The rooftop was silent again.
Too silent.
The Harbinger was gone—but its presence still lingered like a stain in the air.
Adrian knelt on the ground, his breathing uneven, his hand trembling as he stared at the black symbol burned into his wrist.
It pulsed faintly.
Like it was… alive.
"Kai…" his voice shook, "it's still moving…"
Kai crouched beside him immediately, his expression tense.
"Let me see."
Adrian hesitated for only a second before extending his arm.
The moment Kai's fingers brushed against the mark—
Adrian gasped.
A sharp jolt of energy shot through him.
"Ah—!"
Kai pulled his hand back quickly.
"…It reacted," Kai muttered.
Adrian clutched his wrist.
"It hurts… like something is inside it…"
Kai's eyes darkened.
"That's because there is."
Adrian froze.
"What…?"
Kai stood slowly, scanning the rooftop like he expected something else to appear at any moment.
"That mark isn't just a symbol," he said. "It's a link."
"A link to what?" Adrian asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kai looked at him.
"To the Void."
Adrian's stomach dropped.
"…So they can find me… anytime?"
Kai nodded.
"Yes. And worse…"
He paused.
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
"Worse what?"
Kai's voice lowered.
"It can influence you."
Silence.
The words hung heavy between them.
Adrian stared at his wrist again.
"You mean… control me?"
"Not completely," Kai said quickly. "But it can whisper. Push your emotions. Make your shadows unstable."
Adrian swallowed hard.
"So I could lose control again…"
Kai didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
A cold breeze passed over the rooftop.
Adrian slowly stood up, though his legs still felt weak.
"We can remove it, right?" he asked, trying to sound hopeful.
Kai hesitated.
For the first time since they met—
He looked uncertain.
"…I don't know."
Adrian's heart sank.
"But there might be a way," Kai added quickly.
Adrian looked up.
"What way?"
Kai turned toward the city.
"There are others."
"Others?"
"People who know about shadows. Who fight them."
Adrian blinked.
"Like you?"
Kai shook his head slightly.
"Stronger. Older. More experienced."
Adrian felt a small spark of hope.
"Then let's go to them."
Kai's expression tightened.
"It's not that simple."
"Why not?"
Kai finally met his eyes again.
"Because they don't trust people like you."
Adrian froze.
"…Like me?"
Kai's voice was quiet.
"Marked."
The word hit harder than Adrian expected.
"So… what, they'll just reject me?"
Kai didn't look away.
"They might do worse than that."
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
"Great," he muttered bitterly. "So I'm hunted by monsters… and feared by humans."
Kai stepped closer.
"You're not alone."
Adrian let out a small, humorless laugh.
"Feels like it."
Before Kai could respond—
The mark on Adrian's wrist suddenly glowed brighter.
Adrian froze.
"…Kai."
"I see it," Kai said sharply.
The glow spread slightly, dark energy crawling up Adrian's arm like veins.
Adrian's breath quickened.
"I don't feel right…"
A voice echoed faintly in his mind.
"…Let go…"
Adrian's eyes widened.
"Did you hear that?!"
Kai grabbed his shoulders.
"Focus on me. Don't listen to it."
"…You belong to us…"
The whisper grew louder.
Adrian clutched his head.
"Make it stop…!"
The shadows around them began to stir.
They lifted off the ground, swirling violently.
Kai's grip tightened.
"Adrian! Look at me!"
Adrian's vision blurred.
Everything felt distant again.
"…You are ours…"
"No…" Adrian whispered weakly.
The shadows surged higher.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
Kai stepped closer, not letting go.
"You're stronger than this," he said firmly.
Adrian shook his head.
"I can't… it's too loud…"
Kai hesitated for only a moment.
Then—
He pulled Adrian into him.
Adrian froze.
"Kai—?!"
"Stay with me," Kai said softly, his voice right next to Adrian's ear.
The warmth of his body, the steady sound of his breathing—
It cut through the noise.
"…You're not alone," Kai murmured.
Adrian's breathing slowed slightly.
The whisper weakened.
The shadows began to settle.
Kai didn't let go.
"Focus on me," he repeated.
Adrian closed his eyes.
The voice faded.
"…for now…"
The glow on his wrist dimmed.
The shadows fell still.
Silence returned.
Adrian leaned slightly into Kai, his body still shaking.
"…It stopped."
Kai exhaled quietly.
"…Good."
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
Then Adrian realized how close they were.
He quickly pulled back, his face slightly flushed.
"S-sorry…"
Kai looked at him for a second.
Then looked away.
"…It worked."
Adrian let out a small breath.
"Yeah…"
A quiet moment passed between them.
Then Kai spoke again.
"We don't have much time."
Adrian frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Kai's gaze turned serious.
"That was just the beginning. The mark is activating faster than I expected."
Adrian's stomach tightened.
"So what do we do?"
Kai looked toward the distant skyline.
"We find the shadow hunters."
Adrian hesitated.
"The ones who might kill me?"
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian sighed.
"Great plan."
Kai glanced at him.
"It's the only one."
Adrian looked down at his wrist again.
The mark was faint now.
But still there.
Still waiting.
"…Then let's go," he said quietly.
Kai studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Stay close to me."
Adrian gave a small, nervous smile.
"When do I not?"
Kai didn't respond.
But for the first time—
There was the faintest hint of something softer in his expression.
And as they left the rooftop together—
Neither of them noticed the shadows behind them shift.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.