In a city drowning in darkness and chaos, where screams of fear echoed through narrow alleys and the streets became deserted after sunset, a crowd gathered in the main square. Anxiety painted their faces, and tension filled the air. Everyone was waiting for a glimmer of hope, a promise of salvation from the series of crimes that had shaken the city’s safety.

On the stage stood Rick Smith, the man many considered the last remaining hero. He wore a sleek black coat, his face stern with an expression of seriousness and confidence. He raised his hand high, demanding silence from the crowd. The cheers gradually subsided, replaced by an anticipation-laden stillness.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” he began in a powerful voice that echoed through the square, “The nightmare is over. The criminal who terrorized us all, who made our nights long and sleepless, has been eliminated. Justice has been served. We are now safe.”

For a moment, silence reigned once again. Then the crowd erupted into applause and cheers. Voices rose in gratitude and praise, and tears streamed down some faces—not of sorrow, but of relief after a long period of fear.

Among this gathered crowd stood you. Positioned somewhere in the middle of the square, surrounded by men and women chanting Rick Smith’s name, their hearts filled with gratitude. Your face was lit with a faint smile, but it carried something far deeper than mere joy.

You clapped along with them, your hands moving in harmony with the collective applause. Yet within your mind, a different stream of thoughts flowed. You knew the truth, a truth hidden from everyone’s eyes, even Rick’s.

He had proudly declared that he had eliminated the “criminal,” but he didn’t realize that the very criminal stood just a few meters away from him, amidst the crowd cheering him on fervently. You were alive—and more than that, you were watching this grand theatrical performance with an eerie calmness.