Chapter 5
1009 Words
While Shidow lay unconscious after the explosion, all he could see was darkness.
A cold voice echoed endlessly inside his head.
"Everyone you love will die right before your eyes. And you will do nothing... but watch them die."
Shidow knelt within the endless void, clutching his hair as the words repeated again and again.
"Everyone you love will die right before your eyes..."
"Let me—"
"Shut up!" Shidow screamed.
The darkness shattered.
His eyes flew open.
He found himself lying on a bed inside an unfamiliar room. Through the open doorway, he could hear footsteps and see people moving about outside.
"Where am I?" he murmured weakly.
His breathing caught.
"Where's Krone... and Eyana?"
The moment her name crossed his mind, grief struck him like a blade.
He stared at the ceiling as tears silently rolled down his cheeks.
"Eyana..."
The door slowly opened.
A young woman entered the room carrying a tray of food.
"So, how are you feeling?" she asked with a gentle smile. "I already healed your injuries. You should be perfectly fine now."
She placed the tray on the bedside table before reaching for the bandage wrapped around his arm.
For a brief moment, Shidow froze.
The scene reminded him of the day he first met Eyana.
She had smiled at him exactly the same way.
The young woman removed the bandage and smiled warmly.
"Don't worry. You're safe here. I'm the best medic in our group, so you're in good hands."
She extended her hand politely.
"My name is Anika. And you are?"
Shidow looked at her.
"Shid—"
His voice stopped.
His eyes fixed on the small emblem attached to her uniform.
Three letters.
ACA.
"ACA..."
His expression twisted with rage.
Without warning, he grabbed her by the collar and slammed her against the wall.
"You're with ACA?" he demanded. "What do you want from me?"
Anika simply looked into his eyes.
She saw no hatred.
Only unbearable grief.
Instead of resisting, she gently rested her hands on his wrists.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
Her gaze softened as she gently held his wrists.
"I've always hated seeing people cry... but I understand them better than those who smile. We're alike, Shidow. I lost my family too. They died in an explosion."
She lowered her eyes before taking a slow breath.
"That's why I joined ACA—to stop this endless cycle."
Shidow slowly released her.
He sat back down on the bed, his fists tightening.
"You joined..."
Krone's words echoed inside his head.
Suddenly another thought struck him.
"Wait!"
He looked up anxiously.
"Were there any survivors? Did you see a tall guy? He's nineteen, around five foot six, with dark brown hair..."
Anika lowered her eyes.
"You were the only survivor."
Shidow froze.
"Everyone in Ontario died."
Her voice became heavy.
"The entire area was devastated. Manitoba and Quebec were affected, but Ontario..."
She hesitated.
"...Ontario was almost erased from the map."
Shidow stared at the floor.
"Are they trying to wipe Canada off the face of the earth?"
A calm voice answered from the doorway.
"No."
A tall, slender man entered the room.
"They targeted Canada because of one particular person."
He calmly walked over and sat beside the bed, crossing one leg over the other.
He was strikingly handsome, with pale skin, black hair, and sharp features.
"But now that you're here," he continued, "Canada should be safe."
Anika looked toward him.
"Any news?"
He ignored the question.
Instead, he looked directly at Shidow.
"I've done some research on you. You've been stopping ACA's bombings for the past four years, and that alone tells me you're stronger than most people."
Shidow remained silent.
The man smiled faintly.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm your ally, and so is Anika. I'm certain you'll join us because we share the same objective."
He leaned forward, his expression turning serious.
"We're going to kill the head of ACA."
He folded his hands together.
"The organization is nearly impossible to destroy from the outside, but every fortress has cracks within. If we want to bring ACA down, we'll have to infiltrate it."
He extended his hand.
"So... will you join us?"
Shidow studied him for several seconds before answering.
"I want to."
"But there's one problem."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"You're British."
He nodded.
"And I can barely understand half of what you're saying."
Silence filled the room.
"British accents sound cool," Shidow added honestly. "But sometimes they're really difficult to follow."
The man's eye twitched.
His smile disappeared instantly.
Before he could react, Anika sighed.
"Not again..."
She pulled out a syringe and injected him.
His entire body immediately stiffened.
He remained frozen in his chair.
"He has two weaknesses," Anika explained.
"First, he hates it when people make fun of his British accent."
"And second..."
She smiled awkwardly.
"...he can't stand people saying he isn't handsome."
Shidow looked him up and down.
"He's not even that handsome."
Anika burst into laughter.
"I know."
"He has serious narcissistic tendencies."
Kunika sat there completely paralyzed, forced to listen as the two of them insulted him.
---
Meanwhile...
Chrollo sat alone in silence, a cup of coffee resting in his hand.
He stared into the dark liquid without saying a word.
Redina leaned against the doorway, watching him.
"You look gloomy," she said. "Are you mourning someone?"
Chrollo remained silent.
She walked closer.
"Then make another one."
A faint smile crossed her lips.
"Isn't that your specialty?"
He finally looked at her.
"You're in an unusually good mood."
"Why shouldn't I be?" she replied calmly. "Our plan worked."
She slowly walked toward the window.
"Shidow is about to become a member of ACA."
Chrollo frowned.
"Why do you want him here?"
"He'll come after you."
"He'll kill you."
Redina smiled.
A slow, cruel smile.
"Exactly."
She turned toward him.
"I want him close enough to witness everything."
Her crimson eyes gleamed.
"I'm going to make him suffer."
She laughed quietly.
"And when he finally realizes the truth, it'll already be too late."
- Writer
