Drowner: Becoming Defekt

Kai

Her name's Luna Sanchez—I won't be forgetting that anytime soon. She's got a driver's license, and boy, can she drive. Behind the wheel of that old van, she's tearing down the road like a pro-level racer.

She told me she's taking me to their base—wherever that is. Whether it's the adrenaline or just plain curiosity, I find myself a little excited to meet everyone.

"You know, you might want to apologize to Caden," she says, her tone casual but pointed.

I blink, confused. "Caden?"

"Yeah, the guy with the little beard and blonde hair," she clarifies, her eyes fixed on the road. "You're the one who busted his lip and broke one of his ribs. He's not exactly thrilled about it."

At first, she seemed so reserved, but now she's talking nonstop.

"And you might get a hard time from Vlad, too," she adds with a smirk.

"Who's Vlad?" I ask, already regretting the question.

"The ginger giant," she replies like it's obvious. "You remember him—big, loud, hard to miss? Yeah, he's probably still pissed."

Great. This is shaping up to be a fantastic first impression.

"We're here. Get down," Luna says excitedly, grinning like a kid.

I step out of the van and see we've parked in front of a bar. Before I can ask any questions, she's already holding the door open for me.

"Come, come," she urges, waving me inside.

I follow her, and the smell of cigarettes hits me like a wall. The air is heavy, the lights dim, and the place has that lived-in, gritty charm only bars like this manage.

Behind the counter stands a woman who can't be much older than thirty. Her short black hair frames her soft features, and a small beauty mark near her lip catches the dim light. She's wearing a sleek, vintage-style dress that makes her look effortlessly elegant—a sharp contrast to the surroundings.

"She's Rebecca," Luna says calmly. "Caden's wife and our medic."

Wait—Caden's wife?

"And he's Kai," Luna continues, gesturing toward me. "The guy we went after this morning."

Rebecca's dark eyes meet mine, and she offers a polite smile.

"It's nice to meet you!" I blurt, raising my hand for a handshake.

"A pleasure," she replies, shaking my hand with a firm but warm grip. Then, with a sly smile, she adds, "I guess I have you to thank for my husband's injuries?"

Crap. My stomach knots, and I start stumbling over my words.

"Ahh, I'm so sorry! It wasn't me—I mean, it was me, but I don't remember! So, technically, it doesn't count like it was me, even though it was my body, but—"

Rebecca cuts me off with a laugh.

"Relax," she says, waving a hand dismissively. "No worries. It's Caden's fault anyway. He's such a nerd when it comes to Defekts. Especially ones like you."

Her laugh is disarming, and I feel some of the tension in my shoulders ease. Maybe this won't be as bad as I thought.

"She's just joking. Get used to it; she does it all the time," Luna says, casually resting her elbow on my shoulder.

"Lunita," Rebecca says with a playful smirk, her gaze flicking between me and Luna. "Since when are you so talkative? Normally, you're the quiet one—not this chatty or comfortable with anyone." Her eyes drop to where Luna's elbow is still perched on my shoulder. "Don't tell me… is it finally time for you to get your first boyf—"

"One more word, and I'll—" Luna starts, her glare sharp enough to cut steel.

Rebecca silences her with a finger to her lips, clearly amused. "You're right," she teases with a chuckle. "He doesn't need to know yet."

Luna scoffs, turning sharply on her heel. "Come on," she says, signaling for me to follow her.

"It was a pleasure meeting you," I say quickly to Rebecca before jogging to catch up with Luna, who's already halfway across the bar.

She leads me to what looks like a manager's office—or at least it used to be. The room is sparsely furnished, with just a desk, a computer, and a bookshelf.

Without saying a word, Luna steps up to the bookshelf and pushes it slightly to the left. It slides smoothly, revealing a hidden doorway. She pulls the bookshelf open like a door, and behind it is something I definitely wasn't expecting: an elevator.

I blink, staring at the sleek metal doors in disbelief. "Is this real life?" I mutter under my breath.

Luna smirks slightly, finally breaking her silence. "Come on. Everyone's waiting downstairs."

Without hesitation, she steps inside, and I follow. The air inside the elevator is surprisingly cold.

Whatever's waiting below, it's clear this isn't just any ordinary group.