Kaden clenched his fists, his entire body trembling with anger as he glared at the man standing before him. The stranger's dark grey trench coat shifted slightly in the faint breeze, and his black fedora cast a shadow over his eyes, leaving his face obscured and unreadable.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsxNcpm1oG
"Didn't you hear me!" Kaden shouted, his voice raw with frustration. He took an aggressive step forward and, without a second thought, grabbed the man's collar, yanking him close. The fabric of the coat tightened around the stranger's neck as Kaden forced him to face him.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9KeqsBQFZ
"Tell me what you know about the—" But his words faltered, dying in his throat, as his gaze met the man's eyes for the first time. He froze, his breath catching in his chest.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ368nUn7YN9
The man's eyes weren't normal. They were pitch black, bottomless, pulling Kaden in deeper the longer he stared, as if they held an endless void. There was no light in them, no flicker of life—only a cold, consuming darkness.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96Cnf3Thm2
Kaden's legs began to weaken, his strength draining from him as if siphoned by those dark, empty eyes. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, the grip he'd held so firmly loosening. His fists unclenched, and he stared down at his hands, watching as they shook uncontrollably.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvWU3BnCHs
"What's... happening?" he thought, panic rising as he struggled to control his own body. He couldn't move, couldn't force his legs to obey him. It was as if his entire body had been drained, leaving him helpless.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcSgtsbYwF
Slowly, he looked up, feeling the shadow of the man looming over him. The man's cold, empty eyes gleamed as he leaned closer, his face now visible, his expression one of complete detachment. He wasn't angry. He wasn't even interested. He was just... empty.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8qX8hooXs
"Give it to me," he commanded in a low, raspy voice that sent a chill down Kaden's spine. "The red stone."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaO0Nsidjo
Kaden swallowed, trying to push down the creeping fear, and forced himself to stand, though his knees still trembled. He lifted his gaze to meet the man's, clinging to his last shred of defiance.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezGLLysIun
"You... you burned down Jeena's bookstore," he said, his voice barely holding steady. "Why!?" With a surge of anger, he raised his fist, ready to strike.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1jsg2Ojrw
But before he could move, a loud, sharp clap echoed through the alley. The stranger's hand had shot out, catching Kaden's fist mid-swing. His grip was like steel, crushing Kaden's knuckles as he pulled him closer, their faces now inches apart.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDIgfk9A2w
"Give me... the red stone," the man repeated, his tone chillingly calm, as if Kaden's resistance was nothing more than a nuisance.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpm587ffS2
"Never gonna happen!" Kaden shouted, his voice filled with defiance as he brought up his free hand, desperate to land a punch. But before he could make a move, the man tightened his grip, and pain tore through Kaden's arm, making him wince.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGcfLypt80
In a swift, brutal motion, the man hurled Kaden backward. He was weightless for a second, flying through the air, until he crashed into the alley wall with a sickening crack. Pain exploded across his back, the impact forcing the air from his lungs. He crumpled to the ground, gasping, the pain in his chest making every breath feel like a knife.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxn2Pgfs7n
He tried to move, to push himself up, but his arms shook under the strain. His mind raced, grappling with the shock of the encounter. Who was this guy, and how was he so strong? Kaden could still see him, standing in the same spot, unfazed, as if throwing him across the alley had been nothing.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3znLdDKWT
Gritting his teeth, Kaden reached into his pocket, fingers brushing the cool, smooth surface of the red stone. He could almost feel Jeena's presence there, a reminder of her trust. For a fleeting moment, he considered just handing it over. But something stopped him. This was the last piece of Jeena he had. She'd hidden it, left it behind for a reason. He couldn't just give it up—not without answers.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1Axi3MIz6
Painfully, he pushed himself to sit up, leaning against the rough brick. His whole body throbbed, but he managed a defiant glare.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaZOAdBhuA
"You're not getting it," he rasped, wiping the blood from his lip. "I don't care who you are or what you want it for."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yZAAPi5L9
The man remained silent, but took a slow step forward, his dark coat brushing the ground.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHV9UyY5vh
"Damn it..." Kaden muttered under his breath, his fists clenching, even as pain shot through his hands. He knew he wasn't strong enough to fight this guy, not like this. But he wasn't just going to hand it over either.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpAkXHpA7j
The man reached out a gloved hand, inching closer, like he knew Kaden didn't have the strength to stop him. Kaden felt the pull, the stone in his pocket feeling heavier, as though it wanted to leave him.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk39QsWr3e
A surge of desperation kicked in. With a last burst of strength, Kaden swung his leg, sweeping the man's feet from under him. The man stumbled, caught off guard. Without hesitation, Kaden scrambled to his feet and bolted down the alley, his heart hammering, his legs burning with each step.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p8uuRxe2L
Behind him, he heard footsteps again. Slow, unhurried. The man wasn't running; he was just walking. Somehow, that made it worse. He knew he'd catch up. He knew Kaden had nowhere to run.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V8WjnT6VN
Kaden glanced back, catching a glimpse of the man's shadow stretching long across the alley, reaching toward him like a dark claw. Panic flared, and he pushed himself harder, dodging around corners, ducking under signs, doing anything to put distance between them.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kqanW6yKT
Finally, he rounded a corner and collapsed behind a dumpster, chest heaving as he fought for air. Every inch of his body ached, and his mind raced. Pulling the red stone from his pocket, he held it up in the faint light spilling into the alley. It glowed, a soft crimson, beautiful and terrible all at once. The weight of it felt like a burden now.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDPP5nyowf
"Jeena... why did you leave this with me?" he whispered, staring at the stone's glow. She'd trusted him with it. There had to be a reason. Something about the stone, about the fire, about that man with those cold, dark eyes.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JP1j8UPPU
The slow, steady sound of footsteps drew closer, echoing down the alley.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo28aBqNFqD
"Give it to me," the man's voice called, calm and relentless.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H1034ZpgY
Kaden gripped the stone tightly, heart pounding. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
***
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eYVvm2R7h
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
you can also help out my work by donating on PayPal
even a little bit helps. 64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreqxAO7Nca
and then Add to home screen.