The wind at the docks was stronger tonight.
It rolled in from the sea in long, cold breaths, carrying the smell of salt, rust, and wet metal. The cranes above them groaned softly as they swayed, their shadows stretching across the concrete like long skeletal arms.
Arman stood still.
Samantha stood beside him.
And twenty meters away, the man who killed her watched them like he had been expecting this meeting for a very long time.
The harbor lights flickered against the water behind him, turning the waves into broken silver.
For a few seconds no one spoke.
Then the man finished his coffee.
He crushed the cup in one hand and tossed it lazily into a nearby trash bin.
"You followed me," he said calmly.
His voice carried easily across the empty dockyard.
Arman crossed his arms.
"You murdered someone."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"That word feels dramatic."
Samantha stepped forward.
"You took my life."
The man's eyes moved to her again.
And unlike before, there was no uncertainty in his gaze now.
He saw her clearly.
Studied her like someone observing a rare animal.
"Yes," he said simply.
"I did."
Arman felt anger flash through his chest.
"You're admitting it?"
The man shrugged slightly.
"To the two of you?"
His eyes moved between Arman and Samantha.
"Who exactly are you going to tell?"
The truth hit hard.
Arman clenched his jaw.
Samantha spoke again, her voice quieter but steady.
"You knew I would come back."
The man smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Arman's head snapped toward him.
"What?"
The man leaned casually against one of the stacked containers.
"I was wondering how long it would take."
Samantha felt a cold chill run through her.
"You expected this."
"Yes."
"That's impossible."
The man shrugged.
"You'd be surprised what's possible."
Arman stepped forward slightly.
"How can you see her?"
The man watched him for a moment.
"You can't?"
"I can because I'm connected to her."
The man nodded slowly.
"That explains it."
"Explains what?" Arman demanded.
"That she attached to you."
Samantha blinked.
"You know about that."
"Of course."
Her voice sharpened.
"How?"
The man tapped his temple lightly.
"Experience."
The word settled uneasily in the air.
Arman frowned.
"You've seen ghosts before."
The man didn't answer immediately.
Instead he looked at Samantha again.
"You're stronger than most."
"Why?"
"Because you're angry."
Samantha felt something shift inside her.
"I'm not angry."
The man laughed quietly.
"Yes you are."
The sound echoed against the containers.
"You just haven't realized it yet."
Arman stepped closer.
"Stop talking in riddles."
The man ignored him.
Still watching Samantha.
"You remember the docks now," he said.
"Yes."
"You remember the car."
"Yes."
"You remember me."
Her hands curled slightly.
"Yes."
The man nodded slowly.
"Good."
Samantha's voice tightened.
"Why?"
"Because that means the next memory is coming."
Arman frowned.
"What next memory?"
The man's smile faded slightly.
"The part where you understand why."
Samantha stared at him.
"Why you killed me."
"Yes."
Silence swallowed the space between them.
The wind pushed harder against the harbor now, rattling loose metal somewhere in the distance.
Arman's patience snapped.
"You stalked her for months."
"Yes."
"You planned it."
"Yes."
"Why?"
The man looked at him calmly.
"Because she saw something she shouldn't have."
Samantha's breath caught.
"What?"
Arman turned to her.
"What is he talking about?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
The man studied her carefully.
"You really don't remember yet."
Her stomach twisted.
"What did I see?"
The man smiled again.
"That's the interesting part."
Arman stepped forward.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
"You're sick."
The man shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then his eyes moved back to Samantha again.
"You worked at the café."
"Yes."
"You saw a lot of people."
"Yes."
"But one night…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"You stayed late."
The memory flickered.
Just for a second.
Samantha's eyes widened.
"I remember closing the shop."
The man nodded.
"Yes."
"And then you looked out the window."
Another flash.
A car outside.
Two men talking.
Something being moved into a truck.
Her head throbbed.
"What was it?" Arman asked.
Samantha pressed her hand against her temple.
"I can't see clearly."
The man sighed.
"You will."
Arman's voice grew sharper.
"What was she supposed to see?"
The man looked back at him.
"Something illegal."
The word dropped heavily.
"What kind of illegal?" Arman asked.
The man smiled again.
"You'll figure it out."
Arman clenched his fists.
"You're not leaving here."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Are you planning to arrest me?"
"I'm planning to stop you."
The man chuckled.
"You're very brave."
Then he looked at Samantha again.
"You chose well."
Samantha frowned.
"What?"
"This one."
He nodded toward Arman.
"He cares about you."
Arman stepped forward again.
"Enough talking."
But suddenly, Samantha grabbed his arm.
Or tried to.
Her hand passed through his sleeve.
But the motion stopped him.
"Wait."
Arman looked at her.
"What?"
Her eyes were locked on the man.
Something in her memory had shifted.
"I know your face," she whispered.
The man smiled slowly.
"Yes."
"And I know where I saw you before the café."
Arman turned back toward him.
"You heard her."
The man didn't look worried.
If anything.....
He looked amused.
"That's good," he said softly.
"Because once you remember everything…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…things are going to get very dangerous for both of you."
The wind swept across the harbor again.
Samantha stepped closer to Arman.
Instinctively.
He felt the cold edge of her presence beside him.
And without thinking, he moved slightly closer to her too.
Protective.
The man noticed.
His smile faded.
"You two should be careful."
Arman stared at him.
"Why?"
The man turned and began walking away toward the darker side of the docks.
His voice drifted back through the wind.
"Because the truth you're chasing…"
He stopped briefly.
"…doesn't end with me."
Then he disappeared into the shadows between the containers.
Leaving Arman and Samantha alone beside the restless sea.
For several seconds neither moved.
Finally Arman exhaled slowly.
"Well."
"That guy is terrifying."
Samantha didn't laugh.
Her eyes were still fixed on the darkness where the man had vanished.
"I'm remembering more."
Arman turned to her.
"Good or bad?"
She looked at him quietly.
"Very bad."
Then she said something that made his heart sink.
"I think he wasn't the only one there that night."
The wind roared softly across the water again.
And suddenly, this mystery had just become much bigger than either of them expected.