THIRTY THREE

Ruth's POV

I stood in the bustling streets of Tokyo, my eyes scanning the crowds. I had been in Japan for weeks now, trying to escape the pain of my past. But no matter how far I ran, I couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal. Michael had promised to protect me, but he had failed. And now, I was alone.

I thought of Kenji, my ally, my friend. He had promised to help me, to teach me how to control my powers. But I knew I couldn't trust him completely. He had his own agenda, his own motives.

I sighed, feeling a sense of unease. I was trapped between two worlds, two loyalties. I didn't know what to do, where to turn.

And then, I saw him. A man with piercing green eyes, watching me from across the street. I felt a shiver run down my spine. Who was he? What did he want?

I turned away, trying to lose myself in the crowd. But I knew I couldn't hide forever. I had to face my demons, my fears. I had to find a way to overcome them.

I thought of my grandmother, her pattern of bad luck. I didn'