The night was pitch black, and the city was drowned in a terrifying silence, broken only by the distant wail of police sirens.
John Mark sat in his apartment, staring at the mud on his shoes, the mirror, himself… everything seemed to collapse around him.
He could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion. Every new crime, every corpse in the news, weighed heavily on his heart.
Nightmares pursued him in the daytime, and each time he looked in the mirror, he experienced that strange smile that was no longer only his face.
John grabbed the phone with a trembling hand, took several deep breaths, and pressed the call button.
His fingers shook as he watched the phone ring, each second increasing his tension.
"Adam… I need your help, immediately!" he said in a broken voice, as if the words themselves struggled to escape his throat.
Standing on his feet, pacing the apartment, moving his hands nervously, he repeated softly:
"You are the only one I know who can see the truth."
Adam, with his usual calm voice, said:
"John… slowly. Tell me everything from the beginning."
John began to speak, his voice breaking between shivers and sorrow, about the murders, the news images, the mirror, the mud on his shoes, and the strange voice whispering:
"You are not only defending them… you are judging them."
Adam paused for a moment, then said:
"Okay, I'll come immediately. Don't move, don't try to escape yourself. We'll face this together."
John looked at the mirror again, and the unfamiliar smile vanished, but he still felt his heart breaking.
Inside, he knew that every step now could reveal the truth, and the police might be closing in more than ever before.
Rain began to fall on the streets, and with every drop, he felt that justice and truth were becoming more distant, and he might need not only his friend, but all his strength to survive… or at least preserve what remained of his mind.