The Cipher: Locks and Keys

Lockey sat in his usual spot near the back of the class, the morning’s lessons fading into background noise. His mind, however, was anything but quiet. His brief encounter with Rina yesterday had left a sour taste, the smell of blood still lingering in his thoughts. He hadn't pressed her further, not yet, but the doubt had taken root. Whatever Rina was hiding, it was clear that it wasn’t something simple.

As the day dragged on, Lockey’s cold demeanor kept everyone at a distance. It wasn’t until lunch that he finally saw Rina again. She was sitting by herself in the corner of the cafeteria, her eyes downcast, lost in thought. Her usual energy seemed drained, a stark contrast to the girl who usually held her own in any conversation.

Something was wrong.

Lockey knew it. And it was time to find out what.

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Rina slipped out of the classroom unnoticed, her movements precise and deliberate, avoiding the crowded halls. Instead of heading home, she took an unusual route, one she rarely used. This path was discrete, a narrow alley tucked between two large buildings, shadowed by overhanging fire escapes. It twisted through the city in ways most people wouldn’t bother to notice—perfect for someone who didn’t want to be seen.

At the end of the alley, Rina stopped. A man stood there, his identity hidden beneath a long black cape with a hood that cast shadows over his face. His presence was unnerving, but Rina showed no sign of fear as she approached.

"Complete the job before dawn," the man said in a low, gravelly voice, before turning and disappearing into the darkness.

Without a word, Rina turned on her heel and left, the weight of the task settling on her shoulders.

Hours later, night had fully descended upon the city. Rina moved through the shadows, dressed in a black outfit that blended seamlessly with the night. Her destination loomed ahead of her—a tall building, sleek with a façade of glass and steel, its reflective surface gleaming under the sparse light of the moon.

She approached silently, eyes sharp as she surveyed the perimeter. The building appeared heavily guarded, but that didn’t deter her. Moving swiftly, she disabled the first security guard with a precise, silent strike to the neck, rendering him unconscious before he even had time to react.

Another guard patrolled nearby, his steps echoing in the stillness of the night. Rina darted behind him, her movements a blur of efficiency. With a small flick of her wrist, a thin beam of laser-like energy illuminated briefly from her hand, cutting through the air. The guard dropped without a sound, the life fading from his eyes as the smell of scorched fabric filled the air.

With the outside guards dealt with, she moved toward the entrance. A quick swipe of a stolen keycard granted her access to the building, and she slipped inside.

Rina made her way through the dimly lit corridors, her footfalls barely audible against the polished floors. The building's interior was modern and sterile, a maze of offices and rooms that all looked the same. But she knew where she was headed—the top floor. Her target was waiting.

Finally, she reached the door at the end of a long hallway. Without hesitation, she pushed it open and stepped into the room.

Inside, her target was seated at a large mahogany desk, illuminated by the soft glow of his computer screen. He looked up from his work, startled but composed. His eyes locked onto Rina’s figure, and he immediately knew something was wrong.

"Who sent you?" the man asked, his voice calm, but his hand subtly moved toward the drawer where a weapon was likely stashed.

Rina’s face remained expressionless, her voice cold and detached. "I have no questions to answer."

Without giving him another chance to react, she raised her hand, and a bright beam of concentrated light erupted from her palm. The laser sliced through the air, striking the man directly in the chest. His body jolted backward, the force of the impact sending him crashing against the wall. Smoke rose from the charred hole in his torso, and within seconds, he was dead.

Rina lowered her hand, the remnants of the laser beam still glowing faintly around her fingertips. She turned and left the room without a second glance, her mission complete.

Unknown to Rina, Lockey had been watching everything from a distance. His eyes narrowed as he saw her take down the guards with precision and efficiency. He followed her into the building, keeping out of sight as she completed her mission.

Lockey knew the situation could spiral out of control if the World Compliance Monitoring (WCM) agency got involved. With their eyes already on him, Rina’s association with him could drag him deeper into trouble he didn’t need.

Once Rina was gone, Lockey moved quickly. He wiped the surveillance footage, removed any trace of Rina’s presence, and ensured the security guards wouldn’t remember a thing. His actions were calm and calculated, every step taken to erase the evidence.

The WCM couldn’t find anything. They wouldn’t. Not as long as he had a say in it.

Lockey walked away, his face unreadable as always. But deep inside, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of what he had just done—not for himself, but for Rina.

Lockey sat at the small wooden table, spooning cereal into his mouth with little enthusiasm. The apartment was silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the soft tapping of rain against the window. He chewed absently, staring down at the half-eaten bowl. Just as he was about to take another bite, he sensed something off.

His eyes narrowed slightly. Without turning, he spoke, his voice cold and steady. “How did you get in? Trying to rob me?”

From the shadowy corner of the room, a figure emerged. The dim morning light from the window barely illuminated their face, but Lockey recognized them immediately.

A familiar voice broke the tension. “Seen you somewhere before, haven’t I?”

Lockey slowly put his spoon down, his expression hardening. “Lucien.”

The figure stepped into the light, revealing the young lady with sharp features and an air of casual confidence. She smirked. “You’ve got a good memory, Mister Lockey. I’m here to deliver a message.”

Lockey leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes flicked up and down Lucien’s frame, piecing together the connection. "You're the one who told me about Adam and Marco’s whereabouts."

Lucien nodded, his smirk widening. "Guilty as charged."

Lockey’s expression remained cold. “What does Golden Boy want from me?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he referred to Glacier.

Lucien stepped forward, his hands casually tucked into his coat pockets. "Well," she began, "he would like to offer you a mission."

Lockey raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp and skeptical. “A mission?” he repeated, his voice tinged with suspicion. “What makes you think I’d even consider it? Nothing in this world is done for free.” His lips curled into a smirk as he leaned forward, meeting Lucien’s gaze with a strange intensity.

Lucien chuckled softly. "Yes, Lord Glacier is very much aware of that." Her tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious. “Which is why he wants you to... keep the reward of the Mission.”

Lockey frowned, the confusion clear on his face. "Keep what?"

Lucien shrugged, an air of mystery still hanging about him. “If you want to know the full details, here’s the location.” He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper, sliding it across the table.

Lockey stared at it for a moment before picking it up, the address scribbled hastily on it.

“We hope to get in touch sooner rather than later,” Lucien added as she turned toward the door, the smirk returning to his face. “You know how the world works.”