The rain had stopped sometime before dawn, leaving behind damp streets and a sky that looked too clear—almost unnatural after the chaos of the previous night.
The city moved forward as it always did.
But for Aren, time hadn't.
The hospital corridor was silent, except for the faint hum of machines and distant footsteps echoing from somewhere far away.
Aren stood near the end of the hallway, just beside a window. His reflection stared back at him faintly, blurred by the light outside.
He hadn't moved in a while.
Not really.
A nurse passed by him, giving a brief glance—not recognition, not authority, just another person standing there.
He wasn't supposed to be here as an officer anymore. And yet, he was still here.
"He's awake."
Mirelle's voice broke the silence. Aren turned slightly. She stood a few steps behind him, her expression calm, but her eyes searching his face carefully.
"Since when?" he asked.
"A few minutes," she replied. "He's stable… but confused." "He keeps asking about what happened."
Aren looked toward the closed door at the end of the corridor. A little pain and exhaustion
Then he nodded: "Let's go."
Curtains half-drawn. Soft light falling across the bed. The steady rhythm of a heart monitor filled the quiet space. The survivor lay still, his face pale, eyes open but distant—as if he hadn't fully returned yet.
Aren stepped inside.
Mirelle followed him, staying closer to the door this time. The man's gaze shifted towards Aren and continued looking at him.
Aren walked closer, closer enough to hear his low voice.
"You're safe now, I am a police officer...i mean i was, but here is my friend, she is a Police officer." Aren said.
The man blinked slowly but no relief nor any gratitude showed, instead he looked confusing and something deeper...
After a moment, he spoke: "…Why?" The word was barely audible. Aren frowned slightly: "What?"
The man's lips parted again, his voice trembling—not from weakness, but from something else.
"Why… did you choose me?"
The question lingered in the air.
Heavy. Aren was still, thinking what the question could mean.
"I didn't choose," Aren replied, steady but quiet "I got you out." A faint, almost broken smile appeared on the man's face. Not out of happiness or relief. Aren looked confusing and a little worry. Mirelle looked at Aren from back softly. And then...
"You don't understand…" he whispered. The duo was shocked and then, Mirelle stepped forward slightly. "What do you mean?"
The man swallowed his saliva, his fingers tightening weakly against the blanket.
"He told us." Suddenly Aren's gaze sharpened. "Who?"
"The one who did this…"
"He made us decide."
"…Decide what?" Mirelle asked.
The man closed his eyes briefly, as if reliving it cost him something.
"There were two of us…" His voice shook now, and continued: "He said one of us could live."
"…if the other agreed." Then he stopped speaking
Aren didn't move, waiting quietly, Mirelle's expression shifted. "What happened?" she asked carefully. The man's breathing grew uneven. "He chose."
Aren felt something tighten in his chest.
"He told me… to live," the man continued, his voice cracking slightly. "He said I should take it."
Aren's mind focused, so focused that he didn't hear the dripping sound of the machine.
"And then…" the man whispered, opening his eyes again, locking onto Aren—
"…you came."
Aren's fingers curled slightly. As the man speaks: "You broke it."
Those words landed harder than anything else. "I wasn't supposed to survive," the man said. Aren felt...pain.
"You didn't save me," the man added quietly.
"You changed the choice." Silence filled the room, as Mirelle turned to Aren, knowing what the words would mean for Aren.
Aren had nothing to say. He stood still, looking at the patient, emotionless...
Outside the room, the corridor felt different, Quieter for Aren. Mirelle leaned slightly against the wall, her arms folded.
"…We didn't know," she said softly.
Aren shook his head. "That doesn't matter."
She looked at him and said: "You saved a life." Aren's voice dropped.
"At the cost of someone who chose to die."
That wasn't something you could justify.
Not with rules,not with logic. "
And definitely not with peace.
Back at the station— Aren didn't step inside.
He stood near the entrance, just enough to hear, but not enough to belong.
Inside, officers moved quickly. Files exchanged hands. Voices stayed low, controlled, but tense.
"Elena's report just came in." Mirelle took the file. Flipped through it quickly. Her expression shifted—subtle, but clear.
"What is it?" someone asked.
Mirelle spoke, reading:
"Elena's analysis suggests the killer is not targeting victims randomly…"
"…He's constructing scenarios." Aren listened from outside.
"Each incident is designed to force a decision," Mirelle continued. "Controlled environments. Limited outcomes." "So it's planned?" another officer asked. "More than that," Mirelle replied.
"He's observing the decisions."
"This isn't about killing."
"It's about testing." After listening Aren stepped outside.
Evening came slowly. The sky darkened, city lights flickering on one by one, as if nothing had changed.
But something had. Aren stood outside, under the dim glow of a streetlight. His thoughts weren't scattered anymore. They were focused. Choices. "The person gave them a choice to..."
Footsteps approached, Veydrick stopped beside him. "Hey" Aren looked up, "Are you okay?" Veydrick asked. "After what happened...and the statement of the survivor, and the fact that I can't investigate with Mirelle and others...it's painfull. I heard a new officer will arrive to take my place."
Veydrick listened quiety, looking at him. "What if the choice I made is wrong? What if the survivor is killed sooner or later...only because I saved him.
"You made the only choice you could...Aren"
Aren let out a slow breath, But it didn't ease anything.
"That doesn't make it right." Veydrick's voice remained even. "It wasn't supposed to."
"Why don't you try to investigate on your own" Veydrick said lightly and softly. "I mean I know you will and I can't stop you" Aren smiled. And they both continued looking at the Night Stars.
Accross the city, away from the other life noises. A dark room flickered to life and A screen illuminated the space.
Coordinates appeared, the locations and the timing and a Countdown. A quiet voice spoke from the shadows. "Let's see…"
"…what you choose this time."