With a loud thud, they hit the floor as Stephen tackled him. For that one short second, Stephen felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, finally, they could take him down. Within the same swift second, his eyes sparkled in mischief, and a sly grin spread across his face."You really think this ends anything?" Clarke snickered, dusting himself off. "I just put it all into an infinite loop.""What are you talking about?" Stephen panted, pushing himself up. The pain shot through him, but he couldn't show weakness.Clarke shrugged, the laughter bubbling from him like an evil spell. "It means this fight will never end. We'll keep coming back to this moment until I win. No matter what you do, you'll be trapped here forever."Stephen's heart sank. "No… That can't be true."Victor was still catching his breath as he met Enoch with worried glances. "What is going on?" Victor exclaimed questioningly.Clarke sat back and relaxed; everything around them was chaotic, but he was content. "Oh, I'll just keep
"I don't know," said Stephen, squaring the shoulders. "But we have to be alert."The dark cloud rolled closer, swirling ominously, and the ground beneath them shook so violently. "We have to be ready for anything," Victor warned, clenching his fists in preparation.Suddenly, a figure emerged from the cloud shrouded in darkness. Clarke appeared, his presence as threatening as ever, eyes ablaze with anger. "You think you can escape me?" he thundered as the wind howled around him. "This isn't over!""Clarke!" Enoch yelled, stepping forward, the spark of anger welling up inside. "We defeated you! You're done!Clarke laughed-a deep, dark, cold sound that echoed across the field. "You really believe that? You think you can shut me down and walk away? You've merely scratched the surface."Stephen took a deep breath, his mind racing. "We can't let him control this place," he said, stepping beside Enoch. "This world is ours now!"You fools!" Clarke shouted, his arms outstretched. The shadows a
Now, several months later, Victor slept in the mansion that was another gift from Enoch. Indeed, the place was much too big for one person, but it had everything Victor might ever want. He poured some coffee, sipped very slowly, and stretched on the couch. The sun brightly shone through large windows, placing strokes of warm light across the floor."Perfect day," he grumbled. Well, the feeling of satisfaction didn't sit for too long. For each day was just about getting up, doing everything over and over again. Life was a void. "I need something to break this monotony."As if on cue, his security guard entered. "Sir, there is a visitor here to see you. She calls herself Mrs. Marianne."Victor's expression darkened at the name. "Great," he sighed, setting down his cup. "Just what I needed. Let her in."The guard nodded and disappeared out into the hall. Victor stood, staring at the door, preparing himself for whatever drama Marianne was about to bring. A moment later, the door opened, a
A few months had passed, and Victor woke up in his new mansion. It was a gift from Enoch, his elder brother. The place was enormous, too big for one person, but it had everything Victor could ever need. He poured himself a cup of coffee, sipping it slowly as he relaxed on the couch. The sun shone brightly through the large windows, casting warm light across the room."Perfect day," he muttered to himself, but the sense of satisfaction faded quickly. Every day felt the same—waking up, doing the same routine. Life felt empty. "I need something to break this monotony."As if on cue, his security guard entered. "Sir, there's a visitor here to see you. She calls herself Mrs. Marianne."Victor's face darkened at the name. "Great," he sighed, setting down his cup. "Just what I needed. Let her in."The guard nodded and left. Victor stood, staring at the door, bracing himself for whatever drama Marianne was about to bring. Moments later, the door opened, and she stepped in.Victor crossed his
Victor looked at Marianne, dumbfounded. He felt her words were a blow to his stomach. "My daughter?" He repeated, still heavy with incredulity in his voice."Yes," said Marianne in a low, unwavering tone. "I didn't tell you because. I didn't want to ruin your life. But now. it's about Ariane's life."Victor began to pace the room, his fists clenched. He didn't believe her. She was a liar; she manipulated situations. Why should this be different?"Why are you expecting me to believe you now?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "After all this time, you show up and drop this bomb on me? You think I'm stupid?"Marianne stood, desperate now. "I'm not lying, Victor! I can take a paternity test if that's what you want. But we don't have time for that. Ariane's getting worse, and the doctors say her only hope is a transfusion."Victor shook his head. "This is all too convenient. Why now, Marianne? Why not tell me years ago?"I was scared," she admitted, her voice shaking. "I didn't know how to ha
Victor stared at Marianne, his mind spinning. Her words felt like a punch in the gut. "My daughter?" He repeated, the disbelief still thick in his voice."Yes," Marianne said, her voice low but steady. "I didn’t tell you because... I didn’t want to ruin your life. But now... it’s about Ariane’s life."Victor paced the room, his fists clenched. He didn’t trust her. She had lied before, manipulated situations. Why should this be any different?"Why should I believe you now?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "After all this time, you just show up and drop this bomb on me? You think I’m stupid?"Marianne stood, desperate now. "I’m not lying, Victor! I can take a paternity test if that’s what you want. But we don’t have time for that. Ariane’s getting worse, and the doctors say her only hope is a transfusion."Victor shook his head. "This is all too convenient. Why now, Marianne? Why not tell me years ago?""I was scared," she admitted, her voice shaking. "I didn’t know how to handle it. But
Stephen bent further forward, his eyes narrowing in an attempt to better study Enoch. The poor light within the room hid much of the expression on Enoch's face in deep shadow, feeding off the tension. Stephen had had much said to him over the years in his line of work, but this? It was too much for even him."So what you're saying," Stephen continued after a moment, his voice low, controlled, "is that the system can't be unplugged or shut down?"Enoch sat back in his chair, crossing his arms, staring at Stephen with that impenetrable expression again. He was silent for a while, then finally spoke."Yes," Enoch said, his voice grave. "Once you're connected, it's with you until death. And even then, it doesn't disappear. It's transferred to another host."Stephen rubbed at his temples, frustration brewing inside him. He had been through enough, but this-this was a whole new level of madness. "That's insane. Who designs something like this? Who decides one person's fate is supposed to be
Stephen leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied Enoch. The dim light of the room cast deep shadows across Enoch's face, highlighting the tension between them. Stephen had heard a lot of things in his line of work, but this? It was too much, even for him."So what you're saying," Stephen began, his voice low, controlled, "is that the system can't be disconnected or deactivated?"Enoch sat back in his chair, arms crossed, staring at Stephen with that same impenetrable expression. His silence dragged on for a moment before he finally answered."Yes," Enoch replied, his tone grim. "Once you're connected, it's with you until death. And even then, it doesn’t disappear. It’s transferred to another host."Stephen rubbed his temples, frustration simmering beneath the surface. He had been through enough already, but this—this was a whole new level of madness. "That’s insane. Who designed something like this? Who decides that one person’s fate is tied to a system they didn’t ask for?"E