Ariane and Yuna stood at the intimidating gates of the prison before them; through the imaure stone, a sense of foreboding crept up on them. Ariane turned her expression to Yuna, her forehead deeply furrowed with confusion. "What are we doing here?" she asks low, but edged with concern.Yuna said nothing immediately. Her eyes were focused at the prison, her mind racing. This was where they locked up her father. The thought struck her heart, dulling all of Ariane's words, making her feel the pinch of the circumstances weighing hard on her."Ariane?" she broke into her thoughts. "What are we doing here?Yuna jerked herself out of the daze and grimaced one of those 'pretend' smiles. "Well, I heard Mr. Charles talking about his brother working here," she lied to cover her real reason.Ariane frowned, being able to perceive that something wasn't quite like how she was saying, but disregarded it. "Okay, no problem. Let's go inside."Yuna nodded reluctantly, her feet moving forward though he
Stephen eyed the cop a moment. Confusion swam in his eyes. "I need to speak with Ju Won alone," Stephen said, firm but polite. The cop hesitated before nodding. "You've got a few minutes," he replied, stepping out of the cell and closing the door behind him with a heavy thud. Ju Won squinted at Stephen, trying to place him. "Who are you?" he asked, suspicion in his voice. Stephen reached up and carefully peeled off the fake mustache and beard. Ju Won's eyes widened in recognition. "Stephen?" he gasped, then his voice bloomed in amazement. "I thought you were gone for good." "It's a long story," Stephen replied, his voice low. "But I need your help." "How?" Confusion was on Ju Won's face. "I'm sorry, supremo. But what could you possibly need from me?" Stephen drew closer, dropping his voice to hush. "I need knowledge about Clarke. I know he's the person behind all this, and I need to stop him." Ju Won blinked in surprise. "Clarke? You're going after him?" Stephen nodde
Stephen kept his cool and gave Clarke a thin smile. "I'm leaving already," he said, tone even. "I just came over to visit with Ju Won."Clarke did not move, his eyes narrowing as he continued to search Stephen's face. "What's the hurry?" he asked, his interest tinged with suspicion, taking a step forward to get a better view of Stephen. "I really would like to see who this guy is, this 'Mr. Cruz'.".Stephen didn't flinch. His eyes were locked on Clarke's. "Nothing to see here," he answered coolly. "Just a man visiting an old acquaintance. Now, if you'll excuse me."Back in the van, Ariane watched nervously as Yuna worked away, gradually loosening the rope binding her wrists. Yuna turned to look at Ariane and whispered, "You need to create a diversion—just say anything."Ariane paused as her heart galloped. "What do I say?" she whispered back, her voice trembling.One of them—the larger one—sent them a scowl. "Shut up, the both of you," he growled. "You're cramping my peace."Yuna was
Stephen watched hawk-eyed from far off, where Clarke and Marriane were standing beside the van. He remained in his hiding and wondered what their next step would be. Clarke paced up and down, his cell phone pressed against his ear, the frustration almost palpable. Marriane just stood, her arms crossed, her impatience self-evident. SCRATCH That was finally when the call he had placed got connected. MAN "Hello, boss," replied one of the men, his tone straight."Where.are.the girls?" he demanded, trying hard to keep his anger at bay.The man hesitated before blurting an answer, "Boss, there is something wrong. These girls have tricked us and run away."Clarke's face darkened into a scowl, but his voice was low and cautious to avoid attracting unwanted attention. "What?! How could you be tricked by some kids? Find them in five minutes.or else."He hung up, his jaw tight, then turned to Marriane with a forced smile. "The kids are on the way. They'll be here soon."Marriane regarded him sus
Enoch swiftly walked down the hallway of the empire. His steps clanged on the polished marble floor. He remained focused and pushed aside attentions from the several other employees who filed down the area, glancing at him. Forty minutes had elapsed since he entered the office, but there was still no Marriane. He would have thought she would be around dealing with the business as appropriate for the status of a CEO, but the office remained deserted.Frustration, boiling beneath the surface, came forth with a sigh. "She doesn't know a thing about running this place," he muttered under his breath. "Leaves without a word, and no one knows where she's gone."All of a sudden, there was that familiar chug-chug of an engine. His ears whipped up, and he turned to the entrance. It was definitely his vehicle. What right had Marriane to take his car out?Enoch rushed towards the entrance just in time to see Marriane alight from the driver's seat. A deep frown marred her face, although she was no
Yuna's wrists ached from the tight ropes digging into her skin. She struggled, a petite frame unable to make the chair creak. Tears ran down her face as she begged, "Please, let me go. I won't tell anyone. I swear."Clarke looked straight across the table, his eyes glued to the glowing screen of the cell phone. The only sound in the room was the very soft clicking of buttons as his fingers danced across the screen. He did not even flinch upward as Yuna continued to plead."Please. just let me go home," Yuna's voice trembled.Suddenly, "Game Over" flashed on Clarke's game. He snarled and threw the phone on the table with a thud. His cold, unrelenting eyes locked themselves onto Yuna. "You know, I had about two moves to victory. Then your whining made me lose."Yuna flinched. Her body trembled. "I—I'm sorry," she meekly mumbled."What?" Clarke sneered. "You just can't keep quiet, huh?" He moved even closer, his face just some centimeters distant from hers. "Why don't you just shut up fo
Marrianne laughed open-mouthed at Yuna as she was thrust even closer to the water, her small child's body squirming mightily against the ropes as the chain dragged the chair closer to the edge. Yuna's eyes popped in her face as the water loomed closer. The cold shock of hitting the water snapped her into a frantic struggle on hitting the water; the weight of the chair drew her down swift—.Stephen watched at the doorway, his fists clenched. **Now's the moment for me to act.** He caught sight of a black coal-dust pile not far off, and without pausing to think about it, he ripped a strip of cloth off his shirt and rubbed at his face with the dirt. **This should help me blend in, but I need a distraction.His eyes shifted quickly to the two guards at the entrance, riveted on the struggling girl inside the well. Stephen could feel his heart pounding. **They'll intercept me fast if I go charging in. I'll need a plan.** He slid out of the room and, unseen, down to where the waiting car was
Enoch came out from the camera room, his heart racing, as he nodded at the security man who was still explaining to him how the camera worked. **There's no time for this.** His mind racing, he went swiftly down the hallway towards Marriane's office. **I have to plant the camera before she gets back.**Transpired into the office, and he slipped noiselessly within, closing the door behind him. The room was chill and dark; the one light there was upon the desk threw a dim shadow on the walls.He hurried toward Marriane's desk, produced the little camera from his pocket. **This has got to go under the table, where she won't see it.**He knelt down, placing the camera carefully under the table and trying to hold it in place. But just as he was trying to adjust it, the door creaked open. Enoch froze; his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach."Enoch?" Marriane's voice was cold, cutting through the silent atmosphere. "What are you doing in my office?She's back already? I didn't even hear
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not sa
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not say an
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not say an
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late.The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late.The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face."Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen.Stephen did not say anythi
Stephen stood by the door, watching as Victor’s car grew smaller in the distance. The rumble of the engine slowly faded, leaving nothing but the usual quiet that hung around the small neighborhood. He let out a breath, resting his hand on the doorframe. The last two months had been tough—tougher than he ever imagined.Without the system—the network of contacts and favors that once made his life easy—Stephen had to figure out a way to survive on his own. And it wasn’t glamorous. Every day was a grind, a constant scramble for enough money to cover the basics. Work wasn’t easy to come by, not when you’d burned as many bridges as he had. But he’d managed to find some odd jobs here and there—just enough to scrape by, though never enough to truly get ahead.He closed the door softly, the sound echoing through the small room. Glancing around the cramped space, he couldn’t help but think of the penthouse he once called home. The stark difference between his old life and this one weighed on hi
Stephen stood in the door and watched as Victor's car dwindled to a dot on the horizon. The rumble of the motor died out, leaving only the silent night air hovering over the little neighborhood. He exhaled a breath, his hand falling to rest on the doorframe. The last two months had been rough-tougher than he ever imagined.No system to fall back on now-the network of contacts and favors that oiled his life-Stephen was forced to scrounge some means of survival for himself. Not quite glamorous, the daily fight, the eternal hustle just for the real basics. Jobs were not easy to find, not when one had burned bridges as he had. But he'd been able to find odd jobs here and there, enough just to scrape by, never enough to get any further ahead.He closed the door behind him with a quiet click. The softness echoed inside the tiny room. Glancing around at the cramped quarters, his mind strayed to the penthouse he once called home. The stark dissimilarities between where his life used to be and
Two months later, Victor stared at the address on his phone, then at the small, run-down building in front of him. It didn’t look like a place Stephen would be living. The paint was peeling off the walls, and the grass in front was overgrown. This was far from the sleek, modern apartment Stephen used to own.Victor killed the engine, stepped out of his car, and walked toward the house. It was a self-contained unit—cheap, cramped, and barely enough for one person. He checked the address again. Room number 9. It matched. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.When he reached room 9, he knocked hard. The wood felt thin under his knuckles, like the door could break if he wasn’t careful. He knocked again, louder this time.After a moment, the door creaked open. Victor’s eyebrows shot up. Standing in front of him was Stephen, but he was almost unrecognizable. His hair was longer, his face covered with a scruffy beard, and he’d gained weight—his old sharp features now s
Standing beside Ariane's bed, his mind was spinning as he stared down at the screen of the system on his phone. His fingers trembling, he hit the icon for healing skills. He muttered under his breath, "Why can't this work on her? Why can't I save her?The system kept mum-no explanation, no solution. The shallow breathing of his daughter echoed in the room; every weak breath made him helpless. Stephen swallowed hard as his throat went dry. He could fix deals, he could manipulate numbers, but here in this hospital room, he was powerless.The door creaked open, and Stephen turned to see Enoch step in. Gone was Enoch's usual smug expression, replaced with a concerned frown. "What are you doing here?" Stephen's voice was low, edged with suspicion.Enoch shrugged, glancing over at Ariane. "Heard she was sick, so I decided to come by. How's she doing?"Stephen stared at him for a long moment, unsure of how to reply. His mind flashed back to his earlier doubts. Ariane wasn't his daughter, at
Stephen sat cross-legged on a soft mat, his eyes closed to focus on the calm voice of the guru. The air around him was scented with burning incense; a low hum of chanting echoed softly from the walls. He had called in the guru in a last-ditch effort to clear his mind, escape the relentless pull of the system. It had started to devour him, bit by bit, till it was all he could think of, all he could perceive.He was losing his grip, and he knew it.The guru's voice came, calm: "Breathe in. breathe out. let your thoughts flow like water. Do not cling to them."Stephen sucked in an enormous breath, then let it slowly out again, as if to expel everything at the same time: the market crash, the system, the deals that went right past him. The tension between him and Enoch was endless. He'd gotten pulled into something so much bigger than he was that he couldn't possibly control it himself, and however hard Stephen fought his way free of it, he felt ensnared.Then, though, as his breathing st