Night settled over the city again, slow and heavy, like a thick blanket pulled over restless streets. Lights flickered in distant buildings, some bright, some weak, some already dead. The air outside the apartment felt tense, as if something bad was about to happen. Kai stood near the window, watching the street below with sharp eyes. He knew the Syndicate would not wait much longer.
Aria sat on the edge of the bed, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Her body was tired, but her mind refused to rest. Thoughts moved in circles, each one heavier than the last. She wondered how many choices had led her to this moment, and whether she would make the same ones again. Fear lived inside her now, but it no longer controlled her.
Kai turned away from the window and looked at her. The dim light i
