Chapter 3 – The Returning Traitor | Part A

Kira — Kaivan’s older sister — walked slowly out of the living room and toward the kitchen. Her steps were calm, but a heavy weight seemed to settle quietly inside her mind. Each small movement broke the silence of the night, creating a quiet rhythm that echoed through the house.

At the kitchen, Kira opened the fridge, took out a bottle of water, and poured it into a glass. She drank in slow sips, her eyes resting on the window where her faint reflection stared back — as if she were looking at another version of herself, one still questioning what she had just witnessed. Her thoughts brimmed with puzzles, none offering an answer.

In the living room, the air was frozen. Kaivan sat between Thivi and Felicia, each lost in their own silence. Kaivan looked down, fists resting tightly on his knees — as if trying to steady himself. Thivi sat rigid beside him, biting her lip, occasionally glancing at Kaivan, unsure if she should speak. Felicia, cheeks still flushed, kept her gaze low, drowning in unbearable embarrassment.7

After what felt like an eternity, Kira returned. Her steps were steady yet cautious. She took a seat on the sofa, placing the glass down gently. Her eyes swept over the three of them — sharp, but not explosive. Instead, it was her quiet that pressed invisibly on the room.

“So,” Kira’s voice finally came, calm yet full of authority. Each word landed like a hammer against the still air. Her gaze moved from Kaivan, to Thivi, then to Felicia — demanding the truth.

Kaivan lifted his face. He exhaled a long breath. “Sis… I never meant for things to look like that,” he said quietly. “I just wanted to help them. Felicia and Thivi… they needed somewhere to stay. I thought…”

His sentence faltered, caught in his throat. He looked down again, searching for a way to speak without deepening the misunderstanding. Kira remained silent, waiting, her eyes still steady.

Finally, she turned to Felicia. “So, you’re Felicia?” Her voice softened, though it held a measured sharpness.

Felicia straightened, trying to hold herself firm. “Yes, I’m Felicia,” she replied softly, yet without a tremor. She bowed her head politely. “I’m sorry for coming here. We didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

Kira gave a small nod, but said nothing yet. Her gaze shifted to Thivi, who sat nervously, fingers clutching the hem of her tank top.

“And you’re Thivi?” Kira continued, now focusing on the short-haired girl.

Thivi nodded quickly. Her voice was gentle but rushed. “Yes, I’m Thivi. I’m also sorry if our being here is a burden. I… just wanted to make sure this wasn’t Kaivan’s fault.” She offered a small smile, trying to lighten the mood, but it looked forced — like an umbrella opening in a storm of emotions.

Kira narrowed her eyes slightly, as if trying to read deeper into Thivi’s face. But before she could speak, Thivi added with an almost playful tone, “And… I guess it’s fine if my future sister-in-law knows about this. I just want to be sure everything’s okay.”

Kira’s expression shifted. One eyebrow rose, and surprise flickered in her eyes, softened by faint amusement. “Future sister-in-law?” she repeated. Her voice was skeptical, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Thivi nodded, this time with more confidence. “Yes, I’ll help Kaivan with anything,” she said firmly, though her cheeks flushed with shy warmth.

Felicia, sensing the tension ease, spoke up as well. “I’ll help too, Sis. Since… I’ll also be staying here,” she added kindly. Her tone was sincere, a quiet promise that she meant to be part of this home, even if only for a while.

Kira nodded slowly, her smile spreading with understanding. “Alright, then. Tomorrow morning, let’s work together to make breakfast. I hope you both truly mean to help.”

With those words, the air grew lighter. The tension that had once clung to the room slowly melted, replaced by a warmth that flowed between them. Gentle laughter filled the living room, washing away the stiffness that had settled moments before.

Night arrived, wrapping the day in quiet softness. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light slipping through Kaivan’s window. Outside, the world hushed; a breeze whispered through the leaves.

Kira, calm and wise, looked at the three of them and spoke gently. “It’s late. Let’s get some rest. Tomorrow we need to wake up early.”

Her words drifted like a lullaby, steady yet firm, a guardian ensuring the house remained wrapped in warmth. Kaivan, Felicia, and Thivi followed her up the stairs. But halfway through the calm climb, curiosity stirred in Thivi’s chest.

Her eyes gleamed. She looked up at the ceiling and asked, innocent yet brimming with wonder, “Kaivan, what’s on the very top floor?”

Kaivan, a little surprised, answered casually, “Oh, just the rooftop—we use it to dry clothes.”

The simple reply only sparked something inside Thivi, a quiet pull toward the night sky. Without a second thought, she quickened her steps. Kaivan and Felicia, caught by her sudden energy, followed close behind.

When they reached the rooftop, the night sky welcomed them. Stars shimmered as though greeting their arrival. The world above felt different—broader, calmer, touched by an almost sacred stillness.

A cool breeze caressed their faces as they sat side by side, letting silence speak for them. None felt the need to break it; sometimes companionship is deeper than words.

Thivi finally spoke, her face aglow in the moonlight. “Today was fun,” she said softly, her voice bright with quiet joy. “I didn’t expect my first time in Bandung to be this special.”

Lighting a cigarette, she watched the smoke curl into rings, drifting away on the breeze. Peace. To her, this simple moment meant more than anything.

Felicia spoke next, her voice soft, heavy with meaning. “Me too. This is my first time staying like this. Meeting you both… at such an unexpected time… it feels like I’ve been given a place to belong. Thank you, Kaivan.”

Kaivan didn’t answer. He sat quietly, gazing into the distance, exhaling smoke that danced and faded into the night. Inside, a rush of feelings swirled—warmth, gratitude, and stillness.

His mind wandered back to the Tome Omnicent. That old book had changed his life, bringing him to these people. Without it, this night would never have existed. He drew in a long breath, letting silent gratitude bloom in his chest—beneath the open sky, among friendships he had never imagined.

Silence wrapped around them again. Seated together on the rooftop, time seemed to stop. Only the gentle sigh of wind brushed past, completing a night rich with quiet wonder. Above them, the stars shone serenely, as if bearing witness to the unspoken truths—about life, about chance meetings, and about the fate that bound them.

Kaivan took a deep breath, staring into the vast sky. This fate feels strange, he thought. That book… the burden I carried… has led me to them. More than just an adventure, it has given me friends I never thought I’d find.

Beneath the stars, the three of them sat lost in thought. The moment was simple, yet it felt like a knot tying them together. None of them knew what tomorrow might bring. But that night, they understood one thing: they were not alone. And that, for them, was the greatest gift.

---

Morning arrived gently. Sunlight slipped through the mist, chasing the chill from Kaivan’s window. Birds began to sing, and fresh air slipped in through the cracks, carrying the scent of dew.

But something felt different.

Kaivan, who usually woke in silence, opened his eyes with a hint of confusion. His body was still sprawled across the living room sofa. Blinking, he let his gaze wander—and the sight before him made him pause.

Thivi and Felicia were already awake. They moved with quiet purpose, cleaning the house and preparing breakfast. Thivi, her hair still tousled but her eyes bright, swept the floor while humming softly. Felicia worked calmly beside her, arranging plates and utensils with gentle precision. A faint smile curved her lips.

Kaivan stayed still, lying there as he watched. My body aches… am I really going to sleep here for a week? he thought.

But the ache quickly faded beneath the warmth of the scene. A morning he hadn’t expected. A home that no longer felt empty. Two people who had filled a quiet space he never knew was there.

Minutes passed, and the hush of the house was broken by footsteps outside. A knock sounded against the door, lively and firm. Radit, Kaivan’s longtime friend, had come to pick him up for the workshop. Yet when the door opened, he was greeted by something unusual.

Thivi, dressed in bright clothes and brimming with morning energy, stood at the entrance. Surprise flickered across Radit’s face—Kaivan had always been the one to greet him. He furrowed his brows for a heartbeat before masking the sudden jolt with a slightly awkward smile.

With polite composure and an easy tone, Radit greeted her. “Oh, you’re the one opening the door. By the way, where’s Kaivan?”

Sensing Radit’s confusion, Thivi responded in an easy, almost playful tone. “Kaivan’s still inside. Come in, Radit — we’re putting breakfast together.” Her voice was light, yet it carried the warmth of a bond that had only just begun to form between them. There was an inviting softness in the way she spoke, as though this morning’s meeting was anything but awkward.

Radit stepped inside carefully, each movement betraying the questions spinning through his mind. The living room, usually silent, now brimmed with the scent of breakfast and a new kind of energy. To him, Kaivan had always been private — withdrawn — but now there was something different in the air. This isn’t like him, Radit thought. Kaivan never lets someone else open the door. What’s going on?

As he walked further into the room, he saw Kaivan sitting on the sofa, still half-awake. Radit sat down beside his friend, hoping for some clarity about this unfamiliar scene. Before he could speak, his eyes drifted toward Felicia, who was arranging plates on the dining table. Her long hair fell over her shoulders as she moved with quiet grace, even amidst her busyness.

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Radit finally asked, “Who’s that, Kaivan? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before.”

Still heavy with sleep, Kaivan replied casually, “That’s Felicia. She stayed over last night.”

But Radit wasn’t satisfied. His brows drew together as his confusion deepened. “Wait — what about your family? Since when do strangers get to stay over just like that?”

Before Kaivan could answer, Teh Kira — Kaivan’s calm, watchful older sister — spoke from the kitchen, her voice steady yet filled with quiet authority. “Thivi, could you bring the tea? Felicia, would you help me carry this to the table?”

That simple act, where everyone moved with such natural ease, seemed to offer an answer without a single word. On this morning, their cooperation and warmth gently swept away any unease Radit might have felt. The strangeness of the moment softened, replaced by a comforting sense of belonging, as though everything happening was simply part of life unfolding.

Still captivated by the household’s rhythm, Radit smiled broadly when Teh Kira called out, “Radit, come sit — join us for breakfast.”

The meal at Kaivan’s house was unpretentious, yet it overflowed with warmth. Laughter and soft conversation threaded between bites, weaving an intimacy that felt rare and precious. Every mouthful seemed to draw their hearts a little closer, bridging the gaps between their very different paths, tied together by an unexpected twist of fate.

After breakfast, the mood shifted toward a quiet readiness for the day. Kaivan glanced at Felicia, sensing she had no clear destination. “Why don’t you come with us to the workshop?” he offered lightly. “You can just look around.”

---

Felicia hesitated for a moment, but curiosity outshone her unease. She nodded, and soon they set off together.

The workshop was no ordinary place. Behind its weathered walls, the inside buzzed with focused energy: small machines hummed, tables overflowed with circuit boards and piles of used phones. There was an organized kind of chaos to it all.

Radit slipped easily into his work, deftly prying open phone casings with a small screwdriver. Kaivan, meanwhile, introduced Felicia to the others. “That tall guy is Radit — he handles disassembly and recycling. The one in the shirt is Frans; he’s our logistics guy. Zinnia keeps track of records and collections. Me? I just do whatever needs doing.”

Kaivan’s gaze shifted toward Thivi, who stood nearby — poised, sharp-eyed. “And this is Thivi…”

“I’m the secretary and the supplier for our stock of used phones,” Thivi cut in smoothly, her voice elegant but edged with quiet authority. A faint, knowing smile curved her lips. “I make sure everything runs properly here.”

From her quiet corner, Zinnia finally spoke, eyes steady as she gestured toward Felicia. “And who’s she?”

Kaivan answered calmly, “Felicia. She stayed at my place last night. There was a problem, and Thivi and I helped out. Today, she’s just here to look around.”

Felicia offered a small smile, but her eyes swept across the room with quiet curiosity. At first, she only wanted to observe. Yet the longer she stood there, the more her gaze lingered on the details: the way Radit separated the chips, how Zinnia carefully recorded every piece, and the serious yet warm atmosphere surrounding that little team.

“What parts are you taking apart?” she asked.

Her question stilled every hand in the room. Her voice was soft, but there was a magnetism in its tone. She stood tall, her crimson eyes gleaming. Even in her simple clothes, she radiated a quiet charisma. She wasn’t just asking—she was diving into their work, eager to understand.

Radit, focused a moment ago, leaned back in his chair. He wiped his brow and replied, “Pin connectors, chips, and the gold layer on the buttons.”

He pointed to a neat pile of components, his hand moving with a craftsman’s pride, as though displaying a piece of art. But Felicia didn’t stop there. She stepped closer, graceful yet grounded. All eyes turned toward her. She wasn’t just an onlooker anymore—she belonged to the rhythm of that room.

“What about the motherboard and the RAM fingers?” she asked, bending slightly, her eyes fixed on the heap of electronic parts on the table. A faint smile touched her lips, but her gaze was sharp, challenging assumptions no one had thought to question. “If you melt them, there’s still about thirty to forty percent gold inside.”

For a heartbeat, time froze. Radit glanced over. Frans paused mid-motion. Even Kaivan, quietly dismantling a device, raised his head, his expression a mix of surprise and skepticism. “Seriously? That much?” he asked, half in disbelief.

Felicia nodded calmly. “Yes. As long as you know the technique. Take them apart, separate each layer, then dissolve them in Aqua Regia—a mix of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, one to three. If the solution is right and the refining process is careful, you can recover almost all the gold.”

Silence settled over the workshop—not awkward, but filled with awe. It was as if a new door of knowledge had just been opened by a guest who’d only meant to look around.

Frans stood quickly, his eyes alight. He reached for a pile of untouched devices. “Then we can’t waste time,” he said, pulling one closer. His hands moved deftly, prying open the casing and exploring its insides.

Kaivan, now more focused than ever, rose from his seat. “I’ll get the hydrochloric acid,” he said, striding toward the door.

At another table, Radit grabbed a soldering iron, looping a wire with quick, precise motions. “Alright, I’m not letting you two get ahead of me,” he muttered.

Felicia stood behind them, like a mentor who’d just uncovered her students’ hidden potential. From time to time, she offered guidance—her voice gentle, but impossible to ignore. “Don’t press too hard on the RAM’s corners. It could crack, and you’ll lose some of the gold flakes.”

The atmosphere shifted. The clink of tools, the hiss of the soldering iron, the scrape of screwdrivers—all blended into a symphony of work. Intense, yet warm. Frans, usually relaxed, looked over at Felicia and smiled. “You’re making us feel like scientists, you know?”

Felicia laughed softly, elegant but sharp. “If it means you’re getting smarter, I don’t mind.”

Meanwhile, Kaivan returned, holding a clear bottle filled with liquid. He headed straight for the table, turning the device in his hands, searching for the best angle. “Here we go,” he murmured. With steady care, he lifted a chip from its casing and set it on a small tray.

Radit, usually cheerful and full of jokes, looked unusually serious. Tilting his head, he studied a half-dismantled motherboard. “Felicia,” he called without looking up, “the gold’s still in the layers, right? We’ll need acid to pull it out?”

Felicia approached, pointing carefully at the part he indicated. “That’s right. You’ll need Aqua Regia. Don’t forget masks and gloves,” she added, glancing at Kaivan. “The solution is dangerous. Be careful.”

Kaivan nodded. “I’ll find the rest of the supplies. Make sure we’ve got the right tools before we test anything.”

The workshop, once just a place for tinkering, had transformed into a busy, orderly space. Felicia, Frans, Radit, Thivi, Zinnia, and Kaivan worked side by side, saying little yet moving as though they were one practiced team. The air felt intense, but also harmonious. Every electronic component seemed to carry a riddle, and together they unraveled each one.

---

Hours slipped by. On a metal tray, specks of gold began to appear. The work lamp caught their shimmer, casting a soft, almost magical glow. Frans lifted the tray and broke into a wide smile. “We did it.”

Felicia’s lips curved into a proud smile. Before she could speak, Kaivan approached. “Felicia,” he said gently, “if you’d like, join us. We’ll split the profits equally.”

She hesitated, her heart stirring. The offer sounded tempting, but shadows of the past stirred inside her—complicated ties, threats that might follow. She drew a deep breath.

Amid the clink of tools and the scent of metal, she looked at the faces around her: Thivi’s focused gaze, Zinnia’s careful hands, Radit’s eagerness, Frans’s calm, and Kaivan… the one who had given her space from the very start.

“All right,” she said softly. “I’ll join you.”

Everyone turned. Their tired faces brightened into warm smiles. Radit stepped forward, patting Felicia’s shoulder. “Finally!” he cheered.

Felicia managed a small smile. Doubts still lingered, yet for the first time, she felt she might have found where she belonged. Zinnia nodded, and Frans smiled silently. That night, they hadn’t only found gold—they had found one another.

Amid the quiet celebration, Kaivan rose from his chair. He glanced at the watch on his wrist, a hint of urgency breaking through his usually calm demeanor.

“Everyone,” he said, lifting a hand to catch their attention. “I need to take Thivi home now.”

The workshop fell silent, but not in disappointment—understanding filled the room instead. Everyone knew how seriously Kaivan kept his promises. With a few small nods, they returned to their work. Kaivan strode out of the workshop, leaving behind a space alive with purpose and warmth.

Felicia, who had been standing nearby, finally sat down beside Zinnia. She watched her friends working tirelessly, her thoughts drifting. How wonderful it must be to have someone care like that, she mused, but chose to keep the thought quietly to herself.

A week slipped by in a blur. One late afternoon, sunlight streamed through the workshop’s windows, casting golden shadows across the walls. Kaivan looked more spirited than usual as he approached Zinnia, who was jotting down the results of their latest project.

“How much gold can we get from dismantling these phones?” he asked, his voice alive with curiosity.

Zinnia offered a small smile, as though she had been waiting for that question. “We’ve already recovered one hundred and forty-eight grams,” she replied. “And we still have half a sack of old phones left—about seventy units we haven’t taken apart yet.”

Kaivan’s eyes gleamed. “Wow,” he murmured, impressed. “In that case, we can buy two more sacks tomorrow. Today, let’s sell all the gold for this month’s wages.”

The plan brought a lively spark to the room. Radit laughed, clapping Kaivan on the back. “Payday already? Let’s work faster so we can get even more!”

But Kaivan wasn’t finished. He picked up his phone and called Thivi. Their conversation began lightly, yet there was something deeper in the way he spoke.

“Thivi, I need to talk to your father. Can you connect me?” he asked in a calm, serious tone.

Thivi’s reply caught him off guard. With playful mischief in her voice, she teased, “You want to call my dad? Are you ready to propose to me?”

Kaivan chuckled softly, trying to hide his sudden nervousness. “Haha, I haven’t thought that far yet—don’t say things like that.”

---

The next day, Kaivan and Frans set out for Thivi’s home in Majalengka to buy more supplies. Felicia, curious about the subtle pull between Kaivan and Thivi, decided to come along. Along the road, emerald fields and tall trees welcomed them, offering calm against the quiet turmoil each carried inside.

Thivi’s modest house radiated warmth, yet Felicia sensed something amiss: her phone kept ringing, unanswered. Her gaze held a secret she wouldn’t voice. Kaivan noticed but chose silence.

By dusk, as they returned to the city, their chatter filled the ride home — but beneath the laughter lay an unspoken tension. Under a sky fading from gold to violet, their steps toward the workshop grew heavy, as though shadowed by a nameless warning.

The corridor of the old building felt unusually still. Kaivan led the way, Frans steady behind him, Thivi trying to smile through a thin veil of unease. When Kaivan pushed open the workshop door, the hush shattered into shock.

The room was a wreck. Tables overturned, tools scattered, debris littering the floor. The air was heavy, tinged with dust and metal. Frans exhaled sharply; Thivi covered her mouth to stifle a cry. Cracks ran across the walls, and the dying sunlight slipped through, casting an almost cruel beauty across the ruins.

The workshop — once their heart of creativity and hope — lay in ruin. Silently, they all knew: this wasn’t random destruction. There was a message hidden in the chaos. Time had shifted. Doubt had no place anymore; reality had arrived.

Kaivan’s blood surged as his eyes caught a figure amid the rubble. “Zinnia! Radit!” he called, his voice breaking between panic and despair. Without hesitation, he sprinted across the debris, stumbling more than once. Frans followed, jaw tight. At the threshold, Thivi froze, trembling, unsure what to do.

Kaivan knelt beside Zinnia, hands shaking as he touched her shoulder — her skin was cold, yet faint breaths proved she was alive. “Zinnia, wake up…” he whispered, then turned to Frans. “Find something to lay her on! Call an ambulance!”

Frans fumbled for his phone while Radit, in the corner, stirred. He sat up slowly, face pale and dazed. Frans rushed to him, patting his shoulder. “What happened?”

Radit shook his head. “They came… looking for Felicia… couldn’t find her… so they wrecked everything.”

Kaivan’s gaze sharpened. “Who were they?” But before an answer could come, footsteps echoed.

Felicia stood in the doorway, sunset stretching long behind her. Her face was pale, her voice a fragile thread. “This is my fault… I brought them here.”

Thivi stepped forward, but Felicia retreated. “I have to go. He won’t stop hunting me. You’re all in danger.”

Before anyone could stop her, Felicia ran. “Felicia, wait!” Kaivan shouted, but only silence replied.

Frans placed a steady hand on Kaivan’s shoulder. “We need to leave too. The gold’s been sold, but if anything remains… they’ll come back.”

Kaivan stood still, eyes on the wreckage holding their dreams and work. Thivi stayed close, her usual brightness dimmed, eyes rimmed red.

Sirens wailed, slicing through the quiet, and paramedics entered, gently lifting Zinnia onto a stretcher. Thivi squeezed Kaivan’s hand, offering calm amid the storm. “Kaivan,” she whispered, “we need to find a new place.”

Kaivan didn’t answer. He stood amidst the ruin, staring at a sky slipping from crimson to deep blue. The fading light wrapped the heavens like a curtain, closing a chapter. His gaze was hollow, yet inside, a spark flickered — small, but unyielding.

He drew in a long breath. Then, with a heavy voice laced with resolve, he spoke.

“Hey, Tome Omnicent… I want to know who they are. And I’ll destroy everything.”

His words echoed through the fragile air, shaking what was left of their calm. A strange energy wrapped around them, making Frans, Radit, and Thivi stare at Kaivan in stunned silence. The quiet, steady boy they once knew now stood transformed — eyes ablaze, fists clenched, a new strength stirring inside him.

Kaivan pulled the Tome Omnicent from his Bag. The book quivered softly, as if answering his call. His fingers brushed across the worn, empty pages until faint writing began to bloom across the paper. The sound of shifting parchment was soft, like whispers from the past only he could hear.

“I found it,” he said firmly. “Them — Julian and his men. They’re the ones who destroyed this place. They’re hiding in an old building in downtown Bandung. But we still have time to strike before they move.”

Radit, slumped weakly against the wall, raised his head. “I remember,” he murmured. “Kaivan once used that book to help someone who got robbed. It was always right on time. Like it knew everything.”

Frans, standing by the doorway, nodded. “Yeah. When I didn’t know how to confess to Tira, Kaivan told me to wait. He was right. The book always knows.”

Thivi frowned, still puzzled. “But when I opened it, it was empty. Nothing there.”

Kaivan closed the book carefully. He met each of their eyes, one by one. “I’ll explain later. Right now, we have to move. Frans, get the car ready. We’re going to that mall — tonight.”

Frans hesitated, feeling the weight of the sudden mission. But Kaivan’s steady gaze left no room for doubt. “Alright,” he said simply, hurrying outside to prepare the vehicle.

Kaivan turned to Radit. “Grab five bottles of mineral water. Make sure they’re full.”

Radit nodded, though confusion crossed his face. “Water? What for?” he asked, heading for the supplies.

Without replying, Kaivan shifted his gaze to Thivi. “Do you have any shampoo? Mix it into the bottles.”

Thivi blinked. “Shampoo? What for?” she whispered, almost afraid to ask.

“Just do it,” Kaivan said coolly, his tone cutting off any debate.

Reluctantly, Thivi poured shampoo into the water. Radit sealed each bottle tightly, staring at the foaming liquid with curiosity. “This keeps getting weirder,” he muttered.

When everything was ready, they gathered outside the ruined workshop. The night air was sharp; crickets chirped through the quiet. Frans arrived in a black SUV, slightly out of breath. “Car’s ready,” he announced.

One by one, they climbed in. Inside the vehicle, silence reigned. Frans gripped the steering wheel firmly; Radit glanced now and then at the bottles in his lap, trying to guess their purpose. Thivi leaned back, restless, fingers playing with a strand of her hair.

Kaivan sat in the front seat, eyes fixed on the road ahead. “We don’t have much time. They might leave that place soon. If we want to strike back, we have to be fast — and precise.”

Frans looked at him through the rearview mirror. “Kaivan, are we sure we’re ready? What if they’re stronger?”

Kaivan turned slowly, fire burning in his gaze. “They destroyed our place first. Now it’s our turn to tear theirs apart.”

The words lingered in the car, drawing a hush over everyone. Frans gave a small nod and pressed the accelerator harder. The SUV glided through the empty streets, heading toward a confrontation wrapped in uncertainty.