Night.
The same rooftop.
The same city lights.
But the mood… is different.
---
Alikantios lay on his back, gazing at the sky.
Maria sat beside him, tucking her legs under her.
---
— …Hey.
---
— Mmm?
---
— Do you remember… how we met?
---
…
---
Maria didn't answer straight away.
---
— Yes.
Quietly.
Too quietly.
---
And that was enough.
---
The world…
seemed to recede for a second.
---
Five years ago.
---
He was a god.
Not 'almost'.
Not 'once upon a time'.
But precisely — a god.
---
Without purpose.
Without meaning.
---
He simply… existed.
---
He walked amongst people.
He watched.
Sometimes — he intervened.
More often — he didn't.
---
Because…
he didn't care.
---
Until that day.
---
Rain.
Grey.
Cold.
---
She was sitting under a canopy.
Slim.
In soaked clothes.
---
She was eighteen.
---
And she wasn't crying.
---
…
---
That's what caught his attention.
---
'Strange,' he said quietly then.
---
She didn't even look at him.
---
'Go on your way.'
---
…
---
He smiled.
---
And… didn't leave.
---
At first — out of curiosity.
Then — out of habit.
---
He began to watch.
Unnoticed.
Quietly.
---
Days.
Weeks.
---
And one day…
he saw.
---
The house.
Darkness inside.
Screams.
---
Sharp.
Harsh.
---
Blows.
---
…
---
He stood by the window.
And for the first time in a long while…
something stirred within him.
---
— …What is it?
---
The answer came at once.
---
Anger.
---
His eyes darkened.
---
And then…
his hair.
---
The light vanished.
Completely.
---
Black.
Deep.
Frightening.
---
— Don't touch her.
---
The voice was quiet.
But…
there was nothing human about it.
---
They didn't even have time to understand.
---
The world…
simply…
broke.
---
Silence.
---
When it was all over —
he stood amidst the ruined room.
---
And she…
looked at him.
---
Without fear.
---
— …Who are you?
---
…
---
He paused to think.
For the first time.
---
— I don't know.
Pause.
— But now…
---
He held out his hand.
---
— Let's go.
---
…
---
She looked at his hand.
---
For a long time.
---
And…
took it.
---
The present.
---
Silence returned.
---
Alikantios closed his eyes.
---
— From that moment…
Pause.
— everything changed.
---
Maria looked at the city.
---
— You killed them.
---
— Yes.
---
'No regrets?'
---
'No.'
---
…
---
She sighed.
---
'Idiot.'
---
He turned his head sharply.
---
'Hey!'
---
She looked at him.
---
And suddenly…
she leaned closer.
---
A light touch.
Warm.
---
A kiss on the forehead.
---
"My idiot."
---
…
---
He froze.
---
For a second.
---
And then…
he smiled quietly.
---
"Then everything's fine."
---
Maria turned away.
But…
she smiled slightly.
---
And the city beneath them carried on with its life.
---
And God…
who once felt nothing…
sat beside the man.
---
And that was enough.
---
End of Extra Chapter 3