A warm light streamed through the windows of the small restaurant in the heart of the city, caressing the shadows of the old brick walls.
Ken and Courtney sat at a secluded corner table, where the candlelight softly illuminated their faces, making every movement a little slower, more intimate.
"This… is really cozy," Ken said, looking at Courtney warily. Fragrant fried food steamed on the table in front of them, but in Ken's eyes, all that mattered now were Courtney's sparkling eyes.
Courtney grinned as she brought out her usual sarcasm: "Well, if you only knew how rarely I go out to such "romantic" places… you're the first one to take me. So are you either praising me or the menu, Ken?" she winked, twirling her fork between her fingers.
Ken laughed, a little embarrassed:
"Well… both, if possible." "And really, he couldn't decide which was more important: the mood or Courtney's confidence, which was both attractive and intimidating."
Courtney playfully nudged Ken on the shoulder.
"Aww, that's a compliment from a man!" she said jokingly, then laughed. "You know, when someone looks at me like that, I really believe there's a chance that romance isn't dead in the world."
"Well, remember," Ken replied, leaning closer, "it's not every day you meet someone who's funny, sarcastic, and completely captivating at the same time."
Courtney blushed, but her smile quickly returned.
"Well, that's a lot of compliments at once… but it feels good." She took Ken's hand and gently placed hers on the table so he could feel the connection. "Anyway… I think I like that you don't try to take everything too seriously."
Ken smiled, and their eyes met.
The music played softly in the background, and the city's noise was cut off, and the moment seemed to stand still around them.
"You know, Courtney…" Ken began, his voice low and deep, "I've been waiting for someone… who's so… themselves to be by my side for a long time. No tricks, no extras, just you…" he stopped, his words sounding too sincere.
Courtney looked at him silently, then looked into his eyes and smiled faintly:
"Well, Ken, if you only knew how annoying it is to me when you talk like that…" she sighed, then leaned closer, "but… I guess I'm glad you finally said it."
Ken leaned closer slowly, his heart racing, and Courtney's breathing quickening. The world suddenly went quiet around them, all noise fading.
Finally, Ken carefully cupped Courtney's face with both hands and planted a gentle yet passionate kiss on her lips. Courtney was surprised at first, then slowly returned the kiss, her hand gently caressing his neck. The candlelight danced in their eyes, and the world seemed to stand still for them for a moment.
When they finally parted, Ken whispered, frowning but happy:
"Wow… this… was perfect."
Courtney winked at him:
"And I thought my first date couldn't be this romantic and funny at the same time…" and then laughed. "It's good to know there are still moments like this, Ken."
And as the candlelight swayed softly in the air, the two young people, their hands touching, smiled and continued their evening: talking, laughing, and enjoying those simple moments that required neither magic nor otherworldly powers.
Just the two of them, in the calm darkness of the city, and a kiss that changed everything.
A Month Later - Abilities and Preparation.
Time passed quickly in Blithe Hollow, but the danger did not disappear. After months of practice as a ghost, Martin Hale finally mastered the bear's body. In his huge, powerful body, Martin no longer stumbled or fell over logs - his every move was purposeful. The aura still hid his presence, so Ken and Norman could not sense the ghost.
Martin's goal was clear: kill and manipulate.
But the team was developing in a different direction.
Ken secretly worked on his own abilities. With Norman's help, he mastered aura concealment so that as a mortal he could move undetected near Martin Hale's potential presence. At the same time, Ken studied an ancient, special African book that described the art of healing and aura balancing. The book, whose pages contained glowing symbols and often resonated with Ken's energy, was called "Nyota ya Uhai" - a dark, mysterious, but incredibly powerful name: "The Star of Life". From it, Ken learned healing and aura harmonization techniques that could be life-saving in the future.
Norman was no exception: he learned the art of freezing from an ancient Asian book. The book, called "Shinku no Kōri" ("Red Ice"), allowed him to freeze a selected target for five minutes. The technique required concentration, but with practice Norman became more proficient at it, and the team became more and more alert.
Courtney watched Ken and Norman's progress from the background, but she did not remain idle. She developed her own skills: she learned swordplay, pistol use and combat strategy, showing a surprising talent for survival skills. With each training session, she became more assertive, and in addition to her sarcasm, she radiated a toughness that both Ken and Norman sensed, and which strengthened the stability of the team.
After a month, the three formed a new, much more confident unit:
Ken had become a master of healing and aura concealment,
Courtney of weapons use and combat strategy,
Norman of freezing and professional ghost logic.
The rain had stopped when Alvin Grayson ran out into the backyard. His feet were slipping in the wet grass, his lungs burning, but he didn't stop. Not because he was being chased. But because he knew what he was seeing wasn't normal.
"Shit… shit…" he gasped.
He had climbed over the fence and could see the neighboring houses. The Babcock house was only a few blocks away. It gave him strength.
Then a branch snapped behind him.
Alvin turned reflexively—and fell at that moment.
The grizzly didn't jump at him.
It didn't claw.
It didn't kill.
With one precise movement, it landed on Alvin's leg.
Just enough to crack a bone, but not completely break it.
Alvin screamed.
"MY LEG—!"
The bear let go of him immediately.
He stepped back.
He watched.
Martin deliberately held back his strength.
Run.
Live.
Tell Them.
Alvin, fighting back tears, began to crawl, shaking with pain, and dragged himself to the fence. His leg hurt terribly, but he moved. That was the point.
And then—
– ALVIN?!
Norman Babcock's voice.
Norman was out in the yard. He had no reason to.
He just… had a bad feeling.
He saw Alvin on the ground, muddy, with a bleeding ankle.
"What happened?!" he ran over.
Alvin pointed with a trembling hand toward the dark forest.
"A… a bear…" he gasped. "He looked… like… like he knew what he was doing…"
Norman froze.
He didn't feel an aura.
He didn't feel a spirit.
Nothing.
That really bothered him.
"Calm down, okay?" he said quickly. "I'm calling for help."
When Norman looked up at the edge of the forest…
the bear was gone.
Far, far away, among the trees, Martin Hale was content to retreat into the depths of consciousness.
I didn't kill.
You were listening.
Just as it should be.
This wasn't murder.
This was a sign.
The next day:
The town was talking about a wild animal alert.
Norman couldn't get the idea out of his head that he didn't feel anything.
Ken just said, "That's not right"
Courtney was angry at the forest... for no reason
A few hours later, they went to visit Alvin at the hospital. Alvin's family members were just coming out of the hospital, so they were able to go in to see Alvin.
Alvin's confession - in the hospital
The hospital room was too bright for Alvin. The white of the lights hurt his eyes, and the smell of disinfectant mixed with the dull but constant pain that throbbed in his ankle. His leg was in a splint, under a thick bandage, and every little movement reminded him of how close he was to something he couldn't name.
Norman stood by the bed. He didn't say anything. He just watched.
Courtney leaned against the wall, her arms folded, her expression unusually serious now.
Ken moved a chair closer, sat down, and spoke in a calm voice.
"You don't have to rush," he said. "Just tell me how it happened."
Alvin swallowed hard.
"It wasn't an attack," he began slowly. "I mean... not in the way you'd think. He didn't jump on me. He didn't scream. He wasn't wild."
Norman's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then what was it?"
Alvin looked at the ceiling, as if searching for the right words. "He was watching. I swear he was watching. He was standing by the window… in the garden. A big grizzly bear. But he didn't move like an animal. He wasn't in a hurry. He wasn't hungry. He was just… there."
Courtney slowly lowered her arm.
"And why did you run?"
Alvin laughed, but the laugh was empty.
"Because when I saw him… I knew he had noticed me. And that he wasn't there for a reason."
Ken didn't say anything. He let him.
"When I fell…" Alvin's voice trailed off for a moment. "He stepped on me. But just enough so that I couldn't get up. Then he let go. As if he had… made a decision."
Norman froze.
"He made a decision?"
"Yes." Alvin looked at him. "If he had wanted to kill me, he could have. But he didn't. He waited for me to run away.
Silence.
It wasn't the kind of silence that denies.
But the kind that finds no footing for refutation.
Courtney said softly,
"It doesn't sound like you're imagining it."
Alvin smiled bitterly.
"I'm not a kid anymore. I know when my brain is panicking… and when something else is watching."
Norman instinctively scanned the room.
He looked for an aura.
But he didn't feel anything.
This was the worst.
Ken finally stood up.
"Thank you, Alvin. Relax." His voice was calm, but his eyes were darker than usual.
As they stepped out into the hallway, Courtney said, "It's not a beast."
Norman nodded.
"And it's maybe not a ghost."
Ken said only,
"This creature...What does it want?"
Martin Hale's Inner Monologue
(Fourth Wall Breaking – Direct to the Reader)
I didn't kill him.
And if you expect me to apologize now…
you're reading the wrong book.
Killing is easy.
One move. One decision.
But dying once doesn't build anything.
You see, reader, I'm already dead.
That's an advantage.
Most "evil" people make the same mistake:
rush.
They want to prove their power.
I want impact.
If I kill now, then:
there will be panic
a hunt will begin
rules will be made
But if I don't kill…
…then questions will remain.
Questions kill more slowly, but more deeply.
Now they're watching.
Norman is thinking.
Ken feels, but doesn't understand.
Courtney is suspicious, but still laughs.
This state is the most valuable.
And yes — I know what you're thinking:
"But Martin, why a bear?"
Because power isn't always spectacular.
Sometimes it's slow, difficult, and patient.
The grizzly is not suspicious.
Not magical.
Not demonic.
Just too big to ignore.
And here's something else:
If I kill them now, I'll make them heroes.
If I wait...
then they'll beg me to move on.
This isn't a story about death.
This is a story about timing.
And believe me...
when I finally kill them,
there will be no question,
no doubt,
no turning back.
But not yet.
Because right now...
we're playing.