THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW
"Hey! What now, Andeng? You haven't hit a single one yet!"
"Please—like you're any better! You haven't even grazed a target!"
Sasha's laughter ripples over the carnival crowd, bright enough to pull heads from tourists weaving through the evening grounds. Night has settled thick over the fair; the four of them had pooled their extra cash to try their luck at the game booths lining the midway.
Dallius stands with arms crossed, watching Sasha press her shoulder into the shooting gallery's rifle, her face scrunched in concentration as she fires—missing every bullseye clean. A smile softens his jaw as he watches her bounce on her heels, not a flicker of frustration in her posture.
Beside him, Junior—Andeng's husband—stays just as quiet, his eyes tracking the two women across the booth's counter. Together the men hold their stillness like sentinels guarding over two children let loose in a sweet shop.
Dallius's mind knots tight. Earlier that day, when Sasha had turned to him with words he'd been waiting to hear, he'd gone mute. The moment he'd found his voice, Andeng and Junior had rounded the corner.
He'd wanted to say something—anything—but since then Sasha has kept her distance, her cheeks pink whenever their eyes meet. She is embarrassed by what she confessed. He never pushes people where they don't want to go, so he has held himself back.
Every minute feels like sand slipping through his fingers. Soon enough, his time with her will end.
He does not want to leave, but he has no choice. This life he has been living is not his own, and this place is not home.
Junior's voice cuts through his thoughts, and Dallius is surprised by how grateful he is for the interruption.
"When are you leaving?" The younger man does not waste words.
Dallius shoves his hands in his pockets, his face giving nothing away as his gaze stays locked on Sasha's moving form.
"Looks like you were listening in earlier." His voice is calm as cold water.
"We heard everything. We know you wanted us to hear you talking that night." Junior meets his stare with more courage than Dallius would have guessed he possessed.
"Hmm. I'm leaving later. There is nothing left for me here." He does not hesitate.
"Just like that? You're not even going to say goodbye to Sasha? You're really just going to leave without telling her you used her from the start—"
Junior's words stop short as Dallius turns to face him fully. The look in his eyes makes the younger man's skin prickle with cold. Junior swallows hard while Dallius steps closer, the air between them thick as fog.
"You have some idea what I am capable of, yes?" Dallius's voice is low as stone. "If either you or your wife speak a word of this—expect me to find you both."
Junior nods fast, his hands loose and shaking at his sides. Dallius steps back to give him room.
"You will say nothing to her. Play innocent. Let her think whatever she wants—let her keep her illusions." A smile touches his lips, sharp as broken glass.
Junior can see the storm churning beneath Dallius's gray eyes—raw and dangerous and something else he cannot name.
"Our paths might cross again someday. Until then, you will do as I say." The threat sits heavy in the air, and Junior swallows once more.
He cannot bear the weight of Dallius's attention another second. When he turns to his wife, he finds Andeng already watching them, fear plain in her eyes—she must have felt the tension from across the midway. He gives her a small smile to say all is well.
He lets out a long breath before he speaks again.
"Our island isn't in danger, right?" Real fear threads through his words.
"Hmm. No need to worry. No one knows I was there. In fact—" Dallius turns back to him, their eyes meeting again. "I suggest all of you keep quiet if you don't want your island to vanish without a trace."
Junior's whole body trembles, but Dallius seems not to notice—he is already turning away, a faint smile on his lips as he heads toward where Sasha stands.
Junior's heart hammers against his ribs. He had known the man was rich, but never guessed how much power he held—or what he really did for work. All he and Andeng had overheard that night, when Dallius borrowed their phone, was him speaking in a language they did not recognize. "Ya ponimayu, Pakhan. Vsyo budet sdelano po planu." They had seen how he arranged aid for the island, had known he would leave soon. But now, hearing his words, Junior cannot help but worry for his friends.
Most of all for Sasha.
SASHA'S cheeks ache from grinning so wide. She is having the best night of her life, two enormous stuffed animals tucked against her chest—prizes Dallius had won at the shooting gallery only minutes before. One is deep violet, the other brilliant blue, each nearly as tall as her waist.
"Seriously—how did you do that?! You must have practiced these games as a kid!" She laughs and tilts her head up at him.
Dallius chuckles and brings a spoonful of pancit to her lips. They sit at an outdoor café now, all of them hungry after hours of wandering the fair's winding paths.
Sasha's brow creases when she sees Andeng will not look at her.
"Hey! You're avoiding me!" She pokes her friend's arm playfully. "Jealous, are we?"
Andeng forces a laugh and rolls her eyes. "P-Please! My husband could win me one of those any time he wanted."
Sasha lifts an eyebrow. "Oh really? You and Junior? The two of you? Prove it!"
"Fine! Isn't that right, baby? You'll win me one later, won't you?"
Sasha watches Junior glance toward Dallius, and she follows his gaze, confused why he would seek confirmation from her companion.
"Absolutely! Hey, are we done eating? Should I go win my wife that bear now?"
"Ugh!" Sasha mimes gagging before she laughs. "You two are so cheesy! Go on, get out of here! Shoo!"
Her friends burst into laughter—even Dallius's lips twitch into a smile.
"Alright, alright. We'll head over there now. Catch up with you later, okay?"
"Go have fun!" Sasha calls as Andeng and Junior walk away.
SASHA and Dallius are alone at the table. Her chest flutters as he keeps feeding her, his movements steady and careful.
She feels herself falling deeper with every breath between them.
Earlier, she had wanted to sink into the earth from shame—after she had told him how she felt and he had said nothing at all. But now, watching him care for her this way, she knows he must feel the same. She holds to that thought like a life raft.
Even a year later, when he vanished without a word, she held onto that hope. When he told her he was going to the restroom, she never imagined he would be gone for good.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Sasha's voice pulls Dallius out of his memories.
They had been walking back toward the carnival to find the others when he stopped and turned down a different path. Now she stands before him, her dark eyes wide with confusion, one stuffed animal pressed so tight to her chest its fur is flattened. He holds up the cloth bag in his hand.
"I'm going to change clothes." He forces a smile. "I want to wear what you bought me."
He watches her face light up with pure joy, and something in his chest squeezes—sharp enough to make him wince.
"Really? Hurry up then! I'll wait for you at the entrance! Oh my god!" She laughs and bounces on her toes again. "I can't wait to see you in them—they're going to look so good on you!"
He manages a small nod and turns toward the dim path leading to the restrooms.
His face is calm as he walks, the darkness of the trees matching the weight settling in his heart.
He had told her the truth—he is going to change into the clothes she bought him.
He steps inside and pulls the outfit on, his hands moving with deliberate slowness. When he is done, he leans against the wall, hands in his pockets, staring at the full moon hanging bright through the high window. A bitter smile touches his lips.
Doubt twists in his gut. He does not want to leave, but he knows he must.
Sasha deserves more than the life he leads. She deserves someone who can give her a normal future.
"Boss."
Dallius does not look away from the moon even as he recognizes the voice.
"You're earlier than planned." He says, still gazing at the silver sky.
"Yeah well—I know you hate waiting." The man answers.
"Fill me in on everything later, Percival." This time Dallius looks down at the blonde-haired man before him, his hair shining like mercury in the moonlight.
"As you wish, boss." Percival grins, though worry lines his forehead.
"Let's go." Dallius starts toward the exit, but Percival pauses, his brow furrowed.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to her?" He asks, falling into step beside him.
"Hmm. It's not necessary. We are pressed for time." Dallius does not slow his pace.
Percival says nothing more, shoving his hands in his pockets as he follows the man whose shoulders seem to have grown heavier since they arrived.
They are halfway to the car when Percival's earpiece crackles to life. It is Alas, one of their men back at the organization.
["Percy, you're still too soft for this line of work, you know that?"]
Percival lifts an eyebrow at the comment.
["We've known the Pakhan for years. This is how he protects the people who don't belong in our world—he cuts ties clean."]
Percival nods as he walks, keeping his eyes on Dallius's back.
["None of us know how long we have left. We don't drag innocent people into our mess. That is why we never look back."]
The line goes silent just as Percival spots a familiar figure pushing through the crowd.
Dallius has already climbed into the front seat when Percival turns to see Sasha stumbling toward them, tears streaking her cheeks as she scans every face in sight.
Their eyes meet, and she starts running straight for him. Percival's heart races—he prays she has not seen Dallius inside the car. He stays still, waiting for her to reach him.
"E-Excuse me—" She gasps, tears rolling down her throat. Percival glances at the car—thankfully Dallius is facing away from them. He steps forward to block her view.
"Yes, miss?"
"D-Did you see a tall man? Black hair, gray eyes like marbles? He said he was just going to the restroom but he never came back." She bites her lip hard enough to leave a white mark, then breaks into fresh sobs.
Percival looks at her for a moment, feeling a sharp pang of sympathy—for her, and for his boss.
"No. I haven't seen anyone like that." He says clearly, then turns to walk away.
"O-Okay! Thank you!"
"Sasha!"
He hears her friends calling her name as he climbs into the driver's seat. He had heard her name before—now it feels like lead in his mouth.
He starts the engine but pauses, looking at Dallius in the passenger seat.
"You really don't want to say goodbye to her? To Sasha?"
Dallius rests his head against the window, staring out into the dark.
"She's better off not knowing me at all."
With that, Percival shifts into gear and pulls away, driving fast enough to put the carnival—and everything it means—far behind them.