Shadows Never Die

Heavy rain pours down, lightning and thunder racing through the depths of the pitch-black night. The atmosphere is thick with darkness, shrouding every corner in an eerie stillness.

A mysterious figure, clad in a black cloak and holding a dark umbrella, stands before the towering headquarters of the Mafia. His face remains concealed as he takes slow steps toward the entrance. But before he can enter, the guards halt his path. He merely smirks—a strange, unsettling smile—before drawing a blade from his pocket. With ruthless precision, he tears through the guards, leaving nothing but blood in his wake.

Slipping the crimson-stained knife back into his pocket, his grin lingers—one of twisted pleasure, as though he relishes the sight of blood. He steps past the ruined entrance, the umbrella still shielding part of his face, walking through the corridors with a slow, calculated stride. Unshaken. Unstoppable.

The Mafia members inside are deep in discussion, strategizing their next big operation under the leadership of their new boss, Ray. Suddenly, a slow, deliberate knocking echoes from the iron door. Ray's eyes narrow.

"Who would come at a time like this? Didn't I order the guards to let no one in?"

Leo scoffs, "It's probably just the guards themselves."

Rio and Phantom rise cautiously, gripping their weapons as they move toward the door. They open it, revealing the cloaked figure. Phantom immediately raises his gun, his voice low and sharp.

"Who the hell are you?!"

The stranger lowers his umbrella slowly, removing his black hat. As his face comes into view, Phantom and Rio's eyes widen in sheer disbelief. A deep, cold fear settles over them.

"Impossible... this can't be!" Rio stammers.

The man steps forward, his voice calm yet piercing.

"Nothing is impossible... Rio."

Yes—this mysterious figure is none other than me... Shadow.

The room falls into chaos. Mafia members leap to their feet, aiming their weapons at me. Louis glares, his grip on his gun tightening.

"Who are you trying to fool, liar?! Shadow is dead!"

Leo shakes his head. "Yeah! We saw him die with our own eyes! He was caught in that explosion! There's no way he's standing here right now!"

I take a deep breath, my gaze unwavering.

"You don't believe me? I was the one who brought you all together… and now you doubt me?"

Max clenches his fists. "This is ridiculous! No one comes back from the dead!"

I smirk.

"No… but someone can escape death."

Max lunges at me, but I sidestep effortlessly, twisting his wrist and slamming him to the ground. Rio rushes at me with a knife aimed straight for my face, but I duck, flipping him over with ease.

The others hesitate, exchanging uneasy glances. Then, in a flurry of movement, the rest of the Mafia charges at me. Phantom swings a baton at my head, but I dodge, causing him to strike Max instead. Williams, Leo, and Michael dash toward me, but I strike first—sending Leo crashing to the floor with a swift kick to the stomach. I grab Williams' arm, twisting it before landing a sharp punch to his face. Michael stumbles back in fear.

Silence fills the room. Pain and confusion flicker in their eyes. They begin to doubt their own disbelief.

Finally, Ray speaks, his voice laced with shock.

"How is this possible? How did you survive? That explosion should've killed you! Your death was in every newspaper for years!"

Williams steps forward, his expression heavy with emotion.

"Tell us what happened, Shadow. We've mourned you every single day."

I exhale, my mind flashing back to that fateful night.

"After the explosion, I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in a deserted alley, lying next to a green dumpster, my body bound in electrified wires. Every time I moved, I was electrocuted. My mouth was gagged—I couldn't scream for help. It took me hours to free myself. To this day, I don't know who did it to me. All I know is… I've spent years running. From the Bloods. From the police. From the unknown. I had to disguise myself to survive."

"I hid in my uncle's old, burned-down house. That was my only option. I lived in the shadows for years. And now… I've returned."

Michael steps forward, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Who found you in that alley?"

I shake my head. "I still don't know."

Stefano crosses his arms, his expression unreadable.

"This is a miracle… and a mystery we need to solve."

I straighten my posture, my voice steady and commanding.

"I disappear, only to return… with my power untouched. Never bet on taking my place."