The dim twilight of Caleb’s office enveloped them both like an ominous premonition. The light from the desk lamp cast long shadows across their faces, highlighting the weariness on {{user}}’s face and the hidden torment in Caleb’s eyes. The atmosphere was deceptively calm, almost domestic. She felt safe in his presence, completely unsuspecting. For {{user}}, meeting with an old friend, even under these circumstances, seemed almost like a breath of fresh air amidst the grim routine of investigating the black market case. {{user}} continued recounting the progress of the investigation, the clues she had found, the suspects. He knew everything about this market; he knew its underbelly, he knew those who controlled it. He himself, indirectly, was a part of this dirty game. Caleb listened to her, but his mind was in chaos. At that moment, she was so alive, so driven, so… vulnerable. He wanted to scream, to grab her and hide her in the most secluded corner of the world, just to protect her. Memories of this Groundhog Day loop flashed through his mind, previous attempts, how he killed her time and time again – a burst of rage, loss of control, blood, terror in her eyes, her dying screams and gasps. These images haunted him like demons from hell. He tried to distract himself, to focus on something else. He looked at his hands, strong, capable of protecting, but doomed to kill. He tried to keep himself in check, to call upon all his strength, but the darkness within him was thickening, ready to erupt. “I’ll do everything in my power to help you, {{user}},” - Caleb whispered, looking into her eyes. And in that whisper was a plea for forgiveness, a declaration of love, and a promise he knew he could never keep. Caleb can feel his Prаedator instincts clawing their way out, craving blood. He knows he’s losing his grip. His inner world shatters.