Dominic slowed his steps, his fingers tightening around the crystal.
A shadow shifted at the far end of the alley. Another moved behind him.
His pulse hammered against his ribs.
"How did they find me this quickly".
Dominic cursed his bad luck.
The cloaked figures stepped forward, blocking both exits.
One was lean and wiry, with the sharp eyes of a predator. The other was built like a brawler, thick arms and a scarred face.
Neither spoke.
Dominic forced himself to breathe.
Panic would get him killed.
"Think", Dominic used all the brain power he had to think his way out of this, cause he knew if he couldn't think of anything, this dirty slumps would be his grave.
The wiry one moved first.
A blur of motion—too fast.
Dominic barely twisted away before a dagger slashed through the air where his throat had been.
His back hit the alley wall, breath hitching.
No words. No warnings.
They weren't trying to capture him.
They were trying to kill him.
The second one lunged.
A fist drove into Dominic's ribs—hard.
Pain exploded through his side. His vision blurred.
A heavy hand clamped onto his shoulder, shoving him down.
The ground came up fast. The air left his lungs.
Dominic gasped for breath, coughing up blood.
His eyes felt heavy, trying his best not to go unconscious.
He knew he couldn't win this, he was to weak and his attackers way by far stronger than him,
Seeing that Dominic was still conscious,
the wiry one raised his dagger again.
Dominic's heart pounded.
His fingers dug into the dirt.
"Move. Move, dammit!'
The dagger came down—
Dominic feeling adrenalin rush, rolled away quickly.
The blade sank into the ground inches from his face.
Without thinking, he grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into the man's eyes.
The wiry man snarled and staggered behind a little bit.
Dominic seeing this chance kicked out, his foot slamming into the attacker's knee.
The wiry man let out a grunt and stumbled on to the ground.
Dominic knowing this would not be enough, he tried to run but had momentarily forgotten that they were two of them and has he was about to turn his head the other way round.
The second man grabbed him by the collar and threw him against the wall.
Pain flared across his back.
The scarred man lifted his fist.
Dominic barely ducked before the punch shattered the stone behind him.
His chest heaved. His mind raced.
He was too slow. Too weak.
They were going to kill him.
---
Then he heard someone's footsteps,
Heavy steps. Slow and Unrushed.
The two attackers immediately stepped back.
Dominic's breath stilled.
A third figure stood at the entrance now.
His presence brought a feeling, as if no one know could compare to him.
His cloak shifted slightly, revealing inked symbols running down his arms.
Something like tattoos but yet they were strange.
Looking at it you could feel the powers each of those inscriptions on his body held.
Dominic knew that this crystal, there was more to it than what he knew cause for it to warrant someone with an overbearing presence like him.
He knew he had fucked up big time and now he had to pay with his life or find a way out of this predicament his greed had brought him.
The strange man spoke, his voice was calm, unbothered, it made his scalp tingle.
"Is this the thief?"
The wiry one wiped at his eyes, growling. "Yes, the mana signature shows that it is with him."
The leader tilted his head. "You're making too much noise."
Dominic's heartbeat pounded in his ears.
The scarred man exhaled, stepping toward him again.
The leader raised a hand.
"I'll handle it."
The others hesitated—then stepped aside.
Dominic's body screamed in pain, his breaths shallow.
The leader crouched, eyes meeting his.
Calm, cold. Dominic could see his pale face and battered body in his eyes
And then—
The knife pressed against Dominic's throat.
There was no hesitation in the man`s movement swift and precise aiming for neck.
There was no words needed to be said, all Dominic could feel was death coming for him.
The blade bit into his skin.
Warm blood trickled down his neck.
Dominic's vision blurred.
His fingers twitched. His body refused to move.
"Is this it.
Is this was how I die.
Alone, nameless, forgotten.
No i don't want to die,
I can`t die now,
What about the things i dreamed about,
Please i don't want to die,
Someone, anyone help me".
His heartbeat slowed.
His breath shook.
Something inside him screamed.
And then—
The crystal in his palm shattered.
A pulse of raw heat erupted in his veins.
The leader's eyes widened.
Dominic breathed in.
His body convulsed.
And then—
He moved...