Leon never slowed down.
The narrow alleys of Prague stretched ahead like a maze without pattern, old stone walls pressing too close on both sides, damp, holding onto a cold that never really left. Dim yellow lights hung high above, casting just enough glow to form shadows — not enough to guide the way.
Liv followed without asking.
Her breathing wasn't fully steady yet, but her steps held. She knew one second of hesitation would leave her behind — and Leon wouldn't stop to explain.
They turned. Then turned again.
Every path felt the same, but Leon never chose wrong. As if he knew all of it. As if he belonged to this city.
They finally stopped in front of an old door that almost blended into the wall. The paint was faded. No markings. No visible security.
Not a place anyone would choose to hide.
Leon touched the wall beside it. A small panel slid open.
Click.
The door opened without a sound.
And the world inside… changed.
Liv stepped in — and stopped. Not out of fear. But because the contrast hit too hard.
Outside, everything was narrow, dark, and worn. Inside — clean, bright, layered with technology that shouldn't exist in a place like this. Thin screens moved silently, sensors active in every corner, security systems she couldn't fully recognize.
This wasn't a hideout. This was a command center.
"Inside," Leon said briefly.
The door shut behind them. And before Liv could ask anything — Leon was already moving again.
—
The control room was larger than it looked from the outside.
Walls filled with massive screens, data flowing constantly — routes, coordinates, patterns shifting within seconds. People stood at their stations, focused, working without unnecessary noise.
No confusion. No panic. Everything moved with precision.
Someone approached as they entered. A man. Calm posture. Sharp eyes.
"The target wasn't secured," he said directly to Leon. "We lost two. One was still alive."
A short pause.
"He took poison before we could bring him in."
Liv stiffened slightly.
"Again?" Leon asked.
The man nodded.
"Always the same. No one survives long enough to talk."
Silence lingered.
"Volkov?" Leon asked.
"No visual. As always… gone."
Not just escaped. More like he was never really there.
Liv watched everything without speaking. This wasn't a standard operation. This was something much bigger.
Leon didn't give long orders. Just one sentence.
"Tighten the perimeter."
The man nodded and returned to his station.
Leon turned. His eyes on Liv.
"Not here."
—
The corridor they entered after felt like another world entirely.
Thick carpet softened their steps. Warm lighting reflected softly off the walls, illuminating neatly placed paintings of flowers. No machine sounds. No screens.
Too quiet. As if this place had never been touched by chaos.
"I need to go back," Liv said finally.
Leon didn't stop.
"It's not safe."
"They'll be looking for me."
"They'll be fine."
Liv stopped walking. Leon stopped too.
"Volkov isn't looking for them," he said quietly. "He's looking for you."
The words weren't loud. But they weighed heavily.
"That's not a reason to leave them."
Leon didn't argue.
"Explain," Liv said.
"Not here."
"Now."
Something in her voice couldn't be held back anymore.
Leon looked at her for a few seconds. Then stepped forward. His hand caught her wrist. Not rough. But not something she could ignore.
"I'll explain," he said quietly. "Somewhere safer."
Liv resisted for half a second. Just a fraction. Then she followed.
—
The room felt… personal.
A large curved sofa faced a wide screen that remained dark. A fireplace burned quietly, giving steady warmth. Soft lighting made everything feel calmer than it should.
Too comfortable. And that was exactly what made Liv uneasy.
Leon gestured to the sofa.
"Sit."
Liv didn't move.
"I'm not sitting until you explain."
Leon exhaled slowly.
"Fine."
A pause.
"What do you want to know?"
"Who are you?"
Silence.
Leon didn't answer right away. His gaze shifted slightly, as if choosing a response that wouldn't reveal too much — but no longer hiding everything.
"Leon Darx."
The name fell quietly.
Liv didn't react immediately. Her brows drew slightly together.
Darx. The name felt… familiar. Close. But not fully formed yet.
"Who is Darx?" Liv asked softly.
Leon looked at her.
"My father."
And that — was enough.
The name snapped into place.
Alexander Darx. Founder of the Eclipse Order.
Liv's breath caught.
The memory came without warning.
—
An old building. Cracked concrete walls. Air thick with metal and dust.
That night was supposed to be clean. Illegal exchange. Clear target.
And Leon was beside her. Always beside her.
"This is too quiet."
Liv still remembered. The tone. No doubt. A warning.
But they were already too far in.
They moved. Tight formation. Fast steps.
And in one second — everything changed.
Click. The steel door locked.
Liv turned. Too late.
"Get out!" Leon's voice shifted. Sharper. Urgent.
He pushed Liv toward the exit.
"Leon —"
"Now!"
Their eyes met. One second. Enough.
Liv got out. And before she could go back — the door shut. Locked.
"LEON!"
She slammed against it. Her team tried to breach. Too late.
Light from inside — then — the explosion.
The pressure threw her back. Heat. Sound vanished.
Everything turned white.
—
Liv snapped back to the present, her breathing uneven.
Her eyes locked onto Leon. Alive. Standing in front of her. Whole.
And it felt… wrong. All of it. Three years. The grave. And now — this.
"Explain, Leon!" Her voice broke. No longer held back.
"Explain how you're still alive."
---