After arriving back to the police station, Marshall places the picture of Cipher on his desk. 8 months ago, moments after the whole incident some of the bodies of the victims were identified as others were disfigured. Marshall was unfortunate enough to find Cipher's lifeless body among them. That was the last time he saw him.

Steven: Marshall, what do you think the possibility of the boy being the Bloodstained Crow?

Marshall: Absolute zero possibility. I saw his corpse, hell the heart was missing. However his body disappeared after being delivered to the morgue and this art does somewhat resemble him.

Steven: There might be a connection of the boy’s missing body and the Bloodstained Crow.

A call comes in from Marshall’s phone; as he answers it Steven then goes toward some audio tapes and puts headphones on to listen in on the tapes. The man on the phone with Marshall is Phil, a member of the forensics team that was investigating the bodies that the crow has left behind.

Marshall: Anything good?

Phil: Well… the black blood that I talked to you guys about. So far no animal or chemical is this in anyway similar to anything we know. It maybe some type of side effect from a new drug the crow is taking.

Marshall: You’re kidding right? Well, what about the bodies you guys got from yesterday’s batch?

Phil: Those, well there’s not much I can say that hasn’t been said already. Since these guys’ fingerprints are burnt off, I can’t say who they were. Looks like they did it themselves as the wounds are not of recent.

Marshall: Nothing but bad news, huh.

Phil: Marshall, what do you think made these types of people to come here?

Marshall: Someone must have paid them to kill the crow.

As Marshall said this aloud Steven with his hands on the headphones hears the words.

Steven: Marshall, I believe I got something.

Marshall: Yeah, what is it?

Steven: Some of the tapes that our informer provides us mentions something about mercenaries and the money. Marshall, I suggest we go pay Marcos a visit.

Marshall: Mercenaries!?

Marshall then bids Phil his thanks as he and Steven goes to where they know their informer is at. As they go to where the informer is, Steven ponders on the information they just figured out.

Steven: This is quite difficult.

Marshall: What?

Steven: The fact that mercenaries were paid to take down the Bloodstained Crow, makes me wonder who on Earth would go this far.

Marshall: It's obvious who it was. However how they get enough resources to pull such a stunt is the really question.

They stop around Hollywood Blvd near the Chinese Theater. They get out the car go to the front of the theater where Marshall taps on a guy’s shoulder trying to sell some pamphlets to tourists.

Marshall: How’s the job working you, Marcos? Is it better then dropping the soap in front of people that will make you there woman?

Marcos: Christ, Marshall you can’t just come here and start harassing me. I’m not even going against my parole. Where’s the other one that’s usually with you?

Marshall: I’m the one asking questions here. Now what can you tell me about your gang hiring a group of mercenaries to go after you know who?

Marcos: Look man I don’t know nothing aright. Now if you excuse me, got a sell some of these to get my cash you know.

Marshall then takes out a couple of 20s and gives them to Marcos.

Marcos: Okay, well I don’t know about where they came from but the money to pay for those guys didn’t come from us, it came from the Hispanics.

Marshall: Which ones?

Marcos: The Soldados.

Marshall: Did they involve themselves when the crow took out some of their guys during that alley incident few days ago?

Marcos: I don’t know man.

Marshall: Right and when Cross finds out you’ve been giving the police some info about them, wouldn’t surprise me if they use you as some sacrifice to whatever gods you people believe in. But even they don’t have enough resources to pay for mercenaries of that caliber. Where did that money come from?

Marcos: I don’t know man, not for 40 dollars at least.

Marshall: *sigh* We’re done here. You don’t know anything else I need to know, right?

Marcos then averts his eyes away from Marshall and then proceeds to talk.

Marcos: There's something else; two days from now is another gathering for the ritual that failed on February.

Marshall immediately grabs Marcos by the collar and demands why he didn’t say anything about this before. Just then Marshall feels a hand calmly land onto his shoulder; it was Steven trying to calm him down before he did anything else as it starts to catch the attention of the bystanders.

Marcos: Calm your tits! Look I didn’t know until today aright. You don’t wanta make a scene here do ya!

Steven: Do you know what time of day and where this event might take place in?

Marcos: *nods* Yeah, look I want to live a normal life that much I’m not even kidding about. I’ve done stuff that are unforgivable. And I feel that as long as they are around then I can’t do that. You get me? It’s going to be at the subway station at 8th street in downtown; the only station there that the construction workers stopped.

Marshall: *lets go of him* My ass you do. You will lead us to the gathering yourself before it starts got it. Also do you know any information on the mercenaries that were killed?

Marcos: Aright and na, heard nobody knows who they were. Just some people who were paid top dollar to kill the crow.

After parting ways, Marshall and Steven then go back to the car. Steven then says what he has been thinking about while Marshall was speaking with Marcos.

Steven: So what do you think? Were the mercenaries just a lone group? Or do you think they might have belonged to a PMC?

Marshall: You mean a Private Military Company? *sighs* I don't know what's worse, having some random PMC getting hired to come here or that Cross is doing another ritual soon.

Steven: Shall we go tell the chief that we might finally have Cross where we want them?

Marshall: *opens car door* Definitely. We’ll finally have them where we want them.

Steven: Perhaps we might even get the Bloodstained Crow if he happens to show up.

Marshall: Something in my gut tells me the same Steve.

As the afternoon came, high school students start to leave the campus as school had ended. Buses are waiting as students are getting in and looking for a seat, among the students Brandon and Eveline wait at the side of the school where some students are waiting for family or friends to pick them up. The two sit and wait on the cement stairs looking out at the street.

Brandon: … She’s late.

Eveline: Well maybe there’s traffic. This is around the time when it starts to get packed.

Brandon: That would be the case and I would agree. But… this is Maria I'm talking about. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was asleep this whole time. She even has a cell phone, but it’s like she has no purpose in using it! It always goes to voicemail and she calls back from the house phone.

Eveline: Maybe she doesn’t know how to use it well? How old is she?

Brandon: *scratches his head* Old enough to know she’s annoyingly complicated.

Eveline: *giggles* I suppose so.

Brandon: So hey, I saw that you’re still not comfortable with talking to the others in class.

Eveline: ...Yeah.

Brandon: But you've been like that for a while now, didn't you say it would make you happy if you lived a fulfilling high school life?

Eveline: I feel really odd and uneasy when I try to speak to them. But *gently smiles* I feel okay when it’s just your family... or you.

Brandon: *slightly blushes* Well if you say so. (Should I read into what she just said about being around me?)

Moments later a car drives by and honks at the two. Maria had arrived and they begin to walk towards the car.

Maria: Hiya, kept you waiting did I?

Brandon: You’re late. I’m going to assume you were asleep.

Maria: Well I had an errand to run really quick. So I thought I might make it back a little late.

Brandon: 30 minutes does count as a little. For you!

Maria: Ah come on. *brings her head closer* Besides I somewhat gave you more time with your girlfriend. Tell me, *suggestive hand motions* did you two have some fun while you waited.

Brandon: The hell is that matter with you! Aren’t you supposed to be a freaking nun! Why ask me that!

Maria: Ahhh. If you keep acting like this, you’ll always be stuck in the friend zone. Where romance goes to die.

Eveline: Uh, what are you guys doing?

Brandon: She’s just telling me on how since she has no love life; she’s interested in some teenage romance stuff.

Eveline: Oh… well everyone has a hobby I suppose.

Maria: Shut up the both of you! It’s not like I want that anyways, I’m a sister of the church so I don’t need it anyways! Sides it’s not like I haven’t tried before…

Brandon: Well look, we gotta go to the bookstore for some books we need to use for one an essay we were given.

Maria: Why don’t you use the computer at your home for whatever research you need?

Eveline: We need the actual books to use since the teacher gave it to use saying that it’s to prepare for college. Something about it’s for sighting our work or something like that.

Maria: Doesn't your school have a library?

Eveline: It didn't have what we needed.

Maria: Eh, sure sounds like a pain to me. Well guess you guys need to get ready for college if you plan to attend. But I’m not going to lecture you guys about it, so let’s get going.

Once Maria starts driving the radio is then turned on to listen to some music. As they drive they somewhat continue talking as the ride goes on, their topics going to school from television. The ride ends when they finally get to the inside parking lot of the library.

Maria: You guys get out; I’ll find a parking spot and look for you guys. And don’t worry I’ll take my time so you two love birds can be alone. *winks*

Brandon/Eveline: … Oh how considerate of you.

She lets Brandon and Eveline off so that they can enter the building as she finds parking; as she eventually does she gets out and stands near the car. She then takes out a cigarette box, takes one out, and lights it as she smokes leaning against the car.

Maria: (Those two are just so cute together. Unfortunately with Brandon being who he is, he’s gonna need a push to confess. Still even with two shy people liking each other, it looks like a pain in the ass just for one of them to get courage.)

She then closes her eyes and a smile begins to form on her lips.

Maria: (Dear lord make sure he and that girl find happiness. Or at least push that idiot Brandon to tell her how he feels. Just watching those two interact with each other is painful. If you do, I promise I’ll stop smoking for real this time.)

She drops the cigarette on the ground and steps on it; she then starts to walk away from the car. As she walks, she sees a homeless man being dragged in by a small group of thugs that is being led by a pierced face girl. She sees them harassing him for what seems to be some type of initiation for two of the people within the group. Maria changes her path and moves away from the parking exit to where the groups of thugs are at.

Maria: Excuses me but why are you harassing this poor man?

Pierced girl: Get the fuck out of here lady. This an’t got nothing to do with you.

Maria: You're right but when I see people harassing others like that, I feel it becomes my responsibility to stop it from going any further.

Thug1: *looks at Maria* Hey she’s one of those women that don’t have sex cause of god or some shit.

Pierced girl: So you’re a fucking nun. You know, I never liked YOU people when I grew up. Always saying crap like I should dress more properly and if I don’t pray or believe in god, I’ma end up in hell.

Maria: Well I can assure you that praying or even believing isn’t the only way.

Pierced girl: Oh gee golly, you don’t say! Hey newbies, leave that trash alone, I want you two to take care of this bitch!

The group surrounds Maria to not let her escape.

Newbie1: Wait are you serious?

Newbie2: I think she is. But look we knew what we were doing anyways. So fuck it right?

Before newbie1 could respond, newbie2 walks and grabs Maria by the arm tightly. But before he could do anything else, she pulls out pepper spray and sprays him right in the eyes. He falls back, cursing in pain as he is holding his hands onto his eyes. The pierced girl then looks at newbie1 as to why he did not assist newbie2.

Newbie1: Look attacking that homeless was one thing, but I don’t wanta beat her to death! I just don’t feel-

Pierced girl: *smashes her fist onto newbie1’s nose* Da fuck are you talking about! Look this is how you should do it!

She then runs towards Maria and kicks her on the stomach. As she lies on the ground Maria slowly puts a hand in her own pocket and uses a speed dial on her cell phone and call Marshall. She then grabs Maria by the hair and starts to punch her multiple times till she starts to bleed from the nose.

Pierced girl: Fuck this is awesome feeling! Here's a fun fact you’re not the first nun I’ve fucked up before!

The pierced girl then gets on top of Maria and starts to strangle her.

Maria: You- you don’t have to do this.

Pierced girl: Ha! You know you’re not the first to beg for your life, I’ll tell ya. But too bad, I fucking hate your stupid beliefs. Fucking nun, just die.

Just as Maria is being choked, a voice is heard and the pierced girl turns around as she thinks she recognizes the voice.

Eveline: Maria!

The pierced girl strong grip on Maria’s neck loosens as she eventually lets her go.

Pierced girl: You… I know you, come here a minute.

Her legs start to shake, as Eveline sees what was happening in front of her. She recognizes one of the tattoos of one of the thugs as a member of Cross. Unable to respond back, the pierced girl pulls out a gun and points it directly onto Maria’s head.

Pierced girl: Hey bitch! You heard me!? I said come here for a minute! Since you know this slut’s name I assume you two know each other, which means if you don’t come here I’m gonna fucking blast this hoe-bag's head right off!

As Eveline walks towards them, her shaking grows more with each step she takes. Until two of the thugs grab her by the arms and drag her to the pierced girl.

Pierced girl: *double slaps her with the gun* Shit it really is you. Been awhile since I last saw your fucking face, Eveline.

The gun smacks were hard enough that they knocked Eveline out cold. But then one of the thugs grabs Maria’s arms and pulls them out. The cell phone that she had flies out as this happens, only for the pierced girl to break it as she stomps on it.

Pierced girl: Calling for help huh? We’re gonna take you and your little buddy on a little trip. Get the van and put these fucks in there. Actually yo newbie since you didn’t help your friend there with the attack, go and get the van now!

Newbie1: R-right.

Back inside the library, Brandon wait for the two as he is looking for the books need for the project.

Brandon: (What’s holding those to up? Wait this is Maria I’m talking about, and Eveline went back for her… ah crap she’s probably telling her all those stories of how I was when I was small!)

He walks outside and sees a brown van rushing out the parking lot entrance. As he enters it he sees nobody there, only an unconscious homeless man on the corner. Thinking that the homeless was just a drunk, he continues to walk and look for the two. He then sees a broken cell phone on the ground, so he goes towards it and picks it up. He notices the phone as he is able to recognize it as Maria’s cell phone.

Brandon: What the… why’s Maria’s phone here? Eveline! Maria! Where are you guys!?

He then gets a call from his father, Marshall.

Marshall: Brandon, are you okay!?

Brandon: Dad! Maria and Eveline I don’t know what happened to them! They’re not here!

Marshall: Listen, tell me where you are. I’ll be at your location got it?

Brandon: Waitwaitwait! Why do you sound like you know what happened?! What the hell happened!? I found Maria’s cell here on the ground broken. What happened? Tell me!

Marshall: Calm down! Look where are you, if you tell me now I’ll tell you what happened when I get there.

Brandon: I’m at the bookstore by the Westside mall. Now tell me what happened!

Marshall: I will, just wait for me till then.

After hanging up, he felt confused on what has happened. But then Brandon sees something shocking as he sees someone’s blood on the ground, around the same location Maria’s cell phone was at.

He then goes towards the homeless man and shakes him until he finally wakes up.

Brandon: Hey! Hey! Did you see what happened here! Was there a nun and a short high school girl here not too long ago?

Homeless man: What, I don’t know. I think there was a nun that saved me from those crazy people. I think one of them has some snake shaped tattoo or something. But I don’t know about some high schooler.

Brandon: No… fucking shit no! That can’t be!

Marshall and Steven returns to the police station after talking with Marcos, the informer they use to get information on Cross’s internal affairs and identities of certain members. Once inside, they go directly to police chief Paul Anderson and tell him of what they have been able to learn of while working on the Cross case.

Marshall: Chief we got some things you should know.

Chief Anderson: So what do you two have for me this time? Got something that connects the unknown backers of Cross or hell even the identity of whom or what it is?

Marshall: No unfortunately nothing of that just yet.

Steven: We went to go see an informer that had said the Latino gang had the money, which he told us that the Soldados de Reyes were the ones.

Marshall: However we don't have a clue how they were able to gain so much money since they lost much of that power to gain the finances they once had.

Chief Anderson: So now they involved with the Bloodstained Crow? This is starting to grow more out of control.

Steven: If we're lucky, they were the only mercenaries that were hired.

Chief Anderson: Jesus Christ… I already got the Feds breathing down my neck cause of the possibility of Cross spreading across other states. I don’t need a fucking PMC bullshit coming to this city and turning into a goddamn warzone. I want you two to get on this faster and find out the damn identity of the leader of Cross. All we know is that it's a guy with some type of mask.

Marshall: About that. Two days from now at the subway station on 8th street in downtown, Cross is going to reset the ritual from 8 months ago.

Chief Anderson: What was that!?

Steven: They’re resetting the ceremony that we were able to stop mid-way from February.

The chief then looks at Marshall and Steven, as the chief was also there when they raided the first ritual. He saw that Cross was more of deadly than any other gang to date.

Chief Anderson: So two days from now, we can finally capture those bastards once and for all. Thanks to this new information we can ambush and arrest all of them before they can do anything else.

Marshall then feels his cell phone vibrate in his pocket and so he steps out and goes to his office to answer it. He takes it out and sees it’s Maria calling him and so he answers it. But to his surprise Maria has not replied back. Instead all he can hear is someone yelling in a violent tone.

Marshall: What the hell? Maria what are you listening to? Oh god damn it did your phone pocket dial me? (Wait… she has a flip-phone.)

As he realizes this, he then hears someone beating somebody and eventually hears chocking. Unable to say anything he listens to see what he can make out, as it seems that there are some violent actions happening. Since Maria’s cell phone is a flip-phone the only way she could call if she made the call herself. He hears yelling to walk towards someone and then hears someone else getting smacked horribly by some object. After that, the sounds start to get muffled until all he can hear is phone getting cut off. Immediately he starts to dial Maria’s phone number and gets no reply. He tries few more times and then tries the boarding house phone number.

Staff: Yes, Hello?

Marshall: Hello, my name is Marshall Patentia and I’m friends with Maria Avalon. Is she available by any chance?

Staff: Oh hello Mr. Patentia, no I’m afraid not at the moment. She left a few hours ago to a private matter.

Marshall: Do you know where?

Staff: Afraid not. But she did say that she was going to pick up Brandon and his friend after she was done with her errand.

Marshall: Thank you and if she calls back or arrives there call by this number.

She agrees and Marshall hangs up. He then calls Brandon and as soon as he answers, Marshall can hear Brandon’s voice shook up. He tells him to calm down and tell him what has happened. But all he can gather from him is that Maria had taken them to the new library that is close to the Westside mall and that both Maria and Eveline were taken. He then tells Brandon to stay put and that he will tell him what happened when he gets to where he is. A hand then pats him on the back and as he turns to who did it, he sees his partner Steven, looking at him.

Steven: You okay? You look somewhat pale.

Marshall: Something happened… You remember that woman from earlier today, Maria. I got a call from her but she didn’t reply. All I could hear was someone getting beaten up and then someone getting chocked. I call the boarding house to make sure that she was at home but she wasn’t. So then they tell me that she was with my son and his friend, I gotta get there now!

Steven: *punches Marshall on the face* Get a grip. I’ll get the car ready and bring to the front. The faster we do this the faster we’ll get to where we need to be. Also sorry for punching you.

Marshall: You didnt have to punch me! But not like it matters, your punches are incredibly weak but thanks anyways.

Steven: Sure thing partner.

When they get to the library’s parking structure, Marshall then steps out to find where Brandon was. He finds him sitting on the pavement near Maria’s car is at.

Marshall: Brandon! *hugs him* Are you alright?

Brandon: …

Marshall: What’s wrong?

Brandon: … Them again…

Marshall: What was that?

Brandon: IT WAS THEM AGAIN! FUCKING CROSS TOOK MARIA AND EVELINE AWAY!

Marshall: Calm down Brandon. How do you know that?

Brandon: CALM DOWN! HOW THE FUCKING SHIT CAN I DO THAT!

Marshall: I said calm down. How do you know it was Cross that did it?

Brandon: That homeless guy over there said some of the people that were attacking him had some tattoos that were cross-shaped. Maria stepped in to save him but she ended up getting attacked instead!

Marshall: I see. At the very least you’re safe.

Hearing this, Brandon begins to walk away from his father. Marshall then begins to call him back and when he turns him around, Brandon's anger and frustration against Cross get directed at his father.

Brandon: SAFE! AT LEAST I’M SAFE! FUCKING CHRIST DAD, EVELINE’S HAD IT ROUGH FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND NOW SHE’S BACK IN THE HANDS OF CROSS. NOT JUST HER BUT MARIA WAS TAKEN BY THEM TOO! I MEAN SHIT THE FUCK HOW MUCH MORE TIME DO YOU GUYS NEED TO FUCKING TAKING DOWN CROSS. FIRST THEY KILL CIPHER, AND THEN THEY SCREW UP EVELINE’S ALREADY MESSED UP LIFE AT HOME, AND NOW THEY KIDNAP MARIA AND HER! THEY COULD BE KILLED OR SHIT EVEN WORSE! I’M TIRED OF THEM IF YOU WONT DO ANYTHING THEN I WILL!

As he turns his back on his father, Marshall sees some tears fall off his son’s eyes. Marshall then holds Brandon with a tight hug.

Marshall: Don’t make yourself think that I’m oblivious to all of this. I blame myself for not being able to capture them and I can’t forget the emotional toll they did to you, Iris, Maria or anyone else that day. He managed to gives us time to break up that horrid event at the cost of his life, even if he didn’t know it. I promise you, we will stop them and I will save both Maria and Eveline. I give you my word.

As Marshall holds Brandon, he remains silent as the tears continue for fall. Steven goes to the two of them as the silence remains.

Steven: Brandon do you have any clue as to how they were taken?

Brandon: Yeah, I saw a brown van that was rushing out when I was walking here. I already told one of those guys already.

Steven: That so, well then Marshall you should go drop off Brandon home. I’ll take care of everything else here. After this I’m going back to the office and listen in on more tapes to see if I can find anything more about their hideouts. I’ll meet you back in the office.

Marshall: Thanks. I owe you Steve.

Steven: Good your I.O.U.s are piling up. Get going partner.

The two go their separate ways as Marshall goes to the car with Brandon and as Steven stays behind for the crime scene. He goes to a police officer that’s currently standing, keeping watch of the scene.

Steven: *pokes officer* Say after I’m done here, care to take me to the station after? My ride just left.

The brown van is driving on the road as it still drives on a freeway. In the back of the van, Eveline starts to regain consciousness. She sees Maria besides her on the floor tied up with rope and feels that she is also tied as well.

Maria: Hey you okay?

She nods, unable to talk as she feels frozen with fear.

Maria: Hey, don’t worry. I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you got it. I promise, cross my heart and hope to die. *smiles*

Eveline: Don’t say that! What if they hear you and they do kill you!?

Maria: Ha! I like to see them try.

Eveline: You were getting beat up pretty badly before I saw you. Why did they have to be in there too…? Didn’t you notice that they were members of Cross?

Maria: Yeah, I saw them drag a poor homeless man as they were abusing him. I had to stop them.

Eveline: Why!? Why’d you get involved with them if you know who they were?

Maria: Would you jump in the way of a speeding car to save a life that’s about to be ran over or just watch as the possibility of death happen in front of you? Call me an idiot if you want but I’ll jump right in to save anyone’s life.

Eveline: …

The van then starts to slow down and eventually stop altogether. Soon the back doors near the two open up and they see that they are under a concrete bridge somewhere in the city. They are dragged to a door and they open it to take them inside, further into the structure. As they go deeper they end up in a large auditorium like room and in front of them are odd structures and on the walls is what looks like places where people watch from. At the center of the room is an altar and a man lying on the stand of the altar, looking at the ceiling. As they get closer, the man then looks at their direction and stands up. He has short black hair, black clothing with white fingerless gloves, and a smiling mask covering his face.

Pierced girl: Samuel darling, how are things going in here?

Samuel: Good, I’m sure we’ll be all prepared for the ritual in two days. But before we talk about that, who are these young folks you brought here Tracy?

The pierced girl hears her name called; and replies as Samuel looks to her as he tilts his head.

Tracy: That one right there threw her damn bag at my head, hurt like shit. And the other one… well just look at what she’s wearing, just pisses me off.

Samuel: And what do you think bringing them here would do?

Tracy: Well I thought that we could both beat them to death since it act like a good stress relief! *smiles*

Samuel: Oh my dear Tracy…

He then punches her hard on the face, making her lose her balance falling on to the floor.

Samuel: I’M FAR TOO BUSY TO PLAY THESE GAMES WITH YOU WOMAN!

Tracy: R-right, my bad. I just thought since you’ve been stressed lately about the resetting this event, your dad, and the Bloodstained Crow I just thought you needed-

Samuel: Well now is not the time for that. *walks in front of Eveline and Maria* My apologies but unfortunately I cannot have you leave as you’ve seen our hideout.

Tracy: So we gonna kill them! Yay~!*big smile*

Samuel: No, but when we leave tonight you can take which ever you want with us. As I deal with the Latin gang Solados Del Reyes or whatever they’re called, you can release some stress for the both of us.

He then turns his eyes to Eveline and begins to notice that she is shaking.

Samuel: My, my~ If it isn’t my old friend Eve. It’s been a while hasn’t.

Eveline: … Samuel?

Hearing this, Maria looks at Eveline in confusion.

Samuel: What? Why are you so scared? Trust me I would not harm you whatsoever. Unlike that "father" of yours. *touches her hair behind her ears* I've wondered if we would meet again.

Maria: Leave her alone asshole.

Samuel: Wow, you’ve got quiet the mouth on you. I thought nuns weren’t allowed to use such language?

Maria: Probably, but then again. I don’t really give a rat’s ass at the moment.

Samuel: Would you like it if I gave you more attention… sister of the church.

Maria: *notices his clothing* Do you have some type of delusion of grandeur to dress up like that?

Samuel: I’m 27 years old and this is a normal way for me to express myself. *slaps her with his backhand*

Eveline: Maria!

Samuel: Eve, You know, you’re "father" did leave you all alone. So with that in mind I'm always happy to welcome you to join me.

Eveline: Join you? Wait Samuel, are you the-

Samuel: Yes. I'm sorry I hid it from you, but I am the leader of Cross.

Getting up Samuel walks to newbie1.

Samuel: You’re a new face, what’s your name?

Newbie1: It’s Mark.

Samuel: Well then Mark, take these two to the back room.

Just as Mark grabs the two Maria looks to Samuel and begins to stare at him. Noticing this Tracy goes to Maria and grabs her face.

Tracy: Just where do you think your looking you fucking nun?

Maria: Hey, this ritual of yours. Did the same ritual happen 8 months ago!?

Samuel: Well why do you care? Was there someone you know that was in it?

The two are then taken to a random corner of the back room. The two are then thrown in and the door closes in behind them. Eveline then sees Maria on the ground not moving.

Eveline: Maria… are… are you okay?

Maria: …Yeah. Sorry for making you worry like that. Anyways more importantly are you?

Eveline: I guess.

Maria: So you knew each other, huh.

Eveline: We grew up on the same street and but I with him as much since he was older than me.

The silence grows and Eveline breaks it as her voice becomes quite monotone.

Eveline: Maria, I... I was never really part of their gang. I was just... I

Maria: Don't worry about it, it's in the past. *goes to her and rests her head with Eveline’s head* I swear it you’re going to be safe.

Eveline: Um, why did you bring up the incident from 8 months ago?

Maria: I… uh, well I brought it up was because I think that man called Samuel, if he is whom he says he is, then he was the one the one who killed my son. Even so, I will make sure nothing bad happens to you.

Hearing Maria's promising words, she begins to feel a sense of guilt. Night arrives and at one of the clubs in the Hollywood district Club68 opens. On one of the roof overlooking the club, Cipher arrives as he oversees the club.