"Have you ever thought," Alia said softly, "that maybe the Shadow isn't someone from the outside… maybe it's a part of you?"
Victor was silent for a moment. His breathing grew heavy.
In his mind, an old memory flashed like lightning—darkness, smoke, blood… and a terrifying, unfamiliar voice that sounded eerily like his own.
His voice turned low, as if he were searching for some truth within himself.
"You're saying… the Shadow is a part of me?"
Alia gave a faint smile, her eyes glinting.
"Maybe you already know that, Victor. You're just refusing to admit it."
Victor's heartbeat quickened.
"If I really am the Shadow… then would you run away from me, Alia?"
Alia held his gaze in silence.
Victor's eyes darkened deeply. Slowly, he raised his gun and pointed it straight at her forehead.
"Do you realize who you're speaking to, Alia?" His voice was cold as a dying breath, chilling.
But Alia didn't flinch. Instead, she slowly reached out and lowered the barrel of the gun.
"Are you going to give up that easily, Victor?"
Victor was silent for a moment, as though battling something inside.
"I don't trust anyone, Alia," he murmured. "I've seen betrayal up close."
Alia gave a mysterious little smile. "I won't betray you. But will you tell me the truth, Victor?"
Victor didn't answer. He simply lowered the gun, though his finger still rested on the trigger.
Alia took another step forward and whispered—
"If you are the Shadow… then am I your light?"
Victor stared deeply at her, an odd smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
"Light can never embrace the Shadow, Alia."
Alia paused, looking at him intently, then said—
"Then prove you're not the Shadow."
Victor's eyes flickered with momentary turmoil, but it vanished as quickly as it had come. He slowly lowered the gun fully, but his expression remained cold.
"If I'm truly not the Shadow… then I have nothing to prove, Alia," he said flatly.
Alia tilted her head and smiled faintly. "Or maybe you know you are the Shadow—and you're just trying to run from it."
Victor's brow furrowed. "You know too much, Alia."
Alia stepped even closer. "Maybe. But now I only want to know—what are you hiding?"
Just then, a tremendous noise exploded outside!
BRRRRROOOOM!
A powerful blast shattered the window glass into countless shards. Smoke and debris swirled through the room.
Victor immediately pulled Alia into his arms, shielding her.
"They're here!"
Alia gasped, "They—who?"
Victor gripped his gun, his eyes blazing.
"The Russian Mafia."
Victor stood in front of Alia protectively, his eyes sharp and alert.
"Russian Mafia?" Alia whispered in shock. "But why?"
Victor clenched his jaw. "Because they're after me—and now you're with me."
Alia quickly looked around—smoke hung thick in the air, broken glass crunched underfoot, and heavy bootsteps approached outside, accompanied by harsh commands shouted in Russian.
"Then what do we do now?"
Victor seized her hand in a fierce grip.
"Stay with me—and don't leave my sight for a second!"
He pulled her toward the rear stairs, racing up to the roof—where perhaps their only chance at escape waited.
Victor ran, gripping her hand tightly, his eyes sweeping the shadows. Behind them, the boots came closer, voices barked in Russian—
"Он там! Не дайте ему уйти!"
("He's there! Don't let him escape!")
Alia glanced over her shoulder for a split second. Men in black tactical gear were advancing on them, faces like carved ice.
Victor growled, "I told you—we can't stop for even a moment!"
Ahead, Alia saw the door to the rooftop—Victor kicked it open in one blow. Cold night air blasted inside.
Outside, the city glimmered under the stars, rooftops stretching into the darkness.
"What do we do now?" Alia panted.
Victor glanced sideways, spotting a neighboring building only a few feet away.
A wry, reckless smile spread across his face. "Want to jump?"
Alia's eyes went wide. "You're insane! That's too far!"
Victor locked eyes with her for a heartbeat, then abruptly scooped her up into his arms.
"Trust me, little bird!"
Before she could protest, he leapt off the edge.
Alia screamed as the air howled past them, her heart lurching in her chest—
Victor stared fixedly at the mysterious figure. The depth of the man's black eyes was unearthly, like an endless abyss.
Alia held her breath. She remembered that bewildering moment in the morning—those same eyes, that same presence.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
The figure smiled faintly. "You already know, little bird."
Victor's temper flared. "Are you playing games with me?" he roared. "WHO ARE YOU?"
The shadowed man stepped closer. His face was exactly like Victor's—only the darkness in his eyes set them apart.
"Me?" he said softly. "I am you, Victor."
Victor's pupils narrowed. Memories churned through his mind—gunfire, blood, smoke, and someone's grim laughter.
"Impossible…" Victor whispered. "I know who you are, but you died."
Alia stared at them both, stunned. "You… you know him?"
The figure gave a slow smile. "My name is Nikolai," he said. "Your elder brother."
Alia's face went pale. "Victor's brother? But…"
Victor's hand clenched tight. "You're lying. You are not Nikolai."
Nikolai took a step forward. "Are you so sure?"
Victor's voice dropped. "You died. I dug your grave myself."
Nikolai laughed, but there was a cold madness in it.
"Does a shadow ever truly die?"
At that, he lunged toward Victor with inhuman speed!
CRACK!
Victor blocked the blow, but it felt like he was fighting his own shadow. Nikolai's strength was unnatural, more than human.
Alia looked around in panic—should she run or try to help?
Then Nikolai suddenly stopped and turned his gaze to her.
"Do you know, Alia, why you are so important?"
A chill ran down her spine. "What… what do you mean?"
Nikolai's smile deepened. "Because you are the key to this entire game."
Victor clenched his teeth. "What are you after?"
Nikolai spoke calmly. "My goal is simple—Victor, you became everything I never could be. And now, that shadow has entered you."
Victor's breath caught. Was he really fighting his own darkness?
Alia took a hesitant step back.
"Is this shadow our enemy… or…"
Victor closed his eyes, then whispered—
"Alia, RUN."
Nikolai's voice was soft, taunting. "And you, Victor? Don't you want to know the truth?"
Victor raised his gun.
"I already know the truth. And I will never believe you."
BANG!
The gunshot ripped through the night, and the shadow's game advanced one more step.
(The Shadow's Trap)
BANG!
The gunshot shook the air—but—
Nikolai vanished in the blink of an eye.
Victor spun, bewildered. "This… can't be."
Alia gasped. "Where did he go?"
Behind them, a cold voice whispered—
"Victor, you still don't understand?"
Victor whirled around like lightning. Nikolai stood behind him, as if he had never moved.
"You—!"
Nikolai smiled. "A shadow never dies from a bullet, brother."
In the next instant, he surged forward and seized Victor by the collar—
THUD!
Victor staggered back, crashing into the wall.
Alia cried out, "Victor!"
Nikolai's voice was low and almost intimate.
"You think I am your enemy? Am I really your enemy… or…"
He leaned in close and whispered—
"Am I simply a part of you?"
Victor's eyes flickered with confusion.
"A… part of me?"
Nikolai's gaze burned with the abyssal darkness.
"Have you never felt it—an emptiness inside you, trying to take control?"
Victor tried to speak but fell silent.
This darkness… this feeling… was it really something new?
Alia stepped forward, her voice resolute. "Victor, don't believe him!"
Nikolai's eyes flickered with amusement as he looked at her.
"Alia, you don't know. You have no idea how important you really are."
Alia's eyes narrowed. "Me? Why me?"
Nikolai gave a slow, mysterious smile.
"Because you are the final driving force of this game."
Victor's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Nikolai's voice lowered.
"When you finally learn the truth, you will understand… To save Alia, you must face your own shadow."
Then, in a blink, he vanished like smoke.
Victor stared around, stunned. "He's… gone?"
Alia whispered, "No, Victor… he's watching us."
Victor drew a deep breath.
It was clear now—this battle wasn't only against the mafia.
It was a battle against his own shadow.
But what was the truth?
Was Alia truly some mysterious key?
And Nikolai—was he an enemy, or Victor's twisted reflection?
Victor closed his eyes.
This game of shadows was far from over.
It was only beginning.