had never believed in destiny.
He believed in shortcuts. In second chances. In slipping between cracks so small most people didn't know they existed.
But that night, he took the wrong alley.
It was supposed to be a simple trip back home after dropping off some stolen parts—nothing unusual. The sky was its usual bruised black, and the lamplight sputtered like it was dying of old age.
That's when he saw the old man.
Crumbled against the wall, bleeding into a puddle of oil and rain. His body looked wrong—almost like he wasn't entirelythere.
Speen crouched beside him, voice low. "Hey, hey. Hold on, I'll get you help."
The old man's hand shot out. Gripped Speen's wrist like iron.
"No," he rasped. "I'm holding on. Now you're gonna help."
Speen opened his mouth to protest—but the old man was already dissolving.
Literally.
His skin turned to smoke, his eyes to shadow, his teeth to vapor. And all of it dived into Speen's chest like a drowning man clutching the last breath of air.
Speen gasped, staggering backward.
He screamed—but nothing came out.
Then he heard it.
A voice.
In his head.
"If you hadn't come… I'd be gone for good. But now… now I'm in good company."
Speen spun in circles, breathing heavy. "Who the hell said that?"
"Don't bother looking. I'm in your shadow now."
He glanced at the pavement. The shape behind him had shifted—longer, darker. It moved a half-second out of sync with his body. When he stepped forward, it hesitated. When he paused, it twitched.
And then… it rose.
His shadow peeled off the ground and stood beside him, mimicking his form. It looked like him, but made of ink and smoke.
Speen backed away. "Nope. Nope. This ain't happening."
"Relax. You'll get used to it. In fact… you'll start to like it."
The shadow smirked.
And then, from its arms, sprouted wings.
No—blades.
Curved extensions of black steel, folded like feathers but sharp as grief. The alley walls shimmered with flickering darkness.
Speen swallowed. "What the hell did I just become?"
The voice answered, soft and smiling:
"Something new. Something free."