The silence that followed Markov's words was so oppressive that Alexander felt it penetrate into the very depths of his soul. He looked angrily at the major’s back, after which he turned and whispered to Roman with his lips: “We’re cutting the handcuff.” At this moment, both concentrated, turning to their inner strength. Mentally stretching a thin thread of energy to their fingertips, they saw how their hands began to become covered with a silvery haze, which quickly thickened and became sharper.
With an ease that confirmed their mastery and control of their new abilities, they cut through the metal cuffs, freeing themselves from their bonds. At that moment Markov entered the room. He looked confident, not expecting any surprises, holding in his hands the instruments that were supposed to serve as instruments of torture. His lips curved into an ominous smile as he began to lay out his terrible devices on the table. Meat hammer, garlic press, knives.
Taking the blade in his hand, he approached Alexander, about to pick it up, when the young man jerked sharply. The blow was fast and precise, like a snake's strike, and Markov, taken by surprise, collapsed to the floor, trying to instinctively grab his throat to ease the pain and restore his breathing. Alexander and Roman immediately rushed to his side to immobilize him while he was stunned.
- Let's tie him up! - Alexander said quickly, “We can’t give him the opportunity to come to his senses.”
Roman nodded and together they quickly but carefully immobilized Markov using bag straps and an electrical cord. Markov tried to resist, but the blow to the neck did not go unnoticed. Once Markov was securely tied up, Alexander sat down opposite him.
- Now you will listen to us. - he said quietly but firmly. - Let's start with why you killed me and what did you plan to do with the information that was on the flash drive?
Markov coughed, trying to catch his breath after the blow. He slowly raised his head, his gaze filled with rage mixed with an admission of temporary defeat.
- Do you think I'm just giving up? - he said hoarsely. - Fuck you, you’re not old enough to torture me yet.
- Well, you’re in vain. - Alexander met his gaze, - Now you will speak voluntarily, or we will find a way to force you to do it. But only your methods will seem childish to you compared to what I can do.
Alexander sat with his eyes fixed on the bound Markov when Roman turned to him with a question that hung in the air.
- Sorry, what do you want to do with him? Torture?
- Let's find out what he knows. Surely he has information that can help us. - Alexander answered decisively, his tone was cold and concentrated.
- So torture... This is wrong. - Roman said, his eyes expressing concern. - We must hand him over to the authorities. Report his crimes.
- And how do you imagine this? - Alexander turned to Roman, his eyebrows frowned. - Do you think they'll believe us? We have no evidence, Roman. Without them, he will soon be free, and who knows what will happen then.
- Do I understand correctly that after the torture, you planned... To kill him? - Roman’s voice trembled. His gaze showed disgust at such a proposal.
Alexander was silent for a moment, weighing his words.
- Maybe this is the only way... We can't risk him coming out to hunt us again.
- No! - Roman flinched, as if Alexander’s words were a blow. - If we cross this line, we will become no better than him. We must find another way.
Darkness filled the room, and the tension between the two friends became palpable. Roman, who always preferred peaceful solutions, stood opposite Alexander, feeling the severity of the situation.
- We can't kill. - Roman said firmly, looking into Alexander’s eyes. - This contradicts everything. Our humanity. You don't feel like it's wrong. We must hand him over to the authorities.
Alexander rejected the offer, his eyes shining dully.
- And what? Let him leave again? He knows too much about us, about our abilities. The authorities won't believe us - they're already in his pocket.
Roman objected, but his words were interrupted by Markov’s sharp movement. Weakened, but still dangerous, the major managed to free his hands and, grabbing a knife that lay in close proximity, rushed at Alexander. A sharp blade pierced Alexander's stomach, and warm blood gushed through his fingers.
The fight was brutal and short-lived. Markov, directing his last efforts to destroy his enemy, continued to strike blow after blow, but Alexander, already dying, gathered the remnants of his soul power and directed them into his palm. The silvery haze appeared instantly, concentrated and razor-sharp.
With a final surge of will, Alexander sharply moved his hand along Markov’s body, from side to shoulder, leaving a silver trail behind him. Markov let out a hoarse sound as the might of his soul power tore through his body, enveloping him in a deadly cloud of pain.
And then everything went quiet. Alexander and Markov lay motionless, both having lost their lives in the final battle.
Alexander felt his consciousness leaving his wounded body, but instead of the darkness of eternal nothingness, he found himself in a place full of chaos and distorted reality - in the Edge. The gray sky hung over him, it seemed that drops of time froze in the air, and the ground under his feet was covered with a layer of ash and scattered daggers.
As soon as Alexander looked around, through the veil of habituation of his eyes, he felt pain in his back. It was an insidious blow - Markov overtook him in this world. Turning around, Alexander saw the gloating face of the major, enjoying the moment of victory. But there was no fear in Alexander's eyes, only rage and determination.
- You made a mistake, Markov. - Alexander muttered hoarsely, drawing the dagger from his back and throwing it to the side. - You can’t let go of the weapon.
The fingers of his hand closed around the hilt of his own blade, and he allowed the power of the soul hidden in the depths of his being to fill the blade. The metal came to life, bathed in a silvery glow, transforming into a long, perfectly balanced lightsaber blade. Their training was not in vain and now, in this world where the soul mattered much more, he could do what Roman wanted so much - a lightsaber.
With every movement, every blow, the sword cut through the air, leaving trails of silvery light in its wake. Alexander felt strength, without any restrictions. With the energy sword in hand, he moved forward to fight Markov on the new battlefield.
Markov, in turn, armed only with his cunning and left without a dagger, did not expect such a turn. His smile faded and fear appeared in his eyes as he saw Alexander seemingly transformed into a warrior of light, ready for the final battle for his soul and justice.
Alexander quickly attacked the unarmed Markov, who dodged the glowing blade with incredible dexterity. His movements were filled with a desperate instinct of self-preservation, and he used all his experience and training to avoid the fatal blow.
But with a sharp jerk, Alexander managed to achieve his goal: his lightsaber pierced Markov’s body, cutting him in half. A cry of pain escaped Markov, but death did not follow. Torn into pieces, Markov looked at his body with bewilderment and horror, not understanding why his consciousness still held on in this torn existence.
Alexander stood over him, unfazed, his lightsaber still blazing silver in his hand.
- The main thing here is the soul. - he said coldly, - And it looks like yours is really strong. But it won't change anything. You will die, but first you will tell me everything.
Markov tried to hide his fear behind a mask of contempt, but his body betrayed him.
- Never! - he wheezed, refusing to cooperate.
Alexander, not wanting to waste time, ran his lightsaber along Markov's body, causing excruciating pain.
- I can do this forever. - he promised, - And every time it will hurt more and more. The Edge is a place where mental wounds are healed; food is not needed here, so the torment of the soul can last forever.
Markov groaned in pain as Alexander cut him once again with his blade. He realized that resistance was pointless. Markov, tormented by unbearable pain, had difficulty mustering the strength to confess. His breathing became rapid and shallow, pain and despair were read in every breath. With the understanding that Alexander could make his threats come true, he began to speak.
“Okay... I’ll talk...” he groaned, trying to concentrate through the agony. - Colonel Berezovsky... He is not just a policeman. He is part of a big game. Twilight... He is only a face, a pawn that everyone sees. Berezovsky... He is a shadow, he is the one who moves the pieces on the board.
Alexander leaned closer, letting Markov know that not a word should be missed.
- Talk on! - he ordered.
- Berezovsky and Sumrak... They have a long business relationship. Everyone has already dug up so much dirt on each other that it is easier for them to exist together than to go down alone. Do you think Dusk is in charge here? No, he just follows orders. Berezovsky is the brain. He uses police resources to cover up Dusk's operations. Drugs, weapons, human trafficking... It all goes through him.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
-Are you in this story? - Alexander felt his own soul filled with cold from these revelations.
- Thanks to you, I was able to quickly rise and become a link between them. I knew both sides... I knew too much. - Markov coughed, each coughing fit shook him literally to the core of his soul. - Berezovsky promised me protection. A life full of luxury and power... But when it came to what was promised, he gave the order to eliminate me. I became a threat, a risk he couldn't take. He knew too much and acted arrogantly, thanks to you.
Alexander leaned back on his heels, new facts swirling in his head.
- So, what is next?
- And then I was able to get information from you, which greatly complicated Berezovsky’s life. Thanks to you, he couldn't touch me. True, I underestimated you and in the end, from the one from whom I did not expect problems, I received them the most.
- Thank you. - With these words, Alexander stuck a glowing blade into the major’s head.
Alexander left Markov's body, which had already begun to crumble into fine ash. The energy released from the destruction of Markov was felt as a surge of power, which habitually took its place in the solar plexus.
- There is the first one. - he whispered under his breath, feeling the weight of responsibility for what he had just done.
Alexander rubbed his eyes tiredly, trying to drive away the fatigue and concentrate on further actions. He looked around the surrounding area, looking for landmarks in this formless world, and saw a small hill that could become an excellent observation point. With each step leading him up the slope, the ground under his feet seemed firmer and the air cleaner, if such a thing could be felt here in Grani.
Having reached the top, Alexander examined the area. The ground here was covered with a grayish coating, and only occasionally faded shades of other colors broke through. Everything seemed incredibly monotonous, but at the same time saturated with otherworldly energy.
Alexander's gaze noticed a gray glow in the distance, a storm that flickered on the horizon like headlights in the fog. This glow was not just light, it pulsated, radiating a strange, almost hypnotic attraction.
Alexander kept his gaze on the unsteady gray light in the distance for a long time. It was something familiar, something he had seen before. The glow reminded him of the summoned souls of a creature without skin - a strange and frightening creation that he had already met in the Edge. This creature was his goal, his task. Killing him and taking his soul was what was necessary to fulfill the terms of the deal with Charon.
Feeling strength and determination, Alexander ran towards the glow. His feet carried him faster and faster across the distorted plane of this world, where every step could be either a jump or a flight. He often had to change his trajectory, but he diligently moved towards his goal.
With every step the glow became brighter and clearer. Now he could see that it was not just light, but an entire ocean of souls that rose into the air like a darkness of moths drawn to the flame. They moved chaotically, but they were all directed towards one central point, where the skinless creature should have been.
Alexander took a closer look and through the wandering souls noticed and was able to examine him. The creature was tall, its muscles were defenselessly exposed in front of all the elements of this world. His every movement was accompanied by bleeding, and an aura of pain and suffering hovered around him. But his eyes, two black pools of the abyss, radiated cold calculation and intelligence.
Alexander felt his heart beat faster when he noticed a familiar figure standing on the edge of this storm. The Executioner Skeleton, a majestic figure, stood to the side as if carved from the very fabric of reality. His skeletal outlines were motionless, and only the emptiness under the hood seemed to be following Alexander’s every movement. Where others could only see a grim guardian, Alexander discerned an ally, unable to approach the skinless creature due to the halo of spinning souls.
The silhouette of a skinless creature loomed ahead, surrounded by a mist of souls that seemed to circle in a dark dance around their master. Remembering his previous meeting with this monster, Alexander understood that his actions must be decisive and precise.
At the last moment, before bursting into the crowd of souls that could tear him to pieces in a matter of minutes, he held out a dagger in front of him. Soul power exploded through his body, traveled through his arm and concentrated into the blade, emitting energy that materialized into a protective barrier around him. The vortexes of energy around the dagger created a glowing shield, pushing souls away and forming a path through the crowd straight to its target.
With every powerful step that Alexander approached the gathering place of souls, his breathing became smoother and more confident. The vortex of souls revolving around the skinless creature was like a living barrier, but Alexander broke through it. He concentrated and through the dagger released a stream of his spiritual energy, which, meeting the whirlwind of souls, took the form of a shield, creating a protective cocoon around it.
The shield flickered and pulsed, reflecting and dispersing souls that tried to touch it. This was more than just protection - it was an extension of his will and determination. Alexander felt his own soul resonate with the energy around him, and this gave him the strength to move on.
Having made his way through the vortex of souls, he found himself face to face with a creature without skin. Now it was so close that Alexander could see every drop of blood flowing through his muscles. His gaze met the unblinking eyes of the creature, and in this silent exchange of glances there was an understanding that one of them would fall and each of them did not want to become a victim.
Alexander felt a seething surge of power within himself as he dispelled the shield, transforming it into a lightsaber. He began to strike at the skinless creature, his blade cutting through air and flesh with ease, each time it seemed that pieces were torn off from his body, which immediately lost their shape and crumbled into dust.
The cries of the creature filled the space, disturbing the raised souls, who rushed about like crazy, moving towards the battle. Alexander accelerated the pace, but the creature was not going to give up. It raised its hands, about to use its terrible ability, which Alexander already knew.
He made a quick roll to the side, avoiding the explosion that tore up the ground behind him. A dozen bloody spears, like a wall, protected the creature without skin. The moment after the roll, Alexander cut nearby souls with a lightsaber so that they could not support their master.
Alexander struck a couple of times with his light blade in a circular motion. This was enough to destroy the bloody spears along the way. The young man quickly closed the distance. Alexander's lightsaber cut through the air, each blow precise and decisive. He felt the creature become weaker with each wound, its screams becoming more desperate. Around them, souls began to move like a whirlwind, being drawn into the whirlwind of battle and creating chaos.
Alexander, feeling an influx of adrenaline and determination, accelerated his attacks. He understood that the battle had reached its climax and now his every step and blow could be decisive. The creature raised its hands in a sign of final defense, and Alexander, remembering the previous confrontation, predicted its next move.
At the moment when the ground exploded once again, releasing bloody spears, Alexander, using his agility, made an elegant roll to the side. Rising to his feet, he cut through the spears with his lightsaber and again rushed into close combat.
The skinless creature, stripped of its last protective barrier, was now vulnerable. Alexander, gathering all his spirit and power, pointed his lightsaber at the very heart of the creature. The powers of the entity began to leave him, and with each passing moment it was losing its power and influence on the vortex of souls.
When the final blow was struck, the skinless creature fell apart, its scream fading into the timeless space of the Edge. Around Alexander, the souls began to tremble, and then rushed into the body of the young man in a stormy stream. The guy didn’t have time to understand anything when more than a hundred souls filled his solar plexus and continued to fill it, causing terrible pain. His body was not ready for what was due to him for killing a creature without skin.