Days had gone by since Victor and Enoch vanished into thin air. Stephen called and sent texts, but nothing was received in return. He kept himself holed up in the safehouse, pacing up and down as his mind raced with each worst-case scenario possible. It simply couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that someone had made a move on them. But who?Stephen fished out his phone for the hundredth time. No messages, no news. Every passing beat made his heart race faster.A shrill ding cut through the silence. A message. Stephen's hand shook as he picked up the phone. "Come see me. I have Ariane. One wrong move, and you'll never see her again. – Michael."Stephen's blood ran cold. Michael had his daughter.Stephen's hand moved automatically to his jacket and grasped the door, but his hand stopped on the knob. What was Michael getting at? Evidently, he was baiting him into something big, and Stephen knew one thing-trapping himself in it meant only one thing: death.But he couldn't leave Aria
The warehouse felt colder now, darker. Stephen's heart was racing while he stood frozen, following every movement Michael made. Ariane was crying; her eyes were wide with terror, but her lips did not open. Stephen could feel her fear; it radiated across the room, tightening his chest."Why are you doing this, Michael?" Stephen asked in a hoarse voice. He must remain calm, must buy time.Michael smirked, circling Ariane like a predator playing with its prey. "You don't get it, do you? You've been a thorn in my side for years. You thought you could just move on after what you did, live your life like nothing happened?""What did I do?" Stephen's eyes narrowed, trying to keep his focus sharp.Michael's eyes flashed with anger. "You killed my brother."Stephen recoiled. There were faces from his past, but this… he couldn't let the past take Ariane from him. Whether she was his daughter or not, she was innocent in this."I didn't know," Stephen said, trying to even out his voice. "I didn't
Stephen's finger quivered on the trigger, its weight heavy in his hand. Michael lay on the cold warehouse floor, a trickle of blood oozing from his lip, his eyes ablaze with anger. Time seemed to freeze, the silence thick between them. "Go ahead," Michael goaded, his voice hoarse but defiant. "Pull the trigger, Stephen. End this. Or are you too weak? Stephen's heart pounded. Every fibre of his being screamed to shoot, to end the nightmare Michael had dragged them all into. But something held him back. He wasn't a killer. Not like this. Victor, now that Ariane was free, bounded to stand beside Stephen. "Don't," Victor whispered, his voice urgent. "He's not worth it. Stephen's hand closed tighter on the gun, his breathing shallow. He couldn't let Michael get his way, but he just couldn't cross that line. His hand moved down, inch by inch. "That's what I thought," Michael said to himself with a sneer, pushing himself up. "You're weak, Stephen. Have always been." Incensed, Step
Stephen stood by the door, his gaze fixed on Ju Won. "Stay here with Ariane," he said, tucking a handgun into his jacket. "I have to go."Ju Won frowned and shook his head. "It's too dangerous, Stephen. Going into the station like this? You'll get yourself killed.Stephen's eyes met his, his expression hard. "I know it's risky. But Clarke's the key to all of this. If I don't get answers, we're done."Ju Won was silent for a moment. "And if you don't come back?"Stephen exhaled, looking over at Ariane, still sleeping. "If I don't make it… you take care of her. Get her somewhere safe. Don't wait for me.There was a long pause before Ju Won finally nodded. "Fine. But be on your guard."Stephen said nothing. He grabbed his keys, slipped out of the motel room into the night. The streets were empty as he drove, silence weighing heavy. When he arrived at the station, he knew something was off. The parking lot was deserted. Not one policeman in sight."It's just evening," Stephen grumbled to
They had been seated in a small dingy room with a metallic chair each, hands cuffed behind their backs; the smell of sweat and blood hung in the air. Enoch's head was hung low, dripping blood from his split lip. Bruises were beginning to swell on Victor, but he kept his eyes fixed at the door.It creaked heavily open, and the two men tensed at once. Michael stepped in, his dark coat swaying with each movement; there were two on either side of him. He glanced at the two men and nodded to one of his guards.The latter stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "I'm only going to ask one more time," Michael said coldly. "Where's my crate?"Neither Enoch nor Victor spoke.Michael breathed hard and tapped his temple as if he was dealing with children. "Tough guys, huh?" He waved his hand at the guard. "Show them I mean business."The guard strode over to Enoch and punched him in the pit of his stomach. Enoch grunted, doubling over, but the ropes kept him upright.Michael angled his face close
Michael sat on a chair while the jacket hung on his shoulder, as Ju Won painfully dressed and bandaged the bullet wound. His teeth were clenched as Ju Won pressed a bandage against the injury and the smell of herbs filled the air.It creaked open, and a small figure ran in. "Daddy!" Ariane ran up to him and buried her face into his waist. She looked up; her big round eyes were full of worry. "What happened? Are you hurt?"Ju Won cast a glance at the little girl. Immediately the hardness in his voice dissipated. "Your daddy's going to be fine. Don't worry.Stephen sat back in the chair, grunting as Ju Won pressed the treatment leaf onto his wound. "I'm all right, sweetheart," he said, his voice a little strained. "It's just a little pain."Yuna came quietly into the room, carrying a basket. She laid it on the table and drew out more leaves Ju Won had ordered earlier. She watched as he took them, chewing on a few before pressing the pulpy mixture onto Stephen's shoulder."This will help
He stood next to the park, his hands deep inside his pockets. He scanned the crowd, watching people stroll past, laughing and chatting. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease settling in his stomach. Where is Voss? he thought, looking down at his watch. The sun had begun to sip below the trees, casting long shadows across the park.He shifted his feet, fighting the nerves. A few feet away, some kids were playing on the swings, their giggles carrying across like a reminder of a distant past that no longer applied. *This is no game, he told himself as he pushed the thought away.From his vantage point, he saw some men in the crowd who seemed to stare at him. Out of place, they appeared too serious for a park. The instincts kicked in for Victor. He turned his back towards them, fiddling with his shoelace as if tying it while sizing up the situation. They were Michael's men, and he knew they were here to make sure everything went according to plan.Where is Voss? he thought again mor
Victor watched, heart racing, as the tension mounted. Stephen stood tall, and in the midst of the chaos, a ray of hope fluttered in his chest. "Stephen, you gotta go!" Victor yelled, voice hoarse."I'm not leaving without you," Stephen replied steadfastly, eyes scanning the scene. "Where's Enoch?"Michael's smirk tugged off for a moment. "Still caught," he said nonchalantly-as if it didn't matter leastwise.Damn it," Stephen swore, as frustration welled up. He took a deep breath and refocused on the standoff. "Listen, all of you need to leave now. Drop the package and get out. I won't hesitate."Voss scowled; incredulity crossed his face. "Are you threatening me?"I'm serious," Stephen finally replied, pulling back his jacket to reveal a vest loaded with explosives. "It's a timer. If you don't disconnect this in three minutes, I'll blow this whole place to hell."Michael laughed, the slightest trace of mirth creeping into his voice. "You're nuts as always, Stephen."Voss shot a glare