Chapter 2: The Face Ripper

Kyra and Cael make their way to the cafeteria. They dispatched police officers to the school to investigate the incident. The death of a maintenance worker on duty at the gymnasium and basketball locker room is making the rounds on social media. And the incident is being investigated as a murder. The victim's stomach got ruptured, and there was nothing left within. They heard them they would detain all the players and interrogate them individually.

When Kyra and Cael walk through the locker room, they notice the players talking with the cops.

"You killed the Wendigo before it could find another victim," Cael said.

"How did this beast end up at our university? "Kyra said.

"Didn't we search the university repeatedly to find the portal? We saw nothing. Perhaps the beast just landed here," Cael speculates.

"How is Tyler doing? "Cael suddenly asked.

"How come you're interested in him? "Kyra asked in shock.

When she heard Tyler's name, she immediately remembered what had happened the day before. About how he stripped naked in front of her. Her attention shifted to Tyler's whereabouts. Kyra did not know he was looking at her. Kyra instantly averted her gaze.

"Are you blushing?" Cael asked.

"What? "Kyra asked, surprised. "I am not. Let's go to the cafeteria and avoid being stranded in a huge line."

Kyra hastily exited, and Cael pursued her.

-----

"Negligence? Did you seriously think about that now?"

Students had already filled the cafeteria when they entered. Fortunately, several students walked away and left an empty table. While they ate, Cael and Kyra sat across from each other.

"You were the only one on duty yesterday. You cannot save the world by yourself." Cael said, "Superman is dead because his so-called allies have turned against him."

Kyra has said nothing. She couldn't get the thought out of her head that someone had died because of her carelessness. Nobody would have been killed if she had discovered the Wendigo sooner.

"Do you mind if I join you guys?"

Cael and Kyra were conversing and moved their gaze to the left. 

 When Tyler stands across from them with a meal tray.

"Sure." "No. "

Cael and Kyra exchanged glances as they disagreed. Tyler chuckled and sat next to Cael. His grin broadens.

"Are you Tyler, right? "Cael asked.

"Doesn't there seem to be any other empty tables?" Kyra scoffed.

"I won't ask if I may share a table with you if there's another empty table," Tyler said.

"Ignore Kyra, Tyler," Cael said. "She's anxious."

Kyra cast a peek at Cael. "It's OK." Tyler said, "I also don't want to become engaged in her worries."

"What made the cop's questions the team? Do they suspect you guys of murder? "Cael asked.

"The cops considered everyone a suspect. They basically choose the nearest one as the primary suspect," Tyler said. "Which is illogical."

"What exactly do you mean? "Cael asked.

Tyler cast a peek at Kyra. "They stated the body had been dead for 18 hours. That shows he died the night before yesterday. Do you believe they'll be able to find that killer now? Perhaps he fled or got killed yesterday."

The two of them exchanged glances. "You have a point. When is your next game?"

"The next weekend. Hawk vs. Tiger." Tyler said.

Tyler gave Kyra a sidelong glance. "Hey, perv, you can watch the game live. Tell me, and I will send you tickets."

"What? "Kyra scowled. "What did you call me?"

"Kyra. Isn't that your name?" Tyler responds, "We've met again."

Tyler stares at Kyra, who has suddenly become uncomfortable. He seemed to know something, Kyra thought. "I'm not sure. Even I don't know who I am," Kyra replied.

"Are you sure we haven't met before?" Tyler said, "In the locker room."

Cael cast a glance towards Kyra. They seem to communicate by making eye contact. 'Didn't you delete his memory? '

'I deleted it, Cael.'

"Are you her boyfriend? "Tyler asked Cael.

Cael smiled as he responded, "No, we're just friends. Close friends"

Tyler gave Kyra a sidelong glance. "So you don't have a boyfriend?"

"What piques your interest? Are you interested in dating me?" Kyra's sarcasm.

Tyler grinned. Tyler said, "It all makes sense now."

Tyler was about to stand up when Kyra grabbed his arm. "What does it even mean?"

Kyra released Tyler's grasp when he stood up. Tyler leaned down close to Kyra and whispered something in her ear.

"I see now that you enjoy seeing me take a bath nude. Keep it a secret." Tyler whispered, "They could become envious."

"What the..." Kyra spun around, stunned, as she kissed Tyler on the side of his lips. Kyra pushed Tyler away with an "Oh, my gosh."

Tyler grinned, then looked away. Kyra's feelings looked to be bursting at the seams. She got hot on her face while everyone was observing her, not because she was angry. Kyra smiled as she turned to face Cael. Kyra took a long breath after clenching her fist.

"Have you seen him naked?" Cael asked in curiosity.

"Shut up, Cael," Kyra growled. She got up when Cael laughed at her.

———-

"Hey, buddy, I thought you were just going to chat with the chick. Why didn't you say you were going to kiss her?"

Tyler took a seat among his colleagues. Their team has special seats in the cafeteria. He was only looking for a way to contact Kyra, a woman he had just met yesterday. He wasn't expecting her to kiss him.

Tyler chuckled. "Dude, that was an accident. She wasn't expecting me to turn around."

Everyone burst out laughing. Tyler turned back to see Kyra and her friend walking away.

———-

Beatrix calls Cael and Kyra. Because of the incident, the faculty could cancel classes. Cael and Kyra take a stroll over to the parking lot.

"Mission? What exactly is this demon? "Cael asked.

From the other line, Beatrix said, "There is already news on social media."

Cael quickly grabbed his phone, and they could gain the information when he entered social media. Two people mysteriously vanished in front of their friends and family. The suspect killed the victims elsewhere. And not everyone believed it when they discovered the two guys with shredded faces and no bones in separate locations. Kyra and Cael dashed into the car. Kyra grabbed her iPad from the dashboard and began looking through their databases for the demon's name.

Kyra recognized the creature they were going to face. She showed it to Cael.

"Shinigami demons are the most dangerous of all flying demons. They like tearing people's faces off and smashing their bones into powder," Kyra explained.

Cael said, "Wow, this one's creepy." He began driving. Meanwhile, Tyler keeps an eye on them until their car exits the campus.

"Are they going home? "Tyler asked himself.

------

Many people were in the area when Cael and Kyra got out of the car and started walking. A concert seems to take place nearby. They came to the venue.

"This place is crowded," Cael said.

"Shinigami demons," Kyra said, "It can eat a lot here."

Above them, they hear the loud flapping from the big wing. Cael and Kyra look into the sky and spot three unusual flying creatures. Except for them, no one else noticed.

"The Shinigami demons," Kyra said. Kyra moved her gaze to Cael.

Cael hurled his two boomerang-shaped blades towards the flying demons, which flew out of his hand. Cael's boomerang blade struck both Shinigami demons, attracting their attention. They fled as the Shinigami demons flew toward them.

They came to a complete halt while they were nowhere near anyone. Kyra's two hands gleamed as she laid them on the ground. Kyra harnessed the energy of the earth and grass. She directed it against the Shinigami demons in a series of attacks. Cael relaunched his boomerang blade and hit one monster.

Kyra attacks the Shinigami demon with both of her weapons. It collided with the demon's body and burnt like paper into the air.

When Kyra noticed the Shinigami demons near her, her eyes widened. She'd seen nothing like that. It has a shark-like mouth with crowded teeth and long fangs. They also have enormous, spiky, unkempt black wings that repel talons and starlight. The thing waved its hand, hit Kyra by the arm, and soared away.

"Ugh," Kyra said as she fell to the ground.

"Are you OK, Kyra? "Cael asked.

"I'm OK," Kyra replied.

Kyra struggled to stand up and use the energy of the people and plants around her. Kyra encased the demon in a massive ball of electricity.

Kyra said, "Finish it, Cael."

As Cael sprang to his feet, he tossed his boomerang blade knife into the air and then flew it at the demon. The demon burnt in front of them a few moments later.

Cael and Kyra were panting as they sat on the grass. "You're exceptional," Kyra said with a smile to Cael.

"I know," Cael said, laughing.

They were being watched without their knowledge.

"Fascinating."

He swiftly turned around and returned to his car.