The city never truly slept.
But there were moments…
when it seemed to forget how to breathe.
Those were the moments he chose.
No rush.
No mistakes.
No witnesses.
The victim didn't know.
Not for a second.
That this would be her last night.
She walked quickly down the nearly empty street, her footsteps echoing between silent buildings. The cold was mild, but enough to make her pull her coat tighter around her body.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing that suggested danger.
And yet…
Something was wrong.
She felt it.
That unsettling sensation of being watched.
She stopped.
Looked around.
Nothing.
An empty street.
Flickering lights.
A faint wind.
"It's just in your head…" she muttered.
But it wasn't.
It never was.
He was already there.
Watching.
Waiting.
The man stood in the shadows, motionless, like part of the scenery itself. His eyes didn't blink. There was no urgency in his movements.
Because time…
meant nothing to him.
He slowly raised his hand.
And then…
he whispered.
Words that didn't belong to this world.
The air responded.
The shadows stretched.
And the woman froze.
Completely.
Her muscles locked.
Her breath failed.
Her eyes widened.
But no sound came out.
"You don't understand yet…" he said, stepping closer. "But you will."
She tried to fight.
But it was too late.
It always was.
The scene was found hours later.
And once again…
Max was there.
Before most of the others.
The body lay on the ground.
But different.
Very different.
"This isn't like the others…" Daniel murmured.
Max didn't respond.
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
His eyes analyzing every detail.
The blood was there.
But not scattered.
Organized.
Precise.
As if it had been used.
Not spilled.
"It's evolving…" Max said.
Daniel frowned.
"Evolving?"
Max pointed.
"Before, it was chaotic. Now… it's intentional."
The symbol on the ground wasn't the same.
But it was related.
More complex.
More complete.
More… ancient.
"He's learning," Max added.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
"'He'?" Daniel asked.
Max looked at the body.
Then answered:
"Whoever is doing this."
But deep down…
he already knew.
"You shouldn't be here."
The voice came from the darkness.
And this time…
Max wasn't surprised.
He turned slowly.
And then he saw her.
She leaned against the wall of a nearby building, partially hidden by shadow. Her eyes… different.
Not frightening.
But… intense.
Like they saw beyond things.
"I could say the same to you," Max replied.
She smiled faintly.
"But you don't know who I am."
Max took a step closer.
"Then tell me."
She stayed silent for a few seconds.
As if deciding.
"Elena."
The name landed like it mattered.
"Max," he replied.
"I know."
Silence.
"You were watching," he said.
"I'm always watching."
That wasn't normal.
But nothing here was.
"Do you know this?" Max pointed to the scene.
Elena looked.
And for a moment…
something shifted in her expression.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"I do."
Max's heart rate picked up.
"Then talk."
She walked closer.
Slowly.
Now under the light.
And that's when he noticed.
The pale skin.
The eyes darker than they should be.
The way she moved…
too silent.
Too controlled.
"This isn't new," she said.
"It is to me."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"For you… it started late."
That hung in the air.
Heavy.
"What does that mean?"
She didn't answer right away.
Instead…
she stepped closer.
Much closer.
Close enough for him to notice.
The detail.
Her teeth.
Slightly different.
Subtle.
But impossible to ignore.
Max didn't step back.
But he didn't relax either.
"You're not normal," he said.
She smiled.
This time… not hiding it.
"None of us are."
Silence.
"Who's doing this?" Max asked.
Elena looked back at the body.
Then said:
"A witch."
The word hit hard.
Daniel, a few steps behind, froze.
"A witch?" he repeated.
"Not the kind you see in stories," Elena continued. "This one… knows exactly what he's doing."
"And what does he want?"
She hesitated.
Then answered:
"To open something."
Max felt his stomach twist.
"Open what?"
Elena looked at him.
And for the first time…
she looked truly serious.
"You don't want to know."
But Max was already too deep.
"I'm already in this."
She studied him for a few seconds.
Then nodded slightly.
"Then listen carefully…"
She stepped closer again.
And whispered:
"He didn't choose your family by accident."
The world stopped.
"What do you know about that night?" Max asked, his voice lower.
Elena hesitated.
For the first time.
"More than you'd like."
The air grew heavier.
"Then you're going to help me."
She took a small step back.
"No."
Silence.
"I don't help anyone."
"Then why are you here?"
She looked around.
Then back at him.
"Because if he finishes what he started…"
She paused.
"There won't be anyone left to help."
That felt different.
More real.
More serious.
"Then you're already helping," Max said.
She didn't respond.
But she didn't deny it either.
Later…
The body had been removed.
The scene isolated.
But something still lingered.
Max returned to the exact spot.
Alone.
The wind was softer now.
But still cold.
He crouched down.
Looked at the symbol.
And then—
The voice.
Stronger.
Clearer.
"Closer…"
Max closed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
And then—
"You'll understand."
He opened his eyes.
And this time…
he felt it.
Not far.
Not distant.
But close.
Very close.
And for the first time…
Max had no doubt.
This wasn't just happening around him.
It was coming…
for him.