The knocking came again—sharp, deliberate. Alexander hesitated, every muscle in his body tense. His instincts screamed at him to stay quiet, to not move. Whoever was on the other side of that door wasn't a friendly visitor.
His mind raced through possibilities. Could it be the police? No. If it were, they wouldn't knock like this. Debt collectors? Unlikely. He had nothing of value. That left one option—the people responsible for his father's death.
Alexander swallowed hard and took a step back. The ring on the table gleamed under the dim light, a silent reminder of what he had just witnessed. His father had hidden something—something dangerous—and now they had come for it.
The knocking stopped. A silence stretched, thick and suffocating. Then, a quiet scraping noise—a lockpick.
Alexander's eyes widened. He had seconds to act.
Without thinking, he grabbed the ring and shoved it into his pocket. His eyes darted around the room for an escape. The window. It was a three-story drop, but the fire escape was just within reach. He moved quickly, pushing the window open just as the door creaked.
A rush of cold air hit his face as he climbed out. Footsteps echoed inside the apartment. Someone had entered.
He didn't wait to see who. He swung himself onto the fire escape, gripping the metal railing as he made his way down as fast as he could. Below, the alley was empty, but shadows shifted from the corner of his vision. He hit the ground and took off running.
Behind him, a voice called out.
"Stop!"
Alexander didn't turn back. His heart pounded in his chest as he darted through the backstreets, weaving through the maze of alleys. Whoever they were, they were fast. He could hear their footsteps gaining on him.
Then something strange happened.
The ring in his pocket grew hot—burning hot. A surge of energy pulsed through his veins. His vision sharpened, his body felt lighter, and suddenly, the world slowed. He moved faster, almost instinctively, his legs carrying him with a speed he had never known.
He didn't question it. He just ran.
The city blurred past him, and soon, the sounds of pursuit faded. He only stopped when he reached an abandoned construction site, ducking into the shadows to catch his breath. His hands trembled as he pulled the ring out, staring at it in disbelief.
"What the hell are you?" he whispered.
Before he could process it, a new presence made itself known. A figure stepped from the darkness—a woman, tall and poised, with piercing golden eyes. She wore a sleek black coat, and a blade rested at her hip.
Alexander tensed. He had just escaped one threat. Was this another?
"You have no idea what you're holding," she said, her voice smooth yet commanding. "And if you want to live, you'll come with me."
Alexander's grip on the ring tightened. He had a feeling that his life would never be the same again.