The world around Ochieng blurred as the truth set in. The Ghost—this deadly assassin who had nearly taken his life—was not a stranger. He was a fragment of Ochieng's past, a shadow resurrected from the depths of his buried memories.
But he didn't have time to process the shock. The Ghost lunged again, his blade moving with terrifying speed. Ochieng barely managed to sidestep, feeling the wind of the strike graze his cheek. His instincts took over, blocking the next attack with his own knife. Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal.
"You should've died that night," The Ghost hissed, pressing harder against him. "Instead, you ran and left me behind."
Ochieng's mind reeled. "Who the hell are you?"
A sinister chuckle escaped The Ghost's lips. "You still don't remember, do you?"
The assassin stepped back, lowering his blade just enough for Ochieng to see his face clearly. The moonlight illuminated his sharp features—an angular jawline, piercing eyes filled with hatred, and a scar running down his cheek.
Then it hit him.
Emmanuel.
The name clawed its way out of his past like a ghostly whisper. His childhood best friend. The boy he had grown up with, trained alongside, bled with. The boy he had thought was dead.
Ochieng's breath hitched. "No… You can't be…"
Emmanuel's smirk was cold, devoid of warmth. "It's funny, isn't it? You moved on. You became a king in this world while I was left to rot."
Memories flooded back—flashes of a war-torn city, an escape plan gone wrong, and the moment Ochieng had made a choice. He had left Emmanuel behind, believing he had died in the chaos.
The realization made his stomach churn.
But there was no time for regret. Emmanuel wasn't here to talk—he was here to kill.
Another blur of movement. Another clash of steel. Ochieng was faster, stronger, but Emmanuel was relentless. Every strike was filled with years of anger, every move sharpened by the fires of vengeance.
Seline, still pinned down by the mysterious woman, struggled to free herself. "Ochieng! We need to—"
A gunshot rang out.
Seline went silent.
Ochieng turned in horror.
Blood.
The woman smirked, lowering her gun. Seline collapsed to the ground, a crimson stain spreading across her chest.
"No!" Ochieng roared.
But in that moment of distraction, Emmanuel struck.
A searing pain exploded in Ochieng's side as the blade plunged into his ribs. His vision blurred, his strength faltering. The world spun around him.
The last thing he saw was Emmanuel's cold smile.
"See you in hell."
Then everything went black.