Is it her imagination—or is something really there?
Alia kept her hand on the knife at her waist, then slowly opened the bathroom door and stepped outside.
But just then—
Bang!
The light went out.
The whole room was swallowed in darkness.
Someone was there.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Alia's lips.
"So, trying to scare me that easily? Alright… Come on then, let's see who wins."
A silent shadow shifted in the dark.
Alia immediately braced herself, drew the knife from her waist, and stepped back.
Her eyes slowly began to adjust to the darkness.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
But the air had changed.
She could feel it—clearly.
Then suddenly—
Whoosh!
Something rushed right past her!
Alia ducked just in time, and something hit the wall behind her with a loud thud!
Without wasting a second, she grabbed a lamp from the nearby table and hurled it into the darkness.
Crash!
The lamp shattered—and in that split-second flash of light, she saw—
A man wearing a black mask!
One hand holding a rope, the other a knife!
"If you've come to capture me, you've made a mistake," Alia said in a cold tone.
The man didn't reply. He charged at her!
But Alia had been waiting for that.
In a flash, she dodged aside, grabbed his arm, and twisted it with a sharp jerk!
Crack!
The man cried out in pain, but he wasn't one to give up easily.
He tried to grab Alia and throw her to the ground—but she struck his knee with her foot just in time!
He lost balance and fell to the side.
But just then—
Bang!
A bullet shot through the air!
Alia rolled to the floor, narrowly dodging it.
Someone was standing outside the room!
This was a trap!
Then…
The door slowly creaked open.
A pair of ice-cold eyes entered the room.
"You walked right into the trap, Princess."
"Who are you?" Alia said in a low voice, narrowing her eyes at the figure in front of her.
The man stepped inside slowly.
Black shirt. Black trench coat. His face hidden in shadow.
Only his eyes were visible—cold as ice, sharp like a hunter.
"Your biggest mistake was coming to Russia, Princess."
Alia still had her hand tightly gripping the pistol at her waist.
"You know I'm CIA. You can't trap me so easily," she said in a grave voice.
The man smiled faintly.
"I know. But… do you know who I am?"
Alia went on full alert.
She tried to recall—had she heard this voice before?
The man stepped closer.
"I am the shadow tied to your past. The name you tried to forget."
Then, after a beat of silence, he said—
"I'm Nikolai's brother."
Alia's eyes flared.
"Victor? No… You're not Victor!" Her voice turned sharp.
The man smirked, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
"Have you forgotten me, Princess?"
Alia slowly stepped back, her hand instinctively moving toward her pistol.
Her mind raced back to a terrifying memory—
Korea, 2018.
She was on a secret mission for the CIA.
She had a partner then—his name was Vicky.
Smart. Confident. But a traitor.
At the last moment, he sabotaged the mission and abandoned Alia.
Alia had sworn—if she ever saw him again, she would end him.
And now…
"You! You're the traitor!" Alia hissed.
Vicky smiled faintly. "You still recognize people quickly, Princess."
"Don't call me Princess!"
Vicky stepped forward.
"You know, your bloodline carries the Phoenix symbol. But mine?"
He laughed.
"We are the players of shadow, Alia. And from today, you're nothing but prey."
Alia was fully alert now.
This game was going to be tough.
Her patience snapped.
Smack!
A sharp slap landed across Vicky's face!
He stood stunned for a few seconds, then slowly turned to look at Alia.
For a moment, there was shock in his eyes—then it turned into rage.
"What did you just do, Princess?" His voice deepened.
Alia fumed, her eyes blazing.
"Why, Vicky? Why did you betray me?!"
Vicky tried to step closer, but Alia raised her hand to stop him.
"I loved you with all my heart," her voice trembled, "But you… you destroyed everything!"
Vicky's face hardened.
"You don't know why I did it."
Alia glared. "Don't know? You left me to die, and now you're saying I don't understand?!"
Vicky was silent for a moment, then said quietly,
"If I hadn't left, I would've been forced to kill you myself."
Alia froze. "What… what are you saying?"
A shade of sorrow crossed Vicky's eyes.
"CIA wanted me to eliminate you."
Alia went still. Her fists clenched.
"You're… lying."
Vicky slowly shook his head. "I never lie, Princess. I knew if I stayed with you, your death would be in my hands. That's why I left."
A storm of emotions surged inside Alia.
What should she do?
Believe him?
Or…
"Whatever you say, I can't forgive you." Her voice turned icy.
A faint smile flickered on Vicky's lips.
"I never asked for forgiveness, Princess. I only told you the truth."
Alia took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her.
"Then listen, Vicky," she said slowly. "If you really came back for me, prove it. Prove you truly wanted to save me."
Vicky stared at her.
Then slowly said—
"I'm willing to die for you, Princess."
The smile on his face faded.
His eyes turned dark.
"…What did you just say?"
Alia stepped forward, a fire in her eyes.
"Yes, Vicky. I'm now Victor's wife."
Vicky's hand clenched into a fist. His jaw tightened.
"You… married my brother?" His voice trembled in disbelief.
Alia took a deep breath. "Yes. Because he never left me. Never betrayed me."
Vicky's breathing grew heavy.
"You did this to take revenge on me, didn't you?"
Alia stared sharply. "I don't take foolish steps out of revenge, Vicky. I only wanted to be free—from heartbreak and hatred."
Vicky let out a bitter laugh.
"So now you hate me?"
Alia replied coldly, "To me, you're already dead."
Fire burned in Vicky's eyes!
Then suddenly—
Bang!
He punched the wall—so hard that the whole room shook.
"Do you really love Victor—or is this just a game?"
Alia didn't flinch. Instead, a mysterious smile played on her lips.
"Love or game? That's for you to decide, Vicky."
Vicky laughed lightly, but his eyes were burning.
"Alright, Princess. Then let's see who wins."
Alia stepped back.
"In this game, you don't stand a chance, Vicky. Because I am Victor's wife— and you're just a forgotten stranger."
Vicky's eyes turned cold as ice.
"Fine then. Let the war begin."As Alia's slap landed once again across Vicky's face, a heavy silence filled the room.
Vicky slowly touched his cheek, then let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"You're still fire, Princess. But this time, that fire is going to burn you to ashes," he said in a soft yet threatening tone.
Alia narrowed her eyes, her finger slowly moving toward the trigger of the pistol at her waist.
"Vicky, you have no idea who you're playing with," she said in a quiet, firm voice.
Vicky stepped forward again.
"Oh, I know exactly who you are. You killed my brother Nikolai. You thought the game was over?"
Alia's breathing grew heavy.
"Nikolai was a traitor," she said in a grave tone. "What I did… was my duty."
Vicky's eyes gleamed.
"Then it's my turn to fulfill my duty now, Princess!"
Suddenly, he drew a knife from his belt!
Alia reacted instantly—lightning-fast!
With perfect timing, she grabbed Vicky's wrist and twisted it sharply, knocking the knife from his hand.
Vicky tried to spin around and land a kick, but Alia ducked swiftly and struck his knee hard!
"Ugh!" Vicky groaned in pain but didn't give up.
He grabbed Alia's arm and slammed her against the wall!
Thud!
Alia hit the wall hard, but there was no fear in her eyes.
Vicky grabbed her throat, a cold smile tugging at his lips.
"You may have killed my brother, but I'm not Nikolai, Princess," he whispered. "You're my prey."
Alia smirked—a sharp, confident smirk.
"You're making a mistake, Vicky. I'm never the prey."
Then, with one swift motion, she brought her knee up into Vicky's stomach!
He staggered in pain, and in that moment, Alia twisted his arm and slammed him to the ground!
"Game over, Vicky!"
Then—
Click!
Alia drew her gun and pulled the trigger—
But just then, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the door.
Vicky gave a weak smile. "I bet this game isn't over yet, Princess."
BAM!
The door burst open—
And Alia realized she'd walked into a trap.
Thud!
Several masked, armed men stormed into the room, rifles in hand, cruel grins on their faces.
Vicky tried to get up from the floor, but Alia quickly pinned him down again.
"What now, Princess?" Vicky said with effort, a sneer on his face.
Alia's eyes flickered. She quickly scanned the room—six armed enemies in front, the wall behind. Escape was difficult—but not impossible.
The attackers raised their rifles to aim, and at that moment—
Bang! Bang!
Two of the masked men dropped to the floor, shot dead!
Everyone froze in shock!
From the doorway, a man stepped forward—
Victor Alexeyevich Petrov!
His icy blue eyes radiated lethal calm, silenced pistol in hand.
"Enough of your games, Vicky," Victor said in a deep, cold voice. "It's time to end this."
Vicky's face went pale. "Brat... Brother…"
Victor stepped forward calmly, the remaining gunmen retreating in fear.
Alia quickly rolled aside and drew her own pistol.
"Are we fighting together, or do you want to take them all yourself?" she asked, a faint smile on her lips.
Victor glanced at her, then softly replied—
"As long as you're by my side, Alia, any battle can be won."
And in that moment—
They attacked together!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The room exploded with gunfire.
Alia flipped over a nearby table for cover. With deadly precision, she took down enemy after enemy. On the other side, Victor advanced like a hunting wolf, his silenced pistol delivering fatal shots.
Vicky lay on the floor coughing, eyes wide with terror. His team was being wiped out—and he was helpless.
Victor approached his brother with slow, deliberate steps.
"I told you, Vicky… you joined the wrong game," Victor's voice was as cold as ice.
Vicky's trembling hand reached out as if to speak, but then—
"Brother, behind you!" Alia's warning cry!
A masked gunman emerged from hiding, aiming at Victor.
But before he could shoot—
Bang!
Alia fired, dropping the man instantly. Blood sprayed across the floor.
Victor paused for a moment, then looked at Alia.
She smiled slowly. "Not even a thank you?"
A small smile formed on Victor's lips. "If you keep saving me, Princess, I might just owe you everything."
"That's the problem, Victor. Everything you offer is always dangerous," Alia sighed.
Meanwhile, Vicky was still trembling on the ground.
Victor stepped closer and looked down at him.
"Last chance, Vicky," he whispered. "Tell me—who sent you?"
Vicky's mouth fell open. "I... I don't know…"
Victor's eyes narrowed. He slowly raised his gun.
"Wrong answer."
Terror shadowed Vicky's face. He knew when Victor made a decision—there was no turning back.