Alice and Runo met with Chan and Dan in the security office, despite having limited information. "There's not much to work from given only a white envelope with no return address," the brunet answered.

"At least come up with something," the bluenette answered.

The security footage revealed nothing suspicious during mail delivery, and Alice apologized to the police madam. "I'm sorry that we called you over. I received a package of cockroaches the other day but didn't report because there was nothing to work with. I received an envelope of exposed blades today, and Julie told Runo to call Dan. Both mail pieces don't have return addresses. This is worrying me."

"The lack of return addresses certainly makes things tougher." As Alice gripped her charm bracelet, Chan stared at the radio host's bandaged finger. "Alice, you might want to get checked at the hospital soon in case of bloodborne pathogens. We can give you a ride there."

After the side arguments ended, Runo returned upstairs while the trio approached Chan's car. Suddenly, a man in his twenties approached the redhead with a voice recorder in his hand. "Alice! Can I have your opinion about the circulating blacklist threats?"

"Excuse me?!"

"Dylan said he'll do anything to end your career because you exposed his scheme. Is that—"

"I'm sorry, I don't know where you obtained that information. Don't jump to conclusions if there's no solid proof. Just because you shove a voice recorder in my face doesn't verify your identity as a real reporter or just paparazzi. Please leave me alone." The stranger finally left, and Alice tucked loose strands of hair behind her ears. "Did I do the right thing? I never thought people would do weird things like this."

"I think you're building more confidence, Alice!" Dan complimented.

Chan nodded. "I don't know what that guy was talking about either, but I'd say you handled it well. Let's take you to—"

"Actually, I need to go back upstairs for something," Alice interrupted. "But I promise to get myself checked at the hospital. Drive safely!"

The other two nodded and left in Chan's car. Alice was about to return when her phone rang. "Shun, what is it?"

"Dan and Runo told me about what happened. I know you might feel nervous and agitated, but now might not be a good time to pinch your finger to relax."

The redhead stared at her hand and saw a dark spot on the gauze portion of the bandage. If only my paper knife wasn't broken when I needed to open my mail...how ironic.

"Sorry."

Alice snapped out of her trance. "Did I miss something? Why are you apologizing?"

"Your friends bled to death, so—"

"It's okay. I've accepted the fact that three of them are gone, and the fourth one is...just hanging in there."

After a long pause on Shun's end, he asked, "Since I have a couple days of break left, do you want to go somewhere...for one day? Doesn't have to be too far, if you—"

"Actually, something new just happened, and I want to resolve it first. Maybe next time...considering that you're still in school with more academic breaks in the future. Why so long?"

"Personal reasons—just like how you graduated early and left Wardington as soon as possible. Talk to you next time." Shun hung up and stared at his phone's call log screen. I promised myself to investigate for Mom's sake, so why am I putting extra time and effort into Alice?

The radio host stared at her phone's default screen in confusion, considering the call ended before she could say goodbye. If that stranger was telling the truth about the 'blacklist threat', then I know whom I need to talk to. Aside from than that...is finding the truth the best option overall?

-x-x-x-x-x-

"Shadow, are you done fixing the air conditioner yet?" complained Gunz as he watched the technician for the past half hour. "It's really cold. I thought you were done already."

"Technically, I'm done fixing the AC, but there's been news about some airborne pathogen, so I need to double check."

"But why is the air colder? You'd need to shut down the AC to inspect safely, which should make the air hotter."

"Gunz, can you stop complaining about my work and also stop calling us for repair requests?!" snapped Shadow as he waved the wrench in the air. Combined with the squeaky noises from the metal ladder, everyone else flinched after hearing the maintenance technician raise his voice for the first time.

Runo heard the last couple sentences after exiting the copy room. "Gunz, go back to work! You're very behind, so stop bothering Shadow. If you're so cold, then put on your jacket that's hanging on the back of your chair. Shadow came here on his lunch break."

Gunz grunted as Shadow descended the ladder and packed. "You didn't have to do that, Runo. It was between me and him."

"There would've been nothing between you two in the first place if Gunz wasn't distracted. Alice will be back soon, so I hope you and your ladder will be out of the way by then."

"Heh, I just finished and was about to leave..."

Suddenly, Rafe grabbed the TV remote and changed channels. "Everyone, you need to watch this live news report!"

On the large plasma screen, Dylan was seen walking on the sidewalk with numerous reporters and their microphones surrounding his face. "Is it true that you said those words on the audio clip that's been circling around?"

"How do you feel about Alice having your former show all to herself?"

"What do all the social media comments about this 'blacklist threat' mean to you?"

After more repetitive questions, Dylan held his hands out and explained, "I have no idea what you're talking about, but do you think that clip is real? Or just something that any sound studio—professional or not—can cut and paste together? I'll leave that job to you all around me to figure out! Meanwhile, I'm on my way to—"

"What's everyone doing?" Everyone jumped and turned to see Alice at the double-door entrance. "Why is Dylan still on the news? Please go back to work—except you two. We need to talk."

After receiving an angry stare from the radio host, Runo and Julie followed Alice to a dim corner in the office studio and asked in unison, "What now?"

"Do you have any idea what you two are doing?! Last time, I stopped Julie before she keyed Dylan's car in broad daylight. I don't know what else Runo did on her own behind my back, but the only way that the reporters and paparazzi would've known about the 'blacklist threat' is if someone leaked an audio recording of that day when Gunz first arrived and when Dylan shoved me. You're making things worse."

Runo wanted to speak, but Julie held her hand out immediately and explained. "Let me get this straight. We did not release any audio recording of what happened that day, but we did complain on social media about how Dylan still shoved you rudely despite leaving the station forever. I have no idea how that conversation in this building went public, but do you think we'd let him get away that easily after he shoved you?"

The bluenette pushed the Australian's hand away and spoke up. "We just wanted to rant and vent about it online to build more support for you. I don't know who released that conversation online, but more people are liking your page now. Even if Dylan's followers leave you nasty comments, all your fans swarm in to strike down those haters."

Skeptical of Runo's statistics, Alice opened the fanpage on her phone and checked the likes and comments. I didn't sign up for this. It wasn't supposed to be a war or fanwar between me and Dylan. Having the show to myself with my own name is more than enough. "Fine. You two are still responsible for moderating the fanpage so that it doesn't get out of control. By the way, I have overtime tonight, so don't stay longer than you need to."

"Of course!" Runo and Julie each hugged one of Alice's arms before return to their desks to pack.

After working some extra hours, Alice finally packed and turned off all the lights before locking the doors. Should I wait for Aunt Clara or take a taxi instead? However, there weren't many cars on the road. Not very often are these roads so empty. The sun hasn't even set yet. Alice continued looking around until she saw a familiar person walking from the other side of the sidewalk. "Wait, what's—"

"Didn't expect me to come back?" The redhead gasped as the Dylan came closer. "You have some nerve telling people about what I said upstairs last time when I packed my stuff. Do you know that it's illegal to record without permission?"

Runo and Julie keep denying any involvement in this, so who could've done it? "It doesn't have to be a recording. Everyone in the office heard you say that loud and clear. We're allowed to complain about that on social media. Plus, you were fired already at that moment, so what more do you have to lose?"

"You still think you're a victim in all this? I'll do whatever it takes to expose your fraudulent—"

Suddenly, a motorcycle driver pulled over, double-parked, brightened the headlights, and blasted the horn—all before screaming at Dylan. "Why the hell are you still harassing her or even here in the first place?! Alice, get over here!"

Thank goodness Shun arrived in time. Before the redhead stepped off the sidewalk, she turned around with a final warning for the ex-host. "I'd watch my back if I were you."

After screaming more profanities before Shun finally left this stretch of road, Dylan left the area and walked back to his car. He stopped in front of a store and looked between the path ahead and a dark alley. Maybe I can cut through here. He activated the flashlight on his phone and entered the alley. "How come I never knew about—hey! Who hit—"

Little did he know that taking the shortcut would be a bloody mistake.

-x-x-x-x-x-

"Feeling better about last night?"

Alice continued staring into her iced caramel macchiato before she looked up and answered Shun's question. "Cockroaches, knife blades, Dylan...why is this happening to me? Is it even safe to leave my house anymore?"

"You still agreed to come out for coffee with me this morning."

"Well...I trust you, Shun."

That rendered a pause in the middle of sipping his green tea latte...and a subtle smirk on his face. But there's still something about her personality in the past versus present that I can't grasp.

"I don't know what would happen to me or what else I would do to myself if I were alone." Alice took one large sip of her macchiato from her straw. "I did end up going with you somewhere before your break ended."

"I was actually thinking of somewhere more distant with less people, but after what happened yesterday and with those two pieces of mail, I think you need a lot of time to get yourself together and—you finished your drink already?!"

Alice lifted the plastic lid and drank the last few drops by mouth. "Iced macchiatos are plain and cold...just like me when—"

"That's not how I think of you." Actually...I'm still not sure what exactly I think of you.

The redhead set the plastic cup down, and their eyes locked together for a moment before she cleaned up her trash. "I sure hope so." Alice got off her seat and walked to the trash can as Shun kept his eyes on her. "Thanks for the coffee. I have work in twenty minutes."

It's happening...again. There's like another inexplicable side of her that shows up unexpectedly...just like when she threatened revenge on Klaus if he continued bothering her. And last night when she told Dylan to watch his back. The raven-haired student cleaned up his trash as well and led the way back to his car. "Having some patience would be nice."

"I think I can wait another three years."

He stopped walking and gripped his car keys tightly. She's probably having another bad day, especially since blood was involved again. "I promise that I'll have answers for you much earlier than that."

"That would be nice."

The car ride was mostly silent. Even when unbuckling her seat belt to get off, Alice didn't say anything until Shun asked, "Do you want me to go upstairs with you...just in case something happens?"

"I don't think Dylan will come after me inside the building, but...you could check out how fast the elevator is now. Or maybe say hi to Runo and Julie?"

"No problem with that. Give me a moment." After parking and locking his car, Shun followed the radio host before they both boarded the elevator. "Why are you so eager for me to get on the elevator? We could've taken the stairs. Traffic wasn't bad today at all."

"Aside from having the elevator to ourselves..." Following that clause was another pause in which their eyes locked together again before Alice started giggling. "Sorry! It's just that ever since Shadow fixed the elevator, going upstairs to the thirteenth floor has been more...enjoyable."

"Don't you think anyone would enjoy not needing to walk ten-plus floors to their workplace? And who's Shadow?"

"He's the new maintenance guy that actually completes all repair requests in less than a week. He even came during his lunch break to check our air conditioning because of some recent airborne outbreak. Anyway, the elevator was very slow on my first day of work, but now I feel a lot better."

"He seems like a nice person..."

After they exited the elevator, Alice continued talking. "My only issue is that the main AC vent is mostly above my desk, so Shadow's work setup makes it harder for us to walk around. Otherwise—" She opened the door and saw additional people in the office studio. "Anubias? Chan? Dan? Why's everyone here?"

"Thank goodness you're here!" Anubias dragged the radio host over by her wrist, much to everyone's surprise. "The police said that Dylan was assaulted in an alley last night, so they came up here to ask around. I already told these three officers what I knew."

I'm not new to this workplace, but I've never seen Anubias so frantic or pale before. "I don't know anything about Dylan being assaulted, but he did harass me at the sidewalk yesterday after I got off from overtime around seven in the evening. The sun was still up. Dylan was blaming me for continuing to ruin him and the 'blacklist threat' thing that the reporter guy asked me about...remember?"

"I happened to see them arguing before I pulled my car over, told Dylan to back off, and drove Alice home afterwards," Shun corroborated. "Then I went back to Dan's house and stayed the entire night to help him and his mom with tasks."

"Shun's right about helping us out last night," Dan added.

"Good to know," Chan commented. "And yes, I still remember the man that approached you with that voice recorder and unwanted questions. Alice, where were you last night around ten?"

"At home, with Aunt Clara. You can ask her. Did Dylan say anything?"

Dan flipped through his notes and explained. "By the time we arrived after that distress call, Dylan was barely conscious. The hospital successfully stabilized him, but we couldn't get a verbal statement because his—"

"Wow, another full house?" Julie suddenly barged in with a box in her hands. "Ugh, what am I saying? Alice, you have another package with no return address—again!"

The office staff freaked out as Shun grabbed the package himself and set it on someone's desk. "Let me open this. Everyone, step back." The others obeyed as the raven-haired student cut along the tape with his keys. He lifted the lid slowly before letting it fall back freely. "There are bloody teeth on a glass plate."

The brunet was the first to come over. "Chan, didn't we postpone obtaining Dylan's statement because some of his teeth were missing? Look at this!"

"Never mind the teeth." The police madam shoved her trainee aside and read the post office time stamps. "This package was processed this morning, but Dylan entered the hospital last night. No way that he could or would have sent his own teeth—or the other items, for that matter."

"And I was also with Alice for coffee during past hour or so," Shun corroborated again. Even though you probably didn't do it, I still can't believe your warning to Dylan came true.

Alice stared at the package from a distance and thought to herself. This can't be a coincidence. Someone's messing with us...or specifically me?