The front door creaked slightly as Era stepped inside his home. His fingers clutched a small gift box — or at least they had, until it slipped from his trembling hands and fell to the floor with a dull thud.

His eyes locked on the ground.
“B… blood…?!”

A thick, dark pool spread across the floorboards, the kind of trail left when a body is dragged inside. The crimson path led deeper into the house. Era’s heartbeat quickened, his breath growing ragged as he followed it into the living room.

For a moment, relief washed over him — there they were. Yumi, Taniya, and Umer, sitting on the couch, watching TV.
“Huh?” he muttered in confusion.

But the image flickered… and shattered.

The truth hit like a sledgehammer. They weren’t alive. They were sprawled across the blood-soaked carpet, lifeless. Decorations for Taniya’s birthday still hung half-finished on the wall, others scattered across the floor. Blood splattered the television, the furniture, even the walls. It was a slaughterhouse.

Era’s eyes stung. A single tear slipped down his cheek… and then the dam broke.
“Haaaan!!! Aaaaaaaaah…! Aaaahh… aaaaaahhh!! Suuumm…! Annnnggg…!”

He collapsed beside them, his cries turning to sobs that tore at his throat.
“M… mami…! P… papa…! D… suu…! D… didi…! What happened?! Who did this?! Aaaaaahh! Ghaaaahhh!”

An hour later, his tears had dried into silence. Blood streaked his hands and smeared his face. His voice was low, cold.
“Who… did this?”

He pulled out his phone and called A2.
“Hello, A2.”
“Yes, Nightmare.”
“Someone… killed my family.”
“What!? H-how? When?!”
“I don’t know. Tell A3 to get here. Whoever did this… they have no idea what they’ve just done.”
“I understand.”

Era hung up. His gaze fell to the wall, where a knife pinned a paper in place. He yanked it free.
GAME OVER, it read.

Era’s lips curled into something between a smirk and a snarl.
“Hmph… the game has only just begun. They think killing my family would break me? Hahaha! My family was the reason I stayed in the shadows… but now? Now I can step into the light.”

His voice grew darker.
“The world fears the Night Walkers… but I am the nightmare of the Night Walkers. I am Nightmare.”

Minutes later, five black cars pulled up outside his home, drawing the stares of curious neighbors. Era stepped outside and entered one of the vehicles. Men in black suits carried the bodies of Yumi, Umer, and Taniya to another car.

From the street, murmurs rose.
“Isn’t that Er Thana?”
“Yeah… but who are those people?”
“They’re carrying… three bodies.”
“They’re dead! Should we call the police?”
“Wait… look at the logo on that car. That’s the Night Walker mask, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Then… did Era do something wrong? But today was supposed to be his sister’s birthday…”
“It doesn’t look like there’s going to be a celebration now.”

The cars drove off.

Inside Era’s car, A3 sat beside him.
“So, Nightmare… what’s the next move?”
“We have a traitor among us. Find them. Then ask them who did this.”
“But with over a thousand Night Walkers, how are we supposed to—”
“Hmm…”

Era went silent, lost in thought… until a memory surfaced.
“During that meeting a few days ago… when my phone rang, who was in the room?”
“Uh… maybe twelve people. You, A1, A2, A4… a few trainers… and two guards. One at the door, one behind you.”
“That’s it. What’s the number of the one who was behind me?”
“Uh… maybe 401.”
“Maybe?”
“No… definitely 401.”
“Catch him. Interrogate him until he tells us who he gave the information to.”
“But… why him?”
“When I get a call, my phone always shows the number, even without a saved name. When my mami called me that day… 401 saw the number. And he told a rival.”
“Oh… you’re sharper than I thought, Nightmare.”

Era’s voice hardened.
“I’ve been famous without even stepping on the field. Now… it’s time for the Night Walkers’ nightmare to appear. Whoever did this has made my job easier than I could’ve dreamed. Hahaha! Oh, and… arrange my mami, papa, and didi’s funeral.”
“Of course. They are my family too.”
“Good. I’ll be staying in Mathura for a few more days.”
“Understood.”

End of Chapter 20