Chapter 30: Into the Beginning of Storm.
The city sprawled beneath them, a labyrinth of concrete and glass, alive with the pulse of streetlights flickering against the stormy backdrop. The wind howled like a wild beast, battering the streets and rooftops, and the rain poured down in sheets, as if the sky itself had been torn apart. Lightning crackled across the horizon, briefly illuminating the scene below like a forgotten photograph.
Subey stood at the edge of the rooftop, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He didn't flinch as the rain cut into his skin. Every breath felt heavier than the last, every heartbeat louder, like a countdown. The storm had come without warning, and now, as he looked over the city, he realized it was more than just the weather that felt apocalyptic. Everything had led to this moment.
He didn't know if he was ready to face the truth. He didn't know if he ever would be. But he had no choice.
Across from him, standing with cold determination, was John. The man who had once been a brother, a friend. The man who had betrayed him, twisted everything Subey had fought for, and thrown it all into the fire. Now, standing in the heart of the storm, he was the only obstacle left in the way.
"You've really come all this way," John said, his voice cutting through the howling winds. "For what? To stop me? You should've stayed in the shadows, where it was safer."
Subey's teeth clenched. "It's too late for safety."
John didn't move. He didn't even flinch when Subey took a step forward. "You think this is the end? You don't even understand the full picture, do you?" John's smile was thin and sharp, like a predator sizing up its prey.
Subey narrowed his eyes, every muscle in his body ready to spring into action. "I know enough," he said, his voice tight. "You've twisted everything. You've killed people. Destroyed lives."
John raised his hand in mock surrender, his smile widening. "I've done what I needed to do. You think you're the one who gets to decide what's right and wrong? This city doesn't care about your moral compass. It doesn't care about anyone."
Subey lunged forward, throwing a punch toward John's face. His fist cut through the air, but at the last second, John ducked and sidestepped with inhuman speed. Subey's momentum sent him sprawling forward, and he barely caught himself before he hit the ground.
The city seemed to hold its breath as he quickly regained his footing. His eyes burned with the weight of the pain, the regret, and the fury inside him. But he wasn't finished yet. He would never be finished.
John's grin widened as he watched Subey struggle to keep his ground. "You're still too slow. This city is mine. And so is everything else. It's always been."
The words landed like a slap. Subey took a step back, his heart hammering in his chest. "You don't get it. This wasn't supposed to be your city. You're just a parasite."
"You're the one who's blind," John replied, his voice now cold and distant. "You never realized how deep it all went. I did what needed to be done, Subey. This city isn't a playground. It's a machine. And I'm the one running it now."
Subey shook his head. "And Caroline? What about her?"
John's face darkened at the mention of her name. For a moment, Subey saw a flicker of something in his eyes—something fleeting, something dangerous. But it was gone as quickly as it had come.
"She was a means to an end," John said. "Just like you."
Subey's stomach twisted. He refused to let the words sink in. Caroline had been his ally, his friend. She had fought alongside him, bled for the truth. She had shared their struggles, their pain, their past. But John's words rang true. He had never seen it clearly. They had both been pawns in his game all along.
Suddenly, a sharp sound sliced through the storm—the click of a gun being cocked.
Subey froze. His pulse spiked as his eyes darted toward the sound.
At the far end of the rooftop, Caroline stepped into the rain, her silhouette framed by the storm's relentless fury. The barrel of a gun gleamed in her hand, aimed straight at Subey's chest.
His heart dropped. "No…" His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.
Caroline didn't flinch. She didn't even acknowledge his words. She simply stood there, unmoving, her eyes fixed on him like a predator preparing to strike.
"Caroline…" Subey's voice cracked. "You don't have to do this. Not after everything we've been through. We can end this together."
For a long, agonizing moment, Caroline didn't move. The storm raged on, and the city felt like it was closing in on them, but all Subey could focus on was her—her face, her eyes, the gun that seemed to weigh a thousand pounds in her hand.
Finally, she spoke. "You don't understand, Subey. This was never about us. You've been fighting a battle that's already been lost. This was always bigger than you, bigger than me."
Her words hit him like a punch. His mind reeled, trying to piece together the truth. The pieces had been scattered, half-hidden, but now it was all coming together.
"You're with him," Subey said, his voice a mixture of disbelief and anger. "John… you've been working with him all along, haven't you?"
Caroline's expression softened ever so slightly. "I had no choice."
Subey's throat tightened. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "We were supposed to stop him, Caroline! We were supposed to stop all of this."
She shook her head, the rain running down her face, blending with her tears. "It's too late for that. We're just cogs in the machine now."
Before Subey could respond, John spoke, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "You didn't think it would be that simple, did you? This city doesn't care about heroes or villains. It cares about who controls it. And right now, that's me."
Subey turned to face him, his chest tightening with a cold fury. "You'll never control me."
John's eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and pity. "You've already lost, Subey. You just don't know it yet."
Subey's fingers twitched as he watched Caroline's finger tighten on the trigger. He couldn't let this happen. Not now. Not after everything they had been through.
With a surge of adrenaline, Subey dove to the side, rolling as the shot rang out. The bullet grazed his shoulder, but the pain was nothing compared to the rush of fear that followed. His heart raced as he scrambled to his feet, his body aching from the impact.
Caroline's eyes flickered with surprise, and for a split second, her hesitation was enough for Subey to charge forward. He tackled her to the ground, knocking the gun out of her hand in one swift motion.
John cursed and lunged at him, but Subey was faster. He ducked under John's grasp, throwing a punch that landed squarely on his jaw. John staggered back, but the grin never left his face.
"You're still fighting?" John sneered. "You can't win this fight."
But Subey wasn't listening. He couldn't afford to. Not anymore. His mind was clearer now. The fight wasn't just about survival—it was about something deeper, something that had been buried beneath all the lies.
Caroline, still on the ground, reached for the gun again, but Subey was quicker. He grabbed her wrist, forcing her hand away from the weapon. "Caroline, stop!" he shouted. "This isn't you. This isn't us."
Caroline looked up at him, her face a mask of conflict. For a brief moment, he saw the person she had been—the ally, the friend, the woman he thought he knew. But it was fleeting, lost in the storm. Her eyes hardened again, and she jerked her arm free.
"I'm sorry, Subey," she whispered, her voice hollow. "But it's too late."
And then, without warning, Caroline pulled away and turned toward John, her back to Subey as she silently took her place in the storm.
Subey's world tilted, and the ground beneath him seemed to shake. He knew now, deep down, that the war wasn't just about them. It was about power, control, and survival. He had been a part of it all along, but now, standing in the middle of it, he had a choice to make. He could fight for the truth—or he could walk away from it.
And so, with one final look at Caroline, with one final breath, Subey made his choice.
To Be Continued...