( PH:2)
That night…
was not normal There was no rain
The wind wasn't strong either.And yet, the city carried an unease within it.
Even the poles holding posters seemed to stretch their shadows a little
longer than usual.
Anie didn't notice any of that.
She was already at a stage where she had abandoned the very idea of "being alert."
1 :"
"Do you still feel like…
those 'Hunters' are just gossip?"
Mira's voice was soft.But beneath it lay the rhythm of someone trying to hide fear.Anie sat on the steps of the college building.Phone in her hand Screen dark.
"I don't call anything 'just' anything anymore, Mira,"
"In this city, nothing is just anything."
Mira sat beside her.
The small garden behind the college.
A place few people came to at night.
"Then…",,, Mira lowered her voice.
"Are they after you?"
Anie smiled but it wasn't a smile.
"I don't know.But there's one thing I'm sure of I'm standing in the wrong place."
Mira looked at Anie's face.
"You don't usually talk like this."
"I'm not usual anymore."
Anie stood up.
The wind gently moved her hair.
"Come.Let's go back."
As they passed through the college gate,the streetlights blinked one by one.One,Two,Three,Anie stopped.
"Mira…
Do you hear that?"
"What?"
"This sound."
Mira listened closely.At first… nothing.
Then,,
Click!!!
Very faint.But the sound of metal shifting.Anie slowly turned,,Across the road a man.Black coat,Face half swallowed by shadow.He stood still, as if simply standing.
But his posture…belonged to a hunter.
"Anie…",,,Mira's voice trembled.
"Is he… looking at us?"
she didn't answer,Because he smiled.
"Finally found you."
His voice sliced through the city's noise,Cold,Clear,Devoid of even a trace of human warmth.
Anie stepped forward,pulling Mira back behind her.
"Who are you?"
He tilted his head slightly,
"I know your name.That's enough."
Anie's heart pounded,,
"Do you want me?"
"Want?"
He stepped forward.One step.
Then another.
"No.
You are necessary."
"Anie… let's run."
She looked around,Road,Alleys.But everything…was unnaturally empty.
"I asked who you are."
He stopped,, "Hunter."!!!!
The moment he said the word a streetlight exploded.
she inhaled sharply...,
that weight which had been sealed away for so long shifted.She felt it
This wasn't the moment to run.This was the moment to stand.
"Mira,"..."Listen to me."
"No"
"You need to go back.As fast as you can."
"Anie"
"Now."!!!
Fear filled Mira's eyes But she turned and ran The Hunter looked at Anie.
"Don't think letting her go means mercy."
Anie smiled,,
"You won't take even one step past me."
His smile vanished..,"We can test that."
He raised his hand.In the air lines appeared.Green,curving symbols.Anie closed her eyes.Inside her,a voice.
"Now."
She opened her eyes The ground trembled.Light burst from the cracks in the road.The Hunter leapt back.
"This…",,the first time, he looked surprised.
"So fast? Already awakened?"
She extended her hand The air thickened.An invisible strike ripped through the Hunter's coat.He was thrown back.But…
he laughed.
"This is exactly it." He stood up.
"You don't know what you are."
She steadied her breath.
"I know one thing."
"What?"
"You're afraid of me." The Hunter's eyes darkened.
He pulled something from his hand.
Not a sword,Not a gun,It was a symbol.
A black seal,floating in the air itself.
He thrust it forward The air split.Anie was thrown backward,slamming into a wall.Her breath knocked out of her.The Hunter walked closer.
"We can end this."
Anie lifted her head.In her eyes no fear.
"No."
Her voice had changed.The air trembled again.This time the city heard it.All lights went out at once.Darkness.
Complete darkness.
"This…"
He looked around.
Anie stepped out of the shadows,,,,
" THIS IS MY CITY "
She walked forward.Each step the darkness shaped itself into her path.
"Coming here to hunt me was your mistake"
The Hunter stepped back,"You"
She raised her hand,The darkness exploded.Light.The Hunter fell to the ground.He tried to rise,He couldn't.
Anie stood before him.
"This isn't the end,",,"But remember
next time,I won't wait."
He smiled.Blood on his lips.
"Next time,
you won't be alone."
And then he vanished.
The streetlights flickered back on.
The city exhaled.Anie sat on the ground.Her hands trembling.This wasn't a victory.
This was just a door opening.In the distance,
police sirens.
"Anie!"!!!
Anie lifted her head In this city,she could no longer hide.
Because,,, the hunt
had already begun.