Chapter 4: Echoes in the past

Rain tapped softly against the apartment windows.
The city hadn't seen sunlight in two days.
Gray clouds covered the skyline.
For most people...
It was just another rainy morning.
For Reina...
It was the perfect excuse to stay in bed.
"...Five more minutes."
Her alarm strongly disagreed.
She sighed dramatically before finally sitting up.
"Fine."
...
Apartment 408.
Shadow was already awake.
He quietly watered the small plant sitting beside the window.
He didn't know why he bought it.
It looked lonely in the store.
Now it lived on his windowsill.
He stared at it.
"...You're still alive."
The plant, thankfully, had no opinion.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Three quick knocks.
Shadow already knew who it was.
He opened the door.
Reina stood there wearing a light raincoat.
She held up an umbrella.
"We're going shopping."
"...We're what?"
"I need groceries."
"So buy groceries."
"I don't want to go alone."
"..."
She smiled.
"I've decided you're coming."
Shadow looked at the umbrella.
Then at Reina.
"...Okay."
...
The rain had become heavier by the time they reached the shopping district.
People hurried beneath umbrellas.
Neon lights reflected across the wet streets.
The city looked almost peaceful.
Reina spun her umbrella absentmindedly.
"Don't you ever get bored?"
"...Sometimes."
"So what do you do?"
"I read."
"That's it?"
"I sleep."
"...That's even worse."
Shadow looked genuinely confused.
"I enjoy sleeping."
Reina laughed.
"You're eighty years old."
...
The supermarket wasn't crowded.
Most people had stayed home because of the weather.
Reina wandered through every aisle.
Shadow pushed the cart behind her.
"Chocolate..."
She placed two boxes inside.
"Chips..."
Another bag.
"Ice cream."
Shadow looked at the freezer.
"...It's raining."
"So?"
"..."
"Rain makes ice cream taste better."
"...Is that science?"
"It is now."
...
As they walked toward the checkout...
A little girl suddenly ran through the aisle.
She slipped.
Everything happened in a second.
Before anyone realized...
Reina caught her.
The shopping basket hit the floor instead.
Fruit rolled across the tiles.
The little girl blinked.
"...Thank you."
Reina smiled.
"No problem."
The girl's mother rushed over.
"I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay."
The woman thanked Reina several times before leaving.
Shadow quietly picked up the fallen fruit.
"You reacted quickly."
Reina shrugged.
"Instinct."
For just a moment...
Shadow noticed something.
The way she had moved.
Smooth.
Precise.
Almost...
Professional.
The thought disappeared as quickly as it came.
...
Outside...
The rain had stopped.
Golden evening sunlight broke through the clouds.
Across the street...
Click.
Another photograph.
The same photographer lowered his camera.
This time...
He frowned.
He zoomed in on one picture.
Reina catching the child.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Interesting."
He quietly walked away.
...
That evening...
Reina unlocked her apartment.
As she stepped inside...
Something caught her attention.
A small cardboard box rested against her door.
No sender.
No address.
Only one word written on the top.
REINA.
Her smile faded.
She slowly picked it up.
Inside...
Nothing.
Except...
A single playing card.
The Ace of Spades.
She stared at it.
"..."
Without another word...
She quietly closed the box.
...
Across the hallway...
Shadow closed his curtains.
He happened to glance through the window one last time.
Far below...
A man with a camera stood on the opposite sidewalk.
The man looked up.
For less than a second...
Their eyes met.
Then the photographer smiled.
Turned around.
And disappeared into the crowd.
Shadow remained at the window.
Something about that smile...
Didn't feel random.
...
Late that night...
Reina sat alone on her apartment balcony.
The Ace of Spades rested on the table beside her.
She picked it up.
"...Why now...?"
The wind carried her words into the darkness.
Somewhere in the city...
Someone else held an identical card.
And smiled.