Chapter 86: The Shadow Called Nyx
Yuri's POV
Yuri hated waiting.
He hated the silence that came before a message.
He hated the way his heart jumped whenever his phone vibrated.
Most of all—
He hated the fact that fear had become normal.
The message arrived at exactly 6:13 PM.
The screen lit up on his desk.
Unknown Number.
Yuri stared at it for several seconds.
His jaw tightened.
His hands curled into fists.
He already knew who it was.
Kaizer.
Slowly, he picked up the phone.
Three words.
Tomorrow. 7 PM.
That was all.
No explanation.
No details.
No reason.
Just an order.
Like always.
Yuri closed his eyes.
The familiar anger returned immediately.
But it wasn't enough.
Because every time he thought about fighting back—
He remembered his mother.
His little sister.
The threats.
The photographs.
The warnings.
Kaizer always made sure Yuri remembered exactly what was at stake.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Kuya?"
His sister peeked through the doorway.
Instantly, Yuri locked his phone.
The tension vanished from his face.
Or at least he tried to make it vanish.
His sister smiled.
"Dinner."
Yuri forced a smile back.
"Coming."
For a moment, he looked at the family photo sitting on his desk.
His mother.
His sister.
Him.
A normal family.
A happy family.
The kind of family worth protecting.
Even if it cost him everything.
Jay's POV
"Jasper Jean Mariano."
Jay immediately looked suspicious.
Tita Gemma hadn't even finished saying her name.
"Why do I feel like I'm in trouble?"
"Because you're smart."
"Oh no."
Across the dining table, Aries laughed.
"She's definitely in trouble."
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"Nobody asked."
"I exist."
"Unfortunately."
"I'll tell Tita what you did yesterday."
Jay froze.
Angelo immediately noticed.
Aries immediately noticed.
Tita Gemma definitely noticed.
The table became quiet.
Aries leaned forward.
Dangerous.
Curious.
Interested.
"What did you do yesterday?"
"Nothing."
"That sounded guilty."
"It wasn't."
"It was."
"It wasn't."
"It was."
"It wasn't."
"It was."
Jay grabbed a bread roll.
Aries immediately stood up.
"Violence."
"Get back here."
"Human rights."
"You don't have any."
Angelo nearly choked on his coffee.
Tita Gemma covered her face.
The usual chaos returned.
The familiar warmth of home settled around them.
For a few moments, Jay forgot about everything else.
The investigations.
The secrets.
The responsibility she carried.
The identity she hid.
Here—
She was simply Jay.
Not Nyx.
Not the leader of Justice Veil.
Not the shadow that criminals feared.
Just Jay.
Unfortunately, that peace never lasted long.
Because her phone vibrated.
One message.
From Seb.
Meeting tonight. Attendance confirmed.
Jay's expression immediately changed.
Only for a second.
But it happened.
And Angelo saw it.
So did Aries.
"What was that?"
Jay blinked.
"What was what?"
"That face."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're lying."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Jay threw another bread roll at him.
The conversation ended immediately.
Thankfully.
Keifer's POV
The Watson mansion was unusually peaceful.
Which was suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Keifer walked downstairs and immediately understood why.
Keigan and Keiran were asleep on the couch.
Both of them.
At seven in the evening.
The television played quietly in the background.
Keifer laughed.
A rare sound.
The younger boys had clearly tried to stay awake.
And failed.
Spectacularly.
His gaze softened.
No matter how chaotic life became—
Moments like this always mattered.
Family.
Normalcy.
Peace.
Things that felt increasingly rare lately.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
Justice Veil.
Mandatory Meeting.
Attendance Required.
Keifer's expression became serious.
The leak investigation.
Immediately his thoughts drifted toward Yuri.
Something wasn't right.
The feeling had only grown stronger over the past few days.
Yuri was hiding something.
Keifer didn't know what.
But he intended to find out.
One way or another.
Justice Veil Headquarters
9:00 PM.
The underground conference hall was already full.
Rows upon rows of operatives filled the room.
Conversations remained quiet.
Controlled.
Professional.
Nobody wanted unnecessary attention tonight.
Not when the rumors had already spread.
Not when everyone knew who was attending.
The name passed between agents in whispers.
A legend.
A warning.
A shadow.
Nyx.
Some claimed she never made mistakes.
Others claimed she knew everything.
A few believed she could identify a liar with a single glance.
Nobody knew which stories were true.
But everyone respected her.
Even feared her.
Because Nyx wasn't simply a leader.
Nyx was Justice Veil.
To the innocent, Nyx was protection.
To the guilty, Nyx was a warning.
To traitors—
Nyx was judgment.
Keifer sat beside Angelo.
Across from them sat Aries.
All three wore the black attire required during official meetings.
Around them, experienced operatives waited silently.
Then—
The doors opened.
Every conversation died instantly.
The hall fell silent.
Complete silence.
Footsteps echoed through the room.
Slow.
Measured.
Confident.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Every eye followed the figure walking toward the center of the hall.
Black coat.
Black gloves.
Black mask.
No face.
No identity.
No weakness.
Only authority.
Only power.
Only Nyx.
The shadow stopped in the center of the room.
And somehow—
The room became even quieter.
Then the distorted voice echoed throughout the hall.
Cold.
Calm.
Terrifying.
"Report."
And every member of Justice Veil obeyed.
The words settled over the room like a blade.
We have a leak.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The atmosphere that had already been tense somehow became even heavier.
Several operatives exchanged brief glances.
Others immediately looked forward again.
Nobody wanted to appear suspicious.
Nobody wanted unnecessary attention.
Because if there was one thing everyone understood—
Nyx hated betrayal.
The distorted voice echoed throughout the conference hall.
"Our information has been compromised on multiple occasions over the past several months."
A large screen behind her illuminated.
Files appeared.
Mission records.
Dates.
Locations.
Operations.
Keifer's eyes narrowed.
Even from his seat, he could tell the pattern wasn't random.
Certain information had somehow reached people outside Justice Veil.
People who should never have had access to it.
People who should never have known.
Across the room, Aries leaned back in his chair.
For once, he wasn't joking.
For once, he wasn't annoying anyone.
His expression had become serious.
Which was somehow more unsettling than his usual behavior.
"We don't know who the leak is."
Nyx's voice remained calm.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
"But we will."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
"Until then, every member is under observation."
Several recruits visibly stiffened.
One operative nearly dropped his tablet.
Nobody liked being investigated.
Especially by Justice Veil.
Because Justice Veil had resources.
Connections.
Eyes everywhere.
And if Nyx herself was overseeing the investigation—
The leak was already running out of time.
Keifer found himself studying the masked figure.
There it was again.
That strange feeling.
The feeling that there was something familiar about her.
Not physically.
Not logically.
Just...
Something.
A mannerism.
A way of speaking.
A presence.
He couldn't explain it.
And it was driving him insane.
At the front of the room, Nyx continued.
"No member is exempt."
Her gaze slowly swept across the hall.
"Not veterans."
A pause.
"Not recruits."
Another pause.
"Not commanders."
Silence.
"And certainly not those closest to me."
Several heads immediately turned toward the inner-circle members.
Seb looked exhausted already.
The poor man hadn't even survived the meeting.
Nyx folded her arms.
"If I discover anyone withholding information—"
The room held its breath.
"They will answer directly to me."
Nobody needed further explanation.
Everybody knew what that meant.
The meeting continued for another hour.
Reports were delivered.
Questions were answered.
Orders were assigned.
Yet the leak investigation remained at the center of every discussion.
By the time Nyx finally stood, the room looked mentally exhausted.
The leader's gaze swept across the hall one final time.
"Dismissed."
Instantly, chairs moved.
Operatives stood.
Conversations began.
Yet they remained quiet.
Controlled.
Careful.
Nobody wanted to become the center of attention tonight.
Especially not with Nyx present.
Keifer rose from his seat.
"So..."
Aries shoved his hands into his pockets.
"That was fun."
Angelo looked at him.
"Your definition of fun concerns me."
"She's scary."
"Very."
"I think she looked into my soul."
"You don't have one."
"Rude."
Keifer barely listened.
His attention remained on Nyx.
The leader had already begun walking toward a restricted corridor.
Several guards immediately moved into position.
Nobody followed.
Nobody dared.
Because everybody knew.
When Nyx disappeared behind those doors—
Nobody was supposed to follow.
Meanwhile...
Behind those same doors...
Jay finally removed the voice modifier.
The moment the heavy door closed, she exhaled slowly.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
Only slightly.
Because the meeting was over.
The real work wasn't.
"Seb."
The man immediately looked like he regretted existing.
"Leader."
"Office."
Two words.
Seb closed his eyes.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
Several minutes later, the office door shut behind them.
The room became silent.
Jay removed her gloves.
Then her mask.
Then the black hood covering her hair.
Immediately, the terrifying figure known as Nyx disappeared.
In her place stood Jasper Jean Mariano.
Eighteen years old.
Leader of Justice Veil.
And currently annoyed.
Very annoyed.
Seb sat across from her.
Carefully.
Like someone approaching a sleeping tiger.
Jay stared at him.
Seb stared at the desk.
Neither spoke.
The silence stretched.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three.
Finally—
"Who recruited them?"
There it was.
The real reason she was angry.
Seb immediately rubbed his forehead.
"Leader—"
"No."
Jay leaned back in her chair.
"Answer the question."
Seb sighed.
Because honestly?
He had known this conversation was coming.
For months.
"Keifer."
Silence.
"Aries."
More silence.
"Angelo."
Even more silence.
Jay's stare could have killed people.
"Who."
Seb pointed at himself.
"We did."
"We?"
"The council."
Jay laughed once.
A dangerous sound.
"I leave for two years."
Seb winced.
"And you recruit civilians."
"They aren't civilians."
"They absolutely are."
"They're useful."
"They're reckless."
"They're capable."
"They're involved."
"We needed people."
Jay's eyes narrowed.
"And?"
Seb finally lost patience.
Just a little.
"AND YOU WERE GONE."
The room became silent.
Very silent.
Seb immediately regretted everything.
Jay stared at him.
He stared back.
Then, for the first time all evening—
She looked away.
Because that was the problem.
Wasn't it?
He wasn't wrong.
Justice Veil hadn't stopped operating.
Criminals hadn't taken vacations.
Investigations hadn't paused.
The organization had needed leadership.
People.
Resources.
And Jay had disappeared.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough for others to start making decisions.
Enough for them to recruit.
Enough for them to adapt.
Seb sighed.
His voice softened.
"You left us with almost nothing."
Jay remained quiet.
"You checked reports."
He continued.
"You approved emergencies."
Another pause.
"But you weren't here."
Silence.
"We needed help."
Jay slowly looked out the window.
The city lights glowed below.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then—
"Do they know?"
Seb immediately understood.
"No."
"Good."
Because if Keifer found out—
Nothing would remain tge same
....
"Good."
The single word lingered in the room.
Jay remained standing beside the floor-to-ceiling window, her arms folded across her chest as she stared out at the city lights below.
From up here, everything looked peaceful.
Small.
Manageable.
A beautiful lie.
Because somewhere out there, people were being threatened.
People were being hunted.
And now there was a leak inside Justice Veil.
A leak she intended to find.
No matter what it took.
Behind her, Seb remained silent.
Mostly because he had known Jay long enough to understand something very important.
When Nyx became quiet—
People should be worried.
Very worried.
"You don't trust this."
Seb finally spoke.
Jay didn't look at him.
"No."
"Why?"
The answer came immediately.
"Because Kaizer Watson isn't careless."
The room became silent.
Seb's expression darkened.
Neither of them liked that name.
Kaizer Watson.
A man who always seemed three steps ahead.
A man who never moved without a reason.
A man who had somehow become increasingly connected to several investigations.
Jay slowly turned around.
"What do we know?"
Seb immediately opened a file.
"Not enough."
"I figured."
"We have confirmation that information reached outside sources."
Jay nodded.
"Continue."
"We still don't know how."
The answer irritated her immediately.
Not because Seb was wrong.
Because he wasn't.
The truth simply wasn't good enough.
Someone was talking.
Someone was leaking information.
And every day they remained unidentified—
Justice Veil became more vulnerable.
Jay exhaled slowly.
"We accelerate the investigation."
Seb nodded.
"I already started."
"Double it."
The man blinked.
"Double it?"
"Every division."
Silence.
"Every operative."
More silence.
"Everybody."
Seb stared at her.
"Leader, half the organization is going to panic."
"I don't care."
That answer sounded exactly like Nyx.
Cold.
Uncompromising.
Absolute.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Jay glanced toward the attendance sheet still sitting on the desk.
Her eyes immediately found three names.
Mark Keifer Watson.
Angelo.
Aries.
A headache instantly formed.
Seb noticed.
"Still worried?"
"Very."
"They can handle themselves."
"That's not the point."
"It kind of is."
Jay shot him a look.
Seb wisely stopped talking.
Because despite everything—
Jay wasn't worried about their skills.
She was worried about their involvement.
Keifer was already becoming a target because of his father.
Aries had a habit of running directly toward danger.
And Angelo—
Angelo protected people before protecting himself.
The combination was disastrous.
A disaster waiting to happen.
And disasters had a habit of finding Jay.
The thought alone was enough to make her sigh.
"I want updates every six hours."
"Done."
"I want surveillance reports."
"Done."
"I want every suspicious interaction documented."
Seb blinked.
"Every interaction?"
"Every."
"That's excessive."
Jay stared at him.
Seb immediately corrected himself.
"Brilliant idea."
"Thank you."
The meeting finally ended twenty minutes later.
As Seb left the office, he paused near the doorway.
"Leader."
Jay looked up.
"You should tell them eventually."
The room became silent.
Jay already knew who he meant.
Keifer.
Angelo.
Aries.
The people closest to her.
The people she trusted most.
The people she had been lying to for years.
Her expression softened slightly.
Only slightly.
"Maybe."
Seb smiled.
"You won't."
"No."
"You really won't."
"Goodnight, Seb."
The man laughed as he left.
The door closed behind him.
And for the first time all evening—
Jay was alone.
The silence felt strange.
Heavy.
Her gaze drifted toward the black mask resting on the desk.
Nyx.
A title.
A symbol.
A shadow.
Sometimes she wondered if she remembered how to separate the title from herself.
Sometimes she wondered if there was even a difference anymore.
The thought lingered longer than she liked.
Eventually, she pushed it away.
There wasn't time for self-reflection.
Not tonight.
Because somewhere else in the city—
Trouble was already beginning.
---
Keifer, Angelo, and Aries exited the headquarters together.
The cool night air immediately greeted them.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Mostly because all three were still processing the meeting.
Aries broke first.
"Okay."
Silence.
"She's terrifying."
Angelo laughed.
"There it is."
"I'm serious."
"Obviously."
"I think she looked directly into my soul."
"You keep saying that."
"Because she did."
Keifer shook his head.
A small smile appeared despite himself.
Some things never changed.
Not even after a Justice Veil meeting.
Aries shoved his hands into his pockets.
"How old do you think she is?"
Angelo shrugged.
"No idea."
"Forty?"
"No."
"Thirty?"
"No."
"Seventy?"
Keifer stared at him.
"What?"
"Seventy?"
"You don't know."
"Neither do you."
Fair point.
The three continued walking toward the parking area.
Around them, operatives slowly dispersed into the night.
Yet despite the jokes—
Keifer's mind remained elsewhere.
Something about tonight bothered him.
The leak.
The investigation.
The tension.
And for some reason—
Nyx herself.
The feeling returned again.
That strange familiarity.
That sense that something wasn't adding up.
He hated not having answers.
Unfortunately—
Answers were becoming increasingly difficult to find.
Especially where Yuri was concerned.
The thought immediately brought him back to school.
Back to Yuri.
Back to the way he had looked recently.
Exhausted.
Distracted.
Afraid.
The realization made Keifer stop walking.
Angelo noticed first.
"What?"
Keifer stared ahead.
Thinking.
Connecting pieces.
Trying.
"I need to talk to Yuri."
Aries frowned.
"About?"
"I don't know."
The answer surprised even him.
But it was true.
He didn't know.
Only that something was wrong.
And every instinct he had was screaming at him to pay attention.
Because if there was one thing Keifer had learned—
The people who looked strongest were often carrying the heaviest burdens.
And lately—
Yuri looked exhausted.
...
The drive home was quieter than usual.
Aries spent the first ten minutes making increasingly ridiculous theories about Nyx.
According to him, she was either a retired assassin, a billionaire vigilante, a former spy, or a seventy-year-old grandmother secretly running Justice Veil from the shadows.
Angelo had threatened to throw him out of the car twice.
Keifer had stopped listening after the grandmother theory.
His thoughts remained fixed on Yuri.
Something wasn't right.
The feeling refused to leave.
Every conversation from the past week replayed inside his mind.
Every strange reaction.
Every forced smile.
Every moment Yuri had looked away.
Every time someone asked if he was okay.
The more Keifer thought about it—
The less he liked it.
By the time he arrived home, it was nearly midnight.
The mansion was quiet.
Most lights had already been turned off.
Only a few remained glowing softly in the distance.
For a moment, Keifer simply stood in the entrance hall.
Exhausted.
Mentally drained.
Yet somehow unable to relax.
Then—
A pair of small arms wrapped around his waist.
Keifer looked down.
Keiran.
The twelve-year-old looked half asleep.
His hair was a mess.
His eyes were barely open.
And he was still standing.
Which honestly felt impressive.
"What are you doing awake?"
Keiran yawned.
"Wanted to say goodnight."
Keifer's expression softened immediately.
"You should be sleeping."
"I was."
"That's not how sleeping works."
"It does for me."
A second voice appeared.
"You left him unsupervised for three minutes."
Keigan entered the hallway carrying a glass of water.
Keifer laughed.
"There it is."
"I deserve appreciation."
"You deserve supervision."
"That's rude."
Keiran nodded seriously.
"Very rude."
The brothers exchanged a look.
Then laughed.
For a brief moment—
Everything felt normal.
Simple.
Peaceful.
Keifer wished it could stay that way.
Unfortunately—
Life rarely cared what people wanted.
---
Across the city...
Yuri sat alone on a bench.
The park was nearly empty.
The streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement.
Cold wind drifted through the trees.
Most people would have gone home hours ago.
Yuri remained exactly where he was.
Waiting.
His phone rested heavily in his pocket.
7 PM.
Tomorrow.
The message repeated endlessly inside his head.
Part of him wanted to ignore it.
Part of him wanted to disappear.
Part of him wanted to tell somebody.
Anybody.
The problem was simple.
Every possible choice ended badly.
If he obeyed—
He betrayed the people he cared about.
If he refused—
His family suffered.
The impossible choice had become his daily reality.
Yuri leaned back against the bench.
Closed his eyes.
And wondered how much longer he could keep doing this.
Because every lie felt heavier.
Every secret felt larger.
Every day became harder.
The sound of approaching footsteps made him look up.
A group of men entered the park.
Three of them.
Loud.
Drunk.
Annoying.
Yuri immediately looked away.
Not interested.
Unfortunately—
They were interested.
One of them noticed a younger teenager sitting alone nearby.
The boy couldn't have been older than fourteen.
Small.
Nervous.
Clearly uncomfortable.
The men started laughing.
Blocking his path.
The teenager stepped back.
They stepped forward.
Yuri's jaw tightened.
Not tonight.
One of the men grabbed the boy's shoulder.
The teenager immediately looked frightened.
And that was enough.
Yuri stood.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Dangerously.
The men noticed him.
One laughed.
"Problem?"
Yuri stared at him.
"No."
The man smirked.
"Then mind your business."
Normally—
Yuri would've walked away.
Normally—
He would've ignored it.
Normally—
He would've focused on his own problems.
But tonight wasn't normal.
Tonight his patience was already shattered.
And unfortunately for them—
They had chosen the wrong night.
The wrong victim.
And the wrong person to annoy.
Yuri stepped forward.
The leader laughed.
Big mistake.
A very big mistake.
The punch landed before the man even realized Yuri had moved.
His head snapped sideways.
The laughter disappeared instantly.
The other two men froze.
The teenager looked shocked.
Yuri flexed his hand once.
Slowly.
Calmly.
His expression remained completely blank.
Which somehow made him look even more dangerous.
For the first time all evening—
The anger inside him finally had somewhere to go.
The leader stumbled backward.
Holding his jaw.
"What the—"
The second man charged.
Yuri sidestepped.
Grabbed his arm.
And threw him directly into a nearby bench.
Wood cracked.
The man immediately regretted every decision that had led him here.
The third man hesitated.
Smart.
Very smart.
Unfortunately—
His friend wasn't.
The first man swung wildly.
Yuri ducked.
Drove a fist into his stomach.
Then another.
Then another.
Years of frustration.
Fear.
Stress.
And helplessness exploded through every movement.
The fight ended far quicker than it started.
Three men.
Three terrible decisions.
Three immediate regrets.
The park fell silent.
The teenager stared.
Wide-eyed.
Completely speechless.
Yuri stepped back.
Breathing heavily.
The anger slowly faded.
Leaving only exhaustion behind.
The same exhaustion that never seemed to disappear anymore.
"You okay?"
The teenager nodded rapidly.
"Y-Yes."
"Good."
Yuri turned to leave.
The boy suddenly spoke.
"Thank you."
Yuri stopped.
Only briefly.
Then—
"Get home safely."
And walked away.
Alone.
Just like always.
The streetlights stretched across the empty road ahead.
His phone vibrated.
One message.
Unknown Number.
Yuri's blood ran cold.
Slowly—
He opened it.
His heart immediately dropped.
Because this time—
It wasn't an order.
It was a photograph.
A photograph of his mother leaving work.
And beneath it—
Only one sentence.
Do not disappoint me tomorrow.
.....
For several seconds, Yuri couldn't breathe.
The photograph remained on the screen.
Bright.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
His mother was standing outside her workplace.
Holding her bag.
Completely unaware that someone had been watching her.
Completely unaware that someone had taken that picture.
Completely unaware that her safety had become leverage.
Yuri stared at the image.
His grip tightened around the phone.
Then tightened even more.
The urge to throw it across the street nearly won.
Nearly.
But anger wouldn't help.
It never did.
Because Kaizer always made sure anger led nowhere.
The man was careful.
Calculated.
Patient.
Every threat was planned.
Every move deliberate.
Every trap designed long before anyone noticed it existed.
Yuri closed his eyes.
For the first time in years, he genuinely felt trapped.
No escape.
No solution.
No good choices.
Only consequences.
Slowly, he typed a response.
Leave them out of this.
The reply arrived less than ten seconds later.
Then cooperate.
Yuri laughed.
A short, bitter laugh.
Because of course.
Of course that was the answer.
The phone suddenly felt heavier than before.
Like it carried the weight of everything he couldn't say.
Everything he couldn't tell his friends.
Everything he couldn't confess.
He slipped it back into his pocket and continued walking.
The night felt colder than it had an hour ago.
---
The following morning...
Jay woke up to someone pounding on her bedroom door.
Loudly.
Repeatedly.
Annoyingly.
Which meant it could only be one person.
"ARIES."
The pounding immediately stopped.
A pause.
Then—
"Good morning, sunshine."
Jay grabbed the nearest pillow.
The door opened.
The pillow flew.
Aries dodged.
Unfortunately.
"You missed."
"One day."
Aries grinned.
"You're threatening me before breakfast."
"I'm improving."
"Fair."
Jay climbed out of bed.
Already annoyed.
Already tired.
Already plotting several crimes.
A normal morning.
At least on the surface.
Because beneath the routine...
Her mind remained focused on Justice Veil.
The leak.
The reports.
The inconsistencies.
Something wasn't adding up.
And Jay hated loose ends.
She hated unanswered questions.
Most of all—
She hated feeling like someone was operating inside her blind spot.
By the time she reached the dining table, Angelo was already drinking coffee.
Tita Gemma was preparing breakfast.
Aries was stealing food.
As usual.
"That's mine."
"No."
"Aries."
"No."
"Give it back."
"No."
Jay looked around.
"Angelo."
"I'm staying out of this."
"Tita."
"Work it out yourselves."
Jay stared at them.
Betrayed.
Completely betrayed.
Aries looked smug.
That lasted exactly three seconds.
Then Jay stole his entire plate.
The look of horror on his face was immediate.
"JAY."
"Actions have consequences."
"You're a criminal."
"I prefer visionary."
Angelo laughed into his coffee.
Tita Gemma shook her head.
And for a little while—
Everything felt normal.
Warm.
Safe.
Like the world wasn't slowly becoming more complicated every day.
---
At HVIS...
Section E was somehow louder than usual.
Which was impressive.
Because Section E treated silence as a personal enemy.
The moment Jay entered the classroom, Ci-N practically launched himself toward her.
"JAY."
"No."
"I haven't even said anything."
"The answer is still no."
"You're no fun."
Blaster immediately pointed.
"See?"
"I told you."
"Told me what?"
"That she'd reject your idea."
"What idea?"
Ci-N looked offended.
"Why does everybody assume it's a bad idea?"
David finally looked up from his desk.
Half asleep.
"Because it's your idea."
"Wow."
"Accurate though."
Even Josh looked amused.
The classroom erupted into laughter.
For a few moments—
Everything felt exactly the way it should.
Comfortable.
Chaotic.
Familiar.
Family.
Then Jay noticed Yuri.
He was smiling.
Talking.
Participating.
Doing everything he normally did.
And somehow—
That worried her even more.
Because the smile looked forced.
Not fake.
Just...
Tired.
Like someone trying very hard to convince everyone he was okay.
Keifer noticed it too.
The moment their eyes met across the classroom—
Jay knew.
He'd seen it.
Again.
The concern.
The doubt.
The questions.
Neither said anything.
Not yet.
Because Yuri was still Yuri.
And nobody wanted to assume the worst.
Unfortunately...
Josh was watching too.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Observing the way Yuri checked his phone whenever he thought nobody was looking.
Observing the way his smile vanished when conversations ended.
Observing the exhaustion hidden behind his eyes.
Josh didn't say anything.
He rarely did.
But he noticed.
And what he noticed—
He didn't like.
The first bell rang.
Students hurried toward their seats.
The noise gradually faded.
Books opened.
Lessons began.
Yet despite the normality surrounding them—
The feeling remained.
That strange feeling.
The feeling that something was coming.
Something important.
Something dangerous.
And somewhere in the back of the classroom...
Yuri's phone vibrated once.
Only once.
Yet the color immediately drained from his face.
A reaction so small most people would've missed it.
Most people.
But not Keifer.
And not Jay.
This time—
Neither of them looked away.
.....
The vibration lasted less than a second.
A tiny sound.
Barely noticeable.
Yet somehow it felt louder than the teacher's voice.
Yuri's hand immediately moved toward his pocket.
Then stopped.
Then moved again.
The hesitation alone was enough to make Keifer's stomach tighten.
Because Yuri never hesitated.
Not like that.
Not over a phone notification.
Not over something so small.
For a brief moment, Yuri glanced at the screen.
The color drained from his face.
Only for a second.
Then he locked the phone and shoved it back into his pocket.
Too quickly.
Far too quickly.
The movement would've looked normal to anybody else.
Unfortunately for him—
Keifer had spent years around him.
Jay had spent years around him.
And neither missed details when it came to people they cared about.
The rest of the lesson passed painfully slowly.
Or at least it felt that way.
Mostly because nobody in Section E seemed interested in actually learning.
Ci-N spent twenty minutes trying to convince Blaster that their mathematics teacher secretly hated him.
Blaster believed him for approximately twelve seconds before starting an argument.
David somehow fell asleep while sitting upright.
Nobody questioned it.
Nobody could explain it either.
Drew was still trying to borrow money.
From everyone.
Including the teacher.
Especially the teacher.
Josh quietly finished his notes.
While observing everything.
As usual.
Yet despite all the chaos surrounding them—
Yuri remained strangely distant.
Present.
But not really present.
There physically.
Mentally somewhere else.
The final bell before lunch eventually rang.
Students immediately stood.
Conversations exploded throughout the classroom.
Bags were grabbed.
Chairs scraped against the floor.
The usual madness began.
Yuri was one of the first people to leave.
Which immediately caught Keifer's attention.
Because Yuri never rushed to lunch.
Ever.
"Did you see that?"
Keifer asked quietly.
Jay nodded.
"Yeah."
"He left fast."
"Very."
The two exchanged a look.
Neither liked what they were seeing.
Unfortunately—
Neither knew what to do about it.
---
By lunchtime, the cafeteria had transformed into absolute chaos.
Students filled nearly every table.
Noise echoed from every direction.
Somebody was laughing.
Somebody was shouting.
Somebody was definitely breaking school rules.
A normal day at HVIS.
Section E occupied their usual table.
Or rather—
Most of Section E occupied their usual table.
"Where's Yuri?"
Ci-N looked around.
Nobody answered immediately.
Because that was the problem.
Nobody knew.
Blaster frowned.
"Bathroom?"
"That's been twenty minutes."
"Maybe he's hiding from you."
"Valid."
Ci-N looked offended.
Drew nodded.
"Honestly, I'd do the same."
"I hate all of you."
"No, you don't."
"True."
The conversation continued.
Yet Jay noticed something.
Keifer wasn't really paying attention.
His gaze kept drifting toward the cafeteria entrance.
Waiting.
Watching.
Looking for Yuri.
Jay quietly sighed.
Because she was doing exactly the same thing.
Then—
The cafeteria doors opened.
Yuri entered.
Relief immediately washed through several people.
Including Jay.
Including Keifer.
Including Josh.
The feeling lasted approximately three seconds.
Because Yuri looked worse than before.
Much worse.
His smile appeared the moment he reached the table.
Yet it didn't reach his eyes.
Not even close.
"You look terrible."
Ci-N said immediately.
Everyone stared at him.
"What?"
"Ci-N."
"What?"
"People don't usually say that."
"He does."
"Fair."
Yuri actually laughed.
A real laugh.
Small.
But real.
For a moment, everybody relaxed.
Then his phone vibrated again.
The reaction was instant.
Yuri's laughter disappeared.
His shoulders stiffened.
His eyes dropped toward his pocket.
Fear.
Pure fear.
For less than a second.
Then it vanished.
But Keifer saw it.
Jay saw it.
Josh saw it.
And this time—
Even David noticed.
The table slowly grew quiet.
Nobody knew why.
Nobody wanted to say anything.
Because saying something would make it real.
Would force them to acknowledge what they were all starting to suspect.
That Yuri wasn't okay.
Not even close.
The silence was eventually broken by Drew.
Mostly because Drew feared silence.
"And that's why I need fifty pesos."
The entire table groaned.
Immediately.
Simultaneously.
The tension shattered.
At least temporarily.
---
Classes ended later that afternoon beneath dark clouds.
The sky had become unusually gray.
Heavy.
The kind of sky that promised rain.
Students poured out of classrooms.
Teachers hurried toward parking lots.
The campus slowly began emptying.
Jay was packing her bag when her phone vibrated.
A secure notification.
Justice Veil.
Her expression immediately sharpened.
The message was short.
Urgent. Inner Circle only.
Jay's eyes narrowed.
That wasn't normal.
Not during school hours.
Not unless something had happened.
Across the room, Keifer was still talking to Blaster.
Aries had already started annoying somebody.
David was preparing for another nap.
Ci-N was being Ci-N.
Everything looked normal.
Yet Jay knew better.
Something had happened.
And whatever it was—
Justice Veil considered it important enough to summon the Inner Circle immediately.
She slipped her phone away.
Trying not to draw attention.
Unfortunately—
Josh noticed.
The quiet boy didn't say anything.
Didn't react.
Didn't even look at her directly.
But he noticed.
Just like he noticed everything.
And lately—
There seemed to be far too many things worth noticing.
Meanwhile, outside the school gates...
Yuri stood alone.
Staring at another message.
Another order.
Another reminder.
His jaw tightened.
His hands clenched.
The words blurred together.
But the meaning remained clear.
Kaizer wasn't asking anymore.
He was demanding.
And tomorrow—
Yuri would have to make a choice.
A choice that might cost him everything.
.....
For a long moment, Yuri remained standing outside the school gates.
Students walked past him.
Cars arrived.
Parents called their children.
The noise of the outside world continued normally.
Yet Yuri barely noticed any of it.
His eyes remained fixed on the message.
The words felt burned into his mind.
He had read them at least ten times.
Maybe twenty.
The result never changed.
There was no hidden meaning.
No secret interpretation.
No loophole.
No escape.
Only another order.
Another reminder.
Another chain tightening around his neck.
A car horn suddenly sounded nearby.
Yuri blinked.
The world returned.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
He locked the phone and shoved it into his pocket.
Then started walking.
Because standing still wouldn't solve anything.
Nothing would.
Not anymore.
---
Back inside the school building, Jay had just finished packing her bag when somebody stole it.
Immediately.
Without warning.
Without permission.
Without survival instincts.
Jay didn't even need to look.
"Aries."
The culprit grinned.
"Hello."
"Give it back."
"No."
"Aries."
"No."
"Aries."
"No."
Jay slowly stood.
Dangerously.
Across the classroom, Ci-N immediately grabbed Blaster's arm.
"It's happening."
"Oh no."
"It's happening."
David looked up from his desk.
Half asleep.
"Who's dying?"
"Probably Aries."
"Reasonable."
The entire classroom watched as Jay advanced.
Aries wisely began retreating.
Unfortunately for him—
The classroom wasn't very large.
"You know," Aries said, still backing away, "violence isn't the answer."
"It's definitely an answer."
"Not a healthy one."
"Neither are you."
"That's hurtful."
Jay lunged.
Aries immediately yelped and fled.
The classroom exploded into laughter.
Even Yuri managed a small smile.
For a brief moment—
Everything felt normal again.
Friends.
Arguments.
Chaos.
Family.
The kind of moments people rarely appreciate until they're gone.
The kind of moments Yuri was terrified of losing.
---
Nearly an hour later...
The abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city stood silent beneath dark clouds.
Rain threatened overhead.
Cold wind swept through the area.
Most people avoided this part of the city.
That was exactly why Justice Veil used it.
The location wasn't a headquarters.
Wasn't an official base.
Simply a temporary meeting point.
One known only to trusted members.
Inside the building, several people were already waiting.
Seb stood near a large table covered in files.
Two other Inner Circle members occupied nearby seats.
The atmosphere was tense.
Unusually tense.
The moment the side door opened—
Everyone stood.
Jay entered.
Not as Jay.
Not anymore.
Black coat.
Black gloves.
Black mask.
Nyx.
The room immediately straightened.
Even the Inner Circle wasn't immune.
Because despite knowing her identity—
They still respected the title.
Nyx stopped beside the table.
"Report."
No greetings.
No introductions.
Straight to business.
Seb exchanged a look with the others.
Then slid a file across the table.
"We found another breach."
The room became silent.
Nyx picked up the file.
Opened it.
Read.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Her expression remained hidden.
Yet everybody felt the temperature drop.
"What exactly am I looking at?"
Seb swallowed.
Not a good sign.
Never a good sign.
"Financial records."
"And?"
"The leak isn't random."
The room became even quieter.
Jay slowly looked up.
Seb continued.
"Whoever is passing information isn't doing it for attention."
A pause.
"They're protecting someone."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The words settled heavily over the room.
Protecting someone.
Not selling information.
Not seeking power.
Not seeking money.
Protecting.
Jay stared at the documents.
Her mind immediately began connecting possibilities.
A family member.
A friend.
Blackmail.
Coercion.
Threats.
Her eyes narrowed beneath the mask.
Because she knew something most people didn't.
People rarely betrayed others willingly.
Usually—
Someone forced them.
And forced people made mistakes.
Which meant the leak could still be found.
The question was simple.
How much damage would happen first?
---
Meanwhile...
Keifer sat inside his car.
Engine off.
Phone in hand.
Thinking.
The sky had grown darker.
Rain clouds covered the city.
Yet he hadn't gone home.
Not yet.
Because his instincts wouldn't let him.
Something about Yuri continued bothering him.
The messages.
The reactions.
The fear.
Every piece felt wrong.
And tonight—
For the first time—
Keifer decided to stop waiting.
He opened his contacts.
Scrolled once.
Then pressed call.
Yuri.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then—
"Hello?"
Yuri sounded surprised.
Keifer leaned back in his seat.
"Busy?"
A pause.
"Not really."
Another pause.
Both knew that wasn't true.
Keifer stared through the windshield.
Watching raindrops begin striking the glass.
Slowly.
Steadily.
"You free tomorrow?"
The silence on the other end lasted slightly too long.
Not much.
Just enough.
Enough for Keifer to notice.
Enough for his suspicion to grow.
Finally—
"Why?"
"I want to talk."
The answer came honestly.
No games.
No tricks.
Just honesty.
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
"About what?"
Keifer looked toward the dark sky.
The answer was simple.
"I don't know yet."
For the first time all day—
Yuri's heart dropped.
Because somehow—
That answer scared him more than any question.
...
The call ended several minutes later.
Neither of them had really said much.
Yet somehow the conversation felt heavier than most.
Keifer remained inside the car for a few moments.
Thinking.
Waiting.
Trying to make sense of everything.
Eventually, he started the engine and drove home.
Unfortunately—
His thoughts followed him.
---
The following day passed surprisingly slowly.
At least for Jay.
Every lesson felt twice as long.
Every minute seemed determined to test her patience.
Even Section E's usual chaos wasn't enough to distract her completely.
Justice Veil.
The leak.
The emergency meeting.
The new information.
It all continued circling inside her head.
By lunchtime, she had reached a conclusion.
She needed a break.
A real break.
Five minutes.
Ten if she was lucky.
Unfortunately, the universe had other plans.
Because the moment she stepped into the hallway—
A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Jay barely had time to react before she was pulled around a corner.
Her back met a wall.
The door behind her closed.
And a familiar face appeared in front of her.
Keifer.
Jay blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"...Hello?"
Keifer folded his arms.
"Hello."
"Why are we in the old music room?"
"Because."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No."
"It is."
Jay rolled her eyes.
Keifer simply stared at her.
The silence stretched.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Then—
"You've been avoiding me."
Jay immediately looked offended.
"I have not."
"You have."
"I haven't."
"You have."
"I haven't."
"You have."
Jay crossed her arms.
"You're annoying."
"Deflecting."
"I'm not deflecting."
"You're literally deflecting."
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then opened it again.
"...Maybe a little."
Keifer looked victorious.
Which was unfortunate.
Because now he looked smug.
And Keifer looked far too good when he was smug.
A fact Jay refused to admit.
Ever.
"You've been busy."
Keifer's voice softened.
The teasing faded slightly.
The accusation remained.
Jay looked away.
Because he wasn't wrong.
She had been busy.
Terribly busy.
Just not with anything she could explain.
Not without revealing things she wasn't ready to reveal.
Keifer stepped closer.
Not enough to trap her.
Just enough to make her aware of him.
"Jay."
Her eyes slowly lifted.
And immediately met his.
That was always dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Because Keifer had a habit of looking at her like she was the only person in the room.
The only person in the world.
The expression alone was enough to weaken her arguments.
Which was rude.
Very rude.
"You know you can talk to me."
The words were simple.
Honest.
And somehow that made them hurt more.
Because she wanted to.
More than anything.
But she couldn't.
Not yet.
Not while Nyx existed.
Not while Justice Veil existed.
Not while danger continued circling the people she cared about.
Jay forced a small smile.
"I'm okay."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"That's a lie."
"A tiny lie."
"A huge lie."
"A medium-sized lie."
"A massive lie."
Jay laughed despite herself.
The tension eased.
Just a little.
Keifer smiled.
And there it was.
The thing that always ruined her ability to stay annoyed.
That smile.
The one reserved only for her.
The one capable of melting every wall she built.
Absolutely unfair.
Before she could think of a response, Keifer gently lifted her chin.
Jay's breath caught.
Just slightly.
Neither spoke.
For a moment, the rest of the world seemed very far away.
No Justice Veil.
No Kaizer.
No investigations.
No secrets.
Just them.
Just this.
Keifer leaned closer.
"Still ignoring me?"
Jay tried to look serious.
She failed.
Spectacularly.
"Maybe."
"That's unfortunate."
"Why?"
"Because I missed you."
The answer came so naturally that it stole her breath.
Keifer smiled again.
Then kissed her.
Soft.
Gentle.
The kind of kiss that felt familiar.
Comfortable.
Like coming home.
For a few precious seconds, Jay allowed herself to forget everything else.
Allowed herself to simply exist.
Not as Nyx.
Not as a leader.
Not as someone carrying the weight of an entire organization.
Just as Jay.
Just as Keifer's girlfriend.
When they finally pulled apart, neither moved very far.
Keifer rested his forehead lightly against hers.
"You definitely missed me too."
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"I hate your confidence."
"No, you don't."
"...Maybe not."
"See?"
"So annoying."
"And yet."
"And yet."
The smile that appeared on her face was impossible to hide.
For the first time in days—
A genuine smile.
One without stress.
One without worry.
One without secrets.
Keifer noticed immediately.
And for him—
That alone made dragging her into the old music room worth it.
Unfortunately, the moment lasted exactly twelve seconds.
The door suddenly flew open.
Both of them froze.
Ci-N stood there.
Holding a packet of chips.
David stood beside him.
Half asleep.
Blaster was behind them.
And somehow Josh was there too.
The silence was immediate.
Absolute.
Painful.
Ci-N slowly looked at Jay.
Then Keifer.
Then Jay again.
Then Keifer again.
"...Well."
Nobody spoke.
Ci-N nodded.
"That explains why the door was locked."
Jay closed her eyes.
Keifer looked toward the ceiling.
David yawned.
Blaster immediately started laughing.
And Josh—
For perhaps the first time in history—
Actually smirked.
For three whole seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody breathed.
The old music room had officially become the most awkward place in HVIS.
Ci-N was still holding his chips.
David looked like he might fall asleep standing up.
Blaster was seconds away from exploding with laughter.
Josh remained surprisingly calm.
Which somehow made everything worse.
Jay slowly opened her eyes.
Maybe if she opened them, everyone would disappear.
Unfortunately—
They were still there.
Every single one of them.
"Leave."
Ci-N looked offended.
"We just got here."
"Leave."
"We were investigating."
"You were not."
"We absolutely were."
Blaster immediately nodded.
"Yeah."
"You were following us."
"Investigation."
"Stalking."
"Investigation."
Jay pointed at the door.
"Out."
Nobody moved.
Not one person.
The audacity.
The betrayal.
The disrespect.
Then David finally spoke.
Half asleep.
As usual.
"To be fair..."
Everyone looked at him.
"...you two disappeared."
Silence.
Another yawn.
"So obviously people got curious."
Honestly?
Fair.
Jay hated that it was fair.
Meanwhile, Keifer looked completely unbothered.
Which was incredibly annoying.
Very annoying.
Especially because he looked like he was enjoying this.
The traitor.
Ci-N suddenly gasped.
Dramatically.
"WAIT."
Everybody flinched.
Even Josh.
Ci-N pointed directly at Keifer.
"You kidnapped her."
The room fell silent.
Keifer blinked.
Once.
Then twice.
"...What?"
"You kidnapped her."
"I did not."
"You literally dragged her here."
"She came willingly."
Jay immediately looked at him.
Keifer immediately realized his mistake.
Ci-N looked delighted.
"Oh my God."
"No."
"Oh my God."
"No."
"Oh my God."
David nodded.
"That's suspicious."
Blaster was now crying from laughter.
Actual tears.
Josh had given up pretending not to find this amusing.
And Jay?
Jay was reconsidering every life decision that had brought her to this moment.
The worst part?
The absolute worst part?
The entire situation was about to get even worse.
Because the door opened again.
Everybody turned.
Yuri stood there.
The smile on his face disappeared immediately.
The room froze.
Yuri froze.
Jay froze.
Keifer froze.
Ci-N looked between everyone.
Then slowly raised his chips.
"...Am I interrupting something?"
The classroom erupted.
Again.
Yuri laughed.
A real laugh.
A genuine laugh.
The kind they hadn't heard from him in days.
For one brief moment—
Everything felt normal.
The tension disappeared.
The worry disappeared.
The secrets disappeared.
Section E became Section E again.
And Jay found herself smiling.
Because moments like this mattered.
More than people realized.
Much more.
---
Later that afternoon...
Rain finally arrived.
Heavy drops struck the windows.
Dark clouds covered the sky.
The atmosphere inside the classroom became strangely calm.
Students packed their bags.
Teachers finished lessons.
The school day slowly approached its end.
Jay was gathering her things when somebody sat beside her.
Keifer.
Again.
The menace.
"You know."
Jay didn't look up.
"No."
"You never let me finish."
"Because I know it's going to be annoying."
"I'm offended."
"Good."
Keifer leaned back in his chair.
Watching the rain outside.
For a few moments, neither spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It never was.
Not with him.
Then—
"You looked happier today."
Jay paused.
Just for a second.
Because she knew exactly what he meant.
The music room.
The stolen moment.
The brief escape from reality.
She smiled slightly.
"So did you."
Keifer looked pleased.
Very pleased.
Which was unfortunate.
Because now she had encouraged him.
A mistake.
A terrible mistake.
The rain continued falling outside.
Students gradually left the classroom.
The noise faded.
The hallway became quieter.
Until eventually—
Only a handful of people remained.
Including Yuri.
Who sat alone near the window.
Staring at his phone.
Again.
The smile vanished from Jay's face.
Immediately.
Because there it was.
That look.
That exhausted look.
That trapped look.
The look of somebody carrying too much.
Keifer noticed it too.
Their eyes met.
No words were needed.
Both of them were thinking the same thing.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
And every day it became harder to ignore.
Across the room, Yuri suddenly stood.
Too quickly.
His chair scraped against the floor.
Several people looked up.
Yuri forced a smile.
"Bathroom."
Nobody questioned it.
Nobody except Josh.
The quiet boy watched Yuri leave.
Then glanced toward Jay.
Then Keifer.
Then the hallway.
Observing.
Connecting.
Thinking.
Because lately—
Far too many things weren't making sense.
And Josh hated mysteries almost as much as Jay did.
---
Outside the classroom...
Yuri walked quickly through the hallway.
His pulse hammered inside his chest.
The phone remained clenched tightly in his hand.
Another message.
Another demand.
Another threat.
He pushed open the door leading to the emergency staircase.
The moment it closed behind him—
His smile vanished completely.
The message remained open on the screen.
A single location.
A single time.
And one sentence beneath it.
Come alone.
Yuri stared at the words.
Rain struck the windows beside him.
The building creaked softly.
Everything felt too quiet.
Too still.
Too dangerous.
Slowly—
He realized something.
Tomorrow's meeting with Kaizer wasn't going to be another conversation.
It was going to be something much worse.
And for the first time—
Yuri was genuinely afraid.
.....to be continued....
For anyone wondering what is nyx
Nyx — derived from the ancient Greek primordial goddess of the night. In mythology, Nyx was a being so powerful that even the gods feared her. She represents darkness, mystery, secrecy, and the unseen forces that shape fate.
Within Justice Veil, "Nyx" is not just a name—it is a title. A shadow with no face. A voice that delivers judgment from the darkness. To the innocent, Nyx is protection. To the guilty, Nyx is a warning.