Chapter One: The last Doll

Scene One — The Mysterious Encounter

Saint Petersburg, Russia — Evening

Snow blanketed the streets of Saint Petersburg, turning the city into a landscape of white beneath the fading evening light.

A taxi came to a stop in front of an old doll shop tucked between two aging buildings.

The door opened, and Soukania, a twenty-eight-year-old airline captain, stepped out.

She wore a long black coat, leather boots, and carried a small handbag in one hand. For a moment, she stood in front of the shop, studying its weathered sign and dusty windows.

There was something strangely familiar about the place.

She pushed open the door and stepped inside.

A small bell chimed above her head.

The elderly shopkeeper looked up from behind the counter, and recognition immediately appeared on his face.

Shopkeeper: “Welcome back. I see you still haven't forgotten about that doll.”

Soukania's eyes moved toward the shelves at the back of the shop.

Soukania: “I don't forget the things I'm looking for.”

Before the shopkeeper could say anything else, the door suddenly burst open.

A man rushed inside.

He was tall, athletic, and unmistakably familiar—the famous boxer Adam.

Several reporters could be heard shouting outside.

Adam quickly glanced over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him.

Then his eyes landed on Soukania.

For a brief moment, they stared at each other.

His gaze shifted toward the shelves.

And stopped at the exact same doll Soukania had been looking at.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Adam: “Looks like we arrived at the same time.”

Soukania calmly looked at him.

Soukania: “That doesn't mean it's yours.”

Adam raised an eyebrow.

Neither of them moved.

Then, almost simultaneously, they walked toward the doll.

Neither knew that this seemingly insignificant object was about to pull them into something far more dangerous than either of them could imagine.

---

Scene Two — Darkness... and the Theft

Inside the Doll Shop — A Few Seconds Later

The lights suddenly went out.

The shop was swallowed by darkness.

Outside, the wind howled through the snowy streets. Inside, several dolls toppled from their shelves and crashed onto the wooden floor.

The shopkeeper's voice trembled.

Shopkeeper: “Impossible... The power never goes out here!”

Soukania reached for her phone to turn on the flashlight.

But before she could, she heard hurried footsteps.

Someone was running.

At the same moment, Adam felt someone brush past him.

Adam: “Someone's running!”

He switched on his phone's flashlight.

The narrow beam cut through the darkness.

A man dressed in a black coat and wearing a mask was already holding the box containing the doll.

Soukania immediately shouted:

Soukania: “Stop!”

The masked man sprinted toward the door.

Without hesitation, Soukania ran after him.

Adam stared after her for half a second, then grinned and followed.

Adam: “Do all pilots run this fast?”

Without looking back, Soukania called out:

Soukania: “Run first... ask questions later.”

Adam couldn't help smiling despite the situation.

The thief burst out of the shop.

He leaped over a parked car and disappeared into the maze of snow-covered alleys.

Soukania and Adam stopped several meters away, catching their breath.

Adam glanced toward the alley.

Adam: “At least we know he's fast.”

Soukania studied the footprints left behind in the snow.

Soukania: “Fast people make more mistakes than slow ones.”

She crouched down and picked up something small from the snow.

It was a metal object engraved with a strange symbol.

Before she could examine it properly—

A distant explosion shook the street.

Soukania and Adam turned toward the sound at exactly the same time.

---

Scene Three — The Mysterious Message

Outside the Doll Shop — Several Minutes Later

A few pedestrians had gathered after hearing the explosion.

Meanwhile, the shopkeeper hurried to lock the door, his hands still trembling.

Soukania crouched down and examined the metal piece.

A wolf was engraved into its surface with remarkable precision.

Adam stepped closer.

Adam: “Do you recognize that symbol?”

Soukania looked up at him and shook her head.

Soukania: “No... But it's not an ordinary emblem.”

Before she could say more, the shopkeeper hurried toward them.

He was holding a white envelope.

Shopkeeper: “This... I found it on the table where you two were standing.”

Soukania took the envelope cautiously.

She opened it slowly.

There was only a single sheet of paper inside.

She read the message under her breath.

“You're seven years late, Captain.”

For a moment, the color drained from her face.

Adam took the paper from her hand.

Adam: “Is there someone who knows you?”

Soukania remained silent for a few seconds.

Then she answered quietly:

Soukania: “No one should know me here.”

Adam said nothing.

But something caught his attention.

At the bottom of the message was a small red stain.

He touched it with his fingertip.

His expression changed.

Adam: “...That's not ink.”

Soukania looked at him.

Adam examined the stain again.

Adam: “It's blood.”

Before either of them could say another word, the sound of an engine roared through the street.

A black car sped past at the far end of the road.

Soukania turned toward it.

For one brief moment, she caught sight of a man sitting in the back seat.

He was smiling at her.

Then the car disappeared into the falling snow.

Soukania's voice was barely a whisper.

Soukania: “He was watching us the entire time...”

Adam stared down the road where the car had vanished.

Adam: “And I don't think the theft was what they really wanted.”

---

Scene Four — The First Bullet

A Side Street Near the Doll Shop — Night

Adam decided to walk Soukania to her car.

Something about the situation didn't feel right.

Someone had been watching them.

The snow continued to fall silently, covering the nearly deserted street.

Soukania walked beside him, her thoughts still trapped on the mysterious message.

Adam glanced at her with a faint smile.

Adam: “You know something?”

Soukania: “What?”

Adam: “This is the strangest way I've ever met someone.”

She didn't look at him.

Soukania: “Do you usually meet strangers by chasing thieves?”

Adam chuckled.

Adam: “No. Usually, they ask me for a picture first.”

The corner of Soukania's lips almost curved into a smile.

Almost.

Then she suddenly stopped.

Her eyes narrowed.

Soukania: “Don't move.”

Adam immediately became serious.

Adam: “Why?”

Soukania slowly raised her hand and pointed toward a third-floor window of an abandoned building.

A faint glint reflected from the glass.

A sniper scope.

Her eyes widened.

Soukania: “Get down!”

BANG!

The gunshot tore through the silence.

The bullet shattered the window behind them.

Adam dropped to the ground as Soukania grabbed his arm and pulled him behind a parked car.

Adam struggled to catch his breath.

Adam: “Is this another pilot thing?”

Soukania reached into her handbag and pulled out a small handgun.

She looked at him calmly.

Soukania: “No... This is.”

Adam stared at the weapon in disbelief.

Adam: “You're an airline captain... and you carry a gun?”

Soukania: “Ask later.”

She raised the gun and fired a warning shot toward the building.

Then she and Adam rushed inside.

They climbed the stairs to the third floor.

Nothing.

No shooter.

Only an open window swaying in the cold wind.

And on the floor...

A spent bullet.

Beside it lay a small, broken doll.

Soukania picked it up.

Something was tucked inside.

A folded piece of paper.

She slowly opened it.

Her expression froze.

Adam stepped closer.

Adam: “What does it say?”

Soukania looked up at him.

For the first time that evening, there was unmistakable fear in her eyes.

Her voice was barely audible.

Soukania: “They know my real name.”

End of Chapter One