PROLOGUE — The Girl Who Stopped Running

Eroshi's POV

I was fifteen.

At an age when most teenagers worried about grades, first love, and college entrance exams...

I was learning how to disappear.

The rain poured endlessly from the dark sky, soaking my hoodie as I ran through unfamiliar streets.

My chest tightened with every breath, but I never slowed down.

I couldn't.

Not tonight.

Not when every second meant the difference between living...

...or becoming another forgotten name.

My phone vibrated.

One message.

...DON'T LOOK BACK....

I stared at the screen for a second before slipping the phone back into my pocket.

Those were the last words my aunt sent me.

She never wasted words.

If she said not to look back...

Then I wouldn't.

Even if every part of me wanted to.

My shoes splashed through puddles as I turned into a narrow alley.

The warehouse stood exactly where she told me it would.

Old.

Abandoned.

Silent.

I pushed the rusted door open.

The sound echoed throughout the empty building.

For a moment...

Nothing.

Then—

"You made it."

I immediately stepped back.

A man emerged from the darkness.

Around his late fifties.

Gray suit.

Black gloves.

No weapon.

No emotion.

Just calm eyes that seemed to have seen too many tragedies.

"I don't know you." I said as I instinctively ready myself for running.

"You don't."

"Then why am I here?" Confused of his appearance here.

"Because your aunt trusted me."

"I need proof."

Without another word, the man reached into his coat.

Instinctively, I shifted my footing.

Ready to run.

Instead...

He handed me an old photograph.

It was faded around the edges.

In it, my aunt was laughing while I sat beside her, pouting over a carton of milk because she refused to buy me a second one.

I remembered that day.

No one else should have.

My fingers trembled.

"Where is she?"

The man lowered his gaze.

"She bought you enough time."

"...What?"

"She completed her mission."

"No..."

"I promised her I'd protect you."

"No!"

I took another step back.

"She said she'd come with me!" I hissed.

Silence.

The warehouse suddenly felt colder.

The man slowly placed a silver pendant in my hand.

I stared at it.

It belonged to my aunt.

On its back were words engraved so lightly that I almost missed them.

Live long enough to choose your own ending.

The tears I'd been holding back finally escaped.

"...She's really gone?"

The man didn't answer.

He didn't have to.

Outside...

Several vehicles stopped.

Doors slammed shut.

Voices.

Footsteps.

Getting closer.

"They're here." he sounded a bit worried but was able to stay calm.

"Who?"

"The people who believe your family no longer exists."

I tightened my grip around the pendant.

"What do I do?"

The man looked directly into my eyes.

"Come with me."

"..."

"If you stay..." he paused.

"They'll kill me?"

"They'll never stop looking for you."

Another loud bang echoed outside.

Not thunder.

Gunfire.

The old man calmly walked toward a hidden steel door behind several wooden crates.

Before opening it...

He looked back.

"Listen carefully, Eroshi."

"This will be the last normal night of your life."

"..."

"You'll lose your home."

"You'll lose your name."

"You'll lose the people you love."

"..."

"But if you survive..."

"...one day you'll have the chance to decide what kind of person you want to become."

I looked one last time at the warehouse entrance.

The rain.

The city.

The only place I'd ever called home.

Slowly...

I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again...

There were no more tears.

Only resolve.

"I'll survive."

The old man gave a small nod.

"I know."

As the hidden door closed behind us...

The warehouse exploded into gunfire.

And that was the night...

Zaitush Eroshi Fortalejo disappeared.

Or at least...

That's what the world believed.

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