Chapter 5

My phone buzzed. It was an anonymous message, a cryptic message. „Meet me at the bar’s rooftop tonight,“ it read. „I have something to show you.“ I hesitated, my mind racing. Who was this? Was it a trap? A new game?
I decided to go. I would see what this game was all about. Whoever sent that message had my attention.

The rooftop was deserted, except for one figure standing near the edge, silhouetted against the city skyline. My instincts sharpened as I recognized the figure instantly. Ryen.

So, this was her game.
I approached slowly, taking in the sight of her. She looked uneasy, her arms crossed and her long black hair blowing in the wind. There was something different about her tonight… „What’s this all about, panther?“ I called out, keeping my tone casual, but my senses on high alert.

She turned to face me, her expression a mixture of determination and hesitation. “I needed to talk to you,” she said. „I have a proposition.“ A proposition? I smirked, crossing my arms. “Go on. I’m listening.” She took a breath, as if gathering her thoughts. “This… all of this—it’s pointless,” she said, gesturing between us. „You don’t have to be on the wrong side, Rico. You could help me.“ I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her words. Of all the things I expected her to say, this wasn’t one of them. „You think I’m the type to switch sides? After everything?“
„I’m giving you a choice,“ she said. „I’ve seen enough to know that you’re better than this.“
My jaw clenched. „You don’t know me as well as you think you do, Ryen,“ I said, my voice low. „I’m not some lost soul waiting to be saved.“

She took a step closer, her dark eyes locked onto mine. „I know you killed someone once, Rico. An innocent.“ The words hit harder than I expected. The memory. The guilt. I shoved it down, hiding it behind a smirk.

„And what makes you think I care enough to change?“ I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, but the edges were rough. Ryen didn’t back down. „Because I believe that deep down, you’re tired of this too.“ The weight of her words settled deep, pushing against something I wasn’t ready to confront. She was right. This endless game wasn’t getting us anywhere. But how could I trust her?

“How do we know we can trust each other?” I asked, though the question felt heavier than any weapon I’d ever held. Ryen hesitated, her eyes searching mine. “We don’t,” she finally admitted. “But we have a common enemy. The city. Corruption. And maybe, just maybe, we can be something more than enemies.”

Her words hung in the air between us, and for the first time, I found myself really considering the possibility. I took a step closer, the space between us shrinking, though the tension didn’t break. “If I agree to this,” I said slowly, “there’s no going back. You know that, right?”
Her eyes flickered „I know.“

“I’ll think about it,” I finally said, my voice quieter than I intended. Her expression softened just a little, like she knew this was the best she’d get from me tonight.
Maybe this wasn’t the end of the game. But something had definitely changed.