Shadows of the past

Tony's vision blurred as he lay on the cold ground, his breath shallow. The pain in his stomach burned, radiating through his entire body. He looked up, his red eyes locking onto the girl who had stabbed him.

For a moment, time slowed.

A flash—memories surged through his mind. The same face. The same eyes. But this wasn't just any girl. She looked just like her.

His wife.

Tony's lips trembled. "Why…?"

His body refused to move. Darkness began to close in.

Togo's voice rang in his head. "Healing… complete. You need rest."

But Tony wasn't listening. He tried to stand, but his legs gave out. He collapsed back onto the ground, his eyes flickering shut.

Minutes later, Aria returned. She knelt beside him, shaking his shoulder. "Tony. Get up."

No response.

She tried again, shaking harder. "Tony, wake up!"

Still nothing.

A flicker of concern crossed her face before she sighed. "Fine. You want to be stubborn?"

She slipped on her gloves and, without hesitation, sent a controlled shock through Tony's body. Electricity surged through him.

Togo activated immediately. "Power detected. Rebooting functions."** The suit's core pulsed with energy.**

Tony gasped, his body convulsing from the shock. His red eyes snapped open, filled with raw pain. He clutched his chest, breathing heavily.

"What the hell, Aria?" he groaned.

Aria smirked. "You weren't waking up."

Togo's voice interrupted them. "Task complete. System reset successful."

Aria frowned. "Togo… what task?"

The AI didn't respond.

Aria stepped forward. "Togo. What task?"

Before Togo could answer, another jolt of electricity coursed through Tony's body. He arched his back, gritting his teeth. Pain. And something else.

Memories.

A broken past. A forgotten love. A lost life.

Tony gasped, clutching his head. His voice was raw, desperate. "I need to find that girl."

Aria narrowed her eyes. "What girl?"

Tony steadied his breathing, forcing himself up. "Let's go, Togo. You have a scan function, right?"

Togo responded instantly. "Yes."

Tony's hands curled into fists. "Then find her."

Silence.

Togo's next words came slowly. "I cannot."

Tony froze. "Why?"

"Because you are not meant to meet her yet."

Tony's heart pounded in his chest. "I don't care about 'meant to.' I will find that girl."

Aria crossed her arms. "Start talking. Who was she?"

Tony clenched his jaw. "This place is full of crime. We're staying here—not just for her, but to learn more about the System." He turned toward the dark streets ahead. "We'll stay for a few days, maybe even months if we have to."

Aria sighed. "Fine. But you owe me answers."

They moved forward, deeper into the heart of New Place.

As they walked, the streets became eerily silent. The air smelled of blood. Shadows stretched unnaturally across the cracked pavement.

Then, they saw it.

A street lined with bodies.

No movement. No signs of life.

Except for one man.

Standing in the middle of the carnage, laughing.

He raised a gun and fired.