[Perispera, Luxomoris. On the coast of the sea 'Fati']

The guys went to a special place, and for each of them it acquired its own special meaning. Each of them had its own world, although it seemed that it was primary and simple: golden sand, calm waves reflecting glimpses of stars, tree leaves rustling under gusts of wind, and a bright moon leading to infinity.
  
However, everyone saw their own. But people are people that everyone is right in what he feels, and for everyone the world opens up in its own way. Therefore, Mark felt freedom and peace, and Austin — another test of willpower. It would seem that one world — why do they see it so differently? Because they themselves were different. Mark wreaked havoc but sought peace, while Austin held on to order but feared silence.

Perhaps that is why their paths crossed — they found peace in each other.

— I love that sea, — Mark said, jumping off his quad bike. He straightened his shoulders as he enjoyed the wind caressing his hair and sliding on his skin.

— This is our first time here, — Ostin muttered, moving his eyebrows. He looked incredulously first at Mark and then at the landscape in an attempt to find something familiar.

— Don't believe in love at first sight? — Mark broke the idyll of peace with a ringing laugh.

— I believe in rationality and worship facts.

— "Facts?! "— asked Mark with a mockery. — Then catch the fact. We need to eat — look for firewood! — he shouted so loudly that the birds soared into the sky, and he himself was already digging into a bag of food.

Ostin just sighed, looked up to the sky, as if looking for patience there. However, he nevertheless resigned himself to his fate and wandered into the forest. What annoyed him more? Another incitement of Mark to break the rules or the fact that he himself goes to these measures, listening to primary desires? He himself could not figure it out. The young man did not know the answer.

When everything was ready, the guys sat near the fire, not caring about the sand and comfortable chairs. The silence stretched, broken only by the crack of firewood. Mark looked at Ostin and suddenly said:

— I know you don't like it.

— And I know you're not comfortable with that. But we're still here.

— Sometimes you have to give something up to get something. I have no principles, so I'm already easier than you.

— Come on! As if it affects so much.

Mark laughed, his head slightly back.

— What's so funny?

— Does not affect? If you were in a fairy tale, it would look like this:
"— Oh prince, save me from the evil dragon!"
"— Wait, I'm going to call the cops. We need professionals. "


— Ha-ha-ha. Ostin replied wryly. — Who even takes up a case that he does not understand.

— They say heroes, — Mark said with unexpected seriousness and looked at his friend, as if turning over every piece of his soul.

— In the modern world — fools, — Ostin did not give up his position, but did not dare to look back to friend.

— Everything must be right?— asked Mark sadly, looking out to sea.

— Why do what you already understand will lead to a mistake? Why do something that will obviously bring a bad result? — Ostin did not calm down.

— But without bad can't be right, — Mark replied calmly.

— Yes, without life there is no death, without the evil of good, without the chaos of order... What are you talking about? — it seemed that this phrase awakened in Ostin the part that he was not even going to understand.

— You don't understand me at all... — Mark sighed. — And you can hardly understand. You are too perfect to be worse.

Evans took a drag on his cigarette, looking at Ostin with slight confusion. The episode of his life when they'd first met crept into his head.

 
— You don’t like cherry-flavored cigarettes? — asked Mark, looking at the stranger.

— The taste is specific.

— Everyone likes their smell, but not everyone is ready for the taste...

— Mmm-hmm.

— Mark! — the guy extended his hand.

— Ostin, — ignoring the gesture, the stranger replied.

— How long have you been here?

— My whole life.

— Haven’t seen you around before.

— I’m not from your circle, — Ostin replied, carefully examining Mark from head to toe.

— Not chatty? — Mark grinned, watching him with interest. He clearly knew the impression he was making.

— Let it be that way, — Ostin cut him off.

— Hey, Mark, are you coming? — a voice called from the door.

— I... — Mark hesitated.

— You’re seeing me for the first and last time. There’s no need for this, — said Ostin, not hiding the coldness in his voice.

— What if not?

— Life doesn’t bring such different people together.

— But I believe in fate, — said Mark with confidence in his voice.

— That’s foolishness.

— Fate will bring us together again if it sees meaning in it, — without waiting for an answer, Mark ran into the building.

[Adastra, Luxomoris. Ray's Office]

— You've called him ten times already! Enough! — the guest burst out and abruptly turned on the TV. Mark's father was still dialing his son's number, which caused great irritation.

— What right...? — Ray fumed, until he was interrupted by the news.

"Pampered son of the elite, along with his friend, became the center of an accident not far from Perispera. The condition of the two culprits is unknown, the police aren't giving clear answers..."

Evans's hands trembled, he didn’t even notice how his phone slipped from his hands and shattered into pieces. A buzzing filled his ears, the world stopped existing — he could hear nothing from the outside, only the faint beeping that tried to bring him back. It felt like he stopped breathing himself, and his heart clenched as if it were about to break into a million pieces.

Evans stared sharply at the phone, which in a matter of seconds became a useless pile of glass and microchips. On the once flawless screen, just below the cameras, cracks began to spread. They reminded him of the chaos that always finds a way out once vigilance is weakened. The cracks, as if mocking, formed a strange pattern. A pawn. Just a piece on a chessboard… But who is really the pawn, Evans?

Ray's gaze flicked from the TV to the phone, as if trying to find some solace... But in his mind, there was only an empty noise.

It seemed like one of those moments when life shows who really rules the game. Ray knew — the news were talking about his son. Something inside whispered that Mark was on the edge. But was he even still alive?