The clock on the hospital wall struck 9:00 PM.
Eyrx stood beside his bed while Hazel finished packing the last of his belongings.
The room felt strangely empty.
A doctor stood in front of them, holding a file.
His expression was serious.
"We're discharging him because of your repeated requests," he said while looking at Hazel. "But let me make one thing clear."
He turned toward Eyrx.
"He's not in the condition to leave the hospital."
Eyrx didn't react.
His eyes remained distant.
Lost somewhere else.
Lost with Grace.
The doctor sighed.
"He needs complete bed rest."
Still no response.
"And personally..." the doctor continued, lowering his voice, "I recommend taking him to a psychologist. His mental condition concerns me."
Hazel nodded politely.
"Of course."
The doctor handed over a prescription.
"These medicines must be taken on time."
"I understand."
A few minutes later, they left the hospital.
---
The city lights passed by outside the car window.
Hazel drove quietly.
Eyrx sat beside her, staring into the night.
The moon hung high in the sky.
Cold.
Lonely.
Just like him.
Then—
A faint green glow illuminated his face.
Eyrx blinked.
His hand immediately moved to his chest.
The pendant.
It was shining again.
A mysterious green light pulsed from within it.
"Hazel."
She glanced at him.
"Look."
Hazel looked at the pendant for several seconds.
Her expression changed for the briefest moment.
Then she smiled.
"Wow."
Her voice sounded normal.
"It looks beautiful."
She turned back toward the road.
But Eyrx noticed it.
The way her eyes avoided his.
The way she gripped the steering wheel tighter.
She was hiding something.
---
A few minutes later, Hazel stopped the car near a pharmacy.
"Why are we stopping?"
"I need to buy your medicine."
Eyrx nodded.
"Okay."
Hazel entered the store.
The line inside was crowded.
It would take time.
Inside the car, Eyrx suddenly felt suffocated.
The air felt heavy.
His chest tightened.
Without thinking, he opened the door and stepped outside.
A cold breeze touched his face.
He took a deep breath.
Then slowly began walking.
Not far.
Just enough to clear his mind.
A nearby pathway stretched alongside the road.
Eyrx stopped there.
And froze.
The highway.
The sight instantly triggered a memory.
A stolen motorcycle.
A speeding truck.
The chase.
The hideout.
The fight.
The bullets.
His eyes widened.
Fragments flashed before him.
Broken images.
Broken sounds.
Broken screams.
His heart started racing.
Then came the pressure.
A terrible pressure.
Like someone was squeezing his skull from the inside.
Eyrx grabbed his head.
"Ahh..."
His knees hit the ground.
More memories tried to surface.
Something happened after the bullets.
Something important.
Something impossible.
But every time he got close—
The pain grew worse.
---
Meanwhile, Hazel finally exited the pharmacy.
Medicine bags in hand.
She looked toward the car.
Empty.
Her heart skipped.
"Eyrx?"
Her eyes searched desperately.
Then she saw him.
Sitting near the pathway.
Holding his head.
Hazel immediately ran toward him.
"Eyrx!"
She crouched beside him.
"What happened?"
"Are you okay?"
"Should we go back to the hospital?"
Suddenly—
The pain vanished.
As if it had never existed.
Eyrx slowly lowered his hands.
"I'm fine."
Hazel didn't believe him.
"I just felt suffocated in the car."
She stared at him for a few seconds.
Then sighed.
"Let's go home."
---
An hour later.
Their car finally stopped outside the house.
The familiar gate stood before them.
The porch light glowed softly.
For the first time in days, Eyrx was home.
---
Elsewhere.
A different story was unfolding.
---
The investigator sat alone in his living room.
No uniform.
No badge.
a black shirt and a cigarette between his fingers.
Smoke drifted through the dim room.
Files covered the table before him.
Photos.
Documents.
Reports.
Years of investigation.
He picked up the first file.
Eyrx.
Age: 25.
Lives with sister and grandmother.
No known parents.
No registered clan affiliation.
No criminal record.
No unusual history.
The investigator smirked.
"That's the problem."
He tapped the file.
"You're too clean."
He tossed it aside.
The next file appeared.
Grace.
Age: 23.
Lives with father.
Former psychology student.
Later became a detective.
No registered clan affiliation.
Financial records unclear.
Source of family wealth unknown.
The investigator narrowed his eyes.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He placed the file down.
Then picked up another.
Hazel.
Age: 28.
Fashion designer.
Lives with younger brother and grandmother.
No clan affiliation.
No suspicious records.
No history.
No mistakes.
Nothing.
The investigator laughed softly.
"Nonsense."
He grabbed a red marker.
A large red X appeared across Grace's photo.
"You are finished."
Then he picked up a blue marker.
His eyes stopped on hazel photograph.
A smile slowly formed.
"Now..."
His fingers traced the edge of the picture.
"You're becoming interesting."
The photo was placed back on the table.
Around him, the room was covered in evidence.
Photos pinned to walls.
Strings connecting names.
Old reports.
Murder records.
Missing persons.
Clues.
Pieces of a puzzle nobody else could see.
A cold wind suddenly entered the room.
The window behind him was open.
The curtains moved gently.
The investigator stood.
Walked toward the wall.
And switched off the light.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Then—
A shadow moved.
Standing silently in the corner.
Watching him.
The same figure.
The same presence.
The same killer.
The one responsible for Grace's "death."
The investigator smiled.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
His eyes suddenly glowed crimson red.
The shadow froze.
Then—
The investigator vanished.
So fast even the darkness couldn't follow him.
A second later—
He appeared directly in front of the figure.
His hand shot forward.
Grabbing the shadow's throat.
The room trembled.
The killer's eyes widened.
The investigator's smile disappeared.
His voice ecame cold.
Deadly cold.
"Stop doing these stupid tricks."
For the first time—
The hunter and the hunted stood face to face.
The shadow vanished.
In an instant.
Like it was never there.
The investigator stood still for a moment, his hand frozen in the air.
Then he slowly lowered it.
"…A clone."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"You're cautious."
He turned away, walking back through the silent apartment.
Inside the room, he lay down on his bed.
The ceiling stared back at him.
But his mind wasn't resting.
It was moving.
Calculating.
Replaying everything.
Today's events.
Hazel's words.
The lawyer's conversation.
The hospital report.
Grace's body.
The envelope.
His fingers tightened slightly.
"…What was inside it?"
He murmured to himself.
"Why did Grace want Eyrx to read it?"
A pause.
"Maybe she left something behind…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…Something that connects directly to my investigation."
He reached for his phone.
10:00 PM.
Too early to stop thinking.
Too late to turn back.
He stood up again and walked toward the window.
City lights stretched endlessly beneath him.
Alive.
Unaware.
He stared at the skyline for a long time.
Then whispered:
"I need that envelope."
Meanwhile…
At Eyrx's house.
The front door creaked open.
Eyrx's grandmother stepped inside first.
Her voice was soft.
"My grandson… how are you feeling?"
Hazel stood beside Eyrx, her tone careful.
"Can we come in… or do you want to talk here?"
The grandmother shook her head.
"Come inside."
They entered the living room.
Eyrx sat on the sofa.
Silent.
Empty.
Not reacting.
Not present.
Just… there.
His grandmother frowned.
"What happened to you, Eyrx?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then slowly—
"I don't know…"
His voice was distant.
"I'm living in a body without a soul."
Silence fell.
Grandmother blinked.
"What are you saying? I don't understand."
Hazel stepped in quickly.
"He needs rest. I told you already."
Eyrx stood up suddenly.
Without a word.
And walked to his room.
No emotion.
No reaction.
Just movement.
Hazel exhaled sharply and sat down.
"Today was exhausting…"
The grandmother looked at her.
"Tell me properly. What happened?"
Hazel leaned forward.
"After Darven's arrest… and after you left…"
She paused.
"He woke up."
"I received information that Grace's body was brought to the same hospital."
Eyrx, upstairs, stopped walking for a fraction of a second.
Hazel continued unaware.
"He heard it. On a call. Then he ran."
"I brought him back, controlled him somehow…"
"But when he saw her body…"
Her voice lowered.
"He broke completely."
She looked down.
"He screamed… collapsed… and after waking up again, he was worse."
A sigh.
"Can I get water?"
Grandmother pointed at the table.
"It's right there."
Hazel gave her a deadpan look.
"No respect at all…"
They drank in silence.
Then the grandmother spoke again.
"Today is his birthday."
Hazel nodded.
"And he awakened his power."
Grandmother's eyes sharpened.
"Did he know?"
"I don't think so."
Hazel hesitated.
"But his pendant shined."
The grandmother went silent for a moment.
"…So it has started."
Hazel frowned.
"What started?"
Grandmother ignored the question.
"Go freshen up. I'll make a cake."
Hazel blinked.
"You really think he'll celebrate?"
Grandmother's voice softened.
"Even broken people need moments of light."
Hazel stood up.
"Not him."
She walked away.
"Today didn't break him a little…"
She paused at the door.
"It broke him completely."
Upstairs.
Hazel entered her room.
Closed the door.
Sat on the bed.
And open a envelope that lawyer give her
Inside—
A letter.
Her eyes hardened.
"I should burn this… before Eyrx or Grandma sees it."
She lit a lighter.
The flame flickered.
But—
Knock knock.
Hazel froze.
Quickly shoved the letter back into an envelope.
Locked it inside the cupboard.
Composed her face.
And opened the door.
A maid stood outside.
"Yes?"
"The grandmother is calling you. Bring Eyrx to the living room."
Hazel nodded.
"Okay."
The maid left.
Hazel closed the door slowly.
Her hand rested on the cupboard for a moment.
Then she exhaled deeply.
And left.
Outside the window behind her…
A pair of red eyes briefly shimmered in the darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
Eyrx sat alone in his room.
On the floor.
Leaning against the bed.
His phone in his hand.
Grace's photo glowing faintly on the screen.
A tear fell silently.
He didn't wipe it this time.
A knock came at the door.
He quickly wiped his face.
Closed the phone.
"…Yes."
Hazel entered.
"Grandma is calling you."
Eyrx stood slowly.
"I'll come."
Hazel shook her head.
"No. Come with me."
A pause.
Then he nodded.
They walked together.
The living room was warm.
A cake stood on the table.
Candles already lit.
Grandmother smiled gently.
"Come, Eyrx."
He stood in front of it.
Silent.
Still broken.
But present.
"Cut the cake," she said softly.
"I know it's hard…"
"But please."
Eyrx didn't respond.
He exhaled slowly.
And blew out the candles.
Then cut the cake.
Hazel forced a smile.
"Happy birthday, Eyrx."
"You're 25 now."
Eyrx looked at the cake.
"…This year is going terribly."
He handed a piece to his grandmother first.
Then to Hazel.
Hazel sighed.
"I didn't even bring a gift…"
"I'll buy something tomorrow."
Eyrx shook his head.
"No need."
Hazel frowned.
"But I still will."
Outside—
A faint red glow appeared beyond the window.
For a brief moment…
It watched them.
Then smiled.
Rain began to fall.
Soft at first.
Then heavier.
The grandmother looked outside.
"Rain again…"
"It will continue for four days."
Hazel leaned back.
"Autumn has started?"
The grandmother shook her head.
"Not yet…"
And somewhere in the distance—
Thunder answered.