Alexander woke up from a fall. The Lost One's cover worked, protecting him from the bat that landed on the pad's place. However, he did not have time to react to the next attack. A foot slammed into his head, causing instant pain and disorientation. Then came another blow, and after that the bat finally reached its target, hitting Alexander in the head and knocking him out.

When he woke up for the second time, he found himself in a moving car, but his vision was blurred. Having blinked, Alexander realized that he was lying in the trunk. In an attempt to resist, he saturated his palm with the power of his soul and began to mindlessly cut everything around, turning metal and people into dust. Four precise blows, and he fell onto the roadway, hitting himself as he fell.

When Alexander fell onto the asphalt, he lost his orientation for a moment. It was deep night all around, and only rare lanterns illuminated the road. The pain in his head and body was unbearable, but he forced himself to his feet. The mangled remains of the car crashed into a concrete fence and burst into flames. The area was illuminated with light from the burning car, the deafening sound of an explosion broke the silence of the night.

Alexander looked around. It was on the outskirts of the city, where cars rarely passed even during the day. Alexander realized that he was standing next to a destroyed mansion and vague doubts crept into him. Alexander looked around carefully, feeling his confidence growing with every moment. He remembered Berezovsky's words about how Twilight created his lair - inconspicuous, but well protected. Alexander realized that his captors may have brought him right here - into the very lair of the enemy.

Concentrating, he redirected the power of his soul through his body, feeling each wound begin to heal. This was the first time he had done this, but manipulating energy had become commonplace for him. Quickly jumping over the stone fence, he began to carefully make his way to the mansion. Without realizing it, he entered the invisibility mode of the Lost Man's cloak.

The building looked abandoned, and even the night made it difficult to see anything clearly, but Alexander accidentally noticed CCTV cameras cunningly hidden among the trees. He picked up subtle signs that the mansion was indeed inhabited.

- So this is where you are hiding, Dusk. – Alexander muttered under his breath.

He continued to move forward, under the cover of the Lost One, so as not to be seen. Each step was calculated to minimize noise and avoid detection. He knew that he would face danger, but he was ready to accept it in order to finish this matter once and for all. There he noticed how people with machine guns, about ten of them, ran towards the road where the car was burning.

Alexander walked to the back door of the mansion. He paused, listening for any sounds inside. Everything was quiet. The young man carefully turned the door handle, which surprisingly was not locked, and entered the mansion, feeling the contrast between its exterior and interior. Luxury and sophistication reigned inside: smooth marble floors, expensive paintings on the walls, and the furniture was made in the style of ancient palaces.

Heavy curtains covered the windows, creating a gloomy twilight in which gold jewelry shimmered and the crystals of the chandeliers sparkled. All this created the impression that the mansion belonged to someone very influential and rich. And yet, it seemed that no one needed it. Dust, too much dust.

Continuing to use the cover of the Lost, Alexander moved deeper into the mansion. He tried to move silently, listening to every rustle. In one of the corridors he almost collided with one of the guards. He was a massive man, dressed in a black leather jacket, with scars on his face and the cold gaze of a professional gangster. The guard was holding a machine gun and seemed to be always ready for action. But thanks to the cover, the guard’s gaze slid past Alexander without noticing him.

Alexander began his search for Twilight on the first floor of an abandoned mansion. The first thing that caught his attention was the spacious entrance hall with high ceilings and marble floors decorated with intricate patterns. Portraits hung on the walls; through the thick dust one could see the majestic faces of ancestors or noble personalities. A large chandelier, covered in a layer of dust, hung motionless, like a temporary guardian of this place. Another guard passed nearby, but also without incident.

To the left of the hallway was the living room. It was a spacious room with heavy wooden furniture sets covered with fabric with luxurious patterns. In the center of the room was a large fireplace lined with exquisite marble. Above the fireplace hung a broken mirror in a luxurious frame, which reflected the dead emptiness of the room.

Next was the library. It was dominated by high shelves with books, covered with a thick layer of dust. The smell of old paper and leather bindings hung in the air. In the center stood an antique desk with a lamp and a heavy leather chair next to it. Paintings and old maps hung on the walls, indicating the cultural preferences of the owner of the house.

At this moment, two people entered the library and lazily looked to see if everything was in order.

- Listen, is it true that they say that Twilight will arrive soon?

- Yeah, right now, he comes soon every year. He is now trying to clean up the crap that has fallen on him.

- Yes, but as a mistress, it’s nothing like that for you. Sometimes I’ll come up and take a look at her. - the thin guy didn’t have time to finish when he was punched in the gut by a friend with a pistol in his hands.

- Don’t say such nonsense again and don’t get caught, if he finds out, you’ll be finished.

- Yes, I’m just for you...

They left the library, and Alexander followed thoughtfully.

The mansion's kitchen was equipped with the latest technology, but everything looked untouchable and abandoned. Stainless steel, glossy surfaces and modern appliances contrasted with the rest of the mansion, creating the feeling that life had stood still here.

Alexander also checked several small rooms that appeared to be used as bedrooms or offices. An atmosphere of chaos reigned in each of them. Lots of beds, clothes and food from some fast food. Bottles of intoxicating drink could be seen, already empty. Only near the TV with the game console was it relatively clean. It was not difficult to guess that the guards were resting in these rooms. Last he looked around the dining room, with a long table and a set of chairs, where large groups had once gathered.

There was not the slightest sign of Dusk's presence anywhere, and the guards mentioned that he did not appear here. All he had to do was look for his sister and, with her help, find the leader of the bandits. Alexander decided to continue his search on the second floor.

Alexander slowly climbed the ancient stairs to the second floor of the mansion. Here the atmosphere seemed less deserted, and the lingering smell of tobacco and autumn grass hung in the air.

Walking along the corridor, Alexander noticed several guards, typical bandits. They were dressed in worn leather clothes and dirty jeans. Their faces showed cruelty and vigilance. One of them, more muscular, with short-cropped hair and an overgrown beard, carried a rusty machine gun in his hands. The other, thinner with long hair, held a pistol to his body. Alexander, using the cover of the Lost One, managed to pass by them unnoticed, slipping into the shadows.

Continuing his inspection, he entered one of the rooms, which apparently was used as a bedroom. There was a large bed with soft pillows and a luxurious bedspread. In the corner of the room there was a dressing table with a broken mirror, surrounded by various bottles of perfume and autumn leaves collected in a kind of bouquet.

In another room, Alexander found a small home theater system with comfortable chairs and a large screen. The room was decorated in a modern style with a sense of relaxation and entertainment.

After going through a few more rooms, Alexander finally found what he was looking for. In one of the rooms, which was furnished like an office, he saw a girl. She gently ran her fingers over the pages of the book, as if reading Braille. Her blind eyes met his gaze, and she said:

- Brother, is that you? - her voice sounded gentle, but there was a note of melancholy and loneliness in it.

He understood everything and remembered what he had dismissed as insignificant when he examined the mansion. Broken mirrors everywhere possible. Even here he saw that in the corner of the room there was a broken chess table, on which lay the pieces as if abandoned in haste or anger.

On the floor near the fireplace were pieces of a mirror that had probably been broken recently. The shards reflected distorted fragments of the room and created a feeling of chaos and confusion.

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Alexander did not wish harm to the blind girl and even the initial plan to interrogate her came to naught. He slowly stepped out the door and didn't even realize when his cover of the Lost dissipated. But then Cassandra’s whisper was heard in his ears, filling him with wariness: “So few options, so many attempts.” And then he saw himself in the center of the void. Pictures of his death began to appear around him, each more realistic and gruesome than the other.

In one of the paintings, two guards, tough and merciless, pointed their guns at him and shot. Bullets pierced his body, one in the chest, the other in the head. Pain overwhelmed him, his vision began to fade, and it seemed that the end was near.

In another, he jumps to the side, bullets hit nearby, but one catches him. After which the man reloaded the gun and shot Alexander in the head. The next image showed him creating a blade of light and running towards his opponent. There were four more such visions, each of which ended with his death. The young man drew attention to other visions, where the outcome was the same, except for one, where he jumps back into the office to the blind girl.

His will to live flared up with renewed vigor, and he, gathering the last remnants of his strength, resolutely stood up on his feet. He was ready to fight to the end, not giving up in the face of death.

Alexander chose a vision that did not lead him to death, and did everything as he saw in his prediction. Time slowed down and a shot was fired. He jumped sharply to the side, where the girl was standing in fear and calling her brother.

- Bra-a-a-t!

The pops of shots sounded, but Alexander was already on the move. He quickly assessed possible escape routes and tried to reactivate the Shroud of the Lost, but the gift remained silent, being on cooldown. Alexander realized his mistake in not checking how long the gift could work and how long it needed to recover. Having made a note to check this for the future, he rushed to the girl and on time.

One of the bandits quickly looked into the room and then shouted:

- Don't shoot, the mistress is there!

It was clear from the patter of feet that all the bandits in the mansion were now hurrying to the second floor.

- Something needs to be done, and quickly. – Alexander thought, feeling the approaching danger. He looked carefully at the blind girl in front of him, scared and confused. The young man quickly made a decision.

“Follow me, quickly...” he said quietly to the girl, taking her hand and heading towards the window. Alexander was prepared for unforeseen circumstances and knew that the window could be the only way to salvation. The opening itself turned out to be blocked with bricks. Without much thought, Alexander created a light blade and completely cut off everything that prevented him from moving forward. Voices and noise were heard behind him.

Thanks to his prepared body and instincts, Alexander quickly assessed the height and distance to the nearest tree. He knew he could. Grabbing the girl at the waist, he stood on the very edge. Catherine, Dusk's sister, was petite and light.

- We'll have to take a risk. – he thought, preparing to jump.

“Trust me and hold on tight,” he told the girl, feeling her resistance and fear. With that, he jumped down sharply, landing on a tree branch with agility and precision. Katya screamed until her ears were blocked, but Alexander did not stop, jumping further.

After landing successfully, Alexander quickly looked around to see if the bandits had followed them. There was silence all around, only the rustling of leaves underfoot and distant noise from the second floor of the mansion.

- Now we need to quickly leave here. – Alexander thought, leading the girl away from the mansion, hoping to find a safe place and think about his further actions.

Alexander, leading the blind girl through the forest to the road, felt her growing anxiety and resistance. She nervously tried to break free, afraid of the unknown that was her captor. Catherine fell, but the young man steadily followed his plan, dragging her further from the mansion. Shots rang out behind them, accompanied by rude obscenities from one of the bandits. Alexander glanced back, where he saw how the one who shot was hit in the face by another bandit.

“It looks like they can’t shoot in our direction.” – Alexander thought. But suddenly a group of ten bandits targeted him from behind the trees. These were the ones who moved towards the exploded car.

- We're trapped. – Alexander realized, stopping and preparing for the fight. The girl, feeling his tension, began to panic even more.

- Please let me go! I don't want to die! Brother! Brother! – she screamed in horror, tears flowing down her cheeks.

- Quiet, I will protect you. – Alexander said, trying to calm her down, although he himself felt that the situation was getting out of control.

- Save it!

The bandits, approaching, began to surround them. Alexander imbued his hand with soul power, preparing for the clash. With every moment the tension increased, and he realized that he had little chance of success. The men in black were not at all embarrassed by the weapon created from silver smoke.

Looking around, Alexander realized that the situation was truly critical. The bandits kept their distance, clearly aware of the danger posed by the light blade. The weapon was aimed at him.

- Drop your weapon! – Alexander ordered loudly. At his order, the bandits only laughed in response. Alexander, realizing that words would not help, and he did not want to harm the girl, so he cut down the nearest tree in one fell swoop. The bandits, alarmed by this show of force, took a step back. And then again, when the tree began to fall on them.

Taking advantage of the opponents' moment of uncertainty, Alexander rushed forward, leading the girl behind him. But suddenly she tripped and fell to the ground. Alexander understood that it was impossible to leave her in such a situation, but staying here was mortally dangerous.

"Your behavior is strange. Your actions are stupid.” - Cassandra’s whisper sobered my consciousness.

He again found himself in the void, where pictures of possible death options and ways to avoid them flashed before him. There were moments where he was simply shot. Where a girl is killed because of him. There he saw his unsuccessful attempt to attack and a successful one, but one that required some skill. He chose this option, where he ran up to one of the bandits, impaling him with a light blade and using his body as a shield from his comrades' gunfire.

Everything happened as if in slow motion: Alexander repeated the actions from the vision, went into close combat and quickly neutralized the nearest enemy, and used his body as a shield. Shots were fired. His every movement was precise and easy.

Meanwhile, the girl, gripped by fear, curled up into a ball and did not move from her place. He shouted to her:

- Don't be afraid, I will save you. – he felt the gravity of the situation and its helplessness.

The girl shouted back:

- Leave me alone! Brother! Save!

Leaving the girl in relative safety, Alexander turned his attention to the remaining opponents. His soul power was on the verge of depletion, but he still possessed sufficient skill in hand-to-hand combat and the ability to use the environment to his advantage.

He quickly assessed the terrain: trees, uneven terrain, and even falling leaves could help him hide his movement. Alexander began to maneuver between the trees, using them as cover from shots. Every step he took was measured and precise.

Approaching the first enemy, Alexander used the element of surprise. He grabbed the bandit and, using his body as a shield, began firing his weapon at the next one.

Alexander moved through the forest with agility and speed that few would have expected from a man in his position. He used every tree, every bush as cover to get close to his opponents without being noticed.

The first enemy, standing at the edge of the forest clearing, did not even have time to react when Alexander silently came out from behind a tree and grabbed him. An experienced fighter, Alexander quickly intercepted the bandit's weapon, using it as a shield to approach the next one. He generally liked this tactic in the fight against an armed and numerous enemy.

When the second bandit turned around, seeing his comrade in the hands of Alexander, he panicked and fired, but the bullet hit his own ally. Alexander used this moment of confusion to run up to the bandit and disarm him with a strong blow of his hand. Taking his weapon away, Alexander quickly knocked him out. Then he pulled out a knife and stuck it in the neck. The bandit died. but Alexander himself did not receive strength.

“Damn, you need to kill with a blade of strength...” with these words, he gathered his remaining strength and in a roll cut the man from the groin to the armpit. The strength of his soul filled him and he grinned, getting high like a drug addict.