The city was quieter than usual, the hum of traffic subdued by the late hour. Niran Woraset walked home, every step hesitant, notebook clutched to his chest. The feeling of being watched pressed heavier tonight. Shadows seemed to follow him more closely, whispers of movement brushing the edge of his awareness.
Kit moved closer than ever before, hidden in the corner of a narrow alley. This time, his interference would be unmistakable, though Niran would remain unaware. A man suddenly stepped from the darkness, brandishing a knife. Niran froze, paralyzed with fear.
Kit acted instantly, pushing a dumpster to topple into the attacker's path. The man stumbled, allowing Niran to escape into a side street, heart hammering. Kit's dark voice whispered in his mind:
"They will understand. They will see why it must be me."
....
At the mansion, Krit reviewed recent city patterns and the attack reports. Each incident had been carefully orchestrated, deliberate. His sharp mind connected dots invisible to everyone else. Someone close, precise, and patient was manipulating events around Niran.
Pha leaned against the doorway, noticing the unusual intensity in Krit's posture. "You're close, aren't you?" he asked quietly.
Krit didn't answer immediately. "Closer than I anticipated. The patterns suggest someone within our circle. I must identify them before it escalates."
Pha's expression darkened. "And if it's someone close… personal?"
Krit's gaze remained fixed. "Then observation and patience are our only weapons."
....
Niran arrived at the café the next morning, visibly shaken. Krit's presence was steady, grounding him, yet the unease lingered.
"I felt like I was being… cornered last night," Niran admitted. "Someone was there, but I don't understand why I was saved. It's confusing."
Krit's eyes softened slightly. "You were fortunate. Someone intervened. You must remain cautious, but not fearful. Awareness is your first defense, and trust is your second."
Unseen across the street, Kit recorded every detail, his dual voices stirring inside. One voice protective, one possessive, each equally obsessive.
"They cannot know yet," the darker side hissed.
"They will understand in time," the rational side countered.
....
Later that night, Pha visited Krit. "The tension isn't just outside," he murmured. "It's here. And it's personal now."
Krit's eyes narrowed. "The pattern is emerging. Someone close, careful, patient. I intend to uncover them before any harm comes. If it is someone we know… I will not hesitate."
Kit watched from a nearby rooftop, his presence deliberate and calculating. Every glance, every subtle interference was cataloged. The invisible threads linking Niran, Krit, and the dangers around them had grown taut.
Tonight, the line had been crossed. Kit's interventions were no longer subtle, no longer hidden from fate. The collision of lives, obsession, and hidden truths was approaching.