After visiting the morgue, Sam and Dean headed to Forks High School to question the local students and find a guy named Alex, whom Donna had mentioned.

The brothers didn’t fully understand what she meant when she said Alex was hard to confuse with anyone else—his appearance was unforgettable. But now they were about to see for themselves.

When they arrived at the school, Dean turned the wheel and pulled into the parking lot. Fate, as if mocking him, had left the only free spot right next to another black Impala.

Sam couldn’t resist and gently nudged his brother with his elbow. Dean looked at him questioningly, and Sam just nodded toward the car.

“Do you see that?” Sam said with a slight smirk.

“At least this guy has good taste,” Dean smirked as he parked next to it.

Both got out of the car, continuing to study the other Impala. It was obvious—this was Alex’s car, the one Donna had mentioned.

“Hope he’s not a fan of that silly book,” Sam remarked dryly. “Want me to remind you how that ended last time?”

“Don’t,” Dean muttered. “Watching a bunch of teenagers act us out on stage… that’s trauma enough. Especially their ‘musical number.'”

“Exactly,” Sam nodded. “So let’s focus on the task. First, we’ll see the principal, find out what he knows about the missing students, then talk to the others.”

“Perfect. Maybe we’ll even see what they feed them here,” Dean said with a grin.

“You just want to eat,” Sam sighed, giving his brother a blank look.

“So what? We drove for two days straight from Kansas! I deserve a burger. Even if it’s from the school cafeteria.”

Sam just rolled his eyes and walked toward the entrance.

The school halls were almost empty—class was in session. The brothers looked around, then asked a teacher for directions and headed to the principal’s office.

The principal was a middle-aged man with a tired but attentive gaze. Sam and Dean introduced themselves and began asking standard questions about the two missing students, carefully slipping in leading questions: had anyone noticed strange behavior from the kids, who they hung out with, where they might have gone.

The principal just shrugged helplessly.

“Normal kids. Studied, chatted with friends, hung out after school. Nothing strange, I swear.”

The conversation lasted until the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

When the brothers stepped into the hallway, they were immediately met with curious stares. Two men in sharp suits drew too much attention for such a quiet town as Forks.

“So what now, smart guy?” Dean asked, lazily scanning the crowd. “Question the missing kids’ friends or start with the teachers?”

“I’ll handle the teachers,” Sam said, pulling out his notebook. “Maybe one of them saw something.”

“Then I’ll talk to the students. It’s lunch now, so half of them will be in the cafeteria,” Dean said with his signature grin.

“Are you going to question students or eat?” Sam asked, throwing him a tired look.

“Doesn’t have to be one or the other,” Dean replied and confidently headed toward the cafeteria.

Sam shook his head and stayed in the hallway, studying the class schedules of the two missing students. Everything looked strange. Why were some found dead while these two simply disappeared?

In Sam’s mind, a theory was forming: maybe something ancient had awakened in the forest—a spirit, a deity, or a creature protecting its territory. Perhaps it considered the dead ones intruders and decided to sacrifice the two students.

But none of this matched what Donna had said: the trail stretched all the way from Stillwater to Forks. Too far for a “local deity.”

Sam didn’t have answers yet. Meanwhile, Dean was already striding into the school cafeteria with the expression of a man ready to conduct an interrogation and order a burger at the same time.

At the same time, Alex was sitting in the school cafeteria. On either side of him were Lucina and Alice. Emmett couldn’t stop laughing at Alex—just because he had painted nails. Alex just rolled his eyes and, lazily stretching, replied that Emmett was simply jealous.

Rosalie, on the other hand, was intrigued and immediately declared that she wanted Alice to give her a similar manicure—the same as Alice’s, Lucina’s, and Bella’s. Even Edward, trying not to show it, admitted that Bella’s nails looked beautiful. Bella literally blossomed at his praise—even though Edward had said it in his usual awkward way.

Meanwhile, Alex felt that this day wasn’t over yet… and would most likely bring something interesting. And within a few seconds, his premonition proved true. A man in a black suit appeared in the cafeteria doorway.

Alex looked up—and his eyes widened for a moment. A slow, wide, satisfied smile spread across his face. Even Lucina, sitting next to him, froze in surprise.

“Now that’s a twist,” Alex smirked, keeping his eyes on the man who had entered. “I told you this day would be interesting. And it looks like it’s just getting started.”

“Now I understand what you meant,” Lucina replied, slightly squinting.

The others at the table exchanged glances, not understanding what they were talking about. Following their gaze, everyone saw the man standing in line at the food counter—tall, stern, constantly scanning the room out of habit.

Alex was genuinely impressed. Seeing Dean Winchester in person was not the same as watching him on a screen.

He already knew the Winchester brothers existed in this world, but still—seeing one of them with his own eyes was something special.

Alex smiled, tapping his finger on the table, thinking about how long it would take Dean and Sam to figure out what was happening and find the killers.

For a moment, a wild thought crossed his mind—to release one of the monsters from Red City to give the hunters a false lead.

But before doing anything, he wanted to discuss it with Lucina, Alice, and Samantha—whether to set up a “hunt” or let events unfold on their own.

“Who’s that man? An agent?” Bella whispered, keeping her eyes on Dean.

“No, Bella,” Alex replied calmly. “That man is a hunter. And a pretty well-known one at that. Like his brother.”

“I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before,” Rosalie said, trying to remember.

“You saw him on our investigation board,” Alice interjected. “That’s Dean Winchester. He has a brother—Sam. There are massive files on both of them: in the police, the FBI, even the FBC. They’re like Samantha—heirs of the Men of Letters.”

“Exactly!” Rosalie nodded. “Now I remember. Although… he doesn’t really look like a hunter.”

“Yeah, especially now,” Emmett smirked, watching Dean sit at a table and eat greedily as if he hadn’t seen food in a week. “Experienced hunter, you say?”

Alex just smirked and glanced at him.

“Look at me, Emmett. Do I look like the kind of guy who took down a dozen Turned at the Bright Falls sheriff’s station with just a fire axe?”

All eyes turned to Alex, who was lazily eating his school lunch. The girls and boys just shook their heads in unison.

He looked like a typical lazy student—the kind who either slept through class or was always looking for a reason to skip. His habit of going out for a smoke during breaks made him seem like a school delinquent, and some of his antics within the school walls had already earned him a reputation as the “weird guy.” Yet, despite all this, Alex somehow remained popular with the girls.

Understanding where he was heading again, his friends could only agree—if they didn’t actually know who he really was.

While Alex was carrying on a casual conversation, Sam Winchester entered the cafeteria. Spotting Dean already engrossed in his meal, Sam exhaled in irritation and made his way to the table.

“Find anything out?” Dean asked, still chewing.

“First, chew your food, then ask questions,” Sam grumbled, clearly annoyed.

“As you wish, mama’s boy,” Dean smirked. “So? Teachers know anything? Or dead end?”

“No strange behavior. Normal students—friends, school, home… I’m starting to think this case isn’t the same as what Donna was dealing with. Maybe there really is a ghost in the school,” Sam replied, shaking his head.

“What makes you say that?” Dean raised an eyebrow.

“Look for yourself: only students disappear, while adults turn up dead. Either it’s some wandering spirit killing along the way until it found what it was looking for… or…” Sam frowned, choosing his words carefully.

“Or what?” Dean asked, raising his fork to his mouth.

“Or the vampires Donna was tracking accidentally awakened something local by killing someone in the woods. That creature could have wiped them out too. It’s not the first time monsters kill each other,” Sam said, still thinking.

“So the words of that guy Donna mentioned might actually be true?” Dean asked, pushing his empty tray aside.

“Quite possible. By the way, did you see him?” Sam nodded toward the cafeteria.

“Yeah. There he is. Hard to miss him,” Dean replied, nodding over Sam’s shoulder toward Alex.

Sam turned and immediately understood why Donna said this guy “stood out.”

Alex was sitting back in his chair, his black tousled hair falling slightly over his eyes. His long blue coat, sleeves rolled up, added to the casual, careless look. Dark jeans and black boots completed the image.

Feeling the intense gaze, Alex turned his head with a faint, almost lazy smile. His eyes—shimmering in all the colors of the rainbow—met the brothers’ stares. Pretending not to understand, he tilted his head slightly, as if silently asking, “What do you want?”

Dean and Sam squinted, exchanging glances. Alex calmly stood, hands in his coat pockets, and strolled past them at a leisurely pace, as if nothing had happened.

“Now I get what Donna meant. This guy really is strange,” Dean remarked, nodding toward the door.

“Didn’t you notice his eyes?” Sam frowned.

“No, wasn’t paying attention. What about them?” Dean asked, turning toward Sam.

“They’re… rainbow-colored,” Sam said. “That shouldn’t even be possible.”

Dean chuckled.

“Maybe some kind of contact lenses. Still—odd. Especially since he moved here just a month and a half ago, and right after that, the deaths and disappearances started.”

“Then we talk to him,” Sam said, getting up from the table. “Let’s see what he has to say.”

Dean was the first to rise, and Sam nodded, following him. Both quickly left the cafeteria, trailing Alex, who walked down the school hallway at a slow, almost lazy pace. He didn’t even need to look back to know the Winchesters were following him.

For a moment, Alex considered playing a little trick on them, pretending to behave suspiciously. So, as he exited the school, he deliberately looked around, making sure Sam and Dean noticed, then calmly headed behind the building.

Of course, the Winchesters saw this and followed him.

Alex took his usual spot behind the school—where he normally smoked during breaks. He sat on the concrete ledge, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. Within a minute, Sam and Dean appeared from around the corner.

“Smoking on school grounds is actually prohibited,” Dean said, trying to sound stern.

“Oh no, what will I do now… Caught red-handed, how will I ever live?” Alex replied in a monotone voice, keeping his expression unchanged.

“Let’s skip that part,” Sam interjected, stepping closer. “We’re here on another matter. Mind answering a few questions?”

“Depends on what questions… and who you are,” Alex replied calmly, trying not to smile.

“Agents Ford and Hamill,” Sam said, showing his badge. Dean followed suit. “Were you acquainted with the two missing students?”

“FBI, huh…” Alex nodded lazily. “No, not personally. We crossed paths in a few classes, but I don’t really talk to anyone outside my small group. So, no.”

“Maybe you noticed anything suspicious lately? Smell of sulfur, temperature changes, strange people?” Dean asked calmly.

Alex paused for a moment, studying them seriously, and then nodded.

“Yeah. I smelled sulfur. And the temperature fluctuated.”

“Really? And where was this?” Sam raised an eyebrow.

“When I was chasing a demon,” Alex answered nonchalantly. “And the temperature shift happened while I was hunting a ghost with an iron rod.”

Sam froze, unsure how to react, while Dean quietly chuckled and turned away to hide his smile. Alex couldn’t help but smirk slightly, enjoying their reactions.

Meanwhile, the girls, watching from a distance, observed with interest as Alex interacted with the Winchesters—the two brothers they had heard so much about. But seeing him act just as calm and teasing as always, they only shook their heads: He never changes.

“You’re joking, right?” Sam finally asked, not believing his ears.

“Agent, monsters don’t exist,” Alex said calmly. “And you know it. All these demons, ghosts, and other horrors are just myths and legends. I don’t know why my classmates disappeared. But if a monster did grab them… do you really think your guns can do anything? Legends say nothing about killing such a creature with an ordinary bullet. And even if I did see something—who in their right mind would believe it?”

He stubbed out his cigarette without breaking eye contact with the Winchesters.

“Trust us, kid,” Dean said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We’ve seen things no one would believe. So if you noticed anything unexplainable—you can tell us. We’ll believe you.”

Alex fought hard to keep a serious expression, like someone who had seen something they shouldn’t have. But he struggled not to burst out laughing, careful not to reveal his true thoughts.

He felt like he had stepped right into a TV show—becoming part of Sam and Dean’s story during one of their monster hunts. Suppressing his laughter, Alex took a deep breath, which the Winchesters interpreted as him gathering his thoughts before speaking.

“I don’t know how to explain it… But last week, I saw strange people,” Alex said, looking up at Sam and Dean. “They were wandering through the forest, like they were searching for something.”

“How strange?” Sam asked, frowning slightly. “Did they have sharp teeth, like vampires? Or did they vanish before your eyes? Maybe act… unnatural?”

“How should I put it…” Alex thoughtfully rubbed his chin. “They muttered incomprehensible things, and a thick black fog swirled around them. I heard them talking about darkness… and about drowning. That’s all I could make out before I decided to run.”

Alex’s words made the brothers exchange glances. In their eyes flashed the same word—Darkness.

Alex could barely hold back his laughter and covered his face with his hands, pretending to be shocked by the memories. In reality, he was just trying not to burst out laughing. After all, he had already solved this problem long ago—both with the vampires and those “possessed by Darkness.” He found it amusing to watch Sam and Dean running around chasing false leads, hunting for something that no longer existed.

Sam glanced at his brother, and Dean nodded in return—they both reached the same conclusion: they had found Amara’s trail.

“You only saw them once?” Dean asked, looking Alex over intently.

“Yeah, just once. After that—nothing. You think they’re responsible for the murders?” Alex asked, shaking his head.

“We don’t know yet,” Sam said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “But thanks for the help. We’ll try to figure this out as soon as possible.”

“I hope so. I’ve got class,” Alex said with a slight smile. “See you, agents.”

He nodded and walked away, trying not to give himself away. But as soon as he turned the corner, he couldn’t contain himself—he laughed loudly, almost to the point of tears, striding toward the school with a cheerful gait.

Alex could hardly contain his anticipation—he couldn’t wait to tell the others what he had just pulled off. Watching the Winchesters chase a false trail seemed like a wonderful form of entertainment.

Meanwhile, Dean and Sam stood in place, watching the boy walk away. Their faces remained wary. Years of hunting had taught them to sense lies—and something about Alex’s words didn’t add up.

“Think this is the work of Darkness?” Dean muttered, frowning. “Maybe its power affected the locals somehow?”

“I don’t know,” Sam replied. “But I have a feeling this guy’s holding something back.”

“Maybe. But he might not be lying about the people surrounded by darkness. For now, that’s our only lead,” Dean shrugged.

“Then let’s check the place where the bodies were found,” Sam said, turning to his brother.

“Then we can grab a bite,” Dean smirked. “Donna said there’s a diner around here with great burgers.”

“You just ate!” Sam exclaimed, catching up to him.

“I wasn’t full,” Dean replied calmly. “And we’re going to be wandering through the forest. Need to refuel.”

Sam just shook his head wearily at Dean’s words. The brothers returned to the Impala and headed toward the forest where the bodies had been found.

Meanwhile, Alex was already sitting in class, telling Lucina how his conversation with the Winchesters had gone. When he finished, Lucina stared at her husband blankly—she immediately understood that Alex was just having fun, sending Dean and Sam down a false trail to watch them endlessly circle around afterward.

Gradually, the school day came to an end. Alex, with the others, left the school and, standing in the parking lot, couldn’t stop laughing—the day had truly been unusually entertaining.

“I’ll bet a hundred they finally figure out what’s going on in Forks by the end of the week,” he said with a smug grin.

“Fine, I’ll play along,” Emmett replied, crossing his arms. “I don’t know what those two are capable of, but I’ll bet a hundred that by the end of the week, they’ll show up at your house to kill you.”

“Why would they try to kill Alex?” Bella asked, stunned, gripping Edward’s hand.

“Just look at him. He’s pure suspicion incarnate,” Emmett smirked, pointing at Alex.

“That’s hurtful,” Alex said, putting on the most innocent smile he could. “I’m such a harmless cutie. How can you say that about me?”

“Tell that to the people you’ve killed, cutie,” Rosalie rolled her eyes.

Everyone laughed, and for a brief moment, Alex’s eye twitched—especially when he noticed Lucina and Alice laughing as well. Still, he didn’t deny Emmett’s words: it really wasn’t impossible that Dean and Sam might show up to try to kill him. That was exactly what he was counting on—he was curious to see how long it would take them to realize they were being led around by the nose.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Alex headed home with Lucina and Alice. On the way, they stopped at a store to pick up some sweets, and later, back at home, Alex told Samantha what had happened at school. He didn’t know whether she had been watching the live feed or continuing her training in dealing with various creatures.

When Samantha heard the Winchester name—familiar from her father’s journal and mentioned repeatedly in this house—her eyes widened in surprise. Alice recounted how Alex had played a prank on the hunters, and now everyone—including Samantha—was certain that the Winchester brothers would eventually show up at their doorstep.

Alex, once again, felt that familiar sting of betrayal—everyone had turned against him once more.

Meanwhile, Sam and Dean wandered through the forest, inspecting the sites where the bodies had been found. Yet none of the locations provided any clue as to how the people had died. Finding nothing useful, the brothers decided to head back to the car.

Once in the Impala, they drove to the local diner Donna had mentioned. Taking a booth by the window, Sam pulled out his laptop and began searching for any possible information, while Dean was already placing a massive order, claiming he needed to “refuel.”

Sam, however, was focused not on the food but on Alex, who was raising more and more suspicions. Dean occasionally glanced at his brother, who hadn’t even touched his coffee.

“The burgers here are amazing. Donna wasn’t kidding,” Dean said, taking a greedy bite.

“Wipe your mouth, you’re covered in sauce,” Sam remarked without looking up.

“I eat how I want. And remind me to order a pie,” Dean said, rolling his eyes.

“Remind yourself. I’m busy,” Sam waved him off, continuing to type.

“Find anything?” Dean asked, noticing Sam frown.

“That’s the thing—no. This guy is like a ghost. Absolutely clean.” Sam turned the laptop toward his brother.

“Well, clean is fine. No need to dig further,” Dean shrugged carelessly, not even glancing at the screen.

“I mean too clean. There’s literally no data on him—no record of where he studied or where he was born. Only his name and surname. Same goes for his fiancée,” Sam said irritably.

“Wait… he has a fiancée? Who even is she? And how does a high school kid already have a fiancée?” Dean raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“If you ate less and listened more, you’d already know. While I was talking to the teachers, I managed to find out something. Her name is Lucina Kushinada,” Sam said, showing the empty dossier.

“Half-Japanese?” Dean asked, glancing at the screen.

“Half-Japanese, half-Polish. They transferred to the school about a month and a half ago. The teachers call them geniuses. And, by the way, this guy somehow ‘sent’ one of the teachers looking for himself,” Sam explained what he had found out.

“Wait, you mean he beat him up?” Dean smirked.

“No, he just talked to him. After that, the teacher started questioning his life choices, quit, and left to ‘find himself.’ Since then, teachers try not to ask Alex any questions. In class, he either sleeps or plays on his phone, and his fiancée—she’s always reading something on her tablet,” Sam said, turning the laptop screen back toward himself.

“Ha, if I had a friend like that in school, I’d be thrilled,” Dean snorted, clearly amused.

“If it were you, maybe. You’ve had all kinds of friends. But recently, he’s been traveling a lot for family reasons, and just last week, right when he said he saw people shrouded in black mist… guess what he did?” Sam asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Don’t tell me… let me guess. He went away again ‘for family reasons’?” Dean said with a smirk.

“Exactly. That was last week,” Sam nodded. “Everything is way too suspicious.”

“So, we have one suspect. Maybe he’s that spirit the vampires Donna was hunting accidentally woke up? Even if the timing doesn’t match exactly, anything’s possible,” Dean said, finishing his burger.

“We’ll need to keep an eye on this guy. He’s way too suspicious,” Sam agreed.

After they finished eating, the brothers returned to the motel to prepare for the next day.

Meanwhile, Alex was engaged in a far more “serious” battle—with GIR, MIMI, and Stitch over the last piece of apple pie that Alice had baked. He had no idea he had already become a target of the Winchester brothers. And even if he had known, he probably wouldn’t have cared—he was too busy fending off three pairs of greedy paws reaching for his dessert.

Lucina, Alice, and Samantha just laughed, watching the chaos unfold—no one was going to help Alex, since he had brought it on himself by teasing the eternally hungry trio.

“I told you, it’s my pie!” Alex protested, shoving Stitch, who was climbing onto his shoulder.

“No!” GIR, MIMI, and Stitch shouted in unison, clutching at his clothes.

Alex’s eye began to twitch noticeably—Alice had baked four pies, and three had already disappeared into the bottomless maws of these perpetually hungry creatures. Now the whole trio was trying to snatch the last piece from him.

Desperately fighting GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, Alex didn’t notice his hand slip, and the plate with the coveted slice of pie fell to the floor. The sound of shattered dishes rang out—and the room went silent.

Everyone froze, staring at the piece of apple pie lying on the floor. GIR, MIMI, and Stitch slowly slid off Alex, glanced at each other, and nodded simultaneously. The next second, without hesitation, the trio bolted upstairs. Moments later, a crash echoed—doors to their rooms slammed shut as if a demon itself had been chasing them.

Alex glanced up at the ceiling with irritation, let out a heavy sigh, then lowered his gaze to the unfortunate pie. Not one to be squeamish, he simply brushed off the shards and calmly popped the piece into his mouth.

“You actually ate that?” Samantha asked in surprise.

“What’s the big deal?” Alex replied, chewing.

“There were shards of the plate in it,” Samantha grimaced.

“Minor details of life. I can eat anything—I won’t be harmed. And don’t forget, my love, I eat not because I’m hungry, but because I enjoy the taste of food. I don’t feel hunger or fatigue—I just have the habit,” Alex said, settling between Lucina and Alice.

“Oh right, how could I forget my boyfriend is the great Demon King,” Samantha snorted, lightly kicking him on the knee. “But tell me, was it really worth sending the Winchester brothers on a wild goose chase?”

“It was just out of curiosity. Let them come to me themselves—it’s easier. I don’t want to talk to them outside,” Alex said, shaking his head.

“Because the All-Seeing Eye is watching them?” Lucina asked, lazily tracing a finger along his leg.

“Exactly. Chuck won’t see a thing in our house, and it won’t raise any suspicions. We need to naturally fit into his story, without prompting extra questions. If I showed up at the bunker immediately, there’d be problems. This way—when Sam and Dean come on their own, we can talk to them as the ‘heirs of the Men of Letters.’ Then my hands will be free,” Alex explained calmly.

“So we’re moving soon?” Alice asked with a mischievous smile. “Then get ready—your week’s about to get interesting.”

“Did you see something?” Lucina asked warily, catching a playful tone in her friend’s voice.

“Spoilers,” Alice cut in. “I’m not saying a word. Just know—it’ll be fun.”

Alex, Lucina, and Samantha exchanged suspicious glances at Alice, but she just smiled innocently and, seemingly to tease him, blew Alex an air kiss. He just shook his head—if Alice says “it’ll be fun,” then it will be.

Deciding the evening deserved a calm outing, Alex suggested a trip to Los Angeles. The girls didn’t even ask why they were going so far when they could just teleport.

After changing into street clothes, they loaded into the Impala and left the city. Once outside Forks, Alex cast a teleportation spell, and the car instantly appeared in Los Angeles, in an empty alley. Within a minute, the Impala smoothly merged onto a bustling street.

At a traffic light, Alex pulled out his phone and, using one of humanity’s greatest inventions—the internet—scrolled through a list of landmarks.

“Where should we start? Where do you want to go first?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the screen.

“I’ve always dreamed of seeing the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” Alice said enthusiastically.

“At this time, it’s packed with people,” Lucina immediately objected, shaking her head. “I don’t want to jostle through a crowd.”

Alice gave Lucina a pointed look, clearly signaling that she really wanted to visit the Walk of Fame. Lucina, however, crossed her arms and shook her head—going somewhere crowded didn’t appeal to her at all.

Samantha, on the other hand, dreamed of visiting Santa Monica Beach, especially beautiful in the evenings. While the girls argued over the route, Alex decided to take matters into his own hands and drive somewhere nearby—at least briefly, to distract them from their quarrel.

Ten minutes later, the Impala stopped at a parking lot near the Grand Central Market. The girls immediately stopped arguing and stared at Alex, who had already turned off the engine.

“And where exactly have you brought us?” Lucina asked, peering out the window.

“We’re at Grand Central Market,” Alex replied with a slight smile. “They say the food here is amazing. So, while you’re arguing, we can grab a bite to eat.”

The girls exchanged glances and, without much hesitation, agreed—after all, it’s never too late to try something delicious.

Stepping out of the Impala, they looked around with interest—it was their first time in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Alex scrolled through his phone, checking reviews of different eateries. When he showed the screen to the girls, they quickly scanned the list, picked a few options, and cheerfully headed inside together.

Grand Central Market was noisy, bustling, and filled with the aroma of delicious food. Their first stop was a taco stand. After placing their orders, Alex and the girls took a free table, chatting as they sampled their food.

Samantha couldn’t resist taking a few selfies to share with her friends. No sooner had she posted the photos than Jessica called—her voice sounded shocked. Despite the noise, Alex, Lucina, and Alice could clearly hear Jessica demanding an explanation about what the heck Samantha was doing in Los Angeles.

After eating, the group wandered a bit more around the market, then returned to the Impala and drove to Santa Monica Beach.

The walk along the boardwalk was pleasant: the evening air was cool, waves lapped steadily against the shore, and street musicians played guitars. They peeked into souvenir shops, laughed, argued over what to buy, and took photos with the sunset as a backdrop.

After an hour of strolling, the girls decided to rest a bit. Alex suggested grabbing ice cream and drinks—fortunately, a nearby stand was just a few meters away. When he returned, he handed out their orders and sat down next to them.

“You didn’t just randomly decide to come to Los Angeles,” Lucina said, sipping her lemonade.

“You could say that,” Alex smirked, not denying the obvious.

“And what exactly do you need here?” Samantha asked, scooping a spoonful of ice cream.

“There’s a demon in this city. He makes deals with minor performers,” Alex explained. “So I thought, since we’re coming anyway, why not combine business with pleasure? A little relaxation first, then work.”

“What kind of demon?” Alice asked, swinging her legs.

“His name is Cruz Diver. He even has his own label—The 101 Deal-Maker. His motto goes: Cross the line, sign the vine, five years to shine, then you’re mine.”

“Only five years?” Samantha asked, surprised. “Don’t crossroads demons usually give ten?”

“Usually,” Alex nodded. “But this is L.A.—everything burns out faster here. Anyway, it doesn’t really matter. We’ll walk a bit more, and then I’ll deal with the demon. And yes, Sammy, after that, you’ll have your first practical lesson.”

“Do I have to kill him or banish him?” Samantha asked calmly, though with a hint of tension.

“The choice is yours,” Alex said gently, running a hand through her hair.

Samantha nodded, accepting the decision.

After a short rest, they went back out for a walk. The girls persuaded Alex to ride the Ferris wheel and then play some carnival games. They laughed, argued over who threw the rings best, and took home a few plush prizes as souvenirs.

The day turned out surprisingly warm and lively—a mix of relaxation, laughter, and the anticipation of the hunt to come.

To be continued…

(So, I still haven’t decided whether to describe Sam and Dean’s entire work process or just move on. I’m still thinking about it, and I’m starting to get a headache from all the thinking. Anyway, I’ll come up with something, as usual.)

Early access to chapters on my patreon: p*treon.com/GreedHunter

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep