CHAPTER 434: CHAPTER 434 CAUGHT

At the same time, far from the hospital’s white walls, the world by the sea looked like a nightmare. The waves of the ghost sea rolled heavy and dark, glowing faintly under the blood-red sky. Even the moon, hanging high above, shone red, casting its strange light across the waters. Torches and lanterns lined the shore, flickering against the cold night air, their glow the only warmth in the eerie silence. The wind was sharp, carrying the salt of the sea, and the trees along the cliffs swayed like shadowy giants.

The ship stood massive at the dock, its hull painted black, its sails etched with the insignia of the Soulmariner Line. People rushed toward it in hurried groups, clutching bags and boxes, their voices low and urgent as they boarded.

But among the rush, unseen by the passengers, the officers had already made their move. They spread out along the shadows of the dock, cutting off exits, keeping their eyes sharp for any sign of her. They had followed Adrian’s advice to the letter. His cold voice still echoed in their minds: "If we storm in openly, she’ll hide and run. Stop the ship quietly. Let her think she’s safe, then close in."

Now, the Soulmariner had been halted in secret. The captain and crew, sworn to the officers, were pretending to prepare for departure while quietly waiting for the signal. Every lights on board glowed, but the sails remained stiff, refusing to unfurl.

Adrian stood near the edge of the pier, his arms folded, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow, every figure stepping into line to board. His robe billowed in the cold wind, his expression unreadable, but the officers around him exchanged glances. Their respect for him had grown because he was clever, precise, and calm in ways few could match.

"Keep your positions," Adrian said lowly, his voice steady. "Don’t move until I give the word. She’s here somewhere... and if we startle her too soon, she’ll vanish before we can touch her."

The officers nodded silently, tightening their grip on their weapons, their gazes locked on the rushing passengers. The night was heavy, the tension thicker than the mist over the sea.

The line of passengers moved slowly, ghosts in plain robes guiding their wife and children toward the ramp, their bags dragging across the damp wooden planks. The air was filled with the creak of wood and the low hum of voices. Adrian’s gaze swept across them all, calm yet sharp, watching every twitch, every glance.

And then—he saw her.

A witch in a dark gray robe, hood pulled low over her face. She kept her head bowed, but her steps were too careful, her grip on her bag too tight. Unlike the others, who were weary and distracted, she kept darting glances around as if checking who was watching.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. "There," he muttered under his breath.

Two officers nearby caught his signal, shifting subtly to flank her from both sides. They didn’t rush; they moved as though blending into the line of passengers, keeping their heads low.

The witch reached the front of the line and handed over her ticket. The officer at the ramp took it, studying it longer than usual before giving the faintest nod toward Adrian. The name was false, the handwriting sloppy—clear evidence of her haste.

Adrian’s voice rang out, cold and steady. "Lex Storar."

The witch froze. Slowly, she lifted her head, and strands of her silky black hair fell across her face. Her sharp eyes glinted with fury the moment they landed on him.

"Now," Adrian ordered quietly.

The officers lunged. Lex dropped her bag and spun, shoving through two ghosts in line. A witch cried out as she was pushed aside, but Lex didn’t care—she bolted for the edge of the pier.

Adrian moved fast, his hand catching her wrist before she could leap. She hissed, baring her teeth like a cornered animal. "Let go of me, ghost!" she spat, clawing at him with nails sharp enough to draw blood.

Adrian winced but didn’t release her. "You’re done, Lex," he said coldly.

Two more officers grabbed her from behind, forcing her arms back, while another seized her dropped bag and ripped it open. Coins, forged papers, and stolen jewelry spilled across the dock.

"Search is over," Adrian told the captain, his tone firm. Then to the officers he added, "Bind her. Take her in alive."

Lex thrashed violently, her voice breaking with rage. "You think this ends with me?!" she screamed, her face twisted as the ropes bit into her wrists. "You’ll regret crossing me! All of you!"

But the officers held her fast, dragging her down to her knees as the other passengers watched from a distance, whispering in shock.

Adrian didn’t flinch. He stared down at her with cold, steady eyes. "You’ll answer for everything when Kaelan wakes."

The sea roared behind them, the red moon glaring down, as Lex was finally dragged away.

Lex struggled against the ropes biting into her wrists, her hair falling wildly into her face as the officers dragged her across the dock. Her voice was sharp, loud enough to cut through the roar of the waves.

"You filthy ghost!" she spat, her eyes blazing as they locked on Adrian. "You think you’ve won tonight? I’ll take revenge! On you, on your family—every one of you will pay!" Her words echoed, her fury so strong that even some of the passengers nearby shivered at the venom in her tone.

But Adrian didn’t flinch. He walked beside the officers, his hands folded behind his back, his steps steady, his face completely unreadable.

Lex jerked violently, her teeth bared. "I’ll make you watch them suffer, just like I made Kaelan and Karl bleed! Do you hear me?! I’ll destroy everything you care about!"

The officers tightened their hold, forcing her to move forward, but her curses only grew louder, her voice carrying out into the night.

Adrian’s gaze stayed fixed ahead, his eyes calm and cold. His expression never shifted, not a flicker of anger, not even a trace of amusement. To him, her screams were nothing more than noise carried away by the sea wind.

Finally, he glanced at her just once, his voice low and even, like steel hidden beneath ice. "Shout all you like, witch. It won’t change the fact that you’re in chains."

Then, without another word, he turned his eyes back to the road ahead, walking as though her curses meant nothing at all.

To be continued... 🪄