Rhys lay in bed, his body wracked with pain. He had thought he had overcome the consequences of splitting his soul, but it seemed he was wrong. The pain was back, and it was worse than ever.Just as he was starting to drift off to sleep, he heard a noise in his room. He opened his eyes to see Lucas, the martial artist he had defeated, standing over him.“Lucas?” Rhys said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”Lucas looked at Rhys with a mixture of shock and concern. “Rhys, what’s happened to you?” he asked. “You look like you’re dying.”Rhys tried to laugh, but it came out as a weak cough. “I’m fine,” he said. “Just a little…side effect.”Lucas shook his head. “Side effect?” he repeated before checking Rhys pulse “Rhys, you’re suffering and your soul state is in disarray. What did you do?”Rhys knew what Lucas was referring to. He knew that Lucas had discovered his secret. “I had to,” Rhys said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I had to save them.”Lucas looked at Rhys with a mixt

Seeing as there was no means to convince him otherwise, his parents had no choice but to agree, though their eyes still held a hint of doubt. “We trust you, Rhys,” his father said finally. “But be careful, okay?”Rhys nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. He had done it. He had told them, and they had believed him. He did not hesitate to call his best friend, Jonathan who asked to meet in a restaurant.Rhys arrived at the private restaurant, a discreet location he had chosen to ensure their conversation remained confidential. He spotted Jonathan already seated at a table, sipping a glass of wine.“Hey, man,” Rhys said, sliding into the chair across from his friend. “Thanks for meeting me here.”Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on, Rhys? You sounded serious on the phone.”Rhys took a deep breath, launching into the same story he had told his parents. “I’ve got a business deal I need to close, and I have to travel for it. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”Jonathan’s e

After a while, Rhys got up to leave, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He had said his goodbyes, and now he could focus on his mission. As he reached the door, Elena stopped him. “Rhys, wait.”Rhys turned back, wondering what she wanted to say. “Be careful, Rhys,” Elena said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I have a feeling something is off.”Rhys nodded, feeling a surge of determination. “I will, Elena. I promise.”And with that, Rhys left Elena’s apartment, feeling a sense of resolve wash over him. He was ready to face whatever lay ahead, no matter what dangers awaited him.Finally, the day of his departure arrived. Rhys stood before his parents, his suitcase packed and his heart racing with excitement. “I’ll be back soon,” he said, trying to sound casual.His parents nodded, their eyes filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. “We’ll be here, waiting for you,” his mother said, her voice trembling.Rhys nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. He knew he was leavin

“Sir? Sir, are you there?” one of his subordinates asked, their voice tinny and distant.Jonathan didn’t respond. He couldn’t respond. He was frozen in fear. The line went dead, and his subordinates were left wondering what had happened.Jonathan’s laptop screen seemed to blur, the words running together as tears filled his eyes. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. The questions swirled in his mind, driving him to the brink of madness.He pushed back his chair, standing up on shaky legs. He had to find out what had happened. He had to know. As he turned to leave, he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He stumbled, catching himself on the edge of the desk.He couldn’t do this alone. He needed help.He tried to pick up the phone, but his hands were shaking too much. He couldn’t dial the numbers, couldn’t speak. All he could do was sit there, frozen in fear. The unknown was terrifying. Had Rhys survived? Was he injured? Or was he…?Jonathan couldn’t bear the thought

Alessandro’s body convulsed as he wept, his wails echoing off the walls like a mournful dirge. Lydia collapsed into Elena’s arms, her frail frame wracked with a grief so intense it seemed to consume her very being. Elena’s own tears streamed down her face like a river of sorrow, her heart shattering into a million pieces as she held Rhys’s mother, her own pain mingling with hers.Jonathan’s eyes welled up with tears as he gazed upon his friend’s lifeless body, his mind reeling with the thought of a future without Rhys by his side. Harrison, Rhys’s grandfather, stood stoic, his eyes red-rimmed, as he struggled to contain the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. Luther, Elena’s grandfather, wept openly, his aged body trembling with a sorrow so profound it seemed to shake the very foundations of his being.As they mourned, the group clung to each other, their bodies swaying in unison as they sobbed, their hearts heavy with a grief so intense it seemed to suffocate them. The air wa