Kelo’s POV

The morning after the Blood Moon didn’t feel real.

It didn’t even feel like morning — just light forcing its way into a place that didn’t deserve it.

I sat at the edge of the bed, Kylee’s necklace in my hand. Her favorite one — the silver chain with the tiny cracked heart charm. My thumb brushed over it again and again like I could rewind time if I just tried hard enough.

But time doesn’t care. It doesn’t stop for anyone.

And that’s when I broke.

BANG.

My fist came down hard on the nightstand — splintered it into three jagged pieces.

The sound echoed through the whole damn house.

Jayla burst through the door first, eyes wide. Then Asia. Then Lina.

Their faces said it before anyone spoke. They all knew.

“She’s gone,” I muttered, voice shaking, the words tasting like metal.

Lina came closer, her eyes red. She laid a trembling hand on my shoulder. “Kelo… I’m so sorry. I don’t even know what to say.”

I laughed, low and broken. “I do.”

Before anyone could stop me, I stood, shoved past them, and stormed toward the door.

Outside, the air was heavy — like it knew what happened here last night.

Ja’kari was standing in the same spot where she died.

Not moving. Not talking. Just staring at the dirt like maybe it would give her back.

The screen door slammed open behind me with a crash. Everyone followed, silent.

“THIS IS YOUR FUCKING FAULT!” I roared, voice cracking.

Ja’kari didn’t even flinch. Didn’t turn. Didn’t breathe.

He just said quietly, “I know.”

That “I know” broke something else in me. I lunged, grabbed his shirt, and slammed him against his truck.

Jayla screamed. “KELO, STOP!”

But I couldn’t stop. Not yet.

My right hook connected with his jaw — hard enough to turn his head. His lip split, but his eyes stayed cold.

No rage. No defense. Just that same calm emptiness.

“FIGHT BACK!” I yelled, fists trembling. “FIGHT BACK, BITCH! YOU COULDN’T FIGHT FOR KYLEE THEN, SO DO IT NOW!”

Ja’kari finally looked at me — not angry, not scared — just human for the first time in days.

“Kelo…” he said, his voice breaking mid-word. “She was my sister. I understand your pain. I know the filling losing someone that your heart only wanted. I will forever be broken without my sister…

The words hit like a punch. My grip loosened.

He wasn’t lying. I saw it in his eyes — that hollow ache I’d seen in myself.

Asia moved closer, silent, her gaze flicking between us. She grabs Ja’karis  hand and a tear rolled down her face For a moment, no one breathed.

And then… the fight drained out of me.

Ja’kari turned away, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “We can’t lose focus. Not now.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

⸻

Hours passed.

Jayla cooked something none of us could eat.

Lina sat by the window sketching — her pencil shaking every time she tried to draw Kylee’s smile.

Asia was outside training with Ja’kari — moving like shadows that mirrored each other.

And me? I sat on the couch, turning that broken necklace over and over in my palm until my eyes burned.

That’s when it hit me: Asia was onto something.

Ja’kari was training her to survive. Not just to fight — to become something else.

And maybe that’s what we all needed. Revenge wasn’t going to come easy. But I wanted it anyway.

Before I could head outside, Jayla and Lina stepped in front of me.

“Kelo,” Jayla said, serious now. “There’s something you need to know.”

I frowned. “What is it?”

She led me into one of the bedrooms, closed the door, and took a shaky breath.

Lina crossed her arms. “Ja’kari isn’t just some fighter, Kelo. He’s a mercenary.”

I blinked. “What?”

“By what Jayla told me,” Lina continued, “he’s not just the hunter — he’s also the prize.”

I stared at them, confused but getting it. “So what, Homeland Security’s supposed to fight a demon samurai with daddy issues? Good luck.”

“That’s not the point,” Jayla snapped. “He didn’t want Kylee to know. He’s hiding it from all of us. And now that she’s gone, I’m starting to think he’s hiding something else too.”

Lina nodded. “And Asia? She’s out there acting like she’s in some love story while we just buried our best friend.”

I clenched my fists. “So what you’re saying is we confront him. Get the truth out. But first, we find somewhere safe. This is the second time someone’s found us. Third time… we’re dead.”

Jayla nodded slowly. “So where to next?”

Lina looked toward the window. “Let’s go ask.”

⸻

Outside, the sound of steel on steel echoed — sharp, rhythmic, controlled.

Asia and Ja’kari moved together like a reflection in motion.

Each strike, each dodge was perfectly timed. You could tell — she trusted him completely.

“Yo!” I called out. “Got a question!”

Ja’kari lowered his blade, wiping sweat from his jaw. “Shoot.”

“What’s the plan, man?” I said, stepping closer. “We’re out here playing vigilantes while people hunt us down. Kylee’s gone, your dad’s still out there, and the cops are looking for all of us. What’s next, huh? You gonna keep pretending this is training camp?”

For a moment, Ja’kari didn’t answer.

Then I heard it — a low rumble. A car approaching fast.

We froze.

But Ja’kari smiled — a real one. “It’s fine.”

The car pulled up, dust swirling behind it. A woman stepped out — tall, athletic, black leggings, grey hoodie, her hair in a high ponytail.

Her eyes locked on Ja’kari, and before anyone could react, she was running.

“JA’KARI!”

He caught her, lifting her slightly as they hugged tight.

It was strange seeing him that… human again.

“Jess,” he said softly. “These are my friends — Jayla, Lina, Kelo — and my girlfriend, Asia.”

We all murmured awkward hellos. She smiled warmly but had that alertness in her eyes — the kind you only get from surviving things most people wouldn’t.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” Jess said. “I heard what happened. I’m so sorry about your loss.”

The group went quiet. I couldn’t stop picturing it — the blood, the moonlight, Kylee’s last smile.

The ache crawled up my throat like it was trying to choke me.

“So,” Lina finally said, “how are you supposed to help us?”

Jess glanced around the clearing. “First, we get you out of here. The police are still looking for you — this house isn’t safe anymore. And going back to school? Not an option.”

⸻

Later, as Jess unpacked gear from her trunk, the others showed her around what was left of the house.

I stayed back with Ja’kari near the old truck — the same one I’d nearly broke him against that morning.

He leaned on the tailgate, cleaning his blade in silence.

“You know,” I said finally, “you’re not the only one who wants her dead.”

Ja’kari didn’t look up. “This isn’t your war.”

“The hell it’s not,” I snapped. “She killed Kylee right in front of me. Right in front of you. You think I’m just gonna sit here and let that happen again?”

Ja’kari’s eyes lifted, sharp and unreadable. “You don’t understand what Star’s become. What she’s connected to. This isn’t just about vengeance anymore.”

“Then make it about something else,” I said, stepping closer. “Because if you go after her alone, she’s gonna kill you next. And I can’t lose another one of us.”

Silence.

Then… he nodded once. Slow. Heavy. “Alright,” he said. “We do this together.”

I smirked, though my chest felt like it might crack. “Good. ’Cause I wasn’t asking for permission.”

Asia came over, eyes narrowing at the two of us. “What’s going on?”

Ja’kari looked at her, his voice low, dark again — that dangerous calm that came right before everything burned. “We’re going hunting.”

⸻

That night, the group gathered around the table one last time.

No jokes. No smiles. Just quiet breathing and the sound of the storm starting to build outside.

Jess unfolded a map, placing red-marked photos across it — faces, locations, insignias.

“The 7 Masters,” she said. “Star works for them, if not being controlled by them.If we take one, the rest will come one by one. But We need to find the first master… The first mark. If we locate one we can find another or let them find us. But Star is our only problem, and whom ever else comes after you. 

Ja’kari’s hand tightened on the edge of the table.

“Good.”he said. 

“So could we free star from her curse and she lives?…or do we have to kill her.” Says Asia

The room went silent, everyone looked at ja’kari. He looked at the picture of star and sighs. 

“We do whatever necessary. Star…can be an enemy or a friend. But if any case necessary she dies and or pays for the damage that is done.” Ja’kari responding.

I looked at Asia and she had this small smile like shes happy that Ja’kari is choosing her choosing to make peace and end this road.But the other part if her knows that deep down, Ja’kari still loves her.

Jess looks up at everyone “Well hope you guys love planes.”

“Why?” Jayla asking

Ja’kari grabs Asia’s hand and looks at her in the eyes then at the group. 

“We are going to Brazil” He replies.