Kenzo pressed himself against the window, every muscle locked. The small creature crawled fully out of the bag now, its limbs bending the wrong way as it dragged itself forward. Its black eyes didn’t blink — they just stared straight at him. The hooded woman whispered shakily, “If it knows your name… it’s already marked you.” Kenzo’s voice cracked. “Why me? I didn’t take anything!” But the creature tilted its head, its neck popping loudly, and repeated in that soft, broken voice: “Kenzo.” His...

Kenzo pressed himself against the window, every muscle locked. The small creature crawled fully out of the bag now, its limbs bending the wrong way as it dragged itself forward. Its black eyes didn’t blink — they just stared straight at him. The hooded woman whispered shakily, “If it knows your name… it’s already marked you.” Kenzo’s voice cracked. “Why me? I didn’t take anything!” But the creature tilted its head, its neck popping loudly, and repeated in that soft, broken voice: “Kenzo.” His...

Aston Villa snatched all three points in dramatic fashion yesterday, handing Arsenal a painful 2–1 defeat at Villa Park. Matty Cash opened the scoring for the hosts, and although Leandro Trossard dragged Arsenal level early in the second half, the Gunners never quite looked settled. Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Villa struck at the death — Emiliano Buendía firing home a stoppage-time winner that shattered Arsenal’s 18-game unbeaten run. The late blow not only electrified the...

Aston Villa snatched all three points in dramatic fashion yesterday, handing Arsenal a painful 2–1 defeat at Villa Park. Matty Cash opened the scoring for the hosts, and although Leandro Trossard dragged Arsenal level early in the second half, the Gunners never quite looked settled. Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Villa struck at the death — Emiliano Buendía firing home a stoppage-time winner that shattered Arsenal’s 18-game unbeaten run. The late blow not only electrified the...

The memory hit Kenzo hard. It wasn’t a stranger who brushed past him earlier — it was Tunde, his closest friend. They had laughed, exchanged quick words, and parted without a second thought. At least, that’s what Kenzo thought had happened. The hooded woman watched his face change. “You remember now,” she said quietly. Kenzo nodded, his chest tightening. “He touched me. Just for a second.” The pale creature let out a low, satisfied hiss. “Marks are never given by enemies. Only by those you tr...

The memory hit Kenzo hard. It wasn’t a stranger who brushed past him earlier — it was Tunde, his closest friend. They had laughed, exchanged quick words, and parted without a second thought. At least, that’s what Kenzo thought had happened. The hooded woman watched his face change. “You remember now,” she said quietly. Kenzo nodded, his chest tightening. “He touched me. Just for a second.” The pale creature let out a low, satisfied hiss. “Marks are never given by enemies. Only by those you tr...

The road outside the bus was wrong. No streetlights. No signs. Just a narrow stretch of cracked asphalt cutting through endless darkness. Kenzo pressed his forehead to the window, trying to recognize anything — but the city he knew was gone. “This road isn’t on any map,” the hooded woman said softly. “It only appears when the mark is active.” Kenzo’s chest burned as the symbol beneath his shirt pulsed brighter, reacting to the path ahead. The pale creature crouched low near the aisle, its eye...

The road outside the bus was wrong. No streetlights. No signs. Just a narrow stretch of cracked asphalt cutting through endless darkness. Kenzo pressed his forehead to the window, trying to recognize anything — but the city he knew was gone. “This road isn’t on any map,” the hooded woman said softly. “It only appears when the mark is active.” Kenzo’s chest burned as the symbol beneath his shirt pulsed brighter, reacting to the path ahead. The pale creature crouched low near the aisle, its eye...

Inter Miami witnessed the end of an era yesterday as Spanish icons Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets officially retired after lifting the 2025 MLS Cup — a poetic finale for two of football’s most decorated veterans. The duo, who reunited in Miami after glittering careers at FC Barcelona, ended their final match with a trophy in hand and a standing ovation from teammates and fans alike. Both players had announced earlier in the year that this season would be their last, and the MLS Cup final deli...

Inter Miami witnessed the end of an era yesterday as Spanish icons Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets officially retired after lifting the 2025 MLS Cup — a poetic finale for two of football’s most decorated veterans. The duo, who reunited in Miami after glittering careers at FC Barcelona, ended their final match with a trophy in hand and a standing ovation from teammates and fans alike. Both players had announced earlier in the year that this season would be their last, and the MLS Cup final deli...

Liverpool was thrown into fresh turmoil last night after Mohamed Salah publicly admitted that his relationship with manager Arne Slot has “completely broken down,” casting serious doubt over his Anfield future. The Egyptian forward, visibly frustrated after the draw with Leeds United, accused the club of “throwing him under the bus” following weeks of benchings and rising internal tension. Salah, speaking with unusual bluntness, declared that there is now “no relationship at all” between hims...

Liverpool was thrown into fresh turmoil last night after Mohamed Salah publicly admitted that his relationship with manager Arne Slot has “completely broken down,” casting serious doubt over his Anfield future. The Egyptian forward, visibly frustrated after the draw with Leeds United, accused the club of “throwing him under the bus” following weeks of benchings and rising internal tension. Salah, speaking with unusual bluntness, declared that there is now “no relationship at all” between hims...

Leeds United staged a stunning late comeback yesterday, holding Liverpool to a chaotic 3–3 draw in a match that kept Elland Road on its feet from start to finish. Liverpool looked firmly in control after Hugo Ekitike’s quickfire brace early in the second half, but Leeds refused to surrender, clawing their way back into the contest through a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty before Anton Stach struck moments later to level the score. Just when Liverpool thought they had steadied themselves, the ho...

Leeds United staged a stunning late comeback yesterday, holding Liverpool to a chaotic 3–3 draw in a match that kept Elland Road on its feet from start to finish. Liverpool looked firmly in control after Hugo Ekitike’s quickfire brace early in the second half, but Leeds refused to surrender, clawing their way back into the contest through a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty before Anton Stach struck moments later to level the score. Just when Liverpool thought they had steadied themselves, the ho...

The knocking echoed through the bus, slow and patient, like it knew time was on its side. Kenzo’s eyes stayed fixed on the door, his chest burning where the mark pulsed brighter with every second. “Don’t open it,” the hooded woman whispered urgently. “Once it steps inside, it won’t leave alone.” Outside, the thing wearing Tunde’s face leaned closer to the glass. “I just want to talk,” it said softly. “You owe me that much.” The invisible presence beside Kenzo growled low, vibrating through th...

The knocking echoed through the bus, slow and patient, like it knew time was on its side. Kenzo’s eyes stayed fixed on the door, his chest burning where the mark pulsed brighter with every second. “Don’t open it,” the hooded woman whispered urgently. “Once it steps inside, it won’t leave alone.” Outside, the thing wearing Tunde’s face leaned closer to the glass. “I just want to talk,” it said softly. “You owe me that much.” The invisible presence beside Kenzo growled low, vibrating through th...

Kenzo’s breath caught when he saw the smile. It was Tunde’s face — the same eyes, the same crooked grin — but it felt empty, like someone wearing a memory instead of a body. “You look surprised,” the figure said calmly, stepping closer to the bus. “I told you I’d see you again.” “That’s not him,” the hooded woman whispered. “Not completely.” The mark on Kenzo’s chest burned, reacting to the sound of the voice. The pale creature whimpered softly, retreating toward the shadows, while the invisi...

Kenzo’s breath caught when he saw the smile. It was Tunde’s face — the same eyes, the same crooked grin — but it felt empty, like someone wearing a memory instead of a body. “You look surprised,” the figure said calmly, stepping closer to the bus. “I told you I’d see you again.” “That’s not him,” the hooded woman whispered. “Not completely.” The mark on Kenzo’s chest burned, reacting to the sound of the voice. The pale creature whimpered softly, retreating toward the shadows, while the invisi...

Kenzo grabbed his shirt and pulled it down just enough to see the glowing symbol. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat under his skin. He took a shaky breath. “What… what is this?” The pale creature hissed softly, crawling closer on its crooked limbs. “That mark… belongs to us.” The hooded woman shook her head. “No. That mark was taken from somewhere dangerous. Someone put it on you. On purpose.” Kenzo stared at her. “Who would do that?” She didn’t answer — she only looked away, as if afraid t...

Kenzo grabbed his shirt and pulled it down just enough to see the glowing symbol. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat under his skin. He took a shaky breath. “What… what is this?” The pale creature hissed softly, crawling closer on its crooked limbs. “That mark… belongs to us.” The hooded woman shook her head. “No. That mark was taken from somewhere dangerous. Someone put it on you. On purpose.” Kenzo stared at her. “Who would do that?” She didn’t answer — she only looked away, as if afraid t...