As I was thinking of what to do next, Chai spoke.

“There’s another guy in the back.”

My stomach clenched. I hadn’t seen anyone else, but Chai had. I heard his voice in my head again.

“He’s waiting at the exit.”

Forcing myself to move, I stepped over Chaus’s body, which was now neither Chai nor Klaus. A pit formed in my stomach as I maneuvered past the puddles of blood slicking the floor.

I walked toward the back exit, my leg dragging and scraping on the floor. I grabbed the cross earring on my right ear with my left hand, gun still gripped in the other.

“To your left—go slow, stay quiet,” Chai cautioned.

A man stood in the doorway, gun raised, facing the wrong direction towards the sound of gunfire—the commotion caused by Rue out front. He had been waiting for me. I would have walked right into his grasp.

I fired first, catching him by surprise. The bullet hit him square in the back. He hit the ground with a heavy thud. I stood frozen for a moment, my breath ragged.

“You have to move,” Chai’s voice pushed through my haze. I nodded, though I barely felt in control of my own limbs anymore.

I stumbled toward the back door, the glass shards lodged in my leg biting with every step. My body was running on nothing but adrenaline. Chai was drained when he repossessed me, then he borrowed some of my energy.

A familiar cold air hit my face as I pushed through the door, then stared into the barrel of a gun. Finn—his jaw tight. His gaze followed the blood trail behind me. A breath left him as he lowered his gun.

I lurched toward him, my body trembling with exhaustion. Rage boiled under my skin. My voice was raw. “You just waited out here?”

Finn didn’t react, not really. “That’s what I was told to do.”

I clenched my fists. “Chaus is dead.”

“I know.”

The words hit me like a punch to the ribs. I took a sharp step forward, raising my finger to point at him. “You let him die, you coward!”

Finn’s face hardened, his voice was cold and firm as he gestured to another dead body by the door, “I was guarding the back. If I weren’t, you would be dead.”

I opened my mouth, then shut it. Because I knew he was right.

I exhaled sharply, then lifted my hand to touch the earring. Chai’s presence was still there, lingering inside me like a dull ache. My hands shook, exhaustion hitting all at once.

That’s when Finn saw the blood. “Oh shit, you’re bleeding.”

“What?! Was Levitsky hit?” Rue burst into both our ears over the phone.

My body finally registered how close I was to dying and collapsed.

Continue to Chapter 18.

Continue reading for Chapter 16, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Swift, mild violence.

Last time on TSA

Joseph and Mei came to clean up the loose end that is Viktor. He barely escaped with unexpected help from a red blur on a rooftop.

My hands were shaking as I locked my room door behind me. I collapsed onto the tiny bed, my eyes already closing. Images of figures in my apartment flashed into my mind’s eye before fading away.

I barely had time to process them before I passed out.

Viktor is finally alone and hidden from the gang—or so he thinks. Someone has come to trade words—rare currency in a city that trades in blood—their language measured, each phrase calculated to cut without spilling. Viktor’s instincts tell him to let them in. His instincts have been wrong before.

Chapter 16

A current swept me up and slammed water into my face. Salt infected my eyes. It stung—it stung so badly. I saw the others struggle to crawl up the currents.

Some made it to the top, reaching their heads up for any amount of air that they could get. But the rapid waves covered their noses and choked them even more.

All of the others made attempts to survive. All I did was watch.

I thought about swimming up to the top, but I didn’t. These rich bastards can have all they want. They can kill with no consequences. I’ll let them have their happy ending.

I tried to close my eyes to accept what was happening to me, but I couldn’t keep them closed for long—couldn’t control myself. My body thrashed as it struggled for control against the water. I felt it creep into every crevice of my body.

Suddenly, the pitch-black water was lit up by a white expanse. Fuzzy static filled my ears. I felt the pressure lift off my shoulders.

✹✹✹

I woke up in a cold sweat. A nightmare, of course. I wasn’t in deep water, I was lying in bed in my motel room. Why did it feel so real?

I’ve had vivid dreams ever since I was a kid, but never like this. How could I be so stupid? I almost got myself carved open on my own floor, and for what?

The light sound of footsteps outside the door interrupted my thoughts. My confusion and exhaustion vanished in an instant. I reached under my pillow for my gun.

The hallway was silent. Then another step. Someone was there. My grip tightened around the pistol as I stood.

The thin motel carpet barely muffled my movements as I crept toward the door. This stupid cheap motel didn’t have a peephole. Whoever was out there, they weren’t knocking. That meant they weren’t supposed to be here.

I could surprise them if I moved quickly. They wouldn’t expect me to be ready. Slowly, I turned the lock. I wrapped my free hand around the door handle and made my move, yanking the door open.

The figure outside barely had time to react before I struck, pistol clenched in my fist glancing off their jaw as they stumbled back. Moving way too fast, they recovered and dodged my next swing.

I raised my gun, finger hovering over the trigger guard. The motel’s dim light poorly illuminated the space. The person outside my door was a woman. She stood in a defensive stance, arms raised but not attacking.

She had long, bright-red hair, the kind that looked dyed instead of natural. Her blue eyes resembled Finn’s. The expression she wore was unreadable, but there was no fear in her eyes.

When she shifted, her hair caught the light and reminded me of what I saw on the rooftops. “You! You’re my guardian angel,” I said, lowering my gun.

“I think you’re confused. Did Joseph hit you in the head?”

I retrained my gun on her. “Who the hell are you?!”

She exhaled through her nose. “Could have let me knock first.”

“You followed me here,” I accused.

“That’s what happens when you make a mess and expect no one to notice,” she said, unyielding. She didn’t move, didn’t reach for a gun or knife. Didn’t flinch, even as I took a half-step closer.

“Go on, then”—she said, tilting her head slightly—“shoot.”

I didn’t. I couldn’t. Something wasn’t right.

She would have killed me by now if she really wanted to. She had every opportunity on the street. “What do you want?”

“To keep you alive,” she said simply.

I didn’t lower my gun. “Bullshit.”

“If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t have heard me coming.”

She had a point. Her voice was calm—calculated. She wasn’t afraid, but she also wasn’t provoking. She seemed to know exactly what she was doing—could have easily killed me in my sleep without me even knowing.

Slowly, I eased the gun down, though I didn’t put it away. “Fine. Talk.”

She sighed. “You’re on borrowed time, Levitsky. The org wants you gone, and they’re not going to stop hunting you.”

I already knew that, thanks—I thought but didn’t dare speak. I noticed she used my real name. “How do you know this?”

“Because I was a part of it,” she replied. “But I don’t work for them anymore.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And I’m supposed to believe that?”

She shrugged. “Don’t care if you do or don’t. I came here to tell you how to stay alive. If you don’t want my help, then I have other business to attend to.”

I studied her, searching for any sign of deception. I wasn’t a naive person, but something about the way she spoke made me want to believe her. Still, I couldn’t afford to be careless.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

She hesitated, as if she had forgotten her own name. “It’s Rue.”

✹✹✹

I didn’t have a better idea, so I led Rue into my room. The least I could do was investigate her on my own later, but for now, we needed to talk.

The door clicked shut behind us, sealing out some, but not enough, of the sounds of the city. I dropped onto the edge of the mattress, exhaustion threatening to take me over.

Rue lingered by the door, hands in her jacket pockets. “You look terrible,” she said, leaning against the wall.

I huffed out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, it’s been that kind of month.”

“You ever gonna stop running?” she asked, almost out of nowhere.

I frowned. “What?”

She let the silence stretch just long enough before speaking. “You know, Levitsky, you’ve been playing defense this whole time. Just waiting for the next attack. But at some point, you’re gonna have to decide how this ends.”

I gave her a dry look. “And you know what to do?”

She shrugged. “I think you know what needs to be done.”

I scoffed. “Yeah? And what’s that?”

She just stared at me, giving no response. It’s always something with these gang people. I’d have to throw something out there to see what she knows.

“Where’s Anna?” I tossed out the name Finn said was his boss.

“Anna? Pssh, she’s nothing.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Levitsky, I don’t think you know her or who she is. I know you’ve never talked to her. Because if you did, you would have met with Ben—she’s always with him now—and Ben would have known who you were the millisecond he made eye contact.”

That reminded me of the day I saw Ben at the library with the person in the shadows who must have been Anna. Did he really see me then? Did he already know me?

“Why do you know me?” I asked.

“I saw you on the night...” she trailed off, then started over. “I followed you to the dockyard, where that idiot thug died—Tea—Latte—whatever. I watched you from the rooftops. You picked up something from the dirt and then—I don’t know—I could tell you saw something by the way you stumbled.”

“Chai.”

“No, I’m good.”

“His name—the thug—is Chai.”

“Is?”

“His name was Chai. You know what I mean. But that doesn’t explain why you know me.”

“I kept following you. To that old gangster ex-con. To get your ear pierced for some reason right after you got shot. To that diner a dozen times—you get coffee too much. To the warehouse. To Lenny’s job—you have him freaked out.”

She’s been following me a lot. Why? “Wait, did you see me get shot and ignore it?”

“You were fine.”

“It didn’t feel fine,” I muttered.

“Then I saw you go to the front—that medical supply store. You learned too much, too fast, about the organization—what you thought was a gang. I didn’t expect you to leave there alive. But then—”

Oh no, she couldn’t have seen—

“—you drowned Klaus. He would have—should have—killed you. But somehow you came out on top. But then you gave him mouth-to-mouth and brought him back to life.”

She wouldn’t make eye contact and was detached—very clinical—as she explained things. I felt like I was being dissected.

“And then Klaus vouched for you. It didn’t add up. I thought back on the events before. You talked to yourself a lot—I mean a lot—you stood out. I thought you were crazy. I’m sure everyone thought—”

“Alright alright, I get it,” I said before she could besmirch my dignity further. Damn, and I thought I had hid talking to Chai in my head smoothly.

“Sorry, I don’t say that to be rude. I say it because after that night in the ditch with Klaus, you stopped talking to yourself—immediately. But you did talk with Klaus, like you were best friends. I know Klaus, he’s no one’s best friend.”

She had been watching my every move, how did I not see her? “Okay, so you know everything about me, and you worked for this org. Why didn’t you tell them?”

“I expected you to be dead already. I probably would have killed you myself if Klaus didn’t, but you killed him first. And then, you somehow put someone else in his place. Look Levitsky, I know you’re not what you seem. I think you have something—some ability—that can stop Ben—that can stop the old man. I want him stopped.”

She leaned forward slightly, her expression carefully unreadable. “The old man—Anselm.”

“The Contagion,” my mouth said before I could think.

“Some call him that. ‘Contagion’. He’s been running this whole show from the shadows.”

My jaw tightened. Finn. He was the one who called him that. They both know that there’s more to this. Why do all these people keep finding me?

“Why do you want him stopped?”

“I have my reasons.”

I studied her. Why was she telling me all this? After I’ve already been hunted and almost gotten killed? She’s been watching me, I know that, but what’s her endgame here?

“Fine. What’s next?”

“He’s been in hiding for a long time now. Anna, she’s the way in.”

“That’s convenient for you.”

Rue’s lips curved into something close to a smile, something I haven’t seen on her yet. “It’s convenient for both of us.”

I exhaled slowly. “You really think this ends with him dead?”

She tilted her head, watching me carefully. “Don’t you?”

I didn’t answer right away. I’ve only had snippets of this old man, this Contagion, this Anselm, this Ben. Other than them being generally bad people, why did I care so much?

This somehow had something to do with Olivia’s murder, but what? Why is it my responsibility to take them down? But as I sat on the edge of the bed, I couldn’t help but feel that she was speaking the thoughts I had kept hidden away. Even from myself.

I replied, “Yes. I do.”

Rue gave a small nod, satisfied. “Then you know what to do.”

I could feel an invisible force tug at my eyelids, something I couldn’t ignore any longer. I knew I wasn’t thinking as clearly as I should be. Can I really trust her? Can I really trust anyone?

“You should sleep,” she said. “I’ll keep an eye out.”

I hesitated for a long moment, then exhaled sharply. “Fine.”

I stretched out on the bed, but I didn’t take my eyes off her right away. She didn’t move, just stood waiting. Like she was trained to be this patient.

Eventually, my body betrayed me and I drifted off into a fragmented sleep.

✹✹✹

A sudden ring cut through the air. My eyes snapped open, pulse surging as I reached for my gun instinctively. A second later, I realized it was just my phone vibrating on the nightstand.

I grabbed it, checking who had called. Only a few people had this number. I answered immediately, then waited for the caller to say something first. I had to make sure I had the right person.

“Detective,” Finn’s voice came through, tense. He would have only called if it was important, so what was wrong? “They have your boy. Whoever—dammit! They have Klaus!”

Continue to Chapter 17.

Continue reading for Chapter 15, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Gunfire, knives, explosions, violence.

Last time on TSA

The “gang”' office was raided, Viktor escaped with Finn’s help.

It finally groaned and gave way. Freezing cold air rushed in from the opening.

I pulled myself up, emerging into an alleyway. The city stretched before me, streetlights as bright as ever.

Sirens blared in the distance, but I was already free.

Freedom lasts minutes as the cops close in and the city itself turns against Viktor. Every alley leads to another trap, every rooftop another threat. Old allies turn on him, bullets follow, and a flash of red cuts through the chaos. By night’s end, he’s running from everyone, including himself.

Chapter 15

I was free from the office, but not free from being spotted by either the organization or the police.

If the cops saw me, someone would recognize me and assume I was playing for the wrong team, treating me like a criminal. On the other hand, if the org saw me out here, they’d think I was a coward and probably retaliate.

Either outcome could be fatal. Sticking around wasn’t an option. I had to get moving.

The tunnel deposited me in an alleyway. All the commotion was around the corner. The cops weren’t here yet, but they would be soon. I took off, running away from the sirens.

I wanted to be free of this gang—this organization—this whatever. But I still needed to solve Olivia’s murder. And the more I tried to run away from it all, the more I realized I needed to know how it would play out. I could figure out how to work my way back into the org’s good graces later.

I came to a main street. I wasn’t really familiar with this part of town. The buildings were only a few stories tall and closely packed together. The sidewalks were covered with people—the lunch rush crowd. I slipped into the flow.

I could’ve got out my phone for directions, but I wanted to stay eyes-up, head on a swivel. I looked up at the buildings to gauge the sun and shadows to figure out which direction I was heading, when I saw it.

A flash of red on a rooftop. I ignored it, figuring it was just someone out for a smoke, and kept walking with the crowd.

There were no close alleys, so I continued to walk straight, keeping pace with the flow of people. Since I was short, I wouldn’t be easily seen by anybody looking for me from the street.

When I saw the flash of red a second time, I thought back to when Chai first appeared as a crow, hopping from tree to tree. But Chai was still occupying Klaus, and I didn’t think he could do that when operating a body.

At the next intersection, I turned right, not wanting to wait for the crossing light. A halal stand hissed at the curb, smoke curling into the crowd. The smell of grilled meat and spice hit, reminding me I hadn’t eaten. I slipped past, weaving between queued up office workers.

A couple more blocks, and I saw the red flash again. I turned another corner and started thinking of a new plan. Was someone following me from the rooftops? The buildings were crammed together, but that would still take quite a bit of agility to navigate.

Underground would be my best option, then, but I wasn’t near a station. I hailed a yellow cab. I’d blend in with the anonymity of every cab on the street.

I didn’t want to go straight home, though. If I was being followed, that would lead them right there, so I told the driver to head in the opposite direction.

✹✹✹

Running had drained me. The SWAT raid curtailed lunch and I hadn’t even had a second cup of coffee yet. The driver dropped me at a café in Brooklyn he recommended. I ordered bagels and lox and a big mug of piping-hot coffee.

I pondered my next move, then it hit me how alone I was. When this began, Chai was soon in my head nonstop. When he went into Klaus, I was on my own again, but surrounded by gang /(slash) org members like Joseph, Mei, Finn, and Tony.

I had to pause. I didn’t really know Tony, or even like the guy, but watching him get shot to death was going to stick with me. Drowning my sorrows in an unlimited refill coffee mug wasn’t helping.

I finished my bagel. The coffee wasn’t helping, but it wasn’t hurting either, so I got a refill and moved from the window bar to a leather chair in the corner.

Without Chaus to steady me, I was drifting. And what the hell is up with Finn? One minute my trainer, the next my torturer, the next my savior.

Night started to fall on the city outside the café window. No one showed up to shoot me, so I figured it was safe to go home.

✹✹✹

It was completely dark by the time I arrived at my apartment. When I stepped inside, I immediately felt that something was wrong.

It smelled like home, the scent of stale coffee still filling the air. But there was something else beneath it. The smell of blood lingered somewhere in my mind. I reminded myself that it was just a memory.

My fingers hovered over the light switch. I didn’t flip it. Instead, I let my eyes adjust to the darkness. My notebook still sat open on the coffee table, pen resting across the page. Nothing was out of place.

And yet, as I stepped forward into my bedroom, my breath hitched. The image of Finn warning me about the raid flickered in my mind. Paranoia crept in, impossible to ignore. Had I been found out? Was I safe? Or had they just let me think I was?

I turned around and ran. It wasn’t enough. Before I reached the door, a shadow exploded from the hallway. My instincts tried to move, but I barely had time to register the silhouette before something heavy slammed into my ribs.

My back hit the wall hard, the impact rattling through my skull. Hands grabbed at my jacket. Something pressed against my throat.

“Thought you could just walk away?” A voice rasped near my ear—Joseph.

Adrenaline surged through me. I drove my knee up, catching him in the stomach.

The pressure against my throat loosened, and I twisted, breaking free just enough to shove him off. I threw myself toward the door.

Footsteps rushed toward me. He must have quickly recovered. I saw a glint in the darkness—but I ducked. His knife slashed at the air where my throat had been just a second earlier.

I reached up to my jacket, scrambling for my gun. I didn’t have time to grab it before a hand snatched the back of my collar. Joseph yanked me backwards.

My vision blurred as I slammed into the floor, the breath escaping from my lungs. A boot thudded against the hardwood. The shadow closed in.

No!

I rolled to the side just as a blade plunged down, missing my ribcage by inches. I kicked out, hitting his crouched kneecap. He fell to all fours, but still held the knife.

I rolled over on to his back, trying to wrestle the bigger man to the ground. He bucked, rearing back and slamming me into the wall.

He cried out in pain and stumbled on his injured knee. “You’re going to pay for that.”

But my gun was out, aiming at his center mass. “Stay there.”

“You don’t have the guts ‘Dimitri’,” he mocked.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Someone was beating on the door. “Joseph, unlock the door you idiot!”

Of course. If Joseph was here, Mei would be nearby. She was the backup in case his quiet kill turned loud.

Bang. Bang. Bang. This time, bullets, shooting from around the door handle. I guess Mei got tired of quiet.

Joseph looked back, jumping and dodging. “What the hell Mei?!”

I used the distraction to turn and run to the window.

“Oh no you don’t!” called out Joseph.

So I shot him.

At least I tried to, I don’t think I actually hit anything. But it bought me enough time to drop out of the window, nearly twisting my ankle again. I really needed to stop jumping out of this window.

I ran, my boots pounding on the concrete as cold air slapped against my skin. Joseph stuck his head out the window and started firing, shattering car windshields, setting off alarms.

I was out of his range, but I skidded to a stop, boots grinding on the sidewalk.

Ahead, a blur came around the corner and slid to a halt: Mei, her tattooed sleeves melding into the emerald green of her motorcycle.

Shit!

✹✹✹

I forced myself to sprint. My lungs burned, my entire body ached. I tore through the maze of backstreets, turning each corner desperately. She followed close, sliding to a stop to take the sharp turns.

I ran down an alley. Mei slid in behind me with a screech. My legs wanted to move. Every cell screamed run, but my head was two steps behind.

She raised her hands, each pointing a pistol. They both started spraying rounds.

I ducked behind a dumpster, a stupid move since it’s only sheet metal—but it was all I had. Bullets punched through. Thankfully, the trash inside caught most of them.

She paused to reload. I took off, knocking over trashcans, boxes—whatever I could to slow her down. They didn’t for long.

The alleyway opened onto an empty street. I ran out, the growl of her engine behind me. A broken streetlamp cast jagged shadows across the pavement. I inhaled, sharp and uneven. I had to keep going.

Down the avenue came the sound of another motorcycle. Joseph—when did he get a bike? I ran straight down the middle, having nowhere left to hide.

Then I saw it again. Another hallucination. A flash of red on the rooftop ahead.

But this time with a glint—the reflection of a scope catching the streetlight. I dove between the bumpers of two parked cars and landed just as I heard the report of the rifle.

I was still thinking, so I wasn’t dead—probably. Considering the bullet’s supersonic speed, if I’d heard it, I would have already felt it.

Instead, I heard a motorcycle sliding across the pavement, its rider tumbling behind it. Joseph—he was the sniper’s target.

Mei’s bike burst from the alley and braked hard, back tire skidding in a cloud of smoke as it slid to a halt. Joseph’s body and wrecked bike caught her eye. She revved, locked eyes with me poking my head up over the car’s trunk, then jammed the throttle.

The rear tire squealed as it spun in place, throwing up a veil of dark smoke. I saw my death in slow motion, Mei’s bike darting towards me, the Glock in her left hand firing rapidly, the car windows breaking around me.

An eruption of sparks killed her engine, followed by another sharp crack. She hadn’t moved—it was all in my head. She leapt off the bike, cursing. The sniper—my guardian angel—had fired again.

Sirens wailed in the distance. I couldn’t be seen here—it was time to leave.

I didn’t look back to see if Mei or Joseph survived. I figured I could lose all of them underground, so I ran, the city blurring around me. I reached a station and got on the first train out of there.

✹✹✹

Around an hour later, I was standing in front of a rundown motel on the outskirts of the city. I stepped inside, heaving from the chase. The lobby smelled like cigarette smoke and cheap disinfectant.

“Just run a marathon?” The person behind the front desk scoffed over an intercom embedded in plexiglass. I didn’t say anything. I just slid my cash through the slot.

“Room twenty-six,” he muttered, sliding me an actual key. I climbed the stairs slowly, muscles aching. It felt like my body was dragging me down as I went up.

My hands were shaking as I locked my room door behind me. I collapsed onto the tiny bed, my eyes already closing. Images of figures in my apartment flashed into my mind’s eye before fading away.

I barely had time to process them before I passed out.

Continue to Chapter 16.

Continue reading for Chapter 14, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Heartwarming family revelations. Gunfire, explosions, violence, murder.

Last time on TSA

Finn exhaled, shaking his head, “We want answers. We want to know why a cop is in our ranks and why Klaus,”—he flicked his eyes toward Chaus—“hasn’t been acting like himself.”

᠁

His jaw tightened. “The Contagion’s the one pulling the strings. The one who’s been spreading through the city like a disease.”

᠁

“Detective—two days.” Finn reiterated. “Do your normal rounds until then. Don’t do anything stupid. When the shooting starts, I’ll find you.”

Chaus is bruised, Kira’s brave, and Viktor’s in too deep. Between a raid, a sibling’s confession, and a ghost with a conscience, everything he’s built is unraveling. The lines between duty and guilt blur fast, and when the smoke clears, Viktor doesn’t recognize whose side he’s on. When the shooting starts, his mission is the first to bleed out.

Music pairing: Arriba — ATEEZ (YouTube, YouTube Music)

Chapter 14

Chaus and I met at the diner the next day. His face was badly bruised, so much so that he used some of his acting skills to cover them with makeup. It looked okay at a distance, but right here across from him, I wasn’t buying it.

Kira would be here soon for our regular meetup. So, we needed to wrap up our planning for what to do during the raid. Chaus wouldn’t be at the office, so I would be on my own.

Last night, while I was icing my face, I thought about just running away. Why did I need to go to the office the day of the raid? Since they were coming for the data, I knew it would be my last chance to find any info on Ben.

For all the bitching he did about my coffee habits, now that he was in corporeal form, he was drinking one with me. His had a ton of sugar, and it was barely dark enough to consider brown anymore, but it was at least coffee-adjacent.

It was clear he had something on his mind. “Look, Viktor, you don’t have to do this. It’s gotten too big. Just walk away.”

“What about you? What about justice for your death?”

“I-I don’t care about that anymore. I’m not even sure dying wasn’t my own damn fault. Sure, they used me, but I let them do it. I’m complicit.”

“Wow, you sure matured a lot in the past few weeks. Did Finn knock some sense into you?”

Chaus looked down at the table, and I regretted saying it the moment it left my lips.

“Look, I know I don’t have to do this. I still want to know who killed Olivia, and why.” I said, then stopped to think. I did still believe that, but it wasn’t everything, so I continued. “I want to know what’s up with this Ben kid and this old man—this Contagion. Somehow, I think it’s all related to me, and why you possessed me.”

At that moment, Kira walked in, early as usual. Chaus looked at me, shook his head, paused, then nodded. “We do this together.”

He stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. “Don’t get yourself killed,” he added. Those were the same words I had heard before from him—from Chai.

He moved towards the door, passing by Kira.

✹✹✹

Kira walked over and slid into the booth across from me. “Wow, this is a first. You here before I am.”

I grinned. “I had some other business to attend to.”

The waiter brought over a drink for Kira, already knowing her order. She wrapped her hands around it, inhaled gently, then shifted her eyes out the window where Chaus stood waiting.

“That other business looks older than you described. And I didn’t see any tattoos or goofy hair. Rather basic, really. He looks more boring than even you, Viktor.”

I sighed. “That’s not that guy, well—that’s not exactly—it’s a long story.”

“It always is with you. Speaking of which, what happened to your lip?”

“Cop stuff.” I replied. She gave me a funny look at that, but then turned serious, looking deeply at me.

“You know, the last time we met here, I saw an aura around you.”

“An—aura?”

“Yes. Like a red glow. I’ve heard about people seeing such things and never believed it. But then I saw it for the first time around you. I thought I was hallucinating, but I haven’t really had any before, not like...”

“Like me.” I finished for her. I was starting to think this ability of mine, to be possessed, was genetic. I had wondered if Kira had some sort of ability to interact with ghosts, too. Which reminded me. “Did you go see Mom? Did you tell her about Father?”

“I did, and I did. She was barely responsive—she wasn’t really there.”

Since Mother started seeing things, and Father put her in a home, she stopped interacting with the world. I was afraid to go see her in that state because I thought that’s how I’d end up eventually. Seeing your own fate tends to make it inevitable.

“You’re all over the place—back to the aura. You see, it’s gone now. Has something changed in your life?”

That question was a deep well that I didn’t think we had time to gaze into. I realized I must have not answered for a while because she was still looking intently at me. I had to tell her something.

“Some serious stuff is going on at work, but I can’t talk about it. I’m undercover, and if you knew anything about it, it would put you in danger.”

“Oh... but—”

“Hey, let’s not talk about this anymore. I need to get back to reality. I want to hear about you. So, that Allie Springfield, are you seeing her? You deflected last time I brought her up.”

“Oh, I see, look who’s deflecting now.”

“Funny.”

We both sat in silence for a while, sipping our coffees and contemplating the lines in the table.

Kira, my sister, hesitated. “Viktor, I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”

I looked up from the table, expecting more bad news about Father.

“You know how I’ve never really liked girly things, right? Well, I don’t even know if I’m a girl at all.”

The words hung in the air. I blinked. “You don’t?”

“No.” Kira shook her head. “It’s… hard to explain. But I’ve started using they/them pronouns, mostly around my friends. It feels right.”

It took a moment for the words to sink in. I didn’t know what to say, so Kira filled the space.

“And... I have been seeing Allie.”

“Oh.” was all my stupid brain could think to say.

“I wanted you to know. You’re my brother. I should have told you sooner. Maybe when Father… maybe—maybe we can finally be honest with at least each other.”

I nodded. The weight on my shoulders shifted, a little lighter. “Thank you. For telling me.”

“Thank you—for trusting me,” she—no—they. said, voice soft but steady.

“I always have,” I replied, my eyes glistening.

They had smiled when I hugged them goodbye, their own burdens easier to bear. I envied how easily they said who they were. Even now, after everything, the idea of exposing my truth felt like peeling my skin off.

✹✹✹

The next morning was the day of the raid. I entered the office and swiped my badge to go up the elevator as usual. I stopped on the third-floor, nothing was different. I couldn’t get past the scanner without Klaus’s eye. His access was probably revoked after the incident anyway.

As soon as I stepped back into the elevator, I heard the alarm. Its wails sliced through the air, growing sharper with every second. It was time. I hadn’t even had a chance to look for more data on Ben or his clones.

A text from Finn said:

Maintenance access behind the generator room. Take the tunnels, get out before bodies start piling up.

I heard muffled gun shots reverberating. As the elevator started to move, a loud crack added to the noise.

The elevator lurched down a foot, jolted with a crunch, and one door jerked open. It was stuck midway between the second and third floor. Smoke started seeping from the third-floor lab, filling the elevator shaft.

The elevator refused all commands so I crouched down and slid onto the second floor. An acrid smell filled my nostrils as I saw hot lava burning through the ceiling, hitting the floor, and burning a new hole.

I had seen this before—it was thermite. Red hot metal slag poured from the ceiling in thin columns. The organization was destroying the lab and whatever—whoever—was in it. I didn’t have time to think about what that meant for the clones in the tanks.

Secondary fires were springing up and dark smoke began to fill the open cubicle farm. I ran to the stairwell and practically jumped down the steps. I looked through the small glass window on the steel door and didn’t see anything. So I gently pushed it open and slid out.

Compared to the blaring alarm, my boots made little sound as I made my way through the corridors, but even so, each step felt like a death sentence.

Gunfire cracked through the building. I flinched. From that point on I didn’t hesitate. I covered my face with my jacket sleeve and ran through the accumulating smoke.

I pushed forward and ducked down a side hallway as another burst of bullets echoed throughout the lower level. The gang—the organization—was fighting back.

I turned a corner and stopped abruptly. A gang member was slumped against the wall. It was Tony, one of the people who went on my initiation mission. Blood pooled beneath him, his fingers twitching toward the gun.

A SWAT operator stood in front of him, rifle raised. He yelled at Tony to slide the gun over. Tony reached for the gun, then snapped it up, pointed at the operator. The operator didn’t hesitate before pulling the trigger.

I turned around and slipped back into the shadows before he could see me. I wasn’t going that way.

I had a choice—police or the gang. I knew the answer before I even finished the thought. I wasn’t shooting a cop. Shit. I still didn’t have a gun and I was in the middle of a gun fight.

I stepped into the first hallway of the south wing. That’s when I heard it. Footsteps, behind me, quickly approaching.

I didn’t have enough time to run to the end of the hall. I looked to see one of the gang members turning the corner. He pointed his gun at me, but it was too late.

The shot pierced through the air as he fired. The bullet went wild, hitting a fire extinguisher, sending it clattering to the ground, spraying foam everywhere.

He recognized me then, shrugged, and took off in a side hallway. I bolted and didn’t look back.

I reached the basement generator room in minutes. It was dimly lit. The hum of machinery masked the distant noise. The maintenance access Finn had mentioned was at the far end.

I shoved a crate against the door. It wasn’t enough to stop anyone determined, but it was enough to buy me time. Behind me, I heard metal scraping.

“What’s taking so long detective? Arriba! Let’s go.” Finn said, his blue hair poking out the side hatch.

I ran over, he started talking before I reached him.

“Just follow this duct. When you reach the end, push open the vent. In that room, behind the steel door is a tunnel.”

“What about you?”

“I’ve got my own way out. Here, this is for you.”

He handed me a Glock. I wasn’t sure if it was his or if he liberated it from an operator. I took it into the duct.

It was tight, almost suffocating. My ribs ached from squeezing through such a confined space. If I was of average male height, I wouldn’t have fit. I don’t know how Finn did it.

I passed by a side vent and heard voices. A gang member and an officer. Then, a single gunshot. A body hit the floor.

The officer exhaled into his radio, “Another one down—bastard tried to stab me.”

I clenched my teeth and shimmied faster. The exit was ahead. I pushed through the vent and opened the steel door.

The moment I was in the maintenance tunnels, I was already running. The air was damp and heavy. The concrete walls stretched ahead, seemingly endless. It was so dark that I could barely see the rust on my undershirt and hands.

I was almost there.

The final ladder loomed ahead, leading up to an old service exit. I grabbed the rungs, forcing my tired limbs upward. My muscles screamed, my breath uneven.

At the top, I pressed against the hatch, but it didn’t budge. I swallowed the rising panic and shoved harder.

It finally groaned and gave way. Freezing cold air rushed in from the opening.

I pulled myself up, emerging into an alleyway. The city stretched before me, streetlights as bright as ever.

Sirens blared in the distance, but I was already free.

Continue to Chapter 15.

Continue reading for Chapter 13, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Coercion through physical violence

Last time on TSA

Viktor and Chaus made a chilling discovery in a lab.

“We’re going to find out what the old man’s up to,” Chaus said in a reassuring tone.

“And we’re going to stop him,” I replied.

Our moment of strength was soon interrupted, our hope soon crushed as I bumped into Finn.

“What do you think you’re doing, rookie?”

The gang wants the truth, Finn wants payback, and Viktor’s running out of lies. Klaus’s strange behavior has everyone watching too closely, and Chaus’s silence doesn’t help. Viktor finally learns the gang’s name—but too late. Finn’s retribution carries old wounds, and the past returns, heavy in Klaus’s hands.

Music pairing: Bakushou — syudou (YouTube, YouTube Music)

Chapter 13

The room was a skeleton of what it should have been. It was mainly built out of dirty concrete. I couldn’t get the smell of mildew and something metallic out of my nose. A single bulb swung overhead, casting moving shadows.

I sat in a metal chair. My wrists were tied with coarse rope that cut into my skin every time I so much as shifted. My jacket and shirt were gone, leaving me in just my undershirt. The cold seeped through, wrapping around me like a second skin.

Chaus sat to my right, just as restrained. What bothered me most was the rusted drain under his chair. It was easy to imagine what ran through it—what was about to, if I messed this up.

I had been in interrogation rooms before, but never like this, and always on the other side of the table.

“Why did you let him tie us up? You could have taken him.” Chaus asked.

“Me?! He made you tie me up first, and you let him!”

“He had a gun.”

“Don’t you? They never gave me even a stun gun.”

Chaus looked away, then his whole demeanor collapsed in the chair, “We left it in the ditch.”

“Oh... yeah... but you’re a gang leader, couldn’t they give you another one?”

“That would be suspicious—big boss lost his gun? Yeah, that would go over great.”

“You could have gotten the one in the ditch.”

“I looked for it, but it was gone. Klaus had a backup, big son of a bitch, but I left it at home.”

“You—you what? Why in the hell would you leave your gun at home?”

“It was too big for a waistband holster, and the shoulder holster chafed my armpits.”

“Un-believable, you—”

thunk, thunk

Two raps on the steel door interrupted me. It opened, and I recognized the edge of blue hair as soon as it poked in.

Finn sat down across from us in another stained metal chair. He was taller and far stronger than me, considering how small his jacket looked on him. It did nothing to hide the black tattoos creeping across his hands.

He had a piercing on his eyebrow and a few in each ear. His skin was probably fairish, but since Chai possessed me, being next to my pale, ghostly skin made everyone look darker.

He wasn’t smirking like most of the other gang members liked to do. He just sat watching. Still, like seeing a shark fin come out of the water, I could sense something was wrong.

“Detective,” he said finally, his voice quiet but carrying. No “Levitsky”, no “Viktor”, no “Officer”—just “detective”. I didn’t respond.

He tilted his head slowly, a measured movement. “You’re deep in this now, aren’t you?”

I said nothing. I knew how this worked. He was waiting for me to let my guard down and let part of the truth slip. Then he would pounce.

One thing about this confused me, though. Why was Chaus in the same room as me? Standard practice is to split up detainees and pit one’s story against the other.

“Now, normally, I’d separate you two—standard interrogation tactic,” Finn spoke my thoughts. “But you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, detective?”

Finn exhaled, shaking his head, “We want answers. We want to know why a cop is in our ranks and why Klaus,”—he flicked his eyes toward Chaus—“hasn’t been acting like himself.”

Chaus didn’t react.

I still didn’t let out a word, but I knew that eventually he would start using other tactics to get his way.

Finn’s eyes narrowed. He stood up and grabbed the back of my chair, tilting it forward until it balanced precariously on two legs. “Introverted, aren’t we?” he said, clenching his teeth.

The ropes dug into my wrists as I gripped the seat for balance, my heart pounding in my chest. Finn didn’t care.

“You have two options here. Either you tell me why you’re really here, or I’ll make sure you never leave this room.”

I didn’t flinch—just stared, like he did a moment before. But being silent ate at my soul, so I spoke. “You’re wasting your time.”

“Am I?” He let go of the chair, letting it slam back against the floor with a metallic clang. I could feel the sound reverberate throughout my skull.

He turned his chair around with another clang, then straddled it backwards, sighing quietly. “Tell me, detective, what did you think you could achieve by infiltrating us?”

He called me a detective, even though I wasn’t yet. Did he really know I was NYPD, or was he making assumptions based on my behavior? If I didn’t give him something, he’d keep pushing until he got what he wanted.

The longer I stayed in this chair, the worse my chances were of getting out alive. I had to play it safe, though, and not give him anything he doesn’t actually know.

“I’m here for answers,” I said finally, voice firm despite the dryness in my throat. “Someone I cared about was killed—Olivia. I know her death wasn’t what it seemed.”

His face then said something else. Not cold detachment—not anger. I couldn’t quite tell what it was. He quickly masked it.

He started tapping his long fingernails on the top rail of his chair. The clicking filled up the silence immediately. Was he thinking—plotting his next move as I was?

I glanced to my side without turning my head. Chaus’s expression was as unreadable as always. He didn’t look frightened or panicked—still hadn’t said a word.

Abruptly, Finn stood up again, his dark blue hair catching the light. For a second, I thought he would hit me. “And just who do you think is running this?”

I kept eye contact with him even though it made me uncomfortable. At this point, I didn’t really know anything. All Chai had been able to give was “the old man”.

Finn was casting lines to see if I’d bite. Let’s see how he likes it. “Your boss, I’ve heard about her.”

“Anna? Pssh, she’s nothing.”

That’s something—I’ve got him on the line, I thought as I considered why I kept throwing out fishing metaphors even though I hate it.

Finn was quiet for a moment. Then, he looked away, his eyes on the wall. The bulb above us went out for a split second before turning back on just as quickly.

“No—it’s The Contagion,” he said under his breath, barely audible.

The name settled in my gut, though I didn’t know why.

Finn exhaled slowly. “You don’t know anything, do you?”

I clenched my fists against the ropes. “I know enough. Enough to—”

“If you knew enough, you wouldn’t be wasting your time chasing Anna,” Finn interrupted. “She’s nothing—just another pawn.”

I didn’t correct him. He was ramping up for a villain monologue. Better let him swim out his strength, I thought as my Father’s metaphors continued to entrap me.

His jaw tightened. “The Contagion’s the one pulling the strings. The one who’s been spreading through the city like a disease.”

His voice didn’t waver much, but I could hear the disgust underneath. “You’re working against him, aren’t you?” I said without thinking for once.

Suddenly, Finn laughed. It was short and sharp. Like something in him had snapped.

“Well, shit,” he said, face full of amusement. “Took you long enough, rookie.”

All of a sudden, I understood. He needed to make sure I wasn’t actually working with the cops, whether I was one or not. He needed to make sure I wasn’t actually trying to be part of the gang. This helped confirm Zoe’s dossier on the station.

If I were another shill for the force, or some idiot throwing himself into a gang he didn’t understand, he couldn’t trust me. I might still be an idiot, but he didn’t need to know that.

He had a reason for keeping me and Chaus in the same room. He wanted to see how Chaus—no—Klaus would react to this. That’s why we were both tied up. If Klaus were Klaus, he would have killed Finn right there, right then.

But how could he know Klaus wasn’t Klaus? How could anyone believe such a thing? I’d have to figure that out later, for now, I had to respond.

I let my head fall back against the chair, exhaling. “You were testing me.”

Finn clapped once, sharply, “Glad you’re keeping up.”

Beside me, Chaus shifted slightly, finally speaking. “So what now?”

Finn sighed, “Next, I redeem you with the organization.”

“The... organization?” A thousand other questions came to mind, but this one had been gnawing at me for weeks. I had to know who the hell we were working for—working against. “Is that what the gang calls itself?”

Finn smirked at me, “You really are a rookie.” I thought he was just going to leave it at that, but after a moment, he continued.

“This isn’t a gang, detective—it’s a business—a family business, sure, but still a business. Business is shady, and this one more than most, so they hire shady people to do their shady work.”

“Well, shit,” I said, face full of incredulity. This whole time I thought I was infiltrating a gang, when the gang was a front—a front for a business. This whole operation could have been an email.

“What about Joseph and Mei, the others—they all seemed like gang members?” I asked, thinking of Chai, who thought he was in a gang.

“If you’re not family, you’re just a regular employee. Some people wanna play thug, sometimes that makes it easier to do the shady stuff we need. The business just lets them believe whatever will get the job done.”

This just created more questions, what the hell is the family business?

“We don’t have time for 20 questions,” Finn interrupted my thoughts.

“Fine. So, how do you redeem us? A call to HR? A performance improvement plan?” I questioned.

Finn’s smirk faded. I was never good with emotions, but if his face showed anything, it was sadness. He turned to Chaus, “With the only language they understand.”

Chaus’s expression didn’t change, but I could feel the weight of the words settle between us.

Finn ran a hand through his hair. “They’re already suspicious of Klaus—or, well… whoever you are,” he looked over Chaus carefully. “And ‘Klaus’ vetted you ‘Dmitri’.”

“Klaus was an idiot,” he muttered. “We never got along, always fought. I never liked the bastard. But family…” he trailed off.

He didn’t have to finish the sentence for me to finally understand—his face said it all. The disdain, followed by regret, then the type of melancholy that swallows a person whole. I’d seen it all before.

“You still cared about him anyway—your brother,” I guessed. Finn didn’t really resemble Klaus, especially with his blue hair and piercings. More K-pop than Klaus’s smooth jazz.

“Half-brother. Doesn’t matter now. You killed him—he’s gone.” Finn looked toward me. “They want to send ‘Klaus’, here, a message for putting his nose where it doesn’t belong. He’s been digging around, probably helping you, detective.”

“And you’re the one to do that?” I asked.

“Normally, they wouldn’t send someone like me to punish a boss like Klaus, but they know that there’s no hate like brotherly love.”

He stepped in front of Chaus. “If you leave here like you came in, that’ll look suspicious.” Chaus nodded curtly—he understood something I didn’t.

Finn sighed, “I’m gonna have to make it look real.”

“Do it,” Chaus said, eerily calm.

Without hesitation, Finn struck. Chaus’s head snapped to the side. A fresh trickle of blood trailed from his split lip. He barely flinched.

Finn rolled his shoulders, shaking out his hand. “Gonna need a bit more than that.”

Chaus looked at him blankly, then spat blood on the dirty concrete floor. “Go ahead.”

“You see, I don’t know who you are, but you sure look like Klaus. Hell, you even sound like that fucking sadistic, racist asshole.”

Finn threw another punch at his jaw. I winced at the sound, solid and dull—I felt it in my teeth. I wanted to face the door instead of their corner of the room, but Finn’s performance commanded my attention.

“But you aren’t Klaus.”

A left hook.

“I don’t know how you did it, but I have some idea.”

A right hook.

“I’ve seen that freak-show Ben. I don’t know exactly what he is, but I know it’s not natural.”

A backhand.

He finally stepped back. I couldn’t help but think that Finn needed a better coping mechanism for his fluctuating emotions.

I looked over to Chaus, his face was bruised. Not an extreme amount of damage, just about enough to sell the act.

“Somehow, this all has something to do with you,” Finn said, drawing my attention back to him. “You’re not getting out that easy yourself, detective.”

He sent one quick punch to my cheek, splitting my lip, knocking my face to the side.

Finn wiped his bloody knuckles in a rag he pulled from his jacket. “Alright. That should do it.”

He looked at me. “This never happened. If things go sideways, I won’t be so nice next time.”

I met his gaze. “Understood.”

Finn stepped to the door.

“Uh, I think you forgot something,” I said, since we were still tied up.

“Right. Good luck, detective.”

I let out a sigh. “Not that…”

He smirked, he was fucking with us. I guess he’s not just his hardened criminal front.

“This will only buy a little time,” Finn said as he untied us. “In two days, there’s going to be a raid.”

He stood beside the chair, idly tapping his fingernails on the rail again. “Cops are coming in full force. When they do, the organization is going to shoot back. The office is going to become a battlefield.”

“Aren’t the cops working for the organization?” I asked.

“Some. But the Contagion—the old man, as most call him—has been getting too confident. The police chief was stalling. I guess there wasn’t enough on him to keep him in line. So the Contagion went around him. But the chief’s boss? Golden boy—lives by the rule of law.”

I couldn’t tell what Finn thought about the law. Maybe he was as pissed as I was that corruption so easily spread—a contamination. Finn wasn’t done talking.

“Golden Boy’s got a warrant for a raid to shut this building down and take the computers for info. Only reason we knew is because the Contagion has enough on one guy that he’d never think of not leaking everything.”

I’d have to figure out who that guy was. But it sounds like I’m not returning from leave, yet.

“Detective—two days.” Finn reiterated. “Do your normal rounds until then. Don’t do anything stupid. When the shooting starts, I’ll find you.”

That didn’t sound very reassuring.

“Oh, one last thing,” he reached into his jacket, pulling out something. He turned it in his hand and gave it to Chaus. “You’ll need this.”

It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. No clear markers, nothing flashy to identify it by. But I knew it well, and what it meant—so did Finn.

I recognized every sharp line, every angle, every scratch on its matte black surface. Its image seared into my brain by the adrenaline-fueled struggle over it in the ditch.

It was Klaus’s gun.

Continue to Chapter 14.

Continue reading for Chapter 12, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: Rather chill for once—except for the discussion of murder, paranormal stuff, and freakish experiments.

Last time on TSA

Viktor was assigned tasks to demonstrate his loyalty to the gang. Then he had an unexpected encounter with Ben.

Finn shrugged. “That’s what they say. Creepy little guy. Best stay out of his way.”

The kid then tilted his head, his eyes meeting mine across the distance, locking me in place. He didn’t smile, didn’t frown—just stared, unblinking. I averted my gaze as fast as I could.

There was power in the way he had looked at me—in the way he carried himself. Power I couldn’t ignore.

Viktor acclimates to gang life. He finally gets a chance to talk to Chai about the fateful night in the ditch. With a new guard duty job for the gang, Viktor gets impatient until he discovers a room that he can’t get into. When he finally does, he’ll wish he hadn’t.

Music pairing: Belaya Polosa — Molchat Doma (YouTube, YouTube Music) (them of the Belarusian “cowboy” fame)

Chapter 12

Being in a gang is mundane.

My next tasks were basic—just your average run-of-the-mill jobs as a lookout. I really expected something more severe—more violent.

According to the movies, to get into a gang, you must sacrifice your innocence and commit a compromising crime, such as killing someone. But they never asked for anything like that.

I guess Klaus was my blood sacrifice—only, no one knew about it.

I was glad they acclimated me to the gang quickly, because I didn’t know how much more I could be a part of and still go back to my real job as a cop. When I was finally assigned a security guard posting, the mundaneness of it all changed.

The building wasn’t particularly large for New York. Eight floors with a small break room on each, offices scattered about.

Finn, who I thought was just a driver, showed me around. Apparently, he also did a shift guarding the building. I got the feeling this job was for lackeys.

Finn walked me around the building, explaining the job. “So, this is the route. You go to each floor, walk the outer ring, check for anyone who doesn’t belong.”

“How do I know if they belong?”

“Everyone has a badge, like yours,” he pointed to the badge on my chest that said “Dimitri Karpovich”. He wore a similar one that said “Finn Federman”. I thought that was odd because his sun-kissed skin didn’t fit the name, though the blue eyes did.

“And if they don’t have a badge, then what?”

“You toss them out.”

“Like literally?”

“What else would you do? You don’t have a gun. Anyway, you can’t just go around shooting anyone you don’t recognize.”

“What if the person without a badge has a gun?”

“They’ll give you a stun gun eventually. They just want to make sure you’re not going to electrocute yourself with stupidity first.”

“Great.”

Finn showed me the other floors. I had access to all but the top floor, which wasn’t suspicious—that’s probably where the leadership was. You had to swipe your badge to activate the elevator. If you weren’t allowed on that floor, it wouldn’t go there.

Finn said, “You don’t need to go there, just make sure no one who didn’t belong made it that far.”

The third floor stood out. It was marked as restricted on the stairwell floor plan. I could access it from the stairs and elevator, but I could only go into a small lobby.

I wasn’t sure why the elevator allowed me to the floor, but didn’t let me go past the lobby. To this, Finn just shrugged when I asked.

When I patrolled past it, I noticed the door didn’t look like it belonged. The retina scanner was glaringly out of place among the standard keycard locks in the building.

Oddly, there were no cameras in the third-floor lobby or in the elevator that I could see. But there were cameras on every lobby and hallway everywhere else.

I’d taken to standing near the elevator at times, just to see who might be heading there, but no one went in. At least, no one I could see. This building was obviously another biotech business front. I needed to see what was on that floor.

The opportunity would come in a couple of days. Time was running out—I only had three days left on leave. My gang guard schedule had me on night shift then. Yeah, gangs are apparently that organized.

There was no way to bypass the retina scanner as far as I could see, but maybe Klaus’s eye could. The problem is, I hadn’t seen Chaus in days. To keep up the Klaus-act, he had to do Klaus’s actual job.

I texted Chaus and said we needed to talk that night.

✹✹✹

He arrived at my apartment a few hours later. Paranoid-me made sure to scan my apartment every night for listening devices. We were clear.

“What’s up? I’ve got a busy schedule.” Chaus opened with as soon as the door closed behind him.

Stress had been boiling in me for days. This set me off. “You—you have a busy schedule!? I’m glad you’re having fun playing dress up, but my life is at risk here.”

Chaus glared at me with the same cold expression he had that night when he brandished a lamp at Richard. “Dress—up!? If I didn’t do this for you, you would be dead already. If you had any idea what I’ve been doing for you...”

He must have seen the shock on my face. His arms, resting on his hips, finally relaxed and slid down.

He smirked, and one eyebrow lifted. “Hey man, you’re right, I’m sorry. There’s something about being in this body... I’m just angry all the time.”

I was too busy worrying about myself that I didn’t stop and think about what this was like for Chai. He was alive again, but he wasn’t himself again.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.

“I guess—I should.”

“Okay, what are you angry about?”

“I—I’m not angry about anything. I think that was just Klaus’s normal state. It bleeds through.”

“So you’re feeling something from Klaus?”

“Yeah, like it’s me in here, and he’s definitely gone, but there’s this... residue.”

“Gross!”

“Hey man, you’re telling me. I have to live in it.”

“Is that why you’re so good at pretending to be him?”

“That’s part of it. Another part is my failed acting career. I already knew what it was like to slip into someone else’s skin, well you know... figuratively.”

Chaus leaned back against my tiny counter with his arms crossed, looking down. He wore Klaus’s patented funeral director wardrobe. It was odd seeing Klaus, the man I drowned, but talking to Chai.

He looked up. “But it’s not just that. I’m using the same neurons he did. I can sometimes sense his memories, what his brain wants to do.”

“And it wants to be angry?”

“Yeah, like all the fricken’ time man. Bro, you got anything to drink?”

“Coffee.”

“Viktor, I love you man, but it’s after ten—no sane person would be drinking coffee. I don’t want to be awake, I want to knock myself out.”

I reached into a cabinet, subconscious of Chaus watching my short arms stretch to reach a bottle of vodka. I grabbed two cups and set them on my tiny kitchen table, and we sat down.

“Really Viktor, vodka? Isn’t that a bit of a cliché?”

“What, did you expect me to just ignore my heritage? I can drink it myself.”

“No, no—by all means, pass it over.”

I poured us each a shot, and we clinked our glasses. I sipped, and he swallowed his in one gulp.

“Hey man, this is the good stuff, you need to savor it.”

“Oh, well then, pour me another.”

I topped us off and glanced at his face. I couldn’t help but think back to that night with Klaus, fighting for our lives in the rain and the mud. It was hell for me. We hadn’t really had time to talk about it.

Once Chai took over Klaus’s body, he had to be Klaus. It would look really odd if he were bunking in my house. No, he had to go to Klaus’s house, brush Klaus’s teeth, and sleep in Klaus’s bed.

“What did you do that first night?”

He knew exactly what I was talking about, because he replied quickly.

“Well, it was the first time I had felt what it was like to be in control of a body in what felt like a thousand years. I was excited, I wanted to eat something. Man, it’s been so long since I tasted crawfish. I wanted a crawfish po’boy. I needed a crawfish po’boy.

But Klaus’s body was so pumped up on adrenaline from the fight, then the stress of talking to Mei and Joseph, I just didn’t feel like eating. I asked, ‘What would Klaus do?’ Well, he’s the boss, so he’s not going to hang out with these clowns all night. He’s also too old to go clubbing—he’d just go home.

So, I pull out his car keys, press the button till his car blinks, and hop in. Then, I realized I’ve never been to his house. I summon my inner Viktor Levitsky and think like a detective. Surely he’s got his house address in his phone map.

But, I don’t know his phone code. I take a look at his phone: iPhone, Face ID—genius. I’m in. I pull up the map and start the car. He’s got the boss car—sleek, black, reserved—but a hell of an engine under the hood. I peel off and crank up some trop rock—”

“Wait, what? Trop—rock?” I interrupted.

“Viktor, I’m from the Alabama coast. All you ever listened to was that stuff that sounded like Russian cowboys playing just around the corner at the mall—”

“Belarusian post-punk, dark-wave—”

“Whatever—and no one else in New York is playing my kind of music. So I played some damn Jimmy Buffett. Let me tell my story, man.”

“Alright, alright.”

“Anyway, so I’m cruising and finally get to his house. I open the door, throw the keys on that spot he clearly uses for junk, and plunge into his couch. Then it hits me—all that stress evaporated, and so did all my energy. I was starving.

I searched his fridge—just a few packets of ketchup. His cabinets—nothing but dishes. You can tell this man was a bachelor. Back in the pantry, mixed in with his first aid kit and liquor was the only food in the house.”

“What was it?”

“Viktor, man, I had been dead for what felt like ages, and the first food I find: a fucking bag of croutons and some takeout ketchup.”

“Did you eat it?”

“Yes.”

“With the ketchup?”

“Of course.”

“How was it?”

“Delicious.”

We burst out laughing, releasing all the stress of the past week in gushes. We simmered to a few snickers and poured us a couple more glasses of vodka. I stared into mine, not drinking.

“Viktor, what’s going on in there?”

“I killed him. He had a car, a house, a fucking bag of croutons—a life. And I took it.”

“You had to. He was trying to kill you.”

“Yeah, well, that doesn’t make it any better. Did you know he was the first person I killed? Five years as a cop and I never had to shoot anyone.”

“I’ve never killed anyone. I can’t imagine...”

“No? But you were in a gang.”

“You watch too many movies—this isn’t that kind of gang.”

After that, we were both done for the night. I went to my bed, and Chaus crashed on my couch. We’d have to talk about the third floor in the morning.

As I lay in bed, before I drifted off, I realized I never asked what kind of gang it was.

✹✹✹

The building was eerily quiet after ten. Most employees had already gone home, leaving only a small crew of maintenance staff. It was the perfect time to investigate.

“Are we really doing this now?” Chaus groaned as I stepped into the stairwell leading to floor three. I had grabbed him from his job on one of the higher floors with little to no one noticing me. “Because I’ve got to say, your stealth skills leave a lot to be desired.”

“I don’t have time for this,” I grumbled. “Neither of us does. Now, are you going to scan yourself or not?”

Chaus leaned into the scanner. He opened his eyes outrageously wide, more than he probably had to. A soft beep sounded, followed by the door unlocking with a quiet click.

The hallway beyond was sterile and oppressively quiet. The air was colder here, the temperature clearly regulated. LED lights cast a harsh glow on the polished floors. Doors lined the walls, each marked with a simple number.

I made my way cautiously, my footsteps echoing in the silence.

Room 3A held nothing but desks and computer terminals. The screens were active, displaying streams of data I couldn’t immediately decipher. I could think back to them later. For now, I needed to keep moving.

Room 3B stopped me dead in my tracks.

Bright, clinical lights illuminated rows of machines and equipment I didn’t recognize. Everything hummed faintly, as if the building itself was alive. My eyes locked onto a series of glass tanks lining the far wall.

The tanks were dark—thick liquid inside drowning the light. I swallowed instinctively as I approached them, dread pooling in my stomach.

At first, I thought all nine of them were empty. I walked to the middle tank, and a pale blue light inside the tank clicked on.

Staring back at me was the face of a child. I jolted back, my breath hitched, and my insides screamed. “These aren’t just tanks,” I murmured to myself. I regained my composure and took a closer look.

Its eyes were level with mine, but thankfully closed. The child looked to be around five years old, though I don’t have much experience with that. A readout with blue numbers ticked at the top of the machine:

Gestation period: 18,331 hours, 2 minutes, 5 seconds.

The numbers ticked up, 1 second at a time. I did the math—roughly 2 years—that didn’t make any sense, clearly this child was much older than that.

I stepped to the right, one tank at a time. The light clicked on each time I did. Each time, a new horror, a younger child. I reached the last tank.

A vaguely humanoid mass floated inside, its limbs underdeveloped and its skin translucent. It was almost human—but not quite. It looked like it was floating through outer space. The figure in the tank started twitching.

My chest tightened. I looked a the readout.

Gestation period: 438 hours, 16 minutes, 42 seconds.

My thoughts raced, connections forming faster than I could process them. That was only 18 days. “That’s impossible,” I croaked out, my mouth barely able to speak. I didn’t bother calling Chaus over to the corner of the room I was in when I pieced all the clues together.

If the tanks to the right had younger children, the ones to the left must beeee... I wasn’t sure if I wanted to even see. Whatever was going on here, they seemed to be getting better at it, faster at growing people—but what for?

My eyes drifted to the first tank—but it wasn’t the first. There was one more I didn’t notice, because, unlike the others, this one was empty, the viscous liquid drained away. Was its occupant out there, in the world, somewhere?

“Viktor…?”

Chaus’s voice pierced from across the room. “Look at this.”

He walked towards me. I was still frozen in place. He handed me a paper document that sent a chill down my spine.

There were rows of text:

Subject 1 – FAILED

Subject 2 – FAILED

Subject 3 – FAILED

It went on, until “Subject 12 – SUCCESS”. Unlike the others, this one had more details and a name beside it I couldn’t forget:

BENJAMIN

DECANTED 2014

SUCCESSFULLY GROWN

CURRENTLY STABLE

“He’s not a psychic missing kid.” Chaus spoke, voice trembling. “Ben is a fucking experiment.”

Our eyes drifted to the first tank in unison. We walked over, tiptoeing like the children would bust out of their tanks if we woke them. The first tank was empty, but it couldn’t have been Ben’s could it? He was... “decanted” 10 years ago.

I glanced at the readout:

FAILED

So, maybe just another failure after Ben. I wanted to scream, I wanted to run, but I had to know. I looked at Chaus. He read my mind aloud, “We’ve got to look.”

We stepped up to the second tank, the light clicked on.

There he was, sleeping. The same kid I saw at the library. The same blonde hair. But, not quite Ben—maybe a year younger.

I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was that a fire of rage kindled in my chest, slowly growing. I didn’t know how—or if—I was going to be able to control it.

Chaus called out the displayed gestation period, “34,999 hours, 0 minutes, 12 seconds—that’s impossible.”

The kid’s eyes flared open—sharp blue eyes piercing my soul—the same cruel look I saw from Ben.

“We need to move. Now!” I said, louder than intended.

Chaus and I headed to the staircase we came from.

“We’re going to find out what the old man’s up to,” Chaus said in a reassuring tone.

“And we’re going to stop him,” I replied.

Our moment of strength was soon interrupted, our hope soon crushed as I bumped into Finn.

“What do you think you’re doing, rookie?”

Continue to Chapter 13.

Continue reading for Chapter 11, catch up with the Part One Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: This chapter contains physical violence.

Last time on TSA

Viktor ditched Klaus, so Chai took over Klaus’s body. This seemed to convince the gang he was alright.

“So, you’re here to stay, huh?” he said, his tone casual, but there was nothing casual about the way he stared me down, suspicion on his face, clear as day.

“Mei seemed to be okay with it,” I replied.

“Yeah, well, Mei says a lot of things.” He stepped closer. One might say 'in my face', but Joseph towered over me, my face in his chest. "Me, though, I don't trust you. Let's go outside. You'll make a mess on the floor."

Viktor, undercover as Dmitri, sinks deeper into the gang’s world. Trust is scarce, and violence is currency. Joseph tests his loyalty with tasks that unsettle Viktor. For the first time, Chai’s voice is no longer in his head, leaving him truly alone. One test leads to an encounter with a kid who sees far too much.

Music pairing: You Look like You Could Use a Fuckin' Lamp — Mayor Breslin (YouTube, YouTube Music)

Chapter 11

The rain had stopped. It was now silent under the metal roof on the loading dock. Water in the ditch was receding. The fight with Klaus fought its way into my head. The way he choked underwater. The way he struggled and lost his grip... his... grip... on...

Shit! We forgot about the gun in the ditch. I could use it about now.

Joseph tossed me a towel. I had forgotten about my rain-soaked clothes dripping on the floor. That's the mess he was concerned about—not me lying in a pool of my own blood.

He leaned against a crate. “Listen, talk’s cheap. You want to stay? You’ve gotta prove your worth.”

At least he couldn't see the ditch. If the water got low enough and he saw Klaus's gun, I could not explain that away.

“How can I prove myself?”

He smirked, leaning in.

“There’s a guy that moves some product for us—owes us a cut, but he’s been holding out. We need you to send a message.”

I couldn’t afford to seem hesitant or defensive, but I also didn’t want to commit to something I couldn’t do. “You want me to threaten him?”

“Show him what happens when you cross us,” he said, his smirk gone now. I didn’t know how I was going to pull this off, but I couldn’t not do it. “When?” I asked.

He looked out into the dark alley. “Tomorrow night.”

Right, it was already almost morning now.

“I’ll go with him,” Chaus spoke up, standing in the doorway. “To make sure he doesn’t get himself into a bigger mess than we need on our hands.”

Joseph glanced at Chaus with a slight hint of confusion on his face, but it soon faded away.

“Alright.” He straightened up and clapped a hand on my shoulder as he passed. “Don’t let us down, Dmitri, you only get one chance.”

✹✹✹

The next day was spent with me being nervous out of my mind. I was alone since Chai had left my head. I had nobody to confide in.

I was scared that Chai could have been messing up the whole thing while I was away. The day passed sluggishly, but it also passed quicker than I expected—time is a weird construct.

As we were in the van heading toward the target’s location, my nerves were starting to show. My hands gripped the edge of the seat so tightly my knuckles turned white.

“Relax,” Chaus muttered, his voice low enough that the others in the van wouldn’t hear. “You’re gonna blow it before we even get there.”

The driver was named Finn, and the other one was Tony, I think. I sat behind Finn, staring at the blue hair that was long enough in the back to cover his neck. It stood out and didn't match the natural tones of the rest of the gang.

They were too busy discussing their plans to pay much attention to us. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were waiting for me to slip up—to give them a reason to doubt me.

Finn stopped the van in an alley a block away from the target’s store. The target was a middle-aged guy named Richard. He owned a high-end equipment store of some sort. According to Joseph, Richard had been hiding the gang’s cut of the profit in a safe in the store.

The front of the store was dark, the “Closed” sign hanging crookedly in the window. Finn stood next to the van to keep watch, while Chaus and I slipped around the back.

The other guy, Tony, was already at the rear entrance, fiddling with the lock. He must have been like Chai, just a lock-picker.

The door clicked open, and we pushed through. Chaus took the lead, moving upstairs with surprising stealth. The stairs creaked under our weight, which made my heart pound in my chest.

At the top, we found a small office and a heavy-duty safe bolted to the floor. Chaus pointed to the safe. “There.”

I crouched down, examining the lock. It was an old-school combination model, nothing too sophisticated, but it would take time to crack. Time we didn’t have.

“What are you doing here?!” A voice coming from the hallway startled me.

I spun around to see a man holding a golf club in front of himself defensively. This must be Richard.

Chaus stepped forward, his hands raised. “Take it easy, old man. We’re just here for what you owe.”

Richard yelled at us and swung the golf club, forcing Chaus to duck. It slammed into the wall with a loud crack, shaking a picture frame loose.

“Vik-d-damnit–d–Dimitri!”

Chaus shouted, moving to dodge another swing. I hesitated for a split second, then lunged forward, grabbing the club as Richard raised it for another strike. We struggled for control over the weapon.

“Let go, you bastard!” Richard shouted.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I watched as Chaus took advantage of the situation. He grabbed Richard’s arm and twisted it behind his back. The golf club clattered to the floor as Richard let out a pained yelp. Chaus shoved Richard towards the safe.

“Open the safe.” Chaus ordered, his voice cold.

“Go to hell!” spat Richard.

“Dimitri, pick up that lamp” growled Chaus. “Whut?" I asked.

“Do I have to do everything for you?” he said as he grabbed the lamp off the desk, his face more intimidating than I’ve ever seen Klaus or Chai have.

“Open it or I’ll hit you with this fucking lamp!”

Richard glared at him. I held my breath. The sharp, gleaming edge in Chaus's eyes mirrored the lamp's heavy metal base.

Richard reluctantly nodded, and I exhaled. He crouched before the safe and turned the dial. The safe clicked open a minute later, revealing stacks of cash.

Chaus stuffed the money into a bag while I tied Richard to his office chair with the lamp cord. Chaus stepped over and put the lampshade on Richard’s head.

“There, a masterpiece,” he said with a little of Chai’s usual mischief.

A muffled voice came from under the lampshade. “What am I supposed to do now?”

“I don’t know, why don’t you go walk into traffic?” Chaus replied and tossed me the bag.

“How? I’m tied up!” we heard as we walked out.

I jumped into the front passenger seat of the van and opened the bag to show Finn. He gave me an approving nod.

“Not bad, rookie,” he said, punching my shoulder, “you might actually have what it takes.”

I forced a small smile as we drove off.

Back at the gang’s hideout, Joseph gave us a once-over as we walked in. “Everything go smoothly?”

I tossed the bag of cash onto the table, “See for yourself.”

Joseph smirked, pleased with our job. I kept my expression neutral, not trusting myself to speak. I was deeper in this case than I ever planned to be. I couldn’t screw things up now.

✧✧✧

That night back at my apartment, I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling. This was all moving too fast for me to process. The day's events had been unsettling—not just the robbery—but the way Chai had acted.

He slipped into Klaus's skin, and suddenly, he's a violent criminal. Sure, he was a criminal before I met him, but this wasn't like the Chai I had gotten to know. I made a mental note to ask him about it, then took some melatonin to battle the caffeine and adrenaline that held dominion over my body.

✹✹✹

I woke up thinking I heard the crow pecking at the window, but my apartment was empty. The silence was deafening, so I didn't even bother to make coffee. I headed to the cafe to hear the background noise of busy people in a hurry.

It too was empty. What day was it? Is it a holiday or something? I figured I might as well go to my new job as unnamed gang member number four.

At the med-supply hideout, Joseph tasked me with another job, this time I was the lookout. He didn't tell me anything about the job other than to "keep an eye out". I guess gang members are supposed to know what to look for.

Finn drove again, just him and me. We pulled up to a building. Was it a bank? A train station? A post office? No, it was an old library. At least it wasn't another warehouse. How come all this crime has to happen in dilapidated and nearly condemned buildings?

Though it was nestled between skyscrapers in the city, it was quieter than I expected. The white noise of the city had been muted, like the jungle going silent when a tiger stalks—no creature wants to catch the predator's gaze.

My assigned post was a narrow alleyway near the back, standing on a creaky metal staircase that led to the third-floor emergency exit. Chaus couldn't go on every job with me—that would be too suspicious. Finn stood on the metal landing beside me.

"Dmitri!" Oh, that's me. I don't think this was the first time Finn said it.

He looked at me. I got the feeling he was sizing me up. Was this another test for the gang?

"Kind of short for a gangster aren't you?" he prodded.

I had to look up to meet his eyes. "Maybe," I shrugged.

He turned around to look into the alley, tapping on the metal railing with the tips of his fingers. He didn't seem to be much of a conversationalist. So, here I was, alone with my thoughts, leaning against the rail, pretending to scan whoever was walking on the streets.

In reality, I was scanning the inside of the building through the narrow, dirt-stained window of the steel emergency exit door. Being on a stakeout for the cops was the same as doing one for the gang. Not a lot to see—until there was.

A muffled commotion inside the library caught my attention. I wiped away some of the grime obscuring the view with my coat sleeve. At the opposite end, the front windows spanned the entire building. They were covered with white plastic film that diffused the light into the large open space.

From our second-story perch, I could see the circular main foyer, with a wide staircase spiraling to floors with empty bookcases arrayed like the spokes of a wagon wheel. Footsteps thudded down the main staircase, and I shifted, straightening up just as I saw him.

A man in a dark suit nearly ran down the staircase. Sharp echoes followed his fast footsteps. His face was ashen, and I could see the glimmer of sweat. He rushed to the glass front door, pushing through and smashing his face.

Now I know what that looks and feels like. He found the bar, pushed harder, and hurried out.

A pair of figures emerged from the bookcases and ambled to the top of the stairs on the second floor. One was hidden in shadow, the other dominated the scene, framed in a shaft of light from a skylight—a looming presence, revealed as if by a sudden break in the jungle canopy.

It was a boy. No older than ten with perfectly smoothed down blonde hair. He was dressed in a plaid blue button-up and simple pants that were more functional than fashionable.

I quickly noticed his eyes through the dirty window. Even though he was further away than I should have been able to, I could see them clearly. They were a piercing blue, almost too sharp and way too calculating for someone his age.

“Who’s that?” I asked Finn, though I already knew who he was. It was the psychic kid that Chai and the grizzled gangsta had talked about.

“Ben,” he exhaled. “Boss’s kid or somethin’.”

I continued looking through the window as I repeated his words, “Boss’s kid?”

He shrugged. “That’s what they say. Creepy little guy. Best stay out of his way.”

The kid then tilted his head, his eyes meeting mine across the distance, locking me in place. He didn’t smile, didn’t frown—just stared, unblinking. I averted my gaze as fast as I could.

There was power in the way he had looked at me—in the way he carried himself. Power I couldn’t ignore.

Finn saw me jerk away from the door's window and was studying me. "Did you see something?" He looked down at me, and his blue eyes caught mine.

"It—was nothing." It was my turn to tap on the rail and stare at the alley.

Whatever Ben was, he wasn’t just a kid. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew exactly who I was—and, why I was here.

Continue to Chapter 12.

If you read the story before September 1st, 2025, then some things have changed in the story, mainly in Chapter 1. You can read about what changed here, or catch up with the recap below.

The Spectral Agent is my first full-length novel and an experiment. We are independent creators, publishing chapter by chapter as a podcast and text. It’s designed to be heard. We’d love to receive your feedback so we can tell stories better.

Continue reading for Part One (Chapters 1-10) Recap, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: This chapter discusses a fictional case involving suicide, death, murder, violence, hallucinations, and paranormal activity.

Viktor sets up a murder board in his apartment and reviews the case so far. What starts with coffee and a handful of sticky notes spirals into a wall-sized web of deaths, a missing kid, and one very talkative ghost. From Olivia’s murder to Klaus’s ditchwater demise, Viktor traces the connections with dry commentary and growing dread. Chai’s not in his head anymore, so he’s finally alone—with the truth.

Case Review (Part One Recap)

[TRANSCRIPT FROM RECOVERED AUDIO FILE]

Is this thing on?

Okay, let's review the case so far—wait, where's my coffee? Ah, there...

This is Officer Viktor Levitsky. I'm officially not on this case, but I'm too far into it. I can’t talk to anyone, so I’ve got to at least talk it out. Maybe these notes will help me solve it.

But first, in case you find this recording before reading the memoir—I'll surely write about this mess one day—spoiler alert: If you haven't read chapters one through ten, this will be a lot of spoilers, but probably won't make any sense to you anyway.

Let's start at the beginning.

(Chapter 1)

I hear a scream and a gunshot from the apartment next door. I bust in the door and see Olivia—my best friend—in a pool of blood. She's definitely dead.

The note beside her is a cliché. I know it's fake, because even though it looks like a suicide, it isn't. She wouldn't.

How do I know that? Well, she is my friend, and also because she says so. She says, “They went over there.” Of course, corpses don't talk, and this is where people will start to think I'm crazy—if they only knew. But it's when everything starts to fall apart.

So, her corpse says that and—oh, yeah—with vivid red flashing eyes—let me drag a line from her eyes to Chai's eyes to my eyes, which are now also red.

Right, so it's at this moment that I know this is a murder.

I look where her eyes darted and see a blood trail and footprints that vanish. I'm not sure if it's a hallucination or something from... Olivia? Or Chai? I'll just add a question mark sticky here—I don't know if it's relevant.

Okay, so I go to get up and—snap—pain seizes my brain. This is the moment I think Chai leaves Olivia and possesses me. He's been a constant pain and a constant companion since.

Anyway, I call the station. CSI shows up, Steve does his “looks like a suicide” shrug—what a douche—and bags the scene. I keep my mouth shut 'cause he won't listen and I'm not playing his "you're the only person breaking in her apartment" game.

I figure maybe the Chief will act like a good cop about it, so I unload the whole laundry list: red eyes, corpse talk, vanishing trail. He unloads right back, giving me forced medical leave.

Yeah... he says, "I'm one of his best", then dismisses me.

Then it seems like he calls someone and says, "It's done". Who is he talking to? Let me jot that question down.

This is what tipped me off that the station wasn't as wholesome as you might think a police station is. Oh, wait, this is 2024—no one thinks that anymore.

But Zoe's still a good cop. She's been helping me with information. But, we're not there yet.

(Chapter 2)

While I worry about the force burying Olivia's death as a suicide, I go to my regular therapy appointment. Dr. Payne just tries to put me on meds—focuses on the symptoms instead of the root cause, as usual.

This doesn't seem relevant to the case, and yet...

If I actually took the meds, would I have not seen the red crow? Were my other hallucinations something else? Have I been medicating away ghosts?

I'll add a sticky note for "Meds" and connect that to "Hallucinations".

Anyway, I don't take the meds. I see the crow, and my life changed forever. It bangs on the window and won't shut up. Typical Chai. So, let's drag a connection from Chai to "Red Crow". Have I seen any other apparitions? I don't think so.

The Crow, a.k.a. Chai, leads me to his girlfriend. The Crow can't talk to me yet, but I can see it. But she can talk, and she tells me about Chai. I call Zoe and get some details on Chai's death. That leads me to the dockyard.

(Chapter 3)

Dockyard at night is all rust and ghosts; I poke around the old crime scene. It's clear there was a gunfight here, maybe some explosions. Then there it is, a black metal cross half-buried like it’s waiting for me.

I touch it, then—bam—it's like I'm there when the gunshots rang out and when Chai died.

Oh, and it's Chai Saetang. Why do I always forget his last name? Let me jot that down.

So, he's the Red Crow, and this— let me connect it —is his cross pendant.

Yes, I still have it, even after... let me try and stay in order here.

So, the first time I touch the cross pendant to my head, it's a fluke. It reminds me of my father's old radio, like something I need to tune to get a signal. That's when Chai appears, like his human self. He starts talking.

He tells me he died at the dockyard, obviously, then somehow got trapped in Olivia as a ghost, then jumped to me after she died. So, we can connect Chai to Olivia.

Why did Chai jump to Olivia? It seemed I had to touch Olivia for him to jump into me. He was near her when he died.

He tells me this later, but I'll talk about it here. Olivia was there watching a kid—I'll get to him in a bit—which probably has something to do with why she was murdered.

Oh, and then that's when he mentions "the old" man for the first time. He says he was betrayed. He wants to help me solve Olivia's death because it will give him some payback.

This is when I notice my eyes are turning red, like Olivia's and apparently like Chai's. All of that seems to be connected to this ghost business. At this point, I have to hold the cross pendant to my head to talk to Chai. It's kind of annoying.

Anyway, he makes fun of my coffee habit. Which reminds me, I need to brew another pot. Be right back.

✧✧✧

Okay, I'm back. Where was I?

(Chapter 4)

Oh, so he tells me about this psychic kid. And this is where I realize Chai's memory isn't all that stable. He eventually remembers enough, but it's like pulling teeth to get anything out of him at this point.

Chai doesn't remember the kid's name—it's Ben, but we don't find that out till later.

So, Ben was at Chai's death, and Olivia was nearby—they're all connected somehow. Let me draw the lines.

Moving on.

I check the records office for this kid to see if he's in any missing child reports. But Allie—I mean, Ms. Springfield—plays by the rules and can't tell me anything while I'm off duty. She tells me a funny story though, after nearly giving me a heart attack thinking she knew I could see a ghost.

Oh, and then she says to tell Kira 'hi' for her. How does she know my sister? But, I'm not going to add that to the murder board here.

Another random person falls out of Chai's brain, but it's not the kid. It's some old gang member—Chai calls him the grizzled gangsta'. smh. I go to his house and he tells me the name "Ben".

Before I can high-tail it out of there, he shoots me in the ribs. I shoot him back with... pepper spray. Yeah, I'm a real action hero.

I make it out of his house before he can kill me, and to safety before I freeze. I'll put a note here, but I don't think there's anything else important about that guy. He thought I was working for the gang and didn't want anything to do with them anymore.

(Chapter 5)

Chai helps me realize it's just a flesh wound. Some antiseptic, bandages, and Aspirin, and I'm back on my feet.

Holding a pendant to my head is getting ridiculous. People already think I'm crazy for talking to myself, but walking around holding a cross to my head while I do it really sells it.

We realize that the only way for me to talk to Chai is if some sort of ghost-electric—ghost-tricity?—flow passes through my heart, head, and his pendant in a circuit.

Hm. Let me add a "circuit" and "ghost physics" note.

Chai suggests I get an earring. I hate that idea because I hate needles. I do it anyway, and Chai starts to show some compassion. Maybe he's not just a sarcastic pain in my ass.

Right after that, I meet Kira for our usual café check-in—late, of course—and she claims she doesn't know Allie. Then she drops a bomb: Father’s dying.

It's not really a surprise, and I don't really want to talk to him. It reminds me of Mom, though, and how she used to see things before she was committed. I wonder if maybe she just sees ghosts.

Hm. Family connection... genetic? Let's write that down.

Kira and I bond a little over our mutual family trauma, and that I might be figuring out what type of guy I'm into.

God, that sounds extremely gay.

Siri, erase the last 5 seconds. No, erase. Erase!

Forget it.

It seems Kira doesn't really have a part to play in this case, but it's barely been two weeks. Hm. If I can see ghosts, well, one ghost and Olivia's fleeting moments, can Kira?

I'll write that as a follow-up question.

Oh, crap! I forgot to take the detective exam last week. I probably can't take it while on leave anyway.

(Chapter 6)

Soooo, back to the board—warehouse lead pops out of Chai’s patchy memory. We go there, and it’s stripped clean: shelves, dust, one useless crate. It seems like somebody got advanced warning and scrubbed it.

Did Ben the psychic predict it? The “old man”? Both? He's got to be connected to the old man somehow. Maybe I'll draw that as a yellow line for now.

At the warehouse, Chai tries to explain what happened to him after he died and possessed Olivia. Apparently, without the pendant, Chai could only appear to Olivia as a crow and wasn't able to talk to her.

She must have thought she was hallucinating. That's why she asked me about my past hallucinations the night she was murdered.

Chai tried to jump into other people, but couldn't. He could only go to this "nowhere place". He described it like white-noise, everything all at once, but too much noise to make any sense of it. Not just sound though, all sensations, all at once.

Maybe this has something to do with how it seems like I have to "tune" the pendant to clearly hear Chai. Without the cross pendant to ground Chai, it seems he would devolve into just the crow.

This is a depressing existential subject, so I'll move on. But first, a sticky note for the "Nowhere Place".

(Chapter 7)

New thread: Lenny.

Chai remembers this low-level guy who fed cops scraps. I track him to a bland software office, play "new coworker," he panics, bolts to the stairwell, pulls a switchblade, and I disarm him and pretend to be a Russian Bratva Badass.

Yeah... that sounded cooler in my head.

(Chapter 8)

So, he buys my Russian gang story and leads me to his gang. Right, obviously I need to connect Lenny, Ben, Chai, "old man", etc., etc. to "the gang". I don't even know its name.

I blackmail Lenny into vouching for me with intel I got from Zoe. And there... another line to Zoe.

Oh, she also sent me this file with... well, for now, let's say it was enough to give me dirt on Lenny and solidify my suspicions of the station's cover-up of the gang's activity.

Let's make a sticky for "dossier", that sounds more official. How do you spell it? Dos-see-ay—dos-see-ay—D. O. S. I. ehhh.... screw it—F. I. L. E. "File".

(Chapter 9)

Lenny takes me to this immaculate medical supply store—yeah, walkers and compression socks as a front.

Chai would probably want me to point out the lady who wants “tingly” antifungal cream. That story cracks him up. Well, it would if he was still here—more on that later.

The back of this place is more high-tech than the front. They must be doing some high-end drugs or...maybe some bio-tech? Sticky note.

Lenny walks me to the back, and a few real pros—if it wasn't clear, Lenny is no pro, he's about to fall apart—these pros start sizing me up. One is Mei who treats me like I'm already a corpse and Joseph, who has this face scar.

So let's connect those two to "the gang".

There.

Just when Mei’s about to vote 'shoot me and mop later', the boss—Klaus in his patterned brown suit—slides in like a funeral director. He tells me to “step outside”. That seems like a bad idea, but I don't really have a choice at the moment.

Chai might help, but he's too busy playing Frogger.

Out in the rain, he lets me walk a few steps ahead—classic—I should have already realized what was coming. But I didn't have to, I get this sudden crow’s-eye view, like I’m twenty feet above myself.

I was seeing through Chai's crow-form eyes. It was cool, but I didn't have time to think about it, and we didn't get a chance to try it again. Let me add a sticky for that, draw a line to the crow, there.

Okay, back to the story. I see Klaus raising the gun at the back of my head from third-person. I spin on instinct, back in my own body; gun skitters, and now we’re rolling in gutter water.

He's a lot bigger and stronger than me, but I'm scrappy. I fight him to the ground and get in close to keep him from using his long arms. He manages to open some wounds. Mei will notice the blood later, but I don't think it matters much, considering what happens next.

First, Klaus lets me know that he's talked to my "pals" at the NYPD. So, there is someone working on the inside. Let me draw a line from Klaus to the station. Question mark sticky.

Okay, for this next part, I shouldn't really record any evidence for it, but I've got to say something.

We're down on the ground by the ditch, and Klaus, he’s reaching, feeling for the gun sinking in the filthy runoff, and I shove his shoulders down just to buy a breath; push becomes hold, hold becomes brace, and then he’s not fighting—just a slack shape under the water while the rain soaks into me.

✧✧✧

Yeah... I didn't mean to kill him. Okay, time for a break, I need to cool off.

✧✧✧

Okay, new sticky on the board "Ditched Klaus". Yeah...too soon, but no one will suspect what it means.

(Chapter 10)

Alright, so Klaus is just lying in the water, and my senses finally come back to me. I haul him out and start CPR, but there’s nothing—until suddenly he inhales. When his eyes focus, it’s _Chai_ looking out through Klaus’s face.

So, just like when Chai jumped into me from Olivia, he jumped into Klaus from me. Something about Klaus's body being brain-dead made room for Chai. I wonder why Chai could possess me even though I'm not brain-dead. I think.

What do you put on a case board for ghost re-possession? Because I have a lot of questions there. For now, a sticky will have to do.

Ah, the pendant-earring-cross-thing doesn't work anymore. Since Chai is in Klaus, I don't need it. Why am I still wearing it?

We head back inside, drenched; Mei sees the blood on my face, Joseph does that slow WTF blink, and “Klaus”—Chai—Chaus—just says he was “testing the new Belarusian,” calls me _Dmitri_ like it’s always been my name, and the room exhales instead of shooting me.

Let's put Dimitri and Chaus on the board. Oh, and Belarus, so I don't forget where "Dimitri" is from.

So "Chaus" tells them all, "I'm cool", and they have to believe it because he's their boss. But fricken Joseph doesn't believe it. He, surprise, wants to see me outside. Like Klaus and ol' grizzled gangsta did.

I don't have another fight in me.

Obviously, more happens after this, and I can at least record where I'm at so far. I'll cover what happened later. For now, I'm tired. It's been a long couple of weeks.

Current status: Officer Levitsky is off-duty. I’m “Dimitri” from Belarus, Chai is “Klaus” and no longer dead, Ben is still missing, Olivia is still dead, the “old man” is still...old, and someone at the station is a leak. I'm undercover in a gang whose name I don't even know.

Oh, and Joseph doesn't trust me and wants to see me outside.

Yeah, about that...

Continue to Chapter 11.

Hey, man. Chai—I mean Klaus here. If you read or listened to The Spectral Agent before September 1st, 2025, then some things have changed in the story.

Most of the changes are in Chapter One, and a few things sprinkled throughout the rest. Chapters nine and ten, where I got this snazzy new body, are pretty much the same.

I dunno if you want to, but if you do, you can head to this article to read about what changed. Or you can catch up with Viktor's case review in the next episode.

Peace.

Continue reading for Chapter 10, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: This chapter contains death and the threat of violence.

Last time on TSA

He tried to scream, but water entered his lungs. His struggles grew weaker, his fists slowing until they finally stilled. His body went limp beneath my hands. He wasn’t moving. I froze, the realization hitting me.

“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling. I released him, my hands shaking.

I didn't mean to kill him.

Viktor ditched Klaus. Now he has to tell the gang waiting inside. The storm has passed, but the tempest is just beginning. There's no way he can explain what happened in the alley. The only plan left is to keep lying. Each lie buys another breath. This time, Chai’s whispers won’t be there to save him.

Chapter 10

I pulled Klaus's body out of the water.

❊❊❊

His eyes were closed, his chest still. I put my fingers on his neck, searching for a pulse, but there was nothing.

“No!” I said again, louder this time, almost a full-fledged scream, “I didn’t mean to.” Panic surged through me. A wave of guilt and fear threatened to drown me. It was something I had felt before—a feeling I knew all too well.

I dropped to my knees beside him, my body trembling as I began CPR. I pressed down on his chest, counting under my breath. I muttered useless words to myself like they would help bring him back.

The rain pounded against me, cold and unrelenting. I kept going, ignoring the ache in my arms, the tightness in my chest. Time seemed to stretch, every second an eternity, as I fought against the inevitable.

Despite my efforts, nothing happened. Klaus was gone.

I sat back, my hands falling to my sides. The storm raged on, the water pooling around us as I stared at his lifeless body. He was dead, and I killed him.

❊❊❊

The rain slowed to a drizzle.

I had no choice but to let what happened sink in. What the hell was I supposed to do now? I couldn’t go back to the gang, I’d be dead on the spot—and well... I can’t go to the police either.

“Viktor?”

Klaus gasped for air, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. I didn’t have time to react before I saw his eyes open. They weren’t Klaus’s eyes.

He was still sprawled out in the ditch, head above water level. I felt a weight lift off of me, as if something had been pulled out of me.

I stumbled back, my pulse hammering in my ears. Klaus was dead—I saw him die. But now here he was, freakishly animated.

“Why did you kiss me? That’s gross, man.” I heard him say, but it wasn’t his normal tone. It was sarcastic, it was light.

“What… what the hell?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“It’s... me,” Klaus said, his voice shaky and disoriented. “Ch—Chai.”

He blinked, flexing his fingers as if testing them. “I think I jumped into him.”

“You… what?” The words got stuck in my throat. “Chai?” I was still shaking from the fight, from the… murder.

He groaned, pressing a hand to his forehead. “I don’t know how it works, okay? One second I’m in you, the next I’m… here.”

Klaus—or—Chai, was right. I had felt a strange pressure lifted from me. I don’t know how it happened, but I think Chai’s soul left my body and went into Klaus’s.

I touched the earring to see, to check. Nothing appeared, no apparition, no voice, nothing. This was legit.

Klaus pushed himself upright, his movements unsteady, like a deer learning to walk. The body was still alive, barely, but he was no longer Klaus. His body was a husk, and Chai was the one controlling it.

“This is bad,” I said, my voice raw. “This is so bad.”

“No kidding,” Chai replied in Klaus’s deep voice. He shook out his arms as though trying to get used to the body. “But standing here isn’t going to make it better. We have to go back. Now.”

He was right. If we took any longer, someone was going to come out to see what was taking so long. I nodded numbly, my feet moving on autopilot as we started back towards the warehouse.

The weight of what had just happened hung over me. Chai’s presence in me had lifted, but now, it was replaced by an entirely new type of burden.

✹✹✹

When we walked through the warehouse door, the gang was waiting. Conversations died as heads turned in our direction. The sound of dripping water echoed in the silence. Both of us were drenched, leaving a trail of puddles in our wake.

“You two are soaked,” the woman who had accused me before admonished.

Mei's black bob was sharply cut, framing her face. She had a whole sleeve of tattoos on her muscular body, like Chai did. They looked to be in a traditional Japanese style. The chain straps holding up her tank top glimmered in the dim lighting.

Her eyes narrowed. “What happened to you two?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My mind raced for a good explanation, but every lie I could think of felt weak.

“It was raining,” I said finally, the words coming out more defensive than I intended. Her skeptical gaze lingered on me.

“And that? You slip?” She pointed at my face, her tone cutting. I felt my cheek and looked at my hand. Blood. My pulse quickened.

I hadn’t thought about the injury, hell, I had barely even felt it in the chaos. I needed an excuse, something plausible. Before I could speak, Chai—still wearing Klaus’s face—stepped forward.

“That was me,” he said, his voice gruff and confident. “He needed a little wake-up call, so I roughed him up. Gotta make sure the newbie can handle himself.”

The room went still for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut. Then someone laughed, breaking the silence. The contagious sound spread throughout the gang members. I sighed in relief as I realized they had bought the story.

“So, he’s with us now?” Mei raised an eyebrow, but seemed to relax herself.

“Yeah. He’s pretty tough. Takes a beating well.” Chai said, as Klaus, nudging me with his elbow. I forced a faint smile, trying to play along.

My chest felt tight, the relief of their eased suspicions clashing with the surreal horror of the situation. Chai was convincing. Too convincing.

He must have known Klaus when he was alive, that’s how he knew how to play the role so well. But still, it unsettled me. The way he slipped into the character like it was second nature.

Mei sighed. “Well, welcome, whoever you—”

“Dmitri. His name’s Dmitri.” Chai cut her off.

She chuckled. “Alright, you commie. I'm Mei.”

The crowd dispersed, the tension in the room dissipating as quickly as it had come. I followed Chai into the corner of the room. As soon as we were out of earshot, I grabbed his arm, squeezing him tightly.

“What was that?” I hissed while controlling my volume.

“Improvising,” he replied, pulling his arm free. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

I stared at him. Klaus’s face held an expression that was both familiar and alien. “You can’t just pretend to be somebody.”

“Why not?” Chai shot back, his tone sharper now. “You saw them. They bought it. As far as they’re concerned, I’m Klaus. That keeps us both alive, doesn’t it?”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words wouldn’t come. He was right. As wrong as this all felt, as unnatural and dangerous as it was, it was our only option. If the gang found out about the truth, it would be over.

Chai leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Look, I know this is messed up. Believe me, I didn’t ask for this. But we’re in deep now, and this is the only way we get out of it alive. So, unless you’ve got a better idea, shut up and play along.”

I clenched my jaw. I hated this, every second of it, but there was no other choice. The gang was watching, their eyes on us every now and then. Their curiosity was not entirely satisfied.

I forced myself to straighten up, to focus on the role I had to play. For now, we’d bought ourselves time. I just hoped it would be enough.

The man with the scar, Joseph I think, called Chai—Klaus—should I say Chaus—over.

Chaus walked over to Joseph and Mei into a huddle. They talked in a hushed fury. Occasionally, one of them would glance my way. Klaus was their boss, so they'd go with whatever he said. Right?

I stood in the corner, feeling entirely out of place, awaiting my fate. If Chaus couldn't convince them, I wouldn't leave this room alive. Just then, Joseph broke from the group and headed over to me.

“So, you’re here to stay, huh?” he said, his tone casual, but there was nothing casual about the way he stared me down, suspicion on his face, clear as day.

“Mei seemed to be okay with it,” I replied.

“Yeah, well, Mei says a lot of things.” He stepped closer. One might say 'in my face', but Joseph towered over me, my face in his chest. "Me, though, I don't trust you. Let's go outside. You'll make a mess on the floor."

Damn. Not this again.

Continue to Viktor’s Case Review.

Continue reading for Chapter 9, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: This chapter contains violence, drowning, and murder.

Last time on TSA

I met Lenny at a diner to push the next phase of my plan. If I’m going to find out what the gang’s really doing with this so-called psychic kid, I need to get inside.

“You’re playing a dangerous game.”

Lenny didn’t like the idea, but I gave him no choice. He’s vouching for me—and if this goes wrong, we both go down.

“Welcome to my life.”

Chai spouted some words of wisdom.

“Fucking, thug, Buddha.”

Compression socks, canes, and adult diapers aren’t what Viktor expected from a criminal empire. The polished storefront masks something colder, sharper, more dangerous. He wants to infiltrate the gang, but a misstep in the rain exposes more than just his cover. Chai wants to help, but is easily distracted.

Chapter 9

I arrived to meet Lenny on the sidewalk just as it started to rain. Dark clouds hid the sunset, and a crack of lightning lit up the sky. Lenny hurried inside. I enjoyed the rain, but I followed him in.

The automatic doors dinged pleasantly as we stepped inside. Crisp air washed over us, tinged with alcohol wipes and plastic packaging. Smooth jazz drifted from overhead.

Under bright LEDs, everything gleamed. Sharp, white walls framed rows of mobility scooters and canes. Rows of shelves displayed pill organizers and glucose monitors.

A medical supply store. Not your typical gang front. It didn’t match the grungy aesthetic I was used to.

“Wait here,” Lenny said, flicking a hand at me. He headed straight to a counter, behind which stood several rows of shelves with neatly stacked pill bottles. He leaned in to speak with a woman in a white coat—likely the pharmacist—his voice low and serious.

I drifted toward a rack of compression socks and therapeutic knee braces.

“Wow,” Chai said, appearing beside me with a mock gasp. “Ruthless underworld vibes. I mean, just look at all these adult diapers.”

I kept scanning the store and replied, "This isn't what I expected. Is this really a front for the gang?"

"High-ticket items, old people paying with cash. This is a perfect place to launder money," Chai said.

"You seem very excited about the potential. Sometimes I forget you're a criminal."

"Don't be a buzz kill, man. If you're gonna go undercover, you've got to get into their minds."

“I’ve already got enough people in my mind,” I quietly muttered, passing someone who looked old enough to be my great-grandfather.

“Don’t worry,” Chai advised. “They talk to themselves, too. You’ll blend right in.” He motioned his arms at the store. “Face it, Viktor, this place isn’t a front. It’s a gold mine.”

“Excuse me, young man?” a voice interrupted.

I turned to see a hunched woman squinting at me.

“Would you help me reach the anti-fungal cream? It’s just past the stool softener.”

Chai grinned. This woman had to be really short to ask me to reach for something. I cleared my throat, stepped over, and plucked the box from the shelf. “Here,” I said, handing it to her.

She looked at it, then at me. “This isn’t the good one. I need the kind with the tingle.”

Chai vibrated with restrained laughter. “Tell her you’re here to infiltrate a gang, not sell foot cream.”

What did tingly mean? I grabbed a minty-looking box and handed it over. She gave a slow, approving nod.

"You look quite pale, you might want to try some of this," she said, handing me iron supplements. "You'll need to add fiber to keep your bowel movements regular, too".

"Viktor, you're really starting to—" Chai gasped with laughter "—blend in with this gang."

Lenny’s voice called out across the store. “We’re good.” He waved me over. I stepped past the rows of back braces and orthopedic shoes.

Just before we reached the back hallway, he leaned in. “This is it,” he said, voice tight with tension. “Don’t screw this up.”

The mood changed as soon as we crossed the threshold.

The floors were polished, shining under sterile, blinding white light. We passed wire cages filled with sealed plastic barrels, stainless steel fridges, and racks of equipment I couldn’t identify.

Definitely not your average pharmacy stock room.

“Looks a little high-end for grandmas,” I commented.

Lenny gave me a glance. “Don’t ask questions.”

We kept walking.

✹✹✹

Off a loading dock, behind the supply racks, was where the real business was done. The space still smelled of antiseptic, but it was not filled with drugs for Grandma. Boxes lined the walls, and stainless steel tables divided the room. I expected to see digital scales for this type of operation, but what I didn't expect to see were the microscopes.

I still wasn't exactly sure what this gang's angle was. I didn't even know what they called themselves. All I had heard about them at the station was a few detectives working cases involving "gang activity".

I heard their leader and many of their ranks might be German. But I didn't think they had any ties to Germany. Now wasn't the time for second-guessing my plan, though.

We walked through to a meeting room. Now this looked more like a hangout—more lived in. A card table, leather couch, comfy chairs, and a kitchenette. Several hard faces glanced up at us.

I tugged at the earring nervously. "Oh look! Frogger!" Chai said as he wandered off to an old arcade machine in the corner.

I didn’t respond. My eyes were roaming the room, cataloging faces and details. How had I found this place in only a week when the police had been chasing leads for years?

I really needed to read more of the details in the file Zoe sent me. It seems like I've been managed. I haven't worked on any cases involving the gang, and I've never been sent undercover since I haven’t made detective yet. I guess it was good I hadn't because no one should recognize me.

But it's seeming more and more like the force is involved somehow. What did the Chief mean when he said "It's done"? Who was he talking to? He must have known an investigation into Olivia's death would have led me here.

“Who’s this?” a voice said, yanking me back to the present. A wiry man with a scar across his cheek approached, his eyes narrowing as he sized me up.

“A friend,” Lenny said quickly. “He’s looking for work.”

The man snorted. “Pretty short for a wannabe criminal. Why should we trust him?”

“Trust can be earned,” I said before Lenny could answer.

"That's an interesting accent. Russian? You Bratva?" the man asked. The others around him exchanged uneasy glances.

Lenny thought I was from a rival Russian gang. That ploy obviously wouldn't work here. It would just get me killed.

I didn't remember much about Russia, and Ukraine was too much in the news—everyone is an expert now. I thought of some place that speaks Russian but few in the US know much about. So, I said, "Belarusian, actually."

“Oh? Aren't you a little far from home?”

"This is my home now. Work was drying up in Belarus. So, why not come here and live the American Dream in New York City? The Big Apple, right?" I said, trying to play up the fresh immigrant act.

"For someone who just got here, your English is very good. Barely an accent."

I glanced at Chai over at the game machine, phasing through the screen and controls, trying to move a frog across a busy road. I couldn't tell if it was the game demo or if he was actually playing.

"Hollywood. I pirate a lot of movies. And I've been here long enough," I replied.

"There are plenty of places to work here. Why would you want to work with us?" He asked, looking down at me.

"I'm not exactly here legally. I used to move stuff across the borders in my country." I lied through my teeth. I've been a US citizen since I was a kid, but they didn't need to know that. I knew enough about smuggling from the police enforcement side to fake it.

“What kind of things?” the man asked.

“Electronics, guns, drugs. Even food. Whatever paid.” I shrugged like I’d told the story a dozen times in back alleys.

“And you just happened to find us?”

“I asked around, talked to Lenny. You’re not as invisible as you think.”

He pressed closer. “That sounds like a threat.”

I kept my expression flat. “It’s not. I’m just saying you’ve been a little too out in the open.”

He didn’t flinch, but the guys behind him shifted. I decided to push a little further.

“I’m not here to cause trouble. I want in.”

The tension in the air thickened as more eyes turned toward us. Then a sharp voice cut through the chatter.

“You sound like a cop.”

A woman stepped forward—severe, the kind of face that didn’t blink when blood hit the floor. The room tensed. Knives came out. One guy rested a pistol on his knee.

I kept my hands low, palms out. “No,” I said. “I wouldn’t be here if I was.”

“You sure talk like one,” she said, circling me. “Real calm. Real rehearsed.”

“That's what life next to Russia does to you.”

“Too clean. Too confident.”

I forced a bitter laugh. “You think cops send guys like me in first? Foreigner, no papers, no backup?”

She didn’t answer, just stared at me like she was calculating the most painful way to kill me.

The scarred man spoke up. “What would you have to offer?”

The woman sneered. “We should just kill him on the spot. Lenny, too.”

The rest of the room looked at each other with uncertain glances. As one, they got up from their seats. Now everyone had a gun in their hand.

I looked at Chai's apparition, no longer trying to phase his hands through the arcade controls. I thought back to what he said at the diner. “Don’t get yourself killed.”

“I’m here because I need work,” I said flatly. “I move things across borders. I know how to handle shipments. I don’t ask questions. I don’t panic.”

They didn't look convinced, but I was convinced Lenny and I would be dead soon.

"Don't panic?" the scarred man finally said. "I'd say so. Anyone who doesn't shit their pants when Mei calls for their death is stone cold."

"Is that all it takes to get in now, Joseph? Not shitting his pants?" said who I now knew was Mei.

Before Mei could stab me or Joseph could shake my hand and welcome me aboard—it seemed fifty-fifty at this point—an electronic shrill came from the corner. Chai was in crow form, phasing back and forth through the arcade, which seemed to be making it protest with beeps and boops.

Everyone looked at the source. Then, a commanding voice spoke from the back of the room.

“I’ll handle this.”

A tall man wearing a patterned brown suit stepped forward. The crowd parted for him like the tide, their loyalty and fear showing in their eyes.

“Klaus,” Lenny whispered, his voice laced with fear. “My boss.”

Klaus’s eyes assessed me, then he turned and walked towards the back as he spoke. “Follow me.” He gestured over his shoulder.

I hesitated but knew I didn’t have a choice.

The others parted as he led me through. “Let’s talk this out over a smoke.”

✹✹✹

When we got outside, the chill of the night air bit into my skin. The storm seemed to suffocate any light left in the dim sky. The rain was relentless, hammering against the metal roof of the loading dock like a machine gun.

Klaus stood by the doorway, lighting a cigarette. The flame sputtered under the assault of the wind, but he shielded it with his hand, taking a long drag before tilting his head toward me.

“Go on...”

He gestured toward the alleyway. Something about the way he said it set me on edge, but I couldn’t refuse and blow my cover. I walked down the steps into the alley, the rain pounding against my shoulders and pooling in the uneven pavement.

My thoughts were soon interrupted by Chai’s crow flying past me.

Then, everything turned upside down. My vision blurred, and I suddenly had a bird's-eye view. I could see... me, walking down the alley and stumbling from warped proprioception. I had a second to think, 'was this what Chai saw?' before I spotted Klaus, pointing a gun at the back of my head.

My awareness shifted back to my body, but I didn’t have time to consider what had happened. I just spun on instinct, twisting to see Klaus holding a gun straight to my face. I must not have heard him cock it over the sound of the rain. I lunged forward, my hand striking his wrist with all the force I could muster.

The gun flew from his grasp, skidding across the wet pavement before landing near a rain-filled ditch. Klaus yelled in frustration and dove toward the weapon. I didn’t give him the chance.

I tackled him, driving him into the ground. The rain turned the fight into a chaotic, slippery mess.

“You think you’re smart, huh?” Klaus growled, shoving me off him with surprising strength. “Thought you could just waltz in here and play us for fools?”

I said nothing, my focus locked on the gun. It was just out of reach, half-submerged in the muddy water. Klaus followed my gaze and pushed off the ground towards it. I grabbed his ankle and yanked him back. He hit the ground hard, the impact jarring him but not slowing him down.

“I know who you are, Levitsky!” He spat, his voice raw with anger. “You’re a cop with the NYPD!”

My stomach dropped. I had been too focused on investigating the gang to consider they would investigate me.

Klaus twisted his foot loose from my grip and kicked my chest.

“I just got off the phone with one of your police pals. They told me everything!” His voice was venomous.

I gasped for air as he scrambled toward the ditch. When my lungs filled, I surged forward. I tackled him again before he could reach the gun. We rolled across the pavement, the cold water soaking through our jackets.

Klaus fought like a man possessed, his fists landing hard and fast. He managed to punch me straight in the face. I could feel the blood seeping from my cheek, though it was quickly washed away in the rain.

Klaus broke free. He crawled toward the ditch with a feral determination. His hand closed around the gun. My heart skipped a beat.

“You’re dead, Levitsky!” Klaus screamed, his voice hoarse. “You hear me? Dead!”

I threw myself forward, colliding with him in a desperate attempt. We both slipped. His back hit the concrete ditch edge with a thud, all the air croaked out of his lungs. The impact flung his arms wide, the gun lost to the murky water.

His body broke my fall. He was more dazed than I was, at least I didn't lose my breath. I tried to push up off him, but it was so slippery I couldn't get any traction. He started to stir and reach for my throat. I shoved him backward, his head splashing into the ditch.

The dark water loomed beneath him. I didn’t think—I couldn’t. My body moved on instinct, finding his shoulders, pushing him under. He resisted, his fists slamming into my ribs, my arms, anything he could reach.

He thrashed against the water’s surface. “Stop!” I shouted, though I wasn’t sure if I was pleading to him or to myself. “Just stop!”

Klaus didn’t listen. He fought against the water, his hands clawing at my arms as I tried to hold him under. My heart pounded, my mind racing with a million thoughts I couldn’t fully grasp. I just wanted him to stop, but he wouldn’t.

He tried to scream, but water entered his lungs. His struggles grew weaker, his fists slowing until they finally stilled. His body went limp beneath my hands. He wasn’t moving. I froze, the realization hitting me.

“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling. I released him, my hands shaking.

I didn't mean to kill him.

Continue to Chapter 10.

Continue reading for Chapter 8, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: This chapter contains violence and threats of violence.

Viktor has a plan, barely. Chai has jokes, plenty. But as Viktor waits in a run-down diner for a jittery informant, the noise and crowd feel like they’re pressing in. It’s just a bag of pretzels. Just a booth in a diner. Just another bad lead. But nothing about this case is simple—least of all the voice in his ear or the guilt he’s trying to swallow.

Last time on TSA

I caught sight of Lenny on the bottom landing.

“Stay back!” he barked, pulling out a switchblade. The blade clicked open, the sound sharply echoing in the stairwell.

Chapter 8

"I'm—I'm not kidding around!” Lenny said as he waved his knife through the air.

I stopped halfway down the stairs, raising my hands. “Easy, I’m not here to hurt you,” I said, as unassuming as possible.

“Then why the hell are you following me?!” His voice cracked, his grip on the knife shaky. “You’re not from here! I knew it the second you opened your mouth.”

I stayed still, keeping my voice calm. “You’re right, Lenny. I’m not—”

“You think I’m stupid? That gaudy cross hanging off your ear? What is a Russian thug doing chasing me? And how the hell do you know my nickname?”

I watched as his eyes darted to the door below. He picked up on my slight accent. Maybe he thought I was from some rival gang. His paranoia could give me some leverage for what I needed.

“I know what you did.” I replied, voice cold like I’ve said it a hundred times to perps on the street. His face tightened, like he'd taken an arrow to the gut.

Holding his gaze, I leaned into the gangster act, promising casual violence with my tone. “You're a snitch for the police—a fuckin' traitor.”

His face paled, the knife wavering in his hand.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His grip on the knife faltered, and for a moment, I thought he might drop it. I seized the opportunity and leapt down to the landing, slamming into him. The momentum knocked him to the floor, sending the knife clattering down the stairs.

He looked up from the ground, the breath knocked out of him. He narrowed his eyes, “You need... to leave—right now. You—you don’t know what you’re messing with.”

The sound of a door creaking open above us cut through the tension. A voice called down, “Everything okay down there?”

“Yeah!” I called back, trying to sound casual. “Just dropped something.” The door closed again, and the stairwell was silent except for the sound of our breathing.

I needed Lenny for the next phase of my plan. He seemed driven by fear so I couldn't let him know I was clueless. I slipped back on the icy, metaphorical mask of a Russian gangster.

“Soooo you think you know what I'm messing with?" I crouched beside him. "I don’t think you want to get on your boss’s bad side. Do... you?”

He stared at me for a long moment, his chest rising and falling like he’d just run a marathon.

He slumped in defeat. “What do you want?”

"Just a small favor."

"Fine. But not here. You've already drawn enough attention to me."

"That wasn't so hard was it?" I said as I walked down the stairs to pick up his knife.

I pocketed the knife and compulsively touched the earring. Chai chimed in, his voice smug as always, "Way to keep it subtle."

✹✹✹

On the way to the diner, Chai grilled me. “Why’d you let Lenny go? Won’t he run or call for backup? That’s what I would do.”’

I had already thought about Lenny’s too quick agreement to meet, so I had a reply ready. “No, we’ve got too much on him. It’s not like he can tell his gang we’re blackmailing him for ratting on them. He’ll show.”

The diner was loud and crowded, dishes were clinking, and orders were shouted. The sounds made my ears ring with pain. I felt a sense of unease, probably due to the crowd.

Large gatherings of people made me feel dread. It always felt like there were twice as many people in the room. Like there were more people there than I could actually see.

I sat in the corner booth, my back to the wall. Chai lounged across from me, arms stretched across the back of the booth, as though he owned the place. His perpetual grin was equal parts irritating and oddly comforting.

His presence in my life made me question past encounters. Had he been the first ghost I’ve interacted with? I couldn’t always hear him, and I hadn’t seen him at all before he possessed me.

The noise of the diner thinned, yet a pressure lingered, squeezing in from every angle. A disconcerting thought crept in: could I sense other ghosts even if I couldn’t see them? Was this crazy mess some aspect of Chai—or… me?

“Wow, the food here looks abominable.”

I forgot what I was brooding about. I was beginning to think that Chai broke into my thoughts on purpose.

“Chai,” I muttered, “you don’t eat.”

”Ah, that's not the point.”

He waved a hand at the cracked vinyl seats and sticky table.

“It’s about vibes, Viktor. Don’t even get me started on the décor. Did they think the one faded photo of the Brooklyn Bridge was gonna class up the joint?”

I sighed and took a sip, which made me agree with him because the coffee was horrible. I wasn't going to tell him, though. Instead, I asked, “Do you ever stop talking?”

“Not when I’ve got an audience,” he said, winking. “And a captive one at that.”

I noticed a waitress walk by me and give me an odd glance. She must have heard me talking to... well... myself.

“Great.” I grumbled, “Now you’re making me look insane.”

“Wouldn’t be too far off the mark. I mean, seriously, who would willingly choose detective as a career path?”

“There are lots of great detectives.”

“Name one.”

“Sherlock Holmes.”

“You made that name up.”

“You’ve never heard of…? Never mind. It’s from a book.”

“See! No real person would choose to be a detective.”

I sighed, because at the moment, I couldn’t think of a real famous detective.

He leaned forward slightly. “But on a more important note. Whatever you’re planning with Lenny, don’t get yourself killed.”

The words hit me somewhere in the heart. I didn’t know where. Did Chai actually care, or just pretend to?

“Wasn’t planning on it,” I replied.

The bell above the door chimed, and I glanced up.

There he was, Lenny, stepping inside. His shoulders hunched as his eyes darted nervously around the diner. He spotted me and hesitated for a moment before shuffling over.

Chai leaned back in his seat, smirking. “Showtime!”

✹✹✹

Lenny slid into the booth across from me, his hands twitching as he fidgeted with the corner of a napkin. His eyes avoided mine.

“You’re late,” I said.

“Traffic. Lots of it.” he replied.

I knew it was a lie, but I didn’t say anything.

“Do you know what I need out of you?” I asked, gaze steady on him.

He swallowed. “Look, I don’t know what you think I can do.”

That was the question, wasn’t it? I had been thinking about this for a while. I’ve been chasing one lead after the other, but found nothing but dead ends.

If I were going to find this Ben kid and figure out if he was actually psychic and what the gang was using him for, I had to get closer. I needed to infiltrate the gang.

I hadn’t told Chai about this plan because he would try to talk me out of it. I probably would have let him because this had to be the dumbest idea I’ve ever had. I've never gone undercover or had training for it.

“I want in.” I said. His face hardened at that.

“You…in what?”

“I want you to get me into the gang.”

“Look man, they’re dangerous.”

I looked into his eyes and pressed further. “Your point?”

“They’ve been talking about expanding—bigger operations, more risks. The old man is warming up for something big,” he finally said, fidgeting with his long hair. “They’ll sniff you out in a split second. Your Russian accent kind of stands out, you know?”

“That’s why you’re going to vouch for me.”

Lenny blinked and then laughed, a short, bitter sound. “Yeah, right. And when they figure it out, they’ll kill us both.”

I leaned in close. “If you don’t vouch for me, you’ll be dead anyway.”

He laughed instantly this time, this one louder. “You don’t have it in you.”

I didn’t flinch. Instead, I pulled a folded piece of paper from my jacket and slid it across the table. Lenny unfolded it, his hands trembling as he read the neatly typed words.

“How the hell… How do you know this?” His voice cracked, and his eyes darted around the diner again, as if the walls might be listening.

I leaned back, keeping my expression unreadable. “I know everything, Lenny. Including what would happen if the wrong people got this information.”

He froze. “What, are you psychic too?”

That’s not an angle I would have ever thought of, but under the circumstances, I see how he might assume that. I didn’t need to be psychic when I could just call up Zoe at the station and get the dirt on him.

✧✧✧

I had called her the day before, against my better judgment.

"What now, Vik-tor?" she said as soon as she answered the phone.

"You don't even know why I'm calling. It's been a while since I've seen your beautiful face and heard your lovely voice."

"Don't try to butter me up. You're still off-duty. Besides, I'm pretty sure you aren't interested in my beautiful face."

"Okay, okay. Yes, I'm on leave, but I'm close to figuring out this case."

"What case? You're not assigned to anything. Is this about that... Chai guy who died?"

"Yes. No. Not exactly." I stammered. "It's complicated."

"It always is with you," she retorted. "I told you I wasn't going to do any more favors like this."

"I know, and I can't promise I won't ask you again. But, this is important." I barreled through before she could shoot me down. "I need info on the informant Leonard Davis. What do we have on him that keeps him under our thumb?"

"Viktor, I don't know about this. That information is sealed. If I reveal that, we could both get fired... or worse."

"I wouldn't put you in this position if I had an alternative. I suspect there's more going on here. Something's not adding up with this, and I think I was put on leave on purpose—to get me off the case."

"You—you think the Chief is involved?" she said, alarmed.

"I don't know. But I need to follow this lead and find out. Why is the station always working with informants, but we haven't cracked this gang apart yet? We should have enough on them by now."

Zoe sighed. "You know, Viktor, I've been wondering the same thing. I wasn't sure who to trust. I'm going to trust you."

She hung up. A minute later, she texted me a document.

✧✧✧

It was a good thing Lenny still didn’t know I was a cop. Since I was off duty, everyone must have thought I was out of the way.

“Lenny, I don’t need to be psychic to predict your future if you try to weasel your way out of this.”

“You’re bluffing...” he shot back, but his voice lacked conviction. “...you—you don’t know anything.”

“Do you really want to find out?” I leaned back, crossing my arms. “If you’re so confident, walk away.”

He stared at the paper, his face tight with fear. He didn’t move from his spot at the table.

“You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“Welcome to my life.”

✹✹✹

After making a plan with Lenny, we waited for him to leave. As soon as he walked out the door, I slammed my coffee down.

“What are you, some kind of badass?” Chai said. “I didn’t know you had it in you, man.”

The tough guy act crumbled. I dropped my face into my hands and leaned on the table. “No, Chai. I’m not. I didn’t have any other choice.”

“You had me, I thought you were actually going to be cool for a moment,” he said with a grin.

“I’m still a cop. I will always be a cop.” I said, simmering.

“I hear you man, sticking to your guns.”

I felt sick and annoyed. I was tired of Chai’s games. “You don’t know what it’s like to have conviction. A purpose. You just fell into gang life and pretend to be some sort of thug. But look where that got you. Now you act like you’re the fuckin’ Buddha with your thug wisdom.”

Chai’s apparition burned hot. For a moment, I thought he would turn into a crow and fly away, never to be seen again.

“That’s not cool, man.”

Right then, I wished I could turn into a crow myself.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” My head sank back to the table. “I got carried away.”

“Viktor, you have a lot to bear. You don’t have to bear it alone.“

I looked at him, and our eyes connected. We both grinned. There was only one thing I could say.

“Fucking, thug, Buddha.”

Continue to Chapter 9.

Continue reading for Chapter 7, start at Chapter 1, or find where you left off.

⚠️ Content Warning: This chapter contains the threat of violence.

The only thing more fragile than Viktor’s cover is the man he’s here to find. Lenny’s tangled with the gang, the cops, and fear—and he’s terrible at hiding it. Viktor plays his role, but Lenny isn't fooled. And with Chai muttering in his ear, staying in character isn't easy.

Chapter 7

"You look like a cop," Chai said, startling me from a dream.

I was in a dark room that felt organic—felt alive—surrounded by eyeballs. It was somehow comforting. My awareness crashed back to my bed in my apartment.

"Thanks," I replied dryly. I was lying on my back and still wearing the earring. My hand was resting near my ear on the pillow, and the long edge of the cross brushed against my fingertips. "Have you been watching me like a creep all night?"

"Eyes are too red." His apparition was looming over me, staring directly into my eyes.

"We need to have a talk about boundaries." I sat up and looked at the time. "Why on Earth did you wake me up at six a.m.?"

"Busy day today. You need a new outfit."

"What's wrong with my clothes? Black is always in style."

"Remember when I said you look like a cop?"

"I am a cop!"

"Not today. Today, you're Lenny's new co-worker."

"Oh. That." I got up to make a pot of coffee. As the aroma hit me, my mind started to percolate. Today we're going to talk with Lenny, Chai's latest lead that bubbled up from the chaos that is his memory.

Lenny's police minders had seen him around some software company office building. It seemed Lenny had a knack for tech. He did some hacking for the gang on the side.

The police caught on to this and had been leaning on him for information. He was the soft and squishy type of criminal—not rough and violent. It probably wouldn't take much to convince him to do what I needed him to do.

I had barely taken a sip when Chai interrupted my thoughts. "Now that you're caffeinated, let's go shopping."

✹✹✹

By the time we got to the office, it was after lunch. My attire felt out of character. Sneakers, a maroon buttoned shirt, and black contacts to hide the red eyes Chai's presence inflicted upon me.

We had gone to the mall and Chai picked out the clothes saying they 'looked sufficiently nerdy'. I got the contacts from a costume shop. Were they FDA-approved? I hoped they didn't cause an infection.

I kept my posture loose as I moved through the lobby, trying to deflect any attention that came towards me. Hunger gnawed at me, a dull ache in my stomach I’d been ignoring since I skipped breakfast and lunch. I passed a vending machine, the glaring fluorescent lights illuminating rows of snacks.

I looked across the rows, deciding what to get.

“What are you doing? We don’t want to be here longer than we have to.” Chai cut into my thoughts.

I was instinctively holding onto the earring. Chai’s mind could randomly shake loose a memory and blurt out useful information at any time, so I had to keep the connection open. It was second nature at this point, and I didn’t realize it until he spoke.

“Just because you don’t have to eat doesn’t mean I don’t have to.”

If Chai had anything to say after that, I didn’t hear because there they were, a gorgeous bag of pretzels staring back at me. I pressed the button and tapped my phone to pay.

I waited for the bag to drop, but it just sat stubbornly in its slot. I sighed, stepping back to inspect it as if glaring at the machine would make it reconsider.

Chai was sitting on one of the chairs next to the vending machine, legs crossed.

“Man, they really don’t make cops like they used to.” His voice continued in my head. “Big, bad Officer Viktor Levitsky gets defeated by a vending machine.”

I wasn’t in the mood for whatever antics he was up to now, so I shot back, “It ate my money!”

“Oh no, not your precious seventy-five cents!”

Chai gasped dramatically, standing up to lean against the vending machine like he owned the place. Each movement he took made his apparition flicker.

“This is a travesty. Somebody call the UN. We’ve got a crisis.”

I shot him a glance, but his grin only widened. “Are you done?” I asked. He straightened up, cracking his knuckles like he was about to fight the machine.

“Stand back, old man. Time to show you how it’s done.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re a ghost. What are you going to do? Haunt it into submission?”

Chai ignored me, crouching slightly, staring at the machine. He reached out and slapped the side of it with exaggerated flair. His hand phased harmlessly through the metal.

“C’mon, you stubborn box of lies,” he muttered, punctuating his words with increasingly aggressive shakes.

“Damnit! Give! Up! The! Snacks!”

I stared at him as he studied the machine like he was planning his next move. “Impressive,” I said flatly. Chai swung his arm dramatically through the machine again. It didn’t budge.

“You’ll never understand the art of living with that attitude, Viktor.”

“I’m not fighting a vending machine over a bag of processed carbs,” I replied, crossing my arms. Chai stood, glaring at the machine like it had insulted his family.

This time, he phased into the machine entirely, his faint glow visible through the glass. After a moment, the machine rattled and the bag of pretzels fell into the slot.

“There!” He phased back out, standing triumphantly beside me. “Justice has been served.”

I reached for the bag, shaking my head.

Chai’s grin softened, a rare flicker of sincerity breaking through.“Seriously, though. Don’t give up so easy man, even if it’s for something stupid.”

The comment caught me off guard. It wasn’t about the pretzels. Of course, it wasn’t. I looked down at the snack in my hand.

I didn’t reply. Lately, Chai had been spouting what he must have thought were words of wisdom. I wasn't sure if it was part of his personality or just an act.

But as I turned to leave, I realized something strange. I was smiling, for the first time in days.

✹✹✹

The elevator doors slid open with a ding, and I stepped out. Lenny’s office floor smelled faintly of stale coffee and the plastic tang of old electronics.

Rows of cubicles stretched out in front of me, each one indistinguishable from the next except for a calendar here, a family photo there. It was the kind of place where individuality went to die.

I scanned the nameplates as I walked, careful not to linger too long in one place. Then I spotted it, the text that read Leonard Davis. His chair was empty, but I knew I had the right guy.

“Where is he?” I muttered under my breath, careful not to look like I was talking to myself as I touched the earring to hear Chai.

“In the break room. Guaranteed. Lenny was always sneaking off for coffee. Kind of like someone else I know...”

I veered toward the faint smell of burnt grounds and overheard laughter. Sure enough, there he was, leaning against the counter. His thin frame was tucked into a rumpled button-down.

He was scrolling through his phone with one hand, a paper cup in the other. A couple of other office drones were in the room, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to confront him outright, anyways. Today, I was just another worker bee.

I grabbed a paper cup off the stack and poured myself a cup of coffee. It looked like sludge. “Afternoon dragging on for you too?” I said, trying to keep my tone conversational.

Lenny looked up, blinking, like I’d pulled him out of a trance.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Always is.”

He glanced at me, then back to his phone.

“Tell me about it,” I said, forcing a chuckle. “I swear, if it weren’t for this coffee, I’d be asleep at my desk by now.” That got a smirk out of him.

I took a sip and immediately regretted it. I set the cup down. “You been here long?”

“Couple of years...” he said, shrugging. “Pays the bills, you know?”

I nodded like I understood. “Yeah, it’s a nice job, seems like it could be stable.”

Lenny let out a dry laugh. “Sure. If you’re into spreadsheets and broken printers.”

I gave him a smile, hiding my disdain of being here. “Not your scene?”

He glanced at me again. “What?”

The room was silent for a moment, at least to me, I had already drowned out the sounds of the other workers laughing.

Lenny then set his cup on the counter and tucked his phone into his pocket. “You new? I haven’t seen you around.”

“Yeah. Started last week.” I lied, running a hand through my hair. The silence stretched on. I was pressing too hard and losing control of the conversation. "I should get back to my uh... spreadsheets."

He hesitated. I probably overplayed it.

“Well, good luck,” he said and headed back to his cubicle.

I stayed behind, sipping my disgusting coffee, my mind already racing. I touched the earring to hear what Chai had to say about my performance.

“I think you scared him. I wouldn’t blame old Lenny for that though.”

I couldn’t help but agree as I watched Lenny disappear into the maze of desks. I downed the rest of the lukewarm coffee and tossed the cup into the compost bin.

✹✹✹

The moment I stepped back into the cubicle farm, I knew something was wrong. He wasn’t at his desk.

I glanced around, trying to blend in as I scanned the office. A handful of employees were still typing away, oblivious to anything outside their screens.

Chai’s voice murmured in my head, low and amused.

“He bolted. Of course. Probably figured something wasn’t right.”

I ignored him and continued my search.

My eyes landed on the far corner of the room, where an exit door was slowly closing. Bingo. I moved quickly, keeping my pace steady enough to avoid drawing attention but fast enough to catch the door before it latched. My heart pounded as I stepped into a stairwell. The rattling echo of hurried footsteps faded below me.

“Lenny!” I called, my voice sharp but not loud enough to alert the whole office. “Wait up, man. I just need to talk.” There was no response. Just the sound of more footsteps, faster now.

I started down the stairs. My shoes thudded against the concrete steps, the sound bouncing off the walls. Chai appeared at my side as the red crow, flying down to the rail of the landing below, then cawing and flapping his wings.

“Not helping,” I hissed through gritted teeth, mouth barely open as I passed him. Then, I caught sight of Lenny on the bottom landing.

He was hunched over, fumbling with something in his pocket. When he looked up and saw me, his face twisted into a mix of panic and anger.

“Stay back!” he barked, pulling out a switchblade. The blade clicked open, the sound sharply echoing in the stairwell.

Continue to Chapter 8.