Episode 67 — When Hope Breaks Chains
The cold metal of the blade weighed heavy in Raian's palm. Rusted tracks stretched into emptiness behind Malik, shadows swallowing broken freight cars and whispered regrets.
"Saira," Malik murmured, voice soft as grave soil. "Speak her name, Raian — or speak her death."
Raian's jaw clenched. The old voice in him whispered: Survive. Trade betrayal for love. It's always been the way.
But Aria's voice echoed louder: "What terrifies me more is you thinking you're nothing but that."
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Raian's grip tightened around the blade until blood welled at his palm. "And what happens after?" he rasped. "After I trade her life for Aria's?"
Malik's smile curved, sharp as broken glass. "Then you become what you were born to be: mine."
The truth, spoken so easily, tasted of rust and bile.
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Beyond Malik's ring of guards, the wind stirred old leaves, carrying the distant hiss of the river. The sky above remained sullen, heavy with rain not yet fallen.
Raian dropped his gaze, chest tightening with guilt that bit deeper than any blade. "And if I refuse?" he whispered.
Malik's reply was a tilt of the head; the man beside him lifted a phone, thumb hovering over a single call that could end Aria's life.
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The choice cut him in half.
Betray Saira, the sister he had chosen on blood and battlefield — or lose Aria, the woman who had chosen him despite every scar, every sin.
Raian raised his gaze to Malik, voice raw as torn flesh. "Where is she now?"
"In the mill," Malik answered, voice soft, almost pitying. "Hiding behind crumbling walls and old loyalties. You only need to say it. One breath. One betrayal."
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Raian swallowed, ribs aching with every beat of his heart.
His mouth opened—
And the sound of footsteps, stumbling but determined, shattered the moment.
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Aria.
Hair damp with sweat and rain, bruises dark against too-pale skin, breath ragged but alive.
She staggered across cracked concrete, eyes locked on Raian. "Don't," she rasped, voice shaking but fierce. "Raian, don't."
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Malik turned, surprise flickering behind his cold amusement. "Ah," he murmured. "The good doctor walks into the wolf's den."
Aria ignored him, stumbling closer, each step tearing pain across her ribs. "You can't trade your soul for me," she choked. "Don't you dare."
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Raian's breath caught, the blade trembling in his hand. "Aria," he whispered, the word breaking around guilt and love.
"Look at me," she gasped, chest heaving. "I won't let you become what he wants."
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Malik watched, expression slipping from amusement to faint disappointment. "Touching," he drawled. "But love, my dear, won't stop bullets."
His hand flicked, and two of his men stepped forward, guns rising — dark metal glinting in morning light.
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Aria froze, breath ragged. But even as fear coiled around her ribs, she stepped between Raian and the guns. "Then shoot me," she whispered, voice breaking. "Because if he does this, the man I love dies anyway."
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Raian's heart stuttered — pain, hope, horror tangling until it felt he might shatter under their weight.
"Aria, don't," he rasped. "Please. I can't watch—"
"Then don't kneel," she sobbed. "Stand. Even if it kills us both."
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The yard went silent. Even the wind seemed to pause.
Malik's eyes narrowed, cold calculation sliding back into place. "How poetic," he murmured. "But futile."
He nodded once. The guards raised their guns.
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Raian moved before thought could catch him.
Blade falling from his grip, he shoved Aria behind him, body twisting in a blur of pain and rage. His pistol cleared its holster, breath torn from cracked ribs as he fired.
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A shot rang out — sharp, hungry, final.
One guard dropped, blood blooming across his chest. The other staggered back, bullet grazing his shoulder.
Malik's eyes flashed cold fury. "So be it," he hissed. "Kill them both."
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The yard erupted.
Gunfire split the dawn, bullets sparking off rusted steel. Raian dragged Aria behind a half-toppled carriage, pain screaming with every breath.
"You shouldn't have come," he rasped, voice raw with terror and relief.
"I won't watch you sell your soul," she gasped, tears streaking dirt across her face. "Not for me."
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Behind them, Malik's men advanced, boots crunching broken glass. "Nowhere to run, Raian!" Malik's voice rang over the chaos. "This ends as it always must."
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Aria's hand found Raian's, gripping tight despite trembling fingers. "Then let it end with you still you," she whispered. "Not his weapon."
His breath caught — and in that moment, a memory: her hands stitching his wound, her voice shaking, "You stopped. You came back."
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Gunfire drew closer. Raian checked his pistol — three bullets left. Too few.
"Stay behind me," he rasped.
"No," she whispered, voice trembling. "Together."
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The last of Malik's guards rounded the carriage. Raian rose, firing once — the man dropped.
Two bullets.
Malik himself stepped forward, calm as death, hand resting on the pistol at his belt.
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"Still clinging to hope, Raian?" Malik murmured, voice quiet as falling ash. "How many must you bury before you learn?"
Raian's pulse thundered, ribs aflame, but his hand stayed steady.
"One more step," he rasped, voice raw, "and you'll join them."
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Aria's breath shook. "Raian—"
"I'm not his anymore," Raian whispered, words cracking around pain and love. "Not while you still see me."
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Malik's gaze hardened. "Then die together."
His hand swept toward his men — but before they could move, another figure stepped from the shadows.
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Saira.
Gun raised, face set in rage and sorrow. "You forgot me, old man," she snarled. "Your mistake."
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The shot rang out.
Malik's shoulder jerked, crimson blooming across fine cloth.
He staggered, shock cracking his mask of cold certainty.
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Raian lunged, the last two bullets cracking through morning air. Malik's men fell, steel clattering against concrete.
Breathless silence crashed down, heavy and shivering.
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Malik fell to one knee, hand pressed to blood-soaked fabric, eyes wide with disbelief. "Raian," he rasped, voice ragged, "you—"
Raian stepped closer, gun still raised. "You taught me to kneel," he whispered, voice shaking. "She taught me to stand."
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Aria, tears streaming, reached for him. "It's over," she breathed.
Raian's eyes stayed locked on Malik — but his free hand found hers, trembling and warm.
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Teaser for Episode 68:
The dust settles — but Malik's last move could shatter everything Raian and Aria fought to save.