From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 284: Rosa Kidnapped

Jade mulled over her thoughts, a frown creasing her brow. "Yeah, I know that's what happened because I got depressed," she thought to herself before voicing out loud, "Rosa, you sure?"

Rosa nodded confidently, "Yeah, maybe she was messing with you. But I'd say wait to see her again or check with the director next time you see him because that doesn't sound like something they'd do. Where do they even live?"

Sipping her Margarita, Jade replied, "They both move around often, but they mentioned they wanted to retire in Japan in a few years, the last time we talked about their future."

"Aww, that sounds fun. Have you ever—" Rosa was cut off as a finger tapped on her shoulder. They both turned to see a man with an open white shirt revealing a toned abdomen. "Hello ladies," he greeted with a confident grin, "I couldn't help but notice you sitting here all by yourselves. Do you mind if I offer you a dance?"

Jade shook her head at the man's offer, "No thanks, I'm just here for a drink," she said firmly. Meanwhile, Rosa, with an enthusiastic sparkle in her eyes, accepted, "Sure, I don't mind a dance."

Bounding from her chair, Rosa stumbled slightly, but quickly regained her balance, throwing her hands in the air with a loud cheer, "Yay, I didn't fall over!" A hiccup punctuated her triumph.

Jade couldn't suppress a light laugh as she observed Rosa, slightly unsteady, make her way onto the LED-lit dance floor, which pulsed and changed colors under the feet of the dancers.

Rosa and the man began to dance, their movements drawing a crowd's attention. Jade's amusement was replaced with concern when she noticed the heat radiating from Rosa's feet, the LED lights flickering erratically in response. "She's not going to set something on fire, is she?" Jade wondered to herself, taking another sip of her Margarita.

Rosa's feet began to move with an intoxicating speed, her movements becoming a blur as sparks of fire flared from her feet, transforming her solo act into a spectacle of light and heat. The man's smirk vanished, replaced by an expression of surprise, as he stepped back from the heat emanating from Rosa's fiery dance.

Rosa taunted, "What, a little bit of heat making you back off, muscle boy?"

Her thoughts wandered, getting lost in the maze of her own musings, until the music halted abruptly, snapping her back to reality. Jade's hand instinctively found the crystal in her pocket, its center adorned with a single pink ray, sparking curiosity about the unexpected appearance of that crow.

However, her train of thought shattered as swiftly as the silence, disturbed by a pecking sound at the nearby window.

The crow, with its red-eyed glare, pecked persistently at the glass. Startled, Jade instinctively jerked her arms off the table, knocking over her glass in the process, which crashed to the floor and shattered.

The bartender hurried over, concern etched on his face, "Is everything okay?"

"Y-yeah, sorry, I got startled," Jade stammered, her heart still racing. "Let me pay real quick, and then I'll help clean this up." She double-clicked the side of her watch, bringing up a payment icon. "You guys take digital cash, right?" Jade asked, hoping to settle the matter swiftly.

The bartender quickly paired a device with Jade's watch, which gleamed green to signify the transaction's acceptance. "Sorry," Jade murmured, her apology almost lost in her rush to exit.

Outside, she hurried to the spot beside the window where the crow had been, but it had vanished. Below, an open corridor alleyway revealed a man passed out against the wall.

"Shit, what's going on?" Jade muttered, her concern growing as she approached the man. He was slumped over, a slow trickle of blood staining the side of his face.

Kneeling beside him, she gently placed her hand on his palm. "Hey, are you okay? Can you hear me?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

The man stirred under her touch, his head shaking awake slightly. "A bunch of men in black suits... they surprised us while we were making out in the alley," he mumbled, trying to piece together his thoughts amidst the confusion and pain.