The night air outside the warehouse felt heavier than before, as if the fog itself was holding secrets. Kael shoved his hands deep into his pockets, trying to quiet the tremor in them. His mind kept replaying the flashback—himself and Riven, standing together in another life.
It didn't make sense. None of this did.
Beside him, Riven walked with his usual calm, his eyes scanning the dark streets as though danger could leap out from any corner. Kael wondered if he was ever afraid, or if he had simply learned to bury fear deep down.
Finally, Kael broke the silence. "Do you… ever feel like we've done this before? Like we've walked these same steps, asked these same questions?"
Riven didn't answer right away. His eyes flickered toward Kael, unreadable. "Memories are tricky. They lie sometimes. Or they show truths we don't want."
Kael frowned. "But they feel real. Too real."
Riven's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he pulled out the half-burned document they'd taken from the warehouse. Project Lazarus. The words stared back at them in the yellow glow of a streetlamp.
"What is it?" Kael asked softly.
"I don't know," Riven admitted, folding it again. "But someone wanted it destroyed. That means it mattered."
Kael's stomach knotted. "And the hooded figure? Why give us clues if they're just going to vanish?"
Riven's voice was low, steady. "Because they want us to keep digging. And maybe… they want us scared."
Kael didn't reply. He already was.
They reached Kael's apartment a little before midnight. The building was old, the paint peeling, the stairwell dimly lit by a single flickering bulb. Riven followed him inside without a word, as if it were the most natural thing.
Kael tossed his jacket onto the couch, trying to shake off the chill that clung to him. He grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge and handed one to Riven.
"You should stay tonight," Kael said quietly. "Just in case."
Riven's eyes softened—just slightly. He took the bottle, nodding once. "All right."
They sat in silence for a while, the city's muffled sounds drifting in through the window. Kael couldn't stop glancing at Riven—the way he sat, steady and composed, the faint shadow of a scar running along his jaw. There was something mysterious about him.
Finally, Kael whispered, "Back there… in that memory. You said you'd stand with me. No matter what."
Riven turned his head, meeting Kael's gaze. His voice was quiet, almost a vow. "And I meant it. Then. Now. Always."
Kael's chest tightened. He looked away quickly, heat rising in his face.
The next morning, Kael woke to the sound of movement in the kitchen. Riven was already awake, leaning against the wall with a cup of coffee. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.
"You're up early," Kael said, rubbing his eyes.
Riven shrugged. "Old habit."
Kael poured himself some coffee too, though his hands were still unsteady. "So… what's the plan?"
"We start asking questions," Riven said simply. "Someone in this city knows about Project Lazarus."
Before Kael could reply, there was a knock at the door. Sharp. Firm.
Kael froze.
Riven set his cup down, already moving silently toward the door. He pressed a finger to his lips, signaling Kael to stay quiet.
The knock came again—louder this time.
Then a voice, smooth and cold, drifted through the door.
"Mr. Kael Arden. I believe you have something that belongs to me."
Kael's blood ran cold.
Riven instructed for him to step back, then slowly opened the door.
On the other side stood a tall man in a perfectly tailored black coat. His hair was slicked back, his eyes sharp and glinting like steel. He was masked and hooded—he did not want to be seen. Two men in suits followed him, both clearly armed.
Kael's throat went dry. He didn't know this man, and yet… something in him stirred. Like he'd seen him before.
The man felt like smiling faintly behind the mask, but it was the kind of smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Forgive the intrusion. I don't like being kept waiting."
Riven's stance shifted, protective. "Who are you?"
The man stepped inside without permission, his presence filling the small apartment like smoke.
"My name," he said smoothly, "is something you don't need to know. And I believe you've stumbled onto pieces of something that was never meant for you."
Kael's chest tightened at the name. Lucian. It rolled in his mind like an echo from another lifetime.
Riven's voice was cold. "Then maybe you should explain."
The man's smile widened, though it was still sharp as a blade. "Oh, I will. But explanations are like wine. Best savored slowly."
Riven's voice cut in, sharp as steel. "Why are you here now?"
The man straightened, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. "Because Project Lazarus was mine. And you—both of you—are meddling where you don't belong."
He stepped toward the door, his men following. "Enjoy your little discoveries. But remember—every answer you find brings you closer to me. And when the time is right, you'll understand why some things should stay buried."
He paused at the threshold, his voice low and chilling. "Until then… sweet dreams."
And then he was gone.
Kael sank onto the couch, shaking. "Riven… what the hell was that? Who is he?"
Riven's expression was grim. "Someone dangerous. Someone who knows too much."
Kael pressed his hands to his face.
Riven sat beside him, steadying Kael with a hand on his shoulder. "Then it means this isn't just about us. It's bigger. Much bigger."
Kael looked up at him, eyes wide. "Riven… what if this never ends? What if we're trapped in this cycle?"
Riven held his gaze, firm and unwavering. "Then we fight. Together."
For a moment, Kael could breathe again. The fear didn't vanish—but it felt less heavy with Riven beside him.
Still, Lucian's words echoed in his head like poison.
Some debts stretch across lifetimes.
And Kael couldn't shake the feeling that Lucian Draegor was more than just an enemy. He was a shadow that had followed them through time itself.