Richard followed Fawn around the city grounds as Fawn tried to pick up the perpetrator’s scent. She stopped at a gray worn down tower and looked up at the length.

“This aura feels familiar.” Fawn’s face hardened. “They’re in this one!”

“Then let’s go. We don’t have much time,” Richard said, determined to end this once and for all.

He flung himself up toward the highest floor of the tower as Fawn assisted him, using her abilities to fly up to the top. They entered through one opening that had no windows. Richard trudged on the concrete ground with caution and looked around the vast, empty, and dark room, with Fawn closing in beside him. The two came across a black and gray emblem on the ground. When stepping closer to it, the grounds split apart as the floor and walls shook, causing Richard to nearly lose his balance.

As the floors stopped moving, and the shaking continued, a large fountain rose from the black void and appeared before their eyes. Once the shaking ceased, the fountain lit up as a colorful liquid substance oozed out of it. An array of needles moved in a line, sucking the content in the water. It kept moving, as if it rode on a conveyor belt. The colors popping out against the surrounding darkness almost looked mesmerizing. Richard knew better. There was a darker meaning behind this than on the surface. But what...?

“What’s going on here?” He asked.

“I have no clue,” Fawn replied. “I don’t think we should touch the fountain or the stuff in it, though.”

“So, you finally showed up.” A voice spoke up.

The duo snapped around at the figure approaching them with a mask on.

“You...” Richard hissed and glared at them.

“Long time no see. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“I don’t even know who you are. What do you want from me?” He took an offensive stance. “You seem to know who I am. Are you looking for a fight?”

The figure shook their head. “No, I wanted to talk to you.”

“You’re just trying to stall me, so your plan can go into fruition.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Don’t let your guard down, no matter what,” Fawn warned him. “They’re probably behind all of this.”

“I’m not going to listen to you, regardless, you murderer,” Richard told the figure.

He ran over and laid off some punches at the masked figure, but they kept dodging each of his attacks. The masked figure ran up to a wall and leaped off from it, catching him off-guard.

“Knock it off will you—?”

Richard used the opening to do an uppercut toward the person’s jaw, sending them flying backward as the mask fell out of their face and broke apart.

The mysterious figure covered their bleeding face, wincing. Richard trudged closer to them, glaring them down at the front.

“I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done.” He hissed. “Regardless of your motives, you still ruined so many people’s lives, and for that, you’re going to pay.”

“No, wait.” They raised their hand, protesting. “You wouldn’t want to hurt me, would you, Ritchie?”

Richard’s eyes widened. His mind went to a lot of places, but he drew a blank. He could’ve sworn he heard that nickname somewhere before, but where?

The person stood up and revealed themselves. At first, Richard didn’t recognize her. She had long gray hair, blood-shot eyes, and dry, wrinkly skin. The woman took out a small briefcase and opened it, containing different colored vials and needles. She picked up one of the needles, having the liquid already inside, and injected her skin with it. Watching the display made Richard and Fawn wince.

Once the woman dropped the empty needle, her skin turned normal, her eyes got cleaner, and her hair went from light gray to a more natural dark brown. Once she took out some rubber bands to tie her hair in two buns, Richard soon figured out who the person in front of him was.

His eyes widened, on the brink of tears, and his body froze in place. He shook his head and took a step back, trying to deny what was right in front of him. No, it can’t be, there’s no way. Is he having another sick nightmare? He pinched his cheek, but nothing changed.