Arlen was so shocked that he started sweating. His heartbeat quickened, his chest felt heavy, and he gasped for air. Then, everything went black.
When a sliver of consciousness returned, he opened his eyes. He tried to get up, but his head felt unbearably heavy. As he looked around, he realized he was no longer on the streets of Spyra. He was in a dark void — no sound, no color, only endless darkness.
With all his strength, he forced himself to sit up. He shut his eyes tightly, shaking his head as if trying to wake from a nightmare. When he opened them again, a car stood before him.
He got to his feet and began walking toward it. Even his footsteps made no sound. Peering into the broken glass, his body froze.
His daughter was sitting in the front seat. Something was eating her head.
He stepped closer, trembling, trying to see what it was — but the thing suddenly hid. He leaned nearer. The car's interior was pitch black.
Then, flames burst from inside. Through the fire, he saw a bald man sitting in the back seat. A deep scar ran across his face. His wide, lifeless eyes locked onto Arlen, and he smiled — a toothless, horrifying grin.
Darkness swallowed him whole. Arlen closed his eyes, accepting whatever fate awaited him.
A hand gripped his shoulder.
He opened his eyes. Shane stood before him. The night was calm again. Everything was normal. It had been a dream.
"What are you doing here, Detective Arl?" Shane asked.
"There… there was a man," Arlen panted. "He looked like me! He killed someone over there!"
"Where?" Shane frowned. "There's no one here. I searched everywhere nearby — then I found you sitting here."
"But… the wanted posters! Look at them!" Arlen pointed at a few posters .
Shane's eyes widened. "This is Detective Paul!" he exclaimed.
"What? It can't be…" Arlen stared at the posters, his mind spinning.
"Yes, you're right," Arlen said quietly. "It's Detective Paul — the one who came before us"