Narrow Down

“Here I was, trying to do this side gig to hide from these new phenomena. And now, I’m stuck having to work with a volunteer waitress to go after my killer.”

Kitezh and Nadia were planning to find and secure the assassin. Kitezh looked at the cashew again.

“This cashew definitely came from the tavern. The killer was definitely someone that came here. Watch out for anyone that you recognized from tonight.” Said Kitezh.

Kitezh explained to Nadia about the phenomenon items. She told her to find any suspicious gear that the enemy might be wearing.

Kitezh also explained the basics of her invisibility powers to Nadia.

“I don’t think I need to go invisible, though. Those boys are so easy to convince. Just a blow of a kiss, and they’ll spill all the beans!” explained Nadia.

“I think you’re forgetting that we’re dealing with a killer. This person probably had fake feelings for you,” said Kitezh, in an annoyed way.

“Grr, well now that I know they were putting on a façade, I really want to get this guy.”

“Uh, Nadia, don’t you put on a fake performance to get people’s attention.”

“Yeah, but I am more passionate with it!” Nadia explained frantically.

Nadia walked over to the door.

“Let’s get going, maybe they’re on the run.” Said a more serious Nadia.

SMACK!

Kitezh immediately grabbed Nadia’s arm, pulling her away from the door.

“Maybe they’re right outside the door to do a surprise attack,” said Kitezh.

Kitezh moved Nadia aside and put her hand on the wooden door that leads outside. She melted a small invisible window on the door, letting the two of them see what was outside.

“We can see outside, but no one out there can see us. It’s a one-way window.”

They saw the brick-tiled street. They saw the road intersection to their right, as the tavern was right near the corner of it.

Some people were standing still around outside the tavern at a distance. They must have been people who escaped from the tavern and are confused about the commotion.

On the left was someone standing under a lamppost. It was one of the rowdy men that Kitezh had the displeasure of dealing with.

On the right were two people. One of them was the well-dressed man who attempted to help Kitezh. The other was another of the rowdy men that Kitezh was chided by.

“I don’t see anyone else. If the killer ran off, there’s nothing we could do. For now, we need to assume one of them is the killer,” said Kitezh.

“What if none of them are the killer though? It would quite embarrassing on my part to assume such a thing,” Nadia said.

“We have to make an effort to stop this guy. At least narrow down who could be the killer.”

“Kitezh, this plan is a bit too hasty. I’m not so comfortable with it.”

“Fine, we’ll make it easier to narrow down.”

Kitezh went back the bar and grabbed the large wooden menu board. Kitezh turned the entire board invisible.

“If the killer is smart, he will attack us as soon as we open the door. Back when I was choking, it was almost like the killer was throwing stuff at people from a distance. He could only do one attack and had to like recharge to do the next one,” explained Kitezh.

“I get it now.”

Nadia grabbed the invisible board. Kitezh could see a curious look on her face, and she moved her gripping hands around nothing.

“I will rely on my charms, so I don’t need to be invisible. In fact, I should appear as the target,” said Nadia.

“Do you think this assassin would even attack you? Maybe he’s just after me,” replied Kitezh.

“You’re right. You have to stay visible, Kitezh. It’s the only way to lure this guy out.”

Kitezh looked out the door. The guys were starting to walk away.

“Okay, I’ll hold on to this board, and we rush to anyone in our sight, got it?”

“Mhmm,” Nadia agreed.

Kitezh grabbed the invisible board from Nadia. She looked out the door one more time. She grabbed the door handle, and pushed the door slightly forward.

Kitezh felt her heart racing. She knew the killer was right outside. However, she had nowhere else to run, and knew she needed to end this right now.

BAM!

Kitezh kicked open wooden door.

BONK!

Kitezh lost her balance. She had no idea what caused it, but it was like someone launched a large rock at her. It bounced off the invisible menu board.

“GO!” yelled Kitezh.

Nadia sprinted out to the right. As soon as Kitezh regained balance, she also sprinted, but towards the left.

“Hey guys, I’m so sorry about what happened in there. Teehee~” Nadia flirted to the two guys.

“Nadia, there was suddenly like a tornado in there. Was that your doing?” asked the well-dressed man.

“What happened to clumsy chick?” asked the gruff, rowdy man.

Nadia walked up to the two guys, and put her arms around both of them.

“Relax, you two. I helped Kitezh back in there. I’m very sorry for causing all of that destruction. So tonight, I’m doing something very special with you two~”

“Special offer? Sorry but this had gotten kind of- AH!”

“What the?!”

Nadia suddenly grabbed both of the guy’s butts.

“Oh, don’t play dumb. You know exactly the sort of girl I am!” Nadia said playfully.

Nadia caressed her hands around their buttocks, and to their hips.

“Kitezh said they have some phenomenon item. Where could it possibly be? Damn it, I probably should’ve asked for more details before doing this,” Nadia thought.

“Nadia, I’m not saying I don’t want this, but shouldn’t we be doing this somewhere more pri- OOF!”

The gruff man felt a weird sensation. Nadia suddenly had her hand on his crotch.

“Ohoho, but you know I’m like an animal in heat. H-how about we get naked right now, and just d-do it,” Nadia said as she started losing her cool.

“Crap, what the hell am I doing? I got so caught up in this ‘phenomenon gear,’” Nadia thought.

The gruff man shoved Nadia aside.

“Hey, even I got my standards. I’m just going back home!” yelled the gruff man.

“Sorry Nadia, but I didn’t take you for a loon,” said the finely dressed man.

Both of them walked away from Nadia.

“Oh my God, where’s Kitezh?”

Nadia ran down the road where Kitezh supposedly is. She can’t exactly see her, but she sees a man tackled to the ground, and flailing with his clothes torn apart.

“WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING! MAKE IT STOP!”

This rowdy man had a scar on his face. His clothes were being shredded as he begs for mercy.

“Kitezh, what are you doing!?” cried Nadia.

Kitezh threw a bunch of tatter rags on the ground, and emptied a bag of supplies.

“I found nothing on this guy,” said Kitezh, still invisible.

“IT’S A GHOST! AAAAAAAAAAAH!”

The scarred rowdy man was now even more scarred for life, and he ran off with only half of his underwear left as his only clothing on his body.

“If you’re here, you got nothing,” said Kitezh.

“Well, that was everyone. Maybe the killer- AH!”

“NADIA?!”

TINK!

Something was on the ground. It looked like a kunai.

Nadia felt it on her arm. The kunai cut her arm.

“He’s here! But where?!” exclaimed Nadia.

She looked all around the streets, but saw nothing.

“Nadia we need to hide right now!”

Kitezh grabbed Nadia and turned her invisible.

“Nrrrgh”

Kitezh paid attention to the sound. There was a small stable where patrons kept their horses.

“In there.” Kitezh quietly said, and she dragged Nadia inside.

“Ugh, I didn’t realize it reeks in here.”

“Shut up! We need to focus.”

It was dark in the small stable. There was hay all over the ground. There was also a bucket for water and a bucket for food. There were a large brown horse and a large black horse standing and swinging their tails. They were likely left behind when people were escaping the commotion from earlier.

“Nadia, does you remember what it felt like when you got hit by the kunai?” Kitezh asked quietly.

Nadia thought about it. She remembered which was the kunai was facing.

“It was towards the face of the tavern,” Nadia said.

“Hmm, so the kunai was thrown from a building across from the tavern. It was just like when I got hit by the object when we first exited the tavern.”

Nadia looked around the horses.

“Kitezh, if both attacks went the same direction, that means the killer is across the tavern!” exclaimed Nadia.

Nadia got up.

“And this stable… is right next to the tavern as well.”

SNAP!

“Neigh!” whinnied one of the horses, as he kicked his legs into a frenzy!