Carlos' POV
None of us spoke.
Then suddenly, every light in the mansion went out at once. Darkness swallowed the entire place. The only light left was the faint glow of the rising sun outside. Dawn was approaching.
"The system's been shut down. You need to get out of here now," he said in a deep voice.
He pushed me forward, urging me to leave—but I didn't move. I still couldn't believe that one day, I would finally see him in person.
"Who are you really? Why do we look exactly alike? Are we brothers?" I asked one question after another.
He paused and let out a quiet sigh.
"I've known about you for a long time, Carlos," he said, catching me off guard. "There was a time when I thought… I had a missing twin."
He looked straight into my eyes.
"But no. I know it's strange that there are two of us standing here right now. Even I don't have an explanation for that. What matters is this—deliver the USB you're holding to the Chief. Bring the Madrigals down. Finish the mission you've been preparing for all these years."
I couldn't respond.
He stepped closer and gripped both my arms. I glanced down at his hand—and froze.
He was wearing the same ring Elena and I had.
"You need to escape," he said firmly.
I nodded absentmindedly.
He pulled a gun from behind his back and handed it to me. I accepted it. Then he drew another one from his waistband.
"Let's go."
We moved toward the living room. It was empty. Furniture lay shattered across the floor. We moved carefully—
But suddenly, armed men appeared out of nowhere. There were so many of them.
"Look who's here…"
We both looked up toward the second floor.
"Eron," Leo growled beside me, his voice filled with anger.
Eron smirked, clearly enjoying what he was seeing.
"Long time no see, SPO3 Leo San Agustin," he called out. "So you've finally met your police double. Congratulations."
"You Madrigals are going to prison! I'll make sure of that!" Leo shouted.
Eron only smiled wider.
"Well… I'll make sure neither of you leave my mansion alive. You'll pay for what you did to my family—especially to my sister. You killed her!"
I froze.
He was talking about Elena… wasn't he?
I glanced at Leo in shock.
"You killed your own sister!" Leo fired back. "Because of your greed, she sacrificed herself for you! And I'll make you pay!"
Leo fired at him—but Eron dodged. Immediately, his men opened fire on us.
I ran behind a large decorative plant and crouched there, gasping for air.
Footsteps approached me. I reacted first—firing my gun.
The bullet hit his skull. He dropped instantly.
I ran again when I saw another gun aimed at me. He chased and shot, but I managed to hide behind a wall.
I fired back quickly and hit his shoulder. Taking advantage of the moment, I ran.
I searched desperately for an exit and spotted a door. I sprinted toward it—
But two men holding baseball bats blocked my way.
"Where do you think you're going?" one of them sneered, tapping his bat against his palm.
"Why? You coming with me?" I shot back sarcastically.
I grabbed a flower vase nearby and hurled it at them. They flinched.
"I'll kill you!" one shouted as he charged.
I kicked dirt from a broken pot into his eyes. He staggered back, temporarily blinded.
I ran again.
I knocked over a small wooden chair to block the path of the man chasing me—but he jumped over it.
Damn it. He wasn't just huge—he was athletic.
I stepped back—
Dead end.
"Shit…" I muttered.
"You've got nowhere left to run," the man said, pulling out his gun and aiming it at me. "Drop your weapon!"
We locked eyes. I noticed the wound on his arm.
He cocked his gun.
Slowly, I lowered mine.
"Turn around!" he ordered.
I obeyed.
As he approached and reached into his pocket for a rope, I seized the opportunity. I spun around and punched him hard. I grabbed the gun and kicked him—
But he recovered quickly.
He slammed me against the wall and wrapped the rope around my neck.
I couldn't breathe.
The rope dug into my throat. He punched my wounded side, and the pain was unbearable. I dropped the gun.
Tears filled my eyes.
My body felt like it was breaking. Like I would collapse at any second.
I thought this was it.
But suddenly, Leo appeared and kicked the man from behind. He kicked him again—this time in the head—until he collapsed.
I fell to my knees, coughing violently.
"Are you okay?" Leo asked. "Wait—you're bleeding."
He touched my wound and I cried out in pain.
"D-don't… don't touch it," I gasped.
I spotted a rag nearby.
"G-get that…" I said weakly, pointing at it.
He ran to grab it.
But before he could return—
A bullet pierced through my chest.
Hot. Burning. Agonizing.
"Carlos!" Leo shouted as he caught me.
I saw Eron standing there, smiling, gun in hand.
Leo fired back, but Eron dodged.
"Don't close your eyes!" Leo yelled.
"Carlos!" I faintly heard Luis and Jam shouting from afar.
But my vision slowly faded—
Until darkness completely swallowed me.
---
Elena's POV
I woke up in a dark room.
It was so dark I could barely see anything. I scanned my surroundings, hoping to find a door—but there was nothing but shadows.
Suddenly, a spotlight turned on.
It revealed a man sitting on a chair, head bowed, shirtless—his body covered in wounds and blood.
Another light switched on beside him.
Another man.
Also bleeding.
"Elena…"
I froze. Someone called my name—but I couldn't see who.
"Elena…"
"W-who are you?!" I shouted.
"Look at the two men in front of you."
Slowly, I turned—
Carlos.
And… Leo.
"N-no…"
I stepped back in horror as two masked men appeared behind them, pressing knives against their necks.
"Now choose, Elena," the voice said. "Choose which one you will save."
"N-no! Don't hurt them!" I screamed, my body trembling.
"I'm sorry. But only one of them can live. So tell me—Leo or Carlos?"
"Please… let them go," I cried.
"No! Choose!"
The knives pressed deeper. Blood trickled down their necks.
"Elena…"
I looked at Carlos.
He smiled at me.
"C-Carlos…"
"It's okay," he said softly, tears falling. "Save yourself… and save Leo."
"Carlos…"
"I know the truth," he continued. "You never really loved me, did you? You only loved me because I was the one who was there. I'm right… aren't I, Elena?"
"Carlos, what are you saying?" I tried to move closer—but the masked man pressed the knife deeper into his skin.
"It's okay," he repeated.
"No… I'll save both of you… please don't say that," I sobbed uncontrollably.
"Time's up."
The entire room lit up.
A man appeared between Carlos and Leo.
"It looks like you've already made your choice, Elena," he said—aiming a gun at Leo.
"No! Please! Don't!" I fell to my knees.
"Please…" I whispered.
"Elena…"
I turned to Leo.
He smiled at me.
"I love you. Always remember that."
"L-Leo…"
"I love you, Elena."
The gun fired.
"No!! Leo!!"