Alex slowly opened his eyes, groggily taking in his surroundings. He was shocked to find himself bound to a chair, with four masked men standing around him. They were speaking in a strange language, their voices low and menacing.The warehouse was dimly lit, with only a few flickering lights illuminating the space. Alex's mind raced, he tried to remember how he got there. He vaguely recalled being in the car with Serah, and then... nothing.One of the masked men stepped forward, his eyes glinting with malice. "Welcome, Alex," he sneered. "We've been waiting for you."Alex struggled against the ropes, but they were too tight. "Who are you?" he demanded. "What do you want?"The masked man chuckled. "We're your nightmare, Alex. And today, you're going to die."Alex's eyes narrowed. "Who sent you?" he asked, his voice cold.The masked man shrugged. "That's not your business. But our sender asked us to pass on a message…. 'You should have taken the money.'"Alex's eyes widened as he realiz

Alex and Pete sat at the bar, sipping their drinks and enjoying the music. The dimly lit room was filled with the hum of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses. The bartender, a friendly woman with a warm smile, polished a mug with a white cloth as she chatted with the regulars. The air was thick with the smell of beer and the distant scent of perfume.As they chatted, a beautiful stripper approached Alex, her long legs strutting confidently across the floor. Her revealing outfit sparkled under the lights, and her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. She smiled seductively, her eyes locked on Alex's."Hey, handsome," she purred, running her hand over Alex's arm. "What's a great guy like you doing here all alone?"Alex's eyes widened, and he nervously laughed. "I'm actually married," he said, trying to brush her off.The stripper pouted, her lips curling into a sulky smile. "Aww, that's too bad," she said, her voice dripping with disappointment. "I was hoping to get

Before Rick could react, Alex closed the distance between them, shadow sword aimed at his enemy’s midsection. He struck hard, but Rick managed to evade just in time, rolling away and sending a burst of flames toward Alex as he did. The fireball soared through the air, but Alex was quicker. He raised his shield just in time to absorb the blast, feeling the heat radiate against the surface. He then retaliated with a thrust of his sword, shadows extending outward like tendrils seeking their prey.Rick barely dodged the attack but stumbled backward, losing his footing. That moment of hesitation was all Alex needed. He lunged forward and tackled Rick to the ground, pinning him beneath his weight.“Tell me where they are!” Alex demanded, fury igniting within him as he pressed down on Rick’s arm with his knee. He could hear bones creaking under pressure.“Okay! Okay!” Rick gasped, panic flashing in his eyes. “They’re at Martin’s heavily guarded camp! Just… just don’t break my bones!”Ale