Morning crept into Hong Kong like a thief with soft footsteps.
The arcade windows glowed faintly as sunlight mixed with dying neon, casting strange colors across Dominic and Virginia's faces. They hadn't slept. Every creak of the building sounded like approaching boots, every flicker of a screen like a sniper's scope.
Virginia cleaned her weapons with calm precision.
Dominic watched her from across the room. "You ever sleep?"
She didn't look up. "Sleep gets you killed."
"That explains a lot."
She smirked. "You married me anyway."
He smiled, then winced as his leg shifted. "I clearly have poor survival instincts."
PROJECT MIRROR GOES LIVE
Dominic's phone buzzed violently.
Once.Twice.Ten times.
He checked it and cursed under his breath.
Virginia looked up. "Bad?"
"Very."
Screens around the arcade flickered on—old machines hijacked by a new signal. News feeds. Police bulletins. Social media clips.
Dominic's undercover face filled the screen.
Then Virginia's.
WANTED FOR TERRORISM. ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
Virginia stared. "Wow. They picked a terrible photo."
"They linked us," Dominic said. "Same apartment. Same timeline."
Virginia's jaw tightened. "Vito."
Dominic nodded. "Project Mirror. He's making us reflect each other's crimes."
"Cute," she muttered. "I'm going to kill him."
THE CITY TURNS AGAINST THEM
They moved through the streets separately, blending into crowds that no longer felt safe.
A shopkeeper recognized Virginia.
A man shouted.
A bottle flew.
They ran.
Gunfire erupted when a private militia blocked the alley exit—Vito's men, dressed like police.
Virginia vaulted a fence, firing mid-air.
Dominic followed, barely clearing it, landing hard.
"You okay?" she shouted.
"I hate fences!" he yelled back.
They escaped onto rooftops as sirens screamed below.
A HARD TRUTH
They stopped on a high-rise roof, panting.
Virginia stared at the city.
"I don't have anyone else," she said quietly.
Dominic joined her. "Neither do I."
She turned. "If this goes wrong… you walk away."
He shook his head. "Not without you."
She laughed bitterly. "Still bad at survival."
THE INSIDE MAN
Dominic activated a secure channel.
A voice answered. "You're burned."
"I know," Dominic replied. "But I need intel."
Silence.
Then: "The AI card is being transferred to Harbor Tower. Tomorrow night."
Virginia's eyes gleamed. "A skyscraper."
Dominic nodded. "And a bank core beneath it."
Virginia cracked her neck. "My favorite kind of mess."
VITO'S CONFIDENCE
Vito Genovese stood inside Harbor Tower's top floor, hands behind his back.
The AI card rested in a glass case, wires pulsing like veins.
"Activate prediction mode," he said.
The AI responded instantly.
PROBABILITY OF BETRAYAL: 99.8%
Vito smiled. "Then predict the outcome."
LIKELY SURVIVOR: UNDETERMINED
Vito frowned—for the first time.
THE NIGHT BEFORE WAR
Back in the arcade, Dominic and Virginia prepared.
Weapons laid out. Plans sketched. Jokes traded like armor.
"If I die," Virginia said, "delete my browser history."
Dominic snorted. "I don't want to traumatize myself."
She smirked. "Fair."
They sat quietly after that.
Virginia finally spoke. "You still a cop?"
Dominic thought. "I think I'm just tired."
She nodded. "Me too."
She rested her head on his shoulder.
Outside, helicopters passed overhead.
ASSAULT ON HARBOR TOWER
Night fell hard.
The tower rose like a blade against the sky.
Virginia entered from above—zipline, glass shatter, rolling fire.
Dominic came from below—security override, silent takedowns.
They moved in sync without speaking.
Alarms blared.
Vito's men swarmed.
Virginia laughed as she fought. "I missed this!"
Dominic fired precise shots. "You need better hobbies!"
They reunited on the central floor—bank servers glowing beneath transparent glass.
And there it was.
The AI card.
THE BOSS APPEARS
Vito stepped out calmly, applauding.
"Beautiful," he said. "You exceeded expectations."
Virginia aimed her gun. "You tried to make us kill each other."
Vito shrugged. "Efficiency."
Dominic stepped forward. "It's over."
Vito smiled. "Is it?"
He tapped his ring.
The AI card pulsed.
Security doors slammed shut.
Explosives armed.
The building began to lock down.
Virginia growled. "I really hate you."
Vito chuckled. "Good."
CLIFF EDGE
Dominic hacked furiously.
Virginia held off waves of guards.
The AI screen flashed:
CONFLICT RESOLUTION REQUIRED.ONLY ONE AUTHORIZATION ACCEPTED.
Dominic and Virginia stared at it.
Vito's smile widened.
"Choose," he said.
The tower shook.
Outside, the city held its breath.