Arseniy Popov

England, 1870. London was engulfed in fog at night, concealing narrow alleys, old houses, and other people's secrets beneath its thick veil. For months, the city had lived in fear of an unknown criminal whose crimes were shocking in their brutality. But that wasn't what frightened people most. After each murder, a letter was found at the scene with the name of the next victim.

Nobody knew who was behind these messages.

Arseny Popov was a man hard to miss. Tall and strong, with dark hair and cold blue eyes, he possessed rare beauty and influence. Many girls dreamed of catching his attention, unaware that it was he who held the entire city in fear. Arseny was secretive and calculating. Before each crime, he would take a long walk through evening London, observing passersby, and then carefully write the name of his future victim on a letter. For him, this was not just a series of murders, but a carefully planned game.

Anton Shastun seemed the complete opposite. A skinny guy with tousled chestnut curls and bright green eyes, he was a college student who rarely took anything seriously. He was late for classes, forgot his notes, and constantly found himself in awkward situations. Those around him considered him an irresponsible slacker, though behind his carefree demeanor lay a keen intellect and astonishing powers of observation.

Everything changed after another crime. When the police discovered a new letter, it contained the name: Shastun A.A.

From that day on, Shastun realized he'd become part of someone else's game. Instead of hiding, he began searching for the person who left the note. The clues gradually came together, and each one led to Arseny.

Late one autumn evening, Anton's search led him to an abandoned mansion on the outskirts of London. Popov stood in the empty hall, lit only by the dim light of a lamp.

Their eyes met

A slight smile appeared on Arseniy’s lips.

• I was already starting to think that you wouldn’t come.