I had finally managed to escape the torture I had endured in the hands of my master. It wasn't an easy task, but with the combat experience and cartel-hardened instincts of Aerion, breaking free was almost second nature. I knew this moment would come—when I'd be branded a traitor, a dog that bit his master. It was a serious offense, the kind no one walks away from. But I was determined. I wasn't just escaping captivity—I was escaping Death's game itself.
I was a masterpiece within the cartel, a weapon forged in blood and fear. My reputation was solid and undisputed. I was known for my cruelty, my precision, and my silence. I left no trail, no witness. Not even the highest levels of law enforcement could trace my operations. That kind of infamy isn't earned overnight. I had become a ghost in a world where shadows rule, and with those skills, I was confident. I wasn't just fighting the cartel—I was playing chess with death, and for once, I believed I had the upper hand.
Now, I'm on a motorbike, the wind slicing through my hair as the engine of Aerion roared like thunder beneath me. It felt good—too good. And then, just like that, bullets tore through the air. The sharp cracks echoed behind me. I didn't know who was shooting at first. Random enemies? No—no such thing in this world. These were men sent by my former master. Killers sent to retrieve two things: the money I had allegedly stolen from his slush accounts, and the girl I had hidden away from them.
As the realization hit me, so did the adrenaline. I was being hunted. The game had truly begun, and it wasn't just the usual suspects. Italian mafias, American syndicates, Spanish gangsters—they were all after me. My coordinates had been broadcast across the cartel network and my head was now a prized trophy.
Bullets flew like snowflakes in the air. Engines revved like fighter jets. Even law enforcement was no refuge—most of them were bought and paid for. Corrupt to the bone, they facilitated cartel operations, often providing armed escorts for high-stakes hits. Their leaders had long since sold their souls and the hunt for me wasn't just allowed—it was protected.
The bounty on me was tempting—enough to fund generations with luxury. Everyone wanted in. To them, I was disposable. A dead criminal whose body would be dumped in a ditch, forgotten by the world and remembered only in whispers among those still in the game.
But I wasn't going down easily.
The chase was brutal, yes—but thrilling. I lost most of them with tactical riding and sharp corners. But the ones on bikes? They were relentless. I tried every evasive maneuver I knew, but they stuck like shadows.
The pursuit led us into a shopping mall. I maneuvered through the crowd like a ghost, weaving between stunned shoppers. But eventually, I was surrounded. It seemed like the end. Then I saw it—an elevator descending. Without hesitation, I sped forward, crashing into it just in time. As the doors shut, I caught their confused, angry faces. They had no idea where I was going.
The elevator took me to the topmost floor of the building. But my victory was short-lived. My boss and the remaining cartel elites were already there, waiting. Their guns drawn, their eyes cold.
"Come here, you ungrateful dog," my boss spat, pointing a pistol at my chest.
I sat on my motorbike, revving the engine so hard the floor vibrated. There was no clear way out. If I surrendered, they'd take me apart piece by piece. I knew this game. I had played it myself.
"The worst I can do is die," I told myself.
And just like that—I charged.
Gasps erupted as I sped toward the edge of the building. They thought I had lost my mind. But they didn't know what I saw from that rooftop. A rooftop pool on the hotel right next to the mall. I leapt—me and Aerion, in one final, insane stunt.
I crashed into the rooftop pool with a massive splash. Their faces above glowed with disbelief. I laughed as I floated, adrenaline surging through my veins. I had done it, again. Escaped the monsters and escaped death.
Now, it was time to get the girl and the money—and so, I run.
I dried off, changed clothes, and took the elevator back down. A new man, soaked in luck and vengeance. I rushed to see her—the girl. The one I had risked everything for. She ran to me with tears in her eyes.
"I was so worried," she sobbed. "I thought you wouldn't come. I didn't know what I'd do."
"It's all over now," I said softly, smiling as I kissed her forehead. "All that's left is to leave the country and then we'll be free."
She pulled back slightly and looked at me, her eyes still wet. "But… where's the money?"
I walked back a few steps and pointed discreetly to where it was hidden.
"It's there. Safe, just like I promised."
She smiled—softly at first. But then… it shifted.
She called out to me. I turned back to her, grinning, expecting a hug or kiss. What I got instead was surprising, betrayal.
She fired.
The shot hit me in the chest.
I staggered backward, staring at her in disbelief.
"You… why?"
I dropped to my knees, blood soaking my shirt, pooling on the floor. My mind raced through everything I had done—everything I had sacrificed for her. I couldn't believe it. After all the pain, the deaths, the chases—it ended like this?
Death had won again. But this time, she didn't have to lift a finger.
I fell, hard, and all I could think was:
"Fuck!... That bitch!"
And then… darkness.
I awoke in that same cold place. Death sat before me, laughing.
That damned laugh.
I turned to her, fury in my voice, confusion on my face.
"The girl… why did she kill me? Could Aerion have killed any member of her family in the past? Was it revenge?"
Death smiled, almost bored. "You really don't get it, do you? You killed yourself over money. She did the same. It wasn't revenge. It was greed."
My jaw clenched.
I had miscalculated. I thought love would save me. I thought loyalty would be returned. But in our world, loyalty is currency—and easily bought.
"Did it never cross your mind," Death said, leaning closer, "that even doomed men still make stupid choices?"
She laughed again. "A fool like you was bound to die that way."
I looked away, ashamed but defiant. In the silence of my thoughts, a spark of rebellion stirred.
You think I'm a fool, don't you?
You're wrong.
"I had planned for betrayal. Aerion hid the money in a location only accessible by boat. And only I know where it is. Even if she has the coordinates, she won't find it. I'll find that Money and I'll escape this prison you've locked me in. I'll win your game yet, Death".
A smile crept onto my lips but Death noticed.
"Is that a smile?" she asked.
"Let's see if you can keep smiling like that."
She raised her hand, and without another word, I was shot again. The pain rushed through me—but I embraced it.
My next life was just beginning.
And this time… Death wouldn't see me coming.